Dimensions

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/20/2006) -- American’s increasing acceptance of religious diversity doesn’t extend to those who don’t believe in a god, according to a national survey by researchers in the University of Minnesota’s department of sociology. From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry. Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public. “Atheists, who account for about 3 percent of the U.S. population, offer a glaring exception to the rule of increasing social tolerance over the last 30 years,” says Penny Edgell, associate sociology professor and the study’s lead researcher. Edgell also argues that today’s atheists play the role that Catholics, Jews and communists have played in the past—they offer a symbolic moral boundary to membership in American society. “It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common ‘core’ of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that ‘core’ has historically been religious,” says Edgell. Many of the study’s respondents associated atheism with an array of moral indiscretions ranging from criminal behavior to rampant materialism and cultural elitism. Edgell believes a fear of moral decline and resulting social disorder is behind the findings. “Americans believe they share more than rules and procedures with their fellow citizens—they share an understanding of right and wrong,” she said. “Our findings seem to rest on a view of atheists as self-interested individuals who are not concerned with the common good.” The researchers also found acceptance or rejection of atheists is related not only to personal religiosity, but also to one’s exposure to diversity, education and political orientation—with more educated, East and West Coast Americans more accepting of atheists than their Midwestern counterparts. The study is co-authored by assistant professor Joseph Gerteis and associate professor Doug Hartmann. It’s the first in a series of national studies conducted the American Mosaic Project, a three-year project funded by the Minneapolis-based David Edelstein Family Foundation that looks at race, religion and cultural diversity in the contemporary United States. The study will appear in the April issue of the American Sociological Review. -------- As an atheist I thought it was pretty interesting and it gave me a bit of a chuckle. Source: http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php...16&from=umnnews

- Mike Johnson reports today that WWE has signed Dalip "Giant" Singh. He is a 7"3' native of India who was trained by the All Pro Wrestling school in California. Singh appeared in an Adam Sandler remake of "The Longest Yard" playing a gigantic inmate named Turley who played for Sandler's football team. From All Pro Wrestling, brief bio: This is a man you have to see to believe. Dalip Singh is a legit 7' 3" 408-pound monster, who shows absolutely no mercy for anyone in his path. Dalip strikes fear into the hearts of fan's and fan-favorites alike. Uses a sick chokeslam to finish his opponents off. Brought into New Japan by Team 2000 leader, Masahiro Chono ... He and Giant Silva had the Tokyo Sumo Hall crowd open-mouthed when they appeared on 8/12/01, the last day of the G1 Climax tour ... Teamed for the first time with Giant Silva at the Tokyo Dome on 10/8/01, the two labelled "Club 7" by Chono, and defeated Yutaka Yoshie, Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Wataru Inoue in a Handicap Match when Silva pinned Tanahashi AND Inoue at the same time ... Suffered his first loss at the Tokyo Dome on 1/4/02, being pinned by Hiroyoshi Tenzan, when teaming with Chono against Tenzan & Kojima ... Suffered another big defeat on 3/17/02, in the IWGP Tag Team Title Tournament semi final round, being pinned by Manabu Nakanishi, falling to a German suplex hold ... An absolute monster of a man, a physical freak and scary presence. Appreas in Adam Sandler's movie "The Longest Yard" which is getting great reviews!

Bear cavalry redefined.

Source: Variety WWE pins down distrib deal at Fox Studio gets first-look at wrestler pics By MARC GRASER Cena World Wrestling Entertainment has found a tag-team partner in 20th Century Fox, inking a first-look deal that gives the studio rights to distrib pics headlined by the company's pro wrestlers. Beginning next year, WWE Films plans to develop, finance and produce at least one theatrical release and up to four direct-to-video titles annually, with Fox receiving a distribution fee should it release the pics in theaters, on homevid or digitally. It's similar to the pact comicbook giant Marvel Entertainment has with Paramount and Universal on the upcoming "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." Going forward, though, WWE will focus on making movies across all genres that appeal to a broader audience and land a PG-13 rating, vs. the hard R it had been going after with its previous pics. "We had to refocus where we wanted to go," said Michael Lake, prexy of WWE Films, a former Village Roadshow exec who took the post in October, and quickly began reworking the company's development slate. "There's a strong audience base that is ready for movies that star our guys. A lot of our audience is in the PG-13 area." First pic out of the multi-year deal with Fox is "12 Rounds," an actioner toplined by John Cena that bows in 2009 and will be released under the Fox Atomic label. Production on the pic, with Renny Harlin at the helm, begins this month in New Orleans. WWE is looking to spend around $20 million for theatrical releases while direct-to-DVD titles would be made for around $3 million to $5 million. The wrestling org has had mixed success since forming its film division in 2002, releasing three pics, "See No Evil," featuring Glen "Kane" Jacobs; "The Marine," also with Cena; and "The Condemned," with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Fox distribbed "The Marine" in 2006, WWE's biggest earner to date, that collected $22 million at the worldwide box office. Lionsgate handled the other two releases. While ticket sales were less than expected, the pics performed well on homevid, which has proved a lucrative revenue generator for the company. Fox sparked at the chance to work with WWE on "12 Rounds" because the Fox Atomic label is essentially going after the same young male demo that WWE has been able to attract to its live events, pay-per-view broadcasts, TV shows and DVDs. The Fox Atomic banner won't necessarily release each WWE pic. Either way, the films would be promoted across WWE's various properties, putting them in front of millions of potential moviegoers. "This partnership allows Fox to capitalize on this global audience and the WWE brand's continued expansion into the filmed entertainment medium," said Tom Siegrist, senior VP of production for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. WWE's hoping to use the pics to raise the profile of its stable of stars and entertain existing fans, while attracting new auds and boost its bottom line. The film deal comes as the WWE finds itself facing increased competish from mixed martial arts and leagues like the Ultimate Fighting Championship that are winning over wrestling's fanbase. WWE enjoyed a surge in popularity with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who succesfully made the transtion from the ring to the bigscreen. "There's a real depth of talent we can use," Lake said. "These guys are action stars anyway. We want to fashion movies to fit their personalities. We've got to establish these guys not to our audience so much but to the other moviegoing audience, so that they cross over."

Make sure you guys check out some of the new photos at http://www.1-18-08.com/ after you watch the movie.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain Does anyone know where this quote is from? or maybe when? I'm trying to find out about origins and circumstances but Google is letting me down. Thanks.

Do you by chance have the theme for No Way Out 2001 and the Insurextion PPVs? It's called Burning Tree.

I think it'd be funny if Trump had some skits imitating the apprentice leading up to the PPV with wrestlers being eliminated until Donald got his winner.

Is it just me, or was Randy fighting to get into view of the camera?

Legend of Dragoon, anyone play that? I thought that was a pretty good RPG game for the Playstation 1.

Not from Youtube but check this out from College Humour... Sexy Costume Store

Yes I did.

Quick question, I created a character and won the World Heavyweight title but it's not around my waist during my entrance? Does that mean CAWs can't wear the belt anymore in this game? Cause if so, that sucks ass.

Tribute to Office music video to Sexy Back by Justin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8WUcnsIBT0

Don't know how many of you have seen this but check this out.

No fuckin way. He looks black now though.

who the fuck is MVP? lol

So yeah, if any of you were became a wrestler, what kind've accomplishments would you like to have under your belt. I personally would like to have highly regarded match that would be possibly 5 stars. I'd like to maybe win the Triple Crown title, IWGP title, WWE title and NWA title and in that order cause I figure WWE won't give you a hard time if you were a World Champ in Japan but would if you had an NWA title under your belt. And since apparently every midcarder out of WWE can win the NWA title, I'd be easier in the NWA if you head over as a former champ. At least I think so. I'd like to say I was announced by Michael Buffer at a main event for a World title just cause that's always been so cool...as long as he gets your name right. If I think of more later I'll post 'em. What about you guys?

It's aiight.

Look on craigslist.com for a decent car. I mean for 7k I got a 2000 Acura TL with 88k miles. You can find deals on there, just gotta be patient. Look for a nice lil Honda or Toyota so you can run that bad boy into the ground. Good luck.

That's like a town or 2 over from me, I'm there!

You're better off just gettin a new laptop. In the meantime you can should connect a monitor (if you have one layin around) to it.

Successful jacknife on the Giant in WCW...I've personally never seen this one before.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cT_KvSV5l0

Sting's Warriors win after Sting makes Harris tap out with the Deathlock. Fun lil match.

AJ settin up a ladder on top of the cage...hits storm with a splash from the rafters...fuckin awesome. !