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New England Patriots over the Carolina Panthers, 26-23.

Although I am comfortably far away from the freezing cold of a winter in Syracuse, I did spend the better part of four years in the Salt City. And most of that time was spent living in sub-zero temperatures. This is fourth in an ongoing series of photos taken at Syracuse University during the winter, which runs from November through April.

A picturesque photo of Link, the main Engineering building that flanks the east end of the main quad. I spent a lot of time in this building my junior and senior years: Materials, Water Resources, Soils 2, and Fluid Mechanics.

Image: kadeon.org

On Tuesday, the president of Poland met with Bush. A lively press conference ensued, and after Kwasniewski strongly defended Bush and the (flawed) intelligence to go to war, a question was raised by the press concerning visas.

Q -- visas for Polish tourists coming to the United States?

Q Visa. Visas -- do you offer anything on the visa policy for the Polish people?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we're working with the President on this very delicate issue. And there is the opportunity for some pre-screening to make sure that Polish citizens headed to the United States are not inconvenienced. We've got a study group we're going to put together to make sure that we come up with rational policy. But let me make sure everybody understands: the Congress decides the visa policy. That's what the Congress decides. And our study group will work with the Polish authorities in a way that makes it clear what the realities are here in the United States and makes it clear what the realities are on the ground in Poland.

Listen, let me just take a step back on this very important issue. We value our friendship with Poland. Poland is our great friend. There are thousands of Polish Americans who --

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Millions.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Millions, excuse me. I just don't want to overstate the case here. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Especially before the election. Millions and millions. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: That love Poland and that have got relatives in Poland. And we understand the need for dialogue and travel. We've got visa rules set by the Congress that we just -- that are on the books. And we look forward to working with the President on these issues.

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: We will work, of course, but I would like to deliver this idea to you and to our friends. The future of the world is without visa, not with visa. That should be our goal.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: And, of course, how to reach this important goal, that is task for politicians, because the future of the world, with Poland, with Eastern Europe, with the world is no visa, not visa. That's -- me, very modest citizen of Poland, I speak to you. That is the future. That is the future.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, it could be. Let me also say that I announced a very important piece of legislation, or called Congress to an important piece of legislation, which is to issue temporary worker cards, which will help address much of the issue with the Polish people. And I would hope Congress would pass rational immigration policy -- that is not amnesty -- rational immigration policy that matches willing worker with willing employer. And that also will help on this issue.

PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: It will help very much. We appreciate it very much. But, please, the President, the future is no visa.

Source: White House

Bush has got himself in a pickle, as USA Today points out with the president's following statements.

''Today this regime likely maintains stockpiles of chemical and biological agents and is improving and expanding facilities capable of producing chemical and biological weapons. Today Saddam Hussein has the scientists and infrastructure for a nuclear weapons program and has illicitly sought to purchase the equipment needed to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon.'' -- Sept. 14, 2002, radio address

''When we're talking about Saddam Hussein, we're talking about a man who said he has had no weapons of mass destruction, yet we believe has weapons of mass destruction -- a man who has not only had weapons of mass destruction, but he's used weapons of mass destruction.'' -- Dec. 3, 2002, speech

''Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.'' -- March 17, 2003, speech

''I am absolutely convinced with time we'll find out that they did have a weapons program.'' -- June 9, 2003, to reporters

''We are interviewing Iraqi citizens and analyzing records of the old regime to reveal the full extent of its weapons programs and its long campaign of deception.'' -- Sept. 23, 2003, speech

''There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a gathering threat to America and others. That's what we know. We know from years of intelligence -- not only our own intelligence services, but other intelligence-gathering organizations -- that he had weapons. After all, he used them... It's very important for us to let the Iraq survey group do its work so we can find out the facts and compare the facts to what was thought... There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a grave and gathering threat to America and the world.'' -- Jan. 27, 2004, to reporters

Source: USA Today

"Oscar nominations came out today. Up for best actor: Sean Penn for 'Mystic River,' Jude Law for 'Cold Mountain,' and of course, George W. Bush for 'Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction.'"

(Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight Show")

Source: Washington Post

Senator John Kerry has won the second battle for the democratic nomination.

Source: CBS News

Although I am comfortably far away from the freezing cold of a winter in Syracuse, I did spend the better part of four years in the Salt City. And most of that time was spent living in sub-zero temperatures. This is third in an ongoing series of photos taken at Syracuse University during the winter, which runs from November through April.

A photo of the southeastern portion of the quad. In center is Physics (where I spent most of my first two years; let's see: Physics 1 & 2, Chem 1 & 2, labs, recitations, etc.) and to the right is Hendricks Chapel. Above Physics is the roof of the Carrier Dome, the largest on-campus athletic facility in the nation.

Image: kadeon.org

Applying a sliding tax schedule to television programs, commercials, and overall content, will decrease sexual language on television. A few ideas: The networks will set up a content review board which will determine the amount of sexuality (based on several aspects: nudity, language, etc.) and determine percentages. Then a tax based on those percentages will be paid to the federal government. (Different rates for different aspects; e.g., nudity = 25%, innuendo = 18%, etc.)

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission, which oversees television) will appoint it's own review board of the entertainment industry's sexual content and corresponding taxation. Taxing sex on television will, at first, provide a large revenue for the federal government and, eventually, decrease the amount of sexuality that plagues programs on broadcast televison.

This is not censorship; simply a tax on an interstate good/service.

For example, the show "Friends" on NBC or "Blind Date" on syndication would be taxed on the following basis: the amount of sexual innuendo/content, nudity/skin, language, when it airs (8pm, 10pm, etc.), and in which form it is televised (broadcast, cable, premium cable). The networks will also be taxed for the commercials they air: Victoria's Secret, Miller Lite, etc.

A few images captures an instant in time of me with the most beautiful girl in the world. The photos were taken by a webcam installed on Marshall Street at Syracuse University.

Images: Syracuse.com

Bush's third State of the Union speech, hopefully his last, was a conglomerate of campaign rhetoric, platitudes, and scare tactics. Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post, however, noted the following missing items from Bush's horrific speech.

- The traditional long list of major new legislation.

- Any mention of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

- Any mention of his big new space initiative.

- An exit strategy for Iraq.

- An explanation of the misleading statements in last year's State of the Union address.

- Acknowledgment that U.S. inspectors have found no unconventional weapons in Iraq.

- Any mention of Osama bin Laden.

- A statement of sympathy for those who remain jobless.

- Specifics about how to get control of the federal budget deficit.

- Evidence that "terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world."

- Any mention of that plan to spend $1.5 billion on efforts to promote marriage.

- Any mention of the environment.

- An expression of sympathy to the families who lost loved ones in Iraq.

- Reaching out to Democrats.

Source: Washington Post