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Intimate Rivals
Sheila A. Smith explores the policy issues testing the Japanese government as it tries to navigate its relationship with an advancing China.
See more in Japan; China; Politics and Strategy
Senior Fellow for Japan Studies
Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy; Northeast Asia regional security; international relations of the Asia Pacific
Will the Japanese Change Their Constitution? , Northeast Asian Nationalisms and Alliance Management , Japan's New Strategic Challenge , Japan's Political Transition and the U.S.-Japan Alliance , Roundtable Series on Japan
Sheila A. Smith, an expert on Japanese politics and foreign policy, is senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She is the author of Intimate Rivals: Japanese Domestic Politics and a Rising China (Columbia University Press, 2015) and Japan's New Politics and the U.S.-Japan Alliance (Council on Foreign Relations, June 2014). Her current research focuses on how geostrategic change in Asia is shaping Japan's strategic choices. In the fall of 2014, Smith began a project on Northeast Asian Nationalisms and Alliance Management.
Smith is a regular contributor to the CFR blog Asia Unbound, and frequent contributor to major media outlets in the United States and Asia. She joined CFR from the East-West Center in 2007, where she directed a multinational research team in a cross-national study of the domestic politics of the U.S. military presence in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. She was a visiting scholar at Keio University in 2007-08, where she researched Japan's foreign policy towards China, supported by the Abe Fellowship. Smith has been a visiting researcher at two leading Japanese foreign and security policy think tanks, the Japan Institute of International Affairs and the Research Institute for Peace and Security, and at the University of Tokyo and the University of the Ryukyus.
Smith is vice chair of the U.S. advisors to the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Exchange (CULCON), a bi-national advisory panel of government officials and private sector members. She also serves on the advisory committee for the U.S.-Japan Network for the Future program of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. She teaches as an adjunct professor at the Asian Studies Department of Georgetown University and serves on the board of its Journal of Asian Affairs. She earned her MA and PhD degrees from the department of political science at Columbia University.
Since World War II, Japan has embraced pacifism, depending on close ties with the United States to guarantee its security. But as a more powerful and assertive China begins to challenge Japanese interests, Tokyo today faces a fundamentally different security environment, causing it to reconsider its postwar strategy. Armed conflict between these two neighbors has suddenly become a real possibility and could test the U.S. commitment to defend Japan. In 2013, I examined Washington's options in dealing with the Chinese-Japanese dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in a Contingency Planning Memorandum entitled A Sino-Japanese Clash in the East China Sea. My new book, Intimate Rivals: Japanese Domestic Politics and a Rising China, examines the growing influence of Chinese decisions over Japan's domestic policy. Going forward, the main question I will address is whether Japan will change its strategic orientation as China further develops its military capability and continues to challenge its neighbors. Will Tokyo look to the U.S.-Japan alliance to cope with this growing strategic challenge, or will it reorient its strategy to act independently of U.S. security priorities? Will it balance with other Asian powers or bandwagon with Beijing?
Japanese politics have been in transition since electoral reforms in the early 1990s prompted a broad political realignment. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan rose to challenge Japan's traditionally dominant conservative party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and unseated it briefly in 1993 and again in 2009. Today, the LDP is back in power, and voters are tired of successive governments that have failed to address the nation's challenges. This new political reality has immediate implications for the United States. The staying power of Japanese governments is far less predictable, and relations with its leaders far more difficult to sustain. Moreover, the Japanese public is increasingly sensitive to Washington's policy choices in Northeast Asia as China and South Korea continue to challenge their postwar settlements with Japan and the interpretation of the history of twentieth century Asia. In Japan's Political Transition and the U.S.-Japan Alliance, I argue that it is time for U.S. policymakers to abandon old alliance habits based on assumptions of single-party dominance and embrace a strategy for alliance management that addresses the concerns of a more anxious public. Over the next several years, my new project on Nationalist Politics and the U.S.-Japan Alliance, which includes the Roundtable Series on Japan, will explore how the United States can help reduce the tensions between Japan and its neighbors caused by the resurgence of nationalism in Northeast Asia.
These projects are made possible through support from the Smith-Richardson Foundation and the U.S.-Japan Foundation.
Sheila A. Smith explores the policy issues testing the Japanese government as it tries to navigate its relationship with an advancing China.
See more in Japan; China; Politics and Strategy
"For some time, the idea of a formal trilateral discussion between the United States, Japan, and China has been considered but not acted on. Today, however, as the interactions among these three major powers carry such significant implications for the future of the Asia Pacific, the need for such a trilateral seems stronger than ever," writes Sheila A. Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies.
See more in China; Japan; Regional Security
Japan's new politics challenge some basic assumptions about U.S.-Japan alliance management. CFR Senior Fellow Sheila A. Smith explores this new era of alternating parties in power and reveals the growing importance of Japan's domestic politics in shaping alliance cooperation.
See more in Japan; Diplomacy and Statecraft; International Organizations and Alliances
Experts weigh in on what happened to Obama's Asia "pivot" in 2013, and give their projections of what 2014 will bring for regional policy.
See more in China; Japan; Politics and Strategy
Sheila A. Smith argues that since the succession of Kim Jong-un, Tokyo has put greater emphasis on ensuring it is prepared militarily for a more unpredictable North Korea and strengthening support for UNSC sanctions on DPRK proliferation.
See more in Japan; North Korea; Politics and Strategy
Sheila A. Smith argues that despite some regional concerns about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's geopolitical ambitions, his diplomatic vision to date looks more like a return to Japan's much vaunted economic diplomacy.
See more in Japan; Diplomacy and Statecraft
Sheila Smith says that China's rise has called for a more complex assessment in both Tokyo and Washington of the circumstances under which the U.S.-Japan alliance might be tested.
See more in Asia and Pacific; Japan; United States; Politics and Strategy
Sheila A. Smith and Research Associate Charles T. McClean argue that U.S. interests are affected by all three of Japan's territorial disputes with its neighbors. While the United States cannot resolve these disputes, it can and should do all that it can to promote peaceful dispute resolution and a lessening of military tensions.
See more in Japan; Sovereignty
Sheila A. Smith argues that tensions between Japan and China over disputed islands in the East China Sea could seriously harm U.S. interests. She discusses steps the United States could take to de-escalate the crisis.
Sheila Smith outlines the challenges facing Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, particularly the territorial dispute in the East China Sea.
See more in Japan; China; Territorial Disputes
The East China Sea is a source of vital resources, especially fisheries and natural resources like gas and oil. Regional cooperation on fisheries conservation as well as joint energy development projects could go a long way to offsetting tensions over territorial disputes.
See more in Asia and Pacific; Oceans; Sovereignty
In a major electoral comeback, Japan's conservatives have won a supermajority in parliament. But the results have stirred anxieties about how they will use their power, says CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Political Movements and Protests; Japan
Escalating friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea is becoming more difficult to contain, fed by political opportunism in both countries, says CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Political Movements and Protests; China; Japan
Sheila Smith argues that while recent tensions between Japan and South Korea over territorial issues are deeply worrisome for the U.S. government and for regional stability, the reality is that a stronger bilateral relationship can only come about if it is the Japanese and Korean people that lead the effort on reconciliation.
See more in Japan; South Korea; Oceans
Sheila A. Smith discusses how Japan's move to replace its ambassadors to the United States, China, and South Korea with three career officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to do as much with domestic politics as it does with tensions in the region.
See more in Diplomacy and Statecraft; Japan
Sheila A. Smith examines the way in which the 2010 crisis emerged between Japan and China, arguing that a crisis management initiative between Beijing and Tokyo rather than an overall reconciliation agenda may be what is now needed.
CFR's Sheila Smith highlights the significance of the U.S.-Japan Summit as the first state visit by the Democratic Party's Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, which features a broad agenda and comes at a time when both Prime Minister Noda and President Obama face political challenges domestically.
See more in Japan
CFR Senior Fellow Sheila A. Smith argues that the time has come for Japan and the United States to set priorities for military missions, formalize mechanisms for crisis management coordination, and work toward a long-term basing strategy that consolidates U.S. and Japanese facilities.
See more in Japan
One year after Japan's triple disasters, questions persist about the ability of the world's third-largest economy to rebound and how its struggling political system can mount serious reforms, writes CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Energy Policy; Disasters; Japan
Sheila A. Smith discusses recovery and rebuilding one year after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Sheila A. Smith says Yoshihiko Noda will need to stitch together a frayed party and a fractured public to lead Japan — and stay in power.
See more in Political Movements and Protests; Japan
Yoshihiko Noda, set to become Japan's prime minister, could be a reassuring presence amid economic and political turmoil, but it's not clear what energy he will have for global affairs, writes CFR's Sheila Smith.
Sheila A. Smith says the short-term prognosis for Japan's electricity supply is uncertain, yet it is the longer term effort to reform energy policy that is vital to resolving the current impasse in Japan's nuclear debate.
Outside of Japan, misconceptions about Japan's constitutional debate abound, often driven by the headlines of the moment. To help understand the complexity of this Japanese conversation, Sheila A. Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies, has initiated a broad conversation on CFR's Asia Unbound blog in which leading experts discuss the prospects for revising Japan's postwar constitution. What would a Japanese designed constitution look like? What would remain of the current constitution? How would today's Japanese seek to alter the balance of power between the individual and the state? What individual rights might be asserted–or altered?
Some contributors have had–and will continue to have–a direct role in shaping Japan's debate; all have an avid interest in understanding the currents and the consequences of what Smith sees as a defining conversation for the people of Japan. It is imperative that those outside Japan understand the debate and learn more about the advocates and institutions that will shape it.
Japan is increasingly seen as being in the grip of nationalist politics. Regional diplomacy is rife with criticism of Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and his nationalist agenda. Leaders in Beijing and Seoul both call on Washington to rein in a Japan that is provocative and revisionist. Geopolitical change presents a dangerous background in which political leaders in Northeast Asia are stoking popular sensitivities. These complex dynamics have profound implications for the United States, and U.S. concerns about nationalism in Japan are already beginning to shape alliance management. The expression of U.S. "disappointment" in the wake of Prime Minister Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine in December revealed serious differences between Tokyo and Washington over Abe's willingness to exacerbate tensions in the region. This project, which will run from September 2014 to March 2017, will look carefully at Japan's nationalist politics to examine their impact on the U.S.-Japan alliance, and will engage leading experts from the United States and Japan in a conversation about how to manage these reactive nationalisms in Northeast Asia. Research findings will be made available on the Asia Unbound blog on CFR.org, and through other writings. The project will culminate in a final report that will analyze the impact of nationalist politics on U.S.-Japan alliance cooperation as well as provide prescriptions for U.S. policymakers on how to navigate tensions between Japan and its neighbors in Northeast Asia.
This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S.-Japan Foundation.
Japan's security choices have far-reaching consequences for the United States. U.S. strategy in Asia depends heavily on Washington's alliance with Tokyo. Yet, frequent leadership changes in Tokyo have raised concerns in Washington about Japan's ability to be a strategic partner. Today, Japan faces a fundamentally different security environment. China's rise is beginning to challenge Japan's ability to pursue its national interests. Armed conflict between these two Asian neighbors has suddenly become a real possibility as a territorial dispute in the East China Sea has elevated tensions. Beijing has challenged Japan's administrative control over these islands, testing the ability of Japan's military to defend its territory. An aggressive and militarily powerful China could also test the U.S. commitment to defend Japan. Could this be the turning point for Japan? Will Japan finally assume a more proactive military posture in the U.S.-Japanese alliance? Or, will nationalism prompt Japan to act independently of U.S. strategic priorities? Dr. Smith will conduct research on the indicators of Japanese strategic transition, which will be the basis of a book on Japan's New Strategic Challenge.
This project is made possible by a grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation.
The challenges that confront the U.S.-Japan relationship today are many, and the opportunities to devise new ways of cooperating ample. Yet we still know too little about how to adapt our alliance to the changing demands within Japan for greater accountability and transparency in governance. The March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake has confounded the governance pressures on Japan's new government, and expanded our bilateral alliance agenda. The confusion and disconnect between the two governments during the early months of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) rule suggest the need for a much better understanding of the domestic pressures on Japan's new government for change in alliance policy. The Japan studies program conducted a study to analyze domestic political change in Japan and its effect on the U.S.-Japan alliance, and published Japan's New Politics and the U.S.-Japan Alliance in July 2014.
This project was made possible by grants from the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.-Japan Foundation.
The Roundtable Series on Japan is an ongoing series that provides a forum for leading U.S. and Japanese experts to analyze Japan's domestic and foreign policy. Of particular interest is the analysis of U.S.-Japan policy cooperation in a fluid Asia-Pacific region.
This series is made possible in part by the generosity of the following corporate and foundation sponsors: US-Japan Foundation, Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., Mitsubishi International Corporation, Toyota Motor North America, and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.
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This meeting is not for attribution.
Sheila Smith speaks on the current state of China-Japan relations at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Sheila Smith discussed Intimate Rivals at the National Security College and the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of Australian National University.
Sheila Smith discussed Intimate Rivals at an event jointly hosted by the Perth USAsia Centre and Murdoch University's School of Arts and the Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs.
Sheila Smith discussed Intimate Rivals at a roundtable at the Perth USAsia Centre.
A reveiw of Sheila Smith's recent book, Intimate Rivals, by Kirkus Review.
Sheila Smith discussed Intimate Rivals at an event jointly hosted by the East-West Center, the Japan America Society of Hawaii, and the Pacific Forum CSIS.
A reveiw of Sheila Smith's recent book, Intimate Rivals, by Survival.
The lower house of Japan's parliament passed legislation Thursday giving the country's military limited powers to participate in armed conflicts. NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Sheila A. Smith, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about what this decision means.
A discussion on Japan-South Korea cooperation agenda on North Korea policy and other issues in the region following the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Rana Mitter, author of China's War with Japan, 1937-1945: The Struggle for Survival, writes a review of Sheila Smith's new book, Intimate Rivals.
The rise of China has put many countries around the world on notice. Some may see it as an exciting shift in the world order, and others may approach it with caution. However, no country feels China's rise more deeply than Japan. Dr. Sheila Smith, an expert on Japanese and regional politics, will discuss how Japan's relationship with a rising China influences Japanese domestic and foreign policy. Whether it be conflicts in the East China Sea, managing a volatile North Korea or strategies of island defense, Smith will explore the policy issues testing the Japanese government as it tries to navigate this storied and often complex relationship.
Japanese citizens worry more and more about China but, Smith notes that while certain issues evoke a popular nationalism – such as Yasukuni shrine and the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands – voters have not rewarded the better-known Japanese nationalists at the ballot box.
While more Japanese express an interest in reconsidering Japan's pacific constitution, public opinion still remains deeply ambivalent when it comes to changing military policy, writes Sheila A. Smith.
Japan's postwar constitution, adopted in 1947 under U.S. occupation, has shaped the country's international role ever since. But now that may be changing.
In a chapter from Examining Japan's Lost Decades, edited by Yoichi Funabashi and Barak Kushner, Smith argues that Japan's military adjustment to the end of the Cold War was less about the politics of Japan's "lost decades," and more about the complex process of dismantling the forces that had sustained the Cold War.
China's new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has raised questions about U.S. policy in Asia. South Korea, Australia, and several European nations have signed on to China's initiative, which seeks to raise $50 billion to $100 billion for Asian development. Although the United States remains cautious about this new China-led effort, it should welcome the participation of others.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security policies have received different receptions domestically and abroad, particularly in China and South Korea. At the same time, Japan's new foreign security policy is also affecting the politics of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Sheila A. Smith explores the policy issues testing the Japanese government as it tries to navigate its relationship with an advancing China.
Hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.
Hosted by the Ilmin International Relations Institute in Seoul, South Korea.
Hosted by the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC.
1777 F Street, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20006
CFR Senior Fellow for Japan Studies and author of Intimate Rivals: Japanese Domestic Politics and a Rising China
Research Associate
|Ayumi Teraoka


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Maryland Wines' Prestigious Awards!
Maryland wines compete with the best wines around the world. Winemakers can take pride in the fact that they have won international awards - often beating out the likes of highly-acclaimed wine such as Mondavi. Of course we love to tout our own Maryland Governor's Cup Competition and Maryland Winemasters' Choice Awards, held each year to find the best wines in Maryland. For the past few years, the Governor himself has presented the award at the Maryland Wine Festival in September.

subset: commoncrawl


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Comment Re:Obsidian (Score 1) 198
I've seen a few people mention Haskell, but no love for Erlang in here. Any particular reason?
I've seen a few people mention Haskell, but no love for Erlang in here. Any particular reason?
I must be doing a bad job of trying to say this.
I'm not saying that stuff doesn't count as gameplay- but I'm saying that by virtue of THAT counting as gameplay, the same courtesy should be applied to the pick-off throw to first to shorten a baserunner's lead, or the second baseman moving slightly behind the baserunner to encourage a pick-off throw, or a batter calling for time right after a pitcher gets set, just because they made the batter wait earlier, or any of the other myriad things that aren't directly related to putting the ball in play. Linebackers running towards the line is actually a good example of gameplay, in that it is a counter to the whole "run the play clock down to the last second before the snap" by the offense, which is still better than "I'm going to just hold the basketball and let the clock run" I see when I end up at a sports bar and the NBA is on.
It's easier for me to pick out the things in football that I would consider "waste of time" because although it doesn't cause me to change the channel, I don't really make it a point to watch. For people who feel that way about baseball, it is easy for them to point out the things in baseball they consider "slow". Time spent around any sport usually leads to spectators picking up the little things that can mean a lot to an entire game, so for those fans, the little things all tend to mean something important, whereas those little things in other sports "don't count".
If it helps, I would probably rate the sports in terms of my enjoyment as a spectator as: NHL > Baseball > Basketball (NCAA) > Football > Golf > Tennis > Billiards > Curling > Figure Skating > Marathon Running > Power Walking > Basketball (NBA).
I wasn't trying to knock the episodic nature of football (I like that phrasing, by the way) but point out that saying baseball is "slow" because of the periods of time in which the ball isn't in play is not comparing apples to apples. As a baseball fan, I appreciate the time between pitches, with all of the mental games that go on between pitcher and batter or pitcher and baserunner(s). It is great to watch when a pitcher and catcher are in sync and barely need to communicate, as well. It probably helps that I'm enough of a math nerd to enjoy the ridiculous number of statistics tracked in baseball.
I've noticed that some football fans don't think twice about that time between plays, or a team repeatedly taking a knee to end the half (that REALLY bothers me for some reason, and I don't know why that sets me off but a batter stepping out of the box does not), but will knock baseball for time between pitches, "the slow pace" of the game, that kind of thing. If you enjoy the sport, even just to watch, you'll look past the things that drive others batty.
I can't brain today, I have the dumb.
I like Niado's answer below, but if you want to bring MMA in, there seems to be an awful lot of posturing around the cage, and "commentary" that pads the length of the pay-per-views. There are some epically long bouts, but there are also those done in 30 seconds in the first round by submission, followed by another 10 minutes of broadcast before the next fight.
Man in motion does change play, yes, but to me it's in the same category as a pitcher shaking off signs from the catcher. They both can be important to the outcome, but they aren't "exciting" the way a long fly ball is, or watching a running back shake off a couple of tacklers. Most of the complaints I hear or read about the pace of baseball are based on the time between the pitcher throwing the ball and then the ball coming back to the pitcher, which leaves out the arts of shortening the lead of a base-runner, or taking time on the mound to ice a batter (see football coaches calling timeouts RIGHT before the opposing team's kicker gets ready to kick a field goal). I just think if we're going to compare the actual time of "play" versus the running time of the game, it should be an apples to apples comparison.
Hockey for me was an acquired taste, probably from exposure to the Redwings growing up in Michigan, and then moving to Grand Rapids where their AHL farm team is. The Griffins are even in the AHL playoffs this year, so I get bonus hockey after the Redwings bowed out against Chicago last night.
The best hockey games are really the low-scoring ones where both teams are very evenly matched and playing all-out, which happens more often now that their is a cap system. If it is a low-scoring game because both teams suck, then it can be a snoozefest.
The World Series starts after 9PM because much earlier than that and you leave out the west coast TV market. 9PM EST = 6 PM Pacific.
Perhaps I am an oddity, but I find basketball much more annoying to watch than baseball, and football really isn't any better. In terms of continuous action, I would put forth that the NHL is actually the most "gameplay" for the length of a game.
I'm not saying Football and baseball are "equal" in downtime, but if you start adding up the time between a play being declared dead and the actual start of the next play (not men lining up, but when the ball is snapped), I think that the amount of time that is spent not "playing" the game becomes more comparable. Yeah, there's a clock counting down, but what is the actual run-time of a typical football game at this point? 3.5, 4 hours?
Fahrenheit? 0 = friggin' cold, 100 = friggin' hot.
How is that any easier than: 0 = water freezes, 100 = water boils?
It's not so much that it's easier, but it provides a greater degree of differentiation for the normal temperatures of day to day life. Most people aren't really concerned with where water boils on the scale, but rather what the temperature is outside. A better comparison between 0 and 100 degrees F is -17.8 to 37.8 - which becomes more cumbersome. Where I am in the US (Michigan) we see both ends of that extreme every year. There's something easier about the gradual change in temperature over that 100 degree interval compared to the 55.6 degree one- no decimals, and it's a smooth transition from one temp to the next.
Keep in mind the average dock worker is limited to 25 to 30 hours a week, at ten bucks an hour or so, and are encouraged to get off the clock as quickly as possible. Many of them are college students, who may or may not be hungover. Not an excuse, just insight.
The other point, and one that is commonly lost, is that fragile stickers imply self-importance. The shipper assumes their package is more important than any other package in the system. More stickers imply an even greater and greater sense of self importance. This can definitely create an environment where the package will be handled in a rough manner through spite. To extend the common car analogy, it would be like taking your car in to the mechanic with strict guidelines on how he sits in the car, starts the car, turns the wheel, or any other commonplace operation he would need to perform. Even though they are underpaid workers who might not have great motivation, they do usually have enough of a sense of self-worth that some moron slapping 8 fragile stickers on a box is going to piss them off.
Ideally, unless the package has orientation issues (liquid in a container, which should be labeled as such instead of just "Fragile") or is in some other way incredibly dainty, it shouldn't need fragile stickers. When I worked there, any package handler (official job title, sadly) seen throwing a package was fired. No ifs, ands, or buts. Didn't matter if it had a fragile sticker or not.
The funny thing about those cardboard pallets: If it came FedEx Ground, the terminals have no rabbit jacks or fork trucks. They have flat carts, and conveyors, and people. That's it. Sometimes the difference is as simple as the mindset in your local FedEx Ground terminal compared to UPS, or vice versa.
When I worked the loading docks for FedEx in college, it isn't a question of spite. It's overuse of the "Fragile" stickers without adequate packaging.
Take, for example, the current crop of TVs. Some idiot orders one from buy.com or walmart.com, and a 52" TV that is delivered to the stores, 3 at a time, banded to a skid, is instead just picked up, a shipping label slapped on it, and out the door to the UPS/FedEx/other small parcel carrier of choice. These items are not packaged correctly for that kind of shipment- which is why, if you read the fine print, most carriers are not liable for damages to them.
Or, for a more "WTFBBQ?" example, let's say I'm shipping, to you, restaurant-grade plates. Nice, solid, plates, dishwasher safe. If you were a restaurant supply business that gets these in regularly with the "FRAGILE" markings all over the package, you laugh at the labeling. Inside, there is a latticework of corrugated cardboard, if you're lucky double-walled, that seperates each plate into a compartment. There is no other packaging. No bubble wrap. Nothing to hold structural integrity. There is about 50 pounds of china in this package, and each plate is separated from it's neighbor by.... a piece of cardboard.
After watching packages like that come through, over and over again, people quit caring about "FRAGILE". If the shipper can't be bothered to package something in a manner that it would survive a 3 to 5 foot drop (depending on carrier) the carrier isn't liable anyway. People tend to put more and more stickers on things that are packaged poorly. If it's packaged well, short of getting run over by the delivery van, it shouldn't be damaged in shipping. Not that accidents don't happen- FedEx, for instance, uses conveyor systems to get packages from trailers to the delivery vans, and the system allows for "sorters" to push packages off one conveyor down chutes to a second. In theory there should be no damage here, again, but sometimes packages will jam in the conveyor, or stick in the chutes, and before the busy handler notices there is a 145 pound UPS battery pack jammed up against your mother's crystal. It happens.
Add in people who ship lawnmowers with oil already in the engine- "THIS SIDE UP". Well, newsflash: it has to go in the delivery van. There is only so much room in one of these, and if your box doesn't FIT under the shelves in the back "THIS SIDE UP", and doesn't fit in the aisle between the shelves where the driver can get around it, it WILL end up on a side, probably leaking oil into parts of the motor it shouldn't be in. Far too many shippers don't actually know how packages are handled once they leave their facilities and just assume "cheaper is better".
If I seem bitter about this, it's because I've seen a lot of it. I've been the guy sorting between conveyors and had a poorly packaged box spill shards of glass all over. I've watched co-workers take a bath in acid because some idiot didn't know how to package his hazardous materials for shipping. I've had a printer from a major manufacturer get shipped in the nice shiny cardboard box you see it in at the store, with the single strip of cheap tape holding the box shut fall out of the bottom of the box when I picked it up. I've lost count of how many times I've seen someone cram a box that was too small for the contents just so they wouldn't pay the upcharge for the next size up oversize shipping. Or hardcover books shipped in cheap, paper envelopes that are just a half inch too small- so the corners of the books tear the paper, regardless of handling. Shippers tend to look at it from an overall business perspective. It's the Fight Club recall thing all over- if the cost of better packaging is more than the cost of dealing with damaged goods, they'll keep the craptastic packaging.
Ummm.... I know wikipedia shouldn't be trusted, but:
You're using a keyboard! How quaint!


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Major Description
Students selecting a major in Human Resources Management will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) degree under the program of study offered by the William G. McGowan School of Business. A minor in Human Resources Management is also available as a part of the William G. McGowan School of Business program of study.
Human Resources Management emphasizes the human side of business, developing and managing the most valuable resource in the work setting - people. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) with major in Human Resources Management (HRM) degree prepares students to function as human resource professionals in a variety of settings such as government agencies, health care, financial institutions, and business and industry.
Since the management of human resources involves an understanding of individuals, organizations, and business, the curriculum draws upon several disciplines, including psychology and management. A special feature of the major is the internship in which advanced students work closely with a HRM professional and a faculty member to learn first-hand what opportunities and challenges exist in this rapidly growing field. The career outlook is bright for human resources professionals. For the graduating student, entry-level positions with solid starting salaries and advancement opportunities exist in such occupations as human relations, training and development, human resources management, labor relations, employee recruitment and selection, and compensation and benefits.
In addition, the major prepares students wishing to pursue graduate studies in areas such as Industrial Psychology, Management, and HRM as well as other professional fields in which knowledge of business and the principles of human behavior are essential.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) with major in Human Resources Management
- Human Resources Management Minor


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First Financial Service Corp., the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, will be sold to an Indiana bank company.
The definitive agreement finalizing the deal was signed Monday night. It had been approved earlier in the day by the First Financial board of directors and the board of Community Bank Shares of Indiana.
It is a stock transaction valued at approximately $17.9 million. No money is changing hands in the deal, according to a joint news release issued Tuesday morning by the companies.
Greg Schreacke, the president of First Financial Service Corp., relayed the news to First Federal employees this morning. In an interview, he said all employees with direct customer contact, including tellers and loan officers, will continue with the new company. The eight-member executive team of the local institution will not be retained, he said.
Schreacke said the two businesses are "basically combining" but Community Bank Shares "will be the surviving entity."
The deal is pending regulatory approval from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which will take 90 days or more, Schreacke said.
Under the new ownership, First Federal's offices in six Kentucky counties will be rebranded under the name Your Community Bank.
Community Bank Shares of Indiana, which is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the notation CBIN, is based in New Albany, Ind. It operates Scott County State Bank and the Your Community Bank locations in southern Indiana.
For more details regarding the transaction, see Wednesday's print edition of The News-Enterprise.
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Buildings & Grounds
Climbing on College Buildings and Structures
Climbing on any building or structure, including the Water Tower, scaffolding, roofs, scaling buildings, tall trees, etc. is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in a fine of up to $250 or other disciplinary sanctions. This rule exists because a fall could cause severe injury or death. The College is not responsible for injuries resulting from climbing on college buildings or structures.
For Students
Keywords: water tower, fine, climbing, trees, prohibited, roof
Maintained by Dean of Students


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|Comments on Call for Donations to help John Long
|Add Comment
| Comments displayed oldest to newest — Skip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Dec 30, 2012
By Harold
From: Bayfield, CO
Dec 7, 2012
|How much longer will he be in the hospital for? Bummer he didn't have insurance.
By Andy Laakmann
Site Landlord
From: Bend, OR
Dec 7, 2012
|MP just chipped in.
By John Hegyes
From: Las Vegas, NV
Dec 7, 2012
|Tough break. He'll be all patched up in no time.
By Matt Roberts
From: Columbus, OH
Dec 7, 2012
By john bissell
Dec 9, 2012
|Wishing you a fast and full recovery.
By kevin murphy
From: Lafayette, Colorado
Dec 9, 2012
By the way this is a scam, do not donate!!!!
By Christian
From: Casa do Cacete
Dec 9, 2012
Although apparently scams have occured w ChipIn before, if you read all the threads, including the ones on Supertopo, there's nothing to indicate that this isn't a well-meaning friend raising money for John.
One delusional angry guy desperately trying to justify some assholish post he made (and was then deleted by MP) does not a scam make.
from ST threads
John's message when he found out about it:
Thanks for all the support. I'l make it through this.
Any "fund" was done without my knowledge and while no doubt well-intended is not the way to go. Nobody just gives money to a slush pot for people to spend on hot rods and lap dances or whatever.
Such a plan if needed will be way later. But I appreciate the thought.
Great to have friends.
from another friend of John's:
"No I don't, Krista was one of the people that actually went with John to UCLA Emergency Room. She was just trying to help. I am sure if people will fact check instead of making assumptions things will explain themselves. Until then, please take a step back and give this a little breathing room. She's one of the gals at the gym. One thing for dang sure, John can take care of this...."
By kevin murphy
From: Lafayette, Colorado
Dec 10, 2012
"Any "fund" was done without my knowledge and while no doubt well-intended is not the way to go. Nobody just gives money to a slush pot for people to spend on hot rods and lap dances or whatever.
Such a plan if needed will be way later. But I appreciate the thought.'
That sums it up.
By Christian
From: Casa do Cacete
Dec 10, 2012
|See Supertopo thread for news on the ChipIn donation effort.
By rgold
From: Poughkeepsie, NY
Dec 10, 2012
Well, there are updates on the updates. The fund continues to be up and will remain active, apparently with Largo's blessing, his original comment notwithstanding. It seems clear at this point that the fund will continue to be open for contributions until January 31, which is its designated expiration date, at which point it will be turned over to John in its entirety.
The money is not being returned unless a donor contacts Krista, who is administering the fund, and asks for a refund. Her email address appears on the fund's contribution page after you click "contribute" (but before you commit to anything).
The only way to keep up with all this and understand the situation as it unfolds is to read the Super Topo threads, although as happened on MP, there will be a certain amount of chop to navigate.
By Christian
From: Casa do Cacete
Dec 11, 2012
"The chipin is still active for those wishing to donate. John knows about the fund and has endorsed it on Rock and Ice. Sorry for the confusion. "
Krista Goodsitt on ST
By kevin murphy
From: Lafayette, Colorado
Dec 11, 2012
|Good to hear.
By MarcDurant
From: Boulder, CO
Dec 11, 2012
|If John Long wants to take my $20 and spend it on hookers and hot rods, I've got no problem with that.
By Russ Walling
From: www.FishProducts.com
Dec 13, 2012
In a nutshell, it sounds as though nobody should donate via ChipIn or any other "fund" for Largo at this time. Any donations or fundraisers will be announced at a later date and the stamp of legitimacy will be that Rick Accomozzo will be attached to any efforts.
Update post from Largo can be found here:
By Russ Walling
From: www.FishProducts.com
Dec 14, 2012
Latest update:
Dec. 14, 2012 - 01:12pm PT
Spoke to John this morning. Here is what is happening:
John is having surgery today, apparently the last one. The leg appears to be healing properly, and he is looking forward to getting out of the hospital in a week or so.
I am going to sit down with John after he gets out of the hospital and evaluate with him the need for future fundraising efforts. If there is a need and John wants us to go ahead, we will then make plans for a coordinated and robust fundraiser. We will announce it on this thread and start a new one at that time.
John wanted to thank Krista again for the "chip in" fundraising effort. She is going to deliver proceeds to him today. These funds will be used to defray the costs of his daughter's travel expenses and for other incidentals during his hospital stay. As of today, John wants the interim, "chip in' fundraising effort shut down.
To all those who have contributed money, offered thoughts and prayers, and suggested ideas for fundraising, John thanks you. To all who want to help John, please hold those thoughts until we evaluate the need and then announce a fundraising goal to fill that need.
The outpouring of good will from this community is palpable and heart warming. John is very moved by this and appreciates it greatly.
Rick Accomazzo
By Dankasaurus
From: Lyons, CO
Dec 30, 2012
So nice to hear that despite the accident, JL is cracking jokes and healing up. Part of the reason, I'm quite sure, that he is healing and in good spirits is because of the physical presence of his daughter, other friends, and family.
All best to John Long, and his family and friends, and all the climbing community in 2013! Be safe, be considerate, and have fun!
P.S. Another thought that could perhaps use its own thread...is there a systematic way to protect the legends of climbing who have given so much of their time and their bodies and taken so little in the form of financial compensation? Kind of like an Access Fund for the pioneers and legends of climbing.


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Electric Food Slicer - 8.5 Inch Blade
Description & Highlights
Deni Electric Food Slicer with 8.5 Inch Blade
Enjoy fresher-than-deli meals at home with this Electric Food Slicer (14250) from Deni. The stainless steel 8.5 inch blade slices through boneless meats, cheeses and breads with precision and ease while the angled platform allows food to fall easily from the blade after being sliced. Save money and wasted meat by buying in bulk and slicing as needed.
With this versatile meat slicer, preparing multiple entrées or various side dishes for dinner is easier than ever. Simply turn the adjustable thickness knob to the left for larger slices or to the right for thinner slices. The sturdy food pusher is designed to grip and hold food in place while slicing for perfectly even, never shredded slices every time. Additional features include a blade speed control setting, a childproof safety function, an extra large platform for hams roasts and blocks of cheese, and a quality plastic serving tray.
This diecast aluminum slicer comes ready to use, no assembly required.
Speed Control Setting:Set the blade speed to low for fragile foods like bread and soft vegetables; set it to high for tougher foods such as meats and cheeses
Easy Cleaning:With a retractable platform and removable stainless steel blade, cleaning the slicer is as easy as popping off the blade and cleaning as needed
Thickness-Control Dial:Located on the back of the unit, the thickness control knob can set to ultra-thin by turning completely clockwise, extra thick (more than 1/2") by turning completely counter clockwise, or somewhere in the middle depending on the task at hand
Food Pusher:The strong food pusher is ideal for slippery meats and odd-shaped items as it grips and holds them tightly into place while cutting
High Quality Motor:The powerful 150 watt motor allows for precision and depth control when cutting foods varying in size, shape and consistency. Even cut through deeply frozen foods with ease
- Model: 142508.5 inch stainless steel blade
- Brand: DeniBlade speed control settings
- Electric food slicerAdjustable thickness control dial
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- Extra large angled platform for large itemsRemovable blade
- Food pusher grips and holds food in placeRetractable platform
- Handles for easy carryingChildproof safety feature
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- Warranty: 1 year limitedDimensions: 12" H x 17" L x 9.5" W
- Deni Electric Food Slicer
- Height: 12"
- Length: 17"
- Width: 9.5"


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You are here:
|Knowledgeability = 10
|Clarity of Response = 10
|Politeness = 10
|Clear and concise response. Very knowledgable. Thank you
Answers by Expert:
I can answer questions dealing with firearms and their development due to western expansion. I can answer most questions about any firearms of the world manufactured after the Civil War(1868 - present. I can offer safety warnings about these. I can offer opinions and the reasons behind these. I can also answer questions about Iver Johnson firearms. I can identify by pictures most firearms. If your question involves a firearm you have access to, please include a good quality photo with your question.
I have been at the study of firearms and their use since my first issue of Field and Stream in 1962.At that time I was completely devoted to rifles, but over the years I have experienced the thrill of the hunt with handguns, shotguns and of course rifles. I moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico in 1972 and, since, I have taken numerous game and non-game animals with all firearms (cannons excluded)including blackpowder muzzleloading rifles,shotguns and handguns. My favorite handgun for large non-game animals, such as feral hogs, is my Uberti replica of a 1847 Colt Walker. Very heavy, but accurate.
I am a 1973 high school graduate. Junior and senior year I developed a class on Wildlife Depredation and Conservation of our Rocky Mountain states. My specialty was the brown bear.
Awards and Honors
New Mexico Hunter Safety Program Instructor 15 year award.
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I have the goal of entering the Qualifying stake in the spring. After reading the rule book and viewing a few Qual threads, I'm still wondering how they're typically structured.
Here's what I've garnered so far:
Triple marks with at least one retired gun
Diversion birds are allowed as are diversion crates, guns, bird bags
Land Blind
Water Blind
Can you share your experiences with me? Are there shoreline blinds, delayed multiples with blinds to run before getting memory birds? Wipeout marks?
Are Quals as "busy" as a difficult Master test? Yes I will try to watch a couple, but they're usually in conflict with the derby.


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Results 11 to 20 of 22
baking something in the home thats very fragrant should help too (and leave it out for snackers). i think the most popular thing would be cinnamon rolls. if theres no time for baking throw some cinnamon sticks in a pot of boiling water for a half hour then hide the pot. the smell of cinnamon is very attractive to most people. i think i heard its because they think of the holidays and such...KING OF THE GOLD BARBS RAWR!!!!
I wonder if i plant one of my tiger barbs would the demon seed grow to a full tree?
gotta love them bunnies!
I.R.S.: We've got what it takes to take what you've got!
Remove family pictures/etc from view. Remove kids toys, dog toys, drawings, etc from view of buyers. Depersonalizing your home makes it more attractive to a buyer as they could begin to start planning it as theirs during the walk through. Keep closets tidy and move all excess garb to a storage facility. This conveys the home as not having much storage which is a huge concern for a buyer. Keep your yard well mowed and do your best to tidy up the front view of the home, nothing extreme but it makes it appear you have tended the home. Also may be a good idea to wash the exterior of the home including the windows, siding, brick, sidewalk, etc. This also makes the home appear well cared for. Keep one light on per room in a pleasing warm hue this makes even simple spaces appear more attractive. Take an objective look at your bathrooms and kitchen...any seriously dated tile, fixtures, faucets etc may be worth replacing especially in this tough market. Have your carpets deep cleaned to avoid any stains, freshly cleaned carpets also appear much newer even if they are older.
The thing that sold me on my new home despite the fact it is 1/3 the size of the home I am in the process of selling is the fact it was immaculate. The owner was still living in it but had taken the extra steps to really depersonalize the space so I could begin to see the home in terms of what I wanted to do with it. The bathrooms were small and somewhat dated but everything was spotless even the grout was without stains. The kitchen was much the same, and yes the fixtures were ugly and reminded me of spiders but I could see the potential without excess clutter, ugly wallpaper, and general dirt and grime. The outside was also quaint yet well manicured...it really does make a world of difference if your buyer can start visioning themselves living there instead of seeing that someone else currently does.3x75 gallons|2x55 gallons|2x50 gallons|3x40 gallons|1x29 gallon|1x10 gallon
A few things that i'll add as someone that is actually looking at houses trying to buy.
1. If you don't have a garden out front of the house, look into tossing one in - not very hard or expensive, just do 1 row of the blocks, a few simple cheap annuals and mulch
2. I think have furniture in the house helps a ton, rather than someone seeing a space and going... "i don't think my couch will fit" they will see yours and go "ok, so a couch can fit"
3. Point 2 is a double edged sword though, you def can't have it too cluttered
4. Fix any holes in the walls, water stains on sealing, and def don't have a fresh paint smell
5. Have an AC / Heat on to keep the temp very comfortable. Nothing is worse than walking into a house at 85* and sweating while looking at it
6. Make the front yard look good, to me that is the major "superficial" thing i look at, paint can be re-done, but having a nice yard is always welcoming
7. Overall, just clean like your in-laws were coming over lol
De-cluttering is happening. I guess I will have to rent storage space...de-cluttering doesn't help much if I've boxes all over the place...
I just realised something. the best thing about forums - when you move, and it doesn't matter how far, you take these friends with you, nothing changes...
Immaculate kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. A dirty lav or kitchen is an immediate turn off to buyers. Any money you put into detailing and upgrading these rooms before a sale will pay dividends. If the rest of the house is in decent shape you should do well. Now that interest rates may be on the way up, buyers will want to jump on good deals rather than let rates go up and have their buying power decline. Good luck.
I had a house in FL that was listed for two years and never sold. I got rid of my agent and listed it myself and it sold in two weeks. The problem with an agent is they have thousands of houses to show people and you have only one.
I would plan my own open house, make a batch of cookies to make the place smell really good and put them out for those walking through. Everyone mentioned de-cluttering and that's a great point. You don't want closets looking too cramped and you don't want kitchen counters full of equipment. Put away the coffee pot, toaster, etc.
For your own safety, do not show the house to private people without someone there with you. Have them make an appointment so you can have a friend there with you. It can be a little iffy having some dude popping in you don't know and you take him to look at your bedroom. I actually hid anything of valve they could grab and just told them to walk around at will and check the place out. They don't like being followed around, anyway.
The abstract office or any real estate broker can do the closing for you. Run an Open House every Saturday or Sunday if need be.
I was advised to remove things that made a room look small, baking something (Pillsbury crescent rolls) to make the home smell "homy" was another tip. Cleanliness is vital, remember these folks (buyers) will poke their noses everywhere. But a competent realtor should get you on the right track regardless and should considering what their take is in the end...Btw, you leaving Ontario? Wouldn't blame you with the mess we are in. We are out if here soon as youngest graduates.Life is tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid (John Wayne)
If you're not angry, you are not paying attention (Ralph Nader)
9 Tanks (2-29G QT) ranging from 150G to 10G for my 1/2 moon Beta
Just had a meeting with my real estate agent. She actually got me to list the place higher than I would have done on my own...and yes, she gave me a list of chores to do (she called them "suggestions, hmph!) but on the whole I'm all good.
The problem is I'm going to be away for the whole week while the place is being shown, so I won't be able to do much about homey smells. Clean, decluttered - I feel like I'm moving out right now, I've been packing so much stuff (where does it all come from?)
Thanks so much for all your suggestions. I'm reading and re-reading them to try and see if I can't implement them all.
And no, Surfdog, I'm just heading north a few hours. But honestly, is it better anywhere else? Corrupt politicians, business concerns running roughshod over environmental ones, or zero prospects for the population, none of the others seem to be doing all that much better...people who feel entitled and the sum of all progress being measured by $$ seem to the pattern everywhere.
Didn't want to turn this into, well, you know. Honestly I'm thinking Alberta/Saskatchewan, have friends there and there just doesn't seem to be as much nonsense going on, at least visible, lol. Whatever the reason, or where ever your going, I hope it's as smooth and effortless as possible...Life is tough, it's even tougher if you're stupid (John Wayne)
If you're not angry, you are not paying attention (Ralph Nader)
9 Tanks (2-29G QT) ranging from 150G to 10G for my 1/2 moon Beta
+1000000000000 to the above
Nothing wrong with living in Saskatchewan.If you take your time to do the research FIRST, you can successfully set-up and keep ANY type of aquarium with ease.
"Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony Calfo
Fishless Cycle Cycling with Fish Marine Aquarium Info [URL="http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.com/"]


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Discontinued Product
Sorry, the manufacturer is no longer producing this product.
Description & Highlights
Scotsman Touch Free Air-Cooled 294 Lbs Flake Ice Maker / Dispenser
At Scotsman, the TouchFree icemaker/water dispenser has been enhanced inside and out with new, sleek, European styling and a 25% reduction in fan noise. Our new TouchFree dispensers are perfect for the quietest hallway or the busiest cafeteria. Plus, we improved the dispensing are on our smaller units to accommodate a greater variety of containers.
Specifically designed to meet the strict requirements of health care facilities, the Scotsman TouchFree icemaker/water dispenser is becoming a favorite for patient care, food service and laboratories.
The TouchFree dispensers eliminate the use of levers and buttons because of its unique infrared sensor design that determines when to dispense ice or water. Since there is no physical contact with the surfaces of the machine, the risk of cross-contamination is dramatically reduced. The TouchFree Icemaker/Water Dispensers comply with the most stringent requirements of the National Sanitation Foundation and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
***Please note that this machine does not come with a plug. This machine must be hardwired.
- Manufacturer: ScotsmanModel: MDT3F12
- Sleek, high-tech styled design with durable plastic front and top panelsUp to 25% less fan noise allows installation of the unit in the quietest hallways
- Improved dispensing with easier access and room for most containersTouchFree actuation provides convenient one-hand operations and eliminates the risk of cross-contamination
- Flexible Utility LocationMakes And Dispenses Flaked Ice
- Select ice only or ice and water at the touch of a switch, conveniently located on front panelProduces up to 392 lbs. per 24 hours
- 12 Lb Ice Bin CapacityElectrical: 115V / 60Hz / 1ph
- NSF ListedWeight: 155 pounds
- Warranty: 2 years parts & labor on all components, 5 year parts on compressorDimensions: 34 1/4"h x 14"w x 23 3/4"d
- Height: 34 1/4"
- Width: 14"
- Depth: 23 3/4"


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Math Activities
List View Grid View
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2 items
Bead Bar Stamp BoxThis sturdy hardwood box is 11¾" x 4¼" at the wide end. Used in the Bead Bar Stamp Set. Learn More
Small Deci-Pockets - Storage for your numeral tilesChildren can bring the Small Deci-Pockets (15" x 19") filled with a set of small numeral cards to their work area. After they have demonstrated the ability to lay out the numeral cards correctly, use these pockets for Bank Game activities. Learn More
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In "Decision Time," Editor Brian Lovett will share a scenario from his 20-plus years hunting turkeys. Each hinges on a critical decision. Post what choice you would have made, and then see how things actually turned out.
Pasture Blaster
Lying prone in the midmorning Florida sun, I was drenched with sweat and almost ready to pass out. My neck felt like someone had stepped on it, and I didn't want to know what was crawling up my back. I was pretty sure my vest was caught on several thorns — at least I hoped they were thorns.
Pretty standard stuff, really.
How did I get into that mess at the brushy edge of a large Florida cattle pasture? A bunch of turkeys, of course. Specifically, three or four longbeards with a huge wad of hens. The birds had been out of sight to my left when I'd eased to the pasture edge to look at them. My friends and I had already determined that they wouldn't gobble or otherwise react to calling, but the strutters were drumming enough that I could follow their movements somewhat.
But that was the problem. Most of the birds were still over a small rise and obscured by brush to my left, probably about 100 yards away. There was no guarantee they'd come close enough for a shot. In fact, it was more likely that they'd ease back toward the center of the large field.
Decision time: Should I wait at my uncomfortable ambush site and hope the turkeys drifted toward me? Or would it be wiser to risk bumping the birds by backing out, easing closer to them along the brushy field edge and trying to find a better setup?
What would you have done? Post your decision below.
Click here for Lovett's decision.
Click here to get ready for the season with your Spring Gobbler Hunter's Value Pack!


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Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002 (50 USC 401) requires the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive to submit a strategy for the counterintelligence programs and activities of the U.S. Government. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 states that the strategy must be revised or updated once every three years.
In 2005, the first national counterintelligence strategy was released. In 2007, the strategy included involving the private sector and academia in counterintelligence efforts. In 2008, the strategy was revised to emphasize cybersecurity efforts and standardize procedures to respond to supply chain vulnerabilities and intelligence leaks.


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You can't help but smile back at this casserole. It has the all-time favorite flavor--pizza!
For 21 grams of fat and 425 calories per serving, use Italian turkey sausage.
For variety, add sliced ripe olives, sliced pepperoni (cut into fourths) or chopped tomatoes instead of the mushrooms to the pizza sauce mixture.
For a special Halloween treat, use a small cookie cutter to cut a jack-o'-lantern, cat, pumpkin or moon shape of the dough circle before putting it on the beef mixture.
© 2017 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


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By Shuli Ren
Citi raised their 12-month target price for Trina Solar (TSL) from $5 to $11.50 and raised its EPS estimates into 2015.
But the bank decides to maintain its Neutral rating, because Trina Solar is an upstream manufacturer with limited exposure to the more profitable downstream developer business. Analysts Shahriar Pourreza, Timothy Lam and Jason Channell wrote:
From a top-down standpoint, we still favor downstream developers versus upstream manufacturers given clearly evident structural and cyclical headwinds. The supply/demand fundamentals for upstream manufacturers remains challenged and we view early to mid-2015 as a time where we should see a tighter supply/demand balance as T2 and T3 manufacturers exit the industry.
TSL, regionally, is one of the more diversified China-based upstream manufacturers with expanding exposure in sustainable growth markets including China, India, US, and Australia; however, we look for more concrete signs of improvement before changing our stance on pure-play manufacturers – for now, we remain on the sidelines.
On the development front, TSL has strategically shifted its business mix into the downstream. Our estimates for systems shipments for 2013, 2014 and 2015 are 108MW, 426MW and 454MW, respectively. The shift in business mix to the downstream business is mainly focused in China – we remain conservative.
Why don't the analysts like the upstream business? I dug out their initiation report back in February for you. The analysts were saying then the upstream manufacturers' products were not differentiable, which would compress margins:
The upstream segment of the solar value chain is going through a permanent structural shift – mainly the commoditization of the panel manufacturing business. Two implications of this: (1) upstream players will find it ever more difficult to differentiate themselves on modules alone – manufacturers will need to offer more services including shifting resources further downstream into development, EPC and O&M services and (2) manufacturers will never see gross margin levels attained prior to the sector bust. Our survey of ~20 electric utilities in the US reinforced these notions. So, while we expect margins to recover as the solar sect or works its way out of a cyclical trough, which will take some time to play out, will we ever see gross margin levels witnessed prior to the downturn for the panel manufacturers? We doubt it.
Citi raised its EPS estimates because of:
(1) further stabilization in pricing, (2) increased shipments, (3) improved overall gross margins, and (4) a shift in business mix with more emphasis on the downstream – something that TSL has commented on in the past.


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Our Grand Welfare President (you know... the guy who is "in touch" with the workin class folks) creates a new law by which:
PEOPLE are mandated (read : Required by Law) to purchase an insurance product (or else pay the tax/penalty whatever sounds good to the scotus)
The insurance company is NOT mandated or required by law manage rates, co-pays, etc.
SO... (in my demented car-dealer brain)....
If I were an insurance company owner, this would be the greatest birthday present EVER!! I would have all the customers in the world, who cannot shop state to state, so I have a near monopoly and now the doctors are at MY mercy with no requirements on premiums OR coverage levels....
And yet this is somehow NOT crony capitalism and it's GOOD for the people?????? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
Let's dig in and see which insurance groups, funded by TARP and now supported by Obamacare donated to a SuperPac.
???????????????????????????????????????????And you say Romney is a bad guy??????????????????????????????????????????
This president has blatantly lied to the American people, subjected them to serfdom, is begging to remove our God and our guns, and wants to shove Mohammad down our throats.
I am so excited for him to have some flexibility "after" the election.


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HOME Billabong Gear Billabong Accessories Billabong Accessories Wallets (13 items) Product ID: 1072330
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Make sure when you Kash Out you have the best style with the wallet from Billabong. It features two slide compartments on each side, clip for your belt or pocket and debossed graphics.
- One main compartment
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Description: From Dritz Home, Make to Match Buttons are the perfect way to accessorize your home décor projects! Just add your favorite fabric to make 3 of your very own custom buttons. Button will have a shank attachment. Pattern, 3 button ...
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Description: These 5/8'' buttons are perfect for sewing, scrapbooking and crafts! These nylon buttons have a flat back with 2-hole attachment. There 20 buttons per 20/Package.
Description: This button is made of coconut and measures 3/4'' with a flat back and 2-hole sew through attachment. There are two buttons per card.
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Beatrice Eugenia Davidson
Beatrice Eugenia Davidson, 107, who passed away February 9, 2013, was born on a farm near Storm Lake, Iowa, on March 5, 1905. She was the only daughter and eldest of the five children born to Roy and Eugenia (LeDoux) Davidson. When she was one year old, the family moved from the farm to Storm Lake. She attended the schools in Storm Lake and was a graduate of Buena Vista University where she majored in education.
She taught in the public schools of Buena Vista County for twenty-five years. Beatrice was an accomplished musician in both piano and organ. She furnished the music in her church for many years. She also gave lessons to many of her school pupils. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church and taught primary classes in Sunday School.
In 1944 she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she resided for twenty-five years. Until the end of World War II, she worked at the Boeing Aircraft Co. where she was a shop inspector. Then she was employed as a bookkeeper in the office of the J. C. Penney Co. and lastly as the secretary to the purchasing agent of the Fremont Electric Co. It was during her stay in Seattle that she met and married her husband, Peter Wasylewych, who passed away in 1967. In 1968 she retired and moved to Madison, Wisconsin.
She was a past Junior Regent of the Women of the Moose. She was a member of that organization for over thirty-five years. She was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary #623. She served that organization as Madam President for two terms. She was Madam Conductor on the Ritual team for over ten years and was named Madam Conductor on the State All-star team three times. In 1984 she was given the honor of being named "Mrs. Eagle" of the year. In May, 1998, she was honored by the Auxiliary President by being named "Auxiliary Mother" of the year.
She was a sixty-nine year member of the Modern Woodmen of America. She was a volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital where she received an award for 300 hours of service. She also did volunteer work at the Atwood Center and the Madison Senior Center.
Bea was preceded in death by her parents, her four brothers and their spouses, Carroll and Loretta, Floyd and Dorothy, Claire and Eleanor, Roy and Eleanor, and a niece Ellen Davidson Lange. She is survived by nieces and nephews, Patricia Davidson of Storm Lake, Jim and Sandy Davidson of Burlington, Gordon and Deb Davidson of Waterloo, Karen and Dale Piercy of Sioux Rapids, and Greg and Mary Kempfer of Michigan City, Indiana, six great nieces and nephews and ten great-great nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Gunderson Funeral Home on Monona Drive on Friday, February 15, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with her nephew Jim Davidson officiating. The Women of the Eagles Auxiliary will have a memorial followed by the regular service. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Cancer or Diabetes Funds.
May she rest at home with her Savior and find everlasting peace.
Memorials may be made to Cancer or Diabetes Funds.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on friday at the funeral home.
A memorial service will be held at the Gunderson Funeral Home on Monona Drive on Friday, February 15, 2012 at 11:00 a. m. The Women of the Eagles Auxiliary will have a memorial followed by the regular service.


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The Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE) has been designated an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Centre of Diabetes Education for the period 2009-2012. Founded in 1996, the institute has grown from a single room diabetes clinic to a tertiary care centre, providing comprehensive services under one roof.
Education facilities:
- IT Department maintaining computerized records of all patients, and providing support services to the organization of data sharing management, and application support for the Health Care Management System (HCMS).
- Training and courses: among others, a post-graduate "Diploma in Diabetology" for physicians, a "Diploma in Diabetes Education' for paramedics, and a Training Course for Foot-Care assistants, awarded by Baqai Medical University.
Diploma in Diabetes Education
This is a one-year, full-time course, the first of its kind in Pakistan. The curriculum is based on the "International Curriculum for Diabetes Health Professional Education" developed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The course encompasses all necessary education requirements related to diabetes and its management. Upon completion of the course, the trained educator will have the skills to conduct one-to-one and group education sessions in a diabetes unit/clinic, under the supervision of a diabetologist or consultant.
- During the first three months of the course, BIDE provides intensive teaching and practical training.
- The diploma programme includes two didactic courses. Each course has three units and is of 6 weeks duration.
Full description of the diploma (pdf).
Clinical facilities:
- Out-Patient Department functioning with an innovative concept of collaborative services; where consultation and advice provided by the consultant diabetologist, nutritionist, and diabetes educator, coupled with prompt laboratory support services, has made the management plan of a single visit increasingly convenient and compliant.
- Department of Dietetics & Education providing self-care and management courses, individualized diet plans, a 24-hour telephone advisory service, public awareness programmes and activities, such as annual diabetes awareness walks.
- Foot clinic - Pakistan Working Group on the Diabetic Foot, PWGDF - consisting of a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive foot-care services.
- Peripheral Diabetes Centers (8 in total) run by healthcare professionals who have received a one-year diploma in diabetology. A special software has been designed to incorporate all the relevant data from these centers into a single centralized pool.
- Inpatient Department consisting of a High Dependency Unit for people with diabetes that require emergency treatment, intensive monitoring and in-house management.
- Research centre affiliated with Nottingham University


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View e-mail address | Add Contact Info to Outlook
BB 219A Phone: 765-285-8621
Department of History
Burkhardt Building (BB), room 200
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
Sarah Drake Brown joined the Department of History in August 2007and she is the Director of Social Studies Education in the Department. She has published articles on history teacher certification, state standards in history, and systematic approaches to improving historical thinking. In 2003 the Organization of American Historians and the American Historical Association published the report she co-authored with John J. Patrick, History Education in the United States: A Survey of Teacher Certification and State-Based Standards and Assessments for Teachers and Students. She received her M.A. in history from Purdue University and her Ph.D. in curriculum studies with a focus on history education from Indiana University. Her current work focuses on teachers' development of historical cognition.
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This is our fifth cake at The Home Bakers, an event organised by Joyce where we are all currently baking from the book Coffee Cakes by Lou Seibert Pappas. Just as the name implies, this is a butter cake with an almond crust. The picture in the book shows a very nice piece and mine...haha..it looks kind of weird with all the almonds sticking out. Firstly, we grease the pan and then we coat the sides of our baking pan with the almonds and later pour the batter into the pan..this is what we did in order to get an almond crust. So with each bite of the cake, you get some bites of the almond flakes, not in the cake but on the crust. Overall, I find this cake okay, smooth and it comes with tight crumbs, it isnt dry but it gives kind of sticky texture that i need to gobble up a glass of water after eating..you know what i mean.
|the picture from the book
I made half a recipe in a muffin pan and it yields 9 mini cakes. For the recipe, you can refer to Emily's blog and to see the rest of the members who had posted their almond crusted cakes, visit here
On something else, do you know what are those shown in the picture below? They are so called 'necklaces' and made from a very old t-shirt of mine. I will be attending a function next week and there will be a fashion show on 'recycling' theme. The costume is provided by someone and what me and the rest will be wearing are outfits made from and decorated with recycling materials like plastic bags, shower sponge and those black tapes from vhs tapes, even black garbage bags. I laughed at the one wearing black garbage bags, she looks like a garbage girl! I wished that i could show my dress to you but it's not with me now. I'm really bad at doing all these kind of things, i cant even sew ..so these necklaces are what i made to add-on onto my costume..actually i'm not sure if i will wear that, but just make them first and see how..but definately not going to put some coke cans or bottles on me :D


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So what do us islanders think of these new december figures??
personally i think we have too many of these guys and ones from cut scenes!!!
don't get me started
we need more background characters
if they had an arena wave of Jedi and poggle etc i would buy the lot
but this lot wont sell very fast but i suppose it is xmas so all the little kiddies will want those ones


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For a delicious take on pizza, top it with smoked sausage and caramelized onions and then prepare it on the grill.
Shape the pizza to fit your grill. This may mean making the dough round instead of rectangular.
Any type of precooked sausage can be used instead of kielbasa. Or try pepperoni, Canadian bacon, cooked chorizo or your favorite veggies.
© 2017 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


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I'm sure you are well aware Caesar but incase you aren't, Jenna is on Leno tomorrow (Thursday) night.
"That's the best deal you're gonna get. I won't tell you you can save yourself, because you can't."
Caesar recently decided he should have a backup for his personal archive of The Office kept at my house (ie he burnt me a copy ) and I watched both seasons in about 3 days. Very good stuff, I'm hooked!
Hells Yes JJB. One of, if not, the best show on TV!
Great ep tonight btw. Can't wait to watch it again.
"..Creed." <-- Creed introducing himself to Meredith.
"That's the best deal you're gonna get. I won't tell you you can save yourself, because you can't."
As I told Caesar a few days ago I now have a better understanding for his "Pam-a-tar" he had a few months back.
"I love inside jokes. I hope to be part of one someday."
[FONT=Arial Black]"I'M A LEAD FARMER, MOTHERF***ER!!!!!"[/FONT]
[FONT=Impact]Awesome Traders: JON9000, darkagent[/FONT]
Another great episode last night, top to bottom just loaded with instant classic bits.
Indeed UKDubs, I made sure to catch Jenna on TTS. How 'bout that zombie floor vac ?
I have so many favorite parts from last night, too many to type right now but since someone mentioned Creed introducing himself to Meredith, I'll add how he called Angela "Andrea" when defining her as the office *****.
Speaking of name calling, Dwight calling Angela "monkey" had me ****ing myself from the start.
Another home run episode, just loaded like I said.
That caught me COMPLETELY off guard. What I noticed too is when Angela storms off, he EATS some of her food! Just chomps away. Creed is really shining in the first two episodes so far and he's only had what, like 4 lines?
But yeah, last episode was fantastic. I really didn't expect to see Angela in Dwight's room and how Jim reacted was just fantastic.
Michael is just doing a great job of becoming MORE of an *** than he has in previous seasons? Carel is doing a great job this season.
and how great was it when Kelly kept feeding Ryan at the dinner table?!?? Holy God, that was good stuff.
and c'mon, how adorable was Toby being all Hugh Grant around Pam? I dunno if anything could go down there, but I smell something with those two and it's not Michael's office.
also, I was at Target this week and I spotted and bought this: http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/det...ae64da473f848f Thought you might dig it, Caesar.
Last edited by Jedi_Master_Guyute; 10-01-2006 at 12:20 PM.
"Woke up at 9.55am. Soon as I woke up, I looked at Suzanne and she looked at me. I said, 'Did I tell you about the immune system?' Suzanne starting laughing, I said, 'it's amazing.' She said, 'Not now.'"
WHOA, thanks for the tip JMG, I'll be browsing for that this week.
Good call on Creed, the way he starts eating "Andrea"'s soup is too funny.
Ryan and Kelly are great, the way he says "I don't like ketchup" and she replies "you love ketchup" while cramming it in his mouth is hilarious.
But WHY would he stay with her? Ryan seems like a smooth and confident guy, why would he get trapped with her like that? She's a cutie, for sure, but wayyyyyyyy too yappy as the show has proven time and again.


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Living Large!
Hey...Pablo Neruda was living the high live huh? Loved all the pics of the sea, and the empanada looks delicious.
Miss you much...I've got MJB...Missing Judith Blues..wah..wah..wah. Love ya!
Discovering Neruda
Trip Start Aug 26, 2007
40Trip End Jan 05, 2008
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So I�m finally able to find a "cyber cafe", as they are called here, with a fast enough speed to upload my photographs! That�s the good news. The not so good news is that each of my video and audio files is over 20 MBs, which is huge. It would take me 10 days to upload and it would crash your computer. Soooo...instead, I will continue to post my observations and pictures and as soon as I�m back in the US, I can compress the other multi-media goodies and post those right along.
On a side note, I found my first gray hair. It�s not very visible, but I know exactly where it is after looking at it on the top of my head for a few days. It�s as if it�s my body�s way of reminding me that my 30th birthday is only weeks away, lest I forget that detail in all of the excitement of this trip!! But what a better 30th birthday gift to myself, than to pursue dreams and adventures I�d always dreamed about? Even if it means I�ll be a starving writer when this is over, surviving only on tea herbs and ice shavings!!!
This trip is my first time wandering out of Santiago and on to Valparaiso, which is where Isla Negra is located. Isla Negra, by the way, is not an island. On the way to Isla Negra, I am giddy with excitement. The kind of excitement those that meet the president or a celebrity feel. Even though I am not meeting Neruda in the flesh, I am coming as close to him as is possible post-1973. Since I don�t want to miss a beat during this critical historical and personal visit, I decide to book a tour for this trip.
-As we all know, Chile is known for its wine, but what you may not know is that 70% of the wine produced in the region is red and the other 30% is white
-The typical Chilean dish is called "Pastel de Choclo", which is basically a corn pie with meat stuffed inside. Sounds like something I will definitely need to try.
-This has been a good year for olives in Chile, making this country one of the major exporters of Olive Oil (who would have thunk it!)
-The most typical Chilean drink is called the Pisco Sour, which is made from distilled grapes, sugar, and lemon. YUM. Definitely adding that to my list of "must try." Another variation of that, is the "Piscola" which is Pisco and Coke.
On the way to Isla Negra, Christian points out the Almond trees and Olive vines. We also make a stop at the seaside vacation town of Algorrobo. This is the Cape Cod of Chile, which is where most folks from Santiago come down to vacation. It�s very pretty and the Pacific Ocean is in all its full glory. It`s also pretty deserted, since it's winter here in Chile. Did I mention that before? The seasons are reversed here, because of that whole being under the equator thing.
To describe Pablo Neruda�s house, would be to minimize its beauty. The 30 years it took him to build it, were well worth it. Each room is filled with hand-picked pieces from all over the world: female sculptures from Italy & Prague, elaborate hand-made candle sticks from Mexico, a desk made from a wooden ship door that Neruda found floating at sea one day. This level of detail is maintained throughout the whole house. Now unfortunately, we were not alowed to take pictures inside the house, which only means that you will have to add Chile, along with Isla Negra to your list of "must see places!"
His love of women (and not just whoever was his wife at the time!) was also evident throughout the house. Even though he was married three times, he had many great loves. The female sculptures from all over the world adorned each and every room. Each piece of artwork had a love story and served as a great reminder for each of the great women in his life. I can only assume that Matilde, his 3rd wife, and the one that lived in Isla Negra with him, was not a jealous lady!!
Aside from the visual aspect of the Neruda house tour, I also went through a very personal internal tour. Not to get too deep, but I was very moved by the poet�s life, his persona as a writer, his love of travel and how much he accomplished both literarily and personally. I can relate to his love of travel, as well as to his need and inspiration to write that which only he can give the world. I was so inspired, in fact, that I wrote my first (and second and third!) poem in 13 years. I have never shared my poetry, because it�s so personal and not to mention so long ago that the topics seem irrelevant and silly now! However, as I mentioned a few entries ago, this trip is also about personal discovery and insight, so here goes. Keep in mind I wrote this on a tour bus on the way back from Isla Negra.
Thank You Neruda by Judith Fernandez
Love, seashells and inspiration
A long lost soul and dedication
Brisk ocean waves brimming with passion
And the sound of my own heartbeat on its way home
Endless treasures and a clear vision
Of multiple lives interwoven loosely
Yet tightly at the same time
Living together, loving together
Yet dying apart
A single gray strand that marks
The end of one journey and the birth of another
After Isla Negra, we headed to the nearby town of Pomeira for lunch. Pomeira is known for its huge 2 pound empanadas, as well as for being the makers of the well known, Chilean pottery, known as, surprise surprise, Pomeira Pottery. I had lunch with an interesting couple from Delaware that I met on the tour bus. She was Cuban, but had a brother that lived in the Dominican Republic, so we started chatting about that, as well as their love of travel. He is an actuary, who spoke little Spanish, but loved visiting Latin American countries with his wife. They�ve been married 20 years, which was hard to believe based on how young they looked, especially when I found out that they were both married before in prior marriages that lasted over 15 years each!
I couldn�t resist the urge to share my own divorce saga and it was so encouraging to see that they each found such long-lasting happiness with each other after not getting it right the first time around. As we chatted about life and love, we also sampled some of Chile�s finest cuisine. The empanada was huge, though in my estimation, not big enough to be 2 pounds. I wasn�t crazy about its healthy taste either. I much prefer the Dominican empanadas, which drip with grease and shave about 10 years off the health of your poor heart!!
The pastel de choclo was extremely delicious, which was a nice surprise, as I wasn�t sure what that interesting ingredient combination was going to taste like (corn, meat, raisins, onions, etc etc). Last, but not least, we also tried the Pisco sour. It came in a cute glass, but packed quite the alcoholic punch for a lunch-time drink!!!
After lunch, we all walked about the small, pottery shop lined town. The colors and textures were so vibrant. The other folks on the tour were a pretty eclectic mix. Most were Brazilian and spoke in Portuguese the whole time, but their Spanish was impressively good. I later learned that Brazilians are one of the biggest tourist groups in Chile. There was also a young French woman, who was traveling alone. We could barely communicate with each other, but we did buddy up a few times to take pictures of each other. It�s one of the common survival strategies of the lone traveler: find another lone traveler to take your picture and vice versa. Matter of fact, "would you like me to take your picture?" is code word for "will you take my picture?"
The bus ride back to the hotel was full with excitement, especially because I knew that I was headed for the Desert of Atacama the next day! I have been in the Atacama desert for two days now, but will post those pictures and thrilling adventures when I return to Santiago, as I am headed for my next top secret destination in 30 minutes.
Want to know what the next destination is? Here�s a hint to see if you are paying attention: I met somebody from this place in the "Getting Lost and Loving it Entry."See if you can guess!!


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Web Stories
Series to explore religion and politics, Oct. 17-19
Posted October 12, 2006; 01:21 p.m.
A series of three lectures on "Race, Religion and American Politics From Nat Turner to George W. Bush" is slated for 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Oct. 17-19, in McCosh 50.
Mark Noll, the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, will deliver the Stafford Little Lectures. Tracing American political and racial transformations from pre-Civil War times through the rise of the Republican-evangelical alliance, Noll's lectures will call for a theological interpretation of U.S. history.
Noll is interested in the relationship between religion, specifically Christianity, and the political and intellectual history of the United States. His recent books include "The Civil War as a Theological Crisis," "The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys" and "America's God, From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln."
The series is sponsored by Princeton University Public Lectures and Princeton University Press.