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Nelson C. Smith, 87, has had plenty of water pass under his keel. And observed many sharks off his bow. The retired Edgartown charter fishing captain, who has had many jobs on the waterfront, predicts an increase in shark sightings in Vineyard waters. As long as the seal population continues to rise around the Vineyard, Mr. Smith said he believes the seal’s worse predator, the great white shark, will also increase, as it seems to have done around Nantucket and certain areas of Cape Cod, according to recent reports. “More seals are showing up at Muskeget Channel. It is loaded with seals,” Mr. Smith said. He has heard reports of seals being spotted at The Hooter, a buoy marking the southernmost part of the Muskeget Channel.

Mr. Smith has seen sharks throughout his career on the water. He saw sharks off the Aleutian Islands in Alaska when he served with the Navy Seebees during the World War II era. He saw sharks on Georges Bank when he worked as a fisherman, a swordfisherman and a sea scalloper from the 1940s to the early 1960s.

And he has seen sharks close to the Vineyard, just outside Edgartown harbor.

Mr. Smith was a hired hand, briefly, for the first and second Jaws movies. In that first summer of the filming of Jaws, Mr. Smith recalled bringing the fishing boat Orca from Boston down to the Vineyard for the filming in March of 1974. Mr. Smith remembers Orca as a 42-foot vessel with a four-cylinder diesel engine. “She was in pretty good shape,” he said.

“They wanted to put me in the movie,” Mr. Smith said, but he turned down the request in favor of keeping his summer fishing charter business clients.

Years later, in the filming of Jaws II, Mr. Smith appeared as a Chappaquiddick ferry operator. He was a Chappy Ferry captain for 16 years. It was a good job, because he could do his summer fishing charters while also working on the ferry through the year.

Mr. Smith recalls in 1969, well before anyone thought of movies about sharks, he worked for the Edgartown Yacht Club and was overseeing a sailboat race outside of Edgartown harbor when he spotted a large shark swimming nearby. While watching a fleet of racing boats, a number of Woodpussies and Beach boats racing, he said: “It was between Sturgeon Flats and the Gas Buoy, two miles off Edgartown Light. We were patrolling in Patrol II. I saw two fins. It was either a porbeagle or a mako,” Mr. Smith said.

He remembers fishing with his son, Nelson, and his friend, Ed Prada, south of the Vineyard in waters that are familiar to offshore fishermen as The Fingers. It is north of an area called the Dumping Ground. It was there that they spotted a great white.

“It was 27 feet in length,” Mr. Smith said. That is saying a lot, for the boat they were in was his 35-foot fishing boat Loyal. He said the fish seemed to be just meandering around and came pretty close to the boat. What struck him most was seeing the fish a second time.

The second time around Mr. Smith said, “We saw red bottom paint on its side.” Mr. Smith said the spotting of the red paint suggested the shark was a good deal closer to the hull of his boat than he originally thought. It was also fairly routine, Mr. Smith said, to see a hammerhead shark.

Mr. Nelson also has plenty of memories of encountering swordfish. It was not unusual during a day of swordfishing to come up with at least one near the Vineyard. They usually weighed anywhere from 200 to 400 pounds.

Years ago, catching a swordfish wasn’t just an offshore trip. He said he remembers in 1955, operating a 40-foot yawl on a two-week charter and spending a night in Tarpaulin Cove. He was captaining Shallowmar for a customer named William Bradford. “We called him Gov,” Mr. Smith said. “He was a direct descendant of the Mayflower crew.”

The boat was an impressive Casey 40. “I always kept swordfish gear onboard,” he said. “We anchored for the night at Tarpaulin Cove. Next morning, we rose, I saw a swordfish finning. I woke everyone up and we went for it.”

They brought the large fish to Menemsha, where it was cut up. “I got half. My Dad got the other half. That fish [kept in the freezer] lasted all winter,” Mr. Smith said.

For 25 years Mr. Smith continued his charter business but also worked for Katharine Brady Sutphin Ficks, a summer resident of Edgartown. She owned a large powerboat called Governor, which described her demeanor on the water. Mr. Smith ran the boat and Mrs. Ficks caught the fish. She was an avid angler and frequently took her friends out with her for a day of fishing.

“I always called her Mrs. Ficks. She was extremely fussy. They nicknamed her the general for that. I took a lot of pride working for her,” Mr. Smith said. “I don’t think I ever worked for anyone nicer.” She died in January 2007.

These days, Mr. Smith isn’t spending so much time on the water. Instead, he said he is working on his memories and hanging out with local veterans.

Fisherman Dispute

A longtime friend to Vineyard commercial fishermen is in the midst of an ongoing legal dispute with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration over the loss of his business and excessive enforcement and fines. Larry M. Yacubian, 64, of Punta Gorda, Fla., hasn’t fished since 2001. He is in a legal tangle over the circumstances that brought his fishing days to an end and the fines that were levied against him. The story is readily available online and was even the subject of a Dan Rather Reports/AXS TV program.

Mr. Yacubian claims he was wronged and unfairly put out of business by NOAA. The government brought the charges against the fisherman for his fishing actions in 2000, according to a report. The captain denied the charges, which involved allegedly fishing in a closed area.

Mr. Yacubian’s cause got a boost along with other fishermen when they were featured in a report called NOAA Enforcement Actions that was released in April of 2011 by the Department of Commerce. It was an internal review of a number of cases and found that NOAA’s actions had been excessive. They recommended that Mr. Yacubian be reimbursed $330,000 in fines he has paid. Now he is suing the federal government.

Mr. Yacubian used to fish out of New Bedford and Westport Point. He was a sea scalloper who employed a number of local Vineyard fishermen. Paul Bangs of Edgartown worked as a mate for Mr. Yacubian from the spring of 1980 to the end of 1985 on the fishing boat Zibet. He also worked for him from December 1987 to March of 1993 as mate on the Independence. Mr. Bangs said Mr. Yacubian hired Vineyard fishermen as crew because of their experience on the water. Mr. Yacubian went swordfishing and fishing on Georges Bank and he also spent time in the Gulf of Maine.

“I personally worked on the Zibet and Independence for close to 12 years. He landed product on the Island at Larsen’s and the fish dock in Vineyard Haven,” Mr. Bangs said. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” Mr. Bangs said.

Sen. Scott Brown, along with Congressmen Barney Frank, John Tierney and Bill Keating wrote letters sympathetic to the captain’s plight,

Last week, the website Saving Seafood [], wrote an extensive article about Mr. Yacubian’s lawsuit.

No Fluke

The Massachusetts commercial fluke season will close after Monday. The state Division of Marine Fisheries estimates that fishermen in the state will have harvested the year’s quota of 868,226 pounds. The season began for most Menemsha commercial fishermen on June 10. They’ve been fishing daily for their 300-pound trip limit.

“It was a good season,” said Capt. David Dutra, of the Provincetown fishing boat Richard & Arnold. Captain Dutra has been fishing out of Menemsha for years. He said they did well and the price was good.

For those who love to eat fluke, also called summer flounder and more recently labeled ‘Vineyard sole’ this is the weekend to enjoy.

As the fish gets taken off the market, the next best place to get some fish is to go out and catch it yourself. The fluke season will remain open for recreational fishermen until Sept. 30.


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CUSAT VIII semester (S8) B.Tech Final year Results 2012 published on

CUSAT ( Cochin University of Science and Technology) 2012 B.Tech VIII semester (S8) results has been published.Click here to view your results.Out of 5849 students having attended the exam, 54.2% students have passed. Out of this 800 got distinction and 2372 got first class. The highest percentage was achieved by Model Engineering College(IHRD), Thrikkakkara and that is 73.01 %. The application for Scrutiny and Revaluation must be submitted before 02-07-2012 and 07-07-2012 respectively at the at the Respective Examination Centers

Rank Holders of CUSAT 8th Semester exam, April 2012  (2008-2012)

CUSAT has published the provisional list of rank holders of VIII semester(S8) April 2012 examination (2008 admissions)
Click here to download the provisional list of rank holders of CUSAT ,April 2012

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When in Rome

In all candor, the Tiber is not the most impressive river in the world. It's just two notches up from Hogtown Creek! But great bridges.

You know that saying about "All Roads Lead to Rome"? A total lie. On the way from the airport into town, I kept seeing signs for a place I never heard of called Firenze. Probably some hellhole.

Technically, this is an Irish Pub (and is that an American sports channel in the background?) so there are major when-in-Rome violations taking place. But it was a great place for a beverage and a quick scan of the IHT.

Guy carved in stone is saying: No, please, not another historic church!!!

Little-known factoid: Bernini's business cards said "Specializing in Feet."

By Joel Achenbach  |  July 7, 2009; 6:09 PM ET
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Sorry about snafu on blog....We got our best people working on it...

Posted by: joelache | July 7, 2009 6:42 PM | Report abuse

Well, this is lovely--and you're a proper hero, being all concerned with the A-blog when you're supposed to be on vacation.

Carry on having fun and all that.

Posted by: kbertocci | July 7, 2009 6:59 PM | Report abuse

It's time for manfood.

Posted by: Jumper1 | July 7, 2009 7:13 PM | Report abuse

I'm jealous, of your wife, of course!

Posted by: MissToronto | July 7, 2009 7:15 PM | Report abuse

Great photos Joel, love the one of you trying to look sober. Have a wonderful time.

Posted by: badsneakers | July 7, 2009 7:20 PM | Report abuse

Joel, have you been working out?

Those arms of yours look like Popeye's.

Also, please don't forget to make a pilgrimage to Modena for me. Er, and if you happen to stop by Imola, please leave some flowers near Tamburello for me.

I'll pay ya back when you're back in town, sir.

And I'm lookin' forward to seeing the new Gen-u-wine Eyetalian gladiator sandals you'll be rockin' on your return.

Posted by: -bc- | July 7, 2009 7:23 PM | Report abuse

I think "Firenze" means "fire escape" in Italian. I wouldn't go there unless it's an emergencio.

Of course, I guess it could mean "fire sale," in which case you might find some bargains, such as giant stutues of people with no arms or legs, if you like that sort of thing.

Posted by: Curmudgeon- | July 7, 2009 7:35 PM | Report abuse

An IRISH pub in ROME? That seems so, so... blasphemous. I suppose they're entitled to diversity, but jeez.

Love the picture, Joel. That's one for the ages. Did Miss Paris take it?

Posted by: slyness | July 7, 2009 7:36 PM | Report abuse

Just to let you all know, when I appear as -ftb1- it means I'm using Firefox; when I'm just plain old (not that old!) -ftb- it means I'm on Safari (and don't I wish!!!).

The WaPo registration system isn't exactly to my liking.

Very nice pictures, Joel. I seem to be allergic to Italy. The two times I've been there, something always happened to lessen my enjoyment of the country. The first time (in Rome) I tripped and fell and dislocated my shoulder (and pushed it back in myself -- I'm used to doing that). Went to the hospital where they taped my entire arm to my body. By the end of the week, I expect I got a little gamey. The second time I came to Milan with a ginormous cold and felt miserable the entire time. Both were business trips, but I also was with people from other countries whom I knew, so I got the appropriate dosage of sympathy.

Enjoy your trip, Joel (and, um, don't use "trip" as a verb, like I did).

Posted by: -ftb1- | July 7, 2009 7:45 PM | Report abuse

Posted by: Buddy999 | July 7, 2009 7:48 PM | Report abuse

Oh goodness. Italian architecture. Wine. NCAA. Man, it's like some kind of heaven place or something.

Posted by: RD_Padouk | July 7, 2009 7:50 PM | Report abuse

I am happy to have lots and lots of ftbs.

Joels pictures are wonderful, and pure torment; I haven't been in Italy in 20 years, and the yearning is now exquisite.

Posted by: Yoki | July 7, 2009 7:51 PM | Report abuse

Here's where inexperience comes in handy. As I have never been to Italy, I can just bask vicariously and enviously, without yearning. Thank you for sharing your vacation with us, Joel.

And remember to tell them Italians "buenos gnocchis". They are sure to be impressed by your command of their language.

Posted by: Ivansmom | July 7, 2009 7:58 PM | Report abuse

Ivansdad and I had our main meal earlier today, after I did a bunch of yard work. Now I'm having a little something before heading off to sing Bach.

Beaujolais goes surprisingly well with peanut-butter celery sticks.

Posted by: Ivansmom | July 7, 2009 7:59 PM | Report abuse

Which bit of Bach are you singing, Ivansmom?

My own feeling is the Beaujolais goes pretty well with most things. Try it with dark chocolate. Which, come to think of it, has a similar umami quality to peanut butter.

Posted by: Yoki | July 7, 2009 8:08 PM | Report abuse

"Umami"?? You're speaking Inuit now, Yoki?

Posted by: Curmudgeon- | July 7, 2009 8:11 PM | Report abuse

Mudge, Mudge. I think we've had this discussion. The five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami. It's Japanese for tasty but is also translated brothy, meaty, savory.

Posted by: slyness | July 7, 2009 8:28 PM | Report abuse

"Tomatoes, apparently, now serve as tools for diplomacy."

The boole influence is incredible!

Posted by: dmd3 | July 7, 2009 8:42 PM | Report abuse

We're a two-kit boodle now.

Posted by: -TBG- | July 7, 2009 8:43 PM | Report abuse

SCC boodle,

Posted by: dmd3 | July 7, 2009 8:47 PM | Report abuse

Very discombobulating, this dual kit business.

Ivansmom put it well for all of us who haven't been to Italy.

Absolutely perfect weather in Our Fair City this week. Highs 76-78, lows 48-54, sunny and dry.

Watched some highlights of the MJ memorial on BBC World News, heaven help me I started to giggle. Just have a hard time taking a gold plated casket seriously.

Posted by: frostbitten1 | July 7, 2009 9:03 PM | Report abuse

We're rehearsing the motet "Jesu Meine Freude". I sing with a small chamber choir. We performed this a cappella (I think that means without heads) in March and are reprising it in September. This means summer brush-up rehearsals.

Posted by: Ivansmom | July 7, 2009 9:51 PM | Report abuse

Ivansmom, I think you MIGHT find this funny...

Posted by: russianthistle | July 7, 2009 10:31 PM | Report abuse

Just sayin...

Posted by: Yoki | July 7, 2009 11:34 PM | Report abuse

'morning all. Oh, I want to be on vacation now. Even for a bit of fish'n'chips in Italy or pasta in Ireland.

Posted by: shrieking_denizen | July 8, 2009 6:28 AM | Report abuse

Wow, things must really be tough all over if Ivansmom has to rehearse in a motel.

At least this is the last day of contractors (hopefully), so much vacation fun is on the horizon. Although NukeSpouse is inclined to take NukeSpawn elsewhere today and I can't disagree with that plan.

Should I be posting this in the next Kit?

*confused-as-always-even-with-proper-caffeination Grover waves* :-)

Posted by: Scottynuke | July 8, 2009 6:56 AM | Report abuse

Repost from (two?) kits back when I got kitted just as I posted

I think I'm pretty high up on the marriage list. 49 3/4th continuous years, less one day. Of course spread over two wives. The first turned out not so great. Married the second wife the day after the marriage first was finally legally settled.

I owe Mr. McNamara about three years of employment. When I got out of the Coast Guard 1-'65, I landed a job at McClellan AFB, Scramento, CA as a 'management engineer.' A job category Bob invented I think at Ford, where we would go around and work sample people and try to tie the labor requirements to some function of the volume of responsibility so if the volume responsibility changed the work force would be porportionaly adjusted. There were five air force logistical bases at the time but no correlation could be statistically linked to such things as acreage, miles of runways, number of building etc for the base civil engineer and the number of busses, truck drivers, etc for base transportation (the studies I worked on) between the five bases. Anyway, I parlayed my job there to one I Hawaii with the air force, first as a 'management engineer' trying to make air freight to and from Vietnam more efficient and then got into HQ PACAF as a manpower planner for the civil engineer. While we applied Mac's formulas to add base civil engineer forces as squadrons were deployed around Vietnam and Thailand, we also accessed all the other base functions 10% of their manpower to build houches. While the army was living in tents the air force was to housed in air conditioned houches and even multi-story concrete apartments. After a while I was invited to top secret briefings to prepare for the 'long haul.' There I lost confidence I what I was doing. My son was only three and plans were being discussed that would have still had us in Vietnam when he would be eligible for the draft. Also the powers to be didn't like my suggestion on how to end the war. We were getting daily reports on the tons of bombs dropped, which didn't seem to deter the Viet Cong much. The Vietnamese are very entrepreneurial, so I suggested we drop dollar bills. That way the Viet Kong would all be walking around looking at the ground to find the dollar bills and not be looking up to shoot down our planes. And in a few months they would have enough money to go back home to start a noodle shop and the war would be over. Some smart officers reminded me of the military-industrial-complex and suggest I go back to San Francisco and join the hippie movement.

Posted by: bh72 | July 8, 2009 9:51 AM | Report abuse

Wow, Joel. When did you get all sexy?

Posted by: mfigiel-krueger | July 8, 2009 10:21 AM | Report abuse

Y'know, Dave Barry is in Barcelona, just down the road from you...

Posted by: wiredog | July 8, 2009 2:37 PM | Report abuse

If Rome is the antechamber to Heaven, it seems appropriate that pubs would be Irish.

Inexperience might be a good thing in Rome. There's Stendhal Syndrome to worry about. The great novelist was overwhelmed in Florence.

Posted by: DaveoftheCoonties | July 8, 2009 5:26 PM | Report abuse

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Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 03/10/2008

Towards An Interactive Weather Index

By Andrew Freedman

Two weeks ago we asked you to brainstorm with us about how to create a new weather index or scale that will be used to communicate our weather forecasts. Many of you responded with excellent suggestions, and I'd like to respond to some of them here and add my own thoughts on where I think this endeavor should go. This continues to be an interactive exercise, so please keep those comments coming.

The goal of the index will be to add value to our weather forecasts by making them more meaningful to you in an innovative and entertaining way. Ultimately, the index would help further define our forecasts and this web site, keeping us a cut above other forecast outlets in terms of providing useful information with a sense of style.

Right now the index is still at the conceptual stage. My hope is that through this column and your further input we can move this forward and roll out a rough draft of the index by the end of April.

One of the common threads that ran throughout many of the comments two weeks ago was that there should be a way for the user to calibrate the index to their personal weather biases. After all, one person's idea of great weather may be another person's atmospheric nightmare.

Personally, I have a very different definition of good weather compared to most people, having spent some of my happiest moments in life getting pinned to the ground by 90 mph winds and freezing rain on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Making the index interactive to take into account each user's weather preferences makes a lot of sense. It would help us make sure the index is meaningful rather than assuming tastes and preferences, which could result in alienating users. For example, if the index were to simply rate cold and snow lower than warmth and sunshine, it would probably offend snow-lovers, who are emotionally frayed from this winter's snow drought.

Several users offered up suggestions for what an interactive index should look like. For example, "rtwx" said that we should create a set of "weather types" that users could pick from based on a set of criteria, such as liking or disliking stormy weather.

Other commenters, such as "Kenny," also suggested making the weather index interactive, rather than an icon that appears on the screen without any input from the user. "Jake in Reston" presented a great analogy in favor of the interactive approach by likening it to "something along the lines of the build-your-burrito calorie counter that Chipotle's website has."

Jake also suggested that one of the screening questions that could be posed to users in order to assign them a weather type would be to ask them about what kind of activities they have planned for the day.

This would go a bit too far, since it would be nosy and cumbersome to ask readers on a daily basis what they're up to. That would be the web site version of my parents, who always want to know who I am text messaging at any given moment when I am home for a visit. "No one you know, Mom."

The last thing the index should be is a deterrent to users. Therefore, if we were to pursue an interactive approach that would require assigning weather personality types, there would need to be a way of letting users opt-out of providing their weather preferences.

Some questions that could help in assigning weather types may include a query about a user's average commute time and typical means of transportation. That way an individual's weather preference and daily routine would be included in the weather index to make for a more meaningful product.

Some commenters thought that the issue of subjectivity should instead be sidestepped by keeping the index as simple as possible. "Hymncat" said the site should steer clear of a scale that would be based in part on an emotional response from the user, writing, "I'm wary of anything which presumes an emotional response to a given weather condition."

The simplest option I can think of would be to assign a numerical value to each day, and I proposed this idea in my column two weeks ago. However, after giving this more thought I don't think this is the right way to go. It's just too simple. What value would this add to the forecast?

I agree that the index should not be overly complicated, but if we were to avoid any consideration of peoples' emotional response to the weather, then that would overlook a core component of how people experience the weather on a day-to-day basis.

Another idea that resonated with me was that of a weather threat index. Some government weather web sites already provide a threats breakdown, but they're quite complicated and largely meant for emergency managers. For example, check out the NOAA National Weather Service web site in Paducah, Kentucky (thanks to weatherdudeVA for the tip). It's innovative, but hard to figure out at first glance. We already provide a breakdown of severe weather impacts when conditions warrant, so I'm not sure where a daily threat assessment briefing would come in handy, except for our readers at Langley and Fort Meade.

In summary, we have an exciting challenge in user assisted development ahead of us, and you've provided enough information for us to get started. It's my hope that you'll now write in with more thoughts on where we should go with this via the comments tool, and also feel free to email us.

By Andrew Freedman  | March 10, 2008; 11:00 AM ET
Categories:  Capital Weather Gang, Freedman, Media
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For whatever its worth. I found this on wunderground. Many will disregard it but I found it interesting.

Here ya go:

Posted by: Conman | March 10, 2008 12:35 PM | Report abuse

For those who might be interested NOAA is investigating a probable tornado that touched down on Route 28 just east of the Monacacy River bridge at about 3:25pm on Saturday. They say that radar information and evidence on the ground supports their conclusion.

Posted by: JT | March 10, 2008 12:37 PM | Report abuse

Any guesses on the long range pattern that will fall into place the weekend of 3/29 - 3/30. This is an important weekend!

Posted by: Alex | March 10, 2008 1:35 PM | Report abuse

Any guesses on the long range pattern that will fall into place the weekend of 3/29 - 3/30. This is an important weekend!

Posted by: Alex | March 10, 2008 1:39 PM | Report abuse

Alex: That's a bit far in the future for us to predict. We'll have a better idea starting around 3/22.

Posted by: Capital Weather Gang | March 10, 2008 2:28 PM | Report abuse

12z GFS has quite a storm for St Patty's day, but would be rain for us....still interesting weather

Posted by: Matt,Capital Weather Gang | March 10, 2008 2:48 PM | Report abuse

Currently raining at headquarters. Unfortunately, the temp is still up at 39.4F.

Posted by: S.P. Gass | March 10, 2008 10:04 PM | Report abuse

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Posted at 3:15 PM ET, 12/15/2009

PM Update: Mild air departing behind cold front

By Ian Livingston

At least several days of chilly sunshine ahead

* Weekend snow hype? | Mixed expectations in Copenhagen *
* Outside now? Radar, temps & more: Weather Wall | Traffic *

A cold front moving through the area is putting an end to our brief mild spell. After a fairly cloudy and warm start, most spots were able to climb to highs in the mid-and-upper 50s. Cooler air is beginning to re-enter the region and winds are kicking up from the northwest, which will eventually help make things feel even chillier as we progress through the night and into tomorrow.

Temperatures: Current area temperatures. Powered by Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Hover over and click icons for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Refresh page to update. See map bigger on our Weather Wall.

Through Tonight: Under clearing skies, cold air filters back into the area on a sometimes gusty northwest wind. Lows should drop to the upper 20s and lower 30s. Winds up to about 15 or 20 mph at times.

Tomorrow (Wednesday): Lots of sun is expected on Wednesday, along with a continued northwest breeze and cold dry air. Highs should reach near 40 into the lower 40s most spots -- maybe a few mid 40s mixed in. Winds will tend to decrease late in the day, teeing us up for another cold night.

See Matt Rogers' full forecast through the weekend. And if you haven't already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Weather disasters: Natural disasters hit a decade low this year according to the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. But, of the 245 disasters noted this year, 224 (about 91%) were attributed to the weather. Weather-related natural disasters caused around 7,000 deaths and resulted in nearly $15 billion (U.S.) in damages.

By Ian Livingston  | December 15, 2009; 3:15 PM ET
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According to the final extended forecast discussion, the ECMWF [Euro] model still brings Sunday's system close enough to the East Coast for significant snow. Other models tend to take the storm well out to sea, south of Bermuda and towards the Azores as the system weakens.

GFS runs should be closely watched since the GFS sometimes brings storms westward and tends to come into agreement with the Euro as time progresses. The situation this weekend is still somewhat "in play" though AccuWeather may be hyping the scenario. Trough extensions to the west could bring snow well inland. At the least snow flurries or accumulating snow showers may still be a good bet over the weekend.

Posted by: Bombo47jea | December 15, 2009 8:22 PM | Report abuse

There's also Category 5 severe tropical cyclone Laurence affecting parts of Western Australia. Our hurricane season is over but the Southern Hemisphere is just beginning theirs.

Posted by: Bombo47jea | December 15, 2009 8:29 PM | Report abuse

Yeah, the Euro was decent though it was technically probably a "near miss" for many. It looked like a few inches of snow around here though. Definitely a model you want on your side if you're a snow lover.

We'll see what happens with tonight and tomorrow's guidance but there still is lots of potential for a good storm.

Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | December 15, 2009 9:03 PM | Report abuse

The 0z GFS has a kind of strange look to it with a sort of strung-out, double-barrel low as it comes up the coast. Its depiction confirms my suspicions that the models still don't have a very good handle on what's going to transpire. The upstream energy (and how it digs) will likely end up to be the key to whether the system phases or not, IMHO [Non weather-weenies, apologies for the above gibberish.] I still personally believe it will snow this weekend...

Posted by: Josh-CapitalWeatherGang | December 15, 2009 11:40 PM | Report abuse

That Euro did look suspiciously like AccuWeather's near-coast storm track.

I agree with Josh on the possibility for some snow. Most likely bet seems to be the "accumulating snow shower" scenario where we whiten the ground with about an inch or so. A track up the coast but hugging it could give us considerably more. A lot seems to depend on the persistence of a blocking pattern over Greenland, and whether we can establish a cold high over Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Several inches of snow could hang around through Christmas.

Posted by: Bombo47jea | December 16, 2009 12:49 AM | Report abuse

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Posted at 10:46 AM ET, 12/17/2010

Donovan McNabb benched; Rex Grossman to start: Your reaction

By Cindy Boren

The tweet that started it:

Just learned that Rex Grossman is starting over McNabb Sun in Dallas; I'm told Redskins Lockeroom is divided and guys are extremely upsetless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone

There was an instant, steamy cavalcade of reaction from Redskins fans to Kelli's news that Donovan McNabb would be benched in favor of Rex Grossman -- this time at the start of a game.

@Unsilent: Fire Shanahan. Release McNabb. Disband the PTA.

@bruce_arthur: So if I have my math right, this means that next week the Redskins will offer McNabb a 12-year, $120M extension, right?

@dcborn61: #redskins might have just lost a season ticket by just completely messing up the qb situation. If you didn't like McNabb, why give picks?

@dhellie: I wonder if Rex and Donovan will be going out for beers tonight. Do they invite K. Shanahan again?

@thebrowncoat:The #Redskins continue to take management and coaching absurdity to new levels.

@HogsHaven: Grossman highest career QB Rating is this season (75.9). Yes, the 1 game he played & gave up a sack/fumble/TD. (4/7 passing).

@taupecat: remember, kids. you can't spell "grossman" without "gross"!

@broodingdude: I just swallowed a live grenade. #Rex #Redskins #goodbyecruelworld

@jaimiegraham: This QB decision wreaks like all the other knee-jerk, #turrible choices of the Snyder era. Maybe Snyderitis is contagious?

@lindsayczarniak: McNabb benched....hope he gets on somewhere else where he is fairly treated

@Snide_Remarks: Oddly, today is the one-year anniversary of Cerrato firing. Just saying. #Redskins

@j4ffl: I'm damn well sure not buying a Grossman jersey. Or any other #Redskins jersey anytime soon. SMH

@calbears96: did McNabb ask "okay, where's Ashton? Come on Ashton! Where are the cameras?"

@D_Alpher: The Dan Snyder owned #Redskins make the Donald Sterling owned #Clippers look like a 1st rate organization

@YahooSportsNFL: Rex. Grossman. This has to be exactly what Dan Snyder had in mind coming into 2010. He must be hyped about the direction of this team.

@jbeardsley: 2009 = Cult of Colt. 2010 = Hex of Rex? #redskins

@FO_DougFarrar: Starting to sound like Kyle Shanahan is a Josh McDaniels-in-waiting.

@SI_PeterKing: McNabb benching is a good cautionary tale for contract reporting. What's he get out of it? $3.5m? Wonder what he'll make in Az, SF or Min.

@FO_BBarnwell: I don't think McNabb's been great, but he's been playing with Joey Galloway or Anthony Armstrong as a starting WR for most of the year.

@wingoz: Big winner in mcnabb/skins fiasco? Andy Reid. Once again gets rid of a player a year early instead of a year late. #smart

By Cindy Boren  | December 17, 2010; 10:46 AM ET
Categories:  NFL, Redskins
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Next: Theismann on McNabb: The handwriting's 'in paint and it's in very big letters'

WOW...WTF is going on? Shenanigan has lost the team.

Posted by: ttn703 | December 17, 2010 10:58 AM | Report abuse

There's got to be something in the water at Redskin Park, or Fed Ex field.

That's the only explanation for the unremitting tide of stupidity that comes out of this franchise.

Posted by: JohnDinHouston | December 17, 2010 11:01 AM | Report abuse

Shanahan just lit a match and this fire is not going to be put out anytime soon.

Two Words - Doug Williams

Wrong city to play these games...and lie to the public.

Posted by: justmy2 | December 17, 2010 11:04 AM | Report abuse

Coach Shenanigan does it again.

Posted by: sailhoward | December 17, 2010 11:05 AM | Report abuse

Basically, in case you're reading MIKE. Obviously, for the last month, we fans have understood that this season is a waste. The only thing that will make it worse for the 'Skins is for this team to go down to that monument to greed and excess in Dallas and get blown out.

And you've just pretty much guaranteed that that will happen.

Posted by: JohnDinHouston | December 17, 2010 11:08 AM | Report abuse

Unfriggin' believable.

Posted by: monk4hall | December 17, 2010 11:09 AM | Report abuse

Well its offical....all the pro teams in d.c. have gone crazy....and after watching the wizards game last nite I thought it couldnt get any worst....dang I was wrong...i wouldnt let grosssssssssssman quarter back my worst enemy son pop warner football team.....I know mcnabb is saying why in the heck did i come to this team????...p.s......jason campbell is laughing is butt

Posted by: redskinsfaninnc | December 17, 2010 11:10 AM | Report abuse

The Redskins are 5-8, have lost three straight games (two of which were very winnable football games for this team), five of their last six games, and haven't put 21 points or more on the scoreboard since the ugly blowout on Monday Night against the Eagles.

Now, I'll be the first to say that this isn't all McNabbs fault and I, like many, have serious doubts that Rex Grossman can turn things around.

But would there be this kind of negative reaction if it was Jason Campbell being benched? Last week was the first time since the Monday Night Massacre that the team scored more than one touchdown in a game.

While I'm sure Feinstein, Wilbon, and their ilk will find some sort of racial prejudice in all of this, all Shanahan is doing is what coaches do when things start falling apart which is grasp at straws.

Finally, for a team that is clearly devoid of talent as the Redskins are, tanking the final three games of the regular season is a smart move because it gets you higher draft picks. Especially when one of teams you're playing is a team right behind you in the standings ready to pass you.

Posted by: CapsNut | December 17, 2010 11:16 AM | Report abuse

This is crazy, the Redskins are the laughing stock of the NFL. It is worse than a soap opera in Asburn. McNabb is such a true professional, too bad Shanahan his son and Snyder are not!

Posted by: spinstercity | December 17, 2010 11:18 AM | Report abuse

Has anyone been watching McNabb? He stinks. He is playing like a third-string backup. He drills the ball into the ground, routinely. He misses checks... misses wide-open guys, routinely. Is he getting great protection? No. But, when he is, he's not coming through. I'm sure Grossman will suck too, but it's not like this is a "crazy" move. They're officially in 2011 evaluation mode now. It's totally understandable... If you want to be upset about something, be upset about the trade to get McNabb, vs. holding on to the draft pick.

Posted by: purpledog | December 17, 2010 11:21 AM | Report abuse

Does anybody know how old is Mike Shanny is?....I think he is 70 something?...whatever it is maybe the pressure of playing in D.C. is starting get to him or maybe its the start of losing some brain cells.....Really, Grossssssssssssssman??????..the only reason he is in the NFL is because Shanny gave him a job which he clearly are not qualified to do.....QUARTERBACK....TIME TO SEND SHANNY TO DR.PHIL AND GET HIS HEAD EXAMINED......

Posted by: redskinsfaninnc | December 17, 2010 11:23 AM | Report abuse

The offensive line provides no protection. Receivers drop passes that are on the numbers.
This losing streak isn't McNabb's fault. He might just be the only player besides London Fletcher with the presence of mind to fix it.

Posted by: amstphd | December 17, 2010 11:24 AM | Report abuse

I disagree. The Redskins are not the laughing stock of the NFL, the Washington fans are.
We finally get a coach that is not going to let a player dictate what is best for the team and now the fans cry because their baby is being put on his place. It is about time we got leadership on this team and we have it we Shanahan. Anyone expecting a better season was just thinking with his/her heart and emotion, the fact was that this team was destroyed long ago.

Posted by: hock1 | December 17, 2010 11:24 AM | Report abuse

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz..... Just a 5-8 team looking to shake things up before they run for the bus. Very little news here.

Posted by: AnnandaleAnnie | December 17, 2010 11:24 AM | Report abuse

Does anybody know how old is Mike Shanny is?....I think he is 70 something?...whatever it is maybe the pressure of playing in D.C. is starting get to him or maybe its the start of losing some brain cells.....Really, Grossssssssssssssman??????..the only reason he is in the NFL is because Shanny gave him a job which he clearly are not qualified to do.....QUARTERBACK....TIME TO SEND SHANNY TO DR.PHIL AND GET HIS HEAD EXAMINED......

Posted by: redskinsfaninnc | December 17, 2010 11:24 AM | Report abuse

Wow...this team is becoming more bizarre every day. This may not be the worst Redskins team ever, but it may be the least likeable. From the evil, incompetent owner to the evil, unstable coach to the washed up Eagle QB to the Fat Albert Fiasco to the trash-talking defense that doesn't tackle to the special teams that can't make an extra point to the lack of a reliable RB to the incredible mediocrity of all WRs other than Santana Moss to the patchwork offensive line to the crappy 3-4 defense, there hasn't been a lot for the fans to root for. Now you're telling me that they're starting Rex Friggin' Grossman? In Dallas? This is going to be another disaster of a season. Except for a handful of players who try hard every week (Cooley, Fletcher, etc), you could just throw this entire team into the dumpster and I wouldn't miss it...

Posted by: ketz87 | December 17, 2010 11:27 AM | Report abuse

Just call this trade the Jason Taylor part deux. Looking at all the players in the 2nd round from this year's draft is just depressing.

Posted by: Andymr | December 17, 2010 11:29 AM | Report abuse it means they want to know if Rex Grossman is the guy who can lead them while they develop a draft-pick quarterback, right? This would seem to be a real sink-or-swim moment for Kyle, too.

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 11:30 AM | Report abuse

I see some logic behind doing it. IF Shanahan has already decided that McNabb is NOT his QB next season.. or even if he is on the fence about him.. it makes sense to put Grossman in a few games to see what he can do. The season is over so why not look at ALL your players to see what you got??? To me it's like Minnesota.
They have to see what Jackson can do .. whether Farve can play again or not.. so they know what to plan for next year.

Posted by: sovine08 | December 17, 2010 11:35 AM | Report abuse

C'mon guys! It's too cold to be April 1. And that means I musta slept thru Christmas, New Years, and all those President's Day sales.

This is just a joke, right???

Posted by: DaRube | December 17, 2010 11:43 AM | Report abuse

I'm so sick of this cut throat organization. I hope McNabb leave Washington they have dogged every black quarterback that comes to this team.....It's a damn shame.

Posted by: Mylove521 | December 17, 2010 11:43 AM | Report abuse

I wouldn't be upset if Shanahan decides to start Beck but Grossman? Have a feeling McNabb won't be here next season. I agree with purpledog @ 11:21 AM but still. McNabb is head and shoulders above the rest of our QBs on the roster.

Posted by: RedCherokee | December 17, 2010 11:43 AM | Report abuse

This is an incredibly stupid move. Kyle Shanahan is, effectively, the head coach while dad is the front man.

The only thing that can be said, IMHO, that sums this up, is that given how "Team Shanahan" has performed this year, we should have kept Jim Zorn.

Posted by: tcmits | December 17, 2010 11:44 AM | Report abuse

I am from Wisconsin and had the pleasure of watching Dyslexie Rexie play for the Bears. We always knew no matter what, Rex would find a way to mess it up. Believe me, he can screw up a one car parade! Good luck to all of you Redskin Fans. Fire the idiot coach!! McNabb is still a good quarterback. Grossman NEVER was even a mediocre quarterback

Posted by: Packerbacker69 | December 17, 2010 11:46 AM | Report abuse

well, at least we know mike and kyle shanny will be gone by the end of next season this could be redic

Posted by: rwest828hope | December 17, 2010 11:48 AM | Report abuse

If they fire the Shanahans we'd be lucky to get Fassel to come here. I keep telling myself that one day we'll learn to stop trading away high draft picks, but they day still hasn't come.

Posted by: Andymr | December 17, 2010 12:09 PM | Report abuse

As someone said, "signed on Easter, benched before Christmas."

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 12:11 PM | Report abuse

I'm flabbergasted. Whatever the Shanahans are trying to achieve with this move, it's not defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The bloom is absolutely off this rose...

Posted by: NateinthePDX | December 17, 2010 12:13 PM | Report abuse

they are 5-8. Not going to the playoffs. McNabb is probably hurt and trying to hide it. Let Grossman play show that he sucks. This is a non story. If we were 8-5 and this happened, I would worry.
Why risk further injury to McNabb in games that don't matter?

Posted by: jmurray019 | December 17, 2010 12:16 PM | Report abuse

People should keep in mind it was a solid risk for a proven winner to make the trade for McNabb. It's still very possible they get a 2nd or 3rd rounder from Arizona for McNabb due to the brilliant contract they signed him for.

Grossman knows this system and McNabb has failed to succeed in the system. So why not try a guy that knows it and see if that's the issue.

Posted by: Mike4169 | December 17, 2010 12:27 PM | Report abuse

Stupid doesn't begin to describe this. Even if you they're unhappy with McNabb's play, Grossman isn't the long-term answer so what's the point of playing him? We're not making the playoffs so if they started Beck they could play the "we want to evaluate the young guy" card, but Grossman is what he is. And if they want to extend and trade McNabb, this is even more stupid because it makes him damaged goods, lowers his value and reduces our leverage dealing with any other team. Stupid and arrogant. Period. There's no defending this move.

Posted by: McKDave | December 17, 2010 12:29 PM | Report abuse

"R U in"

Um, no...I'm not.

Posted by: 4-12 | December 17, 2010 12:32 PM | Report abuse

McNabb has been benched for Rex Grossman for the Dallas game...REALLY.REALLY, WTF...SYDNER GO CRAWL UNDER A ROCK, MATTER OF FACT LET ME ROLL THE ROCK OVER YOU.:((((COACHING STAFF AS WELL..BUNCH OF MAROONS..And they wonder why ticket sales are in the toilet..Thanks for trying MCNABB!!!

Posted by: JACZY1 | December 17, 2010 12:44 PM | Report abuse

Mike 4169 wrote: "Grossman knows this system and McNabb has failed to succeed in the system. So why not try a guy that knows it and see if that's the issue."
Do we know this? Really? How? Was it the sack/fumble/td on Grossman's first play? Or is it because the Shanahan's said so? Not directly, of course, they had to leak it to their lapdogs at ESPN. This is a bad team with poor personnel and a horrible game plan on both sides of the ball, so everything will be ok after we:
Cut the punter who missed a high snap on an extra point;
Bench the qb with less than 2 min. left for a guy who can't play;
Fight with a spoiled multimillionaire athlete all season to distract your team and the fans from what's really happening;
Bench the qb again before a big game that's really important to the fans;
Oh, and according to reports, really piss off your team, who are all blaming the HC/OC for this dreck.

Problems solved.

Posted by: mjc12 | December 17, 2010 12:54 PM | Report abuse

I think the stub hub server just crashed after people hit the site to post their remaining tickets for sale....

Next step is blacked out football games....

Posted by: EnzoBigBlue | December 17, 2010 12:54 PM | Report abuse

So Rex Grossman is the Redskins starting QB this Sunday in Dallas... I'd say God save us but it has become painfully apparent this season that God hates the Redskins so I think instead I'll just cringe and wait for the pain to begin again. When will it end?

Posted by: Craightond | December 17, 2010 12:55 PM | Report abuse

Why isn't Mike Shanahan's bags packed?

Posted by: carolinamtairy | December 17, 2010 12:58 PM | Report abuse

As an Eagles fan I am, of course, shocked by the Redskins dysfunction. We have bandages here to help you stop the bleeding - but you know that already, so... on to the obvious question: what will you give us for Kevin Kobb?

Posted by: eedwards60 | December 17, 2010 12:58 PM | Report abuse

It's obvious, the Redskins do not like BLACK QBs!

Posted by: faithfulalso1 | December 17, 2010 1:01 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan addressing media right now: says he told the QBs today of the decision. Said that when the team was mathematically eliminated he decided he wanted to see what Grossman and Beck have...which means McNabb won't even be the No. 2 QB. Said he can't guarantee that McNabb will be back, just wants to know what he's got. It's in the best interest of the organization to do this, Shanahan says.

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 1:02 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan stressed that he did not tell Kyle. Says he kept it to himself so that the word wouldn't get out.

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 1:04 PM | Report abuse

God, I hate Twitter.

Posted by: zippyspeed | December 17, 2010 1:04 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan spoke with McNabb about the move after practice Thursday.

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 1:05 PM | Report abuse

I love this move! I never accepted McNabb as a true Redskin and want him cut from the team NOW. Why even let him on the plane to Dallas?

I'm tired of the balls thrown at WRs feet and I'm tired of the sacks. McNabb is worse that Jason Campbell and should never have been signed as a Redskin.

Of course Rex Grossman sucks but this is the best news I have seen out of the Redskins all year. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!

Posted by: adrianstewart | December 17, 2010 1:11 PM | Report abuse

Im listening to radio 980 and someone asked Mike Shanny "Why Announce the Change now?" and he said that he didn’t want to create a circus enviroment????...WTF DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOW??????

Posted by: redskinsfaninnc | December 17, 2010 1:16 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan lost the team??

Fine. Most of the team needs to be jettisoned anyway. Starting with the overrated McNabb, whose sycophants need to stop telling us about how "great" he was years ago for some other team.

If the Redskins want to win, it is time to strip it down to the bones and rebuild. Trade as much of the deadwood that you can for draft picks that were foolishly thrown away for bums like McNabb. Rebuild from the roots up.

Posted by: ooyah32 | December 17, 2010 1:18 PM | Report abuse

This is a bizarre move. I mean it's not like Grossman will be the QB of the future.

I was all for releasing Fat Albert but benching a true professional like McNabb sends the wrong signals. Granted, McNabb has not been playing well this season but the team's poor performance cannot be all blamed on him. I simply do not understand the 'Big Picture' behind this move.

Posted by: mburix | December 17, 2010 1:22 PM | Report abuse

As a football fan, I have to ask "in what way does this make sense?" The man during his career, was benched in Chicago and traded, then the next time I saw him was when he took the field for two minutes, created a fumble and lost the game. Is Mike Shanahan just tired of coaching? Has he let his own feelings toward McNabb influence his coaching so badly that he would deliberately put in a player that he knows is going to loose the game?

As a true blue Colts fan, I have to ask, "Could y'all come to Lucas anytime soon? We need some easy wins!"

Posted by: Indy60 | December 17, 2010 1:27 PM | Report abuse

This is so wrong!!!

Is the Redskins organization deliberately trying to sabotage the team and lose fans????

Posted by: PhillySixersphan | December 17, 2010 1:34 PM | Report abuse it means they want to know if Rex Grossman is the guy who can lead them while they develop a draft-pick quarterback, right? This would seem to be a real sink-or-swim moment for Kyle, too.

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 11:30 AM

It's no secret Kyle's frustrated with McNabb. Even Cooley expressed his frustration as well. McNabb keeps missing open receivers and that has got to be aggravating. Hope Kyle improves his play-calling since we have a weak OL protection. Still can't believe Torian racked up 172 yards rushing last Sunday. Awesome!

Posted by: RedCherokee | December 17, 2010 1:38 PM | Report abuse

Big winner in McNabb/Shanahan/Redskin fiasco ?

Jason Campbell.

Posted by: petebowling1 | December 17, 2010 1:46 PM | Report abuse

The Redskins don't protect their QBs, they don't run the sorts of offenses in which the QB they actually have can be successful, and then they don't give them the time to learn their systems. What a hash has been made of this once-proud team.

Posted by: irasciblecurmudgeon | December 17, 2010 1:50 PM | Report abuse

Big winner?

The Redskins . . . and their short-sighted fans.

McNabb NEEDS TO GO. This is an indication that he is headed out the door. If not by the coach, then by getting all pissy about it and wanting to leave himself.

Those who are dividing the team in the locker room over this also NEED TO GO.

"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it."

Posted by: ooyah32 | December 17, 2010 1:51 PM | Report abuse

I just don't see the problem. The season is a loss, McNabb has a 77 passer rating and to be honest he hasn't looked good. Let Grossman play. We need to know what he is about. This guy did take the Bears to the SuperBowl.

Posted by: jzazzie1 | December 17, 2010 1:56 PM | Report abuse

Posted by: BENCHTHIS | December 17, 2010 1:58 PM | Report abuse

Just posted Theismann's comments on McNabb...

Posted by: Cindy Boren | December 17, 2010 2:05 PM | Report abuse

Can someone PLEASE explain to me the basis for this McNabb Love? What the hell has he ever done for the Redskins?

Posted by: ooyah32 | December 17, 2010 2:08 PM | Report abuse

Can't believe how many in Washington are still suckered my McNap.

THIS IS HIS M.O. - Put up lots of yards and LOSSES. Dude can't throw accurately, always high, low, behind...He is NOT a leader. He played like 7 years before getting ONE 4th quarter come-from-behind win.

ONLY REASON he had those W-L numbers is because he played behind JIMMY JOHNSON'S D in Philly his first 9 years.

#5 is a loser.

Posted by: enabler1 | December 17, 2010 2:10 PM | Report abuse

It makes sense if you realize that there isn't much talent on the Washington Redskins to begin with and the only way to correct that situation is to get the best draft position possible.

Now if McNabb is being benched in favor of Beck, then it would be too obvious that Shanahan is tanking at the end of the season. Grossman is a enough of a loser that you don't have to worry about him winning a game but at the same time, you can, with a straight face, say that he gives you a chance to win.

Posted by: CapsNut | December 17, 2010 2:42 PM | Report abuse

This is great news to me. I have been looking at the Skins 2011 Mock Draft for weeks now. If we lose out, maybe we can get a real QB of the future - Mallett or Locker. When could we ever consider a 30 something QB be considered the future of the franchise?

We suck and will suck for several years. Why rebuild around an older QB. Build from the ground up and keep the team young. Grossman, McNabb are intermediaries.

Posted by: skinsfaninIndy | December 17, 2010 2:42 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan & son have been miserable failures and try to put all the blame on the players. I thought Belichek was unscrupulous and duplicitous; he's practically an angel compared to Shanahan.

Dump Shanahan before he ruins any chance of rebuilding; no one in his right mind would take a deal with the Redskins. He has alienated the fans, his stars, and potential recruits.

Off with him!

Posted by: Rechtsstaat | December 17, 2010 2:45 PM | Report abuse

Just listen to Mike Shanny on the John Thompson Show on Espn 980 and he explained that he told McNabb that since they have been eliminated from the playoffs that he wants to see what he has in his backup quarter backs and McNabb was ok with that....but he also informed McNabb that he was sure if he will or will not be with the team for next year.....sounds like a NO to me about McNabb comming back.....

Posted by: redskinsfaninnc | December 17, 2010 2:52 PM | Report abuse

This makes it clear that the Skins have given up on this season and are looking to the future -- which obviously does NOT include McNabb. They need to see if Grossman and/or Beck are worth keeping as back-ups; obviously both would stink the place up as starters. The mistake wasn't in benching McNabb; it was in giving up two high draft pix for him. His QB rating this year? 77.1 Jason Campbell's rating? 84.4. This was just a complete brain cramp from the beginning. This team needs rebuilding and McNabb was always too old to stay around until it's done and he isn't close to good enough to carry a bad team anywhere. More of the Skins' constant fantasy football acquisitions while letting what needs fixing (BOTH lines) just sit there and rot. Each year they fix the lines enough that if NO one gets hurt, they'll be okay; but go figure -- every year SOME one gets hurt and then the line(s) fail miserably and another decent start meets its inevitable end. ENOUGH! Start drafting and signing linemen. Many QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs can look good if the OLine is good; many DBs will be good enough if the DLine can put on pressure. It's time to stop worrying about anyone who weighs less than 300 pounds until those lines are decent. How can anyone have lived through the Skins' good seasons and not know how much of their success was based on having a SUPERB OLine and a VERY good defensive line? Just asking.

Posted by: dolph924 | December 17, 2010 3:06 PM | Report abuse

This will be the year people stop paying for season tickets. The game has gotten to ridiculous. Too much money, not enough heart.

Posted by: johng1 | December 17, 2010 3:09 PM | Report abuse

IKyle Shanahan caused Matt Schaub to lead the league last year in passing yards. Washington is not Houston. The offensive line has been offensive for years. With no protection, McNabb, among other reasons such as almost a 10% drop off by the 4th quarter in completion %, will not and can not pass like Schaub expects. Unfortunately, and this can be proven game after game minus the 2 blow outs, the play calling in the 2nd half has gone completely pass happy. Most of the time the Redskins were within a touchdown or even had the lead. Tampa was the best example for Kyle. Torain gets 170 yards in the 1st half on 19 carries. The 2nd half Good ole Kyle gives Torain the ball 4 times. 4. Did he think Tampa all of a sudden could stop the run and began to rely on McNabb to continue McNabb's streak of 3 and outs? This can be shown game after game all season long. The play calling does not fit the team and Kyle Shanahan is too busy trying to ram an offense that at this time, can not work. Just like his dad trying to ram a defense down the throat of a team that has played a 4-3 since the dawn of time. Like father like son. More food for thought.. Mike Shanahan had Elway as his quarterback for years. When did he get his 2 rings? When Terrel Davis showed up. Run the damn ball. Gibbs knew it. The Hogs took pride in it and there is no way anyone can sit there with a straight face and say you did not enjoy watching Riggins hammer a team in the 4th quarter when the Redskins needed to grind out the clock and chew up turf. Riggins got stronger as the game went on. Yes the Redskins have weaknesses, but the play calling is inept and blind to what is happening on the field. Yes Kyle Shanahan turned Schaub into a good passer. How about all those playoff games the Texans have won? You have to call what the team is capable of running and for whatever reason if the run seems to be working well then it must be time for Kyle to literally call 10-15 straight passes in the 2nd half game after game. It is disgusting and HE is as much of the problem as the players on the field.

Posted by: darkstar42970 | December 17, 2010 3:39 PM | Report abuse

They have accepted the Skins no-playoff fate this year, and are trying to figure out if it's worth keeping Grossman during the rebuilding effort. McNabb is gone. But, considering the lack of talent he has around him, he has had an acceptable year IMO.

Posted by: bharn | December 17, 2010 3:43 PM | Report abuse

As a Skins fan I am sick of the changes in coaches every couple of years, the changes in QBs every couple of years, the consistently weak and porous offensive line and the lack of positive consistency in practically every area of the team. In this era of the Skins the only aspect that has been consistent is poor play, a bad offensive line and the fact that nothing is consistently good, but always consistently bad. And anytime there is something positively consistent it gets changed. How can you build a winning franchise when nothing is positively consistent and no one has the resources and atmosphere to grow and learn? It’s time to stop firing players and coaches and time to start building. Skins please take a page from Bob Kraft and the Patriots way of doing things or at the very least take at look at your own history and get back to the way Jack Kemp Cook used to run the franchise.

Posted by: zippertuck | December 17, 2010 3:57 PM | Report abuse

That's it! I'm done. I've been a fan of the skins since I was 10 (and I'm not even from around here). That was 40 years ago. If they, Shanahans, have lost faith in McNabb, then why even bother with the contract (as good as it was)? And if you are going to bench him, Grossman? And let's be honest, McNabb is NOT are biggest problem. Not by a long shot.

I have no confidence in the Mike and Kyle show. Worst of all, they aren't honest.

Posted by: AM80 | December 17, 2010 4:03 PM | Report abuse

The 1st commandment: " We play to win the game" If your benching Donovan McNabb in order to play Rex Grossman against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas then you are in violation. No one believes Rex Grossman needs or deserves further evaluation; he's never reached mediocrity in his entire career. This smells like a Dan Snyder move to tank the rest of the season in order to get a higher draft pick, which the Redskins will probably botch. I have been a Redskin fan for more than 50 years. What I feel like doing is taking a long nap and when I wake up Snyder and the Shanahans are gone.

Posted by: pdlatty | December 17, 2010 4:10 PM | Report abuse

For the money he's getting, Albert Haynesworth should be playing QB.

Posted by: AlanGoldberg54 | December 17, 2010 4:11 PM | Report abuse

This is what loser teams do--PANIC!!!! Blow up your locker room for, wait for it, Rex Grossman????? Hahahhaha! What a joke of a franchise. Shanahan is a disaster. He sure has ruined this season.

Posted by: kennedy6500 | December 17, 2010 4:31 PM | Report abuse

This is what loser teams do--PANIC!!!! Blow up your locker room for, wait for it, Rex Grossman????? Hahahhaha! What a joke of a franchise. Shanahan is a disaster. He sure has ruined this season.

Posted by: kennedy6500 | December 17, 2010 4:33 PM | Report abuse

Maybe they should put Al Haynesworth in as Head Coach.

It makes as much sense as any other moves they seem to make.

This is like putting your fantasy football team on "random".

Posted by: Benson | December 17, 2010 4:57 PM | Report abuse

when you make a horrible decision, its better to just finish the deal and make a new chapter.

shannahan is right to bench mcnabb now...but this whole mess is his doing. at least now they can look to the future.

and if i was mcnabb, id be happy to end it like this, on top. ecstatic actually. no INTs or fumbles to blemish the record for a new team. and there will be a new team.

Posted by: ae-inc | December 17, 2010 5:28 PM | Report abuse

The Washington Redskins are a Joke!!! I have been a Skins fan since I can remember and never seen such B.S.!! When I heard that the Redskins had benched Donovan for Rex, are you freaking kidding me? No season tickets for me from this point forward!!

Posted by: chatmank | December 17, 2010 5:40 PM | Report abuse

Is Shanahan actually trying to lose? There's always that playing for draft picks scenario. Hmmmmmm . . . . ?

Posted by: tifoso1 | December 17, 2010 5:43 PM | Report abuse

I've always liked McNabb, but the Redskins are a toxic team and will remain that way until they get rid of Snyder and move back to DC. It is a good thing that he has a chance to go to some team in which he would be useful.

Posted by: johng1 | December 17, 2010 8:26 PM | Report abuse

Get over it. You will never have a team. Change the name. Tired of the R word. Can't believe there is a team with no tribal nation association still using the R word. I know, "Native Americans" like it. Heard that, tired of it, change the name, change the team. Owner, coaches, players and fans. Just go away.

Posted by: Annandale | December 17, 2010 8:50 PM | Report abuse

Frankly, the Shanahan's, Bruce Allen, and Don Synder are ruining a once storied franchise!

All the DUMB trades including the one that we made for Donovan McNabb (2 picks - 2nd and 4th rounder) and poor drafting -- Jason "Soup" Campbell (gave up a 1st, 3rd and 4th rounder)!

And, then trading Champ Bailey. And, drafting Carlos "butter fingers" Rogers. This guy yack a lot, and does little on the playing field!

Time for the season holders to boycott the Redskins!

Posted by: mi6-007 | December 17, 2010 10:54 PM | Report abuse

Do whatever it takes to draft Stanford's Andrew Luck, go with youth get rid of half of the offensive line, e.g. Rabach, at least get a draft choice for McNabbed, but institute a youth movement...

Posted by: michaelhunt277 | December 17, 2010 11:16 PM | Report abuse

Well, let's see. The Skins have a terrible OL, they have a bad DL, they have no running game, they have no breakaway wideouts (Moss is getting old and is doubled a lot), they have one good tight end, they have a 3-4 defense that is terrible, they have a kicking team that can't kick field goals or extra points, they have no depth at any position, but somehow that is all McNabbs fault, or the holder's fault, or some other player's fault. Last year it was Campbell's fault (for running for his life because of a horrible OL) and Zorn's fault. Never, ever, is it Danny Boy's fault, or even more importantly right now, the Shanahans, which is where the buck should stop. But, of course, as is their style, the Shanahans blame players and insist that their inept coaching or "system" is not to blame. I feel sorry for my friends who are Skins fans that they must endure this sham. To all the Shanahan apologists here, I offer the following: Shanahan inherited Elway, stumbled upon Davis, played in Mile high where other teams are gasping for breath, and once Elway retired, won NOTHING. Competitive - yes, but less and less as time went on. The Shanahans are ego-maniacs who impose their "system" on a team rather than working with the skill sets that are available to field a winner. You need either a coach like Belichik (who somehow makes the team better than the sum of its parts every season), or GMs like the Giants have had who build a team from the inside out (OL first, DL second, start filling the D skill positions, draft a quarterback, crunching running backs, and finally top flight wide receivers, and by the way, make sure the team has depth to absorb injuries). Finally, note that winning teams have something called devotion to TEAM play without supersized egomaniacs. I am no big Tom Coughlin fan, but note that he figured out how to eat a little crow on his approach and create team unity and emphasize TEAM. Note that the Shanahans are busier touting themselves and their systems than emphasizing TEAM. It is sad and deeply pathetic to see what the Skins have become. Snyder is an a** and he has chosen an a** for a coach. As I have said time and again to my Skins friends, as long as Snyder owns the team, they will be mediocre to terrible as either he interferes with the team or he hires an egomaniacal prig like Shanahan to run it.

Posted by: fwillyhess | December 18, 2010 2:14 AM | Report abuse

Why are all of you so upset over McNabb? He is just an aging QB that never was an accurate passer, but he used to be able to run, now that's gone and he's simply an old qb that can't throw. He is a nice guy, but we have to try something. Let's see what Rex can do and try that Beck kid.

Posted by: steveiev | December 18, 2010 6:26 AM | Report abuse

I don't know what all this whining is about.
Dan Synder is a terrific owner and fantastic business man. Since buying the Redskins, the team value has increase over 40% and that boys and girls is what business is all about. So keep complaining but buy them tickets and all that team sport's junk. Bruce Allen and Dan are doing a great job, the figures dont lie.

Posted by: psi001 | December 18, 2010 7:36 AM | Report abuse

They will never have another Over The Hill Gang, so none of this matters. There can be only one head coach at a time.

Posted by: Geezer4 | December 18, 2010 8:59 AM | Report abuse

During the Zorn debacle, everyone in this town was calling for discipline and a stern head coach. This is what is looks like. McNabb isn't who they thought he was, and they're moving on. IMO, McNabb is not the problem, but he's really not the solution either. A task master at the helm, a la Bill Belicheck, works best with underpaid, hungry young players, not overpaid free agents who are above being coached outside their comfort zone (I'm looking at you Albert). Portis has been underperforming for years, and now that he's past his prime, the team will have a chance to move on. It's going to be ugly, but what choice do we have. The previous 10 years of mismanagement have brought us to this low state. Shanahan will have 2 more years to get something going...after that, it's back to the drawing board.

Posted by: hatchlaw | December 18, 2010 10:00 AM | Report abuse

Way too much is being made of lack of production at QB. The problem ain't there. Look at how comfortable Jason Campbell is at Oakland. Just look at all the ex-Redskin QBs who were run out of town or let go and had at least modest success away from this franchise - Gus Frerotte, Chase Daniel, Sage Rosenfeld, Mark Brunell, and now even Patrick Ramsey. Nothing makes a QB productive like a good offensive line. The rebuilding start this year is just that - a start. Another 2 drafts of offensive linemen has the potential to make whomsoever is QB in 2013 a star. In the meantime, an evaluation of Grossman and Beck to see where they might fit is certainly in order. Why subject McNabb to another 3 games of hits in the meantime? Perhaps the non-contact will help extend his productive time by 3 games in the future. Get real.

Posted by: jdrd58 | December 18, 2010 11:24 AM | Report abuse

I wish I could personally apologize to McNabb for the way he has been treated here in DC. It's a disgrace.

Posted by: nonagon | December 18, 2010 11:40 AM | Report abuse

Mcnabb cannot play this game by himself so
why put all the weight on him.This club
has never been able to keep the right players because they don't give them time
to fit in with the other players.They trade
players like they change their soxs. Get a
manager like Joe Gibbs that can work with
the players.

Posted by: jlewi38631 | December 18, 2010 12:41 PM | Report abuse

Oh, Scrooge. I smell the ghost of Vinnie past. Or is that just Danny messin' with my nog.
Anyway ... IT IS DALLAS WEEK PEOPLE, WTF?! You really think Grossman gives us the best chance of winning. We must be playing for the draft now.
Bah Humbug.

Posted by: ebf3 | December 18, 2010 12:53 PM | Report abuse

We shouldve known when they cut Larry Johnson after 7 carries during the regular season after having him ALL spring! Same for Willie Parker, what? They went 5 weeks without a back after Portis and Torrain was hurt, and had too much pride to bring back atleast 1 of those backs. Sally Jenkins must be related to Shanny. Plus, without Laron Landry, no juice defensively, and Orakpo only gets 2 tackles per game. McNabb is still a keeper. Build the line thru the draft, get a late round qb...ohh-only 5 picks! Did anyone notice that only 2 0f 6 picks made the roster this year? I an now a free-agent fan. Russ Grimm please come home!

Posted by: yeahwecool | December 18, 2010 2:51 PM | Report abuse

Are there any unselfish quarterbacks left in the NFL?

Kilmer and Jurgensen used to split time at QB; they seemed to get along well and had a mutual respect for each other. They didn't spout off to the press when things didn't go their way. Tom Landry used to rotate QBs (Morton & Staubach). McNabb's getting a huge check - much larger than hall of fame QB Jurgensen did ($125,000)- so why doesn't he keep his mouth shut and "take one for the team"?

Posted by: bb10s | December 18, 2010 2:53 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan has put the Fans on the IR.

In all these playoff-less years, the only thing the fans have had to hang their hopes on this late in the season has been the possibility of beating Dallas. This move to Grossman has all but assured that a Dallas sweep won't happen.

If Grossman were some bright, young prospect for the future, there might be some credence in taking a look at him in these meaningless games, but he is not. So what we have is Shanahan disrepsecting the fans and McNabb.

Posted by: spacepope | December 18, 2010 3:41 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan's first mistake was to trade for McNabb. His second was to wait this long to bench him. Basically, McNabb had retired in place when he came to the Redskins. He was a walking zombie.

The Redskins should draft or trade for a young, quality quarterback and stay with him. This city's quarterback story has been a revolving door since the days of Jurgenson and Kilmer.

Posted by: Bunker76 | December 18, 2010 4:20 PM | Report abuse

The best thing said by bloggers is to boycott the team. Daniel Snyder doesn't deserve another penny from Redskin fans. Earlier this summer the Redskins had an event at FedEx where they were trying to sell lower level seats in the $4,300 to $5,500 price range per seat. Bruce Allen raved about McNabb and how the rookie and free agents were going to provide blocking that would allow McNabb to get the ball down the field. Those who purchased season tickets on the spot also received a McNabb jersey. I wonder how many seats were sold and how the ticket purchasers feel given where the team's play and standing.

Posted by: omegamgt | December 18, 2010 4:22 PM | Report abuse

I will be short and ... not so sweet ....................

The Redskins coaching staff will be sorry ... and the fans will be furious ! ! ! ! !

Posted by: loretoguy | December 18, 2010 5:57 PM | Report abuse

I will be short and ... not so sweet ....................

The Redskins coaching staff will be sorry ... and the fans will be furious ! ! ! ! !

Posted by: loretoguy | December 18, 2010 5:58 PM | Report abuse

I will be short and ... not so sweet ....................

The Redskins coaching staff will be sorry ... and the fans will be furious ! ! ! ! !

Posted by: loretoguy | December 18, 2010 5:58 PM | Report abuse

Shanahan is a grossly overrated coach who got lucky in Denver with a HOF QB (Elway) and a 6th round pick that became a superstar (Terrell Davis).Denver won despite Shanahan because the mile high stadium wore teams out- Shanny's career road record is sub .500.
Why give McNabb a raise and an extension if he was crap? Because it's a dysfunctional franchise in a panic mode that responds to "perceptions" and media frenzy...
Frankly, the Skins fans are the real a-holes for putting up with this @#ap. They buy seats, they buy jerseys and merchandize- Snyder, Allen and the Shannys don't care if the team wins - they're making big bucks and laughing at the moronic Skins fans all the way to the bank.
Cowher already said he won't come here, no self respecting free agent will come here, unless they're a moneygrubber like Fat Albert, so don't expect this team to win FOR YEARS....
Let the Deadskins keep suing fans who have lost their jobs and can't fulfill the contracts for their season tickets..... this is devine retribution and well deserved.

The Skins suck, their mgt team sucks worse, and Skins fans are chumps...... you all deserve each other.....
I'm now a big fan of anyone playing the DeadSkins- except the Cowgirls (still can't do that).

P.S. I don't believe this is a racial thing- it's a incompetent coach looking for a scapegoat (hunter smith wasn't big enough)... by the way, who traded for McNabb in the first place???? And who didn't know what McNabb did well and didn't do well after 13 years of NFL performance???

Posted by: lumerm | December 18, 2010 6:23 PM | Report abuse

McNabb doesn't have a decent Offensive Line, The Redskins doesn't have receivers that catch the ball,The Redskins don't have a good kicker Gano in the last game..The Offensive plays are called by the Shanahans..last time I checked. THen you bench the QB after he comes here & learns your system & follows all your rules to the T...McNabb has done the best anyone can do in this situation.

WTF is going on Shanahan & Snyder? Do you intentionally want to lose the next 3 games so you will do better in the draft?

You two are alienating all of DC in your decisions.. & your decision making process..

Posted by: digtldesk | December 18, 2010 7:47 PM | Report abuse

The redskins will never be a playoff team under Snyder. His management of the team is dysfunctional...and that has been pointed out time and time again. Unfortunately, Snyder will own the team for another 15 years and I, for one, will not see the Redskins going to the playoffs in my lifetime. As for getting rid of McNabb, that's a good start. As for Grossman, he's hot and they should get rid of him too. Even with a coach like Belicheck I doubt they would improve.

Posted by: w4vr | December 18, 2010 9:07 PM | Report abuse

Before it began, I predicted on these pages that the Redskins would have a disastrous season. Why on earth, considering all the hits McNabb had taken on his aging, scrambling body with Philly, would the 'Skins brain trust spend big bucks on a old QB on his last legs? The Skins (offensive line & receivers especially) are in such disarray, it will take several good drafts to repair the damage and plug the holes caused by Snyder and Co., without even considering the QB position. Is it any wonder season-ticket fans sell them to other team's fans?

Posted by: tbartley | December 18, 2010 10:27 PM | Report abuse

I haven't missed a Skins game in years but I'm taking down all the memorabilia I have hanging up on the wall in my office (which includes dirt from RFK) and vow not to watch anymore of their games for the rest of this season.

What a dumb move...FIRE THIS COACH AND HIS SON!

Posted by: lacy41 | December 18, 2010 10:44 PM | Report abuse

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Six (More) Questions With ... Thurston Moore

President for life in the daydream nation.

Thurston Moore is in full-fledged flogging mode, making the rounds to talk about his new book, "No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980." He called recently for this story - but after 40 minutes of chatter about no wave's cacophonous, confrontational music and players, we moved on to some other topics.

Here, then, is the no-no wave interview with Moore, indie-alternative icon, record collector, label dude, Starbucks compiler, Facebook member and all-around tall guy.

There's another new book on my desk right now, "Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth." Is it on your recommended reading list?
I read the galleys but I haven't gotten the real book yet. I did see it in the bookstore and saw the photos; that was amusing, to see the way we looked in 1980. I'm flattered that anybody would do a book on us in any capacity. When David Browne approached us with the fact that he had a deal to do this book, we were like: "Cool." He seemed like a nice enough guy; we'd done interviews with him before. He really wanted to do a very detailed book on us and we gave him many, many hours.

But it's a little hard for me to read about our history, because there will always be these kind of episodic gaps. "This happened and that happened." But I have yet to read anything about us that talks about the kid of intellectual atmosphere, the intellectual life that we have with each other, that connects with the contemporaneous culture that we involve ourselves in. It's sort of there in that book, which gives some perspective to it. But it doesn't really. It's hard to capture something like that, which is such an abstract.

You seem to spend a fairly incredible amount of time on discovery and exploration - not to mention reading. How do you find the time to actually write and record new stuff?
Oh, I don't. I get some things done, but basically I don't get most things done. But I try not get too hung up on things I can't do. I do what I can do, and that's it. I try to have my priorities straight, which are my family and myself before music and anything else. It's all intersected with my personal life - most people I know are musicians or artists, and I have a fascination with so much of the lifestyle. I try to keep a sane head about it, but I do tend to sort of overbook myself.

You're turning 50 this year. What does that mean?
It's the beginning of the end. It's all downhill from here as I start crashing into middle age. I might start acting out maybe, destroying everything I've built. (Laughs.) I try not to think about it, really. But I'm into it in a way. It's kind of radical.

Let's talk about commerce. Some of your fans went ballistic when news came out that Sonic Youth was doing a Starbucks compilation, "Hits Are for Squares." Not very indie of you, etc., never mind that you recorded for Universal Music. Explain, please.
I was basically looking for different avenues of distribution. The reality is that nobody's going to record stores anymore - but they're going to Starbucks to buy teas and coffees and donuts. It's just another store for God's sake. I know a lot of people apply a lot of issues to Starbucks and say they have some kind of nefarious business. I don't know anything about it; I'm sure there are some young radicals who can set me straight on that. But I kind of like the absurdity of it, the [expletive] you of it. I appreciate that people are watching us, but whatever.

We put together this compilation of our songs chosen by people in the public eye who we knew were fans - actors, writers, musicians, artists. And it came out pretty well. Our original cover idea was a picture a friend of ours took in a Starbucks in New York. A homeless guy had his head down on stained copy of the New York Times, and there were some college kids in the picture, which looked like a bombed out Starbucks waiting room. We sent that in and they said: "No!" (Laughs.) Even though it's the interior of a real Starbucks. Our friend then took a picture of a yuppie wearing white headphones, which we used. And it's kind of subversive really.

At least you're still buying music, which I know because you bought a live Peter Brotzmann and Sonny Sharrock LP from a friend of mine on eBay last year.
Yeah, but that's all very intermittent. Once in a while, I'll go on eBay and do some trolling and all the sudden go for it. But I try not to. It's certainly not a daily routine for me as it was through the '80s and '90s. I'm more into archiving underground stuff than I am buying records now.

Do you think Sonic Youth will ever be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you care?
I have no problem with awards or awards ceremonies. I don't take issue with them; what it means is that people are celebrating your work in some capacity. But the Hall of Fame - whatever. It's a certain cabal of people who created this institution. It's not like real people are voting. It's like the Grammys. Very rarely does something win that doesn't have to do with sales of the record or the lobbying of the record label or management. It's the same thing with the Hall of Fame. You start lobbying your artist a decade early and the cabal votes. But that was before the Sex Pistols got in, so who knows?

By J. Freedom du Lac |  July 21, 2008; 8:44 AM ET Interviews
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Hate to say it, but Sonic Youth have earned the right to release a Starbucks Greatest Hits disc. In a world where even Bob Dylan and Clash songs are on TV, I think SY's "transgression" is pretty minor.

Next step: a new My Bloody Valentine album available exclusively at Seattle's Best Coffee locations. The Pitchfork partisans will have massive anxiety attacks.

Posted by: Turquoise Boy | July 21, 2008 9:59 AM

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Better Business Bureau Releases Line of 'How-To' Books

The Better Business Bureau, an organization that sets standards for fair business practices, has published its first line of "how-to" books.

The first three titles in the series include books on how to launch a business on eBay (pdf excerpt of book), open a franchise, and buy a home.

"Each book is designed to help consumers and entrepreneurs make informed choices and feel confident in making the many important financial decisions they make," said Steve Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

To develop the series, the BBB worked with The Planning Shop, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based publisher of books for entrepreneurs.

The BBB Insiders' Guides, which became available last week, can be purchased via the bureau's Web site, online retailer or national bookstore chains such as Barnes & Noble.

By Sharon McLoone |  October 8, 2007; 12:19 PM ET Tools and Tips
Previous: Helping Clients Put Their Best Foot Forward | Next: How Do I ... Use PayPal?

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Mike Enzi's Public Statements on Issue: Transportation

Office: U.S. Senate (WY) - Sr, Republican
Date Title
Jan. 28, 2015 Enzi: Keep Wyo Airports Viable Travel Option
July 31, 2014 Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Designate Pro-Russian Separatist Groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations Under U.S. Law
May 17, 2013 Letter to Administrator Huerta - FAA Salary Bonuses
Aug. 6, 2012 Letter to Chairman Hoglande
Aug. 2, 2012 Letter to Secretary McHugh and Secretary Salazar
March 22, 2012 Funding for Roads and Bridges
March 14, 2012 Pensions Should Pay for Retirement, Not Roads
Feb. 7, 2012 Enzi Concerned Over Long-Term Highway Funding
Aug. 1, 2011 Letter to Anne S. Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
May 3, 2011 Letter to Lafe Solomon, Acting General Counsel of the General Counsel Office - National Labor Relations Board's Complaint Against Boeing
Feb. 2, 2011 FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Improvement Act
Aug. 18, 2010 Senator Mike Enzi - August Newsletter
July 1, 2010 Senators Dorgan And Enzi Say Senate Has Votes To Lift Cuba Travel Ban
Jan. 8, 2010 Letter Barack Obama, President of the United States - Prosecuting Airline Bomber in Civilian Court Results in Missed Intelligence Opportunity
Dec. 11, 2009 Transportation, Housing And Urban Development, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 - Conference Report - Resumed
July 30, 2009 Senators: Highway Funds Are Needed But No More Debt
July 9, 2009 Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions
May 21, 2009 Letter To Mr. Kevin B. Elliott, Supervisor, Ashley National Forest
May 7, 2009 Hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance - Auctioning Under Cap and Trade: Design, Participation and Distribution of Revenues
March 11, 2009 Hearing of the Senate Budget Committee - The President's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposal for the Department of Energy
Feb. 13, 2009 Stimulus Package Report
Jan. 14, 2009 Senators Want To Put Brakes On $350 Billion Bailout Installment
Dec. 17, 2008 Senator Mike Enzi - December Newsletter
Nov. 18, 2008 Enzi: Big 3 Bailout - Bad Idea
Nov. 17, 2008 Yellowstone Access Will Remain At 720 Snowmobiles
March 13, 2007 9/11 Commission Bill is More Political Rhetoric than Security Oriented
Feb. 27, 2007 Letter To United States President George W. Bush
Sept. 19, 2006 Enzi Sees 'Viable Ideas' in Grand Teton Transportation Plan, But More Work to be Done
July 10, 2006 Enzi: Cuba Report Advocated Status Quo Policy
April 11, 2006 Letter to The Honorable Christopher S. Bond Chairman Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies....
Oct. 19, 2005 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, The District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
Oct. 19, 2005 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, The District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
Oct. 7, 2005 Enzi: Businesses Lobbying to Block Pension Reform Will Cost Jobs, Raise Burdens on Employers, Airlines
Aug. 11, 2005 Enzi Applauds Passage of Transportation Bill
July 29, 2005 Wyoming Delegation: Highway Bill To Provide Jobs
May 20, 2005 Enzi Announces New Wyoming Buses
May 17, 2005 Enzi, Senate Drive Transportation Bill Through
Jan. 28, 2005 Enzi Encourages Airports to Apply for Funds
Nov. 9, 2004 Enzi Says New Snowmobile Rule Delivers Some Certainty
Oct. 30, 2003 Climate Stewardship of 2003
Oct. 29, 2003 Enzi: Keep Cuba in transportation bill
Oct. 23, 2003 Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004
June 10, 2003 Statement of U.S. Senator Mike Enzi Transit in SAFETEA
May 20, 2003 Letter to ATF Director Bradley Buckles
Jan. 1, 2014 Issue Position: Transportation
Jan. 1, 2011 Issue Position: Transportation
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Colorado House Committee

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The House Education Committee considers matters concerning K-12 public schools, including public school accountability and school finance; and higher education, including administration and governance, tuition, and financial assistance. In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the departments of Education and Higher Education.

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