The CIAC has announced that tonight's Class LL Staples vs. Cheshire and Class M Berlin vs. Bethel games have been postponed to Sunday at 2 p.m.

The sites and times are pending field conditions,

Start with the story of one particularly troublesome Washington area gifted child, Warren Buffett, as described in the biography "The Snowball," by Alice Schroeder. By age 13, Buffett, later to be the richest man in the world and a Washington Post Co. board member, had had it with school. I wonder whether it might have been better if his parents had let him quit right then.

At newspaper gatherings, Buffett sometimes mentions the Washington Post paper route he had as a boy. It sounds quaint and charming, until you read the book and discover that the kid had so many routes that his annual income (including proceeds from his tenant farm and other investments) was greater than that of his teachers at Deal Junior High and Wilson High in the District. His father was a congressman. His family was comfortable. But he had made all that money himself as a boy genius entrepreneur. By age 14, he had filed his first tax return.

For him, school was a problem. He was so bored in class and so eager to pursue his business ideas that his grades fell and he dabbled in grand larceny. His prime target was Sears on Wisconsin Avenue. He stole hundreds of golf balls and once walked out of the store, unmolested, with a full bag of new clubs he had not paid for.

The only teacher who got through to Buffet was the school golf coach, and only because he took the student to the racetrack in Charles Town, W.Va., where the future investment guru tested his theories on speed handicapping. Buffett's grades improved only because his father threatened to end his newspaper delivery business if he did not shape up.

These days, we have many fine teachers in the Washington area trained to help gifted children. Many parents are happy that their children have been designated gifted. But we have no data to show that such children wouldn't be better off if they were just taken to the library and told to read anything they liked. That was how Buffett spent much of his time, devouring volumes on every imaginable subject, including every business book he could find.

In Alexandria, Sherman wants to expand minority enrollment in elementary-level gifted programs. The city School Board has ordered that all students take the second-grade aptitude test, rather than the old policy of referring just some children for screening. That doesn't address my problems with gifted education: the deceptive nature of the label and the idea that only some children are good enough for enriched instruction. Saying your kid is gifted makes us parents feel good, if we ignore the fact that the lowest-scoring gifted child and the one who just missed getting the designation are pretty much the same, yet one gets special attention and one doesn't.

Many school districts are trying to eliminate this inequity, but very quietly because so many parents love the label. Montgomery County is offering advanced programs to just about anyone who wants them. Fairfax County is going in the same direction, even though both districts still have special schools for the highest-scoring gifted children.

I wonder whether risk-taking superintendents such as Sherman might be willing to end the sorting and find ways to let all students explore their talents. I have interviewed many successful scientists, educators and entrepreneurs, and few of them were slotted into gifted programs based on a second-grade test. Our schools try to help kids like these, but many of their parents tell me they do better if they are home-schooled or, like the restless teenage Buffett, given as much time as possible to pursue their own interests, as long as they are not deemed to be felonies under the law.

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Soccer is one of the world's most popular sports but it has never caught on in popularity in the United States like the rest of the world. Even a global phenomenon like David Beckham coming to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy has done little to get Americans excited about soccer. Here are five top reasons why soccer never has been and probably never will be popular in the U.S.

1.) To start with soccer is not as big culturally in the U.S. as countries like England, Spain or Italy. The majority of us as children were raised watching and playing more basketball, football and baseball than soccer. The United States does have many soccer fans and players just nowhere near as many as our big three sports.

2.) My second reason that soccer will never be big in the U.S. is what my husband believes. He says it is because there are not enough cheerleaders. As a rabid football fan he not only loves the sport but he loves all the cheerleaders. Him being typical red blooded American male I bet his reason is also why lots of other men love football instead of soccer.

3.) Third I think soccer will never be as popular as other American sports because our well known extremely talented athletes tend to gravitate towards football, baseball and basketball. It is harder to gain fans and draw large audiences for soccer when there are not many well known players. Even myself who is not a huge sports watcher can name players from other sports but I am hard pressed to name even a couple famous soccer players.

4.) Soccer games not having many breaks for people to get snacks, go to the restroom or just have a break from the game is my fourth reason soccer will never be big in the U.S. As Americans we are used to basketball which has quarters, football which is constantly stopping and starting and baseball where you have innings and batters coming in and out of the game. It helps the fan keep from getting eyestrain and getting bored with the game.

5.) Which leads me into my last reason why soccer will never be big in the United States which is advertising. Sports venues are expensive, athletes are expensive and we are a consumer driven world. With soccer having two 45 minutes long sessions it is virtually impossible for companies to advertise like they do in other sports. And if a sport isn't able to be backed and funded enough to be shown to millions on television it definitely will never be popular in the United States.

Personally I think soccer is a great sport I use to play when I was younger and it has many wonderful devoted fans. Unfortunately for the reasons above and a few others I don't think it will ever get the recognition it deserves and become big in the United States.

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you must not have met many human beings.

i come home to my dog and he's thrilled to see me. i'm in a bad mood and he's still glad to see me. he doesn't judge me because i don't clean the house once in a while. he doesn't withhold his affection for me if i'm not returning said feeling. when i get mad at him, he's noticeably remorseful, but is only so for a few minutes–he doesn't spend the rest of the day holding it against me. he's not with me for my money (or lack thereof). he doesn't judge.

so, yeah, i'm not readily inclined to feel compassion for my fellow human beings–most especially those in washington d.c. (you know where/whom i'm talking about).

For Jets, somehow No. 1 D + No. 1 rush = 6-6

Comments: 15

By MARK CANNIZZARO

Last Updated:
9:46 AM, December 8, 2009

Posted:
2:49 AM, December 8, 2009

Take a look at the league rankings through the first three quarters of the season and you'll see the Jets own the NFL's top-ranked overall defense and rushing offense.

Traditionally, when NFL teams excel in those two areas it translates into automatic success — playoff success.

But remember, these are the Jets, and they've never led the league in conventional.

That is why a look at the league standings will show you, despite the Jets' dominance in those two critical categories, they're mired in the mediocrity at 6-6 and in the middle of a pack of teams fighting for survival in the playoff race.

“Having those two things shows you how close our football team is to really doing some amazing things,” coach Rex Ryan said yesterday. “We found a lot of ways to lose games, close games. We've really been completely outplayed in the one game against New England (the 31-14 loss on Nov. 22). Other than that, we've been right in every game this year.

“This team is close. We're close to being a special football team. Nobody can deny that. The facts are what they are, the No. 1 ranked defense in the league learning a brand new defense. That's pretty good.”

JETS BLOG

This is the latest point in the season a Jets defense has been ranked No. 1 since the 1968-69 season, when they won their only Super Bowl. Ryan's father, Buddy, of course, was a defensive coach on that Weeb Ewbank staff.

“It doesn't surprise me that a Ryan helped coach that defense,” Rex Ryan quipped. “That's something my dad was very proud of. When Ewbank hired him, he had to make a difference. If he felt he wasn't making a difference, then his career as a professional coach would be short. It lasted 30 years and they had the No. 1 defense in the AFL, so that was pretty good.”

⇒ Despite the fact S

Kerry Rhodessaid Friday it was his understanding that he has his starting job back, Ryan didn't confirm that yesterday.

“I want this thing to play out,” Ryan said. “I want to see how the week goes, see the preparation and game plan before we name a starter in the base group. Obviously, one way or another, both of those guys are going to play a bunch, Kerry and

Eric (

Smith).”

Smith started the last two games, with the demoted Rhodes playing in nickel and dime sub packages, though Rhodes was inserted back into the base defense in the second quarter of the Buffalo game.

During the 30-minute practice window open to reporters yesterday, Smith was starting in the base defense.

⇒ Ryan said both CBs

Dwight Lowery(ankle) and Strickland (concussion) have “progressed well” since missing the last two games.

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  These days, everywhere you turn there is another “celebrity” scandal. When I was young, kids could look up to the people in the news: little boys wanted to be ball players, little girls beauty queens and both sexes President. These days, the thought of our children wanting those same things, send chills down our spine! Now, we read about athletics taking steroids, the President, well, I don't have enough time to go into that and the beauty queens, what has happened to the Beauty contestants? Let's just review:

  1. The latest beauty-queen-gone-bad episode is 25-year-old Kumari Fulbright who has recently been indicted. Back in 2005 Fulbright was Miss Pima County in 2005 and then went on to participated in the Miss Arizona pageant. She was also Miss Desert Sun in 2006.

  Fulbright is charged with allegedly kidnapping, taunting, torturing (with a knife and gun) and biting her former 24-year-old boyfriend for 10 hours. The Arizona Daily Star has reported that court documents stated Kumari Fulbright, and three men kept the unidentified man subdued by tying him up with plastic cable ties and duct tape. They are also accused of taking over $500, his wallet, cell phone and briefcase.

  Great behavior for a so called role model not to mention the fact she is employed as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Raner Collins.

  2. Probably the most viewed (thanks to youtube) is the answer Miss South Carolina Lauren Caitlin Upton gave to a question during the Miss Teen USA 2007. If you somehow missed this, here is the transcript of the funny, yet so sad, question.

  Question: “Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?”

  Upton's answer: “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for our .”

  Here is the great part, she ended up still being 3rd runner up!

  3. Katie Rees, 22, was crowned Miss Nevada 2007 in Las Vegas in October only to have it stripped from her in December. The title was handed over to her runner up after racy photos (exposing one of her breasts, kissing and licking both sexes etc) started showing up all over the Net. Donald Trump (USA co-owner) stated on CNN that “These pictures were pretty far out there and that is not representative of Miss USA. We had no choice but to terminate her.” Rees insisted that was “not who she was” and that it was an “isolated incident” but apparently nobody cared.

  4. Tara Conner is known as the Miss USA 2006 and as the alcoholic thats crown was saved by Donald Trump. Many are unsure as to why she was allowed to “break the rules” and standards (underage drinking, drug use and promiscuous behavior) while other contestants are dropped without a second chance. Conner had to enter rehab, but was able to hang onto her title. After leaving rehab, Conner gave an interview with People magazine where she admits to taking her first drink at the age of 14, that she also tried drugs and came out “a completely different person.” Since she tested positive for cocaine I doubt anyone was shocked to hear she had tried drugs, or were we suppose to miss that?

  Another reason to push our kids to get an education!

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Today's column looks at how and why things may be going wrong for the Dalton McGuinty's Liberals in selling the HST. But because it focuses on assumptions that haven't yet come true, it doesn't include a strategic problem that's been obvious from the outset: timing.

If you're going to do something that's likely to cause short-term controversy, particularly related to taxes, you usually do it as early in your mandate as possible. As the Liberals discovered with their health care “premium” in their first term – a policy that was much more inherently offensive than the HST, since it was a flat-out violation of a campaign promise six months earlier – it's not impossible to make it an afterthought by the next campaign.

Of course, the Liberals couldn't get the HST out of the way quickly, because they didn't decide until more than a year into their second term that it was a good idea. At best, they might have been able to implement it a little more quickly, rather than leaving more than 15 months from the day it was announced to the first day it will be collected.

In any event, 15 months is also the amount of time that will elapse between that first collection day and the 2011 provincial election. That's enough time that the HST probably won't be top of mind when voters go to the polls. But neither is it likely to be just a part of the landscape that everyone takes completely for granted.

In other words, it's all the more important for McGuinty to somehow turn the HST into a positive. Because the timing dictates that it won't be a total non-issue.

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California is a great state. Is has a variety of environments that you can explore, lots of natural wonders and a great collection of cultures. If you are planning on getting married this summer or next summer, then you may want to plan a wild outdoor summer honeymoon near the California city of Madera.

Step 1: Learn About Madera, California

Madera is a small-medium sized city that has a population of about 43,207 people. Its summer climate, like a lot of California, is hot and relatively dry. You should expect temperatures that range from the low 50s in the morning to 98+ in the afternoon. To enjoy your outdoor honeymoon you need to pack appropriately for the climate. For example you will want to bring water, sun block, sun glasses and a sun shelter. You will also want to pack a good pair of hiking boots and appropriate sporting equipment and safety equipment.

Step 2: Learn About Campgrounds Located Near Madera

Madera is located near several campgrounds. Some of your options include: Park Sierra, Yosemite South-Coarsegold Ranch, Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, Dumna Strand Campground< Fort Miller Campground, Mono Campground, Rocky Point Campground, High Sierra RV Park and Wishon Bass Lake Campground. It is a good idea to call ahead to reserve a campsite, if one is required. The California Parks Department will have the information that you need to plan your camping trip.

Step 3: Map Out Hiking Trips

There are over a dozen trail systems located within 40 miles of Madera, California. The trails located within 25 miles of Madera include: Chilnualna Fall Trail and Hite Cove Trail. Other trail options located a little farther away include: Eagle Peak Trail, El Capitan Trail, Four Mile Trail, Half Dome Trail, Hetch Hetchy Trail, Mist Trail and Mono Meadow Trail.

Step 4: Get Your Feet Wet

If you are couple that enjoys water sports then you have your choice between planning whitewater adventure and lake adventures. Some of the bodies of water that offer whitewater include the Fresno River, the Chowchila River, the Coarse Gold Creek and the San Joaquin River. Your local lake options include Black Hawk Lake, H.V. Eastman Lake, Hensley Lake and Madera Equalization Reservoir. All of these lakes are located within 10 miles of Madera.

Step 5: Visit a National Park

If you are interested in visiting a national park on your honeymoon then you have four parks located within 90 miles of Madera. Your closest option is Yosemite National Park. It is only 25 miles away. The closest national parks are Devil's Postpile National Monument and the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. Both of these parks are located about 79 miles away. Your fourth option is the Pinnacles National Monument. It is located about 88 miles away.

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An excellent column, Roy. I agree totally with your conclusions about Tiger Woods. Beneath your Standard column, in a diary section called 'In the air,' there is a piece saying that 'senior figures inside Guardian Media Group are asking whether its flagship paper is wise to continue with its website policy of not charging for content.' I would not expect you to comment on whether this little story came from you. Do you agree that it raises important questions? We know that people will pay for access to specialist web sites, such as the FT. We do not yet know if they will pay for access to more general news and current affairs sites. We will find out soon enough since the Times and the Sunday Times will start charging in the New Year. If they succeed in generating substantial income – and Rupert Murdoch rarely fails – then surely other newspapers, including the Guardian, will follow. Indeed I would be astonished if the Guardian was not preparing for this. I know that some senior staff at the Guardian are ideologically opposed to charging for access to the site. How is the Guardian expected to finance costly (and superb) sections such as sport if it does not earn any money from the material? Ad revenue from the Web will never replace lost income from a declining print circulation, and subsequent falls in ad rates for the print edition. The Guardian cannot continue to slash costs (In plain language this means sacking rank and file staff while maintaining a bloated and overpaid senior management tier). It must find a way to earn money fro the Web. Do you agree Roy ?

Olivia is ridiculously hot! (she's gonna be on the january cover of maxim and she talked about getting that BEFORE all the stuff came out about her and chris). And Chris is awesome, I loved him in Star trek. They've been dating for awhile- I read online that she's been with him in NY and State College and West Virginia, so clearly they make eachother happy. So if they're happy, why shouldn't we all just be happy for them? And if Olivia was just dating Chris because he's famous, she wouldn't be looking so pissed in these pictures. You can tell she wasn't happy about the attention. If it was all about the publicity, I'm sure she would've had a smile on her face or tried to look not so annoyed and scared. And for all the Olivia haters out there, how much of a douche do you think Chris has to be that someone would ONLY date him cause he's famous. They've been dating for months now so they're probably really happy together. How does that hurt any of you? They're both two people living their lives and just because you know (or don't know) who they are doesn't mean you know what's best. They've gone this long without anyone taking a picture, it seems like it's something they really want to protect. So let them be happy, without the peanut gallery telling them how to live their lives.

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Will he ever ask you to marry him? Has your relationship stalled? You have been together a long time and everything has gotten just way too comfortable. Does every birthday and holiday go by just for you to feel the let down of not getting that one present you have been anticipating? The ring. You can tell what he is thinking about the relationship from the last gift he gave you.

1. The pre-engagement ring – This means nothing unless this guy is sixteen. This guy is going to keep things the same for as long as he can. Something happened that he needed to offer a little safe guard out there against losing you. You might not even know what the event was, but he was feeling a tiny bit insecure and this “pre” ring was a re-assurance for him, not you. You need to strike while the iron is hot. While this insecurity is still fresh in his mind, you need to start showing some small acts of independence. This will bring him out of the “pre” mode and eventually will get you a real promise with a real date for the walk down the isle.

2. Flowers – Although nice and pretty and each type and color are known to represent different feelings of affection, flowers show no imagination. This is a quick and “not too much thought ” kind of gift. You most likely received this gift for an occasion, such as a birthday. Or maybe as a make up offering for an argument that occurred. He is very comfortable with keeping things as they are. There is love here, but the fireworks have fizzled and he treats you as he does a sister or his mother. You need to turn things around. Stop the predictability and put forth some mystery. You need to get him guessing again. He will take notice as he is trying to figure out the new unknown about you. After a while he will be on both knees, begging for both your hands.

3. Candy – If this is your last gift from him, you have a lot of work to do. He is old fashioned and unsure. It is not that he doesn't want to pop the question, he just doesn't know that he does. Your relationship has peaks and valleys where for a short time you feel everything is going in a great direction and just as you start to feel some what secure, there is a complete turn around on his part. It's like he puts up a stop sign and then goes backwards in the relationship. This drives you nuts because you know what you want. You need to fight fire with fire and develop your own peaks and valleys with this guy. You need to stop settling for less and stop riding out his devotion changes with a smile. React -next time he seems to be stepping away , try stepping away yourself. Be a little bit unavailable. This will take some time, but if you keep with it the time he gives you a gift, it will have more sparkle, than scent.

4. Foot wear, such as sneakers – He cares about you, after all this gift cannot be shared with anyone, it is just for you. Hopefully he got you the right size, if not, this a totally different story. You two are happy together. It is a relationship where you both actually look forward to seeing each other when apart. He would marry you tomorrow if you asked. This is the problem. You do not want to have to ask. You want the memory for the rest of your life of the way he got down on bended knee. You are not willing to give that up and supply him with the memory of you asking. That is OK. You are however going to need to give this a jump start. You need to start romanticizing everything marriage. If someone you knows gets engaged or married, talk about it around him like it was the most wonderful thing you ever heard. If a bride comes on the TV while you are together, show your look of endearment until you catch his eye. This guy wants to make you happy, and if you show all things wedding and engagement make you happy, he will soon make your fantasy's a reality.

5. Lingerie – This guy is more interested in his wants in this relationship than yours. All is not lost thought, because it is you that he has as one of those wants. You just need to bring him around into needing you too. He is someone that has gotten too much attention in his life. His mother probably spoiled him a bit. He might be the only boy in a family of girls, or he is an only child . He is still in the “fireworks going off ” stage of your relationship, which is very good and hopefully it never fades. Now back to him needing you. You should get more involved in the other aspects of his life. Become more of a good friend to him by involving yourself in some of his pass times, what ever they may be. Dress down and go to a ball game with him, or maybe plan a camping trip. By knocking it down a few notches to friendship, you have brought the relationship full circle. Once complete, he will not be able to do without you. He will “need” you to marry him.

6. A house hold appliance – whether it be a TV, vacuum cleaner, or a microwave – This is the guy that is thinking about you as his mother. Unless you purposely asked for one of these utilitarian gifts, this relationship needs some work. Life has become normal and almost mundane for him. He likes the way you take care of him. You make sure his laundry is done, dinner is cooked, and you keep a great surrounding for him. He is comfortable and not going anywhere, but unless you do something to change the way he thinks about your part in his life, this will get worse. Life is just OK with the two of you. It's secure, but it is time to put some spice into things. Let him see the more playful and feminine side of you. A little lingerie might help. Get out of those lounge pants and T-shirts for a while. You can still be the care giver, you both benefit from that, but you need to show him you can be both nurturer and seductress. Once he experiences both sides of you , the next appliance he buys you will be one you wear on your finger.

7.Music/Movies – If he buys you an ipod, Cd's, DVD's , or something along the line of entertainment.- This guy values his space. He likes to be out with his friends more than he should. The time you spend together is great, but you would like more of it. His popularity with his guy friends gets in the way, because they are always there! A great romantic dinner that you plan will be crashed by all his pals, or they show up where ever the two of you go someplace alone together. Enough is Enough. He will never marry if he thinks these things will fall by the wayside. He needs these friend to boost his ego. He is funny and he needs his captive audience of friends to respond with laughter to all his jokes. This is something you will not change in your man. You can create a happy medium for the two of you. This is something you will have to achieve with actions on your own. If he knows how you feel it might put a bigger gap in your relationship. You will have to be one of the guys for a while to get him closer to a proposal. He needs to see that you fit in to a lifestyle he will never let go of. Welcome the friends and become their buddy too. Once you've achieved this more alone time will follow. If this is something your willing to do, it will pay off in the end. To win this guy it is alot of sacrificing on your part in the beginning. When all is said and done the next piece of entertainment he offers as a gift, will be a date to walk down the isle.

8. Jewelry – any type of jewelry – This is the prelude to a ring. This guy is thinking about an engagement, but he is not quite there yet.. He is going to need some coaxing from you. He is romantic and you have a good time together. He is the ladies man and the flirt. He likes to keep you in suspense when it comes to knowing how he is feeling about your relationship. You worry when he is not with you that he might be out with someone else as a love interest. He isn't, he just likes the idea that you care enough about him to worry. This is his way of being reassured you love him. You need to turn the tables on this guy. Stop asking about his whereabouts when he is out. You need to act like you don't care. Your insecurities show too much around this guy. You need to stop asking what time he will be home and stop showing your anger when he is late. This only builds his ego. Now let him start wondering why you don't appear to care anymore about where he is or what he is doing. Soon the jewelry he gives you will be a diamond and you will be on your way to saying those vows.

9. A stuffed animal, doll, or something that resembles a toy – This guy is going to want to take care of you. This might be hard for you because you value your independence. He is the guy that will open the car door, or moves aside so that you can enter a room first. He is gentle when touching you, but can be a bit aggressive presenting to the world. The only reason you have not been asked the magic question yet is because he is intimidated by your independence. I would never suggest you give that part of you up, cherish it. You can however, throw him a few bones, by showing that you need him for something. If you want a proposal, this is the only way. Don't appear too needy, that will have the opposite effect. Instead of disappointing him with a “no” when he offers to do something for you, say yes. He will have some of his needs filled by you needing him. He will be asking you to marry him with in no time.

10. A piece of clothing – sweater, shirt, jacket or something else you wear – This guy is a bit controlling. He usually gets his way when the two of you have different ideas of where to go out for the night. Most likely the color scheme of your apartment, if you live together, is a color he picked. You watch the movies he likes and listen to the music he chooses. This is OK with you because you like to please. It makes you happy to see him get what he wants. This is not realistic and won't make for a happy long lasting relationship. Believe it or not , this guy will pop the question once you get a back bone and insist on things your way once in a while. Start taking your needs into consideration and this change will appeal to him. Be a little assertive and the next piece of clothing you get will be a wedding gown.

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welcome. i'm marcio f silva aka frango, brazil. that's my spot at the web. here i share things that catch my attention and music i've been listening to. you're invited to share too. email me:

abrainlessthinker@gmail.com

First appearances can be deceptive. England, far from getting a virtual bye into the knockout stages, are in the fourth toughest group at the 2010 World Cup. And the dreaded Group of Death is the one that many experts considered the easiest for its seeded team.

That is, at least, according to the Fifa world rankings. It stands to reason (unless Fifa's system fails accurately to reflect the real world – and that cannot be the case, surely?) that the group with the lowest aggregate ranking of all four teams has to be the potential favourites' graveyard, with the highest total pointing to a seeded team's smooth passage into the second round from the Group of Life.

Adding England's Fifa ranking (9th) to that of the USA (14), Algeria (28) and Slovenia (33) gives Group C a total of just 84, comfortably lower than that of Group B (94), where Argentina face the tricky trio of Nigeria, South Korea and Greece, and even Group G (107), where the five-time winners Brazil face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast and the unknown quantity that is North Korea.

Indeed, the Group of Death is not quite as obvious as many seem to think. Most observers have pointed to Group D, where Germany meet Australia, Ghana and Serbia, or the aforementioned battle of the big guns in Group G.

It was also widely assumed that Lady Luck was smiling on Spain in Friday's draw, with Vicente Del Bosque's side drawn alongside Switzerland, Honduras and Chile in Group H, but the reigning European champions are in the toughest group of all. Group H is the rankings' Group of Death.

Spain, ranked 1, Switzerland (18), Honduras (38) and Chile (17) combine to make a paltry 74, less than Germany and co in Group D (77) and Group E, the largely overlooked third-deadliest that contains Holland, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon (83).

Things change if the weakest team is removed from each group. Spain's task becomes the second-toughest, with Brazil's Group G, shorn of North Korea, coming out as the most lethal. England's task, however, appears easier. Group C has the second-highest tally once Slovenia are removed from the equation.

Either way, there is little doubt about the Group of Life. With Paraguay (30), Slovakia (34) and New Zealand (77) joining Italy (4) in Group F for a combined ranking total of 145. The same group also comes out on top once New Zealand are discounted. All good news, then, for Marcello Lippi's side.

But the daunting task facing Australia in Group D has not prevented Pim Verbeek and his side eyeing up a tie with the Three Lions in the second round. ” To have the advantage of playing England will probably be the extra 1% they need to go to the second round,” said the Australia coach.

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A lot of hoopla has been generated over the last of the Golden Globe Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in movie history, that being 2008's Slumdog Millionaire, but I have my own top 5 list of movies winning this honor that have stood the test of time for me, but with a twist: they didn't go on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. I want to share with you these particular top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in movie history, which span 1973-1989. These top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in movie history that didn't win the Academy Award for Best Picture were made at a time when movies were generally a heck of a lot superior to what's mostly being made today. These films range from the very scary to the very tear-jerking!

Top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in Movie History Selection Number 1: The Exorcist (1973, but would lose out to The Sting for The Academy Award for Best Picture)

To me, The Exorcist isn't just about green goo or Linda Blair's rotating head. It's about different kinds of possession that humans have to deal with, including the possession of guilt that Father Damien Karras (masterfully played by Jason Miller) must deal with. The setting for this movie, Georgetown, is so perfect for this movie. It adds more eeriness to the film. I've been there, and I've even walked up those infamous “Exorcist stairs” which are extremely steep and hard to climb! As I looked at the house where Regan MacNeil was possessed at, a priest walked by me! This Golden Globe Award winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama selection also made my top 10 thriller movies list, which you can read about here at Associated Content.

Top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in Movie History Selection Number 2: Midnight Express (1978, but would lose out to The Deer Hunter for The Academy Award for Best Picture)

I think parents who advocate their teenaged or young adult children going on a trip abroad for the first time should be required to show them this movie because it will make those youngsters think twice before even thinking about trying to smuggle drugs out of a foreign country. Billy Hayes thought he could, but he was in for a very rude awakening after he was dramatically busted by authorities at the airport…then the Turkish justice and penal system got a hold of him for several years. This top 5 Golden Globe Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama selection is also one of my favorite movies of 1978, of which you can read more about here at Associated Content.

Top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in Movie History Selection Number 3: On Golden Pond (1981, but would lose out to Chariots of Fire for The Academy Award for Best Picture)

Self-serving lust amongst the young, shallow, self-absorbed, and twit-brained beautiful people is lauded via today's movie screens, yet On Golden Pond celebrates a genuine long-standing love between two senior citizens who are in the twilight of their lives Norman and Ethel Thayer (played by Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn). Their performances really touched my soul. The title suggests such pastoral serenity, but I remember seeing this movie for the first time as a teenager, and when the first melancholy note of the film score played, I was already on the verge of crying, not worrying about the network warning before the movie began about the salty language in the film. That fateful summer at their retreat would set the stage for not only the reinforcement of that long-standing love, but for reconciliation, too, between Norman and his daughter Chelsea (ironically played by Henry Fonda's real daughter Jane). It was an outrage that this personal top 5 Golden Globe Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama selection lost out to Chariots of Fire for the Oscar, a movie that is about as stimulating as watching paint dry.

Top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in Movie History Selection Number 4: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982, but would lose out to Gandhi for The Academy Award for Best Picture)

Even I can't leave out that cute little space alien who likes those awful-tasting Reese's Pieces. If you were a movie watcher back in 1982, you, like me, won't forget just how it raked in the cash, and as of the present, it's made around 800 million dollars at the box office worldwide according to Wikipedia. I worked in a mom and pop video store when this Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama selection was released on VHS in 1988, and the interest was absolutely incredible! It kept me very busy because I had to help process the special orders for this movie by customers.

Top 5 Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in Movie History Selection Number 5: Born on the Fourth of July (1989, but would lose out to Driving Miss Daisy for The Academy Award for Best Picture)

When this movie first came out, I heard it called “Oliver Stone's Sermon on the Gun Mount”. This movie is so epic, bombastic, and colorful in presentation as it tells the story of Ron Kovic, a gung ho All-American teenager who would eventually become an anti-war activist after serving and being paralyzed in Vietnam. I think this is probably Tom Cruise's best performance. The film is one of my favorite biographical movies, too, which you can read more about that subject matter here at Associated Content. I was lucky enough to see this Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama selection on a gigantic movie screen (which this movie was definitely made for) during a discount movie house's double feature billing. The other movie I got to see was Glory. Two great movies for $1.50 if I remember right (in 1990: Holy cow!).

The Wikipedia links here about the Golden Globe Award Winners for Best Motion Picture in Drama in movie history and here for the Academy Award Winners for Best Picture in movie history helped me verify the dates of the wins.

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