Soxy

Very sad. Edwards to continue campaign despite return of wife's cancer The Associated Press Published March 22, 2007, 11:31 AM CDT CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said today that his wife's cancer has returned and is no longer curable, but is treatable. But he said he will continue his campaign. "We are very optimistic about this," he said. Edwards said Elizabeth Edwards' cancer is "confined in bone, which is a good thing." The annoucement came a day after Elizabeth Edwards visited doctors who are monitoring her recovery from breast cancer. Edwards has registered double digits in public opinion polls, has been considered a top-tier candidate although he trails front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. The campaign had said Mrs. Edwards, 57, had a follow-up appointment Wednesday to a routine test she had Monday. The campaign explained that she had similar follow-ups in the past but they always resulted in a clean bill of health. Mrs. Edwards discovered a lump in her breast in the final days of the 2004 campaign, when her husband was the Democratic vice presidential nominee. He announced the diagnosis the day after he and presidential nominee John Kerry lost the election to President Bush. Mrs. Edwards was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer, the most common type of breast cancer. It can spread from the milk ducts to other parts of the breast and beyond. She wrote about her life, including her breast cancer treatment, in a book published last year called ``Saving Graces.'' She had surgery and underwent several months of radiation and chemotherapy. Mrs. Edwards, born in Jacksonville, Fla., grew up between the United States and Japan because of her father's career as a Navy pilot. She met her future husband at University of North Carolina law school. The Edwardses have been married nearly 30 years and had four children. Their oldest child, Wade, died in a car accident in 1996. ``During the (2004) campaign, people who knew we had lost a son said, 'You are so strong,' and when I had breast cancer people would say, 'You are so strong,' and I thought, 'They don't know that there's a trick to being strong, and the trick is that nobody does it alone,''' she said in an interview with The Associated Press last year. ``I wanted, from the perspective of someone going through it, not tell them what to do, but show them what great support I got.'' John Edwards has been a strong contender in the 2008 Democratic race, leading in early polls of the important Iowa caucus-goers who will cast the first ballots in January. His wife has served as his closest political adviser in both his campaigns.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 12:14 PM) Yeah, I'm familiar with the assorted marinated-meats-cooked-on-a-skewer wonder of speidies courtessy of a NY friend, but I missed the news item too. Our congressman was on the Colbert Report last night for his "Better Know a District" series.

Linkage France opens secret UFO files covering 50 years by Marlowe Hood 1 hour, 38 minutes ago PARIS (AFP) - France became the first country to open its files on UFOs Thursday when the national space agency unveiled a website documenting more than 1,600 sightings spanning five decades. The online archives, which will be updated as new cases are reported, catalogues in minute detail cases ranging from the easily dismissed to a handful that continue to perplex even hard-nosed scientists. "It is a world first," said Jacques Patenet, the aeronautical engineer who heads the office for the study of "non-identified aerospatial phenomena." Known as OVNIs in French, UFOs have always generated intense interest along with countless conspiracy theories about secretive government cover-ups of findings deemed too sensitive or alarming for public consumption. "Cases such as the lady who reported seeing an object that looked like a flying roll of toilet paper" are clearly not worth investigating, said Patenet. But many others involving multiple sightings -- in at least one case involving thousands of people across France -- and evidence such as burn marks and radar trackings showing flight patterns or accelerations that defy the laws of physics are taken very seriously. A phalanx of beefy security guards formed a barrier in front of the space agency (CNES) headquarters where the announcement was made, "to screen out uninvited UFOlogists," an official explained. Of the 1,600 cases registered since 1954, nearly 25 percent are classified as "type D", meaning that "despite good or very good data and credible witnesses, we are confronted with something we can't explain," Patenet said. On January 8, 1981 outside the town of Trans-en-Provence in southern France, for example, a man working in a field reported hearing a strange whistling sound and seeing a saucer-like object about 2.5 meters (eight feet) in diameter land in his field about 50 meters (yards) away. A dull-zinc grey, the saucer took off, he told police, almost immediately, leaving burn marks. Investigators took photos, and then collected and analyzed samples, and to this day no satisfactory explanation has been made. The nearly 1,000 witness who said they saw flashing lights in the sky on November 5, 1990, by contrast, had simply seen a rocket fragment falling back into earth's atmosphere. Patenet's answer to questions about evidence of life beyond Earth was sure to inflame the suspicions of those convinced the government is holding back: "We do not have the least proof that extra-terrestrials are behind the unexplained phenomena." But then he added: "Nor do we have the least proof that they aren't." The CNES fields between 50 and 100 UFO reports ever year, usually written up by police. Of these, 10 percent are the object of on-site investigations, Patenet said. Other countries collect data more or less systematically about unidentified flying objects, notably in Britain and in the United States, where information can be requested on a case-by-case basis under the Freedom of Information Act. "But we decided to do it the other way around and made everything available to the public," Patenet said. The aim was to make it easier for scientists and other UFO buffs to access the data for research. The website itself -- which crashed host servers hours after it was unveiled due to heavy traffic -- is extremely well organized and complete, even including scanned copies of police reports. To visit the website: www.cnes-geipan.fr.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 12:06 PM) Congrats on having your representative guaranteed a win in the next election! (My Rep. was like the 15th or 20th guy they did. Stephen kept trying to bribe him) I think Hinchey is in his 8th term or something and usually runs unopposed--so he probably would have won again if he had repeated the "I like cocaine" fiasco.

Guess whose district got better known last night? Oh, that's right mine. And 10 points for mentioning speidies, the most deliciously simple "sandwich" on the planet.

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Mar 21, 2007 -> 12:08 PM) Several things: First Sanjaya was so bad it was funny. I am so sick of this kid. But what was with that girl bawling? She is going to have a rough day at school today. My sister and I discussed this and we think she might have some specialness in the form of a developmental delay. Or she is insane.

Sanjaya was absolutely hilarious. I almost burst out laughing during class just thinking about it. Gina was just awful--totally painful. I don't think she pronounced an entire word durign the whole song. I wan to pain i blaaaaaaaaaaaa. But I think Phil is going home tonight. Oh, and a note to Haley: wear a damn bra.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 07:35 PM) i was talking about our high schools. i said our Universities are good. The University of Illinios, for example, has an excellent computer science program. top 5 in the country, it is world renown (braggin about former school cause i'm like that ). I think that depends entirely on where you are from. I went to a suburban high school (very well funded) and I think my high school education would parallel anything in the world (with the excpetion of Foreign languages, which is a nationwide problem for sure). I think the problem is that there is a very large disparity between high schools in wealthy communities and high schools in poor communities. So, we're only giving a very select few a high school education that will allow them to compete.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 02:24 PM) I believe he is mocking the NEA's educational priorities Well, what else would you expect from a terrorist organization?

So, I recently started quilting and I decided to tie the quilt I just made (as opposed to actually stitch the layers together) because I read that it was easier. Easier yes, but waaaaaay more painful--I couldn't get a good grip on the needle with a thimble so I couldn't use it. Ouch, 12 hours later and my fingers are still super sore--typing does not feel nice today.

QUOTE(maggliopipe @ Mar 20, 2007 -> 11:20 AM) I guess it's not a reality show per se, but there's a dating show (don't ask me what channel it's on or what it's called) where there's a chick and three male suitors. One of the dudes is straight and single, one straight and in a relationship, and the third is gay and in a relationship. The lady has to guess which is which. Conceptually and in practice it's pretty entertaining. Hulk's show is entertaining. Beauty and the Geek is pretty good. I'd probably never turn any of these shows on myself but if the lady is watching it I'll join her. That is Gay, Straight or Taken on LIfetime. . . I think Supernanny is the only one I watch regularly (and American Idol). Occassionally I'll flip on My Super Sweet 16 and Top Model. Really I just watch those last two to feel better about myself. I'm not above it.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 18, 2007 -> 07:44 PM) I honestly can't stand corned beef and cabbage. Worst part of St. Patricks day for me is waking up to the smell of my mom cooking it for her employees and relatives. And if that isn't bad enough, having to move past its left-over contents in the refrigerator is enough to vomit in rage. Since giving up meat years ago Corned Beef is the only one I really miss and actually crave.

QUOTE(Brian @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) May 22nd, Season 5 on DVD. I have NEVER seen the episodes with Mandy Moore and always look for them in syndication. No luck yet. I think she's a cutie! That's so funny! Her episodes are actually pretty funny.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 02:47 PM) We brutally execute millions of animals each day to feed the populace in assembly lines. Pigs, cows, and chickens have the same feelings that dogs do and are considered just as smart. Only a small handful of people seem to care about those animals. *awaits to get pummeled by Soxtalk nation* So, slaughtering an animal for food (which, is admittedly sad but governed by many federal regulations that include provisions for their care) is equivilant to beheading a pet dog and delivering its head to its owner? Best Soxtalk Strawman argument of the day! PS: I'm a vegetarian and I still think your argument holds as much water a colander.

I would kill the sick f***er that did it. Seriously.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 01:41 PM) Your blinded by your bias. He is so far away from everyone else on that show. Simon said it sounded like wailing, not that he sounded like a screaming whale, either way, that isn't even close to the nasty things Simon has said to past contestants. I think Simon said that Diana Ross would wail when she heard Sanjaya's rendition of the song.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 11:42 AM) Age doesn't matter. The Sparks girl is only 17 and she doesn't completely suck. It's not his fault he got put through into the top 24 when he didn't deserve. I blame the judges and the producers far more for this for even putting him through.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) One question Soxy, where you guys are, have you done the Canadian side of Niagra Falls before? I would recommend that over a cave trip, if you haven't done either. I've done it, but my sister hasn't. I might make her do that when she's up here (only a three hour drive)--but she'll have to get a passport first too. . .

Thanks Balta, that was the one I was thinking of.

So, my sister and I are thinking of going on vacation to a cool state park this summer. Do you guys have any recommendations for a beautiful park to visit? I'm trying to remember the name of this one park with lots of caverns and caves and pretty rock formations and stuff. I think it is in KY or TN? Maybe? Or AK?

I took Comparitive Religion in college and it was easily in the top 5 classes I've taken. I feel like I'm much better at understanding a lot of the conflicts and the religious underpinnings to them. I wish that type of class had been offered in high school--but considering most of our history/social sciences teachers there were also coaches (and hired more for the coaching), I don't know how effective they would have been. But I think it would be great to have that option. My professor was also amazing, he is Hindu but did a great job covering (fairly) 4 of the Big 5 (we didn't need to go over Christianity because that was covered in the required theology and bible classes).

No, Susie, Joan of Arc WASN'T Noah's wife. . . Professor preaches a 4th R From the man who brought us the “American Jesus” -- a book examining how American Christians have molded the Son of God into an icon of their own choosing -- comes a new tome that suggests those Christians should learn a thing or two about Christianity and other religions as well. In his new book "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn’t," Boston University professor Stephen Prothero makes an important distinction. Americans are a religious people but know shockingly little about religion. Meanwhile, Europeans have become increasingly secular. But at least they know the facts. According to Prothero, derogatory remarks and acts of violence against Muslims, Sikhs, Jews and evangelical Christians stem just as much from ignorance as they do from intolerance. He supports his argument with polls and statistics. Only 10 percent of American teenagers can list all five major world religions and 15 percent can’t name any. Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that the Bible holds the key to all or most of life’s basic questions. But only half of American adults can name one of the four Gospels and most Americans can’t name the first book of the Bible. Twelve percent of American teenagers think Joan of Arc is Noah's wife. A good number can't attribute common quotes. Prothero blames the Second Great Awakening for forcing religious literacy into hibernation. The religious renewal that swept the nation in the 19th Century coincided with a bevy of new religious movements. The American experience was no longer rooted in stories of the Bible and no longer part of the nation’s collective memory. The author also blames a basic misunderstanding of the First Amendment for dumbing down our citizens and blotting out religion from public schools. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Those two clauses—the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause—say nothing about banning courses about religion from public schools or expressions in the public square. He says when religious studies are taught in public schools, teachers often fail to draw a line between inculcating faith (bad) and educating about religions (good). If we stick to the facts, we stick to the constitution. Better yet, Prothero argues, we fulfill our civic duty. Prothero calls for at least one mandatory course on Bible 101 and another on world religions. The Bible, he says, is a useful guidebook to understanding American history, literature and current events throughout the Middle East. After all, the United States is a Christian nation—both in the past and the present. It was the narrative of Exodus that guided colonists to the New World. And it was President George W. Bush who called Jesus his favorite philosopher and steered us up (or down, depending on your perspective) the road to Jericho in his first inaugural address. Prothero’s book, on bookshelves today, arrives at an opportune time. It comes just one week after the state of Georgia began considering a Bible course for its public schools and a textbook in California incorrectly and offensively depicted the founder of the Sikh faith. It comes in the middle of Lent, right before Passover and a year before a presidential election where candidates might be forced kicking and screaming into a national religious discourse. Those candidates might want to take a look at Prothero’s book and its helpful glossary of religious terms. They also might want to grab a Bible before they pull a Howard Dean. Remember? He was the 2004 candidate from Vermont who, when asked to name his favorite character in the New Testament, replied Job.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 09:22 AM) The song wasn't my favorite or anything either, I was just impressed with the kid's ability to do it all himself. I don't ever remember seeing anyone on Idol ever try something like that. It speaks highly for his music IQ, and his knowledge of music history. That's a solid bottom two IMO. I could also throw in the kid who went first with no problems. I don't even remember who went first. . .

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 07:32 AM) Simon hit it right on the head tonight. There is Lakisha and Melinda and then there is everyone else. I think the one impression I was left with tonight was a lot more respect for Blake after seeing the kid actually has real musical understanding. He seemed like a gimick guy, but after seeing his actually take and analyze a song and make changes to it by himself, gave me some respect for the kid. How many other contestants could have done that? I agree, I liked Blake. His arrangment was meh (I'm not a huge electronica fan), but it was cool that he did it himself. And he's pretty good looking. Is it just me, or did people seem to go out of their way tonight to pick really awful boring songs. It was a snoozefest. Anyway, according to Dial Idol the 1-2-3 are Melinda, LaKisha, and Sanjaya. Take it for what it's worth. Personally, I think the bottom two should be Sanjaya and Haley. I thought Haley actually did the worst last night, should be interesting to see who goes home.

I'm really surprised Coleman's numbers are that high.