RAFA NADAL IN HALLE, GERMANY - GRASS COURT TOURNAMENT - GERRY WEBER 2012

UPDATED: Friday, June 15, 2012, 3:43 p.m. , USA/EST 

Quarterfinal - Spain's Rafael Nadal during his quarter final match against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 15, 2012. Kohlschreiber won 6-3, 6-4.  AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. 

Quarterfinal - Spain's Rafael Nadal plays the ball during his quarter final match against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 15, 2012. Kohlschreiber won 6-3, 6-4. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

More photos:Yahoo Sports Quarterfinal Singles Pictures - Halle, Germany

Halle, Germany
Gerry Weber 2012 Open

Quarterfinal

  Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) defeated Rafa Nadal(ESP)
6-3, 6-4

Friday, June 15, 2012

Centre Court

Round 2 ~ Doubles
M.Granollers (ESP)/R. Nadal (ESP) withdrew before the match Friday, June 15, 2012

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Singles

Round 1 

Rafa Nadal - bye

Round 2
Rafa Nadal defeated Lukas Lacko
7-5, 6-1
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Quarterfinal

  Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) defeated Rafa Nadal(ESP)
6-3, 6-4

Friday, June 15, 2012

Centre Court

Doubles
 

Round 1
Rafa Nadal/Marcel Granollers defeated Michal Mertinak/Viktor Troicki 
5-7, 6-2, 10-8
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Centre Court

Round 2 ~ Doubles
M.Granollers (ESP)/R. Nadal (ESP) withdrew before the match Friday, June 15, 2012

TV - The Tennis Channel
 

The Tennis Channel

Live Streaming - Try

Online Streaming

Time difference: Germany is 6 hours ahead of USA/EST
 

Schedule of day

Articles ~

Superstar Rafael Nadal has arrived in Halle 

CentreCourtTV - German is the language

Video 

Rafa is treated to a cake upon his arrival at Halle

Pictures

Hotel Arrival in Halle, Germany

Photo credit: CARMEN JASPERSEN 


Press Conference Before Halle

Spain's Rafael Nadal gives a press conference on the eve of his first single match at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in the western German city of Halle on June 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN. Click on image to enlarge.

Spain's Rafael Nadal gives a press conference on the eve of his first single match at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in the western German city of Halle on June 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN/AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

  
Singles

Round 2 

sports.yahoo Pictures - Round 2 - Halle, Germany 2012

uk.eurosport Pictures - Round 2 - Halle, Germany 2012

Round 2, Singles - Spain's Rafael Nadal leaves the court after his second round match against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 14, 2012. Nadal won 7-5, 6-1 and qualified for the quarter-finals.  AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

Round 2, Singles - Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after winning a point during his second round match against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 14, 2012. Nadal won 7-5, 6-1 and qualified for the quarter-finals. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

Round 2, Singles - Spain's Rafael Nadal wipes his face during his second round match against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 14, 2012. Nadal won 7-5, 6-1 and qualified for the quarter-finals. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

Round 2, Singles - Spain's Rafael Nadal serves during his second round match against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 14, 2012. Nadal won 7-5, 6-1 and qualified for the quarter-finals. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN AFP/GettyImages. Click on image to enlarge.

Doubles

Round 1

uk.eurosport - Round 1 Doubles, Halle, Germany

Yahoo Sports - Round 1 Doubles

Round, Doubles - Wednesday June 13, 2012
Spanish Rafael Nadal reacts during his double match with Marcel Granollers against Slovenia's Michal Mertinak and Serbia's Viktor Troicki at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 13, 2012. CARMEN JASPERSEN/AFP/GettyImage.  Click on image to enlarge.

Round 1, Doubles - Wednesday June 13, 2012

Spanish Rafael Nadal runs on the court during his double match with Marcel Granollers against Slovenia's Michal Mertinak and Serbia's Viktor Troicki at the ATP Gerry Weber Open tennis tournament in Halle, western Germany, on June 13, 2012. AFP PHOTO / CARMEN JASPERSEN. Click on image to enlarge.

Quarterfinal 

Yahoo Sports Quarterfinal Singles Pictures - Halle, Germany

Zimbio Quarterfinal Singles Pictures - Halle, Germany

Video 

Doubles 

Round 1
Rafa falling down after colliding with Marcel

Pictures of Rafa ~ 


Tumblr tagged Rafael Nadal

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Fan Support Sites ~ Great sources of information

Vamos Brigade

Rafa's Babolat-sponsored Forum

Join me at ~

Facebook RAFA-NADAL-BRING-BACK-LONG-PANTS-SLEEVELESS-TOPS

Rafa's Facebook
www.facebook.com/Nadal

PAUL WARREN ALLEN ~ NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE ~ DICHTERLIEBE ~ SCHUMANN

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NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CHOIR ~ ROBERT SCHUMANN'S DICHTERLIEBE ~ POET'S LOVE from ilovemylifesblog on Vimeo.

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NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CHOIR ~ ROBERT SCHUMANN'S DICHTERLIEBE ~ POET'S LOVE

Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog

The record was made in the auditorium of Pfeiffer Hall in the Spring of 1968 in Naperville, Illinois. Three years later, North Central College eliminated the music department.

Artists work used in video
Childe Hassam
Christine Comyn
Crazy Frankenstein.com
Garmash
Taras Loboda
Waterhouse
Found at storylet

Schumann's original title in 1840 is "Twenty Songs from the Lyric Intermezzo in the Book of Songs for One Singer and Piano." A letter in 1844 refers to the Dichterliebe cycle though it is not clear who assigned this title. The word is usually translated as "Poet's Love"

Link to information
Schumann_Op48
Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) / Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856): Dichterliebe, Op. 48

Robert Schumann wrote, "At certain points in time, (Heine's) poetry dons the mask of irony in order to conceal its visage of pain; perhaps for a moment the friendly hand of a genius may lift that mask so that wild tears may be transformed into pearls."

Warum ist das licht gegeben dem mühseligen (opus 74, 1877)
Johannes Brahms
facebook
The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee
Jean Berger
youtube
I Am the True Vine
arranged by Salli Terri
youtube
It's May
Robert Schumann's "Art Song"
youtube

WISDOM OF KNOWING WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT USA NEEDS TO BE PART OF USA'S STRENGTH

OTHERWISE OUR IGNORANCE BECOMES STRONGER THAN OUR WISHFUL THINKING

THAT WE STILL ARE IN CHARGE

WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE IN CHARGE OF?

I am not supposed to be here. I am supposed to be where anyone should be at midnight who is not working at a job. But just as I was trying to wind down my internet obsession, I went over to what has become a "must" website for me ~ Watching America - News

I found this article and had to post it.

Die Welt, Germany

Osama Obama

By Philipp Neumann, Political Editor

But then what really stunned me were the arguments Carl and his three companions brought out against Obama.

Translated By Ron Argentati

28 October 2008


Germany - Die Welt - Original Article (German)

What some McCain fans say about the Democratic presidential candidate.

“Where are you from? Germany? That’s really nice! I was stationed there in 1972.” It’s hard to believe how easily one can get into a conversation in the United States, especially when you look as un-American (and as German) as I do. Most people guess it right off the bat. Some have to work their way through Holland or Switzerland before they peg me as German. A few others think I come from England – something really astounding considering my accent – but maybe it’s because I persist in pronouncing the “a” in “can’t” as if it were spelled “cawnt.” But I digress.

Such small talk is always nice, even if you don’t learn much about your partner. The subject of politics is generally avoided in small talk. At least that’s what I thought until I had my first political discussion last night in a restaurant. As usual, it began innocently. The two elderly couples and I exchanged glances, then came the “Where froms?” and then the “Where tos?” followed by a few sightseeing tips around New York City. And then came the question, “What do you think of the presidential election?” I admitted I was for Obama.

Silence.

One of the husbands, Carl, said they were against Obama. They were for McCain and asked whether I had thought about why Obama really wanted to be President. “Because he wants the power?” I guessed. “Exactly,” said Carl, “and McCain wants to be President because he wants to serve his country.”

Well, O.K. I don’t really believe anyone who’s looking to get the most powerful political job in the world is driven by pure altruism, but I have to admit there might be something to the idea that there could be other motivating forces besides just the desire for power. There may at least be another basic philosophy, but I don’t really know if that’s true. In Germany, it’s normal for politicians to have always been politicians; they’ve never had any other profession. In the United States, the idea of anyone planning a political career as thoroughly as Obama has is somehow distasteful.

But then what really stunned me were the arguments Carl and his three companions brought out against Obama. He has no character, he’s a Muslim, he hobnobs with terrorists – the whole palette of cheap right-wing propaganda. And besides, they said, Sarah Palin was more intelligent than Obama. Excuse me? I’d had about enough. I finished my beer, signed the credit card receipt and departed the way everyone here departs after some small talk: “Nice meeting you!” Source: http://watchingamerica.com/News/10031/osama-obama/

CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL VERSION

And this is worth reading

Original Article (German)	Die Welt, Germany The Unrepresentative American Election
	Surveys show that Democratic contender Barack Obama will likely be elected president. That’s not as certain as some polls indicate, however, because the electoral system in the U.S. wasn’t created to best represent the will of the people. It was created to create the most stable majorities...

Link to this article: watchingamerica.com/News/10131/the-unrepresentative-american-election

I have noticed the few Russian articles that I have read at Watching America are putting the USA and Russia at real odds, today. Russia is not keen on the USA. Anyone remember, not long ago, about the Russia - USA relationship that was called the Cold_War?

It is a wise thing to know what others are writing about the USA...

From Izvestia, Russia

The Dollar Is Being Inflated:
One Day It Will Burst…

By Anna Kaledina

As it turns out, the United States is inflating the demand for its currency and printing the dollars at full speed.

Translated By Irina Tanurcov

October 28, 2008

Link to the article listen-if-the-dollar-is-being-inflated-one-day-it-will-burst


And then there is this from

Die Zeit, Germany
That's Not What We Intended

the following is a portion of the article:


From Paul Wolfowitz to Richard Perle: How the American architects of the Iraq war explain their failure.

...Over lunch at the Bombay Club, Paul Wolfowitz, the Pentagon’s number two man at the time, begins with a surprising admission: “Contrary to what you read everywhere, I wasn’t the mastermind, the string-puller.” Richard Perle, known as the “Prince of Darkness” to opponents of re-armament in the eighties and who works today at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, says much the same thing: “We three had the least to say; Rummy (Rumsfeld) made all the decisions. We didn’t have any real influence, although I wanted it very much. He usually ignored our advice. Doug (Feith) had no operative power. I saw Rumsfeld perhaps only three or four times outside the Defense Policy Board.” The Defense Policy Board was an advisory forum where Rumsfeld appeared every six months...

...Surprise number two: The original objective wasn’t regime change and democracy. Regime change was “the result, and not the object of the war,” – although Wolfowitz himself believed whole-heartedly in the benefits of democracy. “Just think of democratic Poland, with its totally changed, western-oriented policies.”

...Why did it go so badly? Wolfowitz: “We didn’t know our enemy. Saddam had already been planning a revolt for two years. We had no idea of the internal infighting that would be stirred up.” Perle recounts another fiasco: “We wanted to be liberators but within five or six months we became occupiers and targets.”

....Was it a war to bring democracy to Iraq in the sense recounted by the eminent scholar Bernard Lewis? In truth, no. A distressed Feith writes in his book “War and Decision” that democracy “required Iraqi leadership, and there weren’t enough Iraqis with experience in democratic practice.” And so? It would be “naïve to think that democracy would have taken hold if we had just left Iraq alone.”

And, as misfortune would have it, the country really wasn’t left alone. Enter L. Paul (Jerry) Bremer in the role of Viceroy after Donald Rumsfeld called him out of retirement in Vermont. Bremer is no Lawrence of Arabia and proceeded with Plan F, which was to solve all the problems by dissolving the military and all the political parties. With that decision, the United States was transformed from liberator to conqueror. “We had the best intentions,” Richard Perle recalls, but under Bremer, the United States treated the Iraqis with “condescension and contempt.” The United States “was suddenly responsible for everything,” but without the expertise it needed. “All at once, 8,000 Americans had occupied one of Saddam’s former palaces in the Green Zone and half of them had never been in a foreign country before.”

Why did the plundering begin so early? The mind-boggling answer: “Tommy Franks (the top military commander) claimed he wasn’t responsible for internal security.” Perle’s conclusion: “I never thought we would botch it so badly.” And on the subject of democratization he added: “That wasn’t our main objective. If Saddam had brought out every bit of information he had on his WMD on the evening of the invasion, the whole war would have been called off. We were one hundred percent certain that Saddam had hidden all the stuff.”

So does the Iraq war shrink down to a saga of incompetence and ignorance? No other result than blood, tears and a big bill? $600 billion spent and 4,500 dead Americans so far? David Frum, coiner of the label “axis of evil” and member of the American Enterprise Institute, takes a protective stance with his colleagues: “Bush and Cheney really believed Saddam had WMD.” When asked why nobody bothered questioning this belief, Frum rages, “Do you know what would have happened if anyone had opposed him in February 2003 by saying ‘Mr. President, we’re not prepared to act. Please consider what will happen if anything goes wrong?’ He would have gone crazy and screamed, “I already told you we’re going in March!” That’s the way it was.

But the irony, Frum adds, is that “Iraq will become a stable, pro-Western country, it will return to the oil markets and it will play a positive role in the Middle East.” On the other hand, the war in Afghanistan, the one everyone called the one worth fighting, isn’t going well at all. Even if Frum wants to maintain he was right, it was an extravagant project that, despite all the talk in Washington, still has no clear meaning.

But why? An old Bush insider who absolutely refuses to be identified answers with the biggest surprise of all: “It was an act of imperial ego-boosting. We had to do something because we had been humiliated on September 11th and made into a laughing stock. We had to show our determination and power.” Would you do it all over again? The answer: “You would have to be crazy to do it again.”


CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL VERSION

Another story found at Watching America

Impoverished Americans Lean Toward Spoiled Food

Some of our best journalism in the USA is done by foreign journalists. They aren't pandering to our entertainment level of news so much as the USA media.

NO QUESTION ABOUT DARFUR ASKED AT FOREIGN POLICY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN MISSISSIPPI

The U.N. General Assembly opened on September 16 in New York City. Across town on Wednesday night, a stream of vans, buses and cars filled with Darfuri refugees arrived at Widdi Hall in Brooklyn. They gathered to eat together - along with a very important guest - after breaking the daily fast of Ramadan. The Darfuris came from Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and the Washington, DC area to meet the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

The prosecutor entered the hall to a loud and cheering group of nearly 150 Darfuris holding signs and chanting, "Justice, justice for Darfur!"

Earlier this week, Darfuris held a press conference call wherein they provided their perspective on how justice and accountability will be realized in Darfur. A transcript of that press conference call is located here.

Lastly, Darfuri Diaspora organizations drafted a letter to the U.N. Security Council urging member states not to derail the pursuit of justice and accountability at The Hague. Their letter is located here.

For more information on other ways we are working to amplify Darfuri voices, visit here.

While George W Bush wrote in the margin of a report on the Rwandan genocide "not on my watch" when he began his first term as President of the United States of America, the government-backed genocide on the Darfuri people has been going on for five and a half years. It would have been appropriate for Jim Lehrer to ask a question about Darfur. Economy questions took up the first third of the foreign policy debate. The remaining two-thirds was spent on foreign policy questions with answers that included more economy as well as foreign policy points.

It appears that the USA citizens can't think of other things when the economy is in the ditch. And this includes the Iraq war, which has been a huge contributor to our nearly 10 trillion dollar national debt. Here is a link to the USA debt. Here is some debt news:

U.S National Debt Clock

The Outstanding Public Debt as of September 27, 2008 at 05:45:58 AM GMT is:

$9,852,321,078,024.33

The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $2.32 billion per day since September 28, 2007.

But we as citizens, don't expect that our elected officials talk about it because we don't want to think about it. John McCain claimed in the debate that he and only he is concerned about taxes, but let's be honest, John didn't mention our debt growing primarily from the Iraq war.

As many USA citizens feel, I believe that our complicity in the genocide of the Darfuri families defines us in a way that should be humiliating. Our debt should be addressed. Yes.

But not taking leadership on terrorism - genocide - incriminates us to the bottom of the justice values that we think we are the standard bearer of.

www.savedarfur.org

1-800-GENOCIDE

WOW PHAU PLAYS WELL - RAFAEL NADAL WINS US OPEN ROUND ONE

RAFAEL NADAL in round one match at the US Open
against German Bjorn Phau
(Phau: pronounced by USA commentators as Pow)
August 25, 2008
Rafa wins 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)
Photo credit: AP

This is all from memory....so I may be wrong....
If any tennis professional player has reason to be tired, it is Rafael Nadal. He has played more tennis than any other player. He played two extremely difficult matches in Indian Wells as I recall. Then, he played in the Final in Miami. Then he went off to Europe and played in Monte Carlo and won the singles and the doubles. He won in Barcelona, Hamburg, The French Open, Queens, Wimbledon, Toronto, played enough in Cincinnati to go to Number 1 (I think it was the quarter finals) flew to China with a 12 hour time difference and won The Gold Medal in the Olympics, flew back to a time zone 12 hours different and now is in the US Open.

It is amazing to read just the headlines alone of his Round 1 match with Bjorn Phau of August 25. Then I have to remind myself, these writers of words make money from what they "say".

John McEnroe said it all so well in the night time coverage on USA tv channel Monday just before the ceremony to celebrate past winners of the US Open. He put it all in perspective.

There were some Rafa fans very upset that Rafa was going to play in the US Open in a new look. One with sleeves. Well, as it turns out, all the fans' angst about Rafa having some little pieces of fabric on the top of the biceps was a waste of energy and commentary. Rafa came out to play sleeveless.

Between watching the ceremony and the Democratic national convention, I post this. (Great speeches by Ted Kennedy and Craig Robinson and his sister, Michelle Obama.)

So this will have to do for now.

Two above photo credits by Getty/Elsa

Bjorn Phau from the match

Photo credits above: Getty

Fatigue not enough to stop Rafa

Source of the article

Rafael Nadal will never complain about winning in three sets - even if the victory required two tie-breakers against German qualifier Bjorn Phau in the first round of the US Open.

Seeded first in a major for the first time in his career, Nadal began his pursuit of tennis history - he is aiming to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same season - with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) triumph on Monday.

"To win in three sets is always a good result," Nadal said.

"I had some difficult moments, but that's going to help me in the pressure moments."

Nadal's first pressure moments of the US Open came at the hands of the world's 136th-ranked player.

"He's a good player," Nadal said of his first-round foe.

"But I helped him a little bit today. I played with a little bit less intensity than the last few months."

Indeed, the Olympic champion was not nearly as sharp as he has been of late, presenting his German opponent with a handful of opportunities - thanks to 35 unforced errors.

The 22-year-old Spaniard dismissed the notion that he may have been looking past a lesser opponent, suggesting fatigue could have been a factor.

"I try to go round to round," Nadal added.

"I'm not thinking any further than the second round right now."

"I'm a little bit more tired than usual. The thing is to try to be good. Mentally and physically, I think I am playing good tennis."

Despite the long trip from Beijing, where he played some of his best tennis at the Olympic Games, Nadal was not willing to attribute his minor fatigue to anything but the normal grind of the professional tour.

"The system is very tough," Nadal said.

"The problem is I played Toronto, Cincinnati, Beijing, then came back here. So, two times in two weeks, I've had 12 hours of jet lag."

>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:

Photo by Reuters

Nadal finally turns back pesky Phau

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal needs almost three hours to put away qualifier Bjorn Phau. He is joined in the U.S. Open second round by Gael Monfils.

Rafael Nadal d. Bjorn Phau 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4)

Phau was advertised as one of the fastest men in tennis--along with Nadal--and the German qualifier sure lived up to that billing. Much to the delight of a packed house in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Phau made spectacular scramble after spectacular scramble and just would not go away; not even when his game slipped a bit in the first-set tiebreaker or when he got broken at 2-3 in the second. Phau dropped serve again at 4-4 in the third, but broke Nadal for the first time in the match for 5-5. Another tiebreaker was needed to decide things, and once again Nadal's game held up fine under the pressure whereas his opponent could not sustain the same level he had been showing throughout the afternoon. After two hours and 59 minutes, Nadal finally booked his place in the second round. Nadal will have to cut down on his unforced errors (35) as the tournament progresses.

Read the full article

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Round One
Rafael Nadal d Bjorn Phau in the US Open 2008
August 25

Photo credits by Elsa of Getty Images

Nadal Off to a Shaky Start from the Gulf Daily News - The Voice of Bahrain

US Open-Games weary Nadal and Dementieva battle on from Reuters UK

Head to Head Statistics of Nadal and Phau

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Some of the 1st set in the 1st round US Open August 25, 2008
Nadal d Phau
Uploaded by USOpenFreak2008

Youtube of Rafa's medical time-out in Round 1

RAFAEL NADAL PLAYS ROUND 1 MONDAY AUGUST 25 AT THE US OPEN

Rafael Nadal training
US Open 2008
Photo credits: Abaca Press

Rafa's first opponent will be the qualifier Björn Phau (GER)

Imagine qualifiying for the US Open and getting Rafael Nadal in the first round. Would that be exciting or overwhelming?

Rafa will play Round 1 Monday, August 25, 2008
He plays after two matches by women on Arthur Ashe Court
The first match on Arthur Ashe Court begins at 11:00 a.m.

The start time of Rafa's match depends on how long the women's matches take.

The TV Schedule for the USA
on the USA channel
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
and for the night matches 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Online Viewing of the US Open
The USA channel is jumping from court to court and doesn't show us entire matches. You might try the following online link for viewing and see if they stay with Rafa's match. Right now, even they are jumping from court to court though. http://www.justin.tv/live24_2
This works on both MACs and PCs.

And I believe this one only works on PCs:
http://pages.tvunetworks.com/channels/index.jsp?g=3#

	The US Open 2008 11:00AM EST 8/25
	The US Open 2008 11:00AM EST 8/25
	The US Open 2008 (IE ONLY) 11:00AM EST 8/25
	The US Open 2008 (IE ONLY) 12:30PM EST 8/25
	The US Open 2008 12:30PM EST 8/25

More on TV access:

USA Network is covering the US Open for the 25th consecutive year and will broadcast more than 107 hours of action, starting with the men's and women's opening rounds on Monday, August 25, and culminating with the Women's Doubles final on Sunday, September 7. USA Network's expansive US Open coverage includes afternoon and evening telecasts, as well as a late-night taped replay of the Match of the Day.

CBS Sports is serving up its 41st consecutive year of US Open coverage and will broadcast more than 37 hours of this year's event, including the prime-time Women's Singles final on Saturday, September 6, and the Men's Singles Final on Sunday, September 7.

Eurosport, the exclusive European broadcaster of the US Open, reaches 59 countries in Europe and televises the event in 20 different languages.

US Open.org - DRAW

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Rafael Nadal at the US Open 2008
Grapple in the Apple
Arthur Ashe Kids Day
Training
Press

Photo credits: Getty, Astrid Stawiarz, Abaca Press, US Open website, Just Jared, Wire Image and Mary from The Forum at www.rafaelnadal.com

The Times - Rafa will blog every day from the US Open
You can send in questions for Rafa by email: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Rafa and some fans requesting autographs in New York
Uploaded by toppixautographs

VAMOS RAFA

GENOCIDE ESCALATING WHILE IN ITS 6TH YEAR IN SUDAN

Civilians are being rounded up by the Sudanese government, tortured, killed in order to intimidate Darfuris. The world continues to standby and continue to let this genocide continue. How many reports have you seen on television about the escalation in Sudan the last couple of weeks?

Here is a text of an email I received today:

A few days ago a massive mobilization
by the Government of Sudan and Janjaweed
in Darfur around city of Al Geneina in west
Darfur was reported.

UNAMID report that they were attacked on
Wednesday by horsemen with AK-47 and rockets.

This is ominous sign the worst is yet to come.

This is an attempt to isolate or neutralize
the UNAMID so that they will not intervene
in protecting the Darfur civilians.

Here is an article as reported by BBC :

Horseback raid on Darfur troops

There are numerous armed groups operating in Darfur

Armed men on horseback have attacked and stolen the weapons of Nigerian UN peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region.

The joint UN-African Union troops were ambushed by up to 60 men armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades on Wednesday, the Unamid peace force said.

It is not clear who was behind the attack, which has been made public for the first time.

The UN took joint control of the force in January but has not been able to bring peace to the region.

It has just 9,000 of the planned 26,000 troops.

"We are a peacekeeping organisation but there is no peace on the ground to keep," Unamid spokesman Noureddine Mezni told Reuters news agency.

He said the incident had been kept quiet while attempts were made to identify the attackers.

"We have bandits and we have armed groups and we have the [rebel] factions. With our very limited number of troops, it is not an easy job."

The attack happened near the West Darfur capital, Geneina.

The conflict began five years ago, when rebels took up arms in protest at alleged government discrimination against the region.

Pro-government Arab militias have been accused of widespread atrocities against the black African population.

But the rebel groups have split into numerous different factions, making a settlement difficult.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk/africa

Mohamed Suleiman 

The following letter was sent to our President:

Senator Specter Calls on George W. Bush
for Definitive Action in Darfur

May 22, 2008

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

Fourteen years ago the world watched as genocide
unfolded in Rwanda. Despite dire warnings and please
for help, 800,000 people were brutally killed in less
than one hundred days. Today the world looks back in
painful regret at its failure to take action. Yet,
we are likely to face a similarly harsh historical
judgment if we do not once and for all take action
against the genocide in Darfur.

The crisis in Darfur is now more than five years old.
In the time since it began, the world has once again
watched a horrific humanitarian crisis unfold.
Entire villages have been torched, their populations
displaced. Thousands have been raped and tortured.
Today, millions are living in sprawling refugee camps,
their livelihoods and families having suffered
unimaginable consequences. Over the years, you
and the Congress have rightly called the actions in
Darfur genocide. Both have said we must halt the
violence. Yet today, as we enter the sixth year of
this crisis, efforts to bring an end to the violence
are insufficient. The 26,000 member UN-African Union
peacekeeping team, which was agreed upon last July,
has put in place only a third of its forces. In
addition to Sudanese obstruction, deployment has been
delayed by a shortage of helicopters. It is simply
unimaginable that the United States cannot provide,
or work with allies to provide, a handful of helicopters
to help fully deploy this critical peacekeeping
force.

Some years after the genocide in Rwanda, President
Clinton visited the country and met with families
of the many victims. It was an honorable and important
decision. He said, "We in the United States and the world
community did not do as much as we could have and should
have done to try to limit what occurred in Rwanda in 1994."
Later in his life he said that the failure to act in Rwanda
was "my great regret in international affairs." If we turn
our backs on Darfur today as we did on the Rwandans in 1994,
we too will be left to face the harsh light of history.

We urge you to use all the power of the White House to
ensure that your legacy includes definitive action in Darfur.

Senators Durbin and Snow were the authors. Here's the full
list of Senators who signed the above letter to President
George W Bush:

Carl Levin (D-MI), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Bob Casey (D-PA),
Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Daniel Akaka
(D-HI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), John Sununu (R-NH), Diane
Feinstein (D-CA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), John Kerry (D-MA),
Susan Collins (R-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ben Cardin (D-MD),
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC),
Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Frank
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar
(D-MN), Barack Obama (D-IL), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT),
Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY),
Gordon Smith (R-OR) and George Voinovich (R-OH)

Things you can do to help:

Collect Signatures by June 1

Activists in more than 30 states are collecting signatures in their communities urging President Bush to help protect Darfuri civilians. Join our petition campaign and help us reach our goal of 75,000 signatures.

Send in your petitions by June 1, when the U.S. assumes the presidency of the U.N. Security Council. We have just one week left!

Click here to download the petition and pledge to collect as many signatures as you can.

June 20 Day of Action: Spotlight on the Sponsors

Sponsors of the 2008 Olympic Games must pressure China to do its part to end genocide in Darfur. On June 20, Darfur activists will protest the inaction of Coca-Cola, General Electric, Swatch, and Volkswagen.

Join us: Click here for more information

House Approves Funding for Darfur

The House approved $800 million for peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and other assistance for Darfur - a huge victory for Darfur activists. The funding process now moves to the Senate. Call 202-244-3121 and urge your senators to support full funding for Darfur.

You can also use this number to call your senator:
1-800-GENOCIDE

Visit Save Darfur Coalition web site for more information

And...

Dream for Darfur and Save Darfur Coalition's
Spotlight on Olympic Sponsors Day


Available online is a Toolkit.

The toolkit includes background information on
Dream for Darfur and each of the four Olympic
sponsors targeted, as well as tips for creating
an event and a comprehensive timeline.

The Olympic Sponsors:
Coke
General Electric
Swatch
Volkswagen



Please visit 
http://tinyurl.com/59sfkb 
to obtain the toolkit and corporate sponsor
profiles.

RAFAEL NADAL TO PLAY CARLOS MOYA ON CLAY MAY 16, 08

Rafa went as far as the Semi-Finals in Indian Wells 2008

Rafa was in the Final at Miami, Florida 2008

Rafa won at the Davis Cup in Bremen, Germany 2008
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Slideshow of Rafa in Monte-Carlo
Rafa won the final in Monte-Carlo 2008
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Four slideshows of Rafa in Barcelona
Rafa won the final in Barcelona 2008

With blisters and open cut on his foot he lost in Round 2
in Rome 2008

Rafa is currently in the quarter finals in Hamburg, Germany

Before the Nadal and Starace match in Hamburg May 13, 08

Some of the Round 2match with Rafa and Starace in Hamburg

Another upload of part of the Round 2 match Nadal d Starace in Hamburg

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Rafa's Interview after Starace and Nadal match
Round 2 Rafael Nadal defeated Potito Starace. 6-4, 7-6 in Hamburg, Germany
From: RafaNadalCHANNEL


Round 3 portion of Rafael Nadal d Andy Murray 6-3 in Hamburg, Germany
May 14, 2008

World Tennis News

Birthday bashing for Murray

Thursday, 15 May, 2008

Happy returns were in short supply for Andy Murray at the Hamburg Masters as he was predictably outclassed 6-3 6-2 by an imperious Rafael Nadal on his 21st birthday.

Despite showing flashes of the form that saw him dispatch Dmitry Tursunov and Gilles Simon earlier this week, and which suggested he was getting to grips with clay, the undisputed king of the surface was simply too good.

Murray began strongly by holding serve to love in the opening game, but an horrific smash into the net set the tone for his next attempt as Nadal gratefully accepted the first of two break points.

At the same event where he badly injured his wrist last year, the Scot appeared to be troubled by a left knee problem and had no answer to his opponent's fearsome and unerringly accurate hitting in the early stages.

The British number one saved a first set point on his serve in the ninth game, but two weak forehands into the net offered second and third chances to Nadal - the latter converted when the birthday boy volleyed long to concede the first set 6-3.

Murray immediately hit back, however, to claim a first break in the opening game of the second set, but Nadal instantly got back on terms to reassert his superiority.

Nadal clinched a second break in the fourth game, sealed with a looping forehand up the line which brushed the chalk, to move into an ominous 3-1 lead.

The Spaniard had a first match point on Murray's serve in the eighth, and although that was saved, another forehand into the net put an end to the Briton's preparations for Roland Garros.

Nadal, who has now won all three of the pair's meetings, will face compatriot Carlos Moya in the quarter-finals.

PA Sport
Source: Wimbledon

Hamburg, 15 May 2008

Press Conference with RAFAEL NADAL

Nadal - Murray 6:3, 6:2

Q: Are you more pleased with your game today than yesterday?

NADAL: Yes, sure, I'm much better now. I played much better than yesterday, practicing today morning. For sure, it is 50% better. I had more confidence today, feeling the ball much better and for sure playing more inside the court, having more control with the forehand, serving better too. So, it was a good match for me.

Q: What do you think was different to the previous meetings with Andy?

NADAL: It's always tough matches with Andy. Especially when he's playing well on hard court. If I am playing well on clay then I have more chances to beat him than if I play him on hard. Anyway, he is a very talented player. He can play, go to the net, play from the baseline, he can do everything. He had some mistakes. So, I beat him.

Q: So are you close to your best level?

NADAL: I don't know where my best level is. I am fine, I am playing well. That is the most important thing. I don't know if I'm close to my best level because you never know what is your best level. But I'm happy how I played today and plan to continue to play better tomorrow.

Q: How good do you think he can become on a clay court?

NADAL: He needs more tournaments I think, more practice. For sure, he can play well because his ball is not very flat. He has good control with the forehand, he serves well. He can go to the net, can slice the ball. If he continues to improve, he has a good chance to have a very good tournament in Roland Garros or in Monte Carlo, Rome, Hamburg.

Q: You fought very well, so is it okay with the feet?

NADAL: Yes. I'm fine. I don't feel 100% perfect because I feel it a little bit, but for sure it's enough.

Q: What caused the blister in Rome? The surface?

NADAL: No, I had the blister. The problem was the final in Barcelona. I didn't know when I was playing but during the night when I woke up at six in the morning to go to Rome, I tried to put the foot on the floor and I couldn't. That was the first moment when I felt the problem. Finally, I tried my best, working hard to try and recover before I arrived, but it was not possible.

Q: Have you had those blisters before?

NADAL: No. First time in the foot. In the hands, a lot of times.

Center Court starting at 11:00 a.m. Hamburg, Germany time
6 hours ahead of USA eastern standard time

Simon ASPELIN (SWE) & Julian KNOWLE (AUT)
vs.
Daniel NESTOR (CAN) & Nenad ZIMONJIC (SCG)

followed by
Roger FEDERER (SUI) vs. Fernando VERDASCO (ESP)

followed by
Albert MONTANES (ESP) vs. Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB)

followed by
Nicolas KIEFER (GER) vs. Andreas SEPPI (ITA)

followed by
Carlos MOYA (ESP) vs. Rafael NADAL (ESP)

followed by
Thomas MUSTER (AUT) vs. Michael STICH (GER)

For the best and most current collection of Rafa and his matches:
www.rafaelnadal.com

Free live streaming:
www.tvunetworks.com

P.S. Henin announces retirement

THE MUSIC MAN BOBBIE McFERRIN

I first was introduced to Bobbie McFerrin by Charles Kuralt on his TV show Sunday Morning (which was NEVER the same since he left the show ~ since then he's left this earth). It was way before Don't Worry, Be Happy. Bobbie McFerrin was amazing then and just starting his unique career. Soon after I saw him perform in Boston. Just because I like to wander around Youtube, I checked if he was there. Seems he's been around the world, creating his magic.
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Bobbie McFerrin the Marvel Ode to Miles
From: francky85
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I've Got the Feeling by Bobbie McFerrin
From: cachu
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Bobby McFerrin and Yo Yo Ma ~ Ave Maria
From: alvarezsosa

Bobbie sings Drive on his video
Bobbie sings Drive live

Bobbie sings Thinking About Your Body

Bobbie sings By the Sea

Bobbie in Warsaw

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Hold On Performance in Leipzig, Germany with Bobbie McFerrin
2002
From: kuumbasingers

Hush Little Baby with Yo Yo Ma and Bobbie McFerrin

Blackbird by Bobbie McFerrin

Round Midnight

Something Special Bobbie McFerrin

Thanks, Bobbie

...even more if you click on my title...

BEST TO BE YOUNG AND HEALTHY IN THE USA

WHY ISN'T IT OKAY TO INSURE EVERYONE IN THE USA?

T.R. Reid presents a lowkey study of health care in five countries other than the USA. And he has a book coming out as well. But if you missed it on Frontline on TV and you are reading this, most likely you have at your fingertips the possibility to see a great hour...

PBS' Frontline had a wonderful hour on TV this week, Sick Around the World. You can watch the entire show and gain even more knowledge by clicking Sick Around the World.

Japan, England, Germany, Switzerland and Taiwan's health care systems for ALL people in their countries is explored. If you didn't see Sicko, or did see it and need some more information to think about changing the USA health care or where you live, this is a website worth some exploration. There are many resources including interviews from a representative from each of the five countries named.

At Sick Around the World Countries you can learn such things as

in England the Percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on health care is 8.3 % and the average family premium is $0. It is funded by taxation. Co-payments: None for most services; some co-pays for dental care, eyeglasses and 5 percent of prescriptions. Young people and the elderly are exempt from all drug co-pays.

In Japan you can learn that Percentage of GDP spent on health care is 8% and the average family premium is $280 per month, with employers paying more than half. Co-payments: 30 percent of the cost of a procedure, but the total amount paid in a month is capped according to income. In Japan a hospital bed is nightly $10 for a 4 patient room and $90 for a private room.

In Germany, the Percentage of GDP spent on health care is 10.7% and the average family premium is $750 per month; premiums are pegged to patients' income.
Co-payments: 10 euros ($15) every three months; some patients, like pregnant women, are exempt.

What is it? Germany, like Japan, uses a social insurance model. In fact, Germany is the birthplace of social insurance, which dates back to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. But unlike the Japanese, who get insurance from work or are assigned to a community fund, Germans are free to buy their insurance from one of more than 200 private, nonprofit "sickness funds." As in Japan, the poor receive public assistance to pay their premiums.

In Taiwan, the Percentage GDP spent on health care is 6.3% and the average family premium is $650 per year for a family for four.
Co-payments: 20 percent of the cost of drugs, up to $6.50; up to $7 for outpatient care; $1.80 for dental and traditional Chinese medicine. There are exemptions for major diseases, childbirth, preventive services, and for the poor, veterans, and children.

What is it? Taiwan adopted a "National Health Insurance" model in 1995 after studying other countries' systems. Like Japan and Germany, all citizens must have insurance, but there is only one, government-run insurer. Working people pay premiums split with their employers; others pay flat rates with government help; and some groups, like the poor and veterans, are fully subsidized. The resulting system is similar to Canada's -- and the U.S. Medicare program.

In Switzerland, the Percentage of GDP spent on health care is 11.6% and the average family premium is $750, paid entirely by consumers; there are government subsidies for low-income citizens.
Co-payments: 10 percent of the cost of services, up to $420 per year.

What is it? The Swiss system is social insurance like in Japan and Germany, voted in by a national referendum in 1994. Switzerland didn't have far to go to achieve universal coverage; 95 percent of the population already had voluntary insurance when the law was passed. All citizens are required to have coverage; those not covered were automatically assigned to a company. The government provides assistance to those who can't afford the premiums.

How does it work for Doctors in these five countries?

T. R. Reid
Reid is a former chief of The Washington Post's London, Tokyo and Rocky Mountain bureaus, and also had stints covering Congress, national politics and four presidential elections for the paper. He is the author of eight books -- three in Japanese -- most recently "The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy." Source

Questions and Answers with T.R. Reid