The new paddles allowed players to hit with more force and the carbon made a louder, more earsplitting thwack.

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In those times of turmoil and earsplitting acrimony in public life, the term referred to those Americans who didn't raise much commotion, but whose fidelity to tradition was unwavering.

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"Produces earsplitting beep when the water dish is empty!"

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Then an earsplitting explosion rocked the desert.

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For the moment, at least, it's both, as was clear when McCain climbed back onto his plane and headed down to South Carolina, where he was met at 3 a.m. in an airport hangar by hundreds of college kids and the earsplitting techno sounds of Fat Boy Slim.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Cover: McCain's Moment-Page 2