Sunday, May 4, 2008
Distance measuring syndrome made easy...thanks to Wikimapia
Are you fond of mile stone ... speedometer...or desi method of measuring distance? I must say I am. While riding my bike I use to look at speedometer to view not the speed but the distance. But this speed distance time have been the nightmere for non-engineering guy... whether its class 9th or 10th or CAT, fact is that it is everywhere. While I am travelling in bus I use to guess how far is my place. How can I get there? While traveling in train I use to measure speed of the train. I tell you one tip... Those 15 telephone poles running besides your track make 1 Km. Now its up-to you. you can use or dump....But why am doing bakar bakar ... But at last you need to tolerate me for getting something .... This is the fact of life ...You can"t get everthing without going through some pain... This is the Suri"s law of philosophy.. and again I am big time fan of philosophy. Sorry dudes can"t break the law and hence can"t tell you my findings in 1 line ...Now time has come for that 1 line Wikimapia had amazed me in may 2006, place IIT bombay, hostel no 3, computer room. That time I was doing internship there. I did not expect to see the nicely edited satellite image. Lot of chunk of time was swept away by the www.wikimapia.org. Histroy repeats itself, but location can vary, this time march 2008 place IIT Kharagpur, hostel Azad, my room..But this time again some innovation has crept in, and this time it is Geo Tools (Upper left corner, put mouse on wikimapia.... here it comes..).. measure area of you home or distance to your college or girl friend house ... not even that, you can send the URL to your friend with the distance marked as red ...Lots of chunk of time have been swept away by the wikimapia... AM I sick or crazy or distance geek .. you can decide and just tell me in my guest book.............. YES I AM THAT ONE .........crazy.
Skin remedies at your fingertips
Only a lucky few are blessed with a peaches-and-cream complexion. Most of us at some point or the other have been worried by skin problems. We spoke to many and have concluded that acne, blemishes, pigmentation, tanned skin and dark circles, are the most common skin woes. Here is a compilation on home remedies for all the above problems
-By Sugatha Menon
Nobody knows your skin as well as you, you are the best judge of what suits your skin type. Before you try out the recipe, do consult your skin specialist if you have any doubts. Doing a patch test under your forearm, before applying anything new to your face is also recommended. However since the remedies are natural and simple and off your kitchen shelves, you can rest assured.
A for acne
Just like A tops the alphabet list, so does acne top the skin problems list. The cause for acne are too many. However here are a few remedies you could try out to do the trick.
Multani mitti with rose water
Chill rose water. Take a few tbsp of multani mitti, add to it the chilled rose water, a few drops of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of sandalwood powder. Apply this pack to your face thrice a week for maximum results.
Cinnamon and honey
Take 2-3 pieces of cinnamon, powder it well. Mix it with honey and apply on the pimples, Leave it overnight. Regularly following this routine will control the pimple menace to a considerable extent.
Neem and mint leaves
Make a fine paste of neem and mint leaves. Apply to your face for 30 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water. It will keep your skin fresh and prevent an outbreak of acne.
Tulsi and mint leaves
If neem is not easily available, try the above method with tusli leaves as a substitute. Toothpaste
Many swear by this. Apply a dab of fluoride toothpaste (gel doesn’t work) to the first sign of a pimple and leave it overnight. The redness, swelling and pain will vanish. Orange peel
Dry orange and lemon peels in the sun. Store it in a dry container. To control acne, regularly use as a pack, powdered orange and lemon peels blended with rose water and sandalwood powder.
Turmeric
This recipe is a favourite with grandmothers. Make a paste of fresh turmeric root (freely available in the market). Add to it fresh sandalwood paste and a bit of powdered nutmeg. It works wonders on problem skin.
Garlic
This is another popular tip for zit zapping. Grate the juice of a 2-3 garlic cloves and apply it to the affected areas.
Fenugreek (methi) leaves
Grind together methi leaves, tulsi and mint leaves. Add a few drops of lemon to this. Apply this green pack to freshly washed face. Leave it for 20 minutes or till the pack dries. Rinse off with cold water. Do it regularly and see acne disappear.
Ban blemishes
The most common causes of blemishes are direct exposure to the sun, severe acne or skin disease. Here are a few ways to fight them.
Cucumber juice
Cucumbers are said to have compounds that are extremely beneficial for the skin. Even applying cold slices of cucumber to your skin is said to be beneficial. To get rid of scars form your face, extract the juice of a small piece of cucumber and add to it a few drop of lime juice. Apply regularly to the affected areas.
Honey
Honey is known to have mild bleaching properties. Take a tbsp of pure honey, add to it a few drops of lemon juice, a tsp of milk and a pinch of fresh turmeric powder. Apply this all over the scarred areas. It is said to have miraculous results, if done regularly for a long period of time.
Neem leaves and turmeric
This is said to be beneficial if you are plagued by chicken pox scars. Grind together fresh neem leaves and fresh turmeric. Make a paste and apply it to your face. Let it dry and then rinse off with lukewarm water.
-By Sugatha Menon
Nobody knows your skin as well as you, you are the best judge of what suits your skin type. Before you try out the recipe, do consult your skin specialist if you have any doubts. Doing a patch test under your forearm, before applying anything new to your face is also recommended. However since the remedies are natural and simple and off your kitchen shelves, you can rest assured.
A for acne
Just like A tops the alphabet list, so does acne top the skin problems list. The cause for acne are too many. However here are a few remedies you could try out to do the trick.
Multani mitti with rose water
Chill rose water. Take a few tbsp of multani mitti, add to it the chilled rose water, a few drops of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of sandalwood powder. Apply this pack to your face thrice a week for maximum results.
Cinnamon and honey
Take 2-3 pieces of cinnamon, powder it well. Mix it with honey and apply on the pimples, Leave it overnight. Regularly following this routine will control the pimple menace to a considerable extent.
Neem and mint leaves
Make a fine paste of neem and mint leaves. Apply to your face for 30 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water. It will keep your skin fresh and prevent an outbreak of acne.
Tulsi and mint leaves
If neem is not easily available, try the above method with tusli leaves as a substitute. Toothpaste
Many swear by this. Apply a dab of fluoride toothpaste (gel doesn’t work) to the first sign of a pimple and leave it overnight. The redness, swelling and pain will vanish. Orange peel
Dry orange and lemon peels in the sun. Store it in a dry container. To control acne, regularly use as a pack, powdered orange and lemon peels blended with rose water and sandalwood powder.
Turmeric
This recipe is a favourite with grandmothers. Make a paste of fresh turmeric root (freely available in the market). Add to it fresh sandalwood paste and a bit of powdered nutmeg. It works wonders on problem skin.
Garlic
This is another popular tip for zit zapping. Grate the juice of a 2-3 garlic cloves and apply it to the affected areas.
Fenugreek (methi) leaves
Grind together methi leaves, tulsi and mint leaves. Add a few drops of lemon to this. Apply this green pack to freshly washed face. Leave it for 20 minutes or till the pack dries. Rinse off with cold water. Do it regularly and see acne disappear.
Ban blemishes
The most common causes of blemishes are direct exposure to the sun, severe acne or skin disease. Here are a few ways to fight them.
Cucumber juice
Cucumbers are said to have compounds that are extremely beneficial for the skin. Even applying cold slices of cucumber to your skin is said to be beneficial. To get rid of scars form your face, extract the juice of a small piece of cucumber and add to it a few drop of lime juice. Apply regularly to the affected areas.
Honey
Honey is known to have mild bleaching properties. Take a tbsp of pure honey, add to it a few drops of lemon juice, a tsp of milk and a pinch of fresh turmeric powder. Apply this all over the scarred areas. It is said to have miraculous results, if done regularly for a long period of time.
Neem leaves and turmeric
This is said to be beneficial if you are plagued by chicken pox scars. Grind together fresh neem leaves and fresh turmeric. Make a paste and apply it to your face. Let it dry and then rinse off with lukewarm water.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
SASABE, Mexico - The sandy streets of Sasabe are empty. Migrant smugglers have to hunt for business at border-town shelters. Many deported migrants give up after one try, taking their government up on free bus rides home.
A U.S. crackdown is causing the longest and most significant drop in illegal migration from Mexico since the Sept. 11 attacks. Officials say the U.S. economic downturn, tighter security and a more perilous and expensive journey are persuading many who try to sneak into the U.S. to give up sooner.
Border Patrol arrests are down 17 percent so far this year along the U.S.-Mexico border after falling 20 percent all of last fiscal year and 8 percent the year before that. While it's impossible to know how many people are crossing illegally, the Patrol uses apprehensions to estimate the ebb and flow of traffic.
The downturn in illegal immigration has created labor shortages throughout the United States and several states are considering temporary-worker programs, especially in agricultural fields, where produce is going bad.
Mexicans in the U.S. are starting to send less money home, too.
Money being sent back is downRemittances soared in the early part of the decade to become Mexico's largest source of foreign income after oil exports. But they rose just 1 percent in 2007, reaching $24 billion and in the first quarter this year, they slipped almost 3 percent from the same period last year, Mexico's central bank said this week.
Adolfo Vasquez, a 41-year-old corn farmer from southern Mexico, picked fruit for three years in Washington state. Last year it took him two tries to get to his job. This year, he walked for four nights before U.S. Border Patrol agents caught him. He doesn't plan to try again.
"It's very disheartening because every time it gets twice as difficult," said Vasquez, resting under an aid station tent for deportees in Nogales. "We're going to go to Los Cabos or Tijuana. We hear there is work there."
The number of returned migrants who try again through the heavily traveled desert corridor west of Sasabe has dropped from 80 percent to 40 percent since January, said Border Patrol spokesman Jose Gonzalez. Agents keep fingerprints on all those apprehended and can determine multiple offenders, even if they give false names.
U.S. authorities attribute the drop to tighter security and a new program in the Tucson sector that has prosecuted more than 3,000 migrants for crossing illegally since it started in January. They face jail sentences from a few days to six months.
But none of the migrants interviewed by The Associated Press knew about the new prosecution program. Those on their way home said the main deterrents were tougher security and the dangers of the desert, including bandits who rob and even rape migrants on both sides of the border.
More border securityThe U.S. Border Patrol has added 200 officers since last year to the Tucson sector, and a total of 3,000 agents now search the vast desert for illegal migrants by truck, horse, ATV and helicopter. They now have four drones scanning for drug and migrant smugglers, as well as two newly built 12-foot walls with steel posts near Nogales and in Sasabe.
At the same time, Mexican drug smugglers have started to collect fees for access to the main routes into Arizona.
As a result, Grupo Beta, the Mexican government's migrant rescue group, has seen a 257 percent increase in the number of people seeking discounted bus tickets home this year. So far, 2,500 people in Nogales and Sasabe asked for the tickets this year, while Grupo Beta had only 700 requests in all of 2007.
"We can't keep up with so many people who are heading back," said Enrique Enriquez, coordinator for Grupo Beta in Nogales. He said his rescuers spend the day shuttling migrants to a bus station.
Maria Fernandez, 25, made her first crossing with her husband after both had been laid off from a department store in Puebla state. Friends in New York offered to help them find work. First they traveled to Altar, a farming town 70 miles south of Sasabe, a major gathering point for those heading to Arizona.
There, they had to pay about $50 so drug smugglers would allow them to travel the bumpy road north, and another $30 for a van that took them and another 25 migrants to Sasabe.
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Protesters nationwide seek immigrant rights
They walked for four nights through the mesquite-covered desert, where they were robbed once. They hid from Border Patrol agents at least five times. But when they reached the highway where they would meet their next ride, they were spotted by a helicopter.
Now, Fernandez was waiting in Nogales for her husband to be deported, as she had been.
"I won't try again because it's very difficult and, as a woman, one risks a lot," she said.
The crackdown has made smugglers more desperate to recruit clients for the trip north. If fewer people cross, their earnings drop.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Scientists: Big Quake Likely in Calif.
California faces an almost certain risk of being rocked by a strong earthquake by 2037, scientists said in the first statewide temblor forecast.
New calculations reveal there is a 99.7 percent chance a magnitude 6.7 quake or larger will strike in the next 30 years. The odds of such an event are higher in Southern California than Northern California, 97 percent versus 93 percent.
"It basically guarantees it's going to happen," said Ned Field, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and lead author of the report.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake under Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was magnitude 6.7. It killed 72 people, injured more than 9,000 and caused $25 billion in damage in the metropolitan area.
The damage created by an earthquake depends greatly on where it hits. A 7.1 quake _ much stronger than Northridge _ hit the Mojave Desert in 1999 but caused only a few injuries and no deaths.
California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.
The analysis is the first comprehensive effort by the USGS, Southern California Earthquake Center and California Geological Survey to calculate earthquake probabilities for the entire state using newly available data. Previous quake probabilities focused on specific regions and used various methodologies that made it difficult to compare.
For example, a 2003 report found the San Francisco Bay Area faced a 62 percent chance of being struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake by 2032. The new study increased the likelihood slightly to 63 percent by 2037. For the Los Angeles Basin, the probability is higher at 67 percent. There is no past comparison for the Los Angeles area.
Scientists still cannot predict exactly where in the state such a quake will occur or when. But they say the analysis should be a wake-up call for residents to prepare for a natural disaster in earthquake country.
Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.
"A big earthquake can happen tomorrow or it can happen 10 years from now," said Tom Jordan, director of the earthquake center, which is headquartered at the University of Southern California.
Researchers also calculated the statewide probabilities for larger temblors over the same time period. Among their findings: There is a 94 percent chance of a magnitude 7 shock or larger; a 46 percent chance of a magnitude 7.5 and a 4.5 percent chance of a magnitude 8.
The odds are higher that a magnitude 7.5 quake will hit Southern California than Northern California _ 37 percent versus 15 percent.
Of all the faults in the state, the southern San Andreas, which runs from Parkfield in central California southeast to the Salton Sea, appears most primed to break, scientists found. There is a 59 percent chance in the next three decades that a Northridge-size quake will occur on the fault compared to 21 percent for the northern section.
The northern San Andreas produced the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but the southernmost segment has not popped in more than three centuries.
Scientists are also concerned about the Hayward and San Jacinto faults, which have a 31 percent chance of producing a Northridge-size temblor in the next 30 years. The Hayward fault runs through densely populated cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Jacinto fault bisects the fast-growing city of San Bernardino east of Los Angeles.
New calculations reveal there is a 99.7 percent chance a magnitude 6.7 quake or larger will strike in the next 30 years. The odds of such an event are higher in Southern California than Northern California, 97 percent versus 93 percent.
"It basically guarantees it's going to happen," said Ned Field, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and lead author of the report.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake under Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was magnitude 6.7. It killed 72 people, injured more than 9,000 and caused $25 billion in damage in the metropolitan area.
The damage created by an earthquake depends greatly on where it hits. A 7.1 quake _ much stronger than Northridge _ hit the Mojave Desert in 1999 but caused only a few injuries and no deaths.
California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.
The analysis is the first comprehensive effort by the USGS, Southern California Earthquake Center and California Geological Survey to calculate earthquake probabilities for the entire state using newly available data. Previous quake probabilities focused on specific regions and used various methodologies that made it difficult to compare.
For example, a 2003 report found the San Francisco Bay Area faced a 62 percent chance of being struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake by 2032. The new study increased the likelihood slightly to 63 percent by 2037. For the Los Angeles Basin, the probability is higher at 67 percent. There is no past comparison for the Los Angeles area.
Scientists still cannot predict exactly where in the state such a quake will occur or when. But they say the analysis should be a wake-up call for residents to prepare for a natural disaster in earthquake country.
Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.
"A big earthquake can happen tomorrow or it can happen 10 years from now," said Tom Jordan, director of the earthquake center, which is headquartered at the University of Southern California.
Researchers also calculated the statewide probabilities for larger temblors over the same time period. Among their findings: There is a 94 percent chance of a magnitude 7 shock or larger; a 46 percent chance of a magnitude 7.5 and a 4.5 percent chance of a magnitude 8.
The odds are higher that a magnitude 7.5 quake will hit Southern California than Northern California _ 37 percent versus 15 percent.
Of all the faults in the state, the southern San Andreas, which runs from Parkfield in central California southeast to the Salton Sea, appears most primed to break, scientists found. There is a 59 percent chance in the next three decades that a Northridge-size quake will occur on the fault compared to 21 percent for the northern section.
The northern San Andreas produced the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but the southernmost segment has not popped in more than three centuries.
Scientists are also concerned about the Hayward and San Jacinto faults, which have a 31 percent chance of producing a Northridge-size temblor in the next 30 years. The Hayward fault runs through densely populated cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Jacinto fault bisects the fast-growing city of San Bernardino east of Los Angeles.
Scientists: Big Quake Likely in Calif.
California faces an almost certain risk of being rocked by a strong earthquake by 2037, scientists said in the first statewide temblor forecast.
New calculations reveal there is a 99.7 percent chance a magnitude 6.7 quake or larger will strike in the next 30 years. The odds of such an event are higher in Southern California than Northern California, 97 percent versus 93 percent.
"It basically guarantees it's going to happen," said Ned Field, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and lead author of the report.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake under Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was magnitude 6.7. It killed 72 people, injured more than 9,000 and caused $25 billion in damage in the metropolitan area.
The damage created by an earthquake depends greatly on where it hits. A 7.1 quake _ much stronger than Northridge _ hit the Mojave Desert in 1999 but caused only a few injuries and no deaths.
California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.
The analysis is the first comprehensive effort by the USGS, Southern California Earthquake Center and California Geological Survey to calculate earthquake probabilities for the entire state using newly available data. Previous quake probabilities focused on specific regions and used various methodologies that made it difficult to compare.
For example, a 2003 report found the San Francisco Bay Area faced a 62 percent chance of being struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake by 2032. The new study increased the likelihood slightly to 63 percent by 2037. For the Los Angeles Basin, the probability is higher at 67 percent. There is no past comparison for the Los Angeles area.
Scientists still cannot predict exactly where in the state such a quake will occur or when. But they say the analysis should be a wake-up call for residents to prepare for a natural disaster in earthquake country.
Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.
"A big earthquake can happen tomorrow or it can happen 10 years from now," said Tom Jordan, director of the earthquake center, which is headquartered at the University of Southern California.
Researchers also calculated the statewide probabilities for larger temblors over the same time period. Among their findings: There is a 94 percent chance of a magnitude 7 shock or larger; a 46 percent chance of a magnitude 7.5 and a 4.5 percent chance of a magnitude 8.
The odds are higher that a magnitude 7.5 quake will hit Southern California than Northern California _ 37 percent versus 15 percent.
Of all the faults in the state, the southern San Andreas, which runs from Parkfield in central California southeast to the Salton Sea, appears most primed to break, scientists found. There is a 59 percent chance in the next three decades that a Northridge-size quake will occur on the fault compared to 21 percent for the northern section.
The northern San Andreas produced the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but the southernmost segment has not popped in more than three centuries.
Scientists are also concerned about the Hayward and San Jacinto faults, which have a 31 percent chance of producing a Northridge-size temblor in the next 30 years. The Hayward fault runs through densely populated cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Jacinto fault bisects the fast-growing city of San Bernardino east of Los Angeles.
New calculations reveal there is a 99.7 percent chance a magnitude 6.7 quake or larger will strike in the next 30 years. The odds of such an event are higher in Southern California than Northern California, 97 percent versus 93 percent.
"It basically guarantees it's going to happen," said Ned Field, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and lead author of the report.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake under Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was magnitude 6.7. It killed 72 people, injured more than 9,000 and caused $25 billion in damage in the metropolitan area.
The damage created by an earthquake depends greatly on where it hits. A 7.1 quake _ much stronger than Northridge _ hit the Mojave Desert in 1999 but caused only a few injuries and no deaths.
California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.
The analysis is the first comprehensive effort by the USGS, Southern California Earthquake Center and California Geological Survey to calculate earthquake probabilities for the entire state using newly available data. Previous quake probabilities focused on specific regions and used various methodologies that made it difficult to compare.
For example, a 2003 report found the San Francisco Bay Area faced a 62 percent chance of being struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake by 2032. The new study increased the likelihood slightly to 63 percent by 2037. For the Los Angeles Basin, the probability is higher at 67 percent. There is no past comparison for the Los Angeles area.
Scientists still cannot predict exactly where in the state such a quake will occur or when. But they say the analysis should be a wake-up call for residents to prepare for a natural disaster in earthquake country.
Knowing the likelihood of a strong earthquake is the first step in allowing scientists to draw up hazard maps that show the potential severity of ground shaking in an area. The information can also help with updating building codes and emergency plans and setting earthquake insurance rates.
"A big earthquake can happen tomorrow or it can happen 10 years from now," said Tom Jordan, director of the earthquake center, which is headquartered at the University of Southern California.
Researchers also calculated the statewide probabilities for larger temblors over the same time period. Among their findings: There is a 94 percent chance of a magnitude 7 shock or larger; a 46 percent chance of a magnitude 7.5 and a 4.5 percent chance of a magnitude 8.
The odds are higher that a magnitude 7.5 quake will hit Southern California than Northern California _ 37 percent versus 15 percent.
Of all the faults in the state, the southern San Andreas, which runs from Parkfield in central California southeast to the Salton Sea, appears most primed to break, scientists found. There is a 59 percent chance in the next three decades that a Northridge-size quake will occur on the fault compared to 21 percent for the northern section.
The northern San Andreas produced the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but the southernmost segment has not popped in more than three centuries.
Scientists are also concerned about the Hayward and San Jacinto faults, which have a 31 percent chance of producing a Northridge-size temblor in the next 30 years. The Hayward fault runs through densely populated cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Jacinto fault bisects the fast-growing city of San Bernardino east of Los Angeles.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Obama strongly denounces former pastor
HICKORY, N.C. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged by the latest divisive comments from his former pastor and rejected the notion that he secretly agrees with him.
Obama is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign at a tough time. The Illinois senator is coming off a loss in Pennsylvania to rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and trying to win over white working-class voters in Indiana and North Carolina in next Tuesday's primaries.
"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, Wright made three public appearances in four days to defend himself. The former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has been combative, providing colorful commentary and feeding the story Obama had hoped was dying down.
On Monday, Wright criticized the U.S. government as imperialist and stood by his suggestion that the United States invented the HIV virus as a means of genocide against minorities. "Based on this Tuskegee experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything," he said.
And perhaps even worse for Obama, Wright suggested that the church congregant secretly concurs.
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Video
Watch Obama's entire speechApril 29: Watch the entire news conference given by Barack Obama regarding the controversial comments of his former pastor.
MSNBC"If Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected," Wright said. "Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls."
Obama stated flatly that he doesn't share the views of the man who officiated at his wedding, baptized his two daughters and been his pastor for 20 years. The title of Obama's second book, "The Audacity of Hope," came from a Wright sermon.
"What became clear to me is that he was presenting a world view that contradicts who I am and what I stand for," Obama said. "And what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I am about trying to bridge gaps and I see the commonality in all people."
In a highly publicized speech last month, Obama sharply condemned Wright's remarks. But he did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member.
On Tuesday, Obama sought to distance himself further from Wright.
"I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992, and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years," Obama said. "The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago."
getCSS("3088867")
Video
Russert on Rev. Wright falloutApril 29: NBC’s Tim Russert discusses the Wright episode's effect on Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination.
Nightly NewsObama said he heard that Wright had given "a performance" and when he watched news accounts, he realized that it more than just a case of the former pastor defending himself.
"His comments were not only divisive and destructive, I believe they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate," Obama said. "I'll be honest with you, I hadn't seen it" when reacting initially on Monday, he said.
Wright had asserted that criticism of his fiery sermons was an attack on the black church. Obama rejected that notion.
Obama said his earlier mild reaction came because he gave him the benefit of the doubt, but that evaporated when he saw Wright's speech. Wright's comments may well have severed the relationship.
"He has done great damage, I do not see that relationship being the same," said Obama.
Wright recently retired from the church. He became an issue in Obama's presidential bid when videos circulated of him condemning the U.S. government for allegedly racist and genocidal acts. In the videos, some several years old, Wright called on God to "damn America." He also said the government created the AIDS virus to destroy "people of color."
Obama said he didn't vet his pastor before deciding to seek the presidency. He said he was particularly distressed that the furor has been a distraction to the purpose of a campaign.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. ... But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. ... There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced."
Obama is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign at a tough time. The Illinois senator is coming off a loss in Pennsylvania to rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and trying to win over white working-class voters in Indiana and North Carolina in next Tuesday's primaries.
"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, Wright made three public appearances in four days to defend himself. The former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has been combative, providing colorful commentary and feeding the story Obama had hoped was dying down.
On Monday, Wright criticized the U.S. government as imperialist and stood by his suggestion that the United States invented the HIV virus as a means of genocide against minorities. "Based on this Tuskegee experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything," he said.
And perhaps even worse for Obama, Wright suggested that the church congregant secretly concurs.
getCSS("3088867")
Video
Watch Obama's entire speechApril 29: Watch the entire news conference given by Barack Obama regarding the controversial comments of his former pastor.
MSNBC"If Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected," Wright said. "Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls."
Obama stated flatly that he doesn't share the views of the man who officiated at his wedding, baptized his two daughters and been his pastor for 20 years. The title of Obama's second book, "The Audacity of Hope," came from a Wright sermon.
"What became clear to me is that he was presenting a world view that contradicts who I am and what I stand for," Obama said. "And what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I am about trying to bridge gaps and I see the commonality in all people."
In a highly publicized speech last month, Obama sharply condemned Wright's remarks. But he did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member.
On Tuesday, Obama sought to distance himself further from Wright.
"I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992, and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years," Obama said. "The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago."
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Russert on Rev. Wright falloutApril 29: NBC’s Tim Russert discusses the Wright episode's effect on Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination.
Nightly NewsObama said he heard that Wright had given "a performance" and when he watched news accounts, he realized that it more than just a case of the former pastor defending himself.
"His comments were not only divisive and destructive, I believe they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate," Obama said. "I'll be honest with you, I hadn't seen it" when reacting initially on Monday, he said.
Wright had asserted that criticism of his fiery sermons was an attack on the black church. Obama rejected that notion.
Obama said his earlier mild reaction came because he gave him the benefit of the doubt, but that evaporated when he saw Wright's speech. Wright's comments may well have severed the relationship.
"He has done great damage, I do not see that relationship being the same," said Obama.
Wright recently retired from the church. He became an issue in Obama's presidential bid when videos circulated of him condemning the U.S. government for allegedly racist and genocidal acts. In the videos, some several years old, Wright called on God to "damn America." He also said the government created the AIDS virus to destroy "people of color."
Obama said he didn't vet his pastor before deciding to seek the presidency. He said he was particularly distressed that the furor has been a distraction to the purpose of a campaign.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. ... But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. ... There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced."
Britney returning to 'Mother' for May sweeps
Zap2it.com
Britney Spears, whose first appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" pushed the CBS comedy to ratings highs, will be back for May sweeps.
The return of the pop tartlet to "HIMYM" had been rumored since her first appearance on March 24 drew nearly 10.7 million viewers and generated relatively positive reviews.
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Spears begins production on Monday (April 28) for an episode titled "Everything Must Go," set to air on May 12.
(It should be noted that rather serious spoilers are about to follow, so take your leave if you must.)
The episode finds Spears' increasingly less meek-and-mousy receptionist Abby bonding with Neil Patrick Harris' Barney over their hatred for Josh Radnor's Ted (a turn of events that suggest definite blowback from the events that closed last week's "HIMYM"). In order to cause Ted a little pain, Barney and Abby decide to pretend they're dating and begin pushing their "relationship" to get a rise out of Ted.
As per usual, hilarity ensues.
"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," says series co-creator/executive producer Craig Thomas. "And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you."
Britney Spears, whose first appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" pushed the CBS comedy to ratings highs, will be back for May sweeps.
The return of the pop tartlet to "HIMYM" had been rumored since her first appearance on March 24 drew nearly 10.7 million viewers and generated relatively positive reviews.
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Spears begins production on Monday (April 28) for an episode titled "Everything Must Go," set to air on May 12.
(It should be noted that rather serious spoilers are about to follow, so take your leave if you must.)
The episode finds Spears' increasingly less meek-and-mousy receptionist Abby bonding with Neil Patrick Harris' Barney over their hatred for Josh Radnor's Ted (a turn of events that suggest definite blowback from the events that closed last week's "HIMYM"). In order to cause Ted a little pain, Barney and Abby decide to pretend they're dating and begin pushing their "relationship" to get a rise out of Ted.
As per usual, hilarity ensues.
"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," says series co-creator/executive producer Craig Thomas. "And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you."
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