| Around The Campaign 2008 Sphere
Another in our series of special Election 2008 editions of our popular Around The Sphere link-fest where we offer readers links to weblogs of differing viewpoints — and give you our comments on some of the political issues raised. This version will only contain election-related links. It will appear several times a week until Election Day. The Great Confederate Flag Controversy Surfaces In South Carolina (Again) and lo and behold it's again being used against Arizona Senator John McCain who's losing ground to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who — coincidentally — is coming out in favor of it waving there (apparently forever). Booker Rising, a site that bills itself as a "news site for black moderates and black conservatives' but must be required reading for everyone, writes this: However, I'll take on Mr.
Critics peek inside Oscar
If the past few years (or the past few decades) are any indication, trying to predict who will get a nod is like trying to predict Kevin Federline's musical career.So this year, Fresno Bee movie critics Donald Munro and Rick Bentley are taking a different approach. Their lists are the actors and films that they would honor if they were selecting those to get the Oscar nods. Here's how they would hand out the 2008 Academy Award nominations.Donald Munro's picksBest picture"Hairspray": The feel-good movie of the year, perfectly pitched and so giddy in its forward momentum and cheery social message that you'll be dancing out of the theater."No Country for Old Men": It captures the Wild West tinge of underlying violence that boosted the United States in its early days and to an extent still forms the framework of our society: a country of wide-open spaces, boundless opportunities and a chilling tendency toward taking what you can get."Once": A perfect little musical love story about a struggling Irish songwriter, this low-budget charmer has the best soundtrack of the year."Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street": This pared-down version of the Broadway musical is so bloody economical that the film achieves an amazing double whammy: It gives you the chills and makes you sing at the same time."Into the Wild": Sean Penn's adaptation of the Jon Krakauer book about a young man (Emile Hirsch) who naively challenges the Alaska wilderness is a taut, superbly told and ferociously filmed adventure.Best actorJohnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd": He's a cut above, no doubt about it.Chris Cooper, "Breach": A clenched and compelling performance as a traitorous FBI officer who shrouds much of himself -- motivations, back story, moral center -- and yet keeps offering intimate glimpses.Don Cheadle, "Talk to Me": An endearing and moving performance from an actor who captures the charisma of a born entertainer.Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood": Among the most chilling personifications of evil ever portrayed on the big screen.
Show the games in high definition
While watching the snowy playoff game at Lambeau Field last Saturday I remarked to my fellow football fans how much fun it would be to see and hear the game in HDTV.On Monday, local media were reporting an increase in the sale of television receivers and attributed it in part to excitement over the Packers appearing in the NFC Championship game today. That underscores my lament of no HDTV from our local Fox affiliate.
While this is no fault of the local staff, the station ownership needs to know how much the 7 Rivers Region wants to enjoy our Packers games in the high definition video and exciting audio that the majority of the country receives.Once you watch football in HDTV, you'll see what I mean. Please join me in writing and calling WLAX-TV so your wishes are passed on to their ownership group.
Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
So you can point to our schedule, but we play in the Big 12. That's a damn good conference." Add in the intrigue of a great Kansas offense facing a great Virginia Tech defense, and this might have makings of a classic. "They're a solid football team and very well-coached and talented," Beamer said. "They've got all the ingredients." Kansas' recipe starts with the nation's highest-scoring offense. Hawaii held that distinction until managing only 10 points against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, so now the Jayhawks - with their 44.3 points-per-game average - are in the top spot, and some of the stats they've put up this year are ridiculous. Consider this, for starters: Kansas has 64 offensive touchdowns this year, against only 46 punts.
TEXT-Fitch release on Eni Spa
Fitch notes that the project is likely to benefit from a strengthening of relationships and the sharing of greater responsibilities with its host country. State intervention in the oil and gas sector has become more frequent in the current high oil price environment, especially in countries where economies rely heavily on royalties and /or taxes and dividends from oil and gas companies. Although the agreement may have a financial impact on the Kashagan project economics, it is difficult to assess the magnitude of it at this stage as the compensation payment structure is linked to oil prices at the start of commercial operations. Additionally, the project was originally conceived in a much lower oil price environment, so any adjustments to the project economics may well be compensated for by a higher price environment.
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