Controversy

Are Arts & Crafts Supplies Always Overpriced? Utrecht Says No!

I know several people who really enjoy various forms of arts and crafts. But I’ve noticed these can be expensive hobbies if you insist on buying supplies at retail. Certain stores make it seem like these expensive prices are what you always need to pay for supplies dealing with arts and crafts. Thankfully, I recently learned this is not the case!

Utrecht is an online company selling supplies associated with arts & crafts at very reasonable prices. Discount art supplies can be purchased from Utrecht at 70% off of the manufacturers suggested retail price. Similarly, craft art supplies can be purchased with huge discounts or even on clearance. Easels can also be purchased from Utrecht at prices much lower than what you see at retail stores.

All of the top products from all of the top brands can be purchased online at Utrecht. This is a wonderful thing because overpriced supplies are what often prevent talented people with various skills from taking advantage of their talents and skills. Currently there are some excellent sales and summer promotions for you to take advantage of at Utrecht.

For example, if you enter the coupon code of “WEB15” through June 9, you can save 15% off your purchase of $99 or more and get free shipping if the bill adds up to $150. Also, there is a summer sale where you can save up to 55% off of arches watercolor sheets and blocks. There is even a sale where you can save up to 75% off of Utrecht canvas, linen, brushes, and brush sets!

If you are someone who enjoys arts & crafts, please share your thoughts on this subject. Isn’t it nice to be able to enjoy a hobby when you have a valuable combination of talents and skills? Even if your skills aren’t “valuable,” you can still be proud of what you are working on without investing a lot of money thanks to a reasonable company like Utrecht.

Halo 4 and Halo Anniversary Edition Announced! - Visit My E3 Coverage

Microsoft sitting, watching Microsoft's press conference at E3, I heard some official announcements I expected to hear because of industry insider friends I have in the videogame industry. I also heard some announcements I didn't expect to hear -- and those announcements were really awesome! If you want to learn more about those announcements, come to my new Controversy blog devoted entirely to daily videogame news. Make you to subscribe to this new blog: www.controversy.typepad.com/videogamenews

I can tell you Microsoft did announce the awesome Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition many of us heard rumors about. And I'll also wet your appetite by telling you Halo 4 was announced! Some of my reliable industry insider friends told me this might happen. But even I was amazed when Microsoft said Halo 4 would be part of a "trilogy" of new games involving Spartan super-soldier John 117!

New England College of Business and Finance - Setting New Standards Online

In 1999 when I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I lost the ability to drive, which was truly disappointing considering I live in a small town with no public transportation. What’s worse is that I live in a country area where nothing is within walking distance. But thanks to online education, I was able to acquire various degrees and certificates at several different colleges and universities.

At the time I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I was enrolled in two classes at a local community college and the semester was about halfway over. Even though I was previously able to drive, I often complained that it took me so long to drive to the college and then drive back home. This was time which could have been used to study. Unfortunately, I was forced to drop one class since I could not find anyone to take me and pick me back up. But, I was able to get a ride from my mother in order to complete the other class.

After that semester was over, everyone I knew made it clear to me they would not be available to take me to college classes and then do grocery shopping or wait in a parking lot while I was in school. Back in 1999, I had absolutely no options available to further my college education. I didn’t know about online education at the time. I basically was forced to sit around the house very disappointed all day (just as I often do now, since I am still unemployed).

But in 2003 when I learned about online education, it really sparked an interest in my life! I enrolled online at Lansing Community College, where I eventually earned two associate’s degrees, in addition to three Microsoft Office Specialist certificates. I completed an online program where I earned a certificate in Time Management. I then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Process Management from Franklin University – a school my sister and I graduated from and recommend you do NOT attend!

While I attended college online, I was very happy. I thought there was hope for the future. I literally was a double-time student – enrolled in up to nine classes at a time, earning a 4.0 in all of them! I saw this as a way to make up for lost time over the previous four years. I used this enthusiasm and hope as a source of fuel to study, do homework, and perform well on proctored tests.

Ever since I graduated, I have been trying to find work online. Sadly, I have not been able to do so. I can definitely confirm college improved all my skills associated with writing, math, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurial business. But I know that one in three degrees received by students each year is in some way related to business. In other words, business is an area with tough competition and may require a master’s degree in order to give you a competitive edge.

One of the best accredited online MBA programs I’ve seen is from the New England College of Business and Finance. I know having an online degree in finance can help you get a good job, because my sister worked at a bank where the manager of the entire bank had this type of degree. However, it really does seem like most of the jobs today list a bachelor’s degree as a requirement while saying a master’s degree is preferred.

I really like the way the New England College of Business and Finance is the first school in the United States to offer a compliance training program dedicated to ethics in the world of business. This graduate course allows you to receive a Master of Science in Business Ethics and Compliance – also known as an MBE. When you complete this program you significantly increase your opportunity for employment working as a financial consultant, compliance officer, or corporate auditor. You will be the one setting the cultural standards relating to business ethics for non-profit organizations you work with.

I also noticed the hospitality degree offered by the New England College of Business and Finance. This is essentially a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specific focus on Hospitality Management. After doing some research, I learned this means you will be focused on gaining skills associated with hotel management, catering of food and beverages, event planning, and human resources.

I’ve known several people who worked at hotels and eventually worked their way up the ladder to impressive careers, enjoying their job the whole time. If this is an area you are interested in, it seems like this program will help you acquire all the skills needed in order to achieve your objectives. Plus, placing the emphasis of Hospitality on this bachelor’s degree can give your résumé an advantage over others in this niche market.

I can tell you that attending school online really is a great thing. You don’t need to waste money on gas, and you don’t need to waste time driving. I realize some people enjoy learning in a classroom – sometimes considering it a social activity. I also realize some people are involved in programs such as medicine and surgery where you need to see things in person. But I can tell from personal experience that the subjects associated with business are very enjoyable online.

Based on what I’ve seen online, it looks like the New England College of Business and Finance will be an excellent experience for students. If you have any thoughts or experiences to share about the New England College of Business and Finance, please do!

Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian Passed Away -- Should Suicide Be Legalized?

Dr. Jacob “Jack” Kevorkian passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 83. Dr. Kevorkian became infamous in the 1990’s because he helped over 130 people die via physician-assisted suicide. Dr. Kevorkian continuously said “Dying is not a crime.” In each of these suicides, it was the patient who committed the final action.

Believe it or not, Dr. Kevorkian was actually known as “Dr. Death” long before he helped people commit suicide. Colleagues throughout California and Michigan had always observed Kevorkian was particularly interested in dying patients. Dr. Kevorkian was a graduate of the University of Michigan. This is probably why he had a desire to settle down in Michigan and ultimately end up with a career writing articles about euthanasia, which were published throughout the world.

Dr. Kevorkian did not truly become famous until the 1990s when he invented a device known as the “death machine.” This medical tool gave consenting patients the opportunity to self-inject an anesthetic followed by a lethal dose of potassium chloride. Jack Kevorkian labeled this machine as the “Thanatron,” since it was named after Thanatos – the figure of death in Greek mythology.

Dr. Kevorkian and his volunteer attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, became well known all over the world because they continuously stood up to government laws, particularly in Michigan. The state of Michigan passed a law in 1993 preventing him from practicing physician-assisted suicides. Geoffrey Fieger constantly attacked Governor John Engler while supporting Dr. Kevorkian.

Eventually, Dr. Kevorkian lost his licenses to practice medicine in California and Michigan. Nevertheless, Dr. Kevorkian continued to help people “End their lives with dignity.” Dr. Kevorkian continuously pointed out that people should not be forced to suffer and live with pain, since they were inevitably going to die anyways.

Consequently, Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in April of 1999. After serving eight years of a 10-to-25 year prison sentence, Dr. Kevorkian was released on parole after promising he would not aid in any further suicides. From that point on, Dr. Kevorkian devoted his life to oil paintings and jazz music. Occasionally, Dr. Kevorkian would market his work to the public.

I want to make it clear to everyone reading this that I am a Christian and I believe in God. I have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. However, I was very disappointed the way several large so-called Christian organizations were cheering and gloating like hypocrites when Jack Kevorkian died this week. One woman said, “I know Dr. Kevorkian now realizes there is a God, and I can guarantee you he will not be spending eternity with Him in Heaven.”

I just have one controversial question: How can that woman “Guarantee” anything? She is not God, and she is not in a position to judge Jack Kevorkian. If you examine the life of Jack Kevorkian, you will be surprised what a loving and caring man he was. And when you learn what I’m about to tell you, I believe you may change your mind about whether or not you will see Jack Kevorkian when you get to Heaven!

Jack Kevorkian came from a very religious family and was raised to be a Christian by his loving parents. It was at the age of 12 when young Jack started asking questions in Sunday school class. Jack asked the question, “If there is an all-knowing and all-powerful God capable of giving His son the ability to walk on water, He would also have been able to prevent the Turkish slaughter of his entire extended family.”

Jack asked valid questions like this every week at church. But at the young age of 12 he decided to stop attending church because his questions were not receiving acceptable answers, based on his point of view. I believe the fundamental problem is the way Jack Kevorkian only looked at things from his personal point of view. For example, Jack apparently thought to himself, “If I had the ability to walk on water or heal the sick, I would use those abilities to provide health to everyone and prevent millions of innocent people from being slaughtered by a tyrant like Adolf Hitler.”

This form of logic seems reasonable to most people, but once you read your Bible you realize that is not the way God works. Jesus Christ is a merciful God who wants to spend eternity with you. This is the reason why He personally allowed Himself to be tortured on a cross. When the supporters of Jesus Christ saw Him on that cross, they asked questions similar to Jack Kevorkian. They probably asked themselves things like “If this guy really is the same guy who previously walked on water and healed other people, why doesn’t he just heal himself and hop off that cross; then, everyone would believe!”

But the evidence suggests Jack Kevorkian didn’t read his Bible enough to learn it is a relatively violent book – describing various forms of judgment, fights, murders, and torture. If Jack did read his Bible from beginning to end, it’s disappointing that he didn’t become friends with the Lord along the way. You would tend to think that a man capable of understanding the concept that “Death is not a crime” would also be capable of understanding the concept that “Good days would not exist if it wasn’t for bad days.” In life, we often learn from bad experiences just as much as we learn from good experiences.

But this still doesn’t necessarily mean Jack Kevorkian won’t be in Heaven. We don’t know what happened during the last days of Jack Kevorkian’s life. During his last days, Jack Kevorkian probably thought a lot about his life, his family, and his loved ones. We know he was raised as a Christian, and we know God was always on his mind. How do we know that Jack Kevorkian didn’t ask forgiveness of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, just as many of his painfully sick patients did?

There’s no question Dr. Kevorkian will be judged for his actions in life. But there’s also no doubt he would spend eternity with the Lord if he felt comfortable being with Him. How do you “Feel comfortable being with the Lord” you ask? Simple; cause the Lord to see you as He sees Himself. The way you do that is by covering yourself in the blood of Jesus Christ. You do that by asking forgiveness of your sins and accepted the work of Jesus on the cross. This is the whole reason why Jesus allow Himself to be tortured that way; He paid the price for everyone’s sins, even though His life perfectly agreed with the will of God.

I want to end this article by telling the enemies of Dr. Kevorkian that they should not be proud or happy that Jack Kevorkian may be in hell right now. Jesus Christ loved Jack Kevorkian enough to die for him. Keep that in mind before you run your mouth. And also keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t like hypocrites!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this. Do you believe suicide will be leglaized one day? How about the way hospitals take people off of life support all the time?

Al-Qaida militant killed in US strike in Pakistan - Direct from AP - Barack Obama Gets the Job Done Again!

By ISHTIAQ MEHSUD, Associated Press Ishtiaq Mehsud, Associated Press– 30 mins ago

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – A top al-Qaida commander and possible replacement for Osama bin Laden was killed in an American drone-fired missile strike close to the Afghan border, a fax from the militant group he heads and a Pakistani intelligence official said Saturday.

Ilyas Kashmiri's apparent death is another blow to al-Qaida just over a month after bin Laden was killed by American commandos in a northwest Pakistani army town. Described by U.S. officials as al-Qaida's military operations chief in Pakistan, the 47-year-old Pakistani was one of five most-wanted militant leaders in the country, accused of a string of bloody attacks in South Asia, including the 2008 Mumbai massacre, as well as aiding plots in the West. Washington had offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to his location.

His death was not confirmed publicly by the United States or Pakistani officials. Verifying who has been killed in the drone strikes is difficult. Initial reports have turned out to be wrong in the past, including one in September 2009 that said Kashmiri had been killed. Sometimes they are never formally denied or confirmed by authorities here or in the United States.

But a fax from the militant group he was heading — Harakat-ul-Jihad al-Islami's feared "313 Brigade" — confirmed Kashmiri was "martyred" in the strike at 11:15 p.m. Friday in South Waziristan tribal region. It was sent to journalists in Peshawar.

"God willing, America, which is the 'pharaoh' of this, will soon see a revenge attack, and our real target is America," it said. The statement was handwritten written on a white page bearing name of the group, which has not previously communicated with the media.

The Pakistani official also said Kashmiri was among nine militants killed in the strike. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with his agency's policy. On Friday night, officials said several missiles hit a compound. The official Saturday said the men were meeting in an apple orchard near the house when the missiles hit.

Kashmiri's name was on a list of militants that the United States and Pakistan recently agreed to jointly target, officials have said. The successful strike could help repair ties between the two countries that were badly damaged by the unilateral American raid, especially if Islamabad helped provide intelligence leading up to the attack.

Said to be blind in one eye and missing a finger, Kashmiri was one of the country's most accomplished — and vicious — militants. He fought with jihadi fighters in Afghanistan and in Indian-held Kashmir in the 1990s and was so close to al-Qaida's central command that he had been mentioned as a contender for replacing bin Laden, though many analysts thought the fact that he was not an Arab meant he was unlikely to get the post.

Indian officials have alleged he was involved in the 2008 Mumbai siege that killed more than 160 people. He has also been named a defendant in an American court over a planned attack on a Danish newspaper that published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in 2005.

In an ongoing terror trial in Chicago, testimony from an American-Pakistani militant has alleged that Kashmiri helped plan the Mumbai siege and wanted to attack U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Kashmiri had been angry over U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan and wanted to target the company, David Coleman Headley testified.

Kashmiri has most recently been linked to last month's 18-hour assault on a naval base in Karachi. He is also accused of masterminding several bloody raids on Pakistan police and intelligence buildings in 2009 and 2010, as well as a failed assassination attempt against then-President Pervez Musharraf in 2003.

The U.S Department of State says he organized a 2006 suicide bombing against the U.S. consulate in Karachi that killed four people, including an American diplomat.

American drones began firing missiles at al-Qaida and Taliban targets along the border in 2005, but the attacks picked up pace in 2008 and have risen in frequency ever since. Pakistani army officers and politicians publicly protest them, too weak to admit to working with the ever unpopular America in targeting fellow Pakistanis, but the country's intelligence agencies have been known to occasionally provide targeting information.

Opposition to the strikes grew this year after a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis in the street, triggering ever more intense anti-American anger. After the bin Laden raid, which was seen by many here as an outrageous violation of the country's sovereignty, the parliament issued a declaration calling for the attacks to end.

Pakistani leaders were not immediately available for comment on Friday's attack. Kashmiri was accused of killing many Pakistanis, including police and army officers, so their public reaction may be muted.

The United States does not acknowledge the CIA-run program, though its officials have confirmed the death of high-value targets before, including the head of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, in 2009 — a strike welcomed by many Pakistan officials because he too was a sworn enemy of the country.

Washington says the strikes are accurately killing militants and are disrupting plots against the West as well as planned attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Videogame News - A New Blog Devoted to Daily News Coverage

Videogame News is a new blog I've created in order to focus on the daily coverage of the videogame industry.

Just click here or enter the following URL: http://controversy.typepad.com/videogamenews/

Make sure you become a TypePad Follower of this blog. Also, make sure you Subscribe to this blog and add it to your Favorites list. May the force be with you!

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Package Coming to Xbox 360! - Remixed HD Graphics & 5.1 Sound

Breaking news from the World Wide Konami Press Conference, the Metal Gear Solid HD collection will be coming to the Xbox 360 in November of this year! The package will include High Definition versions of Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 and the formally PSP exclusive Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Kojima Productions unveiled the news in a very funny skit-like video featuring the sketch comedy group Mega 64. I couldn’t be happier with this announcement. The original Metal Gear Solid and its sequel are some of my favorite of all time. I rarely play them anymore, since their sound is outdated and they possess outdated graphics. But with graphics updated to high-definition and sound remixed to true 5.1, it will be a pleasure playing through the games again – particularly since I will earn Achievement Points along the way.

Hideo Kojima confirmed that he is in the planning stages of the “Next Metal Gear Solid Experience”. Speaking about the graphics engine for his next game, Kojima revealed it is called “The Fox Engine”. This new graphics engine is multiplatform for future titles.

The demo of the Fox Engine looked very impressive. The demo exhibited realistic foliage and dirt paths, but Kojima stressed that the engine is not using final assets from his next game. The items displayed were merely technical demonstrations, not actual software.

History has proven the Xbox 360 versions of the vast majority of multiplatform software ends up with better graphics and better online play than their PS3 counterparts. Even games as simple as Splinter Cell have proven this point. Whether or not the Xbox 360 version will be "noticably" better or "significantly" better remains to be seen. But like channel G4 said, "Even if the versions of a PS3 and Xbox 360 game are identical, it always makes sense to buy the Xbox 360 version because there are more people to play online with and a larger percentage of people online have headsets to chat with while playing." 

Controversy will have full coverage from the Konami conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo!

Forza 4 Racing Uses Kinect Head-Tracking Features!

Forza Motorsport 4 will be the biggest and best racing game ever released when it is launched for Xbox 360 later this year. It isn't just the amazing graphics, huge selection of high-quality cars, or the incredibly large number of tracks available in Forza 4 that make it a special racing game. Forza Motorsport 4 will be the first game in this excellent franchise to be fully optimized for the Kinect motion-sensor accessory, which is now in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling electronics item ever! This is what we've been looking forward to all along!

We've known from the beginning Forza Motorsport 4 would allow us to drive by using our hands as the racing wheel. Kinect uses its motion-sensing abilities to accurately and precisely determine where we wanted to drive based on which direction we move our hands! We were told that when this feature is used the game will handle acceleration and braking responsibilities for us. This is a very simple setup many casual gamers will enjoy, especially kids, females, and older gamers.

But I'm starting to question what was said because of a new video Microsoft recently released. Microsoft has now revealed the motion-sensing abilities of Kinect will be used to track all of your head movements in order to add an even greater sense of realism to Forza Motorsport 4! This feature looks absolutely amazing in the video, and you can also see how stunning the graphics are in the game! Can you believe the graphics in Forza Motorsport 4 are even better than the current racing champion – Forza Motorsport 3!

But one thing in particular leaves a bit of controversy. In this video, you clearly see the brake pedal and gas pedal being used. These pedals are part of an accessory Microsoft discontinued several years ago -- a product that is now considered the greatest racing wheel ever released because it offered excellent force feedback. As an industry insider, this makes me wonder if I may see Microsoft start selling their force feedback steering wheel and brake/gas pedal accessory again. Or, will Microsoft sell only the brake pad and gas pad accessory this time, since Kinect will essentially be providing the wheel.

Please share your thoughts on this subject. Microsoft says they will be revealing other secrets about Forza 4 at E3. I know Gamestop and several other retailers give you a special group of great cars if you preorder the game right now. But, it wouldn't surprise me to see Microsoft release Forza Motorsport 4 in arcades. Here is a video for you to look at proving all this:

Gifts from Myron Offer Personalization and Promotion

Personalized gifts and rewards add a lot of importance to most people. This is the time of year when students graduate and many marriages take place. Once, when I was the best man at a friends wedding, I received a nice pocket knife with my initials placed on it. This element of personalization really meant a lot to me.

Business is also an area of life that benefits from personalized forms of promotional products. When you look at a custom-designed business logo placed onto items such as promotional USB cards, pens, calendars and notepads, you feel a sense of pride. A business organization can also reward employees by personalizing USB cards, flashlights, key chains, mugs, and even a computer mouse! This form of employee recognition honors employees for doing a good job while simultaneously providing promotion for the business.

Myron is an excellent online website to buy these forms of personalized items for your friends and loved ones. A romantic couple can buy personalized gifts saying “Thank You” or “I Love You.” Children can celebrate the anniversary of their parents by purchasing gifts saying “Congratulations” or “Best Wishes Mom & Dad.” These forms of personalized items really do add a special feeling when a gift is given to a loved one.

Myron is also an excellent place to buy promotional items purchased for your business. Your business logo and initials can be professionally placed on executive items such as portfolios, journals, calculators, photo frames, and daily desktop calendars. Even items such as umbrellas and nail clippers can carry your business logo in order to help build brand recognition! If you are looking to advertise and promote your business for reasonable prices, I believe Myron will probably be able to help you out.

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Will Michigan Hire Jim Tressel? – Will Mark Dantonio Leave Michigan State for Ohio State?

Jim Tressel is a football coach who has enjoyed a very successful career at Ohio State University. Unfortunately, Jim Tressel was forced to resign due to the fact that he violated many of the rules of college football. Tressel has brought a great deal of disrespect to college football, especially the Big Ten Conference and Ohio State University. Many fans of college football are even demanding Jim Tressel forfeit wins and championships attained while at OSU.

Ohio State’s biggest rival is the University of Michigan. While at Ohio State, this so-called rivalry was actually a game of domination – possibly because Jim Tressel and Ohio State were violating NCAA rules and regulations. Under the ten-year reign of Jim Tressel, OSU acquired a win-loss record of 9 wins 1 loss versus the U of M. But college football, professional sports, and politics all play by the same rule: Win at all costs!

The University of Michigan football program is currently at its lowest point in decades. Even MAC schools have recently beaten the U of M. Consequently, Michigan recently fired Rich Rodriguez and hired Brady Hoke as their new head football coach. Although Hoke has been an assistant at several large universities and does have ties to the U of M, some people think his résumé is questionable for the job. Mr. Hoke did well as head football coach of small football programs such as Ball State and San Diego State, but those responsibilities are far from the responsibilities required as head football coach at the University of Michigan.

This has many people wondering if the University of Michigan actually has (or at one point did have) a desire to hire Jim Tressel! Believe it or not, this is not as fishy as it sounds. Even after publicly announcing Brady Hoke would replace Rich Rodriguez as head football coach, no contract was signed!

Many people speculated the reason for this is because the University of Michigan athletic director, David Brandon, thought there was a possibility Ohio State would fire Jim Tressel. And if that were to happen, apparently the University of Michigan would have instantly been ready to hire coach Tressel! This would have been an immoral thing to do, but it would have been a perfect example of winning at all costs.

Many people believe inside sources at Ohio State University were aware of Michigan’s plan. People at OSU wondered “Why hasn’t Michigan signed a contract with their new coach yet?” They asked “What is their motive for not signing a contract and failing to show public support for their head football coach?”

The answers to these questions are based on business and money. Sports entertainment is a business; it is based on money and strategy. Some of my friends feel there is no doubt that if Jim Tressel had been fired by Ohio State prior to the contract signing of Brady Hoke, it means Brady Hoke would not have been hired after all!

Instead, the University of Michigan may have hired Jim Tressel, because his skill as a football coach is recognized. Tressel would always have a motive for wanting to beat Ohio State, and it would add fuel to the rivalry fire between the two schools. Updated versions of documentaries about the legendary rivalry would be published and placed onto video. This would help generate even more money for both schools.

The question now is, “Does the University of Michigan still have a desire to hire Jim Tressel?” Several people I know think Michigan probably still has this desire, but will probably not act on it now that the contract with Brady Hoke has finally been signed. I personally doubt the University of Michigan was ever fully interested in Jim Tressel, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the thought did cross their mind. I believe the University of Michigan wanted Jim Harbaugh to be their new football coach more than anyone else, but Harbaugh was not interested in the job.

At this point in time, I believe the University of Michigan will fully support Brady Hoke as their head football coach. Everything will probably remain the same at the University of Michigan. But, I do think there is a possibility changes may be coming to Michigan State University.

Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. The football program at MSU isn’t nearly as strong as the football program at Ohio State. Personally, I believe it is inevitable that MSU head coaches will be fired, forced to resign, or voluntarily resign in order to take a better position at another school.

For example, Nick Saban is a former head football coach at Michigan State. His performance at Michigan State received mixed reviews; some years were better than others. Even though Saban was able to pull off several upsets of higher ranked schools, many people at MSU still wanted Saban fired. I have no doubt that Nick Saban is a very skilled coach, but I also have no doubt that Saban would have been fired as head football coach at MSU if he would have stayed there. Saban made the right move when he accepted an offer at LSU, eventually winning a national championship.

With that in mind, I believe there is a very good possibility Mark Dantonio is interested in the head coaching position at Ohio State University. One of the reasons why Mark Dantonio was hired at MSU is because he spent time as an assistant of Nick Saban at MSU. Similarly, Mark Dantonio has even stronger links to Ohio State University. Mark Dantonio has previously worked as an assistant at Ohio State. Also, Mark Dantonio is an Ohio State graduate – making him the ultimate OSU head football coach!

Please share your thoughts on this subject. Keep in mind I am currently unemployed because I have epilepsy and cannot drive. If you know of any online business or marketing opportunities available, please hire me. I am particularly skilled in areas of business, writing, marketing, and videogames. If possible, please leave a donation.

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Do Wrestlers and Celebrities Lie About Their Height?

Based on what I’ve seen in the wrestling industry, it appears many of the wrestlers have lied about their height. This seems particularly true regarding wrestlers that have ever been associated with the WWE. It seems as though this is also true in Hollywood, where actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger are criticized for lying about height and packing their shoes to raise height in a false way.

My dad enjoyed lifting weights his whole life and was even a Mr. Michigan bodybuilder. As you can imagine, my dad lifted weights in a lot of different gyms. Every once in a while my dad said professional wrestlers would come into the gyms. My dad always told me Hulk Hogan was about 6’3” tall. I didn’t want to believe my dad, because I was a big fan of Hulk Hogan.

As a kid, I had a wrestling card that said Hulk Hogan stood 6’8” tall. And in the movie Rocky III, Hulk Hogan played the role of a character named Thunder Lips. The announcer introduced Thunder Lips by telling the audience he stood “Nearly seven feet.” 6’8” tall was close enough to 7’ to keep me happy. Plus, Hulk Hogan really was far taller than Sylvester Stallone. But, as a kid, I didn’t know Stallone stood only 5’8” tall in real life.

A later wrestling card of Hollywood Hulk Hogan listed his height as 6’7” tall. I mentioned this to my dad and he said he didn’t care what that card said, he had seen Hulk Hogan in the gym before and he knew the guy was about 6’3” tall. My dad stood 6’2” tall and he said Hulk Hogan was only a little taller than him.

Here is where things get interesting. Troy Aikman is a former NFL Quarterback; we know he stands 6’4” tall. When you see Troy Aikman next to Hulk Hogan in commercials for Rent-a-Center, you can clearly see Troy Aikman is about one inch taller than Hulk Hogan. After all those years, I finally saw proof my dad was right! This also shows the Internet Movie Database is not a reliable source, because it currently lists Hulk Hogan’s height as 6’4.5” tall while Troy Aikman is listed as only 6’4” tall.

I later saw Hulk Hogan as a guest on Larry King, and I was surprised to see this issued discussed. Hulk Hogan told Larry King that at one point he did stand 6’7” tall, but currently stands 6’4” tall. Hogan said the reason why he lost height is because of several surgeries to his body, including two discs removed from his spine.

In theory, Hogan’s excuse for losing height seems valid to me. I have a cousin and a friend who both lost two inches from their height because of motorcycle accidents where two spinal discs were removed. But my dad told me Hulk Hogan was 6’3” in the 90’s, before these surgeries occurred and before these wrestling cards were printed. Also, the Rent-a-Center commercials show Hulk Hogan appears to be shorter than the 6’4” Troy Aikman.

Hulk Hogan is not alone when it comes to lying about heights. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a wrestler whose height was listed as 6’5.” This seemed reasonable, since Dwayne Johnson played football for the University of Miami in college, where his height was listed as 6’5.” But when Hulk Hogan wrestled The Rock, we clearly saw Hogan was noticeably taller. Of all the universities participating in football, one of the worst known for violating rules and being penalized for it is the University of Miami. In other words, it wouldn’t be surprising if Dwayne Johnson lied about his height in college. If you look at the Internet Movie Database, Dwayne Johnson’s height is listed at 6’4” right now (looks like someone may have lied to try and cheat someone else out of a college scholarship).

Recently, I received several emails from TNA wrestling. I was invited backstage to meet some of the wrestlers. Hulk Hogan wasn’t there, so I can’t verify his height relative to mine. However, I can tell you there definitely are some problems with the way several professional wrestlers claim to be certain heights.

Based on my observations, it appears the height of a wrestler is dependant on which large organization the wrestler first billed his height. For example, Rob Van Dam is currently listed as 6’ 0” tall, which I believe is accurate. This is probably because RVD was originally billed as 6’ 0” tall. But Jeff Jarrett is currently billed as 6’1” tall by TNA, which is definitely wrong! At best, Jeff Jarrett is 5’10” tall, as the Internet Movie Database currently lists him at.

I believe this may have to do with the fact that the WWF originally said Jeff Jarrett was 6’1” tall. From that point on, Jeff Jarrett was obligated to bill himself as 6’1” tall. This form of exaggeration was something the WWF could get away with because they did it with all athletes. The Ultimate Warrior was billed as 6’4” tall, but really was only 6’1” tall (even though the Internet Movie Database says he is 6’3” tall). Hulk Hogan was billed as 6’8” tall, but was obviously shorter. Andre the Giant was bill as 7’4” tall, but really stood only 6’10” tall.

Once these wrestlers switch from one organization to another, those lies come back to haunt them. I want to show you a couple pictures which prove my point. I stand just under 6’3” tall with my shoes on, so keep that in mind.

In this picture with Rob Van Dam in the middle, I’m on the left – a TNA Elite guest! My mother is on the right, since she was one of the people I brought with me. As you can tell, RVD really is 6’0” tall, just as he claims to be. My mom is 5’4” tall and RVD towers above her. By the way, Rob Van Dam is an EXCELLENT human being and a nice guy. I truly hope he didn’t lose his tooth, as it appeared he did in this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

 
In this picture with Jeff Jarrett in the middle, the picture is a little blurry but you can clearly tell Jeff Jarrett is a little shorter than RVD. This is ironic, because Jeff Jarrett’s height on TNA is billed as 6’1” tall – one inch taller than Rob Van Dam! Jeff Jarrett was very nice to my family; he is a great guy. I think the lesson to be learned is that Jeff Jarrett is a phenomenal person as long as you don’t get on his bad side the way Kurt Angle has. This is why I’m convinced Jeff Jarrett and his lovely wife, Karen, must be telling the truth about all the bad things Kurt Angle has done. 
Abyss is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. He is billed as 6’8” tall. I believe he may in fact be this tall. In fact, Abyss is so tall I was not able to get a picture with him because nobody I brought with me had the intelligence to take a picture vertically instead of horizontally. Here is a picture I took of my 5’4” mom next to Abyss. Notice how Abyss is leaning down over my mom (reducing his height by about three inches), yet he is still well over a foot taller than her. 
For the record, I’m very sorry RVD kicked out all four of Abyss’ teeth. When this picture was taken, Abyss had all of his teeth! Also, Abyss is a great guy and is very polite. My family and friends enjoyed spending time with him.

There were several other wrestlers I got to spend time with, but I was not able to get a picture with them. I can tell you AJ Styles bills his height as 5’10” tall, but is probably not that tall. Eric Young bills his height as 5’11” tall, but he wasn’t close to that tall. Generation Me – a tag team made up of Jeremy Buck and Max Buck – bill their heights as 5’10” tall. Those guys were the shortest ones in the room; they were only slightly taller than my mom! I believe both members of Generation Me are probably 5’7” tall.

With this in mind, there’s no doubt some of the wrestlers in the wrestling industry do not honestly reveal their height to the public. Some wrestlers, such as RVD and Jay Lethal, tell the truth about their height. Other wrestlers, such as Jeff Jarrett exaggerate slightly. Other wrestlers such as Andre the Giant and Eric Young exaggerate quite a bit.

Most of the time, exaggerations in the wrestling industry don’t matter. But there’s always a group of hardcore people who want to know the truth. When the numbers don’t line up, controversy is born. Thankfully, I – Michael Zoran, and my good looking friend – Kim Naroz, have solved this particular matter!

Next month, Kim Naroz will be interviewing several people from the videogame industry in an exclusive report. Just click “Add me to your TypePad people list” on the right-hand side of the screen below my picture in order to make sure you receive these high-profile controversial interviews answering dozens of questions asked by thousands of people over the last five years!

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These are some excellent electronics I strongly suggest you look at on Amazon!

Kinect Adds Simplicity to Games - Females and Kids LOVE it!

I used to wonder how certain games could possibly be played with Kinect rather than a controller. But now that I've seen the way several games are played, I can confidently tell you Kinect is going to make games far more popular with females, kids, and even older people, just like the Wii did. There is one reason for this: Simplicity.

Games become so much easier and better to play with Kinect. When you play Forza Motorsport 4 with Kinect, your only responsibility is using your hands as the steering wheel...and that's it. The game does the braking and acceleration for you. This type of simplicity is exactly what females and kids desire, because it brings back an arcade style of fun!

Hardcore gamers will probably want to stick with the complex motions of control pads and force-feedback race wheels. But most people really will love the added simplicity Kinect brings to the table. With Kinect, you won't need to spend hours mastering the complex techniques of every game. In Forza 4, you won't need to learn exact moments when you should brake, accelerate, and when you should start slowing down. Just use your hands to drive in a fun way and you will do just that -- have fun!

The same concept applies to games like Ghost Recon and Gears of War. When using Kinect, you won't be responsible for handling complex responsibilities such as running and dodging. You will control those parts of the game if you choose to use a control pad, but while using Kinect the game will do a lot of that stuff for you. When playing with Kinect, you will just need to do basic things like fire, reload, and switch weapons. This form of simplicity makes complex games fun for inexperienced gamers!

Kinect is currently in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling electronic item in history. I have no doubt the success of Kinect will continue in 2011. Kinect turns very deep games such as Forza Motorsport 4 and Ghost Recon into simple games anyone can start having fun with at any time, just like at an arcade.

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Used Cars for Sale by Owner – Excellent Deals at Hertz Car Sales

New and used car sales and rentals are a very big part of the state of Michigan I live in, since Detroit is known as the “Motor City.” Used cars represent a market where you really need to buy from a trustworthy source. Hertz Car Sales is one of the most trustworthy brands in the auto industry. I’m very impressed with the pricing and guarantees of Hertz Car Sales.

Used cars for sale by owner is a concept that eliminates the middleman, which obviously saves you a lot of money. Hertz Car Sales merely steps in as the sales organization allowing this sale to occur, while simultaneously adding elements of protection and reliability. When you visit Hertz Car Sales, you will be amazed how reliable information associated with mileage, models, and fuel efficiency is. No matter what you need, Hertz Car Sales has the resources to help you.

I also like the way Hertz Car Sales has an excellent Rent2Buy program. If you drive a car and like it, there are plenty of finance options available for you to purchase the vehicle at an excellent price. There is even a Memorial Day deal where you can save $1,000 on any car!

Please feel free to share your thoughts about Hertz Car Sales. I know my sister needed to rent a car on two separate occasions while her automobile was being repaired. On both occasions she rented from Hertz Car Sales and was very pleased with the automobile product and service of Hertz Car Sales employees.

Hand-Painted Oil Painting Reproductions on Canvas

Art is something that has always interested me. Even though I was never a good artist or painter, I was always amazed how someone like Pablo Picasso could create such interesting artwork with his paintings. Over the course of time, I learned of other famous artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci. I enjoyed hearing the stories behind these famous paintings just as much as I enjoyed looking at them.

I live in the “Blue Water Area” part of Michigan – known as the Great Lakes State since it touches four of the five Great Lakes plus Lake Saint Clair. Michigan has the largest freshwater coastline in the world. As you can imagine, I often see a wide variety of freighters, sailboats, and ferries. Similarly, I often see a wide variety of oil painting on canvas displaying images of ships, seagulls, bridges, beaches, and coastal points of view.

I know several people who enjoy sketching and painting, and then selling their work. There’s no doubt the work is very nice, but it is incredibly expensive. I was in a restaurant last week and I saw several paintings. I thought to myself, “Those paintings probably cost quite a bit of money.” High prices are what keep people like me from buying nice paintings and artwork.

Thankfully, I recently found an excellent place to buy hand-painted oil painting reproductions at very inexpensive prices. I even found a special coupon code giving you 10% off of any painting you want. Just enter: ARTLOVER in order to receive this 10% discount, in addition to free shipping and a 30-day guarantee of satisfaction.

You have no idea how cool the CheapOilPainting website is. For example, you can purchase 100% hand-painted reproductions of 511 different Vincent van Gogh’s paintings! These paintings aren’t just printed on some machine; they are reproduced in a high-quality hand-painted way.

You can even pick the size of the paintings you want, ranging from sizes like 16x24 to 40x60! After you choose the painting you are interested in, you can also select a variety of frames for these oil painting reproductions. The CheapOilPainting website accepts payment with all forms of credit card and PayPal, so you know it can be trusted.

The prices and sizes of paintings are so reasonable that I will probably try to convince my family to buy one from CheapOilPainting. I can think of several spots in the house where these paintings would look wonderful. The only problem now is, since there are thousands of high-quality paintings available, which one should I buy? How about you; what are some of your favorite paintings on this website?

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Dream Match: Kurt Angle vs RVD!

I'm watching Impact Wrestling on Spike TV right now. The announcers just said there would be a Dream Match pitting Kurt Angle vs Rob Van Dam! This match is going to be AWESOME! So far we have already seen the episode is excellent, which Mr. Anderson dressed as Sting -- wearing his outfit, hair style and makeup from the 80's. Mr. Anderson called out a surprise guest, Disco Inferno!

I also love the way Velvet Sky and ODB now have a battle going. Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan will be doing some interesting things tonight, too. It appears they are bringing in some new elements to what is going on. Also, Gunner and Eric Young will apparently be having a "Finger Poke of Doom" match. Eric Young came up with this idea while Gunner was in the bathroom.

UPDATE: The winner of the Dream Match was Kurt Angle. This was an amazing match with absolutely no outside interference. This match also had some blood in it because it was very physical. As you probably know, The Monster Abyss lost all four of his lower teeth when RVD kicked him in the face. This week, it appeared RVD lost a tooth. This was fairly gross because referee Earl Hebner saw the tooth and brushed it out of the ring while RVD was bleeding all over. I feel bad for RVD and Abyss because I met both of them in Port Huron, MI. Both of these men are nice guys in real life.

We also have a new TV champion! Eric Young was able to beat Gunner in this Finger Poke of Doom match. But this Finger Poke of Doom match was very different than the famous match between Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. This time Eric Young volunteered to be the loser of the match, but he then put Gunner into a small package and got a quick three-count for the win! AWESOME!