Fund-wise, OWS down but not out

The (New York) Daily News reported (“Bear-ly funded OWS now in hibernation,” 1/18/12) that, because it is winter, donations to the Occupy Wall Street movement have decreased but that does not mean the movement is gone.

OWS’s main governing body voted to freeze all new spending, and Pete Dutro, a member of the OWS Finance Committee, said that the movement has lost some steam after members were kicked out of Zuccotti Park by the NYPD before Thanksgiving.

Dutro said that even though there have been complaints by activists over how OWS redistributed some of the donations it received, the movement is not dead.

He said that the movement will make itself known again come spring, especially at the Democratic and Republican party conventions.

I think it is comforting to know that OWS is not completely gone. Hopefully, it can muster the same support this year that it received last year—especially in terms of fundraising. Finally, it would be wise of the Democrats and President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign to harness OWS’s outrage from now until Election Day.

In other News:

• Daily News, “Inside the 99ers,” 1/22/12
• Daily News, “Here’s my plan: Bam,” 1/22/12
• Daily News, “Newt kicks Mitt in S.C.. Bam’s the big winner,” 1/22/12
• Daily News, “Bloomy on same-sex marriage push in D.C.,” 1/21/12
• Daily News, “Anti-piracy push gets off SOPA box,” 1/21/12
• Daily News, “A trifecta for the 99%,” 1/20/12
• Daily News, “Occupy sez park will do,” 1/20/12
• The New York Times, “Reid postpones vote on anti-piracy bill,” 1/20/12
• Daily News, “That’s not class-y!,” 1/19/12
• Daily News, “Race, Republicans and the rest of us,” 1/19/12
• Daily News, “Disputed Can.-Tex. oil pipe a no-flow for now, Bam sez,” 1/19/12
• Daily News, “Web protests ax pirate bills,” 1/19/12
• Daily News, “Bam unleashes kick to Kochs,” 1/19/12
• The New York Times, “Taxes at the top,” 1/19/12
• Daily News, “On the money: Morgan Stanley immediate bonuses capped,” 1/18/12
• Daily News, “Nothing to LOL at,” 1/18/12
• Daily News, “Tiger tamers!,” 1/17/12
• New York Post, “‘I’m back, baby!,’” 1/17/12
• The New York Times, “For God so loved the 1 percent …,” 1/17/12
• Daily News, “Reality, clouded by frivolities,” 1/16/12
• Daily News, “King’s dream lives in holiday-eve vigil,” 1/16/12
• Daily News, “Left coast firm called right for Hudson Yards,” 1/16/12
• The New York Times, “The rise of the New Groupthink,” 1/13/12

WWE Results for the Week of January 15-21, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

WWE Monday Night RAW, USA, 9 p.m.-11:09 p.m. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.

1. WWE Tag Team Champions Epico and Primo (d) Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team, Title Match by pinfall, to retain their title, in (0:02:18.63).
2. Jack Swagger (d) WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to become the new champion, in (0:02:23.53).
3. Alicia Fox and Kelly Kelly (d) The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella) in a One-fall, 4-woman Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:00:57.78).
4. R-Truth (d) Sheamus, The Miz, and Wade Barrett in an Over-the-top-rope Challenge via over-the-top-rope elimination in (0:04:09.49).
5. WWE United States Champion Jack Swagger (x) John Cena in a One-fall Match because the opening bell never rang.
6. Brodus Clay (d) JTG in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:08.64).
7. David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, and Mark Henry (d) Chris Jericho, WWE Champion CM Punk, and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan in a One-fall, 6-man Tag Team Match by disqualification, due to interference by Mick Foley, in (0:14:10.40).

***

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WWE NXT, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:49 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

1. Titus O’Neil (d) Darren Young in a One-fall, No Disqualification Match by pinfall in (0:06:01.78).
2. Percy Watson (d) Heath Slater in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:42.43).
3. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks (d) Trent Barreta and Yoshi Tatsu in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall, after illegally using a foreign object, in (0:05:38.37).

***

Thursday, January 19, 2012

WWE Superstars, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:42 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, and the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.

1. Tamina (d) Natalya in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:05:23.77).
2. Mason Ryan and Santino Marella (d) Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:06:38.01).
3. Jinder Mahal (d) Alex Riley in a One-fall Match by submission in (0:03:21.40).

***

Friday, January 20, 2012

WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Syfy, 8 p.m.-9:59 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

1. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (d) Justin Gabriel in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:43.26).
2. WWE Tag Team Champions Epico and Primo (d) Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Tornado Match by pinfall in (0:02:40.77).
3. Brodus Clay (d) Vickie Guerrero in a Dance-off.
4. Wade Barrett (d) Sheamus in a Tables Match by putting Sheamus through a table, after interference by Jinder Mahal, in (0:06:41.51).
5. Ted DiBiase (d) Hunico in a Flag Match by retreiving the American flag from a pole in (0:02:23.83).
6. Santino Marella (d) Drew McIntyre in a One-fall, Blindfold Match by pinfall in (0:02:10.07).
7. Tamina (d) Natalya in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:00:57.54).
8. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (f) Mark Henry in a One-fall, Title, 19-man Lumberjack Match to a no-contest, to retain his title after interference by the lumberjacks (Camacho, WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes, Curt Hawkins, Drew McIntyre, WWE Tag Team Champion Epico, Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Hunico, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Justin Gabriel, WWE Tag Team Champion Primo, Sheamus, Ted DiBiase, Trent Barreta, Tyler Reks, Tyson Kidd, Wade Barrett, and Yoshi Tatsu), in (0:10:49.59).

Police remove OWS barricades from Zuccotti Park

The (New York) Daily News reported (“Occupy Wall Street, again,” 1/6/12) that the New York Police Department removed barricades around Zuccotti Park Jan. 10, a day after rights groups demanded the city remove them.

A police spokesman said the department decided the barricades were not needed. They were put up Nov. 15, when the police cleared the park of Occupy Wall Street protesters.

OWS protesters and the New York Civil Liberties Union hailed the barricade removal.

I think this is a good thing. With the protesters no longer staying in the park, there was no need for the barricades. Even so, hopefully the reopened park once again becomes the center of the OWS protest, especially as the 2012 presidential election gets closer.

In other News:

• The New Yorker, “The critics: A critic at large—Inquiring minds,” 1/16/12
• The New Yorker, “The talk of the town: The financial page—Year of the yo-yo,” 1/16/12
• The New Yorker, “The talk of the town: Comment—Close calls,” 1/16/12
• Daily News, “Plea deals settle most OWS cases,” 1/13/12
• Daily News, “The clean water N.Y. deserves,” 1/12/12
• Daily News, “Too cold to OWS,” 1/12/12
• Daily News, “Delusions, not so grand,” 1/12/12
• Daily News, “Sick vid causes shock,” 1/12/12
• The New York Times, “America isn’t a corporation,” 1/12/12
• Newsday, “Coney Island casino? That may take luck,” 1/11/12
• Daily News, “Christine Quinn touts case which could lead to banks being ‘held responsible for bad lending,’” 1/10/12
• Daily News, “NYCHA won’t block prayer sessions at its sites,” 1/10/12
• Daily News, “On the money: Free Walmart tax prep,” 1/10/12
• Daily News, “The false populism of Mitt Romney,” 1/10/12
• Daily News, “Rachel Maddow, beacon of reason,” 1/9/12
• Daily News, “His scarlet letter,” 1/9/12
• Daily News, “The Republicans are in trouble,” 1/8/12
• The New Yorker, “The critics: A critic at large—The empire strikes back,” 1/9/12
• The New Yorker, “A reporter at large: Reversal of fortune,” 1/9/12
• The New Yorker, “War of choice,” 1/9/12
• The New Yorker, “Bottle rocket,” 1/9/12
• The Atlantic, “Torturer’s apprentice,” January/February 2012
• The Atlantic, “Making it in America,” January/February 2012
• The Atlantic, “Business: The graduates,” January /February 2012
• The Atlantic, “Dispatches: Media—Freed press,” January/February 2012

WWE Results for the Week of January 8-14, 2012

Monday, January 9, 2012

WWE Monday Night RAW, USA, 9 p.m.-11:06 p.m. at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States.

1. Santino Marella and Sheamus (d) Jinder Mahal and Wade Barrett in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:02:54.12).
2. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (d) WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston in a One-fall Match by submission in (0:01:19.00).
3. Brodus Clay (d) Curt Hawkins in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:07.03).
4. WWE Champion CM Punk (d) Jack Swagger in a One-fall Match by pinfall, in which Swagger and Vickie Guerrero are now banned from the WWE Championship match at WWE Royal Rumble, in (0:13:48.86).
5. WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix (x) Eve Torres in a One-fall Match because the opening bell never rang.
6. Dolph Ziggler (f) John Cena in a One-fall Match to a double count-out, due to interference by Kane, in (0:06:03.88).

***

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

WWE NXT, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:47 p.m. at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, United States.

1. Alicia Fox (d) Maxine in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:02:14.38).
2. Trent Barreta (d) Tyler Reks in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:04:22.88).
3. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso (d) JTG and Tyson Kidd in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:04:17.17).
4. Johnny Curtis (d) Alex Riley in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Maxine, in (0:02:08.19).

***

Thursday, January 12, 2012

WWE Superstars, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:42 p.m. at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, United States, and the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States.

1. Wade Barrett (d) Yoshi Tatsu in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:37.82).
2. WWE Tag Team Champion Evan Bourne (d) Michael McGillicutty in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:09:35.51).
3. Brie Bella (d) Kelly Kelly in a One-fall Match by pinfall, because of Twin Magic, in (0:04:39.57).

***

Friday, January 13, 2012

WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Syfy, 8 p.m.-9:59 p.m. at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, United States.

1. Justin Gabriel (d) Heath Slater in a One-fall Match by pinfall, due to interference by Hornswoggle, in (0:02:48.21).
2. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (d) Ezekiel Jackson in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:02:15.99).
3. Ted DiBiase (d) Drew McIntyre in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:46.17).
4. Sheamus (d) Jinder Mahal in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:56.84).
5. David Otunga (d) Santino Marella in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:02:01.57).
6. Brodus Clay (d) Tyson Kidd in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:00:13.31).
7. Tamina (d) Natalya in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:00:57.54).
8. Big Show (f) World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan in a One-fall, Title, No Disqualification, No Count-out Match to a no-contest, in which Bryan retained his title after Show accidentally injured AJ, in (0:13:09.35).

Obama shows signs of revving up re-election bid

The (New York) Daily News reported (“Don’t count yer chickens, GOPers,” 1/3/12) that there is a chance President Barack Obama can survive attempts by the Republican Party to deny him a second term in office.

Obama has revived his grassroots organizing and depicted Republicans as elitists who are more concerned with taking care of the rich. He will also most likely blame Republicans for playing obstructionist politics, especially given the recent fight over extending the payroll tax cut. Furthermore, staffers and volunteers have been reconnecting with supporters and using social media to raise funds.

Obama’s camp is also creating a game plan with different scenarios for winning this November’s presidential election. One option is to target the Southwestern states with their large Hispanic populations. Another would be concentrating on Florida, while two others would be to focus on a few Eastern and Midwestern states that tend to lean conservative.

Many experts also predict that Obama will increase his use of rhetoric and portray himself as a populist president.

The only real blemish on Obama’s plans would be the state of the economy. Obama must campaign on how he has put the economy on the right track and tap into his campaign war chest.

I think Obama should give his re-election campaign everything he has. It is a shame he did not show his fighting spirit sooner, but it looks like he can still build momentum given recent events at home and abroad. Hopefully, the president plays his cards right and stays in the White House for another four years.

In other News:

• The New Yorker, “The talk of the town: Comment—Enemy of the state,” 1/9/12
• Daily News, “The Republicans are in trouble,” 1/8/12
• Daily News, “The gun laws we desperately need,” 1/8/12
• Daily News, “Bam rule change would aid immigs,” 1/7/12
• Daily News, “On the money: Study says workers feel pressure to be bad,” 1/6/12
• Daily News, “GOP dolts not talking to us,” 1/6/12
• Daily News, “Prez touts new military strategy despite cutbacks,” 1/6/12
• The New York Times, “One bad energy subsidy expires,” 1/6/12
• Daily News, “Bus drivers and motormen: The real environmentalists,” 1/5/12
• Daily News, “Fantasy Island no more,” 1/5/12
• The New York Times, “Harder for Americans to rise from lower rungs,” 1/4/12
• Daily News, “Ron Paul’s scary foreign policy,” 1/3/12
• Daily News, “New wed laws in Hawaii, Del.,” 1/3/12
• Daily News, “The Honeygoobers,” 1/3/12

WWE Results for the Week of January 1-7, 2012

Monday, January 2, 2012

WWE Monday Night RAW, USA, 9 p.m.-11:06 p.m. at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.

1. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (d) WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:20.33).
2. Wade Barrett (d) Santino Marella in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:20.33).
3. Sheamus (x) The Miz in a One-fall Match because the opening bell never rang.
4. Dolph Ziggler (d) WWE Champion CM Punk in a One-fall, Title Match by count-out, in which Punk retained his title after interference by John Laurinaitis, in (0:13:03.55).
5. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella and Nikki Bella) (d) Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly in a One-fall, 4-woman Tag Team Match by pinfall, after using Twin Magic, in (0:02:06.04).
6. Big Show, John Cena, WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder (d) Jack Swagger and Mark Henry in a 6-man, 3-on-2 Tag Handicap, Elimination Match via count-out and pinfall in (0:08:25.37).

***

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

WWE NXT, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:49 p.m. at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.

1. Alex Riley (d) Michael McGillicutty in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:09:32.46).
2. Maxine (d) Kaitlyn in a One-fall Match by submission in (0:01:54.08).
3. Trent Barreta (d) Curt Hawkins in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:06:03.86).
4. Darren Young (d) Derrick Bateman in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Johnny Curtis and Maxine, in (0:03:29.41).

***

Thursday, January 5, 2012

WWE Superstars, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m. at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, and the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.

1. WWE Tag Team Champion Evan Bourne (d) Epico in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:08:36.05).
2. Mason Ryan (d) JTG in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:31.98).
3. Yoshi Tatsu (d) Tyson Kidd in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:04:15.59).
4. Jinder Mahal (d) Ezekiel Jackson in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:06:06.29).

***

Friday, January 6, 2012

WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Syfy, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States.

1. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (d) Booker T in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to retain his title, in (0:11:31.48).
2. Hornswoggle (d) Heath Slater in an Over-the-top-rope Challenge by over-the-top-rope elimination in (0:01:33.92).
3. Hunico (d) Ted DiBiase in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:04.22).
4. Santino Marella (d) Drew McIntyre in a One-fall Match by pinfall, in order to become SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long‘s assistance, in (0:02:31.05).
5. Epico and Primo (d) WWE Tag Team Champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:03:49.65).
6. Tamina (d) Natalya in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:44.17).
7. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (d) Big Show in a One-fall, Title Match by disqualification, to retain his title after provoking interference from Mark Henry, in (0:09:44.55).

Obama’s approval rating up due to payroll tax cut debacle: Poll

The (New York) Daily News reported (“Tax break means big bounce for Bam in poll,” 12/27/11) that a Gallup poll found that 160 million Americans, or 47 percent, up from 45 percent in July, approved of the job President Barack Obama was doing. The increase is attributed to the way he handled the payroll tax cut extension controversy.

The survey showed that Obama avoided blowback from the fight by standing his ground with Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and improved his standing with the public.

Congress approved a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut for workers and will negotiate a full-year extension in the near future.

I think the Obama administration should milk this news for all it is worth. The president needs to build up as much momentum as possible going into the November elections. It is also refreshing to see him standing up to Republicans, and hopefully he continues to stand up to them.

In other News:

• The New York Review of Books, “Do the classics have a future?,” 1/12/12
• The New Yorker, “Drug test,” 1/2/12
• The New Yorker, “The talk of the town: The financial page—Delayed gratification,” 1/2/12
• The New Yorker, “The talk of the town: Teamwork dept.—Zuccotti 101,” 1/2/12
• Daily News, “Republican loons take the stage,” 1/2/12
• Daily News, “She’s Barkin on Twitter about cops after 68 Occupy protesters busted,” 1/2/12
• Daily News, “White-bread Iowa doesn’t begin to represent America’s diversity,” 1/2/12
• Daily News, “Now it’s the politics of the stupid,” 1/1/12
• Daily News, “What exactly is the Iowa caucus?,” 1/1/12
• Daily News, “How to say it? 20-12 or 2,012?,” 1/1/12
• Daily News, “Verizon fee flops,” 12/31/11
• Daily News, “Red, white, & plain untrue. It’s time to stop calling Cowboys ‘America’s Team,’” 12/30/11
• Daily News, “On the money: BP in hot water—criminal charges expected,” 12/30/11
• Daily News, “Snub Mike over NYPD ‘spying,’” 12/29/11
• Daily News, “On the money: Electronics makers to pay up in settlement,” 12/28/11
• Daily News, “Boost on horizon,” 12/28/11
• Daily News, “The charter school delusion,” 12/26/11
• Daily News, “Museums on hunt for OWS artifacts,” 12/26/11
• Tenant, “Tenants tit for tat with Cuomo over rents, millionaire’s tax on million-dollar staircase,” December 2011-January 2012
• Tenant, “Atlantic Yards may reduce affordable units,” December 2011-January 2012
• Tenant, “Tenant-blacklist lawsuit dropped; lawyers plan to refile it in federal court,” December 2011-January 2012
• Tenant, “Make the Road finds chaos and disrespect in Brooklyn Housing Court,” December 2011-January 2012
• Tenant, “Property v. Democracy,” December 2011-January 2012

WWE Results for the Week of December 25-31, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

WWE Monday Night RAW, USA, 9 p.m.-11:05 p.m. at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

1. Booker T (d) WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:12:01.92).
2. Eve Torres and WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder (d) Natalya and Tyson Kidd in a One-fall, 4-person, Mixed Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:03:02.04).
3. John Cena (d) The Miz in a One-fall Match by count-out, after Miz intentionally left the match, in (0:02:20.96).
4. Big Show (d) David Otunga in a One-fall Match by disqualification, after interference by Mark Henry and during which Show had one hand tied behind his back, in (0:01:59.59).
5. WWE Champion CM Punk (d) Jack Swagger by pinfall; Dolph Ziggler (d) WWE Champion CM Punk by pinfall, after interference by John Laurinaitis; and WWE Champion CM Punk (x) Mark Henry in a 4-man, Gauntlet Match, in which Ziggler became the #1 contender for the title and Punk lost his opportunity to face Laurinaitis in a match, in (0:14:34.20).

***

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

WWE NXT, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:47 p.m. at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.

1. Justin Gabriel (d) Heath Slater in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:13:11.93).
2. Tyson Kidd (d) Percy Watson in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Darren Young, in (0:03:56.39).
3. Derrick Bateman (d) Johnny Curtis in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:07:10.38).

***

Thursday, December 29, 2011

WWE Superstars, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:46 p.m. at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

1. Yoshi Tatsu (d) Tyson Kidd in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:04:59.16).
2. Darren Young (d) Trent Barreta in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:07:10.09).
3. Alex Riley (d) JTG in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:04:49.51).
4. WWE Tag Team Champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) (d) Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:11:42.96).

***

Friday, December 30, 2011

WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Syfy, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.

1. Jinder Mahal (d) Ted DiBiase in a One-fall Match by submission in (0:02:53.39).
2. Alicia Fox and Kaitlyn (d) Natalya and Tamina in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:01:33.21).
3. Hunico (d) Justin Gabriel in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:46.52).
4. Big Show (d) David Otunga in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:24.57).
5. Ezekiel Jackson (d) Drew McIntyre in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after holding McIntyre‘s tights, in (0:03:52.19).
6. Sheamus (d) Heath Slater in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:07:47.65).
7. Randy Orton (f) Wade Barrett in a One-fall, Falls Count Anywhere Match to a no-contest, after Orton fell down a flight of stairs and Barrett left the match, in (0:13:24.02).

U.S. House Republicans agree to payroll tax cut extension

The (New York) Daily News reported (“A very merry tax-mas for the president,” 12/23/11) that Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives gave in to a deal to extend the payroll tax cut for two months.

Without the extension, an average worker making $50,000 a year, for example, would have had to have paid $1,000 more in payroll taxes beginning Jan. 1.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who held out for a week against backing the deal passed in the U.S. Senate, said the House will vote on the Senate compromise. There is an agreement with Senate Democrats in the extension to negotiate to make the cuts last for a year.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said House Republicans should pass the two-month extension in exchange for an agreement to name Democrats to a committee that would negotiate a one-year deal.

The deal includes a requirement that the White House will decide in 60 days on a pipeline from Canada to Texas and the extension of unemployment benefits for 2.3 million people.

Pols showed that voters were favoring President Barack Obama as a champion of the “little guy” over Republicans.

I think this is good news and hopefully will help Obama in November. I am glad to see that the House Republicans have been knocked off their high horses, and hopefully this means they will be more humble in the future. I also hope that the cuts are extended for a year, the unemployment benefits are extended, and the president decides against the pipeline.

In other News:

• The New York Review of Books, “Republicans for revolution,” 1/12/12
  The Writer, “Historical novels and the ‘truth,’” January 2012
• Daily News, “OWS to revisit Zuccotti Park,” 12/25/11
• Daily News, “On the money: BofA CEO toots horn in year-end message,” 12/24/11
• Daily News, “Payroll tax extension is now law,” 12/24/11
• Daily News, “Hate-filled GOP suffering from self-inflicted wounds,” 12/23/11
• Daily News, “Former Fannie Mae CEO taking leave following SEC charges,” 12/22/11
• Daily News, “Wall St. execs should pay for bad deals: Liu,” 12/22/11
• Daily News, “The GOP’s big goof,” 12/22/11
• Daily News, “G.I. bullied to an ugly death,” 12/22/11
• Daily News, “Bam rages as House nixes payroll tax cut,” 12/21/11
• Daily News, “Are there more Earths?,” 12/21/11
• Daily News, “House delays tax cut vote,” 12/20/11
• Daily News, “No bah humbug from S.I. ferry terminal workers,” 12/20/11
• Daily News, “No more ferry merry Christmas,” 12/19/11
• Daily News, “OWS protesters rally for immigration rights,” 12/19/11
• Daily News, “Snow rush on MTA diggers,” 12/19/11
• Daily News, “On guns, it’s time to be like Mike,” 12/19/11
• Daily News, “U.S. troops joyful as last of ‘em leave Iraq,” 12/19/11
• Daily News, “Tax break kicked out of House,” 12/19/11
• Quill, “Papers will elaborate on Code’s tenets,” November/December 2011
• Quill, “We need YOU in FOI fight,” November/December 2011
• Quill, “When bad is good: 10 impossible champions of the First Amendment,” November/December 2011

Wrestling Results for the Week of December 18-24, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, PPV1, 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m. at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

1. Drew McIntyre (d) Alex Riley in a One-fall, Dark Match by pinfall in (0:04:37.00).
2. Zack Ryder (d) WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to become the new champion, in (0:10:23.00).
3. WWE Tag Team Champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) (d) Epico and Primo in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team, Title Match by pinfall, to retain their title, in (0:07:32.00).
4. Randy Orton (d) Wade Barrett in a Tables Match by putting Barrett through a table, in (0:10:16.00).
5. WWE Divas Champions Beth Phoenix (d) Kelly Kelly in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to retain her title, in (0:05:17.00).
6. Triple H (d) Kevin Nash in a One-fall, Sledgehammer Ladder Match by pinfall in (0:18:13.00).
7. Sheamus (d) Jack Swagger in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:05:57.00).
8. Big Show (d) World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry in a One-fall, Chairs, Title Match by pinfall, to become the new champion, in (0:05:31.00).
9. Daniel Bryan (d) World Heavyweight Champion Big Show in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to become the new champion after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract, in (0:00:07.00).
10. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (d) Booker T in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to retain his championship, in (0:07:18.00).
11. WWE Champion CM Punk (d) Alberto Del Rio and The Miz in a Triple Threat; Tables, Ladders, and Chairs; Title Match by retrieving the belt from above the ring, to retain his title, in (0:18:25.00).

***

Monday, December 19, 2011

WWE Monday Night RAW, USA, 9 p.m.-11:06 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

1. Randy Orton (d) Wade Barrett in a One-fall Match by disqualification, after Barrett thumbed Orton‘s eye, in (0:08:01.03).
2. Alicia Fox (d) WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:00:47.08).
3. Sheamus (d) Jinder Mahal in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:54.67).
4. Epico and Primo (d) Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:02:54.08).
5. WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (d) Santino Marella in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:01:24.52).
6. WWE Champion CM Punk, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan, and WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder (d) Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, and The Miz in a One-fall, 6-man Tag Team Match by submission in (0:13:13.18).

***

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

WWE NXT, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:51 p.m. at The Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, United States.

1. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso (d) Derrick Bateman and Johnny Curtis in a One-fall, 4-man Match by pinfall, after Bateman intentionally left the match, in (0:03:36.21).
2. Curt Hawkins (d) Trent Barreta in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Tyler Reks, in (0:04:45.97).
3. Kaitlyn (d) Maxine in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Derrick Bateman, in (0:03:03.57).
4. Tyson Kidd (d) Percy Watson in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:04:01.98).
5. Titus O’Neil (d) JTG in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:54.91).

***

Thursday, December 22, 2011

WWE Superstars, WWE.com, 4 p.m.-4:44 p.m. at The Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, United States, and the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

1. Justin Gabriel (d) Heath Slater in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:06:15.23).
2. Hunico (d) Ezekiel Jackson in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:02:55.44).
3. Alex Riley (d) Michael McGillicutty in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:05:16.56).
4. WWE Tag Team Champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) (d) Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by pinfall in (0:10:30.32).

***

Friday, December 23, 2011

ROH Final Battle 2011, GoFightLive.tv, 7:24 p.m.-11:46 p.m. at the Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York, United States.

1. Michael Elgin (d) TJ Perkins in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:07:35.87).
2. Tommaso Ciampa (d) Jimmy Rave in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by The Embassy (Ernesto Osiris, Prince Nana, Princess Mia, and R.D. Evans), in (0:08:33.16).
3. ROH World Television Champion Jay Lethal (d) El Generico and Mike Bennett in a Triple Threat Elimination, Title Match via pinfall, to retain his title, in (0:18:18.09).
4. Kevin Steen (d) Steve Corino in a One-fall, No Disqualification Match by pinfall, to be reinstated in Ring of Honor, in (0:23:13.44).
5. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (d) Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander, The All Night Express (Kenny King and Rhett Titus), Future Shock (Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly), and The Bravados (Harlem Bravado and Lance Bravado) in a Contender’s Cup, Tag Team Gauntlet Match via pinfall and referee stoppage, to earn a future shot at the ROH World Tag Team Championship, in (0:29:00.43).
6. Roderick Strong (d) Chris Hero in a One-fall, Roderick Strong Invitational Challenge Match by pinfall in (0:16:39.66).
7. The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) (d) ROH World Tag Team Champions Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team, Title Match by pinfall, to become the new champions, in (0:13:25.72).
8. ROH World Champion Davey Richards (d) Eddie Edwards in a One-fall, Title Match by pinfall, to retain his title, in (0:41:15.00).

***

Friday, December 23, 2011

WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Syfy, 8 p.m.-9:59 p.m. at The Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, United States.

1. WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder (d) WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes in a One-fall Match by pinfall, after interference by Booker T, in (0:09:34.67).
2. Big Show (x) Mark Henry in a One-fall Match because Henry was not medically cleared to compete, so neither wrestler was deemed the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
3. Sheamus (d) The Miz in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:03.33).
4. WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston (d) Primo in a One-fall Match by pinfall in (0:03:07.46).
5. Big Show and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (d) Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger in a One-fall, 4-man Tag Team Match by submission in (0:23:30.51).