Tiger Woods to Return to Therapy After Statement
"NBC Sports has published what it says is the leaked text of Wood's prepared speech, first obtained by a North Carolina radio station.
In the statement, whose veracity could not be confirmed, Woods says that "sadly things have not worked out" between him and his wife Elin Nordegren, despite their reported efforts to patch things up.
The complete text reads:"
"Directly to the point there is no one to blame but me for the mess I have put my wife and family through. I accept total and complete responsibility. My wife and I have been trying to work things out but sadly things have not worked out. Again all the blame is upon me. We have decided to live apart with me having mutually agreed upon times when I can be with our children.
I know that the world wants all the details of what transpired in our marriage but that is between my wife and I and will remain that way. I have to get on my life and that means playing golf again. I have contacted The Masters and have informed them that my plan is to resume The Masters and they have said that they would welcome me with open arms.
For that I am most grateful for I deserve nothing.
Finally I want to thank all my fans around the world for standing by me when I let you down horribly. I failed all of you about as badly as a person can. I apologize to everyone of you. I promise all of you that you will see a new Tiger Woods, a better Tiger Woods and I will not let you down.
Now I'd like , by the grace of God and with His help, to get back to what I do best and that is playing golf. See you all at The Masters.
God Bless you all. Tiger Woods"
(KTLA)
February 18, 2010
Some Intriguing Insights . . . . .
How To Be A Billionaire
Research reveals three qualities common to people who build great fortunes.
The first secret of the truly rich is that they are never afraid to fail. Most of our interviewees told us that at one point they had had a choice to either stick to an easy, secure route or take a calculated risk. To reach the truly heights of wealth, some risk is needed. If you look for security in a job or are scared to try something different, you won't get far in the pursuit of true wealth.
The second secret of the truly rich is that they look creatively at problems to find new revenue sources. The people we interviewed often told us of how they looked at problems from different angles and liked to go against the grain. They recognized that everyone else believing or doing something didn't make it right. But being a contrarian for the sake of being contrary was no solution either. They knew they always had to think critically when analyzing any problems.
The third secret of the truly rich is that they marry well. I don't mean they find a rich heir or heiress to wed, though that might not hurt. Rather, most of the truly rich we talked to, especially the self-made ones, told us that having a good spouse had been critical to their success. Starting a company or running a conglomerate takes a lot of sacrifices. The stress can be a killer. Having a good spouse to support you and, most important, believe in you as you struggle to the top is critical.
(Forbes)
Research reveals three qualities common to people who build great fortunes.
The first secret of the truly rich is that they are never afraid to fail. Most of our interviewees told us that at one point they had had a choice to either stick to an easy, secure route or take a calculated risk. To reach the truly heights of wealth, some risk is needed. If you look for security in a job or are scared to try something different, you won't get far in the pursuit of true wealth.
The second secret of the truly rich is that they look creatively at problems to find new revenue sources. The people we interviewed often told us of how they looked at problems from different angles and liked to go against the grain. They recognized that everyone else believing or doing something didn't make it right. But being a contrarian for the sake of being contrary was no solution either. They knew they always had to think critically when analyzing any problems.
The third secret of the truly rich is that they marry well. I don't mean they find a rich heir or heiress to wed, though that might not hurt. Rather, most of the truly rich we talked to, especially the self-made ones, told us that having a good spouse had been critical to their success. Starting a company or running a conglomerate takes a lot of sacrifices. The stress can be a killer. Having a good spouse to support you and, most important, believe in you as you struggle to the top is critical.
(Forbes)
You Think You're Ready But You May Not Be Completely Ready Yet . . . . .
10 Signs You're Not Ready to Retire
You Haven’t Done the Math
Scenario: If you haven’t made lists or done any calculations to figure out just how you’ll cover day-to-day expenses, travel and holidays, you’ll have to give more thought to how much savings you’ll need to make it through retirement.
What you can do: If you’re among this group, or you just want to get a handle on what you’ll need to retire, there are plenty of online tools you can use to figure out how much you’ll need and what kind of lifestyle your money will afford you when you do decide to retire.
You Need to Play Catch-Up
Scenario: If you haven’t socked enough away in your 401(k), don’t panic. You have some options.
What you can do: If you’re 50 or older, you can make catch-up contributions of an additional $5,500 – that’s on top of the maximum of $16,500 if you’re under 50 - to your 401(k) or IRA to make sure you’re on track to retire when you want to, notes Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Recession Killed Your Retirement Funds
Scenario: Your retirement savings were cut nearly in half during the recession. The market seems to be improving, but you’re still uncertain.
What you can do: If you’re considering retirement and you’ve lost close to a third or more of your retirement savings, you may have taken on much more risk than you can handle. Find out whether you’re too old to be mostly invested in stocks or other high risk investments and adjust the way your retirement funds are allocated. You’ll want to minimize risk by investing conservatively. If you need help, find a certified financial planner.
You’ve Lost Your Pension
Scenario: Your pension plan has been discontinued and you’re worried that, without it, you may not have enough money to retire when you want to.
What you can do: First, find out whether your pension plan has been terminated or frozen.
It may seem counterintuitive, but you may be better off if your employer goes bankrupt than if your pension is just frozen or shrunk. That’s because employee pensions with companies filing for bankruptcy are covered by the government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, notes The Motley Fool. That means you should still be able to receive some if not all of what you’re due.
You Have Too Much Debt
Scenario: You have a substantial amount of mortgage or credit card debt which you’ll have to continue to pay off for the next several years.
What you can do: First, cut down on unnecessary spending to free up cash to pay the bills. Consider downsizing to a smaller home that’s cheaper to maintain. Next, use a debt reduction calculator to find out how long it will take you to pay off your debts. If paying down your debts seems impossible, get help from a reputable credit counseling agency via the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Out of Hand Expenses
Scenario: You’re concerned about covering all of your day-to-day expenses.
What you can do: Use an online calculator to determine how much you might be spending on utilities, health care, travel, meals, hobbies, gifts and other expenses. Next, identify what you’re willing to cut down on. For instance, if you still own the home that your children grew up in, you may be spending too much just for heating and cooling and could save money and energy just focusing on the rooms you usually occupy.
Drastic Measures to Pay the Bills
Scenario: You’re not a big spender, but in order to pay your bills during retirement, you might have to sell your home, get a reverse mortgage or take other drastic measures to get by.
What you can do: Downsizing your home might not be a bad idea and a reverse mortgage might give you an income in retirement if you’re not planning to leave your home to your heirs, but if you may end up struggling to make ends meet, you may want to reconsider retirement.
But that doesn’t mean work stress has to continue to wear you down. It’s never too late to consider a career change that could lead to more gratifying and enjoyable work. Plus, older people who have switched careers tend to have more flexible work schedules than in their previous jobs, according to AARP, meaning you could still have time to enjoy semi-retirement.
You Have Health Coverage Concerns
Scenario: You’ve got Medicare or you qualify for it when you retire, but you’re not sure if you can cover prescription drug costs.
What you can do: The easiest thing you can do to cut your prescription drug costs is to switch to generics. Beyond that, you can consider Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan for which you’ll have to pay a monthly premium, but it could save you substantial amounts of money.
And if you’re on a limited income, drug companies may even provide you with free or cheap medications via the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
You Like to Spend
Scenario: You see retirement as your time to live the good life, but you’re not sure if you’ll have enough to cover all of the cruises, early-bird specials and other outings you envision for your life after work.
What you can do: If you’re in relatively good health now, you may want to work a bit beyond 65 to help you afford little luxuries – and actually be able to enjoy them - when you finally do retire. Or consider part-time work. Online job search sites like RetirementJobs.com specialize in jobs for people over age 50.
You Need to Keep Busy
Scenario: You’re considering retirement, but you’re the type of person who needs to stay busy and feel productive.
What you can do: If you’re not as concerned about being able to afford retirement as you are about keeping yourself sharp and spry in your later years, volunteering is a great way to stay productive and social while still maintaining an easy and flexible schedule. AARP has a Web site where the retirement-aged can search for worthwhile volunteering opportunities.
(Yahoo)
You Haven’t Done the Math
Scenario: If you haven’t made lists or done any calculations to figure out just how you’ll cover day-to-day expenses, travel and holidays, you’ll have to give more thought to how much savings you’ll need to make it through retirement.
What you can do: If you’re among this group, or you just want to get a handle on what you’ll need to retire, there are plenty of online tools you can use to figure out how much you’ll need and what kind of lifestyle your money will afford you when you do decide to retire.
You Need to Play Catch-Up
Scenario: If you haven’t socked enough away in your 401(k), don’t panic. You have some options.
What you can do: If you’re 50 or older, you can make catch-up contributions of an additional $5,500 – that’s on top of the maximum of $16,500 if you’re under 50 - to your 401(k) or IRA to make sure you’re on track to retire when you want to, notes Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Recession Killed Your Retirement Funds
Scenario: Your retirement savings were cut nearly in half during the recession. The market seems to be improving, but you’re still uncertain.
What you can do: If you’re considering retirement and you’ve lost close to a third or more of your retirement savings, you may have taken on much more risk than you can handle. Find out whether you’re too old to be mostly invested in stocks or other high risk investments and adjust the way your retirement funds are allocated. You’ll want to minimize risk by investing conservatively. If you need help, find a certified financial planner.
You’ve Lost Your Pension
Scenario: Your pension plan has been discontinued and you’re worried that, without it, you may not have enough money to retire when you want to.
What you can do: First, find out whether your pension plan has been terminated or frozen.
It may seem counterintuitive, but you may be better off if your employer goes bankrupt than if your pension is just frozen or shrunk. That’s because employee pensions with companies filing for bankruptcy are covered by the government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, notes The Motley Fool. That means you should still be able to receive some if not all of what you’re due.
You Have Too Much Debt
Scenario: You have a substantial amount of mortgage or credit card debt which you’ll have to continue to pay off for the next several years.
What you can do: First, cut down on unnecessary spending to free up cash to pay the bills. Consider downsizing to a smaller home that’s cheaper to maintain. Next, use a debt reduction calculator to find out how long it will take you to pay off your debts. If paying down your debts seems impossible, get help from a reputable credit counseling agency via the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Out of Hand Expenses
Scenario: You’re concerned about covering all of your day-to-day expenses.
What you can do: Use an online calculator to determine how much you might be spending on utilities, health care, travel, meals, hobbies, gifts and other expenses. Next, identify what you’re willing to cut down on. For instance, if you still own the home that your children grew up in, you may be spending too much just for heating and cooling and could save money and energy just focusing on the rooms you usually occupy.
Drastic Measures to Pay the Bills
Scenario: You’re not a big spender, but in order to pay your bills during retirement, you might have to sell your home, get a reverse mortgage or take other drastic measures to get by.
What you can do: Downsizing your home might not be a bad idea and a reverse mortgage might give you an income in retirement if you’re not planning to leave your home to your heirs, but if you may end up struggling to make ends meet, you may want to reconsider retirement.
But that doesn’t mean work stress has to continue to wear you down. It’s never too late to consider a career change that could lead to more gratifying and enjoyable work. Plus, older people who have switched careers tend to have more flexible work schedules than in their previous jobs, according to AARP, meaning you could still have time to enjoy semi-retirement.
You Have Health Coverage Concerns
Scenario: You’ve got Medicare or you qualify for it when you retire, but you’re not sure if you can cover prescription drug costs.
What you can do: The easiest thing you can do to cut your prescription drug costs is to switch to generics. Beyond that, you can consider Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan for which you’ll have to pay a monthly premium, but it could save you substantial amounts of money.
And if you’re on a limited income, drug companies may even provide you with free or cheap medications via the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
You Like to Spend
Scenario: You see retirement as your time to live the good life, but you’re not sure if you’ll have enough to cover all of the cruises, early-bird specials and other outings you envision for your life after work.
What you can do: If you’re in relatively good health now, you may want to work a bit beyond 65 to help you afford little luxuries – and actually be able to enjoy them - when you finally do retire. Or consider part-time work. Online job search sites like RetirementJobs.com specialize in jobs for people over age 50.
You Need to Keep Busy
Scenario: You’re considering retirement, but you’re the type of person who needs to stay busy and feel productive.
What you can do: If you’re not as concerned about being able to afford retirement as you are about keeping yourself sharp and spry in your later years, volunteering is a great way to stay productive and social while still maintaining an easy and flexible schedule. AARP has a Web site where the retirement-aged can search for worthwhile volunteering opportunities.
(Yahoo)
It May Be Genetically Created In A Lab But I'll Still Eat It . . . . .
4 Shocking Secrets About Fast Food
What’s in a Chicken McNugget?
You’d think that a breaded lump of chicken would be pretty simple. Mostly, it would contain bread and chicken. But the McNugget and its peers at other fast-food restaurants are much more complicated creatures than that. The “meat” in the McNugget alone contains seven ingredients, some of which are made up of yet more ingredients. (Nope, it’s not just chicken. It’s also such nonchicken-related stuff as water, wheat starch, dextrose, safflower oil, and sodium phosphates.) The “meat” also contains something called “autolyzed yeast extract.” Then add another 20 ingredients that make up the breading, and you have the industrial chemical—I mean, fast-food meal—called the McNugget. Still, McDonald’s is practically all-natural compared to Wendy’s Chicken Nuggets, with 30 ingredients, and Burger King Chicken Fries, with a whopping 35 ingredients.
What’s in a Wendy’s Frosty?
Wendy’s Frosty requires 14 ingredients to create what traditional shakes achieve with only milk and ice cream. So what accounts for the double-digit ingredient list? Mostly a barrage of thickening agents that includes guar gum, cellulose gum, and carrageenan. And while that’s enough to disqualify it as a milk shake in our book, it’s nothing compared to the chemist’s list of ingredients in the restaurant’s new line of bulked-up Frankenfrosties.
Check out the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty, for instance. It seems harmless enough; the only additions, after all, are “coffee syrup” and “coffee toffee pieces.” The problem is that those two additions collectively contain 25 extra ingredients, seven of which are sugars and three of which are oils. And get this: Rather than a classic syrup, the “coffee syrup” would more accurately be described as a blend of water, high-fructose corn syrup, and propylene glycol, a laxative chemical that’s used as an emulsifier in food and a filler in electronic cigarettes. Of all 10 ingredients it takes to make the syrup, coffee doesn’t show up until near the end, eight items down the list.
What’s in a Filet-O-Fish?
The world’s most famous fish sandwich begins as one of the ocean’s ugliest creatures. Filet-O-Fish, like many of the fish patties used by fast-food chains, is made predominantly from hoki, a gnarly, crazy-eyed fish found in the cold waters off the coast of New Zealand. In the past, McDonald’s has purchased up to 15 million pounds of hoki a year, each flaky fillet destined for a coat of batter, a bath of oil, a squirt of tartar, and a final resting place in a warm, squishy bun. But it seems the world’s appetite for this and other fried-fish sandwiches has proven too voracious, as New Zealand has been forced to cut the allowable catch over the years in order to keep the hoki population from collapsing. Don’t expect McDonald’s to scale down Filet-O-Fish output anytime soon, though; other whitefish like Alaskan pollock will likely fill in the gaps left by the hoki downturn. After all, once it’s battered and fried, do you really think you’ll know the difference?
What’s in my salami sandwich?
Salami, the mystery meat: Is it cow? Is it pig? Well, if you’re talking Genoa salami, like you’d get at Subway, then it’s both. Most salami is made from slaughterhouse leftovers that are gathered using “advanced meat recovery,” which sounds like a rehab center for vegans but is actually a mechanical process that strips the last remaining bits of muscle off the bone so nothing is wasted. It’s then processed using lactic acid, the waste product produced by bacteria in the meat. It both gives the salami its tangy flavor and cures it as well, making it an inhospitable place for other bacteria to grow. Add in a bunch of salt and spices—for a total of 15 ingredients in all—and you’ve got salami. But now that you know what’s in there, you might need to check yourself into an advanced meat recovery center.
(Yahoo)
What’s in a Chicken McNugget?
You’d think that a breaded lump of chicken would be pretty simple. Mostly, it would contain bread and chicken. But the McNugget and its peers at other fast-food restaurants are much more complicated creatures than that. The “meat” in the McNugget alone contains seven ingredients, some of which are made up of yet more ingredients. (Nope, it’s not just chicken. It’s also such nonchicken-related stuff as water, wheat starch, dextrose, safflower oil, and sodium phosphates.) The “meat” also contains something called “autolyzed yeast extract.” Then add another 20 ingredients that make up the breading, and you have the industrial chemical—I mean, fast-food meal—called the McNugget. Still, McDonald’s is practically all-natural compared to Wendy’s Chicken Nuggets, with 30 ingredients, and Burger King Chicken Fries, with a whopping 35 ingredients.
What’s in a Wendy’s Frosty?
Wendy’s Frosty requires 14 ingredients to create what traditional shakes achieve with only milk and ice cream. So what accounts for the double-digit ingredient list? Mostly a barrage of thickening agents that includes guar gum, cellulose gum, and carrageenan. And while that’s enough to disqualify it as a milk shake in our book, it’s nothing compared to the chemist’s list of ingredients in the restaurant’s new line of bulked-up Frankenfrosties.
Check out the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty, for instance. It seems harmless enough; the only additions, after all, are “coffee syrup” and “coffee toffee pieces.” The problem is that those two additions collectively contain 25 extra ingredients, seven of which are sugars and three of which are oils. And get this: Rather than a classic syrup, the “coffee syrup” would more accurately be described as a blend of water, high-fructose corn syrup, and propylene glycol, a laxative chemical that’s used as an emulsifier in food and a filler in electronic cigarettes. Of all 10 ingredients it takes to make the syrup, coffee doesn’t show up until near the end, eight items down the list.
What’s in a Filet-O-Fish?
The world’s most famous fish sandwich begins as one of the ocean’s ugliest creatures. Filet-O-Fish, like many of the fish patties used by fast-food chains, is made predominantly from hoki, a gnarly, crazy-eyed fish found in the cold waters off the coast of New Zealand. In the past, McDonald’s has purchased up to 15 million pounds of hoki a year, each flaky fillet destined for a coat of batter, a bath of oil, a squirt of tartar, and a final resting place in a warm, squishy bun. But it seems the world’s appetite for this and other fried-fish sandwiches has proven too voracious, as New Zealand has been forced to cut the allowable catch over the years in order to keep the hoki population from collapsing. Don’t expect McDonald’s to scale down Filet-O-Fish output anytime soon, though; other whitefish like Alaskan pollock will likely fill in the gaps left by the hoki downturn. After all, once it’s battered and fried, do you really think you’ll know the difference?
What’s in my salami sandwich?
Salami, the mystery meat: Is it cow? Is it pig? Well, if you’re talking Genoa salami, like you’d get at Subway, then it’s both. Most salami is made from slaughterhouse leftovers that are gathered using “advanced meat recovery,” which sounds like a rehab center for vegans but is actually a mechanical process that strips the last remaining bits of muscle off the bone so nothing is wasted. It’s then processed using lactic acid, the waste product produced by bacteria in the meat. It both gives the salami its tangy flavor and cures it as well, making it an inhospitable place for other bacteria to grow. Add in a bunch of salt and spices—for a total of 15 ingredients in all—and you’ve got salami. But now that you know what’s in there, you might need to check yourself into an advanced meat recovery center.
(Yahoo)
This Book Is A Real Eye Catcher . . . . .
Soft Porn, With a Side of Soft Corn (Tacos)
"T&T&A, a new book due out in March, pairs photos of barely-clothed women with full frontal shots of tacos.
"There are connoisseurs of French Bordeaux. And connoisseurs of Tang Dynasty woodcuts," declares publisher Sump Books. "And there are connoisseurs of topless women and cheap-ass Mexican food."
In the above image, we've taken the courtesy of strategically placing two tortilla chips over the female subject's upper torso (this is a family site, after all). But, for those of you with dirtier minds interested in more information, the Huffington Post has posted a NSFW slideshow of images from the upcoming book.
The book, by photographer Tony Stamolis, takes food porn to new highs or lows, depending on your perspective."
(TheFoodSection)
"T&T&A, a new book due out in March, pairs photos of barely-clothed women with full frontal shots of tacos.
"There are connoisseurs of French Bordeaux. And connoisseurs of Tang Dynasty woodcuts," declares publisher Sump Books. "And there are connoisseurs of topless women and cheap-ass Mexican food."
In the above image, we've taken the courtesy of strategically placing two tortilla chips over the female subject's upper torso (this is a family site, after all). But, for those of you with dirtier minds interested in more information, the Huffington Post has posted a NSFW slideshow of images from the upcoming book.
The book, by photographer Tony Stamolis, takes food porn to new highs or lows, depending on your perspective."
(TheFoodSection)
Trade Secrets Must Be Kept At Any Cost . . . . .
The extreme - and violent - methods used to keep Apple's secrets
Exposed: the bizarre and brutal lengths suppliers go to to preserve Apple's famed secrecy
"Inside the walled city - one of several compounds run by Foxconn International, a major supplier for Apple - employees are provided with most of their daily needs. There are dormitories, canteens, recreation facilities, even banks, post offices and bakeries.
The rank-and-file within the compound have little reason to venture outside. That reduces the likelihood of leaks, which in turn lessens the risk of incurring the wrath of Apple and its chief executive, Steve Jobs, whose product launches have turned into long-running, tightly controlled media spectacles.
Many of Apple's finished gadgets, from iPods to iPads, are assembled at industrial compounds like the one in Longhua. And when it comes to guarding Apple's secrets, Foxconn and other suppliers throughout the region leave little to chance.
"Security is tight everywhere inside the factories," said a uniformed worker outside the Foxconn factory in Longhua, about an hour from Hong Kong. "They use metal detectors and search us. If you have any metal objects on you when you leave, they just call the police."
(PCPro.uk)
Exposed: the bizarre and brutal lengths suppliers go to to preserve Apple's famed secrecy
"Inside the walled city - one of several compounds run by Foxconn International, a major supplier for Apple - employees are provided with most of their daily needs. There are dormitories, canteens, recreation facilities, even banks, post offices and bakeries.
The rank-and-file within the compound have little reason to venture outside. That reduces the likelihood of leaks, which in turn lessens the risk of incurring the wrath of Apple and its chief executive, Steve Jobs, whose product launches have turned into long-running, tightly controlled media spectacles.
Many of Apple's finished gadgets, from iPods to iPads, are assembled at industrial compounds like the one in Longhua. And when it comes to guarding Apple's secrets, Foxconn and other suppliers throughout the region leave little to chance.
"Security is tight everywhere inside the factories," said a uniformed worker outside the Foxconn factory in Longhua, about an hour from Hong Kong. "They use metal detectors and search us. If you have any metal objects on you when you leave, they just call the police."
(PCPro.uk)
They At Least Care About Their Clientel Somewhat . . . . .
Swiss prostitutes armed with defibrillators
"Prostitutes in the picturesque Swiss lakeside town of Lugano are adding defibrillation to their list of services following the death of several elderly punters whose hearts just couldn't take the pace.
According to the Corriere della Sera, there are currently 38 brothels and sex clubs in the Lugano area, and more are planned to accommodate the rising tide of customers who pop over the border from Italy.
For some, though, this proves to be a day trip too far. The most recent case was a pensioner who suffered a heart attack while enjoying Lugano's delights with the aid of "pharmaceutical assistance".
Accordingly, brothel owners plan to arm their girls with defibrillators, after suitable training."
(TheRegister.co.uk)
"Prostitutes in the picturesque Swiss lakeside town of Lugano are adding defibrillation to their list of services following the death of several elderly punters whose hearts just couldn't take the pace.
According to the Corriere della Sera, there are currently 38 brothels and sex clubs in the Lugano area, and more are planned to accommodate the rising tide of customers who pop over the border from Italy.
For some, though, this proves to be a day trip too far. The most recent case was a pensioner who suffered a heart attack while enjoying Lugano's delights with the aid of "pharmaceutical assistance".
Accordingly, brothel owners plan to arm their girls with defibrillators, after suitable training."
(TheRegister.co.uk)
Let's See If This Really Happens . . . . .
Legalize It: Horchaus federalizing non-U.S. Audis for North America
"We're going back and forth on this one. Do we file it under "We'll believe it when we see it" or "Pinch me I'm dreaming"? Either way, we get to sub-tag it, "Thank God for rich friends." That's right y'all, Audi is allowing Horchaus, the Canadian distributor MTM, to federalize some special four-ringers for American consumption. These are the real deal, hopped-up German Audis, straight from the tweaker factory.
As we're sure you all know, Audi keeps a whole bunch of extra spicy models back in Europe. Why? The excuses typically involve some song and dance about Americans not wanting high performance station wagons (as if), though in the case of the RS4 Avant (arguably the most desirable car we can't buy), the U.S. prohibition was because the rear-mounted battery didn't pass DOT certification . . . . .
So which cars can we now get via Horchaus? The RS4 Avant, RS4 Convertible, S3, the RS6 sedan and RS6 Avant, Q7 V12 TDI and TT RS. And there's something else to note: Since Euro-tuner MTM is involved in the equation, these cars can be pumped up a bit over stock. One example would be the twin-turbo V10 in the RS6 upped from a paltry 580 horsepower to a more appropriate 735 hp."
(AutoBlog)
"We're going back and forth on this one. Do we file it under "We'll believe it when we see it" or "Pinch me I'm dreaming"? Either way, we get to sub-tag it, "Thank God for rich friends." That's right y'all, Audi is allowing Horchaus, the Canadian distributor MTM, to federalize some special four-ringers for American consumption. These are the real deal, hopped-up German Audis, straight from the tweaker factory.
As we're sure you all know, Audi keeps a whole bunch of extra spicy models back in Europe. Why? The excuses typically involve some song and dance about Americans not wanting high performance station wagons (as if), though in the case of the RS4 Avant (arguably the most desirable car we can't buy), the U.S. prohibition was because the rear-mounted battery didn't pass DOT certification . . . . .
So which cars can we now get via Horchaus? The RS4 Avant, RS4 Convertible, S3, the RS6 sedan and RS6 Avant, Q7 V12 TDI and TT RS. And there's something else to note: Since Euro-tuner MTM is involved in the equation, these cars can be pumped up a bit over stock. One example would be the twin-turbo V10 in the RS6 upped from a paltry 580 horsepower to a more appropriate 735 hp."
(AutoBlog)
The Leaked (Fake) Tiger Wood's Statement For His Press Conference Tomorrow . . . . .
Tiger Woods Statement Transcript
Because of connections within the Tiger Woods camp, we have received what is reported to be an early copy of the statement Tiger Woods will read Friday morning at 11:30a in Ponte Vedra:
“Thank you for coming. I want you to know how deeply sorry I am for the behavior that caused so much turmoil and pain for my family and fans. First, I would like to publicly apologize to my lovely wife Elin whose curiosity, temper, strength, and financial shrewdness I underestimated. My life would have been much easier if I had simply said no to the dozens if not hundreds of waitresses, bartenders, prostitutes, hotel maids, strippers, blackjack dealers, WalMart cashiers, sandwich artists, pedestrians, professional shoppers, and dog groomers who asked if my Escalade was comfortable with the seat down.
“I would also like to apologize to golf fans everywhere for letting them down. You counted on me to either be true to Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – or at the minimum, use my fame and fortune to score with better than the waitress from Perkin’s, who looks eerily similar to the Meredith character on “The Office”.
“As you can see, my physical scars have healed. My emotional scars were attended to at a facility in Mississippi. My financial scars? The bleeding continues. My marriage will be strong again as the trust with Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – is rebuilt through my one-day-at-a-time approach to my addiction which led to so many thrilling yet ultimately unpleasant interludes in the Escalade, with the exception of those with the waitress from Perkin’s. Those cannot be explained other than to say they were unpleasant from start to finish and if anything should reaffirm in the mind of my wife Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – and the collective mind of America that I am a sex addict, it is my repeated dalliances with her.
“Please allow my family to continue healing without further intrusion. I will return to competition at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Invitational. Please respect my privacy. Please respect the privacy of my wife Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world. And for those of you who may have enjoyed a respectable payday from time-to-time at the expense of my addiction, please do not wait on me, deal to me, dance for me, clean for me, or approach me while wearing fishnet stockings and a short leather skirt.
“Thank you”
(KenSterling)
Because of connections within the Tiger Woods camp, we have received what is reported to be an early copy of the statement Tiger Woods will read Friday morning at 11:30a in Ponte Vedra:
“Thank you for coming. I want you to know how deeply sorry I am for the behavior that caused so much turmoil and pain for my family and fans. First, I would like to publicly apologize to my lovely wife Elin whose curiosity, temper, strength, and financial shrewdness I underestimated. My life would have been much easier if I had simply said no to the dozens if not hundreds of waitresses, bartenders, prostitutes, hotel maids, strippers, blackjack dealers, WalMart cashiers, sandwich artists, pedestrians, professional shoppers, and dog groomers who asked if my Escalade was comfortable with the seat down.
“I would also like to apologize to golf fans everywhere for letting them down. You counted on me to either be true to Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – or at the minimum, use my fame and fortune to score with better than the waitress from Perkin’s, who looks eerily similar to the Meredith character on “The Office”.
“As you can see, my physical scars have healed. My emotional scars were attended to at a facility in Mississippi. My financial scars? The bleeding continues. My marriage will be strong again as the trust with Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – is rebuilt through my one-day-at-a-time approach to my addiction which led to so many thrilling yet ultimately unpleasant interludes in the Escalade, with the exception of those with the waitress from Perkin’s. Those cannot be explained other than to say they were unpleasant from start to finish and if anything should reaffirm in the mind of my wife Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world – and the collective mind of America that I am a sex addict, it is my repeated dalliances with her.
“Please allow my family to continue healing without further intrusion. I will return to competition at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Invitational. Please respect my privacy. Please respect the privacy of my wife Elin (deliberately and with emphasis) – the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world. And for those of you who may have enjoyed a respectable payday from time-to-time at the expense of my addiction, please do not wait on me, deal to me, dance for me, clean for me, or approach me while wearing fishnet stockings and a short leather skirt.
“Thank you”
(KenSterling)
Some Self-Help Projects Just Should Not Be Taken On . . . . .
Change a man-whore? Don't bet on it
"(CNN) -- Two television shows, "The Bachelor" and "For the Love of Ray J," have one thing in common: They both contribute to the glamorizing of the man-whore.
To understand where I'm going with this, let's first define man-whore.
According to Urban Dictionary.com, a man-whore is "someone who repeatedly sleeps with random women indiscriminately without regard to any consequences. Man-whores are mainly found at local pubs, bars, parties, although they can be found anywhere throughout the world."
Man-whores used to be easy to spot, like that old man hanging out in the nightclub, trying to pick up young ladies.
But the new, improved man-whore wants you to believe he wants to be committed but just hasn't found the right woman to commit to -- yet.
How does he get away with it? Here is where the problem lies, and I fully expect to get some flak for this. Women are the reason the man-whore continues to exist and evolve into the "misunderstood guy who can't commit." Women feed the never-ending addictive cycle. If there were not women around willing to service these men, the man-whore would cease to exist."
(CNN)
"(CNN) -- Two television shows, "The Bachelor" and "For the Love of Ray J," have one thing in common: They both contribute to the glamorizing of the man-whore.
To understand where I'm going with this, let's first define man-whore.
According to Urban Dictionary.com, a man-whore is "someone who repeatedly sleeps with random women indiscriminately without regard to any consequences. Man-whores are mainly found at local pubs, bars, parties, although they can be found anywhere throughout the world."
Man-whores used to be easy to spot, like that old man hanging out in the nightclub, trying to pick up young ladies.
But the new, improved man-whore wants you to believe he wants to be committed but just hasn't found the right woman to commit to -- yet.
How does he get away with it? Here is where the problem lies, and I fully expect to get some flak for this. Women are the reason the man-whore continues to exist and evolve into the "misunderstood guy who can't commit." Women feed the never-ending addictive cycle. If there were not women around willing to service these men, the man-whore would cease to exist."
(CNN)
This Super Sized Monster Would Make For A Mighty Fine Dinner . . . . .
Meet Crabzilla -- The Biggest Crab Ever Found
"The U.K. Daily Mail gave the world a serious case of the heebie-jeebies last week when it ran the startling pics and stats of the biggest crab ever found. Coming in at a length of ten feet (from claw to claw), this crab was caught by fishermen in the Pacific Ocean and is now on display at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, England. Called Macrocheira kaempferi in Latin, the clawed creature is still growing, and could eventually reach fifteen feet wide! In fact, the crab appears particularly limp in this photo because, outside of water, it is unable to support its own heavy arms.
Nicknamed "Crabzilla" because of its monstrous size, this Japanese spider crab can survive 2,500 feet below sea level and has a life span of 100 years."
(AOL)
"The U.K. Daily Mail gave the world a serious case of the heebie-jeebies last week when it ran the startling pics and stats of the biggest crab ever found. Coming in at a length of ten feet (from claw to claw), this crab was caught by fishermen in the Pacific Ocean and is now on display at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, England. Called Macrocheira kaempferi in Latin, the clawed creature is still growing, and could eventually reach fifteen feet wide! In fact, the crab appears particularly limp in this photo because, outside of water, it is unable to support its own heavy arms.
Nicknamed "Crabzilla" because of its monstrous size, this Japanese spider crab can survive 2,500 feet below sea level and has a life span of 100 years."
(AOL)
Now This Is A NBA Trade Rumor That Has My Attention . . . . .
Dallas packaging deal for LeBron?
"The Mavericks were busy at the trade deadline, but will their dealing lead to landing LeBron James? They definitely will be sniffing around this summer, though how things go in the next three or four months in Cleveland, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Denver, Miami and Toronto will go a long way toward determining who ends up where. If Cleveland wins the NBA title, LeBron James isn't going anywhere. If the Cavaliers get busted in the second round, he might have a tour to allow suitors a chance to wine and dine and woo him. By the way, if the Mavericks can get LeBron for Butler and Dampier, they would do it in one second. In fact, they would probably let the Cavaliers pick anybody on the team not named Dirk, with the possible exception of Jason Kidd, and do the deal."
(SI)
"The Mavericks were busy at the trade deadline, but will their dealing lead to landing LeBron James? They definitely will be sniffing around this summer, though how things go in the next three or four months in Cleveland, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Denver, Miami and Toronto will go a long way toward determining who ends up where. If Cleveland wins the NBA title, LeBron James isn't going anywhere. If the Cavaliers get busted in the second round, he might have a tour to allow suitors a chance to wine and dine and woo him. By the way, if the Mavericks can get LeBron for Butler and Dampier, they would do it in one second. In fact, they would probably let the Cavaliers pick anybody on the team not named Dirk, with the possible exception of Jason Kidd, and do the deal."
(SI)
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