2009 NBA Playoffs: Lakers-Nuggets Game 4

Denver Nuggets 120, Los Angeles Lakers 101

The Nuggets normally use a barrage of points and timely defense to blowout their opponent in the second or third quarter and hold their big lead for the remainder of the game. This game wasn't that type of win for the Nuggets. Denver didn't destroy the Lakers over a twelve-minute stretch in the first three quarters, yet they still held an eleven point lead heading into the fourth. This game was their "Stairway to Heaven." Their lead was slowly building throughout the game. They showed their greatness throughout putting together a near-perfect performance across the board. Smith played the role of John Bonham with his back-to-back threes like crashing cymbals to close out the final crescendo.
The Lakers' supporting cast played about as poorly as a group of eight guys can play. Kobe Bryant (almost went a whole Lakers recap without mentioning him) put together a pretty good game, but he was almost forced to shoot too much with how bad Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Derek Fisher and the Lakers' bench played. Bryant having double-digit three-point attempts could mean he is on fire from deep, the defense isn't allowing him to get to the lane, or he feels the need to take ill-advised shots to make up for the rest of his team. This was a combination of the last two. Odom, Ariza and Fisher combined for 13 points on 4 of 19 shooting which only puts more pressure on the rest of the team (read: Kobe) to cover their lack of production. The Lakers can't win with three of their top six basically taking the night off.
The Nuggets have turned this into a best of three, but they'll need to win game five to have a realistic shot at winning the series. They have the momentum after an absolutely dominating performance tonight. The Lakers don't react too kindly when they get beat as badly as they did in game four. They followed up double-digit losses to the Rockets in the previous round with blowout wins in each of the next games. Los Angeles will need a better showing from their role players and will need to stop the Nuggets from repeatedly getting into the key.
Prediction: Lakers win convincingly

source: TALKHOOPS.NET

Credit card reform leaves out small entrepreneurs

The new law reining in the penalties that banks can levy on their riskiest borrowers doesn't apply to small businesses.

Though U.S. consumers can look forward to some relief under the credit card reform bill signed into law last week by President Obama, small-business owners may not be so lucky.

Congress is reining in the penalties that banks can levy on their riskiest borrowers. Card issuers stand to lose billions in revenue. They may seek to make it up from other plastic-wielding customers by raising interest rates, scaling back rewards and imposing annual fees. Small-business cardholders could be prime targets.

"It's no secret that [banks] are hurting and looking for any source" of revenue, said Molly Brogan, spokeswoman for the National Small Business Assn., based in Washington.

The new law, which shields consumers from predatory fees and sudden rate hikes, doesn't include customers holding credit cards backed by their companies. An amendment that would have extended the protections to cardholders whose businesses have fewer than 50 employees was killed before the final bill was voted on.

Amendment author Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, hasn't given up on winning the changes for small firms.

"We will look into other legislative vehicles," said Scott Schneider, committee spokesman.

Many small firms rely on credit cards to pay for everything from paper clips to equipment. Even more are doing so as the recession has limited access to other credit. Some are already feeling the sting of higher rates.

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SONIA SOTOMAYOR - Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court

SOTOMAYOR.... This is the name the invaded the news bulletins and blogs around the world today.

It's possible that all of the major news outlets are all making the same mistake at the same time, but as of this minute, it looks like Sonia Sotomayor will be President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court.

President Obama will nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as his first appointment to the court, officials said Tuesday, and has scheduled an announcement for 10:15 a.m. at the White House.

If confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate, Judge Sotomayor, 54, would replace Justice David H. Souter to become the second woman on the court and only the third female justice in the history of the Supreme Court. She also would be the first Hispanic justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

CNN, NBC, the Washington Post, and the AP are all reporting the same thing.

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3 Eat Smart Tips: No Diet Way to Weigh Less

There are so many things to weigh and measure when it comes to permanent weight loss and food is not the only one! This Beliefnet blogger has got some weight loss tips for you that will not only curl your hair, but maybe your toes too with hope-filled happiness.

It's not just about the food.
There are external factors at play that can influence the way you eat, the way you burn and the way you weigh!!

1. QUIET on the set! Adults eat and drink more when there is background noise! The louder and faster the noise, sometimes called music, the more you will eat! And the slower, more romantic music, the longer you'll stay at the table and eat. Either way, quiet on the set!!!

2. LIGHTS, camera, action! Bright, fluorescent lights will also affect the speed at which you ingest your tasty tidbits. So, soft lights please, or candle light.

3. MASTICATE your food! Here's a "faToid" that you are gonna' love! When you chew your food (masticate: to chew), your saliva releases an enzyme call Amylase that turns carbs to fuel, rather than storing them as fat. And chewing your food well lessens the amount of air that you take in, which lessens the amount of bloat!

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Kathy Coleman plays in Land of the Lost

Actress Kathy Coleman will have a small role in the upcoming remake of “Land of the Lost“. Kathy Coleman (real name Kathleen Coleman) acted in the original series from 1974, playing Holly Marshall.
The new Land of the Lost director is Brad Silberling and in the movie the main star is Will Ferrell. The movie is about “a disgraced paleontologist, his assistant, and a macho tour guide who find themselves in a strange, alternate world inhabited by dinosaurs, monkey people and reptilian Sleestaks.”

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