The Bengals, in a blockbuster trade finalized Tuesday, traded QB Carson Palmer to Oakland. The Bengals will receive a 2012 first-round pick and a 2013 second-round selection, according to the club.
Palmer, 31, helped lead the Bengals to a pair of division titles, but after eight seasons, he decided he no longer wanted to play for the club. He has sat out the entire 2011 season. In April, the Bengals drafted TCU rookie Andy Dalton to replace Palmer, and Dalton has performed well, throwing for 1,311 yards with seven TDs and five interceptions.
Bengals owner Mike Brown said the Raiders' offer for Palmer, coupled with Dalton's development, made this a deal worth making.
"Several factors made us believe that trading Carson to Oakland was the best move for the Bengals at this time," Brown said Tuesday. "The principal development has been Andy Dalton, who has shown himself to be one of the best and most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL. We have a good, young football team, and Andy can be the cornerstone of that team for a long time.
"We also find ourselves rather suddenly in position of being able to receive real value for Carson that can measurably improve our team — which is performing well and is showing real promise for this year and years to come. When this opportunity arose, we felt we could not let it pass, and needed to take a step forward with the football team if we could."
The PFW spin
It's clear that luck smiled on the Bengals, much like the spin of a roulette wheel ending with the ball landing on red "9" with your last $25 chip on the spot. Consider the circumstances: The Raiders, in contention in the AFC West at 4-2, lost starting QB Jason Campbell to a broken collarbone on Sunday — two days before the trading deadline. Raiders head coach Hue Jackson, who now has a major voice in trades following the death of Al Davis, was on the Bengals' coaching staff from 2004-06 and very clearly wanted Palmer as his starting quarterback.
These conditions gave the Bengals leverage no one could have foreseen before Sunday. Credit Brown for making a deal that is remarkably favorable for his team. Not only do the Bengals get two high draft picks for Palmer, but the new CBA limits the compensation available to rookies signing their first contracts.
But even if this trade hadn't come together, the Bengals' 2011 season has gotten off to a good start. The combination of a solid offense and a very good defense has helped Cincinnati to a 4-2 record.
For a rookie, Dalton has played well. He has been shaky at times; for instance, he wasn't sharp in the loss to San Francisco, and he didn't play well at all in the first half vs. Buffalo in Week Four. Overall, though, the positives have outweighed the negatives. He has also benefited from a solid supporting cast. Rookie WR A.J. Green looks like he'll be a top-flight player for years to come, and second-year TE Jermaine Gresham has also shown promise. RB Cedric Benson has shown he can carry a heavy workload throughout his time in Cincinnati. Also, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has helped Dalton to succeed, too. The offense suits Dalton's skills well, and vice versa.
It is a credit to Lewis, Gruden, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and the rest of the coaching staff that the Bengals, without the benefit of a normal offseason program, have started this well. The benefits from the Palmer trade could be reaped in future seasons, but the Bengals, as is, are a half-game off the lead in a very tough division.
The Bengals and Brown, the president and primary owner of the club, have been easy targets over the years. But the organization can be proud today. Their one-time franchise quarterback walked away, but they have succeeded without him — and then they dealt him at the most opportune time.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Late Night: Harry Belafonte sings duet with Stephen Colbert
Legendary singer Harry Belafonte stopped by "The Colbert Report" last night to discuss his new book "My Song," and discuss his lengthy career as an entertainer and activist.
Colbert asked Belafonte why he used his celebrity to draw attention to progressive causes: "Shouldn't you just be singing 'The Banana Boat Song,' which by the way is one of the finest banana-counting songs ever?"
According to Belafonte, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics of "Day O" were actually steeped with political meaning. "I must tell you that that song has an awful lot to do with the events of the day," he said. "It's a work song, a song about people doing grueling work on a plantation."
Colbert explained that, like Belafonte, he had participated in the March on Washington in 1963: "I was at that in my mother's womb. She was pregnant with me."
"You haven't changed a bit," Belafonte joked. (At 84, his comic timing remains impeccable.)
Colbert pressed Belafonte on why he used his "banana-counting fame" to enact social change. "Why not just be rich and lusted after? That's what I do."
Belafonte replied, "I thought that the community from which I came would be better served if I would focus the light on the people who are not quite as fortunate as we are, and that I had a responsbility to reach into that misfortune and try to make a difference."
The highlight of the interview arrived in the last minute, when Colbert coyly asked Belafonte if he still sings. Belafonte said that he does, but only occasionally. Colbert waited a beat, then quietly started singing Belafonte's hit "Jamaica Farewell." "Down the way where the nights are gay, and the sun shines daily on the mountaintop," he crooned. A few seconds later, Belafonte joined in, and the two performed an unlikely duet. It was a lovely little moment.
Colbert asked Belafonte why he used his celebrity to draw attention to progressive causes: "Shouldn't you just be singing 'The Banana Boat Song,' which by the way is one of the finest banana-counting songs ever?"
According to Belafonte, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics of "Day O" were actually steeped with political meaning. "I must tell you that that song has an awful lot to do with the events of the day," he said. "It's a work song, a song about people doing grueling work on a plantation."
Colbert explained that, like Belafonte, he had participated in the March on Washington in 1963: "I was at that in my mother's womb. She was pregnant with me."
"You haven't changed a bit," Belafonte joked. (At 84, his comic timing remains impeccable.)
Colbert pressed Belafonte on why he used his "banana-counting fame" to enact social change. "Why not just be rich and lusted after? That's what I do."
Belafonte replied, "I thought that the community from which I came would be better served if I would focus the light on the people who are not quite as fortunate as we are, and that I had a responsbility to reach into that misfortune and try to make a difference."
The highlight of the interview arrived in the last minute, when Colbert coyly asked Belafonte if he still sings. Belafonte said that he does, but only occasionally. Colbert waited a beat, then quietly started singing Belafonte's hit "Jamaica Farewell." "Down the way where the nights are gay, and the sun shines daily on the mountaintop," he crooned. A few seconds later, Belafonte joined in, and the two performed an unlikely duet. It was a lovely little moment.
Harrow Taps Hong Kong's 'Nightmare' 3-Year School Place Wait
Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Harrow International, an arm of the 439-year-old British school that educated Winston Churchill, will spend as much as HK$1 billion ($129 million) on a Hong Kong campus, where school waiting lists are as long as three years.
Harrow will open next September in Hong Kong's New Territories with about 700 students, rising eventually to 1,200, Mark Hensman, director of schools and chief operating officer of Harrow International Management Services, told Bloomberg Television. Annual fees range from HK$106,600 to HK$145,000, with capital certificates that give priority for admission costing HK$3 million, according to Harrow's website.
The school's investment is part of an effort by the city to add 5,000 international places to reduce a deficit that recruitment firms and companies say is pushing some executives to relocate to cities such as Singapore and Shanghai instead.
"Moving investment banking candidates from Europe to Hong Kong is difficult if they have families," said Simon Roberts, managing director of London-based executive search firm Sheffield Haworth, who relocated to Hong Kong in 2009. "Getting those children into international schools is a nightmare."
While Hong Kong's economy has grown 26 percent since 2005 as banks and international companies expand offices in China's biggest financial center, schools have failed to keep pace with a record number of applications. In a survey of American Chamber of Commerce members in May, 63 percent said some executives are driven away by the lack of student places.
Employment visas for Hong Kong jumped 28 percent last year from 2009, according to the government. The former British colony has the highest number of international companies located in a city, ahead of Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York, a survey of 280 of the world's biggest firms by CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. shows.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/10/18/bloomberg_articlesLT9PYV0YHQ0X.DTL#ixzz1bBzBODs0
Harrow will open next September in Hong Kong's New Territories with about 700 students, rising eventually to 1,200, Mark Hensman, director of schools and chief operating officer of Harrow International Management Services, told Bloomberg Television. Annual fees range from HK$106,600 to HK$145,000, with capital certificates that give priority for admission costing HK$3 million, according to Harrow's website.
The school's investment is part of an effort by the city to add 5,000 international places to reduce a deficit that recruitment firms and companies say is pushing some executives to relocate to cities such as Singapore and Shanghai instead.
"Moving investment banking candidates from Europe to Hong Kong is difficult if they have families," said Simon Roberts, managing director of London-based executive search firm Sheffield Haworth, who relocated to Hong Kong in 2009. "Getting those children into international schools is a nightmare."
While Hong Kong's economy has grown 26 percent since 2005 as banks and international companies expand offices in China's biggest financial center, schools have failed to keep pace with a record number of applications. In a survey of American Chamber of Commerce members in May, 63 percent said some executives are driven away by the lack of student places.
Employment visas for Hong Kong jumped 28 percent last year from 2009, according to the government. The former British colony has the highest number of international companies located in a city, ahead of Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York, a survey of 280 of the world's biggest firms by CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. shows.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/10/18/bloomberg_articlesLT9PYV0YHQ0X.DTL#ixzz1bBzBODs0
Support is slim for supplements
Americans are an impatient bunch. We prefer a quick fix over a slow solution to our problems. And when it comes to weight loss, it's no different. Rather than endure lifestyle changes that involve sacrifice and waiting for results, many of us would rather pop a weight-loss supplement pill or endure painful injections if it means quicker, faster, better.
And there's certainly no shortage of weight loss supplements — many of which are aggressively marketed — including CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid,) L-carnitine, guarana seed powder, bena extract, konjac extract, polyglucosamine, cabbage powder, pyruvate, xanthigen, chitosan, EGCG, whey protein and hCG.
Topics
Physical Fitness and Exercise
Weight
Medical Research
See more topics »
This array of weight-loss aids is profitable; according to the market research and consulting firm Marketdata Enterprises, the herbal weight-loss supplement market was estimated at $20 billion last year.
DO WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPLEMENTS WORK?
Weight-loss supplements may boast miraculous fat-burning and trimming properties, but there's little proof to back up most of these claims.
"There are no dietary supplements that have been shown to be effective, as well as safe long term, for weight loss," says Robert Kushner, M.D., professor of Medicine and clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
It's important to keep in mind that supplements are not approved for effectiveness or safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA.)
Kushner adds, "Dietary supplements are not held to the same standard as drugs, so it's very difficult to evaluate their effectiveness, as well as their safety. I suspect many of these supplements are safe, but safety is really determined by long-term use and careful observation. And none of these dietary supplements have been held to that standard that we see for drugs."
Beyond weight loss pills. In the case of weight-loss supplements, the only thing that is slim is the evidence that they contribute to safe and effective weight loss. However, many people believe that they have tried everything to lose weight, so weight loss supplements may appear to be their last, great hope. Yet, Kushner reports that there are other options.
"If someone says they've tried everything — and I hear this all the time — a lot of times what they mean is that they've tried everything on their own. It's very important that people who are obese — a long-term, chronic condition for many people — need support, guidance and further evaluation," says Kushner. He suggests that your healthcare provider can provide professional guidance, such as evaluating your medical conditions or medications that might promote weight gain.
So, get back to the basics as we've always known them:
1. Eat fewer calories and burn more calories by moving your body more throughout the day. Scientific evidence backs the strategy of filling up on high-volume, low-calorie foods such as vegetable soup, salads, and raw or cooked veggies.
2. Incorporate more energy-using physical movements, such as shunning drive-through eateries, taking the stairs, and standing or walking while on the phone, as well as an activity program that incorporates regular exercise, such as walking, along with strength training every week.
3. Finally, aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain due to hormonal influences on satiety. Remember, there are no easy short-cuts for weight loss.
GUIDE TO 5 TOP WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS
While there are dozens of supplements marketed for weight loss, Environmental Nutrition reviewed five of the most popular on the market for their weight-loss potential.
Supplement: SENSA
Origins: This granular product, which is sprinkled on foods, contains maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate, silica, natural and artificial flavors.
Weight-loss claims: According to the maker of SENSA, as you eat, smell and taste, receptors send messages to your brain, which releases hormones that tell your body it's time to stop eating. They call this phenomenon "sensory-specific satiety." SENSA is supposed to enhance smell and trigger our sense of feeling full so that you eat less.
And there's certainly no shortage of weight loss supplements — many of which are aggressively marketed — including CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid,) L-carnitine, guarana seed powder, bena extract, konjac extract, polyglucosamine, cabbage powder, pyruvate, xanthigen, chitosan, EGCG, whey protein and hCG.
Topics
Physical Fitness and Exercise
Weight
Medical Research
See more topics »
This array of weight-loss aids is profitable; according to the market research and consulting firm Marketdata Enterprises, the herbal weight-loss supplement market was estimated at $20 billion last year.
DO WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPLEMENTS WORK?
Weight-loss supplements may boast miraculous fat-burning and trimming properties, but there's little proof to back up most of these claims.
"There are no dietary supplements that have been shown to be effective, as well as safe long term, for weight loss," says Robert Kushner, M.D., professor of Medicine and clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
It's important to keep in mind that supplements are not approved for effectiveness or safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA.)
Kushner adds, "Dietary supplements are not held to the same standard as drugs, so it's very difficult to evaluate their effectiveness, as well as their safety. I suspect many of these supplements are safe, but safety is really determined by long-term use and careful observation. And none of these dietary supplements have been held to that standard that we see for drugs."
Beyond weight loss pills. In the case of weight-loss supplements, the only thing that is slim is the evidence that they contribute to safe and effective weight loss. However, many people believe that they have tried everything to lose weight, so weight loss supplements may appear to be their last, great hope. Yet, Kushner reports that there are other options.
"If someone says they've tried everything — and I hear this all the time — a lot of times what they mean is that they've tried everything on their own. It's very important that people who are obese — a long-term, chronic condition for many people — need support, guidance and further evaluation," says Kushner. He suggests that your healthcare provider can provide professional guidance, such as evaluating your medical conditions or medications that might promote weight gain.
So, get back to the basics as we've always known them:
1. Eat fewer calories and burn more calories by moving your body more throughout the day. Scientific evidence backs the strategy of filling up on high-volume, low-calorie foods such as vegetable soup, salads, and raw or cooked veggies.
2. Incorporate more energy-using physical movements, such as shunning drive-through eateries, taking the stairs, and standing or walking while on the phone, as well as an activity program that incorporates regular exercise, such as walking, along with strength training every week.
3. Finally, aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain due to hormonal influences on satiety. Remember, there are no easy short-cuts for weight loss.
GUIDE TO 5 TOP WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS
While there are dozens of supplements marketed for weight loss, Environmental Nutrition reviewed five of the most popular on the market for their weight-loss potential.
Supplement: SENSA
Origins: This granular product, which is sprinkled on foods, contains maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate, silica, natural and artificial flavors.
Weight-loss claims: According to the maker of SENSA, as you eat, smell and taste, receptors send messages to your brain, which releases hormones that tell your body it's time to stop eating. They call this phenomenon "sensory-specific satiety." SENSA is supposed to enhance smell and trigger our sense of feeling full so that you eat less.
Lions land Brown in trade with Eagles
The Detroit Lions reached a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for running back Ronnie Brown, sending running back Jerome Harrison and a seventh-round pick to the Eagles.
Brown arrived in Philly after spending six seasons as a featured back with the Miami Dolphins. However, he took a back seat to LeSean McCoy this year and had just 13 carries for 38 yards and no touchdowns. In Detroit, he'll serve as an insurance back for Jahvid Best, who suffered a concussion on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Harrison was in a similar situation in Detroit, having 14 carries for 41 yards, and was most recently listed as inactive for the Lions' Week 6 game against the 49ers.
Brown arrived in Philly after spending six seasons as a featured back with the Miami Dolphins. However, he took a back seat to LeSean McCoy this year and had just 13 carries for 38 yards and no touchdowns. In Detroit, he'll serve as an insurance back for Jahvid Best, who suffered a concussion on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Harrison was in a similar situation in Detroit, having 14 carries for 41 yards, and was most recently listed as inactive for the Lions' Week 6 game against the 49ers.
E! reporter Giuliana Rancic has breast cancer
E!'s Giuliana Rancic revealed Monday that she's facing a new challenge in her journey to become a mother: She has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
The 36-year-old host of "E! News" and "Fashion Police," who's been televising her efforts to get pregnant with her husband, Bill Rancic, on the Style Network's "Giuliana and Bill," said on NBC's "Today" that a doctor insisted that she get a mammogram after two failed in-vitro fertilization treatments.
Rancic said she wasn't planning to get a mammogram until she was 40, but the doctor wanted to rule out breast cancer because a pregnancy could accelerate the cancer.
Rancic said she's going to have surgery this week and then receive radiation treatment for about 6 1/2 weeks.
After that, her doctors will try fertilization for a third time.
"I'm not going to give up," Rancic said. "I want that baby. That baby will have saved my life."
'Walking Dead' kills in ratings
Sunday's second season premiere of AMC's "The Walking Dead," which stars Troy native Steven Yeun, drew 7.3 million viewers, making it the highest-rated drama in basic cable history.
AMC said Monday that the 90-minute premiere of the zombie-fest, which is based on Robert Kirkman's popular comic, scored 4.8 million viewers in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults 18-49. The first-season premiere, which debuted on Halloween in 2010, drew 5.3 million viewers.
Minaj, Pitbull to host AMAs
R&B sensation Nicki Minaj and rapper Pitbull have been lined up to host next month's American Music Awards.
They'll share the Nov. 20 stage with a lineup of performers that includes Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera, and David Guetta with Usher.
"Rolling in the Deep" singer Adele leads the pack with four AMA nods, including artist of the year.
The 39th annual AMAs will be broadcast live on ABC Nov. 20.
Briefly
• "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Charlie Day will host the Nov. 5 edition of "Saturday Night Live" with musical guest Maroon 5, NBC says. Also on the "SNL" deck: Emma Stone and Coldplay (Nov. 12) and Jason Segal and Florence + the Machine (Nov. 19).
• For all of you who have been wondering when you'd see Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's nearly 6-month-old twins, Friday is the night for you! Carey confirmed on her Web site that the happy family was interviewed by Barbara Walters for ABC's "20/20," which airs at 10 p.m. Friday.
• Zachary Quinto ("American Horror Story"), who beamed up onto the silver screen as Mr. Spock in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot, revealed he is gay in a new interview with New York Magazine. He also posted a note on his Web site: www.zacharyquinto.com.
• Kanye West and Jay-Z are being sued for allegedly sampling music from blues and soul singer-producer Syl Johnson, www.gossipcop.com reports. Johnson says in court docs filed in Illinois that West and Jay-Z didn't pay him or give him credit after they used a portion of his 1967 tune "Different Strokes" for their Watch the Throne joint "The Joy."
West and Jay-Z are scheduled to bring their Watch the Throne tour to the Palace on Nov. 26.
Wall St. protesters give hope to activist Belafonte
(Reuters) - The Occupy Wall Street protesters have added an eminent supporter to their collective voice: singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte.
Belafonte, 84, who chronicles his activism in the U.S. civil rights movement and beyond in his new book and in a documentary, is pleased that a new generation is carrying on his legacy of agitating for social and political change.
"Sing Your Song", a documentary about Belafonte's life and activism, was shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and airs on Monday on HBO. It comes on the heels of his memoir, "My Song", which hit shelves last week.
Though he became the first artist with a gold album and has starred in movies alongside the likes of Dorothy Dandridge, Joan Collins and Sidney Poitier, Belafonte's "song" began on a difficult note.
Growing up in Harlem and spending time in his mother's home country of Jamaica, he was surrounded by poverty. But the challenges of his early life helped inspire Belafonte's activist passions.
"I was born into a world that was absent of social justice," he told Reuters in an interview.
"I watched my mother as an immigrant woman struggle to make ends meet. I learned that I should never let injustice dominate my life."
The lesson would serve him well. Even as his star rose in the entertainment world, Belafonte was regularly confronted with overt racism from concert venues and media outlets, as well as from his own government and fellow citizens.
Despite being a Las Vegas headliner, he was told he could not stay in the same accommodations as white cast mates. But Belafonte seized the opportunity by challenging discrimination in a unique way: he went swimming.
The whites-only pool cleared out when he dived in, but guests drifted back minutes later, eager to meet the singer and have their pictures taken with him.
Such peacefully resilient defiance would become a hallmark of Belafonte's activism.
After meeting Martin Luther King Jr. in the early 1960s, Belafonte used his star power to organize and fund larger scale activities in service of the burgeoning civil rights movement.
He worked with King to organize the 1963 March on Washington, and arranged a benefit concert featuring Nina Simone, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis Jr. to support the "Freedom Summer" activities of 1964.
Later that year, he and Poitier braved harassment by the Klu Klux Klan to personally deliver money to Mississippi for civil rights organization SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).
"I had a choice, to use my platform to spread the word. I chose to do that," Belafonte said. "I think all of us were concerned with violence, but the choices that we had were not that many. You can't look at tyranny and oppression and leave it unchallenged."
Decades later, Belafonte remains active in social justice causes.
In "My Song", he reflects on the dearth of young activists, but said he is heartened by the Occupy Wall Street movement, which he sees as connected to the Arab Spring uprisings.
"The world still suffers from a lot of inequities and absence of opportunity for so many people," he said.
"I'm very encouraged by what young people are doing, and I think that the examples that we set with our own lives in the past have been a good measure for young people to begin to evaluate their own lives."
But Belafonte advises protesters to remain peaceful and persistent, citing the effectiveness of his own activism.
"I don't think we have the right to do anything but speak out against injustice," he said. "We may think we have a right to be indifferent, to do nothing, but ultimately there's a terrible price to be paid for that."
Belafonte, 84, who chronicles his activism in the U.S. civil rights movement and beyond in his new book and in a documentary, is pleased that a new generation is carrying on his legacy of agitating for social and political change.
"Sing Your Song", a documentary about Belafonte's life and activism, was shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and airs on Monday on HBO. It comes on the heels of his memoir, "My Song", which hit shelves last week.
Though he became the first artist with a gold album and has starred in movies alongside the likes of Dorothy Dandridge, Joan Collins and Sidney Poitier, Belafonte's "song" began on a difficult note.
Growing up in Harlem and spending time in his mother's home country of Jamaica, he was surrounded by poverty. But the challenges of his early life helped inspire Belafonte's activist passions.
"I was born into a world that was absent of social justice," he told Reuters in an interview.
"I watched my mother as an immigrant woman struggle to make ends meet. I learned that I should never let injustice dominate my life."
The lesson would serve him well. Even as his star rose in the entertainment world, Belafonte was regularly confronted with overt racism from concert venues and media outlets, as well as from his own government and fellow citizens.
Despite being a Las Vegas headliner, he was told he could not stay in the same accommodations as white cast mates. But Belafonte seized the opportunity by challenging discrimination in a unique way: he went swimming.
The whites-only pool cleared out when he dived in, but guests drifted back minutes later, eager to meet the singer and have their pictures taken with him.
Such peacefully resilient defiance would become a hallmark of Belafonte's activism.
After meeting Martin Luther King Jr. in the early 1960s, Belafonte used his star power to organize and fund larger scale activities in service of the burgeoning civil rights movement.
He worked with King to organize the 1963 March on Washington, and arranged a benefit concert featuring Nina Simone, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis Jr. to support the "Freedom Summer" activities of 1964.
Later that year, he and Poitier braved harassment by the Klu Klux Klan to personally deliver money to Mississippi for civil rights organization SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).
"I had a choice, to use my platform to spread the word. I chose to do that," Belafonte said. "I think all of us were concerned with violence, but the choices that we had were not that many. You can't look at tyranny and oppression and leave it unchallenged."
Decades later, Belafonte remains active in social justice causes.
In "My Song", he reflects on the dearth of young activists, but said he is heartened by the Occupy Wall Street movement, which he sees as connected to the Arab Spring uprisings.
"The world still suffers from a lot of inequities and absence of opportunity for so many people," he said.
"I'm very encouraged by what young people are doing, and I think that the examples that we set with our own lives in the past have been a good measure for young people to begin to evaluate their own lives."
But Belafonte advises protesters to remain peaceful and persistent, citing the effectiveness of his own activism.
"I don't think we have the right to do anything but speak out against injustice," he said. "We may think we have a right to be indifferent, to do nothing, but ultimately there's a terrible price to be paid for that."
Winston Churchill helps MPs defeat Twitter ban
MPs voted against a motion that would have banned tweeting inside the House of Commons but not before some heated debate on the merits of tweeting from inside the Commons chamber.
Speaking in defence of politicians tweeting from the Commons, MP Kevin Brennan said Twitter's 140-character limit encouraged a tradition of succinct, punchy sloganeering that stretched back to Winston Churchill.
Twitter in house of commons
World War II leader Winston Churchill was evoked in defence of using Twitter in the House of CommonsPhoto: United Nations Information Office, New York
"There is nothing new in political communication in trying to get a message across in a pithy, memorable way, as Twitter enables us to do. In fact, I think it was a certain Winston Churchill who said: 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'
"If that statement was issued as a tweet, it would leave 66 of the 140 characters available on Twitter still to play with. That goes to show that those who want to fight the onslaught of technology on the beaches will find that the tide is turning against them."
Chris Bryant said Twitter provides constituents with a window on the workings of Parliament and helps politicians keep pace with modern technology.
"It is not a question of being dinosaurs or anything else - it is about opening Parliament up to the wider world around us, so that people can understand everything that goes on here," he said.
"The world has changed. When I was first elected in 2001, the vast majority of my constituents got in touch with me by coming to a constituency surgery. Now the vast majority get in touch by Facebook, Twitter, email and, sometimes, text messages. We should make that more possible for our constituents, not more difficult."
Rather than Twitter and Google damaging the quality of the debate, MP Claire Perry said having access to these services could lead to more informed exchanges inside the chamber.
"I was told as a new member of parliament by those who shall remain nameless, 'Never mind whether your facts are accurate. Just say them anyway'. Of course, I have never followed that advice, but there are many advantages of instantaneously being able to google an article or, for example, send a message to the chief constable of Wiltshire Police in order to deal with damning statistics being provided by opposition members.
"That is incredibly helpful to us in doing our job of holding the government to account and being good parliamentarians."
Twitter is becoming increasingly popular among politicians. Of the 650 MPs in the UK, some 300 have signed up for a Twitter account - with 100 joining the social network in the last six months.
But not all members are fans of Twitter or even...
Speaking in defence of politicians tweeting from the Commons, MP Kevin Brennan said Twitter's 140-character limit encouraged a tradition of succinct, punchy sloganeering that stretched back to Winston Churchill.
Twitter in house of commons
World War II leader Winston Churchill was evoked in defence of using Twitter in the House of CommonsPhoto: United Nations Information Office, New York
"There is nothing new in political communication in trying to get a message across in a pithy, memorable way, as Twitter enables us to do. In fact, I think it was a certain Winston Churchill who said: 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'
"If that statement was issued as a tweet, it would leave 66 of the 140 characters available on Twitter still to play with. That goes to show that those who want to fight the onslaught of technology on the beaches will find that the tide is turning against them."
Chris Bryant said Twitter provides constituents with a window on the workings of Parliament and helps politicians keep pace with modern technology.
"It is not a question of being dinosaurs or anything else - it is about opening Parliament up to the wider world around us, so that people can understand everything that goes on here," he said.
"The world has changed. When I was first elected in 2001, the vast majority of my constituents got in touch with me by coming to a constituency surgery. Now the vast majority get in touch by Facebook, Twitter, email and, sometimes, text messages. We should make that more possible for our constituents, not more difficult."
Rather than Twitter and Google damaging the quality of the debate, MP Claire Perry said having access to these services could lead to more informed exchanges inside the chamber.
"I was told as a new member of parliament by those who shall remain nameless, 'Never mind whether your facts are accurate. Just say them anyway'. Of course, I have never followed that advice, but there are many advantages of instantaneously being able to google an article or, for example, send a message to the chief constable of Wiltshire Police in order to deal with damning statistics being provided by opposition members.
"That is incredibly helpful to us in doing our job of holding the government to account and being good parliamentarians."
Twitter is becoming increasingly popular among politicians. Of the 650 MPs in the UK, some 300 have signed up for a Twitter account - with 100 joining the social network in the last six months.
But not all members are fans of Twitter or even...
Lloyd is traded to Rams
The Broncos traded Pro Bowl wideout Brandon Lloyd, the league’s leading receiver last year, to the Rams yesterday for a conditional 2012 draft pick.
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Lloyd said the trade was a mutual effort. He said he wanted to be a featured receiver in a more pass-oriented offense and thought his departure was best not just for his own career but for those of the receivers he left behind.
And Lloyd stressed his desire to leave Denver was unrelated to the Broncos naming Tim Tebow the starting quarterback over Kyle Orton last week. The Broncos are expected to go to even more of a ball-control offense under Tebow, a scrambler.
“I think this move creates the space for Denver to really find out what they want to do with the organization and the same thing for me,’’ Lloyd said.
In St. Louis, Lloyd will be reunited with former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, the coordinator of a Rams offense that has stumbled with so many of Sam Bradford’s receivers banged up.
The Rams sent a sixth-round pick to Denver that could turn into a fifth-rounder if Lloyd catches 30 passes for St. Louis. Lloyd said he would play Sunday against Dallas.
Lloyd may not be catching passes from Bradford right away. Bradford has a high left ankle sprain and is in a walking boot. Backup A.J. Feeley likely will take the majority of the snaps with the first team tomorrow.
The Rams also released wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, a day after he was a surprise inactive. Lloyd took Sims-Walker’s roster spot.
No fines for coach flap
Lions coach Jim Schwartz and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh talked with the league yesterday about their postgame dustup Sunday, when Schwartz took exception to an exuberant handshake and a firm slap on the back by Harbaugh.
The NFL did not fine either coach. “Fortunately, there was no fighting and thus no basis for a fine,’’ a league spokesman said.
“I think that it is unfortunate that the events after the game have overshadowed the fact that it was probably one of the better games played [Sunday],’’ Schwartz said of the 49ers’ 25-19 win.
Harbaugh doesn’t plan to say sorry.
“Personally I can get better at the postgame handshake and we’ll attempt to do that,’’ Harbaugh said. “I don’t think that there’s any reason for an apology. We spoke about it after the game, and at some point we will talk in private. Apologies always seem to me like excuses.’’
Pondering QB changes
The Vikings are considering a quarterback change. Rookie Christian Ponder relieved Donovan McNabb in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 39-10 loss at Chicago, and coach Leslie Frazier said he’ll decide by tomorrow who starts against Green Bay. Frazier said he doesn’t want to flip-flop from week to week, so if Ponder gets the nod, the job probably will be his for good . . . Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he had yet to make up his mind on whether John Beck will replace Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback and had solicited opinions from the coaching staff. An announcement will come when practice resumes tomorrow. The QB who starts will be without two key blockers: left guard Kory Lichtensteiger is out for the season with torn knee ligaments, and left tackle Trent Williams will miss at least two weeks with a sprained ankle . . . Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell had surgery on his broken collarbone but said he could be back before the end of the season, estimating a six-week recovery period. Backup Kyle Boller struggled Sunday in his first action of the season. The only other quarterback on Oakland’s roster is rookie Terrelle Pryor. “If you’re a quarterback out there and you want to come play for the Raiders, give us a call,’’ said coach Hue Jackson. There were reports Oakland had interest in former Jaguars QB David Garrard, but Garrard’s agent said the free agent will have surgery this week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back and not play in 2011.
Gates back with Chargers
Chargers tight end Antonio Gates returned to practice for the first time in several weeks, though in a limited role. He has missed the last three games following a flareup in his lengthy bout with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Gates is hoping to play Sunday at the Jets . . . Browns running back Peyton Hillis has an injured left hamstring, and coach Pat Shurmur does not know how long he will be sidelined. Linebacker Scott Fujita is also out for an undetermined period after sustaining a concussion . . . The Lions said running back Jahvid Best began experiencing “concussion-like symptoms’’ after Sunday’s game against San Francisco. Best also missed time during this preseason because of a concussion . . . Broncos defensive lineman Ryan McBean was arrested on suspicion of stalking. McBean turned himself in Friday and is free after posting a $50,000 bond. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison . . . Bears strong safety Chris Harris has requested a trade after being benched Sunday night against Minnesota. Harris’s agent said the Bears have granted him permission to seek a deal. The NFL’s trading deadline is today . . . Jon Gruden agreed to a new contract with ESPN that keeps him out of coaching for the next five years. Gruden has been a popular name in coaching rumors since joining “Monday Night Football’’ in 2009.
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Lloyd said the trade was a mutual effort. He said he wanted to be a featured receiver in a more pass-oriented offense and thought his departure was best not just for his own career but for those of the receivers he left behind.
And Lloyd stressed his desire to leave Denver was unrelated to the Broncos naming Tim Tebow the starting quarterback over Kyle Orton last week. The Broncos are expected to go to even more of a ball-control offense under Tebow, a scrambler.
“I think this move creates the space for Denver to really find out what they want to do with the organization and the same thing for me,’’ Lloyd said.
In St. Louis, Lloyd will be reunited with former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, the coordinator of a Rams offense that has stumbled with so many of Sam Bradford’s receivers banged up.
The Rams sent a sixth-round pick to Denver that could turn into a fifth-rounder if Lloyd catches 30 passes for St. Louis. Lloyd said he would play Sunday against Dallas.
Lloyd may not be catching passes from Bradford right away. Bradford has a high left ankle sprain and is in a walking boot. Backup A.J. Feeley likely will take the majority of the snaps with the first team tomorrow.
The Rams also released wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, a day after he was a surprise inactive. Lloyd took Sims-Walker’s roster spot.
No fines for coach flap
Lions coach Jim Schwartz and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh talked with the league yesterday about their postgame dustup Sunday, when Schwartz took exception to an exuberant handshake and a firm slap on the back by Harbaugh.
The NFL did not fine either coach. “Fortunately, there was no fighting and thus no basis for a fine,’’ a league spokesman said.
“I think that it is unfortunate that the events after the game have overshadowed the fact that it was probably one of the better games played [Sunday],’’ Schwartz said of the 49ers’ 25-19 win.
Harbaugh doesn’t plan to say sorry.
“Personally I can get better at the postgame handshake and we’ll attempt to do that,’’ Harbaugh said. “I don’t think that there’s any reason for an apology. We spoke about it after the game, and at some point we will talk in private. Apologies always seem to me like excuses.’’
Pondering QB changes
The Vikings are considering a quarterback change. Rookie Christian Ponder relieved Donovan McNabb in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 39-10 loss at Chicago, and coach Leslie Frazier said he’ll decide by tomorrow who starts against Green Bay. Frazier said he doesn’t want to flip-flop from week to week, so if Ponder gets the nod, the job probably will be his for good . . . Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he had yet to make up his mind on whether John Beck will replace Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback and had solicited opinions from the coaching staff. An announcement will come when practice resumes tomorrow. The QB who starts will be without two key blockers: left guard Kory Lichtensteiger is out for the season with torn knee ligaments, and left tackle Trent Williams will miss at least two weeks with a sprained ankle . . . Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell had surgery on his broken collarbone but said he could be back before the end of the season, estimating a six-week recovery period. Backup Kyle Boller struggled Sunday in his first action of the season. The only other quarterback on Oakland’s roster is rookie Terrelle Pryor. “If you’re a quarterback out there and you want to come play for the Raiders, give us a call,’’ said coach Hue Jackson. There were reports Oakland had interest in former Jaguars QB David Garrard, but Garrard’s agent said the free agent will have surgery this week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back and not play in 2011.
Gates back with Chargers
Chargers tight end Antonio Gates returned to practice for the first time in several weeks, though in a limited role. He has missed the last three games following a flareup in his lengthy bout with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Gates is hoping to play Sunday at the Jets . . . Browns running back Peyton Hillis has an injured left hamstring, and coach Pat Shurmur does not know how long he will be sidelined. Linebacker Scott Fujita is also out for an undetermined period after sustaining a concussion . . . The Lions said running back Jahvid Best began experiencing “concussion-like symptoms’’ after Sunday’s game against San Francisco. Best also missed time during this preseason because of a concussion . . . Broncos defensive lineman Ryan McBean was arrested on suspicion of stalking. McBean turned himself in Friday and is free after posting a $50,000 bond. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison . . . Bears strong safety Chris Harris has requested a trade after being benched Sunday night against Minnesota. Harris’s agent said the Bears have granted him permission to seek a deal. The NFL’s trading deadline is today . . . Jon Gruden agreed to a new contract with ESPN that keeps him out of coaching for the next five years. Gruden has been a popular name in coaching rumors since joining “Monday Night Football’’ in 2009.
Miami Dolphins’ Brandon Marshall plays more like bust than beast Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/17/2459258/miami-dolphins-brandon-marshall.html#ixzz1b8DcjmNZ
EAST RUTHERFORD N.J. -- To be fair, it can’t possibly be fun to be Brandon Marshall right now.
He went from a mediocre team in Denver where he was putting up Pro Bowl numbers to a place where his numbers have dropped and his team is losing in embarrassing fashion.
And it would seem difficult to slam a player who is still his offense’s best player and the target of defensive game plans every week. It’s even more difficult performing when you’re receiving pass from, first, a quarterback you have absolutely not connection with, then second, a backup quarterback who’s clearly a backup for a reason.
Still, Marshall set himself up for this one.
His “play like a monster” rant in which he sort-of promised to get thrown out of the game because he refused harness his emotions made him an obvious target in a Monday Night Football game that otherwise had zero Miami story lines.
Marshall would have been better off getting tossed. Because then we wouldn’t see him for what he really is.
On Monday night, he was less monster, more scared child. Less beast, more bust.
The numbers alone (six catches, 109 yards) would suggest Marshall lived up to his promise to let it all out.
But the actual footage of the game would prove those numbers, like his words, were empty.
More than that, his performance served to further infuriate a frustrated Dolphins fan base that’s masking its anger with the entertaining “Suck for Luck” campaign.
Here’s what Marshall is known for as a wideout: He is an elite possession receiver, which would indicate good hands and serious toughness. He is known for shedding defenders after the catch. He is a sure thing in tight areas.
Well, Monday night he wasn’t any of those things. At least not when the team needed it most.
Among Marshall’s memorable moments was another dropped touchdown pass, which we’re starting to get used to around here.
Granted, the pass was thrown slightly behind Marshall, who was just turning his head around (a step he completely forgot, by the way, on Darrelle Revis’ 100-yard pick-six in the first quarter) when the ball was approaching. But that is exactly the kind of play receivers like him are supposed to make. It’s what makes a guy like him “quarterback friendly,” especially when that quarterback is the backup with his head spinning.
Of course, Marshall could have avoided that whole scenario earlier in the drive had he not pulled a Ted Ginn and drifted out of bounds on a 46-yard pass play (the curse of No. 19 wins again).
After Matt Moore kept the play alive by scrambling to his left, he found Marshall for the big play, and it looked like he only had one defender to beat to reach the end zone.
But Marshall’s balance betrayed him, and he drifted to his left and out of bounds.
Monsters should have no such issues.
Marshall wasn’t done showing a questionable lack of fight — for a monster, that is.
With the game still in question, and Moore once again extending a play by avoiding the rush, Marshall called for the ball Randy Moss-like while streaking down the field, Antonio Cromartie on his back.
Moore did his best, launching a jump ball in Marshall’s general direction.
Monsters win that tussle. Marshall barely put up a fight, letting Cromartie beat him to the ball in the air and break up the play.
And later, just to enrage fans even more, he caught a difficult pass in traffic just to prove what he’s capable of doing but has refused to this season, especially in the end zone.
Conspiracy theorists can hypothesize that Marshall is only helping his own cause in the long run.
Think about it: Would it not help Marshall’s career if he were the top target of a player like Andrew Luck for the entire second half of his career? Of course it would.
So is it a coincidence that Marshall has the dropsies for the first time in his career? Coincidence that a strong wind blew him out of bounds with only one defender between him and a TD? Coincidence that he called for the ball against Cromartie then barely fought him for it?
Of course it’s a coincidence. But it would almost be a more comforting explanation than the admission that this is who Marshall is.
There’s so much more wrong with the Dolphins, that realistically Marshall shouldn’t even make the list.
But when you’re putting yourself under the microscope with a perplexing promise, then vastly under-perform, then you temporarily launch yourself to the top of the Dolphins complaint list, above that porous offensive line, above the defensive with absolutely no pass rush and above the coach and GM combo that can’t do much right.
If that was Marshall’s monster mode, it was scary for all the wrong reasons.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/17/2459258/miami-dolphins-brandon-marshall.html#ixzz1b8DkYYiE
He went from a mediocre team in Denver where he was putting up Pro Bowl numbers to a place where his numbers have dropped and his team is losing in embarrassing fashion.
And it would seem difficult to slam a player who is still his offense’s best player and the target of defensive game plans every week. It’s even more difficult performing when you’re receiving pass from, first, a quarterback you have absolutely not connection with, then second, a backup quarterback who’s clearly a backup for a reason.
Still, Marshall set himself up for this one.
His “play like a monster” rant in which he sort-of promised to get thrown out of the game because he refused harness his emotions made him an obvious target in a Monday Night Football game that otherwise had zero Miami story lines.
Marshall would have been better off getting tossed. Because then we wouldn’t see him for what he really is.
On Monday night, he was less monster, more scared child. Less beast, more bust.
The numbers alone (six catches, 109 yards) would suggest Marshall lived up to his promise to let it all out.
But the actual footage of the game would prove those numbers, like his words, were empty.
More than that, his performance served to further infuriate a frustrated Dolphins fan base that’s masking its anger with the entertaining “Suck for Luck” campaign.
Here’s what Marshall is known for as a wideout: He is an elite possession receiver, which would indicate good hands and serious toughness. He is known for shedding defenders after the catch. He is a sure thing in tight areas.
Well, Monday night he wasn’t any of those things. At least not when the team needed it most.
Among Marshall’s memorable moments was another dropped touchdown pass, which we’re starting to get used to around here.
Granted, the pass was thrown slightly behind Marshall, who was just turning his head around (a step he completely forgot, by the way, on Darrelle Revis’ 100-yard pick-six in the first quarter) when the ball was approaching. But that is exactly the kind of play receivers like him are supposed to make. It’s what makes a guy like him “quarterback friendly,” especially when that quarterback is the backup with his head spinning.
Of course, Marshall could have avoided that whole scenario earlier in the drive had he not pulled a Ted Ginn and drifted out of bounds on a 46-yard pass play (the curse of No. 19 wins again).
After Matt Moore kept the play alive by scrambling to his left, he found Marshall for the big play, and it looked like he only had one defender to beat to reach the end zone.
But Marshall’s balance betrayed him, and he drifted to his left and out of bounds.
Monsters should have no such issues.
Marshall wasn’t done showing a questionable lack of fight — for a monster, that is.
With the game still in question, and Moore once again extending a play by avoiding the rush, Marshall called for the ball Randy Moss-like while streaking down the field, Antonio Cromartie on his back.
Moore did his best, launching a jump ball in Marshall’s general direction.
Monsters win that tussle. Marshall barely put up a fight, letting Cromartie beat him to the ball in the air and break up the play.
And later, just to enrage fans even more, he caught a difficult pass in traffic just to prove what he’s capable of doing but has refused to this season, especially in the end zone.
Conspiracy theorists can hypothesize that Marshall is only helping his own cause in the long run.
Think about it: Would it not help Marshall’s career if he were the top target of a player like Andrew Luck for the entire second half of his career? Of course it would.
So is it a coincidence that Marshall has the dropsies for the first time in his career? Coincidence that a strong wind blew him out of bounds with only one defender between him and a TD? Coincidence that he called for the ball against Cromartie then barely fought him for it?
Of course it’s a coincidence. But it would almost be a more comforting explanation than the admission that this is who Marshall is.
There’s so much more wrong with the Dolphins, that realistically Marshall shouldn’t even make the list.
But when you’re putting yourself under the microscope with a perplexing promise, then vastly under-perform, then you temporarily launch yourself to the top of the Dolphins complaint list, above that porous offensive line, above the defensive with absolutely no pass rush and above the coach and GM combo that can’t do much right.
If that was Marshall’s monster mode, it was scary for all the wrong reasons.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/17/2459258/miami-dolphins-brandon-marshall.html#ixzz1b8DkYYiE
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