Csonka"s NXT Takeover: Dallas Review

Asuka celebrates winning the NXT Women"s Title from Bayley: NXT TakeOver: Dallas on WWE Network

Csonkas NXT Takeover: Dallas Review 4.01.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS NXT Tag Team Title Match: American Alpha defeated Champions The Revival @ 15:13 via pin to become the NEW Champions! [****] Austin Aries defeated Baron Corbin @ 10:45 via pin [**] Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn @ 18:55 via pin [*****] NXT Womens Title Match: Asuka defeated Champion Bayley @ 15:25 via technical submission to become the NEW champion! [***] NXT Title Match: Champion Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe @ 16:22 via pin [****]

NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Champions The Revival vs. American Alpha: The Revival has had high quality outings on the last two shows, and American Alpha has also been very good so I hope for good things here. I can see why some may complain; they worked a formula, a southern tag style that many man not like, but they did it very well. They did have a couple of small rough patches, but they worked through them well and did not allow it to become a problem. I thought that the heat on Gable was well done, as the Revival have gotten that aspect down very well and make the most of their old school tag vibe that just works perfectly for them. They traded near falls late (Gables constant desperation pin attempts were great), it broke down and then American Alpha hit grand amplitude and won the titles. Very strong work form all four, and they certainly made the most of their time. The crowd was with them and they wanted the title change so this was well received. This was a great way to kick off the show, and I would have no issue watching these guys feud for a while if they are going to deliver like this. I know that American Alpha is the sexy team to many, but the Revival have been great and deserve the praise.

Austin Aries vs. Baron Corbin: NXT has been slowly bringing Corbin along, and he has improved and his give no f***s/I hate Indie guys gimmick is enjoyable. Aries is a quality guy, and if Corbin is going to shine, Aries is a good guy to give him. Aries got his run early, attacking at the bell and then hitting the double sledge to the floor. We got some walk and brawl, but when they got back into the ring Corbin cut off Aries with the stungun. Corbin then took the heat, it was slow and the crowd slowly died as he worked this extended heat. The longer that Corbin had control, the more momentum they lost and they never really got it back. I didnt expect a MOTY contender from this match, but I hoped for more and thought that the crowd would be behind Aries more; unfortunately they just did not care and neither did I. It just didnt click for me on any level, it wasnt bad, but it wasnt good either. Aries countered the end of days and scored the win with the roll up. I do like the story of the guy that hates the Indie guys that are coming in and taking spots, and this will continue so I hope that they can improve in their next meeting.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn: This is such a highly anticipated match; you have Zayns farewell along with Nakamuras WWE debut al in one match. Both men will want to send a message, Zayn a thank you to the NXT crowd and a reminder that hes awesome and Nakamura wants to let the WWE Universe and office know that the buzz is real. Nakamura was on screen for roughly three-minutes and may already be the most charismatic guy in the company. The beginning was simple, but effective as they played off of the crowd and allowed their charisma and selling to carry things early. And they should have because when you can barely do anything and the crowd goes ape s**t, you play off of that all you can. So from there, they did a very good job of slowly escalating the action while still playing off of the crowd, which was into just about everything that they did. I felt that Nakamura was able to show off a lot of his game to new fans, and the fans in attendance knew the stuff because they reacted so well to it. Even though this match didnt have a big story or a traditional heel/face dynamic, Zayn was able to do the things he does so well, the things that allow the fans to get into his matches and just root for him. The gasps from the crowd as Nakamura was destroying him with knees to the head were evidence of that. The fire from both guys and the reaction from the crowd as they went toe to toe with strikes was so great, and Nakamuras nose even got busted up. It became a battle of who wanted it more, and they did a great job down the stretch of teasing the near falls before they got to the near fall scenarios. The counters to the signature stuff were also so good. The thing that shocked me, and trust me I know how good these guys are, is that they worked together like they have been working the loop for years. But there are times when you can stick two awesome workers in the ring, give them the time and the finish and magic simply happens. And that is what happened here. These guys could have stopped and held the crowd up for all the monies they had to continue the match and they would have given it to them. Nakamura finally hit the kinshasha, and that was the end to that beautiful match. This lived up to my expectations and more; Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Will Ospreay set the tone earlier in the day with an amazing effort, and this just nudged them out of the top spot. You could not have asked for a better match to debut Nakamura to WWE fans or for Zayn to say good-bye to NXT.

Great post match with Zayn pulling himself to his feet and the two embracing.

NXT Womens Championship Match: Champion Bayley vs. Asuka: There is a great dynamic here with Bayley as the never quit champion, and Asuka as the silent killer that destroyed previous foes. I think that overall they had a high quality, and well-worked match as far as the work went. I liked a lot of what they were doing, how they got thee and felt both worked very hard to make it work. S they neared the end, I dug the anger Bayley showed. She shows emotion, she shows fire but she rarely gets mad. Bayley also digging deep to escape the submissions and go for roll ups and such to survive and retain was also well done and made sense. Asuka tried for the Asuka lock, Bayley fought, but Asuka spun her and pulled her to the mat and Bayley fought, got to her feet but was pulled back down and while she fought, Bayley passed out and we have a new champion. Bayley is the hero, she should not have tapped, so this was the way to go. I really liked this, it was very good, but just not great; it was missing something to put it over the top for me. I hope for a rematch, because while this was very good, I feel they can do even better.

NXT Championship Match: Champion Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe : Nice to see Balor stole Ambroses official Terry Funk Chainsaw for his entrance. They went right at it at the bell, and in the mellay, Joe got seriously busted open. The ref would check on him, repeatedly, and Joe just wanted to fight and even screamed like a f*****g savage at one point as he beat Balors a*s. Joe came off as a man processed here, working with an intensity and speed that I have not seen in a long time and it was completely awesome to see. The crowd hated them checking on Joe, and Joe looked as if he wanted to kill these medical attendants. I can see why people hate this, and I do as well. I am completely fine with WWE not wanting guys to blade, I am all for that, but if a guy gets busted open naturally, let the match continue. It rarely happens, and it does add to the drama. I cannot compliment Joe enough here, seeing the Joe of old just lighting someone up with so much fire brings back so many good memories. These two had a great gameplan, they worked very well together and Balors fire up and comeback down the stretch was great. The good thing I will say is that blood and stoppages actually played well into the match, because while it was frustrating, Joes momentum was constantly stopped and it allowed Balor to recover. Also, in real life, the more you bleed, the weaker you get and with Joe going full tilt, I can buy the way he lost because he became weak, Balor had rest periods and it felt legit like a fight in a way (love the Hart vs. Austin finish). All things considered, I enjoyed the match a lot and the performers really made the best of a bad situation. This was the Samoa Joe everyone remembers and loved.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!

Source: http://411mania.com/wrestling/csonkas-nxt-takeover-dallas-review-4-01-16/

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"G*d"s Not Dead 2" Review: Religious Courtroom Drama Should be Held in Contempt

5 Reasons God"s Not Dead 2 is a Cinematic Masterpiece (Feat. Adler Davidson)

Sequel to the faith-based hit feels less heavy-handed but still treats Christian belief as an argument to be won, and non-believers as villains to be crushed

The American Christian filmmaking industry currently runs on parallel tracks. Its success in the multiplex is represented by mainstream fare such as Heaven is for Real and Miracles from Heaven, yet it was jump-started by rough-hewn, cheaply made, independent releases such as Fireproof, and turned into a head-turning business concern by the box-office fire of Gods Not Dead and War Room.

Beyond the differences in production values and competency in execution, the two product streams represent a crucial contrast in tone. The films designed for a mass audience are quieter, more personal and less aggressive. They resist easy answers and, while assertively Christian, do not proselytize. The films made and seen primarily by Christian audiences, however, are much more likely to embrace the coded, often politically charged language of conservative Evangelicals. This is the world of the Gods Not Dead franchise.

See Video: Melissa Joan Hart Fights Big, Bad ACLU in Trailer for "G*d"s Not Dead 2"

That 2014 release reworked, to pointed effect, an urban legend centered on a Christian college student triumphing in a debate over the existence of G*d with an atheist philosophy professor. A decades-old story circulated around the internet, and, before that, in sermons and religious comic tracts from legendary publisher Jack T. Chick, its variations refresh themselves over time, yet have no basis in fact.

The sequel, though, attaches itself to a very real American political phenomenon, the upsurge in the number of states considering or passing religious liberty bills into law. Arkansas high school teacher Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart, Melissa & Joey), in the course of a lesson about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, explains to students the Christian underpinnings of Kings philosophy of non-violence, and faces the loss of her job for doing so. Appropriate from a pedagogic standpoint, in a real classroom this statement of historical fact wouldnt raise an eyebrow. Here, it becomes a referendum on the existence of G*d, and the public use of the name Jesus.

Also Read: "G*d"s Not Dead 2" Set to Keep Faith-Based Caravan Rolling at Box Office

She engages the services of defense lawyer Tom Endler (Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives), while the prosecution (heavily implied to be from the American Civil Liberties Union) arrives in the form of character actor Ray Wise (Twin Peaks), a man whose face can turn demonic with the barest of smiles.

In a seemingly unrelated subplot stay past the closing credits for an explanation returning character Reverend Dave (producer David A. R. White, Moms Night Out) is subpoenaed and ordered to turn over copies of his recent sermons to local authorities. Naturally, he refuses, and since the film refuses to disclose any reasons for the subpoena, the audience is encouraged to assume that the widespread persecution of all Christians is at hand. In Arkansas.

A wild, barking dog of a movie, the first Gods Not Dead played both defense and offense, creating straw-man arguments, villainous non-believers, and the satisfying destruction of both. Returning director Harold Cronk, and screenwriting team Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon (Do You Believe?) have, this time around, chosen not to mess with success. Bolstered by more polished production values and a higher caliber cast of actors (Hart is an effectively sympathetic presence), the dialogue feels less like preaching and more like true conversation between actual human beings. The outcome may be as predictable as before, but its courtroom drama features at least as much tension as a reasonably well-made episode of television.

However, in spite of Cronks more assured filmmaking, Gods Not Dead 2 remains, first and foremost, loyal to an unstated message that will trouble all but its target audience: that conservative Christianity should not be merely one voice in American cultural discourse, but that it should enjoy uncontested dominion.

Also Read: "G*d"s Not Dead" Isn"t Going Away, and Neither Are Faith-Based Films

Thats no more or less a worthwhile premise than, say, deciding whether Batman or Superman should be the boss of all superheroes. But Gods Not Dead 2 cannot be honest with itself or its audience about its intentions. It improves on its predecessor by grounding the plot in headline-making reality, but its disingenuous story lines do a disservice to real court cases that attempt to sort out the demarcation between personal faith and civic life in the United States. It pulls back from the original films cruelty and comeuppances for non-believers, yet its non-Christian characters are still parodies of human evil: greedy, bitter, violent, and out to prove that G*d is dead.

To beat back those fictional enemies, the film employs real life authors J. Warner Wallace and Lee Strobel, playing themselves as trial witnesses, and its with their arrival that the film comes closest to its own beating heart. Both men have written books on the subject of Christian apologetics, the branch of Evangelicalism that defends faith with rational, fact-based arguments, and theyre given screen time to state their respective cases for an evidentially true Christianity.

In any other courtroom drama, the presence of outsiders with no legitimate stake in a case would be considered irrelevant. But this is the court of Evangelical Law, and shoehorning in the authors respective testimonies returns Gods Not Dead 2 to its win-at-all-cost roots. In the films world, an argument about power is at stake, and its an argument that must go on in perpetuity, a persecution-based war fantasy that must never cease to rage. Otherwise, its soldiers might be forced to find a truly worthwhile expression of faith on earth.

From Mel Gibsons controversial Passion of the Christ to Son of G*d heres the biggest faith-drive box office hits

"Chronicles of Narnia": The CGI-filled fantasy franchise and religious allegory took in nearly $1.6 billion over three films.

Source: http://www.thewrap.com/gods-not-dead-2-review/

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Annual Csar Chvez Day march ends in celebration

Take Action: Urge a Cesar Chavez National Day of Service

Over a hundred people gathered at the Centro De Los Trabajadores Agrcolas Fronterizos (Border Farmworker Center) in Segundo Barrio on Thursday for a Csar Chvez Day march through Downtown El Paso.

The march included a prayer service at Sacred Heart Church and ended at Armijo Park, where the crowd celebrated Csar Chvez day with live music and food.

• Over a hundred people participate in Csar Chvez Day march through Downtown El Paso.

• (Maria Esquinca)

• Marchers chant as they walk north on El Paso St.

• (Maria Esquinca)

• A marcher maintains a beat while the crowd continues down Oregon St.

• (Maria Esquinca)

• The crowd stops in front of Sacred Heart Church for a prayer before continuing the march.

• The march ends at Armijo Park in Segundo Barrio with music and food vendors.

• (Maria Esquinca)

Jasmine Aguilera may be reached at theprospectordaily.news@gmail.com.

Source: http://www.theprospectordaily.com/2016/03/31/annual-cesar-chavez-day-march-ends-in-celebration/

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Crossword puzzle answers: March 31, 2016

Meet the Blacks Official Trailer #1 (2016) - Mike Epps, George Lopez Movie HD
Bogusad campaigns, a failed prank byGoogle, Ivy Leaguefootballrobotsand an attempt at humor on the fraught presidential campaign trail competed for attention in the United States on Friday, traditionally a day of hoaxes and spoofs. The trick onAprilFools"Day is to be outlandish yet somewhat plausible. "It gets more and more challenging to stand out," said Rachael King, spokeswoman for ThirdLove, a lingerie maker that partnered with DogVacay, a pet sitting service, to unveil a fake line...

Source: http://www.metro.us/games/crossword-puzzle-answers-march-31-2016/zsJpcE---IOPQJPmfyCGnE/

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Why April Fools" day is utter c**p

April Fool"s Day | Funny Moments of Kota Toppers and Life Lafde Aur Bandiyan

Its April Fools Day! Joy of joys! What could be more fun than all of society coming up with their best jokes en-masse and showing them to the world? Nothing! Apart from, maybe, pouring lemon juice on a vicious paper cut.

In case that last sentence was too subtle, Im not a fan of April Fools day. This might surprise regular readers, given that this blog regularly features the most frivolous and ridiculous of non-stories (in the science section, no less). So surely I approve of April Fools? But no. I cant stand it, it grates on my nerves (and Im a neuroscientist, so I dont use that phrase lightly). And, judging by most of the online reactions Ive seen thus far, Im far from alone in this.

Why? Why would an occasion which, whatever its confusing origins, is ostensibly about having a laugh, be so infuriating? Well, there are several reasons, both social and psychological.

Its too familiar

There was a time when high-profile April Fools day jokes were new and unfamiliar. As a result, they could be very effective, especially if they featured in the mainstream media, which at the time was limited to about three channels and the occasional smoke signal. The idea that primetime television would dedicate precious and valuable airtime to a practical joke, well, that just wouldnt have occurred to most people. Why would it?

Those days are long gone, though. And you cant go back. For a joke to work, it has to be surprising to some degree. Familiarity is the enemy of an effective joke, which is one reason why joke thieves are so annoying. When were bombarded with all manner of outlets and brands making jokes in a vastly expanded (bloated) media landscape, it quickly goes from being subversive to tedious. Our brain automatically stops paying attention to things it is very familiar with. And as well as familiar

Its too predictable

You ever had someone try to tell you a joke, but you figured out the punchline before they could get to it? You might get some vague satisfaction thanks to your deductive skills, but you know what you wont do? Laugh.

Theories about the neurological processes underlying humour and why we laugh are surprisingly complex, but aspect seems to be the release of psychological tension. Be it confusing wordplay, twisted logic or a high-stakes scenario, a good joke sets us up to experience tension due to uncertainty (Whats coming? What does this mean?) Our brains dont like uncertainty, so when it is removed or resolved, we experience a positive sensation and laugh to signify the tension is gone. Thats the theory anyway, and no doubt theres more to it than that, but its hard to deny that unpredictability is important for a good joke.

As a result, if you can see a punchline coming seconds/minutes before it arrives, it renders it mostly unfunny. So consider, if you will, how unfunny a joke becomes when the punchline is ON THE b****y CALENDAR!

Your official fun period begins now, loyal consumers. Photograph: AlamyOfficially sanctioned fun is an oxymoron

Have you ever been at a work Christmas party or similar do where they have a regimented schedule of fun activities? Or assign you name tags of one half of famous couples so you have to find the other person and are thus obliged to mingle? April Fools is like that.

You know those people who deride Valentines Day on the grounds that buying your partner some flowers/nauseating tat once a year because mindless tradition and major corporations say you should is not in the least bit romantic? April Fools is exactly like that nowadays: just swap romance for humour.

As well as being unpredictable and unfamiliar, the best humour is subversive and illogical. Poking fun at norms and conventions, puncturing seriousness and sombre issues: this provides an outlet for our taboo thoughts and leanings, it has psychological benefits, so makes us laugh. Having a day where were officially allowed to make jokes is completely counterproductive, like only being allowed to watch p**n that has been approved by your parents.

Its patronising

Related to the above, April Fools day wouldnt be so bad if the majority of the official jokes werent also bad. But they are. Your patience and tolerance can only last so long, and there are only so many times you can read some painfully-obvious BS put out by a major brand or company, clearly the work of some overworked and underpaid intern whos been ordered by the higher-ups to create some content for a high-traffic day. Soon, you can start to feel personally affronted.

Youve probably noticed how a joke that fails can provoke a surprisingly hostile reaction. Theyve shown this to happen in scientific studies. One theory is that people are very aware of their social status, and humour feeds into this; another theory about why we laugh at people is that it increases our social status at their expense. Similarly, when someone is telling you a joke, theyre trying to manipulate you and your reactions, they think youll find this specific funny and are hoping to cause an involuntary response from you, raising their status in turn.

Ergo, when a joke bombs, someone has not only tried to manipulate you at the expense of your status, but theyve failed to do so. This sort of thing typically causes a very negative reaction in people. So when major companies, already extremely powerful, disgorge some shoddy scrap of attempted hilarity to their potential customers like an obese monarch throwing chicken bones to the peasants, it can quickly become just a wee bit tedious.

And thats when they dont seriously mess up their attempted japery. Looking at you, Google!

This is the sort of thing you usually get when official bodies try to be humorous and engaging. Some sort of dental-inspired fever dream come to life. Photograph: Tony Kyriacou/Rex FeaturesIts worse if you work in comedy in any capacity

Id never claim to be the best at writing comedy. Far from it. But I still have some standards! As do most of the professional comedy scene, most of whom seem to hate April fools as much if not more than I do. For most comedy types, April Fools feels like going to a five-year-olds birthday party while you have a migraine.

You might think its just sour grapes, precious comedy types resenting other people getting involved in their field. Maybe for some it is, but for most its not. Its more like when clueless corporate suits tell graphic designers how to draw things, or programmers that they need a three-week job done overnight. A lot of the best humour seems effortless because so much work has gone into creating that impression. This is why the office joker is often a more tedious character than an entertaining one. Comedy is like most creative endeavours: of course it seems easy if youve no clue how its done.

So yeah, for these reasons I and many others find April Fools day utterly tiresome. And, unlike almost everyone else today, Im not joking.

Dean Burnett isnt normally this humourless, but he has been quite tired lately. Chastise him thoroughly on Twitter, @garwboy.

The Idiot Brain by Dean Burnett (Guardian Faber, 12.99). To order a copy for 7.99, go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over 10, online orders only. Phone orders min. p&p of 1.99.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGobnSDPYof1E8IzW5O7bHLD8CVEw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=tor-Vpi2FZ-03AHQ4ZLoDg&url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/apr/01/why-april-fools-day-is-utter-c**p

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Tesla true believers queue up at Park Meadows to reserve "affordable" Model 3. Some got more than one.

Elon Musk set to roll out Tesla Model 3 tonight

Tesla fans stand in line at Park Meadows March 31, 2016 to preorder the new Tesla due to be unveiled Thursday night. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

LONE TREE The latest iPhone hit Apple stores Thursday, but that"s not why there was a line of people snaking around Park Meadows for a good part of the day.

No, these were Tesla Motors true believers, a rare breed of carbuyer willing to plunk down a refundable $1,000 deposit for the electric carmaker"s first "affordable" model sight unseen.

Will Alverson, 19, is a student at University of Denver. His dad told him to get on the list for the new Tesla so he got in line at Park Meadows around 9 a.m. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

"If you"ve driven a Tesla, it"s just a mind-blowing experience. It"s like the difference between a flip phone and an iPhone," said Chris Chan, 34, a Denver engineer who arrived at the mall almost two hours before the Tesla store opened. "I refuse to buy any other car."

Hundreds and hundreds of people waited in the snow and cold Thursday morning to reserve the new Tesla Model 3, hours before the company unveiled the car at its Los Angeles design studio and at least a year before the first vehicle rolls off the production line.

Similar lines were reported nationwide, and online ordering was set to begin at 8:30 p.m. local time.

The Model 3"s starting price of $35,000 puts it at less than half the cost of previous Tesla models. Fully charged, the electric car"s range was expected to be at least 200 miles, about twice that of similarly priced competitors, including the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3, according to the Associated Press.

To further defray the cost, a $ 7,500 federal tax credit is available for the first 200,000 Teslas of any model sold nationwide, a mark that Bloomberg estimates could be hit in mid-2018. In Colorado, residents are also eligible for additional electric-car tax incentives up to $6,000.

Tesla expects to begin Model 3 production at the end of 2017, although some analysts have expressed doubt the company, which has a history of delays, will meet that schedule. The first vehicles off the assembly line likely won"t be the no-frills base model, either.

"With the federal and state incentives, you"re wise to get in line," said Bridget Sargent, 50, a mother of two from Louisville who now drives a hybrid Toyota Highlander. "If you"re in the first 200,000, it brings it down to such a great deal."

"We don"t know what the features are, but (Tesla CEO) Elon Musk said we"d be happy," she said. "I don"t think Tesla will do anything that will disappoint."

This undated photo provided by Tesla Motors shows the Model 3 car. (Tesla Motors)

Retired RTD bus driver Steve Roos got in line at 8 a.m. and had hoped to reserve cars for himself, his sister and a nephew. But the limit Thursday was two.

"It will be two years before we get them but no problem," Roos said. "It"s just the reality of buying the product."

Roos, 65, said he loves that the company is "making it feasible to move forward with emission-free transport."

"As a company, their vision is what we need moving forward," he said. "The old way isn"t good for the environment."

Veterinarian Bonnie Wright came from Fort Collins with her three-legged German shepherd to reserve a car.

She"s wanted an electric vehicle for awhile, but none she looked at had the range to get her from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, where she works one day a week.

"The right one hasn"t been available," she said. "This is the first one I could afford."

The other two vehicles Tesla sells start at $71,000 for the Model S sedan. The Model X SUV starts around $80,000.

Musk, though, has long expressed a desire to offer a lower-priced option, and the Model 3 is important to Tesla"s plan to increase sales from 85,000 this year to 500,000 by 2020, according to the AP.

Of all new vehicles purchased in the U.S. last year, only 2.1 percent cost $75,000 or more, according to TrueCar. That"s compared to 35 percent or 5.5 million that cost $35,000 or more.

Electric cars, however, remain a tiny fraction of the U.S. auto market. Sales of new electric vehicles were up 6 percent last year but still make up less than 1 percent of the overall market, according to IHS Automotive.

Unlike many people in line Thursday, Golden entrepreneur Doug Michaels, 41, has owned a Tesla before. He ended up selling his Model S at a profit not because he didn"t like it, but to help pay for the land to build a house for his family.

Michaels arrived around 9:15 a.m., expecting to be able to walk right into the mall. Instead he had to queue up outside and called his wife to bring him a second coat and warm boots.

"I believe in Elon Musk"s vision for the company and his ability to execute is fantastic," Michaels said. "(The Model S) was the best car I"ve ever driven."

"He"s making money but it"s really about changing how people consume energy," he said. "It"s cool to be really proud about American cars again."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Emilie Rusch: 303-954-2457, erusch@denverpost.com or @emilierusch

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_29708668/hundreds-line-up-put-deposits-affordable-tesla-model

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World T20, India vs West Indies: Lt Col Dhoni has done the right thing by sticking to his troops

BYN : Mauka Mauka - India vs West Indies ICC WT20 2016

MS Dhonis party is not over. And he is a lucky General with skill to boot. Hegoes into the semi-final battle tonight against the West Indiesdrenched with the public"s advice and suggestions on whom to play in this crucial match. Buoyed by a gust of good fortune and a slice of personal last-ball savvy in the tie against Bangladesh and a surprisingly facile win over the Aussies, Dhoni has stuck to the go team.

Of course, if the Windies blow India away there will be a cruel fall from grace considering the fickle nature of the billion odd cricket lovers, all of whom are experts.

When India lost to the Black Caps,armchair mandarins were howling for blood. The Bangladesh win was just a run away from a lynch mob that would have demanded heads on a stick. The party pundits were sharpening their long knives.

So, even if the selection committee has kept its head and done the right thing the fans are quite another kettle. Win tonight and all will be wonderful. Lose and especially because the frontline continues to show a broken wing and there will be more opinions than hats at Ascot.

You can almost hear the wails over dinner tonight if it does not pan out. Screams of derision that he did not take Ajinkya Rahane. What do Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina do except appear only to disappear? Even Rohit Sharma looks disinterested. Time for new blood. Whaaat, we couldnt win in your own back yard. Shudder to imagine what a dose Ashish Nehra will get if he is gayle-d. And every Hardik Pandya no-ball will produce a quadrophonic groan.

Sensibly, Dhoni knows that the composite picture is more important than its pieces. To fragment a team that is peaking at just the right time is foolish. Translated into morale that collective factor becomes vital. Take Yuvraj who is injured and the only one out. You may think, phew, thank goodness. We might regret that injury.

He gets that crucial wicket, he stays for his painfully fought 20 odd runs and has served as the perfect foil for the brilliant Virat Kohli in back to back innings. Without the visually unspectacular Yuvraj effect India may have been out of the tournament...He was a bit of a mascot and a rallying point. Like if Yuvi can do it so can I.

Even if we make it to the finals, stay with same gang. These guys have enjoyed each others company on and off the field where even the banter on the bus and the wisecracks have been a bonding factor.

Even the two openers, Rohit and Dhawan, who have had poor runs bring something to the table. Dhawan takes his catches and Rohit sprays confidence over the team even when he is not playing well. Raina pushes the chariot with his slip catches and just adds a little zest to the team spirit, gingers them up as does Ravindra Jadeja with his humour and his hey this is no big deal how come he got two wickets bowling capability.

Nehra plays mother and pours encouragement without saying when. These guys have one thing in common. They are pumped and primed for a big score and a good showing and this evening could be the moment.

It has been said, If it ain"t broke, dont fix it. This is where the Dhoni smarts has come into play. Anyone who has ever worn a uniform will tell you that the espirit de corps is as vital as a bullet in the gun when you face the adversary.

Dhoni, being an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, understands that aspect. Keep the boys together and get out there tonight and play for the team. Odds are unless it is a complete mess up, it should be a walk in the park. Just carry your rabbits foot and the boys will carry themselves, skipper.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/world-t20-semi-final-vs-west-indies-colonel-ms-dhoni-has-done-the-right-thing-by-not-listening-to-critics-2705534.html

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