Tha Mod Official Entertainment Site Chic. Exclusive. Trendy http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php 2010-09-08T15:23:18Z Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management Do You Think Breakdancing is coming back? 2010-03-06T19:59:17Z 2010-03-06T19:59:17Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=266:best-world-renowned-break-dancers&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com {youtube}Rg887SYsLvE{/youtube}<br />{youtube}UYFDYX4i2EY{/youtube}<br />{youtube}1ffwDf6FRkQ{/youtube}<br />{youtube}AsI70wEbb1k{/youtube}<br />{youtube}-tnxkXpjFkc{/youtube} {youtube}Rg887SYsLvE{/youtube}<br />{youtube}UYFDYX4i2EY{/youtube}<br />{youtube}1ffwDf6FRkQ{/youtube}<br />{youtube}AsI70wEbb1k{/youtube}<br />{youtube}-tnxkXpjFkc{/youtube} New Janet... 2010-02-08T03:55:22Z 2010-02-08T03:55:22Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=265:new-janet&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com {flvremote}http://www.thamod.com/site/images/Make_MeVideo_Janet_Jackson.flv{/flvremote} {flvremote}http://www.thamod.com/site/images/Make_MeVideo_Janet_Jackson.flv{/flvremote} Superbowl Champs 2010-02-08T03:34:17Z 2010-02-08T03:34:17Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=264:superbowl-champs&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Associated Press mario@thamod.com <img src="images/stories/brees09_475361gm-a.jpg" border="0" alt="New Orleans" title="New Orleans" />Who Dat won the Super Bowl? The <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/new-orleans-saints/67055">New Orleans Saints</a>, that's who.<br /><br />Ain't kidding.<br /><br />Put away those paper bags forever: <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/drew-brees/70657">Drew Brees</a> and the Saints are NFL champions, rallying to upset <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/peyton-manning/69814">Peyton Manning</a> and the <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/indianapolis-colts/67048">Indianapolis Colts</a> 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football's most thrilling title games.<br /><br />Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a 2-yard slant to <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/jeremy-shockey/96821">Jeremy Shockey</a> for the winning points with 5:42 remaining. The Pro Bowl quarterback was chosen Super Bowl MVP.<br /><br /><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-orleans-saints-defeat-indianapolis-colts-to-win-super-bowl-xliv?GT1=39002" target="_blank" title="Superbowl Champs">Read More...</a> <img src="images/stories/brees09_475361gm-a.jpg" border="0" alt="New Orleans" title="New Orleans" />Who Dat won the Super Bowl? The <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/new-orleans-saints/67055">New Orleans Saints</a>, that's who.<br /><br />Ain't kidding.<br /><br />Put away those paper bags forever: <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/drew-brees/70657">Drew Brees</a> and the Saints are NFL champions, rallying to upset <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/peyton-manning/69814">Peyton Manning</a> and the <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/indianapolis-colts/67048">Indianapolis Colts</a> 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football's most thrilling title games.<br /><br />Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a 2-yard slant to <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/jeremy-shockey/96821">Jeremy Shockey</a> for the winning points with 5:42 remaining. The Pro Bowl quarterback was chosen Super Bowl MVP.<br /><br /><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-orleans-saints-defeat-indianapolis-colts-to-win-super-bowl-xliv?GT1=39002" target="_blank" title="Superbowl Champs">Read More...</a> Grammy Highlights 2010-02-02T18:58:49Z 2010-02-02T18:58:49Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263:grammy-highlights&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com {youtubejw}-Ir2AgM3B_Q{/youtubejw}<br />{youtubejw}OPjmbks4gZA{/youtubejw} {youtubejw}-Ir2AgM3B_Q{/youtubejw}<br />{youtubejw}OPjmbks4gZA{/youtubejw} Haiti Crisis 2010-01-17T16:29:13Z 2010-01-17T16:29:13Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=262:haiti-crisis&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com <span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="3"><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r1_c1.gif" border="0" width="470" height="57" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r2_c1.gif" border="0" width="206" height="120" /></td> <td><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r2_c2.gif" border="0" width="259" height="120" /></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /></strong></span></span></span> <p>Listen Friday Morning 6a-10a to the Tom Joyner Morning Show</p> <p>“We are planning to leave late tonight to go to Haiti and broadcast the show from the streets (Friday). My purpose is to set up an internet café so that Haitians can get in touch with their families. But trust me, as we approach the King Holiday weekend and as I prep for MSNBC town hall meeting that will air on the King Holiday on Monday, the earthquake in Haiti will not take a back seat…If we can use Hurricane Katrina as a template we learned that we cannot sit back and wait for anyone to do for us what we can and must do for ourselves. I'm not even waiting for that and you shouldn't either. The 70s hit by Atlantic Starr says “when love calls, you better answer.”</p> <p>--Tom Joyner Blog “When Love Calls” on BlackAmericaWeb.com 1/14/10 Read all at</p> <span style="font-size: larger;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-size: larger;"><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a name="www_blackamericaweb_com__q_blo" href="http://links.mkt2067.com/ctt?kn=1&amp;m=2723656&amp;r=MTAzMTI1NzM5NjcS1&amp;b=0&amp;j=MTY4ODYzNTAyS0&amp;mt=1&amp;rt=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=blog_inner/15640/1573138/The%20Fly%20Jock </span></span></span></span></a><a name="www_blackamericaweb_com__q_blo" href="http://links.mkt2067.com/ctt?kn=1&amp;m=2723656&amp;r=MTAzMTI1NzM5NjcS1&amp;b=0&amp;j=MTY4ODYzNTAyS0&amp;mt=1&amp;rt=0" target="_blank"></a></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="3"><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r1_c1.gif" border="0" width="470" height="57" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r2_c1.gif" border="0" width="206" height="120" /></td> <td><img src="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief/images/email_blast_r2_c2.gif" border="0" width="259" height="120" /></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /></strong></span></span></span> <p>Listen Friday Morning 6a-10a to the Tom Joyner Morning Show</p> <p>“We are planning to leave late tonight to go to Haiti and broadcast the show from the streets (Friday). My purpose is to set up an internet café so that Haitians can get in touch with their families. But trust me, as we approach the King Holiday weekend and as I prep for MSNBC town hall meeting that will air on the King Holiday on Monday, the earthquake in Haiti will not take a back seat…If we can use Hurricane Katrina as a template we learned that we cannot sit back and wait for anyone to do for us what we can and must do for ourselves. I'm not even waiting for that and you shouldn't either. The 70s hit by Atlantic Starr says “when love calls, you better answer.”</p> <p>--Tom Joyner Blog “When Love Calls” on BlackAmericaWeb.com 1/14/10 Read all at</p> <span style="font-size: larger;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-size: larger;"><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a name="www_blackamericaweb_com__q_blo" href="http://links.mkt2067.com/ctt?kn=1&amp;m=2723656&amp;r=MTAzMTI1NzM5NjcS1&amp;b=0&amp;j=MTY4ODYzNTAyS0&amp;mt=1&amp;rt=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=blog_inner/15640/1573138/The%20Fly%20Jock </span></span></span></span></a><a name="www_blackamericaweb_com__q_blo" href="http://links.mkt2067.com/ctt?kn=1&amp;m=2723656&amp;r=MTAzMTI1NzM5NjcS1&amp;b=0&amp;j=MTY4ODYzNTAyS0&amp;mt=1&amp;rt=0" target="_blank"></a></span></span></span></span></span> Help Hatti 2010-01-15T16:09:44Z 2010-01-15T16:09:44Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=261:help-hatti&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com Courious to what you can do to help Hatti, here are some help hotline connections:<br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/TECH/01/14/online.donations.haiti/story.online.donations.haiti.gi.jpg" border="0" alt="Helping Hatti" title="Helping Hatti" width="300" height="169" /></td> <td> <p>(CNN) -- A day-old fundraising campaign done solely through text messages and made viral on networking sites like Twitter and Facebook has raised more than $5 million for the Red Cross's relief work in Haiti.</p> <p>"It's shattered any record that we've seen with mobile giving before," said Wendy Harman, social media manager for the Red Cross.</p> <p>The campaign leads a spate of online efforts that have allowed people to help victims of the earthquake that has devastated the island nation.</p> <p>At midday Thursday, five of the 10 most popular topics on Twitter were either directly or indirectly related to Haiti -- with "Help Haiti" topping the list.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>{youtubejw}crVfbOjFoHA{/youtubejw}</td> <td> <ul> <li>Doctors Without Borders (Medecins San Frontieres) is also taking donations for the relief effort. That organization's Web site is http://doctorswithoutborders.org/ and the phone number is 1-888-392-0392.</li> <li><strong>Personal Check</strong> <strong>submittals</strong> - <br />K Desktop Environment e.V.<br />Aaron Seigo<br />1120 16th Ave. SW<br />Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2R 0T6</li> <li><strong>Donations for Children:</strong><br />By Credit or Debit Card<br />Donations can be accepted on most major cards.<br />You can also call our donation line on<br />0345 7 33 22 33.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;"><br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Basic Needs:</span><br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=15c0c5a210826210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD" target="_blank">American Red Cross</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.care.org/" target="_blank">CARE</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.unfoundation.org/donate/cerf.html" target="_blank">United Nations Foundation/CERF</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/emergency-updates?OpenDocument&amp;lpos=top_drp_OurWork_DisasterResp" target="_blank">World Vision</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://fieldnotes.unicefusa.org/2010/01/update_haiti_quake.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+unicefusa%2Ffieldnotes+%28UNICEF+USA+Fieldnotes%29" target="_blank">UNICEF USA</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.irteams.org/index.htm" target="_blank">International Relief Teams</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2010/earthquake-haiti.html" target="_blank">Save the Children</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&amp;3181.donation=form1" target="_blank">Catholic Relief Services</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/" target="_blank">Samaritan's Purse</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.ajws.org/" target="_blank">American Jewish World Services</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/" target="_blank">Clinton Foundation</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.georgewbushcenter.com/site/c.rvI2IaNVJyE/b.5721285/k.F6C5/Show_Your_Compassion_for_Haiti_Earthquake_Victims.htm" target="_blank">George W. Bush Center</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.yele.org/" target="_blank">Yéle Haiti</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldconcern.org/haiti-earthquake/" target="_blank">World Concern</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/" target="_blank">Mercy Corps</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.ob.org/_programs/disaster/disaster_index.asp" target="_blank">Operation Blessing International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.haitichildren.com/" target="_blank">Mercy &amp; Sharing</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/" target="_blank">Oxfam America</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.theirc.org/" target="_blank">International Rescue Committee</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.unitedway.org/worldwide/news/newsdisplay.cfm?nid=171&amp;MID=66" target="_blank">United Way Worldwide</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.er-d.org/" target="_blank">Episcopal Relief &amp; Development</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.elca.org/haitiearthquake" target="_blank">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.loveachild.com/" target="_blank">Love a Child</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.projecthope.org/" target="_blank">Project Hope</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.concernusa.org/Public/News.aspx?Id=790" target="_blank">Concern Worldwide</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&amp;id=10729&amp;security=1&amp;news_iv_ctrl=1141" target="_blank">Adventist Development and Relief Agency</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.salesianmissions.org/" target="_blank">Salesian Missions</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=289646&amp;en=joIFJIPsF9KAJROsE3LAKTOxGiKNLTPBKjILLTNAKoIZH" target="_blank">World Neighbors</a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Shelter:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://shelterbox.org/" target="_blank">Shelterbox</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/donate.aspx?link=227" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/press-briefing-notes/pbnAM/cache/offonce?entryId=26829" target="_blank">International Organization for Migration</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.panamericanrelief.org/" target="_blank">Pan American Relief</a> <br /><br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Medical Aid:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.directrelief.org/EmergencyResponse/2010/EarthquakeHaiti.aspx" target="_blank">Direct Relief International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=878" target="_blank">International Medical Corps</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/home/Haiti_Earthquake.aspx" target="_blank">Medical Teams International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://doctorswithoutborders.org/" target="_blank">Doctors Without Borders</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.opusa.org/" target="_blank">Operation USA</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.map.org/site/PageServer" target="_blank">MAP International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.who.int/en/" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/deadly-earthquake-strikes-haiti-2010.html" target="_blank">Americares</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://projectmedishare.org/" target="_blank">Project Medishare</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://pih.org/home2.html" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a> <br /><br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Food:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.wfp.org/stories/haiti-wfp-bring-food-devastating-quake" target="_blank">World Food Programme</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/B23536B6799E78BD852576AA00469FD2?openDocument&amp;charset=utf-8" target="_blank">The Salvation Army</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/disasterrelief.htm?referer=105910" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.foodforthepoor.org/" target="_blank">Food for the Poor</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldwaterrelief.org/" target="_blank">World Water Relief</a></td> <td>{youtubejw}ZE53lmiQFKA{/youtubejw}<br />{youtubejw}EW1VUgH9g2s{/youtubejw}</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.worldwaterrelief.org/" target="_blank"></a> Courious to what you can do to help Hatti, here are some help hotline connections:<br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/TECH/01/14/online.donations.haiti/story.online.donations.haiti.gi.jpg" border="0" alt="Helping Hatti" title="Helping Hatti" width="300" height="169" /></td> <td> <p>(CNN) -- A day-old fundraising campaign done solely through text messages and made viral on networking sites like Twitter and Facebook has raised more than $5 million for the Red Cross's relief work in Haiti.</p> <p>"It's shattered any record that we've seen with mobile giving before," said Wendy Harman, social media manager for the Red Cross.</p> <p>The campaign leads a spate of online efforts that have allowed people to help victims of the earthquake that has devastated the island nation.</p> <p>At midday Thursday, five of the 10 most popular topics on Twitter were either directly or indirectly related to Haiti -- with "Help Haiti" topping the list.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>{youtubejw}crVfbOjFoHA{/youtubejw}</td> <td> <ul> <li>Doctors Without Borders (Medecins San Frontieres) is also taking donations for the relief effort. That organization's Web site is http://doctorswithoutborders.org/ and the phone number is 1-888-392-0392.</li> <li><strong>Personal Check</strong> <strong>submittals</strong> - <br />K Desktop Environment e.V.<br />Aaron Seigo<br />1120 16th Ave. SW<br />Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2R 0T6</li> <li><strong>Donations for Children:</strong><br />By Credit or Debit Card<br />Donations can be accepted on most major cards.<br />You can also call our donation line on<br />0345 7 33 22 33.</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;"><br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Basic Needs:</span><br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=15c0c5a210826210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD" target="_blank">American Red Cross</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.care.org/" target="_blank">CARE</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.unfoundation.org/donate/cerf.html" target="_blank">United Nations Foundation/CERF</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/emergency-updates?OpenDocument&amp;lpos=top_drp_OurWork_DisasterResp" target="_blank">World Vision</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://fieldnotes.unicefusa.org/2010/01/update_haiti_quake.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+unicefusa%2Ffieldnotes+%28UNICEF+USA+Fieldnotes%29" target="_blank">UNICEF USA</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.irteams.org/index.htm" target="_blank">International Relief Teams</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2010/earthquake-haiti.html" target="_blank">Save the Children</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&amp;3181.donation=form1" target="_blank">Catholic Relief Services</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/" target="_blank">Samaritan's Purse</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.ajws.org/" target="_blank">American Jewish World Services</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/" target="_blank">Clinton Foundation</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.georgewbushcenter.com/site/c.rvI2IaNVJyE/b.5721285/k.F6C5/Show_Your_Compassion_for_Haiti_Earthquake_Victims.htm" target="_blank">George W. Bush Center</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.yele.org/" target="_blank">Yéle Haiti</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldconcern.org/haiti-earthquake/" target="_blank">World Concern</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/" target="_blank">Mercy Corps</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.ob.org/_programs/disaster/disaster_index.asp" target="_blank">Operation Blessing International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.haitichildren.com/" target="_blank">Mercy &amp; Sharing</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/" target="_blank">Oxfam America</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.theirc.org/" target="_blank">International Rescue Committee</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.unitedway.org/worldwide/news/newsdisplay.cfm?nid=171&amp;MID=66" target="_blank">United Way Worldwide</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.er-d.org/" target="_blank">Episcopal Relief &amp; Development</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.elca.org/haitiearthquake" target="_blank">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.loveachild.com/" target="_blank">Love a Child</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.projecthope.org/" target="_blank">Project Hope</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.concernusa.org/Public/News.aspx?Id=790" target="_blank">Concern Worldwide</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&amp;id=10729&amp;security=1&amp;news_iv_ctrl=1141" target="_blank">Adventist Development and Relief Agency</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.salesianmissions.org/" target="_blank">Salesian Missions</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=289646&amp;en=joIFJIPsF9KAJROsE3LAKTOxGiKNLTPBKjILLTNAKoIZH" target="_blank">World Neighbors</a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Shelter:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://shelterbox.org/" target="_blank">Shelterbox</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/donate.aspx?link=227" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/press-briefing-notes/pbnAM/cache/offonce?entryId=26829" target="_blank">International Organization for Migration</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.panamericanrelief.org/" target="_blank">Pan American Relief</a> <br /><br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Medical Aid:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.directrelief.org/EmergencyResponse/2010/EarthquakeHaiti.aspx" target="_blank">Direct Relief International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=878" target="_blank">International Medical Corps</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/home/Haiti_Earthquake.aspx" target="_blank">Medical Teams International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://doctorswithoutborders.org/" target="_blank">Doctors Without Borders</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.opusa.org/" target="_blank">Operation USA</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.map.org/site/PageServer" target="_blank">MAP International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.who.int/en/" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/deadly-earthquake-strikes-haiti-2010.html" target="_blank">Americares</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://projectmedishare.org/" target="_blank">Project Medishare</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://pih.org/home2.html" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a> <br /><br /> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: #000000;">Providing Food:</span> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.wfp.org/stories/haiti-wfp-bring-food-devastating-quake" target="_blank">World Food Programme</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/B23536B6799E78BD852576AA00469FD2?openDocument&amp;charset=utf-8" target="_blank">The Salvation Army</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/disasterrelief.htm?referer=105910" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.foodforthepoor.org/" target="_blank">Food for the Poor</a> <br /> <span>•</span> <a href="http://www.worldwaterrelief.org/" target="_blank">World Water Relief</a></td> <td>{youtubejw}ZE53lmiQFKA{/youtubejw}<br />{youtubejw}EW1VUgH9g2s{/youtubejw}</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.worldwaterrelief.org/" target="_blank"></a> Reflection - 2009 into 2010 2009-12-30T18:21:50Z 2009-12-30T18:21:50Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260:reflection-2009-into-2010&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Marketing Director mario@thamod.com <div>As you reflect on this year, you might have stumbled on unexpected obstacles or been battered by the economy. Remember, it's not our circumstances that define us, but <strong>how we respond to them</strong>. We must turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones.</div> <div>The choice is yours... Finish Strong!</div> <div>As you reflect on this year, you might have stumbled on unexpected obstacles or been battered by the economy. Remember, it's not our circumstances that define us, but <strong>how we respond to them</strong>. We must turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones.</div> <div>The choice is yours... Finish Strong!</div> Anderson Cooper's CIA Secret 2009-12-29T17:29:40Z 2009-12-29T17:29:40Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:anderson-coopers-cia-secret&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Information Liberation mario@thamod.com <img src="images/stories/andersoncooper_target.jpg" border="0" alt="Anderson Cooper" title="Anderson Cooper" /><br />Anderson Cooper has long traded on his biography, carving a niche for himself as the most human of news anchors. But there's one aspect of his past that the silver-haired CNN star has never made public: the months he spent training for a career with the Central Intelligence Agency. <br /><br />Following his sophomore and junior years at Yale—a well-known recruiting ground for the CIA—Cooper spent his summers interning at the agency's monolithic headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in a program for students interested in intelligence work. His involvement with the agency ended there, and he chose not to pursue a job with the agency after graduation, according to a CNN spokeswoman, who confirmed details of Cooper's CIA involvement to Radar.<br /><br />"Whatever summer jobs or internships our anchors had in college couldn't be less consequential," she added. He has kept the experience a secret, sources say, out of concern that, if widely known, it might compromise his ability to travel in foreign countries and even possibly put him at greater risk from terrorists.<br /><br />"He doesn't want to be any more of a target than he already is," says one Anderson confidante. On the other hand, as Bob Woodruff and others have learned, American journalists are already prime targets in the world's conflict zones, and are typically accused of having CIA ties even where none exist. And by not disclosing his training before now, Cooper has arguably made it into a potential issue. "It creates the appearance of something smelly there," says a former CNN official who knows Cooper. (Particularly in light of the period Anderson spent studying Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi after college. Soon after, Cooper apparently gave up his Bond fantasy to pursue a career in journalism—except for a brief period when he starred as host of ABC's reality show, The Mole.)<br /><br />According to the spokeswoman, Cooper told his bosses at CNN about his time with the agency. But even if he hadn't, says Walter Isaacson, who headed the network from 2001 to 2003 and is now president of the Aspen Institute, it's not the sort of thing that would automatically require disclosure, since the stint was brief and far in the past. "I think what he did was probably fine and cool, and I've got no problems with it," he added. <img src="images/stories/andersoncooper_target.jpg" border="0" alt="Anderson Cooper" title="Anderson Cooper" /><br />Anderson Cooper has long traded on his biography, carving a niche for himself as the most human of news anchors. But there's one aspect of his past that the silver-haired CNN star has never made public: the months he spent training for a career with the Central Intelligence Agency. <br /><br />Following his sophomore and junior years at Yale—a well-known recruiting ground for the CIA—Cooper spent his summers interning at the agency's monolithic headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in a program for students interested in intelligence work. His involvement with the agency ended there, and he chose not to pursue a job with the agency after graduation, according to a CNN spokeswoman, who confirmed details of Cooper's CIA involvement to Radar.<br /><br />"Whatever summer jobs or internships our anchors had in college couldn't be less consequential," she added. He has kept the experience a secret, sources say, out of concern that, if widely known, it might compromise his ability to travel in foreign countries and even possibly put him at greater risk from terrorists.<br /><br />"He doesn't want to be any more of a target than he already is," says one Anderson confidante. On the other hand, as Bob Woodruff and others have learned, American journalists are already prime targets in the world's conflict zones, and are typically accused of having CIA ties even where none exist. And by not disclosing his training before now, Cooper has arguably made it into a potential issue. "It creates the appearance of something smelly there," says a former CNN official who knows Cooper. (Particularly in light of the period Anderson spent studying Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi after college. Soon after, Cooper apparently gave up his Bond fantasy to pursue a career in journalism—except for a brief period when he starred as host of ABC's reality show, The Mole.)<br /><br />According to the spokeswoman, Cooper told his bosses at CNN about his time with the agency. But even if he hadn't, says Walter Isaacson, who headed the network from 2001 to 2003 and is now president of the Aspen Institute, it's not the sort of thing that would automatically require disclosure, since the stint was brief and far in the past. "I think what he did was probably fine and cool, and I've got no problems with it," he added. Charlie Sheen Arrested for Attacking Brooke Mueller 2009-12-29T16:56:14Z 2009-12-29T16:56:14Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=258:charlie-sheen-arrested-for-attacking-brooke-mueller&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 Hollywood Grind mario@thamod.com <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/stories/charliesheen_brookemueller.jpg" border="0" /></p> </td> <td>On December 26 Charlie Sheen, star of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&amp;search_query=two+and+a+half+men&amp;search_sort=video_recently_uploaded&amp;suggested_categories=23%2C24" target="_blank">Two and a Half Men</a>, was arrested at around in Aspen, Colorado after his wife Brooke Mueller called 911 at 8:34 am.<br />In the <a href="images/122809_sheen_911.mp3" target="_blank" title="911 Phone Call">911 call, which you can listen to here</a>, Mueller immediately says her call is to report "domestic abuse." When I hear someone call 911 and immediately give the term "domestic abuse," rather than describing their situation, and allowing officers to decide how they are going to respond, I assume this person has experience in these situations, and knows exactly what they are doing when they make this call, like it was planned.<br />Mueller told the 911 operator Charlie attacked her with a "switch blade," like you see in those movies with Mexican gangsters, while the 911 operator describes it as a "pocket knife." Mueller then goes on to say her family is keeping them apart, and that Charlie is trying to leave in the other room and he still has the knife, while she is in the kitchen, where the rest of the knives in the house are.<br />Mueller also sounds drunk, and that’s because she is very drunk. In fact, when cops arrived they gave Mueller and Charlie and breathalyzer. Mueller’s blood alcohol level was 0.13, well above the legal limit, and Charlie’s was 0.04, but the cops took Charlie to jail. Isn’t the drunk person usually the most agressive? Not if you’re a sexist. In that case it’s always the guy who is the aggressor. Charlie told cops he was defending himself, but again, sexists believe a man can never hit a woman, not even to defend himself from bodily injury, or even death.<br /><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Cops arrested Charlie on felony second degree assault, felony menacing, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, and he was later released after he posted bond, but in Colorado anytime a weapon is involved there is an automatic restraining order, so Charlie can’t go near Mueller who is pictured above all smiles today while being driven around shopping in a chauffeur-driven SUV.<br />Later Mueller told a female officer she lied about part of the 911 call, which appear to be the part about the knife.<br /><br />Charlie’s court date is on February 8, 2010, when Arnold Mordkin, a Chief Deputy D.A., may files charges against him. Mordkin also added:<br />"I often file criminal charges against someone who falsely accuses someone."<br /><br />Let me add, Mordkin probably does file false allegation charges, except when a woman makes the false allegations, because in a sexist society women are always the victim, even if the woman is standing over a man who has been shot to death 5 times, and the woman is a holding a gun with five bullets fired, and the barrel still smoking, and she says the man tried to shoot her with his invisible gun.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>After Mueller changed her story, it became public she was very drunk when cops arrived, and Mordkin made his false allegation threat, Mueller stopped cooperating with cops. This just means the D.A. will still pursue charges against Charlie, while Mueller will probably be allowed to go free, even though Charlie says she hit him. They should have both been arrested and charged.<br /><br /> Mueller has told quite a tale that Charlie is abusive, and Charlie says Mueller abuses alcohol. Charlie also said the couple were fighting, and during the fight Mueller threatened to divorce him and take the children. Threats like that would push anyone’s buttons, and cause a reaction, which make it even harder for Charlie to prove he wasn’t the aggressor.<br /><br /> Charlie should know from experience, no matter what Mueller says he needs to keep his cool, but with a little alcohol in his system his self control was not so sharp. As for Mueller she was totally drunk, so her self control was out of control.<br /> Now Charlie will be labeled a wife beater by the media, and his reputation will be in need of rehab, while his divorce will make front page headlines. Right now Charlie is the highest paid actor on television, which is why I wondered why he signed a marriage contract and had kids with a woman he barely knew.<br /><br /> Live and learn Charlie. At 44 years-old you’re running out of time to learn your lesson.</td> <td><img src="images/stories/charliesheen.jpg" border="0" alt="Charlie Sheen" title="Charlie Sheen" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/stories/charliesheen_brookemueller.jpg" border="0" /></p> </td> <td>On December 26 Charlie Sheen, star of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&amp;search_query=two+and+a+half+men&amp;search_sort=video_recently_uploaded&amp;suggested_categories=23%2C24" target="_blank">Two and a Half Men</a>, was arrested at around in Aspen, Colorado after his wife Brooke Mueller called 911 at 8:34 am.<br />In the <a href="images/122809_sheen_911.mp3" target="_blank" title="911 Phone Call">911 call, which you can listen to here</a>, Mueller immediately says her call is to report "domestic abuse." When I hear someone call 911 and immediately give the term "domestic abuse," rather than describing their situation, and allowing officers to decide how they are going to respond, I assume this person has experience in these situations, and knows exactly what they are doing when they make this call, like it was planned.<br />Mueller told the 911 operator Charlie attacked her with a "switch blade," like you see in those movies with Mexican gangsters, while the 911 operator describes it as a "pocket knife." Mueller then goes on to say her family is keeping them apart, and that Charlie is trying to leave in the other room and he still has the knife, while she is in the kitchen, where the rest of the knives in the house are.<br />Mueller also sounds drunk, and that’s because she is very drunk. In fact, when cops arrived they gave Mueller and Charlie and breathalyzer. Mueller’s blood alcohol level was 0.13, well above the legal limit, and Charlie’s was 0.04, but the cops took Charlie to jail. Isn’t the drunk person usually the most agressive? Not if you’re a sexist. In that case it’s always the guy who is the aggressor. Charlie told cops he was defending himself, but again, sexists believe a man can never hit a woman, not even to defend himself from bodily injury, or even death.<br /><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Cops arrested Charlie on felony second degree assault, felony menacing, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, and he was later released after he posted bond, but in Colorado anytime a weapon is involved there is an automatic restraining order, so Charlie can’t go near Mueller who is pictured above all smiles today while being driven around shopping in a chauffeur-driven SUV.<br />Later Mueller told a female officer she lied about part of the 911 call, which appear to be the part about the knife.<br /><br />Charlie’s court date is on February 8, 2010, when Arnold Mordkin, a Chief Deputy D.A., may files charges against him. Mordkin also added:<br />"I often file criminal charges against someone who falsely accuses someone."<br /><br />Let me add, Mordkin probably does file false allegation charges, except when a woman makes the false allegations, because in a sexist society women are always the victim, even if the woman is standing over a man who has been shot to death 5 times, and the woman is a holding a gun with five bullets fired, and the barrel still smoking, and she says the man tried to shoot her with his invisible gun.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>After Mueller changed her story, it became public she was very drunk when cops arrived, and Mordkin made his false allegation threat, Mueller stopped cooperating with cops. This just means the D.A. will still pursue charges against Charlie, while Mueller will probably be allowed to go free, even though Charlie says she hit him. They should have both been arrested and charged.<br /><br /> Mueller has told quite a tale that Charlie is abusive, and Charlie says Mueller abuses alcohol. Charlie also said the couple were fighting, and during the fight Mueller threatened to divorce him and take the children. Threats like that would push anyone’s buttons, and cause a reaction, which make it even harder for Charlie to prove he wasn’t the aggressor.<br /><br /> Charlie should know from experience, no matter what Mueller says he needs to keep his cool, but with a little alcohol in his system his self control was not so sharp. As for Mueller she was totally drunk, so her self control was out of control.<br /> Now Charlie will be labeled a wife beater by the media, and his reputation will be in need of rehab, while his divorce will make front page headlines. Right now Charlie is the highest paid actor on television, which is why I wondered why he signed a marriage contract and had kids with a woman he barely knew.<br /><br /> Live and learn Charlie. At 44 years-old you’re running out of time to learn your lesson.</td> <td><img src="images/stories/charliesheen.jpg" border="0" alt="Charlie Sheen" title="Charlie Sheen" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Chinese Olympic Scandal... 2009-12-29T16:46:41Z 2009-12-29T16:46:41Z http://www.thamod.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=257:chinese-olympic-scandal&catid=34:generalinfo&Itemid=122 New York Times mario@thamod.com <em><strong>As we get ready for the next Olympic games, many people are wondering what's next? Who may be using athletic preforming drugs? Who will reveal certain inside secrets on various athletes? Hmm...</strong></em><br /> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/stories/bejing.jpg" border="0" /></p> <br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Two Chinese Olympic Gymnasts He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan, who won gold medals in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, may in fact be only 14 years-old, when Olympic gymnasts are required to be 16 years-old. Both were chosen to compete late in July. Younger, and therefore smaller, gymnasts have the advantage of being able to perform difficult skills easier. There is a lot of evidence supporting claims that documents were forged around the time of the Olympics to insure He and Jiang qualified to compete. However, there is a lot of evidence, especially from Chinese government web sites, and statements from government officials confirming the claims these two athletes were under the age of 16. If these accusations are true, it cheapens how the world sees China, and causes a loss of face due to the perception that they cheated their way to gold medals. To encourage the best athletes to compete, it might be best for the Olympic committee to allow any age to compete. Click the link below to read more, and see some of the evidence.<br /><br />Two female Chinese gymnasts, including a gold-medal favorite, might be too young to participate in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.<br />Several online records and reports show He Kexin, the host nation’s top competitor on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan might not yet be 16, the minimum age for Olympic eligibility. Both were chosen for China’s team last week.<br />On the Web site of the Chengdu Sports Bureau — Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China — a file dated January 2006 shows He Kexin as being born Jan. 1, 1994.<br /><br /></td> <td>{youtubejw width="300" height="270"}rHlynvipmUo{/youtubejw}<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Most recently, a May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, had He Kexin’s age as 14.<br />The newspaper story begins: "The 14-year old newcomer to the national team, who was recruited last year, has raised a lot of eyebrows recently after she broke two world records on the uneven bars in as many months."<br /><br />The New York Times raised questions about the athletes’ ages in a story Saturday. And Chinese officials provided the newspaper with copies of passports indicating both gymnasts are 16.<br />But in a speech on Nov. 3, 2007, in the central city of Wuhan, Liu Peng, director of general administration of sport for China, said: "The 13-year-old uneven-bar gymnast He Kexin, who defeated national team athlete Yang Yilin — she just won the bronze medal in the world championships — has demonstrated her ability."<br />To be eligible for the Cities Games where Liu made his remarks, Chinese documents show athletes must be over 13, but under 15.<br />Zhang Peiwen, spokesman for the Chinese Gymnastics Association, told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that both gymnasts were over 16.<br />"Our Olympic squads were recently named and we registered their ages according to their ID cards or other legal certificates presented by their regional gymnastics associations, which show they all are over the minimum age for the Olympics," Zhang said.<br />Zhang questioned the credibility of data found on the Internet or in newspapers.<br /><br />"There is a lot of online information and reports," he said. "We haven’t got the time to check every piece, but everybody knows not all of them are reliable."<br />The New York Times reported International Gymnastics Federation officials acknowledged questions about He’s age had been raised and asked the Chinese for clarification in May.<br />"We heard these rumors, and we immediately wrote to the Chinese gymnastics federation," Andre Gueisbuhler, the secretary general of the international federation, told the newspaper. "They immediately sent a copy of the passport, showing the age, and everything is OK. That’s all we can check.<br /><br />"As long as we have no official complaint, there is no reason to act, if we get a passport that obviously is in order."<br />The American and Chinese women are expected to battle for the team gold medal when the Beijing Games begin Aug. 8.<br />He is one of the few athletes in the world who has scored more than a 17 under the new scoring system. Using He and Yang Yilin, who also has scored a 17 on bars, the Chinese hope to use the uneven bars to build up a big advantage in the team competition.<br /><br />The Americans, who won the 2007 world championships team title, have only one gymnast, Nastia Liukin, who has achieved a 17 on bars.<br />If gymnasts He and Jiang are under age, it would be yet another black eye for China in the buildup to the games.<br />In June, Chinese swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng and coach Feng Shangbao were permanently banned from the sport after Ouyang tested positive for anabolic steroids. Wrestler Luo Meng and his coach also were barred for life for a doping violation by the athlete.<br /><br />The Chinese government is working feverishly to present a positive image of an open, friendly, progressive nation.<br />But visa restrictions, air pollution, freedom of the press issues and a problem-filled torch relay have presented a far different image to the world.<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/sports/olympics/27gymnasts.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Click here to read the New York Times story that has even more information on this story.</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> <em><strong>As we get ready for the next Olympic games, many people are wondering what's next? Who may be using athletic preforming drugs? Who will reveal certain inside secrets on various athletes? Hmm...</strong></em><br /> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/stories/bejing.jpg" border="0" /></p> <br /> <table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Two Chinese Olympic Gymnasts He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan, who won gold medals in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, may in fact be only 14 years-old, when Olympic gymnasts are required to be 16 years-old. Both were chosen to compete late in July. Younger, and therefore smaller, gymnasts have the advantage of being able to perform difficult skills easier. There is a lot of evidence supporting claims that documents were forged around the time of the Olympics to insure He and Jiang qualified to compete. However, there is a lot of evidence, especially from Chinese government web sites, and statements from government officials confirming the claims these two athletes were under the age of 16. If these accusations are true, it cheapens how the world sees China, and causes a loss of face due to the perception that they cheated their way to gold medals. To encourage the best athletes to compete, it might be best for the Olympic committee to allow any age to compete. Click the link below to read more, and see some of the evidence.<br /><br />Two female Chinese gymnasts, including a gold-medal favorite, might be too young to participate in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.<br />Several online records and reports show He Kexin, the host nation’s top competitor on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan might not yet be 16, the minimum age for Olympic eligibility. Both were chosen for China’s team last week.<br />On the Web site of the Chengdu Sports Bureau — Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China — a file dated January 2006 shows He Kexin as being born Jan. 1, 1994.<br /><br /></td> <td>{youtubejw width="300" height="270"}rHlynvipmUo{/youtubejw}<br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Most recently, a May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, had He Kexin’s age as 14.<br />The newspaper story begins: "The 14-year old newcomer to the national team, who was recruited last year, has raised a lot of eyebrows recently after she broke two world records on the uneven bars in as many months."<br /><br />The New York Times raised questions about the athletes’ ages in a story Saturday. And Chinese officials provided the newspaper with copies of passports indicating both gymnasts are 16.<br />But in a speech on Nov. 3, 2007, in the central city of Wuhan, Liu Peng, director of general administration of sport for China, said: "The 13-year-old uneven-bar gymnast He Kexin, who defeated national team athlete Yang Yilin — she just won the bronze medal in the world championships — has demonstrated her ability."<br />To be eligible for the Cities Games where Liu made his remarks, Chinese documents show athletes must be over 13, but under 15.<br />Zhang Peiwen, spokesman for the Chinese Gymnastics Association, told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that both gymnasts were over 16.<br />"Our Olympic squads were recently named and we registered their ages according to their ID cards or other legal certificates presented by their regional gymnastics associations, which show they all are over the minimum age for the Olympics," Zhang said.<br />Zhang questioned the credibility of data found on the Internet or in newspapers.<br /><br />"There is a lot of online information and reports," he said. "We haven’t got the time to check every piece, but everybody knows not all of them are reliable."<br />The New York Times reported International Gymnastics Federation officials acknowledged questions about He’s age had been raised and asked the Chinese for clarification in May.<br />"We heard these rumors, and we immediately wrote to the Chinese gymnastics federation," Andre Gueisbuhler, the secretary general of the international federation, told the newspaper. "They immediately sent a copy of the passport, showing the age, and everything is OK. That’s all we can check.<br /><br />"As long as we have no official complaint, there is no reason to act, if we get a passport that obviously is in order."<br />The American and Chinese women are expected to battle for the team gold medal when the Beijing Games begin Aug. 8.<br />He is one of the few athletes in the world who has scored more than a 17 under the new scoring system. Using He and Yang Yilin, who also has scored a 17 on bars, the Chinese hope to use the uneven bars to build up a big advantage in the team competition.<br /><br />The Americans, who won the 2007 world championships team title, have only one gymnast, Nastia Liukin, who has achieved a 17 on bars.<br />If gymnasts He and Jiang are under age, it would be yet another black eye for China in the buildup to the games.<br />In June, Chinese swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng and coach Feng Shangbao were permanently banned from the sport after Ouyang tested positive for anabolic steroids. Wrestler Luo Meng and his coach also were barred for life for a doping violation by the athlete.<br /><br />The Chinese government is working feverishly to present a positive image of an open, friendly, progressive nation.<br />But visa restrictions, air pollution, freedom of the press issues and a problem-filled torch relay have presented a far different image to the world.<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/sports/olympics/27gymnasts.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Click here to read the New York Times story that has even more information on this story.</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br />