But author and critic Hiroki Azuma said it was "disgusting" that the star felt she should resort to a traditional act of contrition when the only rules she had broken were those of her band's.

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Before we accept his act of contrition at the temple of Oprah, Armstrong needs to make amends with the several people and entities he took vicious aim at for accusing him of using performance enhancing substances.

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Until recently, it had been widely assumed that, instead of staying in office until September 1999, he would resign as an act of contrition for his party's dismal showing in the July election and for the country's financial mess.

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