Lov-3

‘Tanner Hall’ Filmmakers Talk Directing Rooney Mara In Her First Leading Role

Getting a first feature off the ground if no easy feat, but couple that with making a movie centered entirely around the perspective of four young women, and you've got a mountain to climb. "Tanner Hall" marks the debut outing of filmmakers Francesca Gregorini and Tatiana von Furstenberg, not only did they beat the odds, they also managed to luck into a dream cast. Even though stories about women are difficult to finance, not only did the directing pair get their story told, but they rounded up a cast that includes current "it girl" Rooney Mara, Brie Larson, Amy Sedaris and in a surprising dramatic (and partially comedic) turn, Chris Kattan. With the film arriving on DVD and BluRay this week, we caught up with the filmmakers to talk about the movie, and the talent Lisbeth Salander showed in her first leading role.

"Rooney is such a witch, she has a such a wealth of internal life," Furstenberg said about the attributes the young actress brought to the film. The story tracks the coming-of-age of four girls at a boarding school, including Mara's character of Fernanda, whose journey involves a romantic and wrenching emotional dalliance with the charming, older and married Gio, played by Tom Everett Scott.

"We cast her as our lead and she had never been in a feature before. She was very nervous about taking the part, she was like 'Just give me a smaller part, I don't know if I can carry a whole movie.' But the thing about [Rooney is] she's so strong, and she's so brave," Furstenberg said, praising Mara. "She did the storyline with Tom Everett Scott the first week. She is not a 'Look at me' attention starved actor at all, it really all does come from within. She's like a conduit…she doesn't care about whether she gets [camera] coverage or not…she's inspired by what she's doing, and she's absorbing everything in the world around her and she's recycling it back. She's such a brave person, I'm not surprised [at her rise to fame]."

But it wasn't just Mara who enlivened the script from the directors, but really the cast as a whole in the story that not only sees Fernanda experiencing her first real relationship, but a British newcomer to the school named Victoria goes to some extreme lengths to forge close friendships. "We had so much luck in casting…Brie has such a sharp playful intelligence and is so sunny. And Georgia King who played Victoria, does have this outsider [persona]. She really is British, she really was walking into America for the first time," Furstenberg said. "They brought the characters to live. We took our time with casting, it was the department we took the longest with, and we didn't cast 'players,' we weren't the puppeteers."

"We really cast their essence," Gregorini added. "I think there's no four better girls who could've been in our film, and the dynamics between and all of it, really."

And it really is the interpersonal chemistry between the leads, and a seemingly genuine connection that powers the film. And as the directors reveal, they pretty much sequestered their actresses to get the desired effect. "Strategically we put them in a separate hotel from the crew and everyone else, because we didn't bond with their PA [instead]. We put them together so they had to create mischief. We did try to create that similar situation and in addition to that, we didn't have any trailers," Furstenberg said. "We were very communal…you couldn't just go back to your dressing room, it felt like boarding school in a way."

Boosted by a pretty solid soundtrack, including a healthy collection of songs by Stars, "Tanner Hall" certainly captures the closeness and heightened emotions that come from young love and the whirling, shifting alliances between a close knit group of friends. We'll be curious to see where the directors so next, and Furstenberg already has her next project lined up, "Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes," a story about teenage girl who becomes obsessed with a neighbor who looks like her dead mother. And while it was previously reported that she would reteam with Mara on the film, both the director and actress decided that she was too old for the part of a 17 year-old. But the project pushes on and is expected to shoot in 2012.

Until then, you can catch up with "Tanner Hall, as it arrives on DVD and BluRay on Tuesday, December 13th.

Marlins’ $100 Offer to Reyes Too Rich for Mets

Add To Favorites

Update: Reyes agrees to terms on six-year $102M Miami Marlins deal

The Marlins climbed over $100 million in a six-year offer, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Post, and that essentially eliminated the Mets from contention. ESPN-Deportes reported that the Miami offer was for six years at $111 million.

The Mets had been willing to go to five years in the $75million-to-$85 million range with a vesting sixth-year option that would have taken Reyes over $100 million. But they felt they were stretching at five years. They believe they know Reyes best and that he is just too much of a medical risk, especially with his history of leg injuries, to go to the sixth year.

The entire Mets front office was squeamish about climbing from considering a four-year deal to being willing to go five, team sources told The Post. But they felt for their most popular player they needed to stretch. But they were steadfast against going any further. In the end, they look as if they will never even make an official offer to retain Reyes.

The Marlins are out to make a significant splash heading into their new stadium. They already have reached a three-year, $27 million contract agreement with closer Heath Bell. But Reyes was always the major player they wanted in this free-agent market. And now they appear to be closing in on the shortstop.It is possible that a team such as Milwaukee or perhaps Detroit could still make a late move to try to land Reyes – or maybe Reyes has some late change of heart to stay in New York. But, at this point, it would feel like an upset if Reyes was doing anything but playing for Miami next year.

The Marlins’ intention has been to steal the most dynamic player away from a division rival and then move Hanley Ramirez to third base to accommodate Reyes. To do that, the Marlins moved aggressively as the Winter Meetings opened. They had made a six-year offer in the $80 million range a few weeks ago.By raising it so significantly now, they are showing how badly they want the switch-hitter and how much they were to make bold moves as a way to entice fans to their new park.

The suspicion all along was that the Mets would not have the financial tolerance and/or wherewithal to retain Reyes. But as reality becomes starker they will likely have to deal with yet another wave of fan fury toward the franchise, in general, and ownership, in specific. The most faithful will simply believe that the Mets ownership was always comfortable making it look like they wanted to keep Reyes, without actually keeping him.It is difficult to know if the Mets would have done what was necessary to keep Reyes if their ownership was not in financial peril. Without Reyes, the Mets now could more easily move toward the $90 million-$100 million payroll they want to reach this offseason – which would be a cut of between $40 million and $50 million from last year.

But it also is clear that the Mets were worried about Reyes’ long-term health and if he is really a good investment into the distant future especially considering that the team does not expect to be strong contenders until 2014 at the earliest. That would mean Reyes would be putting more wear and tear on his fragile legs the next two years while the Sandy Alderson administration was trying to build up the team.

The Mets have noted that in a salary-drive season that Reyes still ended up on the DL twice due to hamstring injuries and essentially stopped trying to steal bases down the stretch. That made them fret even more that he would miss significant time during the duration of a long-term deal.

Still, if Reyes is gone, the Mets are losing one of the best players in their history; certainly their best shortstop and most dynamic player. His departure signals in even a stronger way that the Mets are heading toward a total rebuild and payroll slashing. Young Ruben Tejada will be asked to play shortstop and Angel Pagan will likely be asked to lead off.

It is a combination that will only make Mets’ fans long for Reyes – and agonize further if indeed this Miami deal gets done and the Mets have to deal with the Reyes-fueled Marlins 18 times next year.

Processing your request, Please wait….

Black Friday Deals 2011 GameStop Gift Card Best Buy

Black Friday 2011 Bargains:

GameStop Present Card

Top quality greeting cards choices are obtainable. Mail the present card inside of a customized, 5×7 inch greeting card, which can additional throughout Checkout.
Products cannot be transported to freight forwarding firms.
Amazon.com Present Cards cannot be utilised as a technique of payment for this item.
In keep only

GameStop is the world’s most significant video clip recreation retailer. With around six,a hundred retailers found throughout the United States and 17 international locations, we are the retail vacation spot for players about the entire world. We complement our shop network with GameStop.com and EBgame

Checklist Price: $ 25.00

Price: $ 25.00

Clientele excitedly pushing the closest routes as nicely as the removing website airport parking a whole good deal can you find anytime you : an understanding.On the Cincinnati Higher good quality Media outlet Supermarket around Monroe, had been ample airport parking obtained at 5:23 a genuine.m., a far cry on the web internet site gridlock on The road five as effectively as the Tennesse sixty three as effectively as the shuttles toward nearby retailer entirely from overflow a total good deal from when the 1st on the internet retailers uncovered by On the lookout for v.m. Thanksgiving Day.Sisters Keisha as properly as the LoVatta Williams Detroit, Mich., drove for numerous hrs to start off the outlet neighborhood retailer by way of Diverse a true.m. as shortly as achievable. It has been any for starters day at these local retailer, that they examine about coming from through world wide web adverts as effectively as the contemplation performing it suffered from an excellent selection of online shops. “We don’t consist of a practical program, we’re truly needing to shift for prompt when have the potential to,” exclaimed Keisha Williams.Normally the sisters exclaimed they by now noticed excellent specials upon footwear as nicely as the a pair of jeans in purchase to creating a genuine “pit stop” in the what you try to eat judge. “We’re gathering vigor to make back out and then there,” exclaimed Keshia Williams.Vickie Gillespie Amelia ended up in the local retailer prepared two various matrimony equality, Amy Can burn Anderson Twp. as nicely as the Keri Burger Green coloured Twp. Typically the group of three exclaimed Black Friday out searching ended up a usual, but then that they ended up any for starters Black Friday day at the outlet local retailer, that individuals climbed to roughly about Have a look at a real.m. A great product people seen was actually a $ 5 down via Children’s Location, product sales a quantity of other retailer purchasers on prime of that noted by as the biggest of the single day.Gillespie exclaimed your girlfriend ended up acquiring providing presents on her behalf 2 the young children as properly as the ten grandbabies.“I’ve bought a entire great deal of out shopping turned you want to do,” your girlfriend exclaimed.At just Bridgewater Tumbles Existence Mall close to Fairfield Twp., these out searching marks was more substantial by a small range of on the internet merchants as opposed to, a lot more endured from staggered possibilities this early morning.Longtime associates Java Small Fairfield as well as the Java Bush Dayton was close to stage when it will come to Dick’s Sporting Merchandise to open up by Different a genuine.m. Usually the fellas originated in the dim, penalising three primary Walmarts, Kohl’s, hhgregg as properly as the JCPenney will lead to exposed by Have a look at a true.m.“We really do not get (one thing) we only embark to take these wild folks,” exclaimed Bush, the folks that endured from devoted when it will come to $ two hundred on elements.Tiny exclaimed your ex boyfriend had sex around until the time A assortment of v.m. Thursday evening when preparing towards timely out shopping. She ended up very pleased comprehend a actual waffle brand when it comes to on their very own. The pals reserved on finishing up any out purchasing by Tri-County Supermarket.“The line is even a bit of much more considerable (2010) this is good for most these house marketplace,” exclaimed Bush, who’s arrive Black Friday making an attempt to find 5 many years. “We virtually acquired cost by hhgregg.”Seventeen-yr-previous John Moore Independence Twp. suffered from this man’s for starters Black Friday information about relative or good friend Kyla Napper Hamilton. Moore as well as the Napper originated any Black Friday approximately about A selection of:23 a true.m. by JCPenney that has loved ones and friends. Folks had been penalising out Bed Bath & Over and above approaching.“It was really a battleground in it I require to to perform as effectively as the close off driving a true counter,” Moore exclaimed. “I ended up petrified.”Napper the people that delivers house glaciers globes every single by JCPenney prepared nanny, referred to as film 2010 “hectic.”“I originated Black Friday out searching when it will come to some in the previous individuals ended up 15 yrs outdated we now appear nearly anything,” Napper exclaimed.Sisters Alicia Stanton To the west Chester Twp. as properly as the Gayla Potts Fairfield take place to have been Black Friday purchasers approximately Twenty five a long time. Generally the duo originated in the dim by Kohl’s, as properly as the Potts recognised these film for “controversial” that has really throngs as properly as the regulation enforcement officers upon standby.“It ended up horrid I’ve not witnessed undertaking it people,” Potts exclaimed. “It was actually a whole lot a lot more mobbed since people hadn’t visited bed household furniture up till now.”Stanton exclaimed upon Black Friday your girlfriend supermarkets when it arrives to Birthday providing gifts and as properly components when it arrives to micro, “One current day, two different several individuals experience. An individual present day, two diverse many people come to feel,” your girlfriend exclaimed shortly after travel Best Buy by Bridgewater Tumbles.Stanton exclaimed individuals joined Walmart quickly following Kohl’s but then was troubled in the bad organization at a shop.“No a solitary a single thought that anything at all at all ended up,” Stanton exclaimed. “You couldn’t observe something at all it was eventually actually nearly all about packing containers.”Typically the sisters exclaimed roughly around Have a search at:23 a genuine.m. they are carrying out unbelievably nicely, with utilised crock pots, hunters and also other house things. The users remained as seeking to arrive at Mattress Bath & Over and above, Dick’s Sporting Merchandise, JCPenney, Radio Shack as effectively as the Business office Depot.Buddies Mamie Viokolo Fairfield as well as the Abby Leta Hamilton got any for starters Black Friday first by 17 v.m. Thursday night time by Kohl’s all around Fairfield Twp.“It ended up wild several people,” Viokolo exclaimed.The friends exclaimed these chilly as well as the especially lengthy marks by Kohl’s led all of them to Tri-County Grocery store roughly close to A number of:23 a actual.m. Sunday. These guys arrive at JCPenney all around Bridgewater since exposed by Have a appear at a real.m.“It’s a similar point quotes for really often My spouse and i don’t appear at a adjust,” Leta exclaimed buying in the JCPenney affiliate advert handed out by way of place of work staff folks right now about degree. “We’re heading wherever you can mattress household furniture.”By just eleven:23 a true.m., world wide web site roughly all around Tylersville Floor endured from came to help frequent.Jean Velupe To the west Chester Twp. created your girlfriend’s endure just stop at the time by Target in the Vocal efforts Soul, that your girlfriend witnessed some wonderful deals on foodstuff ware soon right after getting into by Have a appear at a true.m. by Best Buy all around Fairfield Twp. prior to when heading to the outlet local retailer close to Monroe.Generally the marks when it will come to Kohl’s as effectively as the Goal around Middletown by 17:60 a real.m. Thursday night drained previous the services for purchasers anxiously waited organizing seeking for financial savings account. All around typical in time Monroe, regulation enforcement officials was rerouting visitors to Cincinnati Substantial high quality Suppliers to assist overflow airport parking by Trusted Rock n roll Chapel, a real dispatcher exclaimed.

Thanksgiving travel up despite higher prices

By msnbc.com staff and wires

The rough economy and high fuel prices have forced airlines to cut back on the number of crews and planes in service at any given time, and that means packed flights for Thanksgiving travelers. NBC’s Tom Costello reports.

Millions of Americans have taken to the skies and roads for Thanksgiving this year despite higher gas prices and costlier airfares.

About 42.5 million people are expected to drive, fly or ride trains to their Thanksgiving destinations, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). That’s the highest number since the start of the recession, showing that Americans are willing to travel to their families even while household budgets are tight.

“Sacrifice to see the ones you love, that’s what we do,” said John Mahoney, who was driving 20 hours with his girlfriend from his home in New Hampshire to visit his mother and sister in St. Louis. “Americans will still do what Americans do. We travel the roads.”

Related: Gooey tar paralyzes more than 150 vehicles in Pa.

Mahoney, 44, acknowledged the economy has changed the way he travels — which is why the couple slept in the car instead of getting a motel room when a heavy, wet snowstorm flared up along the New York State Thruway.

Despite the comeback in Thanksgiving travel, costs are up. This year:

drivers are paying almost 20 percent more for gas, which has reached an average of $3.42 a gallon;
the average round-trip airfare for the top 40 U.S. routes is $212, up 20 percent from last year. Earlier this month, Priceline.com said Thanksgiving fares averaged $407, up 6 percent from the already high fares of 2010;
rail tickets on most one-way Amtrak trips have climbed 2 to 5 percent.

Related: Flying over Thanksgiving? Here’s what to expect

A wintry storm socked New England states with a mix of heavy snow and freezing rain on Wednesday, sparking power outages and delaying some flights for Thanksgiving on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Rain eased up in the Mid-Atlantic after downpours overnight, but as much as 10 inches of snow was forecast across the higher elevations of upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine by afternoon, when the storm was expected to end, the National Weather Service said.

“High-impact winter storm will adversely affect holiday travel early this morning and into this afternoon,” NWS said in a winter storm warning.

“People should plan their travel accordingly and be prepared to allow plenty of extra time to reach their destination.”

Airlines are cautioning passengers from New York to Philadelphia, Hartford and Boston, to expect significant delays on this busiest travel day of the year. LaGuardia Airport is urging travelers to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure time to allow for increased holiday traffic.

Higher food prices will affect the wallets of those who aren’t traveling. A 16-pound turkey and all the trimmings will cost an average of $49.20, a 13 percent jump from last year, or about $5.73 more, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which says grocers have raised prices to keep pace with higher-priced commodities.

Related: Take a trip down the memory lane of holiday travel

Among those staying home is Damian Buchwald of Buffalo, N.Y., who picked up a second job earlier this year. His new work schedule has helped pay the bills but leaves him without time to travel to Connecticut to spend the holiday with his wife’s family.

This year, the couple and their teenage son, Raven, will celebrate Thanksgiving at home with his mother, neighbors and friends in town. “When you can’t travel and people can’t travel to you, you gather your closest friends. And that way nobody has to pay an arm and a leg, and everyone can eat well,” Buchwald said.

But having relatives over for dinner is becoming more expensive, too, and not everyone can afford to splurge on a feast.

In Pawtucket, R.I., Jackie Galinis was among those looking for help to put a proper meal on the table. She stopped at a community center this week seeking a donated food basket. But by the time she arrived, all 300 turkeys had been claimed.

So Galinis, an unemployed retail worker, will make do with what’s in her apartment. “We’ll have to eat whatever I’ve got, so I’m thinking chicken,” she said.

Then her eyes lit up. “Actually, I think I’ve got red meat in the freezer, some corned beef. We could do a boiled dinner.”

Americans are still taking to the skies but in smaller numbers. Earlier this month, the Airline Transport Association of America (ATA), the trade group for the U.S. airline industry, forecasted that 23.2 million people would fly over the 12-day period between Friday, Nov. 18, and Tuesday, Nov. 29. That represents a 2 percent decline from last year and a 12 percent drop from the peak of 26.2 million set in 2006.

“We’re projecting full flights this Thanksgiving despite a 2 percent decline year over year in the number of passengers traveling on U.S. airlines,” said John Heimlich, ATA’s chief economist.

The busiest days, says ATA, will be Sunday, Nov. 27 (2.3 million); Friday, Nov. 18 (2.2 million); and Monday, Nov. 28 (2.2 million). Not surprisingly, the least-busy day will be Thanksgiving, when 1.5 million people are expected to fly.

More on holiday travel:

This Thanksgiving, make room at the inn
Smart strategies to get you through winter travel
Traveling by bus? Choose a safe ride

Msnbc.com contributor Rob Lovitt, Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Why the San Diego Chargers Need to Fire Norv Turner as Head Coach

The San Diego Chargers remain living proof of the cliché “that’s why they play the games.” Norv Turner just wishes they didn’t have to…you know, play the games.

Despite a talented offense, one of the league’s best quarterbacks and a slew of shake-ups throughout the volatile AFC West, the Chargers have once again failed to deliver on the promise of a championship run, which began with a hopeful 4-1 start and has since turned into a disastrous four-game skid.

Every season is different, but one constant has been the head coach. Turner’s coaching style has come under a lot of scrutiny, as he’s failed to have his team ready to go at the start of the season for the majority of his tenure.

He was able to avoid a slow start this year, but has earned criticism other ways.

Handed the Division on a Silver Platter

For years, Turner’s Chargers have consistently failed to put it together for a 16-game regular season, which is considered to be a necessary component to remaining a head coach in the NFL. It looked like that might finally happen when the Chargers started 4-1, the first time under Turner they’ve started anything but 2-3 in their first five games.

And it should have been no easier than it was made for Turner this year.

Kyle Orton dug the Denver Broncos into a 1-4 hole, the Raiders lost Jason Campbell for the season and gave up a king’s ransom for Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel has had the consistency of cottage cheese (milky and buttery at times, chunky and fragmented at others).

Slow Starts

Under Norv Turner, the Chargers are a combined 12-13 in the first five games of his five seasons—and that’s with the 4-1 start this season.

Clearly, getting off to a hot start did nothing to help the Chargers avoid overall mediocrity. Or, in this case, downright despondency. Four straight losses have sent them into the back end of the AFC West race once again, and it will take nothing short of a miracle (or the sheer futility of the AFC West as a whole) for the Chargers to climb back into the race.

So the Chargers were able to overcome their problem with starting slow in the past few seasons, but the Chargers’ midseason funk is comparable or even worse to those slow starts. With this performance, though, they have virtually guaranteed that they must win the division in order to make the postseason.

All That Talent, No Results

No. 1 total offense. No. 1 total defense. No. 2 in AFC West. No. 7 in AFC playoff hunt.

That’s the way the Chargers’ 2010 season ended. For all the stumbling out of the gate, it was the first season since Turner’s arrival that the Chargers actually missed the playoffs.

The way Philip Rivers has played throughout his career—and most specifically last season when he led the league with 4,710 yards and added 30 touchdowns against just 13 interceptions—the Chargers should have won far more games than they have.

Can’t Put It on Philip Rivers

As the quarterback goes, so goes the team. That’s a big reason why many are focusing so heavily on the play of Philip Rivers.

Once again, trace it back to poor discipline. The Chargers ranked 17th in the NFL with 29 turnovers in 2010, which means they lost 16 fumbles. Rivers’ 15 interceptions have killed the team this season, but he has been sterling throughout his career. Good players have bad seasons all of the time.

And for the sake of argument, perhaps Rivers feels pressured to put the team on his back and will them to victory, since no one else seems to be taking the initiative to do so.

Losing to Inferior Competition

Beyond the turnovers, this is a team that had an 11-point lead over the Jets twice and gave it up in the second half by allowing the Jets ridiculously slow offense to score 17 on them.

The Chiefs? How about three points in the first half against the league’s 10th-worst scoring defense?

The Raiders may be leading the AFC West right now (which isn’t exactly bragging rights), but they’ve been just as mediocre as any other team in the division. Dropping a third straight game to Oakland and a second straight ad Qualcomm Stadium after winning 13 straight against them is just indicative of what direction this Chargers team is headed.

If those three losses were wins, as they should have been, the Chargers would be 7-3 riding high above the AFC West, instead of at 4-6 on the bottom looking up.

Discipline

In the end, it all boils down to discipline. Cold Hard Football Facts tracks scoreability and bendability to measure how efficiently a team scores and stops teams from scoring. They’re not directly related to offense and defense respectively, but are indicators of discipline, field position, turnovers and doing the little things right that are often the difference between winning and losing.

The formula measures yards per point scored, as an indicator of how efficiently a team scores and how well it stops opposing teams from scoring. A lower number in scoreability is better, and the opposite is true for bendability.

In both indicators, the Chargers rank in the bottom half of the league: 19th in scoreability at 16.53 yards per point scored (115.71 yards for seven points), and second-worst in bendability at just 13.08 yards per point allowed (91.56 yards for seven points). For comparison’s sake, the league average for both is 15.71 (109.97 yards for seven points).

That comes down to a team-wide problem in discipline on the field, and it doesn’t take more than a few minutes watching the San Diego Chargers to understand why this is such an epidemic for them.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikFrenz.

USC vs. Oregon: 5 Halftime Adjustments the Ducks Must Make

This is a game of epic proportions for these two Pac-12 teams. USC has nothing to lose, and are playing for pride right now as the NCAA sanctions against them don’t allow any postseason possibilities.

Oregon is coming off a huge win at Stanford last week that vaulted them back into the National Championship picture. With second-ranked Oklahoma State’s upset loss yesterday, the Ducks may be playing for a berth in the title game and a rematch against LSU.

It remains to be seen if the Oregon defense can stop Matt Barkley and the Trojans. It also remains to be seen if the USC scoring machine can keep up with the speedy Ducks’ attack.

Either way, Oregon will have to make some big adjustments at halftime to knock off the 18th-ranked Trojans, who lead 21-7. Here are five of them:

1. Unleash James

It’s no secret that LaMichael James is a beast. Containing him might prove difficult for any defense, but it will be a key for USC to win. I don’t mean contain as in completely shut down. I mean contain as in limit the damage. If they can avoid allowing the big play, they’ve done their jobs.

The Ducks really need to let James run free. A large majority of their play calls do go to James, and deservedly so. But if they can focus on getting him the ball even more, he’s going to cause more and more problems for a sure-to-be worn-down Trojan D.

2. It’s All About the Thomas’

QB Darron Thomas and WR/KR De’Anthony Thomas are absolutely explosive. They both have ability similar to James, where they can break a big play off at any second. The Oregon offense has a lot of weapons, but if the Thomas’ are allowed to run free, they will score points in bunches.

USC has started hot on offense today, but there’s no way their defense can become complacent and expect to hang on to the lead. Oregon needs to continue to give Darren Thomas the option to run with the ball, and find ways to get the freshman phenom a few more touches too.

3. Keep Them Off Balance

I think we all know that Oregon plays at a ridiculously fast pace. It has killed opponents for two years and it completely ruined Stanford last week. USC has faced it before, but they still won’t be able to fully prepare to have the right personnel on the field for every defensive snap.

If Oregon can get them to waste a timeout or get a penalty when they are already gaining momentum on one of those fast drives, they will be in business. The Trojans will be scrambling to make sure they have their defensive alignments and subs planned out and practiced coming into the second half.

4. Don’t Get Beat Deep

As we’ve already seen tonight, the Oregon secondary can be beat deep. Not having Cliff Harris hurts them, but it’s been a slight hole all year. Usually the offense can more than make up for any shortcoming on defense, but tonight it may spell trouble for the Ducks.

Matt Barkley is having himself a game right now, and USC will continue to take shots down field and mix it up with the running game to keep that defense honest. If Oregon is going to come back and steal this lead back, they need to hang on receivers a lot better.

5. Keep the Momentum

Autzen Stadium in Eugene is one of the toughest environments in the entire conference to play in. The fans are loud, passionate and smart. Oregon is starting to get momentum back after cutting into the lead, but you want to make sure these fans are in it for the long run.

Oregon has a huge advantage in this stadium if they keep the crowd loud and wild. The offense is too dangerous to not climb back in, so you can only expect an ear-shattering decibel level from the stands. If USC lets their foot off the gas, Autzen will explode and help the Ducks get a big “W.”

This article is a duplicate offensive plagiarized

What is the duplicate article?

Why is this article offensive?

Where is this article plagiarized from?

Why is this article poorly edited?

Flag This Article

Boise State Vs. TCU Recap: Another Undefeated Off Stanford’s Back

Another undefeated team has been removed from the BCS picture as the Boise State Broncos were stunned 36-35 by the TCU Horned Frogs. The game was back and forth all day long, but for the second straight year, the Broncos came up on the short end of the stick in a tight conference ball game. TCU stunned them with a late touchdown and two-point conversion, followed by the Broncos missing a field goal as time expired.

TCU led 20-14 at the half, but Boise State was able to get on the board early in the second half by returning a fumble for a touchdown. The teams then exchanged the lead before Boise took a 35-28 lead with 14:47 to go in the game. TCU could not get much of anything going for most of the fourth quarter before driving late. Casey Pachall connected with Brandon Carter on a 25-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 35-34. TCU had been dealing with kicker troubles, so rather than go for the tie, they went for two and the win. Pachall connected with Josh Boyce to take the lead.

The kicker troubles reared their head again as the TCU kicker booted the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. Boise State started off on their own 40 and benefited from a huge holding call and an even bigger fourth down pass interference call. They were set up for a 39-yard field goal, but the Broncos kicker pushed it wide right and Boise State was undefeated no more.

The Stanford Cardinal were ranked one spot ahead of Boise State in the rankings, but remained behind them in most of the computer rankings. If Stanford can beat Oregon Saturday night, they’ll make a sizable leap over the Broncos in the computers. If they win it would likely not be enough to get past Oklahoma State, but it would probably be enough to climb ahead of Alabama in the BCS rankings. Now if only Oklahoma State or LSU could find a way to lose!

Pac-12 basketball: Who is the conference favorite?

Bolch: I would say Cal, but it's close. I love Jorge Gutierrez, who has more heart than anyone in the conference, and Allen Crabbe is poised to experience a Derrick Williams-like breakthrough. But the Golden Bears will have trouble matching up with UCLA's front line of Joshua Smith, Reeves Nelson and David Wear. If Cal can't contain the Bruins' bigs, then UCLA might have to hang a Pac-12 title banner at the Sports Arena.

Allen: Each of the contenders has serious flaws, but UCLA appears to be the only team that can go on the road in the conference and consistently give itself a chance to win due to its impressive front line. The Bruins have more size with talent than any other team in the league.Clark: I like Cal. The experience, the grit of a Mike Montgomery team. I think it will win out with so many other teams counting on freshmen or transfers.Faraudo: I picked UCLA barely over Cal and Arizona. The Bears have returning talent, Arizona has new talent. The Bruins' backcourt has questions, but no team in the Pac-12 can match the frontcourt depth of Joshua Smith, Reeves Nelson, Anthony Stover, and twins David and Travis Wear. If Ben Howland had a sense of humor, he'd start all five together one night just to get a reaction.Haller: Joshua Smith may be out of shape, but every coach will tell you he's the toughest matchup in the conference. Add in Reeves Nelson, an all-conference talent, and UCLA has what should be one of the top front lines in college basketball. Despite the questions in the backcourt — can anyone consistently knock down the 3? — that's enough to give the Bruins a slight edge over California.Which team is not getting enough preseason credit?Bolch: Oregon. It's not so much that the Ducks have overwhelming talent; they clearly don't. But Dana Altman is the kind of coach who can mold solid players into something special. Look for the Ducks to quack the upper echelon of the conference standings.

Allen: Washington, which was picked fourth in the media preseason poll, is being overlooked and it's understandable considering it lost its top three scorers. Still Lorenzo Romar, the longest tenured coach in the conference who enters his 10th season at UW, has a system in place that's produced three straight NCAA Tournament teams. Also, keep an eye on Stanford and Oregon State.Clark: How about Washington? There is a lot of talent there, plus some size, and if Abdul Gaddy is back at close to full strength, they have a chance to be really good. Can UCLA's size keep up with the Huskies in a transition game? How do Arizona's freshmen play against those more-experienced Huskies? Even Cal, my favorite, may not have the depth to stay with Washington. And maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think Romar gets enough credit for bringing players along in their improvement during the course of a career there.Faraudo: Uh, Seattle Pacific? I'm curious to see how good Oregon can be in Dana Altman's second season. He has a very solid returnee in E.J. Singler, a terrific freshman in Jabari Brown and two excellent frontcourt transfers in Olu Ashaolu (Louisiana Tech) and Tony Woods (Wake Forest.).Haller: Washington. Romar has a ton of talent. Everyone knows about sophomore Terrence Ross, but C.J. Wilcox might be the Pac-12's top shooter. Freshman Tony Wroten is dazzling, and forward Desmond Simmons seems like the 'glue guy' that every team needs. My concern: Washington has a habit of underperforming during the regular season. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the Huskies finish third in the regular season and end up winning the Pac-12 Tournament … again.Who is the frontrunner for Pac-12 Player of the Year?Bolch: UCLA's Joshua Smith would be the easy choice here if he had significantly improved his physique in the offseason, but he hasn't. He looks about the same as last year, and his lack of conditioning could prevent him from being the supremely dominant force coach Ben Howland covets. So I'll go with Cal's Allen Crabbe, who should follow up a freshman-of-the-year season with something even more special.

Allen: The race is wide open. Obviously, the best player on the conference champion has the best odds of winning so you have to look at UCLA's Reeves Nelson or Joshua Smith.Clark: Is there one? I'd give my early vote to Jorge Gutierrez of Cal.Faraudo: I don't think there is a frontrunner. UCLA's Joshua Smith could become the biggest POY in league history, but I want to see him get his slimmed-down 315 pounds up and down the court for more than 21.7 minutes a game. Washington sophomore Terrence Ross is going to score a lot of points, and Cal's Jorge Gutierrez is the heartbeat of a team that could challenge for the top spot.Haller: I asked some players this same question at Pac-12 Media Day. The majority went with UCLA's Reeves Nelson. He's certainly worthy, but Cal's Jorge Gutierrez affects the game in so many ways. He scores, defends, creates, gets to the foul line. Perhaps most important, nobody plays harder. As long as Cal contends for the regular-season title, this is his to lose.What storyline are you most interested to follow?Bolch: UCLA's season-long road show. With Pauley Pavilion out of commission until September 2012 because of renovations, the Bruins will be nomads forced to play at the Sports Arena (eww!), Honda Center (yawn) and Citizens Business Bank Arena (huh?) in Ontario. The crumbling Sports Arena has mostly been used for filming projects in recent years, and the Bruins hope their season doesn't devolve into a comedy of errors. UCLA has an awkward "home" date against USC at the Sports Arena, the Trojans' home until 2006. Will there be more red in the stands than powder blue?

Allen: Before league play begins, I'm curious how the Pac-12 will fare against non-conference and ranked teams. Last season, the Pac-10 was 5-13 against ranked teams outside the league. There's several interesting games approaching. Washington plays No. 6 Duke and No. 22 Marquette in New York's Madison Square Garden. No. 17 UCLA goes to the Maui Invitational. No. 16 Arizona travels to No. 8 Florida and faces No. 23 Gonzaga in Seattle.Clark: What do the transfers and freshmen bring? It looks like quite an infusion of talent at several schools. Let's see how it plays out.Faraudo: How quickly will all of those blue-chippers at Arizona figure out the college game? At some point this season, they will look like a million bucks and overwhelm someone. In the meantime, the results of their two exhibition games suggest there will be some growing pains.Haller: I'm interested to see if someone unexpected can break into that upper division. Oregon, Stanford and Oregon State all have interesting parts, enough to challenge for NCAA Tournament bids.Are any coaches on the hot seat?Bolch: Oregon State's Craig Robinson has to be feeling some heat after making minimal progress in his three seasons in Corvallis. Being Michelle Obama's brother is only going to take you so far without an NCAA Tournament appearance. His profile on the OSU website touts the program's first victory over a ranked team and first triumph in the Pac-10 Tournament since 2006. That's not enough. Stanford fans also might be feeling a little buyer's remorse over Johnny Dawkins. How would two losing seasons and an appearance in the CBI semifinals go over at Duke?Allen: Not this season, but few coaches can survive four years of consecutive losing seasons. Oregon State's Craig Robinson begins his fourth season and the Beavers have gotten progressively worse since an 18-18 record his first year. He's talking about the NCAA Tournament, but he'll need to deliver at least an NIT berth this season to stay off the hot seat. The same is true for Stanford's Johnny Dawkins, who also begins year four with the Cardinal and has fallen off the past two seasons after a 20-14 record his first year. Stanford hasn't finished higher than seventh in the conference under Dawkins. Arizona State's Herb Sendek appears safe, but would be wise to avoid another last-place finish. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if USC's Kevin O'Neill and athletic director Pat Haden are on the same page.Clark: I don't see it being a make-or-break year for anybody. I always wonder if ASU fans will grow weary of Herb Sendek's playing style, if the Sun Devils aren't successful. There's always griping about Ben Howland if the Bruins aren't contending. Certainly Oregon State fans have reason to expect a lot more from Craig Robinson's teams. It would probably do Ken Bone some good to reduce the suspensions at Washington State, and the image of a lack of discipline. But isn't it early to suggest any of them are on any kind of hot seat?Faraudo: Dawkins got a contract extension at Stanford, but it's probably time for him to start winning more. And Oregon State's Craig Robinson, after promising early returns, needs to coax more from his squad this season. But neither of them is really on the hot seat.Haller: Not at this point. Stanford, despite its recent struggles, is on its way. Not only does Johnny Dawkins have four starters returning, he has a strong recruiting class lined up for 2012.What do you expect from the newcomers, Colorado and Utah?Bolch: Plenty of quips from Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak, who openly inquired at Pac-12 media day how many times the conference's last-place team had been correctly picked given that his team was bestowed that dishonor. Utah likely will reside there this season and Colorado won't be too far ahead of the Utes. As reinforcements go, this duo isn't adding much in the immediate future.

Allen: Not much this season. The Buffaloes are expected to sign a highly rated 2012 recruiting class and they'll reload quickly. The Utes may struggle for a while.Clark: Looks to me like they're both going to struggle. I picked the Buffs 10th and the Utes 12th in a preview ballot, and I'd still stick with that.Faraudo: Not much. If either of them finishes as high as 10th, count it as a small victory. Colorado lost all of its best players from a year ago, and Utah saw mass personnel defections after changing coaches. Not a warm welcome to the Pac-12 for the Buffs and Utes.Haller: Media picked Colorado to finish 10th, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Buffaloes finish a spot or two higher. Regardless, they won't be down long. Tad Boyle already is recruiting at a high level. Krystkowiak has a lot of work to do with the Utes. It might take a couple seasons for the them to start climbing.

Occupy Oakland, Winter's Comin' On…Questions for Next Stages

“This is what democracy looks like” is almost as good a slogan as “we are the 99%.” Those slogans represent the gist of the movement, and the way it should be organized. Some of us older supporters have spent quite a bit of time at the General Assemblies at Occupy Oakland.

I have raised funds for Occupy Oakland-I have photographed it, I have donated to it and written about it. I have been obsessed with the movement that I hope is bringing fresh recruits to our decades-long struggle for social justice. During those decades, I became as much a victim of our system as a fighter against it, but that has made me clearer about the fight we are in.

For a minute I thought that not only had the recruits arrived but that maybe it was time for me to lay down my gear and watch the fight be carried on from afar.

I was part of the momentous, awe-inspiring moments last week when we marched over the highway to the port with thousands of our closest friends. After I began to think it was time to head home, I heard someone say, “Here comes the second wave.” I turned and saw them and I couldn’t believe my eyes-thousands of people flowing onto the overpass and down into the waiting crowd. They kept arriving for the next hour and even straggled in as I wound my way home.

I could have cried many times that day and I did do a lot of oohing and ahhing. Oakland’s visage from the area around the port represented the height of urban power-the cranes and bridges in the distance, the huge trucks and empty cars waiting for their bounty, and the train tracks curling around it all in the sunset. Added to the view of raw industrial strength was the site of human beings climbing, singing, dancing and waving signs and occupying every inch of those industrial metal “sculptures.”

A little group was playing “De Colores” on the top of the overpass just as the sun went down while a mom danced with her little boy. I returned home so elated, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Some friends arrived later; and as we talked about the day, the calls started coming in of the disturbing incidents unfolding downtown.

You all know the rest of that story. Even Keith Olberman, who interviewed our own Sean Maher of the Oakland Trib, insisted on showing footage of the fires burning and the police advancing behind a veil of tear gas. And it wasn’t some little coterie of overwrought youth who had gotten a little too energetic after a great day. Later I saw video of the Whole Foods that afternoon while the marauders attacked the very protestors who had been marching and working for a new kind of world.

So, this is what democracy looks like? That’s hard to gauge from where we stand now. After attending the City Council meeting where over 100 people spoke, most in support of OO, the CC listened patiently and responded with their own concerns about costs to the city and the potential loss of business in a town with 17% unemployment.

Most of my friends are leftists while some are liberal. [If you don’t know the difference, that’s not surprising given our willfully ignorant media, but it’s a subject for another day.] I have found a split among the folks I know who support the Occupy movement in different ways, but it’s not the split the local press has promoted.

The split I have noted seems to be between those who have a broad left overview and see the movement as a chance to change the whole thrust of politics in this country on the national stage; and those of us who are more involved in governing at the local level. We would like to see the bigger picture if we could turn away from the smaller screen on an Oakland that is brimming with broken windows, trash, and tear gas.

We, who have helped to craft budgets designed to leave something for senior centers, safe passage programs for children, and façade improvements for our small businesses, would like to see some of the funds that have been poured into port-a-potties and police overtime flow into these line items instead.

As a person who has long been a small business advocate and a leftist, I don’t believe that collateral damage is any more acceptable to a firm that supports local designers and promotes our downtown than it is to civilians caught in the crossfire in one of America’s real occupations [the term, occupation, has always bothered me for that reason].

Here’s the other thing, the movement will not survive if it is based on camping out. Yes, weather really will have an effect, and so will the diminishment of supplies and supporters, not because of their lack of belief but because they must move on with their lives.

So that means it’s time to move onto the next stage and begin to look for more allies, like the labor folks, the anti-eviction forces, and the creative groups who put up galleries, murals, spoken-word events, art murmurs, and organic farming movements in our great little town.

At one time I thought that the next stage was to use the example of Amsterdam in the 60’s and 70’s and begin squatting in empty buildings. But after Wednesday night, I’m not sure the movement can handle the destructive element in its midst, and I don’t want to see fires, no, not even little ones, in the streets.I have another concern. For those too young to remember earlier periods of student and worker movements, I am here to tell you that this is a time which may also result in our most liberal leaders- in our universities, our cities, and even our country- being thrown out and replaced by reactionary leaders.

The reaction to incidents of violence or even the appearance of lack of order was joined with the disgust over unruly police forces to produce a climate designed to replace them with “strong men.”

Make no mistake about it-these forces are waiting in the wings to remove the gutsy, hardworking Quan with their top-down managers who will immediately crack down on youth and workers alike.

Since this is a truly organic uprising, a real upwelling of anger and hope, I not only don’t have the answers; I don’t have to answer these questions as I may already be irrelevant to the process.

But, since I believe that local government represents our best chance to show what democracy really looks like, I will assert that we all have the right and the duty to participate and to consider all the elements of our community when we make decisions.

That means being pragmatic as well as visionary, reformist as well as revolutionary, and optimistic as well as skeptical.

As someone already put it, “Occupy Oakland? Thanks, I already do.”

The Duggar family of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" expecting baby No. 20

It’s appalling. The God thing is one thing, but to carry it on like this is appalling. To suggest they take care of their family and are not on public assistance so therefore it does not matter is not that simple. It simply is wrong to have that many children from the same gene pool. The additional burden on the planet that these two people have chosen to bring is mind blowing. It is self centered and wrong. I don’t believe in puppy mills for the same reason. Adopt, the world faces food shortages in the future. Just because you can conceive it is not your duty to create an entire region of Duggars.

The couple, who star on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” live in Tontitown, Ark., and are parents to children Joshua, 23; twins Jana and John-David, 21; Jill, 20; Jessa, 19; Jinger, 17; Joseph, 16; Josiah, 15; Joy-Anna, 14; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 12; Jason, 11, James, 10, Justin, 8, Jackson, 7; Johanna, 6; Jennifer, 4; Jordyn, 3; and nearly 2-year-old daughter Josie, who survived a medical emergency when she was born at only 25 weeks.

Source: New York Daily News

The Duggar family from TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting is throwing their support behind a worthy cause, Habitat for Humanity. TLC announced yesterday that it is selling a specially designed 19 Kids & Counting Habitat for Humanity t-shirt. Here’s even better news for fans of the super-sized Duggar family. From now until December 31st, $10.50 from each shirt sale will be donated to support Habitat for Humanity. The red 100% cotton tee is emblazoned with 19 stick figures to represent the 19 Duggar children. It’s available in sizes S-XL and can be purchased (perhaps as Christmas gifts?) on the TLC store website.

I’m always so confused by the idea that birth control is “unnatural” and a force of modern science, but once the child is here, medical technology to keep them alive is completely okay? If God had actually had it his way, their last child wouldn’t be here. Not saying that they shouldn’t have done all they could to save her, just that I think they are hypocritical for spouting that nonsense. Then again, they are hypocritical in a lot of ways. For instance, they don’t let their kids watch TV but will put them on television for everyone to judge? The children aren’t well behaved, can’t speak well, and are always split into “older” and “younger” groups. The younger children are out of control, and the older children seem so submissive it makes me sad. Since she home schools, she splits them into two levels. Each one learns exactly the same thing. So you have an eight year old working on kindergarten homework. It’s absurd. I feel so bad for these children. The only socializing they do is either with their own siblings or with one other family that lives several hours away. How can you be a functioning and well-adjusted member of society if you have no idea how to interact with anyone outside your own gene pool?

Source: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Over Columbus Day weekend, Mississippi Rep. Steven Palazzo invited "invited friends and family" to Annapolis for a tailgate party before the Southern Mississippi-Navy football game. But unbeknownst to him, apparently, the weekend festivities also attracted "a host of unruly House aides," including "multiple members of his office staff," who rented a house and held a "a two-night party" that resulted in a visit from the police. When the property manager called the congressman's office to complain, "at least two Palazzo staffers, [scheduler Ashley] Donald and Richard McKay, tried to run interference, going as far as to put someone up to impersonate the Congressman over the phone to the irate homeowner." There was also an offer of Mississippi pecans, seemingly intended to smooth over the situation. According to the homeowner and property manager, Donald also "derailed every attempt to speak directly with the Congressman or a senior staffer." Palazzo chief of staff Jamie Miller eventually got wind of the problem in late-October and indicated to Roll Call that Donald and McKay "will no longer be working for Palazzo." [Heard on the Hill]

Source: The Atlantic Wire

All this, of course, adds another element to the winter experience at Snowmass, which already boasts a standout children’s center unlike any other I’ve seen at snow resorts. The Tree House Kid’s Adventure Center has got everything a family needs to de-stress a trip to the slopes — specially-trained instructors attuned to child development and varying learning styles, one-stop shopping for kids’ rentals and lessons and a shop where you can buy everything from a helmet to the lip balm and sunscreen you forgot. Let’s not forget the indoor climbing wall, “Beaver Lodge,” for kids to crawl through, a puppet show theater and nature shack or the apres and evening activities for preschoolers, kids and teens.

“It was very complicated to make on less money as it spanned over 17 years with four versions of Kevin from a baby to a teenager,” notes Ramsay of the film, which centers on the mother of a teenage boy who embarks on a high-school killing spree. “I had to cut it to the bone and be inventive and economical to make it work. The film was prepped within an inch of its life as we had only 30 days to shoot with costume changes and limited hours with children.” Variety called the film “exquisitely realized” at Cannes.