text:
Archive for the 'Royal Navy' Tag
Royal Navy vs. Japanese Navy Fun Fact of the Day
By CDRSalamander
In the course of reading Robert Kaplan's article in the Wall Street Journal, I had to back up and read this twice.
The Japanese navy boasts roughly four times as many major warships as the British Royal Navy.
Wait … what?
OK, that reality has sunk in over the last decade – but we are still a bit of an Anglophile navy, and even with the Pacific Pivot, we still give the mother country a lot of heft for historical and emotional reasons.
In their constitutional quasi-isolation, Japan's very real power has
Here is the context;
… in Asia. Nationalism there is young and vibrant—as it was in the West in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Asia is in the midst of a feverish arms race, featuring advanced diesel-electric submarines, the latest fighter jets and ballistic missiles. China, having consolidated its land borders following nearly two centuries of disorder, is projecting air and sea power into what it regards as the blue national soil of the South China and East China seas.
Japan and other countries are reacting in kind. Slipping out of its quasi-pacifistic shell, Japan is rediscovering nationalism as a default option. The Japanese navy boasts roughly four times as many major warships as the British Royal Navy. As for Vietnam and the Philippines, nobody who visits those countries and talks with their officials, as I have, about their territorial claims would imagine for a moment that we live in a post-national age.
The disputes in Asia are not about ideology or any uplifting moral philosophy; they are about who gets to control space on the map.
Silly Transformationalists … dreaming is for kiddies. Get ye back to your history books!
Back on topic though; yes, the facts are clear.
Though you can find +/- difference depending on source, definitions, and recent com/decom; here are the numbers:
Royal Navy:
Helicopter Carriers: 2
Amphibious Ships: 2
Destroyers: 7
Frigates: 13
Submarines: 6-SSN, 4-SSBN
We'll call that 24.
Japanese Navy:
Helicopter Carriers: 2 (technically 4, all of which are helicopter carrying destroyers. The SHIRANE Class of 2 are only half decks and are really just destroyers. HYUGA Class of 2 are no-kidding helicopter carriers. Two more much larger 19,500 ton ships on the way this decade as well).
Amphibious Ships: 5
Destroyers: 40
Frigates: 6
Submarines: 16-SS
We'll call that 67. If you are what Salamander defines as "major combatants" then you have 2.8 times, not 4x, but there are lots of ways to count. Perhaps they are looking at smaller ships as well. By either definition though, it should give one pause not only to reflect about the decline of the Royal Navy – but more importantly – the latent and potential power of the Japanese Navy.
Anyone who has worked with the Japanese will agree with me as well that from a professional point of view, they are an exceptionally quality force.
Here is the tie in.
Did you catch this little memo?
Japan's Defense Ministry will request a second boost to its military budget, according to reports, just a day after the government announced the first Defense budget increase in 10 years.
The boosts, although relatively modest compared with Japan's overall defense spending, coincide with increasing tensions in the Asia Pacific region.Japan's Defense Ministry intends to ask for 180.5 billion yen ($2.1 billion) from a government stimulus package – on top of an increase of more than 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) to its military budget announced earlier this week – in order to upgrade its air defenses, according to the BBC..
Good. Japan needs to continue to do this, and we should welcome the move as long overdue (though don't get too excited, their larger budgetary problems are even greater than ours). Europe fades, Royal Navy withers … where can the USA look for its major partner at sea?
We don't have to look far. With the tweaks they are on the road to make in their Constitution – Japan is right there.
Tags: Japan, Royal Navy
Over to whom?
By CDRSalamander
With the Big E coming home for good, the NIMITZ acting a bit old and busted, there has been a lot of discussion as of late about the ability of the US Navy to do what she has become accustomed to doing; projecting power globally from the sea with almost impunity – and the large-deck carrier being the tool primarily used to do so.
Through gross program mismanagement, myopic POM-centric rice bowl games, and simple parochialism – much of the nuance, depth, and flexibility of what was on those decks are gone as well, most notably the loss of the S-3, ES-3, organic tanking (fighters tanking don't count, silly goose), and independent long range strike – gone and replaced with a deck of jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none RW and light fighters with AEW thrown in for character.
Add to that the ongoing "to the right" extended deployment of our Amphib "small deck" carriers (yes, I know, I know, I know) and their ARGs, funkyesque methods of Fleet number counting, and the expected contraction in shipbuilding budgets that all but this ordered to say otherwise accept will be the new norm – then more and more smart people are trying to step back and get the larger view.
What exactly are the larger Strategic implications of the clear decline in the US Navy's global reach?
As is often the case, to help break the intellectual gridlock, it is helpful to bring in outside views. Over at the UK blog Thin Pinstiped Line, Sir Huphrey speaks with big medicine. The whole post is worth a read – but everyone should ponder the below a bit.
The reality is that the USN now is probably in the same place as the RN found itself in the mid-1960s – mid 1970s. Reduced budgets, elderly vessels still in service, while the new designs (T42s, 22s) were taking longer than planned to come into service, and yet operationally committed across the globe.
The ability of the USN to operate with impunity across the globe, steaming where it wanted on its terms, and able to stand its ground against almost any aggressor has gone forever. Todays' USN remains a fiercely capable and strong navy, but its ability to exert unlimited and unchallenged control of the high seas has gone, probably forever. Instead it would be more realistic to judge that the future USN will provide a capability to deploy power into some areas, but only at the cost of reducing capability and influence in others.
In a classic, "over to you" moment as the Royal Navy slowly retreated West of Suez after the late 1950′s unpleasantness, and with the final moment by Prime Minister Wilson in the annus horribilis that was 1968 – the world approaching mid-21st Century is stuck with a quandary.
The British at least were handing things off, indirectly, to her daughter; a relatively smooth transition to a nation that was cut from the same cloth and whose interests were more often than not those interests of Britain.
If, as Sir Humphrey states, we face a future where the global capability of the US will decline in proportion to her navy – then who will be there to fill the gap? Multiple smaller regional powers? A rising power? Status quo, but thinner? Nothing?
None of those three are in the interests of the US.
Willfully abandoning territory – enough of the "global commons" PR stunts, please – to the whims of whatever power has the will to take it, is a classic description of a nation in decline. In our case, that would be a willful decline – but almost all declines are willful.
Is everyone on board with that? It is a choice.
Hat tip BJ.
Tags: Aircraft Carrier, Maritime Strategy, Royal Navy
Stranded Brits Hitch Best Ride Ever
By Christopher Albon
Today, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean will be used to help get stranded British citizens back to the island nation. No word yet on the name of the operation, personally I like "Operation Gordon's Ark".
I demand Obama close this "Sweet-Ride-Gap" and send the USS New Mexico to pick up US citizens.
Tags: Royal Navy
Recent Posts
- Special Time for Midrats Episode 238: "The Horn of Africa – still the front lines, with RDML Krongard, USN" – 27 July at 2pm (EDT)
- Taking the Long View on Hispanic Immigration
- Invite: CIMSEC's July DC Meet-Up
- Sea Control 43: RADM Rowden – Sea Control, LCS, and DDG 1000
- On Midrats 20 July 14 – Episode 237: Military Sealift Command – Past, Present and Future


text:
At thirty-five years old Drake's London Creative Director Michael Hill is roughly the same age as the brand itself. This fact is interesting because when Hill took over as lead designer for Drake's in 2010, he did so with the vigor and sensibilities of a man well immersed in the diversified mentality of the fervent post-millennial menswear set. Prior to assuming this principal role, Hill had apprenticed under Michael Drake himself, earning an invaluable education which primed him to assume creative control once Drake sold the company was purchased by Mark Cho of The Armoury. It has been Hill's ability to align Drake's tradition of incomparable accessories with his own taste for more progressive pieces that has kept Drake's as one of the preeminent brands in the world. I had a chance to speak with Hill about the brand's growth, both in scope and in style, as well as his personal style, the role of the internet in menswear, and the future of Drake's.
ACL: When you took over as lead designer for Drake's in 2010, you really took the brand to new heights, what was your mission when you assumed that position?
Michael Hill: I wanted to ensure the continuity from the previous ownership, both in terms of the quality and style of the product and our longstanding, loyal customers.Continuity was as important as anything new I wanted to do with the business and our mission was to give us some longer term stability by putting down roots in terms of our first brick and mortar store, our website and a factory fit for purpose and the coming decades. I also wanted to reassure our own staff as well, as I was relatively young when I took over the company.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
McALESTER —
More inspections were planned for the Parker Intermediate School Center Thursday, while school officials wait for experts to determine what caused the problems that recently beset the building.
Those problems included floors that buckled, several windows that popped out, and a flood of water that poured down first floor hallways and seeped into classrooms on Aug. 13 after a water line broke underneath the flooring.
McAlester Public Schools Superintendent Marsha Gore said an insurance adjuster was expected in McAlester Thursday afternoon. Gore said the insurance adjuster will be accompanied by someone trying to determine the source of the water that flooded the building.
While it's obvious the water came from a broken water line, experts are trying to determine what caused the line to break.
School officials plan on having the building repaired, although it's not yet been determined everything those repairs might entail.
Teachers at Parker have been allowed back inside the building to retrieve classroom equipment and personal items for the time being.
"We're encouraging people not to move everything, because we're going to move back," Gore said Thursday.
And although school officials don't yet have a target gate for when that will occur, there is a goal in mind.
"Our goal is to get in as soon as possible," said Gore.
The mishap occurred the day before the first scheduled back-to-school day at Parker — where approximately 400 fifth and sixth grade students attend classes.
As the water started gushed through the building last week, teachers and other MPS personnel who were on the site poured from the building. A preliminary inspection deemed it unsafe for classroom use, prompting some major changes.
Despite the dilemma, students at Parker were able to attend classes on schedule the following morning — at the nearby McAlester Campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College.
On Monday, fifth grade students began attending classes at the former St. John's Catholic School on the grounds of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 300 E. Washington Ave.
Sixth grade students have continued to attend classes on the Eastern Campus, although students are bused to the Fine Arts building at the high school for band classes and other classes.
Gore said Thursday the new classroom situation has been working out, thanks to the efforts of a lot of individuals. Students are adapting to the classroom changes as well.
"Kids are pretty resilient," she said.
Contact James Beaty at email@example.com.
For more on this story, see the print or electronic editions of the McAlester News-Capital. Click here for print edition home delivery or click here to see the Smart Edition for your computer, tablet, e-reader or smartphone.


text:
Who's got ghosts? There are plenty of public places where people have had paranormal experiences, right here on Long Island! The Long Island Society for Paranormal Research will discuss Raynham Hall, Mount Misery, Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage Village, The Caleb Smith House and other local sites, and play sound clips of ghostly voices.
Join the Three Village Historical Society on Monday, October 17th when we host the Long Island Society for Paranormal Research at out monthly lecture series. The program begins at 7pm in the Community Room of the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main Street, Setauket, NY.
Long Island Society for Paranormal Research (LISPR, Inc.) was founded in 2003 and is dedicated to scientifically-based research and documentation of unexplained phenomena. A non-profit organization, LISPR, Inc. is an official affiliate group of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) Family. TAPS is featured on SyFy Channel's "Ghost Hunters."
The Monthly Lecture Series is free and open to the public. All are welcome.


text:
Special to SEGAZINE
Latest updates
3:22 PMSuspected reportedly tried to breach White House grounds
3:21 PMSeeing the chase from the Capitol steps
3:16 PMSources: Chase began near White House
3:14 PMPhotos from inside during the shelter in place
3:11 PMPresident briefed on reports of gunfire
Shots were fired outside the U.S. Capitol Thursday afternoon, and at least one Capitol Police officer was injured in the incident, police said.
The shooting occurred about 2:19 p.m. outside the Hart Senate Office building, on the northeast side of Capitol Hill near the intersection of Constitution Avenue, 2nd Street, and Maryland Avenue NE.
Witnesses reported two bursts of gunfire: it was unclear who did the shooting, whether it was the police or another person or both. Afterward, rescuers transported at least one injured person from the scene.
Federal officials said that the incident had actually begun near the White House, when a car struck a security bollard at 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue NE. A pursuit started and the driver was chased toward Capitol Hill.
There, eyewitnesses reported seeing a black car speeding down the street, pursued by several police vehicles.
"At first I thought the driver was trying to get out of the way of police but then I realized he was being chased," said Giancarlo Refalo, a tourist from Malta.
Refalo said he heard several gunshots followed by "lots of screaming and shouting." Then the black vehicle came back on 1st Street toward Constitution chased by police. "They were swerving all over the place," he said "by that time I was hiding in the bushes because I was so scared."
"We was up at the Capitol, seeing some of the protesters, saw five or six cop cars chasing that car," said Ryan Christiansen, from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He said it was a small black car that looked like a Toyota Celica, and that police had chased it "around and around" a traffic circle near the Capitol.
"I thought it was a motorcade," he said.
"He was pulling away, and somewhere between six and eight shots were fired," Christiansen said.Police tried to corner the driver with their cars and block him in, "but he got out of that and got away."
He said he heard the shots and police told them all to hit the ground.
"Then there was a loud bang," Christiansen said.
At the time, the Capitol was full of lawmakers and staff, stuck in the middle of a bitter debate about the government shutdown.
After the first shots were heard, officers with semiautomatic weapons were seen running toward the building's exits.
"It was almost like two very rapid fire bursts, very loud," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) was standing on a balcony of the Capitol building with Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) when they heard two bursts of gunfire. Connolly thought the shots had come from the opposite direction, toward the House office buildings to the south.
After the shots, Connolly said, "that's when we saw people fleeing, and we realized this was no fireworks," Connolly said. "It sounds liked the first volley of a 21 -gun salute."
Connolly said he could see people fleeing away from the Rayburn building and police officers running towards it before he was shepherded back into the building.
Connolly says he was told by the sergeant-at-arms that a suspect has been apprehended. The D.C. fire and emergency medical services department said one person had been transported to a hospital for treatment.
The order sent to Capitol personnel began with an all-caps message: SHELTER IN PLACE. "Gunshots have been reported on Capitol Hill requiring staff in all Senate Office Buildings to immediately shelter in place. Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows," said the message, sent by Capitol Police.


text:
The Leading eBooks Store Online
for Kindle Fire, Apple, Android, Nook, Kobo, PC, Mac, BlackBerry ...
Natural Ventilation High Rise Buildings SALIB & WOOD
- iPhone / iPad
- Android phones & tablets
- Kindle Fire
- e-readers with Adobe Digital Editions installed
- Mac
This ebook is available for the following devices:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
- Kindle Fire
- Windows
- Mac
- Sony Reader
- Cool-er Reader
- Nook
- Kobo Reader
- iRiver Story
You can also read this ebook online in eb20 format without having to download anything.
ePub off (no printing)
eb20 20% every 30 days
ePub off (no copying)
eb20 off (no copying)
ePub off
eb20 off
Tall buildings are not the only solution for achieving sustainability through increased density in cities but, given the scale of current population shifts, the vertical city is increasingly being seen as the most viable solution for many urban centers. However, the full implications of concentrating more people on smaller plots of land by building vertically - whether for work, residential or leisure functions - needs to be better researched and understood.
It is generally accepted that we need to reduce the energy equation – in both operating and embodied terms – of every component and system in the building as an essential element in making it more sustainable. Mechanical HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) in tall office buildings typically account for 30-40 percent of overall building energy consumption. The increased efficiency (or possibly even elimination) of these mechanical systems – through the provision of natural ventilation – could thus be argued to be the most important single step we could make in making tall buildings more sustainable.
This guide sets out recommendations for every phase of the planning, construction and operation of natural ventilation systems in these buildings, including local climatic factors that need to be taken into account, how to plan for seasonal variations in weather, and the risks in adopting different implementation strategies. All of the recommendations are based on analysis of the research findings from richly-illustrated international case studies.
Tried and tested solutions to real-life problems make this an essential guide for anyone working on the design and operation of tall buildings anywhere in the world. This is the first technical guide from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's Tall Buildings & Sustainability Working Group looking in depth at a key element in the creation of tall buildings with a much-reduced environmental impact, while taking the industry closer to an appreciation of what constitutes a sustainable tall building, and what factors affect the sustainability threshold for tall.less
184 pages; ISBN 9781135872113
Read online, or download in EPUB or secure PDF format
More Technology
The Ice Palace That Melted Away 2013 US$ 14.99 192 pages
The Future of the Mind 2014 US$ 12.99 352 pages
Steve Jobs 2011 US$ 14.57 448 pages
Measuring Computer Performance 2000 US$ 55.00 279 pages


text:
Michigan Homes & Land Magazines are the best resources for moving, relocating, and finding local real estate in Michigan. Michigan real estate will always require a local business, so begin your Michigan listing search by selecting the real estate market you are interested in below.
Serving Presque Isle, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, Iosco, Arenac and Gladwin Counties. Search Traverse City homes for sale, Harrison homes for sale, Gladwin homes for sale, Gaylord homes for sale, Houghton Lake homes for sale, and more.


text:
What motivated Khan to offer centrifuge technology to so many different countries? The public Khan, Pakistan's hero, can hardly be squared with the man who privately enriched himself at his nation's expense. But something deeper does connect them: Khan's insatiable craving for respect and admiration. At the same time he began offer- ing KRL's technology to new customers, Khan also embarked on a restless campaign of self-glorification. He memorialized himself in scores of institutions and edifices across Pakistan, funded from his mysteriously deep pockets. Khan's website exhaustively recites 63 gold medals bestowed on him from 1984 to 2003. It enumerates the many public buildings and academic awards bearing his name throughout Pakistan, his service on the boards of educational and research institutions and his sponsorship of community health and welfare organizations. Also mentioned: his funding of the restoration of the tomb of Sultan Shahabuddin Muham- mad Ghauri, the Muslim conqueror of what is now Pakistan and northern India.
This obsession tends to explain Khan's need for large sums of money. Khan appears to have admitted as much to his interrogators. A summary of the Pakistani investigation, provided by the ISI to foreign governments, describes what happened to the cash from Khan's initial deal with the Iranians: "Some [of the money] was donated for various social, educational and welfare projects undertaken by Dr. A.Q. Khan in Pakistan." The same applied to the arrangement with Libya.
Khan's yearning for respect was instilled early in life. The youngest of seven children, he idolized his father, headmaster of a Bhopal high school who had once held a senior role in the national education sys- tem. "Whenever I went to the bazaar with my father, I would see people from all walks of life (shopkeepers, teachers, doctors, etc.), standing up as a mark of respect to my father," Khan recounted to his biographer. "They used to request him to stay with them for a few minutes and have a cup of tea. I was about seven years of age at that time and it left a permanent, deep impression on my mind."
Measured against this high standard, Khan found it difficult to be slighted. He explained his decision to leave India as motivated by distaste for being a second-class citizen. "There was no future for Muslims in Bhopal. My brothers advised me to come to Karachi. My father, after assessing the conditions in Bhopal, very reluctantly allowed me to go." But Pakistan didn't instantly embrace its newfound son either. In 1967, after receiving a master's degree at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Khan brought his wife home to Pakistan, where he applied for a position at a new steel mill. He received no job offer and returned to Europe. But he didn't forget the episode. When he wrote to Bhutto in 1974, offering his help in creating a nuclear weapon, he couldn't resist complaining about the rejection of seven years earlier.
He struggled, too, with keeping his accomplishments to himself. In particular, he chafed at the idea of not being able to tell the world about Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, which Islamabad stayed quiet about to better preserve relations with the United States. The most notorious episode occurred in 1987. Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar baited Khan into speaking far too candidly about the then secret Pakistani nuclear weapons program by pretending a prominent Indian scientist had told him not to bother making the trip: "Don't waste your time. They don't have anything. No bomb, no men, no rationale." Khan became out- raged: "Tell them we have it. Tell them. Tell them.… We have it and we have enriched uranium. Weaponized the thing. Put it all together.… Mr. Nayar, if you ever drive us to the wall, we will use the bomb."
More trouble came in 1989 with the release of his biography, the provocatively titled Dr. A.Q. Khan and the Islamic Bomb. The book went to lengths to enlighten readers about Khan's historic role and personal greatness, as well as the perfidy of his opponents inside and outside Pakistan. But it was also prematurely frank about the military purposes of Pakistan's nuclear program. All copies were removed from bookstores, and the author was briefly thrown in prison.
While his full stature as "father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb" couldn't be revealed, Khan devised another way to glorify him- self. Here, he drew on his original inspiration: the admiration bestowed on his father. Khan set out to make himself into the visionary sponsor of higher education in Pakistan. One of his more ambitious endeavors was the founding of a private university, the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology—a costly endeavor that coincided with Khan's nuclear sales abroad. In 1993 Khan told journalist Simon Henderson, "I have always been keen to go into education. My father was a teacher." But such thoughts couldn't compete with his deeper passion. As Khan explained, "There is a tremendous amount of love [for me in Pakistan], and it is obvious everywhere.… I believe the most important thing is what my country, my people, think of me. I don't care what other people think of me. Once I'm gone, my name and my prestige and the love and affection that I have in this country will remain forever."
Not all of Khan's fellow countrymen, how- ever, viewed his compulsive philanthropy as entirely selfless. "I often thought that this was not generosity in the real sense," Haroon Ahmed, Khan's estranged former psychia- trist, told investigative journalists Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark for their book Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons. "He really did this so that if he was driving down the Peshawar Road, let us say, the chances are he would pass a building bearing his name— and it would remind him that he was indeed the great Abdul Qadeer Khan."


text:
Who uses Edubuntu and where? View the list of deployments or add your own!
View / Add
The Ubuntu project encourages and welcomes participation of women in the project. We aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. See the Ubuntu Women website for more details.
Read More
Next week, it's time again for another Ubuntu Developer Summit. The week where the next version of Ubuntu (and also Edubuntu) is planned out.
For Edubuntu we're planning a bit further ahead than the next release. We have some ideas that can't be implemented in a 6 month cycle so we'll be breaking it down into smaller bytes that we can start working on in the meantime.
The full schedule is available here, there are a bunch of sessions that relate to Edubuntu.
Edubuntu-specific sessions are:
Note: Above times are subject to change, please check the schedule regularly for changes.
If you'd like to participate but can't be there in person, remember that it's also possible to participate in UDS remotely.
Have fun!
After 6 months of preparation, it's with great pride that the Edubuntu development team announces today the release of Edubuntu 12.04 LTS.
As the first Long Term Support release of the Edubuntu project, this version will be supported for 5 years (April 2017). The Edubuntu development team will also provide "point releases" in sync with Ubuntu's to offer you new installation medias containing all the latest bugfixes.
You may now try it online or download it.
For this release, we focused on stability and bug fixes to deliver the most stable and best translated Edubuntu release ever.
As usual, Edubuntu inherits most of the changes that occur in Ubuntu.
Additionally, this release brings you:
To learn more about what's new Ubuntu 12.04, you can read the full release notes.
The DVD image (also usable as a USB image) is downloadable from our download page.
Installation instructions are available here.
And if you just want to see what it looks like, we have screenshots available.
As usual, if you want to try it out, but can't wait for your download to finish, try it out online on Edubuntu WebLive!
If you already have an Ubuntu or Ubuntu based system installed, you can simply install any additional Edubuntu packages that you would like to use from the Software Center.
Users of Edubuntu 11.10 can also upgrade directly to 12.04.
Community support is available via IRC, Forums and Mailing lists.
Please refer to http://edubuntu.org/documentation for more information.
The Edubuntu project aims to maintain high quality educational and related packages in Ubuntu. Additionally, we also produce the Edubuntu DVD, which aims to be an easy to use Ubuntu system designed for home and classroom use.
For more information, see: About Edubuntu
Originally posted to the edubuntu-devel mailing list by Stéphane Graber.
We're now just 3 weeks away from the final release of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
(and its flavours).
Ensuring our installation experience and default desktop is as well
translated as possible is one of Edubuntu's goal for this release.
We're almost there and it already looks great compared to our previous
releases, yet I'm sure we can have it even better.
Current packages of interest sorted by priority:
Deadline: 19th of April
https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/precise/+source/edubuntu-liveNote: Can't be translated post-release, part of installer
Deadline: 19th of April
https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/precise/+source/ubiquity-slide...Note: Can't be translated post-release, part of installer
Deadline: 12th of April
Link: https://translations.launchpad.net/epoptesNote: Can't be translated post-release, translations are upstream
Deadline: 19th of April
Link: https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/precise/+source/ltspNote: Can be translated post-release but is used in live environment and is difficult to update post-release
Other new Edubuntu packages with translations in Launchpad are listed below, these are lower priority than anything above as they're translated through langpacks and aren't as visible as the 4 above:
Thanks again for all your help and I'm definitely looking forward to the best translated Ubuntu and Edubuntu ever.
Edubuntu version 12.04 Beta 2 is now released. This beta release is a pre-release version released for testing purposes and shouldn't be used in production.
Here are a few highlights since the last release:
The full technical overview for this beta release is available on the Ubuntu wiki. Be sure to read the Ubuntu parts too, since it also impacts Edubuntu.
The installation media can be downloaded from the Ubuntu cdimage site.
If you find any bugs, please report them at the usual place and tag the edubuntu-dev team. Happy testing!
Visit our download section to find out how you can get Edubuntu.
What's included in Edubuntu? Explore our screenshot tour to find out!
© Copyright 2012 Edubuntu Project, Edubuntu is a registered trademark of Canonical Ltd. This web site has Super Cow powers.


text:
& Deals
& Celebrations
or Login
Join FREE
Log In
Enjoy these chocolaty cookies with a surprise combination of espresso beans and Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
©2013 General Mills, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information will only be used to send an email to your friend(s) and will not be saved. Please read our Privacy Policy.
Look for chocolate-covered espresso beans at specialty gourmet, candy or your favorite coffee shop.
Candy Bar Cookie Pops
Fun with Santa Cookies
Fiber One® Crunchy Fudge Cookies
Triple Decker Brownies with Bourbon Chocolate Sauce
Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Cookies and Cream Cupcakes


text:
Moss-Service Funeral Home
Harold Bryan Mayo
Funeral services for Harold Bryan Mayo, 85, of Cullman will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at Moss-Service Funeral Home Chapel, Dr. Ed Hays and Rev. Jerry Cole officiating, with interment in Cullman City Cemetery.
Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Mayo died Sunday, Nov. 25, at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 11, 1927, in Cullman to Jesse I. and Omie Driver Mayo. He was retired, having owned Mayo Gun and Supply. He was also a Merchant Marine.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include three sons, Greg (Harriet) Mayo, Dale (Donna) Mayo and David (Mary) Mayo; grandchildren, Matthew (Katie) Mayo, Suzanne (Time) Mulitaro, Adam Mayo, Laura Mayo, Ben (Jena) Mayo, Will Mayo and Sarah Mayo; a nephew, Ricci (Syble) Hudson; children, Annalee and Jesse; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.


text:
Thread: Good read
Good read
I usually do not forward emails like this but this one I believe is well worth the read
This is worth reading. :usa2:
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio?
Didn't think so.
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:
January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United StatesAttorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other.
That's 80 years. On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.
You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.
So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and he said: "You're no big deal."
You are no big deal.
What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?
I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious.
You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.
We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.Day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.
See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.
Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.
So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets?
We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject.
Pass this around.
Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say.
Powerful words that strike home.
God bless America
"24 mil under the cap? there are teams 30 mil over the cap, heck that gives us at least 50 mil to spend"
CollegeGuyJeff circa 2006
07-21-2005, 07:12 PM #2MNVikingGangsta Guest
Re: Good read
very good read, thanks for posting that!
Re: Good read
Great read-thanks for posting it.
Guns don t kill people. Chuck Norris kills people.
07-21-2005, 07:26 PM #4Coach
- Join Date
- Dec 1969
- Posts
- 959
Re: Good read
i liked that, too bad the stations wont play it."you dream of beating me, its time you wake up and apologize."
Re: Good read
that certainly deserved to be played on television, great read, thanks for postingPeople who see life as anything more than pure entertainment are missing the point.
Re: Good read
That was freakin awesome! I'm glad you posted that. Those were definately some inspiring words to read. Thanks!
Re: Good read
reading that gives me goosebumps, its great to hear a judge tell him how it is and how all of us really feel, great find.
07-21-2005, 09:14 PM #8Pro-Bowler
- Join Date
- Dec 1969
- Posts
- 391
Re: Good read
This is a great read, and although it wasn't publicised as much as it should have been, it did get airplay when it happened two and a half years ago. I am very open about my conservitism, and listen to a lot ofright wing talk radio, where I remember it getting quite a bit of air time. Even CNN reported it, although burried a bit. The incredible thing about this to me, is that people are moved enough to still be forwarding this email. Thanks for posting it...
PS Here is the CNN link of the actual transcript. It has a little more of Judge Young and Richard Ried
Re: Good read
cool but it was pretty long but yea that was good.
Similar Threads
A really good read.By Paulbedy59 in forum Vikings Fan ForumReplies: 2Last Post: 11-26-2005, 07:49 PM
Good ReadBy VIKES_FANS_UNITED in forum Vikings Fan ForumReplies: 7Last Post: 08-12-2005, 10:10 PM
Good ReadBy Del Rio in forum Vikings Fan ForumReplies: 0Last Post: 12-29-2004, 07:31 AM
good readBy pepper 0n moss in forum Vikings Fan ForumReplies: 4Last Post: 08-15-2004, 03:38 AM
Good ReadBy sitandbehitski in forum General NFL DiscussionReplies: 3Last Post: 04-17-2004, 05:07 PM


text:
Winter weather is here. And so are outdoor winter activities.
I've reconciled myself to the fact that I am too old for many strenuous outdoor activities. Too tall to strap on a pair of ice skates. Too heavy to snowshoe. Too lazy to snowmobile and to cheap to ski.
But I do like a nice stroll around the neighborhood on a mild snowy evening. Does that count?
My favorite thing to do when I was a kid was sledding. I was lucky in that I lived just a block from the best sledding hill in my hometown, the one behind the high school. It was straight down, wide open and emptied into a usually very slick parking lot. My friends and I had very few options for sledding apparatus. Our trusty snow steed was a Flexible Flyer we bought at the Western Auto store downtown.
In my day, the sled was a vital part of getting through the cold upstate winters. Mine was long and made out of polished wood slats. The name Flexible Flyer was written down the center in red script under the image of an eagle.
The runners were also red and were very sharp. They eventually always rusted (despite our constantly rubbing them with Ivory soap to make them slicker and faster). When rusty, these runners could offer up a nasty gash to the lackadaisical sledder. Of course, the rust component always meant Mom would drag you to Doc Hust ("just to make sure").
The crossbar on the front was a brilliant design. By slightly twisting and bending the crossbar you'd achieve remarkable mobility for such a simple object. On a hard-packed surface the steering was much more reliable that that of your father's old Nash Rambler trying to make it through an unplowed village street.


text:
A methodology that evaluates the influence of depth on the rate of onshore migration of sand placed in the nearshore is presented. The results appear appropriate for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Migration rate is found to be extremely dependent, to the 4th or Sth power, on the water depth. This implies that doubling the rate of migration requires placement in only about 15% less depth. It is argued that accounting for the net shoreward bottom stress due to the velocity asymmetry under finite-amplitude waves is the appropriate way to model the fate of nearshore placed sands.
sand placement; onshore migration
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.


text:
(Editor's note: An earlier version of the story mentioned a higher fee hike regarding garden plots. Patch has corrected the proposed rate hike.)
The Fairfax County Park Authority wants residents' input on a package of proposed fees hikes for park services that would take effect April 1.
Park Authority officials will hear from residents at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway.
In light of continued budget struggles, parks officials are hoping to make slight adjustments to fees in order to raise revenues and keep facilities such golf courses and recreation centers – funded solely by user fees – operating at full capacity.
The most dramatic fee hike: those for the garden plot program, which would more than double, according to the 2013 fee proposal.
As it stands, garden plot users pay $65 for a plot. Fees on the plots, which exists at nine parks in Fairfax County, including Lewinsville Park in McLean and Nottoway Park in Vienna, would increase $20 a year over the next three years, for a total of $125.
Other proposed adjustments would impact golf course greens fees, recreation center rentals, lakefront park services and picnic shelter reservations at certain county facilities.
In 2013, racquetball court rental fees for general admission users could increase from $4 to $6 at rec centers. A 10-hour court pass would increase from $20 to $35. But regular recreation center users with passes will be spared any racquetball fee increases.
Click here for more information on the proposed 2013 park fees.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is awaiting an audit that could identify potential cuts to the park authority's operating budget. As it stands, fees make up 52 percent of the authority's revenues; tax dollars comprise the other 48 percent.
Supervisors said they did not want to explore cuts that would dramatically affect the operation and maintenance of the county's 420 public parks.
In November's general elections, more than 72 percent of voters said yes to a $75 million bond that will used to fund widespread improvements to a number of Fairfax County parks.
Do you have something to say about the proposed increases? The Park Authority is hosting a public hearing on its fee package at 7 p.m. Wednesday in room 106 of the Herrity Building at 12055 Government Center Parkway.
Residents will be given the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on the new fees at that time.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can send feedback via email at email@example.com. All comments must be received by Feb. 12.


text:
Taking a Break
I've decided to take a little break from blogging. I know I don't blog all that much anyway, and I definitely don't need to make any sort of "official" announcement, but it makes me feel better to do so. Even though blogging is just a hobby for me, something that I do for fun, it's become a sort of nagging obligation in the back of my mind. I want to lose that, and I think a break might help. I'd like to leave this space open for sharing pictures with my family (especially while traveling) and recounting big events, so I'm not going to call it quits for good. Maybe just for March? We shall see.
Plus now I'll have more time to feed my new (yet late to the game) Breaking Bad addiction...
Taking a BreakI've decided to take a little break from blogging. I know I don't blog all that much anyway, and I definitely don't need to (continue reading)»
Our Next Big TripOur spring vacation is booked, and I couldn't be more excited!! This year's trip is BIG...we're going to Paris and (continue reading)»
Thrift Store ArtHave you ever found art at the thrift store for your home? I always look but haven't uncovered much. Most of it seems like (continue reading)»
Watched LatelyWe LOVE the new couch we got for the basement. The first one I picked out didn't fit so it had to be returned. And not that it (continue reading)»
Favorite Cream BlushI'm not a huge makeup girl. Or more accurately, I'm not a morning person, which is when makeup-ing typically happens. I have a (continue reading)»


text:
SUTTONS BAY — A Suttons Bay High School student is accused of threatening two fellow students with a knife during a weekend school dance.
Leelanau County authorities arrested the suspect, 17, soon after school officials learned about the Saturday incident.
Witnesses told authorities the victim was a 15-year-old student who danced with the suspect's sister. The suspect grabbed the victim from behind at a drinking fountain, held the blade against his neck and told him not to dance with his sister again.
Authorities said the suspect also threatened another student with a knife.
Read more in Wednesday's Record-Eagle.


text:
15 Inspiring Real Wedding Cakes
This cake highlights that there is no limit when it comes to creativity. The sandy coloured icing, starfish and seashell ornaments, and pearl trim make this cake perfect for a summer or destination wedding.
Cake by Couple of Cakes. As seen in this Real Wedding.


text:
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our terms and conditions whereby bowlingball.com's information and copyright must be included.
Congratulations To Tyler Kersten, Our Week 9 Contest Winner! OTB MLB Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!OTB MLB Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Register to win a free licensed OTB bowling ball of your choice. OTB, Ontheball, makes some of the best looking bowling products available, and we are going to be giving one away at random every week. This week we are giving away any Stock OTB bowling ball of your choice!
Remember to sign up each and every week. We're givin' stuff away for 52 weeks! Good Luck!


text:
vendor info...
Simply Stamped
Custom invitations, banners, thank you cards, greeting cards & more! Custom orders welcome
product info: ...
Baby Stationery, Baby thank you notes (set of 10)
These adorable cards would be perfect to send as thank you cards after your baby shower or delivery.
Cards are 4.25 by 5.5 in size and come with a white linen envelope.
The color choice is for the egg. Please specify which color you would like the egg to be.
Colors and fonts can be personalized. If you would like to personalize the card with the baby's name instead of the "thank you", just send me a message with the baby's name..
etsy products... View all Etsy products →
- www.simplystampedinvitations.com
- www.rah4mu.etsy.com
- www.facebook.com/SimplyStamped
- Rochester Illinois United States
The term 'Etsy' is a trademark of Etsy, Inc. This application uses the Etsy API but is not endorsed or certified by Etsy, Inc.


text:
Top 10 Reasons Katy Perry And Russell Brand Should Not Get Back Together
1. To stop Katy Perry from getting a Russell Brand manicure again.
TIME's 100 Most Influential List Includes Adele And Rihanna
Today TIME Magazine revealed their annual TIME 100 list for 2012. Alongside President Obama and Hillary Clinton, Adele and Rihanna top the lineup.
Rihanna Covers Elle, Talks Chris Brown and Being Herself
The May issue of Elle magazine will feature a so-hot right now cover girl: Rihanna. The singer is starring in her first summer blockbuster, Battleship, and is wrapping up production on her 2011 hit album […]
Tommy Lee Distances Self From Gene Simmons' Comments, Fan Of Rihanna
During a press conference announcing a KISS/Mötley Crüe co-headlining tour earlier this week, , Gene Simmons described the upcoming tour as "real music" and had a few choice words for those that use electronics and […]
KISS & Mötley Crüe Announce Joint Tour, Simmons Makes Fun Of 'Karaoke Singers' Like Rihanna
[pullquote quote="We're actually in the middle of giving scientists the chance to do a 3D version of Tommy's sex video--which is going to be opening the show. It's going to poke out your eye..."]"You know, […]
KONY 2012 Creator Detained For Lewd Behavior, Now Receiving Medical Care
CBS affiliate KFMB/San Diego has confirmed reports that Jason Russell, the Kony 2012 documentary director and Invisible Children co-founder, was detained Thursday around 11:30 a.m. after allegedly acting oddly and masturbating in public.
GRAMMY Award Winners Live!
We're live blogging the GRAMMYs to keep you up-to-date on all the winners. [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rihanna[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Lady Antebellum[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Lady Gaga[/lastfm] have already snagged the coveted golden record player and who will be next? […]
Last.fm Reveals The Most Popular Artists Of 2010
Last.fm reveal the Best of 2010 today, a chart of the most scrobbled new releases of the past twelve months, and one question hangs on listeners' lips: who beat Lady Gaga? You can find out […]
Rihanna Joins Bon Jovi During MTV Europe Music Awards Concert
The members of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bon Jovi[/lastfm] made a big splash when they arrived at the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid, Spain, on November 6, 2010, to receive the event's first-ever Global Icon award. […]
Katy Perry Wants Rihanna To Strip
[lastfm]Katy Perry[/lastfm] has revealed that she would like her friend, pop star [lastfm]Rihanna[/lastfm], to strip at her upcoming bachelorette party.


text:
Her Bad Mother
April 6, 2011
… they keep their boots on.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Or, The Adoration Of The Blessed Virgin By Charlie The Swordfish
There are limits to self-indulgence, none to self-restraint. – Gandhi (Photographosophy, Gandhi Totally Should Have Tried Some Cake Edition) (Hey! You can enter this Windows 7 phone (plus chocolate!) giveaway every day! Here, too! And? The comments are really, really awesome and full of great 'encourage your kids to embrace the idea that less is [...]
We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams. — Albert Einstein (cf. the Tutu Story, and What Is Photographosophy?) (Photo credit: JenIsJen, who has posted other amazing #tutusfortanner photos at her [...]
For believe me! — the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and greatest enjoyment is – to live dangerously. – Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay Science, section 283.) (From the Photographosophy files.)
He blows kisses, and my heart, it stops.
Shiny, happy, smudgy-faced baby, all jacked up on Disney's Animal Kingdom safari. Kinda hard to be angsty and sad, looking at that face. This is, I suppose, the function and purpose of angels. *More shiny happy faces can be found over at Happy Face Central. **And also here, where maple syrup and skateboards collided to [...]
"What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil." (Nietzsche, Beyond Good And Evil.)
Not, unfortunately, beyond Dora dolls that shout 'WE DID IT!' when you step on them, but you learn to cope with that.


text:
sdcc2014 marvel comics dc comics marvel studios guardians of the galaxy (film) avengers age of ultron arrow guardians of the galaxy image comics cbr tv batman james gunn robert kirkman ant-man movie the cw gotham mark waid thor star wars brian michael bendis teenage mutant ninja turtles (film) wonder woman charles soule batman v superman agents of shield the flash tv
Highland Park, NJ
Here's what's happening right now on the CBR Forums right now!
Comic Book Resources is supported by our wonderful advertisers. Without them CBR would simply not exist. We encourage you to click on the ads you see on CBR and check out what our advertisers have to offer. Amongst those who advertise on CBR are our Sponsors. They are:
Interested in advertising or sponsoring CBR? Write us at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Keira Knightley.com Forums - View Single Post - Articles Archive
Articles Archive
View Single Post
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 761
Just gossip
I know it's only gossip, but stuff like this was oft-posted on the old board.
Keira Knightley asks beau to live with her indefinitely!
New York | June 12, 2004 1:53:19 PM IST
British actress Keira Knightley is planning to move to a new home in London.
Her Irish model boyfriend, Jamie Dornan, is likely to join her in the 1.5 million pound luxury apartment in Mayfair district.
According to Teen Hollywood, the 19-year-old 'Pirates of the Caribbean' beauty has been dating with Dornan, 21, for the past six months.
"Keira idolises Jamie. She has asked him to stay with her in her new flat for an indefinite amount of time," one of her friend's was quoted as saying.
He also said that Jamie had relocated to London because he wanted to spend more time with Keira. Last month the pair went for shopping and bought furniture, including a bed for their new mansion.
Till now, Knightley had been living with her parents in Teddington, Middlesex. (ANI)
"So you go and you stand on your own.. and you leave on your own. And you go home and you cry, and you want to die..."
View Public Profile
Send a private message to EmotionSickness
Find More Posts by EmotionSickness


text: What rational basis is there for telling same-sex couples they can't marry? Why … none, really, as the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals wisely confirmed Tuesday by upholding a federal judge's decision that Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. There has to be a good reason for any law if it restricts the rights of a group of people who have long been the targets of bigotry. Proposition 8 never had such a reason. It was, rather, an ill-advised expression of bigotry that the court exposed.


text:
Here are your daily links including a story on prospect Tim Bozon, lineup questions, prospect news, and more.
Eyes On The Prize debuts Summer Game Nights with a viewing and live blogging of the March 15th game between the Habs and Senators.
The Debut of a new EOTP Series: Summer Game Nights. Mike Obrand will be re-watching old Habs games and live-blogging them for your pleasure.
To start the season review, we're going to go over the players the Canadiens moved on from, next up is Josh Gorges.
With his arbitration date upcoming, Lars Eller and the Canadiens have submitted their salary requests.
To start the season review, I'm going to go over the players the Canadiens lost, starting with Thomas Vanek.
Here are your Wednesday Habs Links!
Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Winnipeg were ignored by our neighbours to the south, but the Habs weren't.
Here are your daily Habs links, including Parenteau's thoughts on joining the Habs, some first line center talk, and more.
In unsurprising news, the Montreal Canadiens have gotten right to it with 2014 1st round draft pick Nikita Scherbak, signing the Russian to an entry level deal.
We'll email you a reset link.
If you signed up using a 3rd party account like Facebook or Twitter, please login with it instead.
You must be a member of Eyes On The Prize to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Eyes On The Prize. You should read them.
You must be a member of Eyes On The Prize to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Eyes On The Prize. You should read them.
Choose an available username to complete sign up.
In order to provide our users with a better overall experience, we ask for more information from Facebook when using it to login so that we can learn more about our audience and provide you with the best possible experience. We do not store specific user data and the sharing of it is not required to login with Facebook.


text:
Emmys a great excuse to party
Tom Hanks, Laura Linney and Jeremy Piven at HBO's bash; the People/Entertainment fete at Disney Hall.
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks at the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for Media Placement)
Fellow bling bearers at the South American-themed bash -- just one of many award celebrations happening across town Sunday -- included Laura Linney, Tom Hanks and legend Don Rickles, the latter of whom surely would have been appreciated by Sarah Silverman and Stephen Colbert at the more intimate Comedy Central shindig at STK.
Also keeping it cozy: the cast of "Damages," which gave lead actress in a drama series winner Glenn Close a standing ovation when she walked into the show's soiree at West Hollywood hot spot Foxtail.
But no gold was needed to sample the sushi and caviar at TV Guide's affair at Hollywood hangout the Kress, where Samantha Ronson manned the turntables for nominees including Kyra Sedgwick (with hubby Kevin Bacon), Jon Cryer, Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson -- just as she had for "30 Rock's" Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan at NBC's Spago pre-party the night before.
Bryan Cranston, who won for lead actor in a drama series ("Breaking Bad"), showed up sans statue at the People/"Entertainment Tonight" fete at Disney Hall, where Brooke Shields and Neil Patrick Harris rocked out to Billy Idol's set. But "Mad Men" creator Matt Weiner made up for it by carrying one trophy in each hand as he headed inside to toast his cast members before they retired to the Chateau Marmont rooftop to watch the sun rise.
Jenny Sundel
Original source: Emmys a great excuse to party on Los Angeles Times


text:
Mickeys_Elbowon May 04, 2002 Link
Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
the curtain's a sea anemone / in the way it sways / to the slow breeze / I lie spread out on the floor / looking at these things / and most of them are yours / and it's so nice / sitting very still / without those old shoes / I could never fill / starfish with its arms out in a daze / staring at the stars / through an ocean haze / was I one you wished upon? / burned out like a lightbulb / when you turned me on / and it's so nice / sleeping here all alone / with my ashtray and / white courtesy telephone / now I'm making out the shapes / like the shower rod - can it take my weight? / I will tell you I am fine / I got some news, friend, feels like I'm dying / turtle on its back in the desert sea / and you look like a cool drink / just slightly out of reach / draw myself into the shell / waiting on a sign from god / or a nod from hell / and it's so nice / sitting very still / without those old shoes / I could never fill / no we're turning on the lights / it's the first day of my second life / take my name off of the lease / you can even keep the name it never suited me
Lyrics submitted by PLANES
Sea Anemone song meanings
Add your thoughts
42 Comments
0General CommentThis really is a great song... so sad... so good.
0General Comment"turtle on its back in the desert sea and you look like a cool drink...just slightly out of reach" awesome mental image. i love jets to brazil for that...
0General Commentthis song is so relaxing =) and its my name. heh.sEa AnEmOnEon July 06, 2002 Link
0General CommentSo well written and just gives you this lonely feeling. I love it.jawbrokenrhymeson July 20, 2002 Link
0General Commenti dont think there's ever been a more depressing song written...ever. when i feel so lonely and depressed that i can't even move, i listen to this song.SheJustWepton August 13, 2002 Link
0Elliott Smith.Flag danbeaupreon October 23, 2011
0General Commenti love the line "i will tell you i am fine. i've got some news friend, feels like i'm dying." goodness, there are so many times thats been true. this is possibly my favorite jtb song. i can't wait for the new cd!one*name*famouson August 28, 2002 Link
0General Commentthis is definetly the greatest jtb song ever. i can listen to this song for hours and at a time on replay. the lyrics are so powerful, raw, and uncensored. its what im sure so many of us have felt in some time of our lives / it's the first day of my second life / take my name off of the lease / you can even keep the name it never suited me/ that line means so much.. to me, of walking away, kind of shedding your skin. instead of the talk of suicide /now im making out the shapes, like the shower rod, can it take my weight?// im not sure if this song was meant to be sad or just relaxing. either way im in love with this song
intoyoulikeatrainon August 29, 2002 Link
0General CommentI actually made a picture of the "Turtle on its back in the desert sea, and you look like a cool drink slightly out of reach", same with the "starfish with its arms out in a daze, staring at the stars through an ocean haze"
0General Commenti can honestly say that i have never heard a more depressing song in my life. i used to be afraid to listen to this song because of the emotions that arise when i do. not too long ago, i was that starfish with a wishing on a burnt out star.CrayonDrawnCaton September 13, 2002 Link
0General Commentthis song. oh my god. it's just so powerful. even if i'm in the best of moods, i can put this song on, and a wave of melancholy comes over me, in a good way. i think everyone has felt this way, blake just has the perfect way of expressing it. "i've got some news friend, feels like i'm dying"duh, kansason October 14, 2002 Link
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don't have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It's super easy, we promise!


text:
Client money protection service SAFEagent says lettings professionals should "stop moaning about Shelter" and work with the charity to come forward with joint policies to improve the regulation of the sector.
A lettings sector body has made an outspoken attack on tenants, claiming that poor hygiene amongst some of them - students in particular - may be causing pest problems which then have to be resolved by letting agents and landlords.
Figures produced by one of the country's three rental deposit schemes shows that only a tiny number of tenancies appear to end in deposit disputes.
Landlords have reported a typical void period of only 2.7 weeks for the second quarter of this year, the lowest level seen for two years.
The rivalry between Scottish portals continues with Citylets announcing that a raft of the country's independent letting agents have signed two and three year contracts.
An agency in Oxford has become the first company to receive funding towards the cost of superfast broadband, in a scheme which could be used by lettings companies across the country.
Britain's best known and biggest buy-to-let landlords, Fergus and Judith Wilson, are selling their entire portfolio of some 950 homes in the south east of England, in a deal likely to net them an estimated £100m.
An agent being targeted by a group of campaigners opposed to tenants' fees claims that a rally being held later this month is "part of a nasty witch hunt."
The National Landlords' Association has hit back at a jibe by the Labour Party that an expansion in the number of buy-to-let properties in one town would be "a disaster".
Rents are rising four times faster than household income according to Homelet.
A digital marketing agency has developed a tool which it claims will help estate and letting agents to increase their stock levels.Read More
So its getting toward the end of the month, and you're eagerly looking for the postman to arrive as you've been waiting days for Mr Smith's tenancy agreement to be returned, so you can release the keys, hit your targets and bag your commission! If only he hadn't been away on business, you would have had this sorted weeks ago.Read More
As one of the UK's most trusted referencing providers, nothing is left to chance at Rent4sure.Read More
How many property managers and lettings agents will be packing their work mobile and even their laptop in their suitcase alongside the sun cream and swim shorts? More than you think as the shocking truth is 30% of people going on holiday plan to work while they are away, and 30% plan to contact work while they are on their break*.Read More
New changes surround flexible working have recently come into effect. From 30th June 2014, employees with 26 weeks service or more will be able to request flexible working (or a new variation in work pattern, to quote the official statement). This could include, part-time or term-time working, job sharing, shift work and/or working from home (remote working). Until this recent change, only those with children under 17 years of age were able to make such a request.Read More
Information Works is a one-stop direct marketing solution allowing Clients to select individuals at over 27 million household addresses, create personalised mailings and send them to print and post within minutes.Read More


text:
The Tribune-Democrat
DAVIDSVILLE — PITERA – Robert J. "Pickles," 78, Davidsville, died Feb. 9, 2013, at Memorial Medical Center. Born Aug. 14, 1934, in Windber, son of Stanley and Janet (Yama) Pitera. Preceded in death by parents, and daughter-in-law, Ruthie (Seganos) Pitera. Survived by wife of 53 years, Rose M. (Yuschick); sons, Jeffrey R., Johnstown, and Brad C., married to Mandy (Hintosh), Davidsville; grandson, Logan Pitera; sisters, Janie Freeburn, and friend, Tony, Palo Alto, Calif.; Frances, married to Carl Pataky, El Paso, Texas; and Carol, married to Frank Meyers, Endicott, N.Y.; uncle and aunt, Ed and Mildred Pitera, Windber; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Phillipi, Jennerstown; and numerous nieces and nephews. A graduate of Richland High School. He played for Hollsopple in the Somerset County Baseball League and was a coach for Conemaugh Township Baseball League. A retired employee of Galliker's Dairy, Johnstown. Member of St. Anne Catholic Church, Davidsville. Bob was an avid Steelers and baseball fan. He also enjoyed gardening and listening to polka music. Viewing from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hoffman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 109 Church Road, Davidsville, where a vigil for the deceased will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Anne Church, the Rev. Father Michael Lewandowski, OFM, Conv., celebrant. Committal, Richland Mausoleum. Donations in Bob's memory may be sent to St. Anne Church, P.O. Box 500, Davidsville, Pa. 15928 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105. To express condolences, make a donation, light a candle or order flowers, visit HoffmanFuneralHomes.com.


text:
July 28, 2014
Computers, discs and videos are just some of the items seized during a raid at a Janesville home during a child pornography investigation. That raid took place in late January. On Wednesday, the Rock County man accused of sexual assault of a child appeared in court. Terry Ruben is facing life in prison on a variety of charges.
The 54-year-old was initially charged wtih possession of child pornography. Now he is also facing eight additional charges, including sexual assault, involving the same boy.
Police say the teen's mother had found a note in the washing machine, linking her son to Ruben. Court documents say authorities seized nearly 3,000 DVD's, two digital cameras, fifty videotapes and 150 floppy disks with sexually explicit material from the man's bedroom.
On Wednesday, Ruben waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He is out on bail. He is expected to enter a plea to the remaining charges next week.


text:
August 2, 2014
June 18, 2006
If you use in the Market Street parking garage, you're going to have to have to find a new spot temporarily.
The garage is being temporarily closed to hourly parkers while crews clean the structure; it will still be open to drivers who pay a monthly fee.
It's been two years since the garage was cleaned, so officials say the cleaning is past due, but it will be environmentally safe because of new Charlottesville standards. There are other parking options downtown.
"We hate to inconvenience people when they're coming downtown, but at the same time it's very easy to get to the Water Street Garage. Again, crossing 4th Street, if you're in that area scooting right across the mall, and entering from our Second Street entrance, that's our primary entrance," said Charlottesville Parking Center general manager, Bob Stroh.
The garage is expected to be reopen for hourly parkers by the end of the week.


text:
What it is:
An area of six city blocks, Japantown is anchored by the three-building Japan Center. A sort of cultural mall, Japan Center houses some great restaurants and shops, and is a magnet for community and cultural services. The area is marked by 100-foot-tall Peace Pagoda and the Peace Plaza; local artist Ruth Asawa's public works fountain is located inside the Buchanan building.
Japantown is part of the Western Addition, and is bordered by Geary, Bush, Octavia and Fillmore Streets.
What to Do:
A great place to soak up Japanese Culture, Japantown's restaurants and shops are well worth a visit. Check out the top six things to do in Japantown.
When to Go:
Japantown's popular cinema and spa draw crowds on the weekends; the area is fairly quiet during the week.
Getting There:
Catch the #2, #3, #4, or #38 bus.


text:
The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) recently named Jo-Anne Thompson of Tommy's Taxi and Thompson Transit in Framingham as the 2012 Paratransit and Contracting Operator of the Year.
Thompson's steadfast commitment and leadership within the industry, as well as her dedication to her employees, are reasons why the TLPA selected her as this year's award recipient.
"My idea of good management means listening to employees and supervisors, supporting them whenever possible, and continuing to make 'paratransit driver' an occupation that they can be proud of and that offers them both a good living and opportunity for growth," Thompson said.
Alfred LaGasse, Chief Executive Officer of the TLPA, said Thompson was the clear for this year's award because of her dedication to the industry, where she is seen as an expert in paratransit services.
"Leading by example, Jo-Anne sets such high standards within the industry," LaGasse said. "She ensures every single one of her employees is not only well-trained but compassionate as well. There are many operators in this industry who have learned a great deal from Jo-Anne."
Thompson began her career in the industry when she was only in elementary school, filing, rolling coins and answering the phone for her father's business, Tommy's Taxi, Inc. She went on to become a high school English teacher and later an editor at a high-tech firm. During a hiatus from editing work, Thompson found her way back to the industry.
In her free time, Thompson is a Library Trustee on the Framingham Library Board, is president of the Library Foundation, and serves on the MetroWest Economic Resource Council of Framingham State University. She enjoys reading, traveling, the arts, and visiting friends and family.


text:
Fierce Biotech reports this morning that the Office of Health Economics (UK think tank) says that the average cost of developing an approved drug has risen from $199 M in 1970 to more than $1.9 B today. They cited four factors for this:
- Soaring out of pocket R&D costs
- A success rate that has been halved from 1:5 to 1:10
- A vast increase spent in clinical trials up from 6 years to 13.5 years
- Significant increase in cost of capital due to increasing regulatory complexity
Not everyone agrees with this of course, but if taken at face value the results are sobering. The Financial Times after looking the report over said that the increase to 13.5 years alone was enough to scare off venture capitalists for good.
Posted by Bruce Lehr Dec 2nd 2012.


text:
Another person has come forward in the ongoing saga of allegations against and St. Mary's Abbey involving years of alleged sexual abuse.
Except in this case, the person coming forward did not make a new allegation.
But, for "John Doe," as his attorney Gregory Gianforcaro referred to him, a confidentiality agreement in place since settling in 1988 has kept the victim silent following former Monk Timothy Brennan's guilty plea in 1987.
On Friday, in front of the , Gianforcaro said his client wants to break the silence that has been legally required of him for 24 years. The confidentiality agreement was, according to the school and abbey's attorneys at the time, in the best interests of the school, Brennan and the student whom Brennan had admitted in court to abusing.
"John Doe" actually first expressed desire to speak about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Brennan in 2002. That prompted a swift response from Delbarton's and St. Mary's Abbey legal representation at the time.
"'Our potential damages are very real here,'" Gianforcaro quoted the statement from their legal team at the time. "'We will vigorously seek to enforce the confidentiality provision.'"
"He was tired of remaining silent," Gianforcaro said of his client. "He desired to want to help others. He knew he was not alone."
The problem with Delbarton's and St. Mary's Abbey's attorneys' reluctance to lift the confidentiality agreement, he said, was that same year, the Morris Township-based Catholic institution had pledged to support the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the charter there is a specific prohibition for confidentiality agreements, unless one is in place at the victim's request.
"It serves no greater good to the community to remain silent," said Mark Crawford, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), himself a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest. He cites a primary reason for places like the Abbey for remaining silent. "They have a hallowed, iconic reputation and want to protect it," he said.
Instead of being terminated from his service to the Abbey, Crawford said Brennan was instead moved to Mount Savior Monastery, in central New York. In 2002, he said, Brennan was removed from there and sent to a "penal colony" in Missouri. The current whereabouts of the former monk, now 72, are unknown, he said.
As the case is more than two decades old, and the victim already received compensation at the time, Gianforcaro noted "John Doe" was not looking for any additional monetary compensation, simply the ability to speak publicly about his abuse.
"If he had it his way, he would speak up and scream about it," Crawford said. "Victims are conflicted and feel they are part of the cover up. It's immoral. It's an example of choosing to protect the institution over the protection of the child. That's unacceptable."
In response to Gianforcaro's request that the confidentiality agreement be removed, in a statement he read from the Abbey's attorney Charles Carella, "Two hours is insufficient time to consider your client's request.
"You have not explained the urgency to the Abbey," Carella's statement continued. "We're willing to consider the request and will attempt to convene over the holiday week. ... We are not saying 'no.' We are not saying 'yes.'"
Gianforcaro also read a statement from "John Doe," who recalled his elation as a youth when he discovered he had been accepted to attend the school.
"'I loved Delbarton from the very first time my sister took me to a Green Wave football game,'" Gianforcaro read from the statement.
But, in his freshman year at the school, "John Doe" had trouble fitting in. His parents suggested he reach out to a guidance counselor at the school. That counselor was Brennan.
"'St. Mary's Abbey and Delbarton have the opportunity to live up to the promises they have made repeatedly over the years,'" Gianforcaro read from the statement. "'Begin by treating the victims with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Release all victims from their gag orders.'
"'You are God's representatives on Earth, start acting like it,'" he said.


text:
The Winter Development Program is focused on training, using our S.M.A.R.T training program, developing techniques, dribbling, passing, shooting, awareness and playing different positions given each Player a great deal of time on the ball. This is all performed by Busby Soccer Academy Director and creator of these programs. As a qualified professional soccer coach/Trainer With his success and experience, he feels this program gives players focused training in the winter months to prepare them for the spring season.
This format is a full on training of skills and technique focused on each and every player and their unique needs with a professional coach directing the whole time. From our experience this format is the most effective way of developing young talent and has been the backbone of our success
The Winter program runs for 7 weeks Starting January 2013.


text:
Dr. Michael Solontoi
Phone: 773.495.5749 (cell)
Degree Level/Concentration: Ph.D., M.Sc. in Astronomy, B.A. in Physics
Professional Background:
Dr. Solontoi received a B.A. in Physics from Reed College, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Washington, with a dissertation topic focusing on comets in large-sky surveys. He is currently an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, studying the small bodies of the solar system (comets and asteroids) with optical and near-infrared spectroscopy. Michael has done extensive work on detecting and analyzing comets observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and is a member of the Solar System Science Collaboration for the forthcoming Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Previously he has taught astronomy at the University of Washington and in community colleges in the greater Seattle area.


text:
Changing China
Giant on the move
Cooling period for Taiwan, China
Chronically isolated Taiwan found a powerful new friend over the past year – its once bitter adversary China. But as Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, a leading figure behind that friendship, reaches his first anniversary in office on May 20, the two sides have shown they're ready to back away from each other again.
Ma's first year saw what few could have imagined even two years ago, never mind 60, when Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to Taiwan from China after losing the Chinese civil war to Mao Zedong's Communists. China still claims sovereignty over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan and has threatened to take it by force if necessary. It has said the two sides must ultimately be united.
Dropping the hardball that characterised previous Taiwan presidents, Ma's government has met counterparts from Beijing to work out the first direct flights, a new tourism accord and investment in each other's markets, all of particular benefit to recession-hit Taiwan.
Talks leading to those deals lifted mutual confidence to where China has thundered about fighting problems overseas under Beijing's ethnic unity banner. China has asked Taiwan, which is 98 percent ethnic Chinese, to help combat the world financial crisis, implying that both were victims of the U.S. economy. More recently it suggested uniting to fight influenza A, which also started overseas.
from Left field:
World Games bring spotlight to southern Taiwan
2008 was undoubtedly China's year in the limelight, thanks to the Beijing Olympics. But this year, China's longtime political and diplomatic rival Taiwan gets the World Games
And it's not Taiwan's frenetic, fashionable capital Taipei which will be hosting the event. Instead, the island's second largest city and one of the world's busiest ports, Kaohsiung, will be home to the 16-26 July extravaganza.
China hits home run
China's upset 4-1 win over Taiwan in the first round of the World Baseball Classic earlier this month was a small but important step for a team that battles for recognition and funding.
Although trounced by Japan and South Korea in earlier matches, the politically tinged match renewed China's bragging rights over the self-ruled island, which Beijing declares as its own territory and has vowed to bring back to mainland rule, by force if necessary.
Talking the same language
By Ben Blanchard and Ralph Jennings
What's in a word? A great deal if you are Chinese or Taiwanese. Despite unprecedented detente in recent months, China and Taiwan sometimes seem as far apart as ever when it comes to language.
Take, for example, the vexed question of the wording of a future political solution between the two sides.
China claims Taiwan as its own, and views it as a rebel province to be reeled in, by force if necessary. Beijing says Taiwan has been China's "since days of old", and it is only because defeated Nationalist forces fled there at the end of a civil war in 1949, and managed to hold off the Communists, that the island is still run separately.
China says it wants "reunification", to bring back together that which was once whole.
But for many in Taiwan, that's the wrong word. They would rather term it "unification", saying that China, or at least the Communist Party, has never run Taiwan and has no legitimate claim over the island. Hence there is nothing to "reunite".
Trouble is, in Chinese the word "tongyi" can be translated as either "reunification" or "unification". That makes writing about the issue in English tricky for reporters who seek to stay neutral.
The politics of language go deeper, though. Taiwan, along with Hong Kong, Macau and many in the overseas Chinese world, use the traditional Chinese script, rather than the simplified version used in China and introduced by the Communists.
Some in Taiwan call their traditional script "correct font," implying that China uses the wrong words.
The official spoken language, Mandarin Chinese, is largely the same on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but Taiwanese often eject a mouthful at foreigners who speak in mainland-inflected Mandarin.
Likewise, mainland Chinese may laugh at foreigners who speak Taiwan-accented Mandarin when in China.
Taiwanese also love throwing in English and Japanese words when speaking Mandarin, which does not happen much on the mainland.
Taiwan is proud, too, of its non-Mandarin linguistic heritage. Taiwanese, also known as Hokkien, as made a big comeback since being supressed by the Nationalists and is now widely used in politics, on the television and in pop songs.
Written Taiwanese, using Chinese characters, is all but impossible for someone who only speaks Mandarin to understand, though they can guess at the gist of it.
Taiwanese is also spoken in China, in the southern part of Fujian province, the origin centuries ago for many ethnic Chinese people in Taiwan, and is generally called Hokkien. In China though, use of okkien in public life gets little official backing.
So while China and Taiwan may talk about moving closer together, they might not always be talking the same language.
The war that changed China
Thirty years ago today, China invaded its one-time Communist ally Vietnam to "teach it a lesson", to the delight of Beijing's newfound friend, Uncle Sam, which was still smarting from having lost its own Vietnam War.
The attack came on the heels of Washington switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing and a closed-door meeting between China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington.
Three decades on, it remains unclear just how much Deng told Carter about the incursion and whether Washington offered any assistance such as satellite imagery of Vietnamese troops and military bases.
Until the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department declassify minutes of the meeting, the world will not know for sure whether the United States offered to back China in the event the Soviet Union rushed to Vietnam's rescue.
Now the great wheel of history has turned again, and 30 years on, the United States is seeking China's help in applying pressure on another Communist neighbour, North Korea.
China's foray into Vietnam was brief yet in some ways disastrous. Its troops suffered terribly against the battle-hardened Vietnamese who were fighting on their home soil.
But there is no arguing that the invasion was a watershed event that smoothed the way for China to mend fences with the West. American investors, tourists and students flocked to China. Western and Japanese aid and loans flowed in, while trade and investment mushroomed, helping to transform the world's most populous nation from an economic backwater into an export powerhouse and the world's third-biggest economy.
In an apparent quid pro quo, China abandoned its longstanding policy of "liberating" Taiwan and offered "peaceful reunification" in an overture to the self-ruled island it has claimed as its own since their split in 1949 amid civil war.
Also in 1979, Deng invited Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to visit, prompting the latter to renounce advocacy of Tibetan independence, beseech CIA-armed and -trained Tibetan guerrillas to end their struggle and send his older brother to China on fact-finding trips.
The United States softened its criticism of human rights abuse in China, including the imprisonment of dissident Wei Jingsheng for challenging Deng at the height of the Democracy Wall movement.
American Sinologist David Shambaugh described as a "marriage of convenience" the teaming up of the United States and China to curb Soviet expansionism.
On a lighter note, American culture invaded China. Many Chinese traded their Mao suits for jeans or business suits and dined at McDonald's and KFC outlets. Hollywood movies and rock 'n' roll — once considered decadent by China's ideologues — swept many Chinese off their feet.
The honeymoon abruptly ended on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops crushed student-led demonstrations for democracy centred on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. China slipped into diplomatic isolation in the face of U.S. sanctions.
China broke out of isolation and forced the United States to deal with it after menacing Taiwan with war games in the run-up to the island's first direct presidential elections in 1996. Bilateral relations see-sawed in the ensuing years, hitting low points when NATO bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and a U.S. spy plane collided with a Chinese jet fighter over Chinese airspace.
Fast forward to February 2009. When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits on Friday, she will be dealing with a richer, more confident and assertive China. Again, but now in peacetime, it will be a China that needs the United States as much as the United States needs China.
The United States needs China to help rein in a nuclear North Korea and help nurse the global economy back to health. But China's abrupt slowdown in growth and exports shows that it remains yoked to U.S. fortunes.
Photo Credit: A Vietnamese border guard stands next to a border marker between China's Guangxi and Vietnam's Lang Son provinces on Jan. 13, 2009. REUTERS/Kham


text:
Teens and Drugs – K2 and Spice are Banned, but What Fix is Next?
Drug du jour K2 is now illegal in Michigan. But that doesn't mean parents can rest easy. What's at the heart of teen drug use? And what can families and communities do?
(page 2 of 2)
"Kids are curious and they will try things," says Mark Hackel, Macomb County's executive and former county sheriff. Hackel helped Macomb become one of the first counties in southeast Michigan to ban the sale of K2 in early June.
Hackel says "it's not one thing" that causes teens to try drugs. Rather, he thinks, "it has a lot to do with society in general."
Hackel says teens sometimes try drugs and drink alcohol because of the examples they're seeing on TV, among peers or even in their own homes.
"Parents provide a terrible example to kids sometimes," Hackel says.
For example, if parents come home from a party and tell a friend on the phone about how drunk they were, or if they come home from work and drink several beers a night, they're sending their teen the message that "it can't be that bad," he says.
"We unfortunately don't set a very good example for kids in our daily lives," Hackel says. "(The) reality is we don't realize the impact we're having on kids."
When all of these influences mix with teenage curiosity, kids try drugs for the first time – or "the worst time," as Hackel puts it, because the teen is then "always chasing that same high."
McGunn says that a majority of alcoholics and drug users began using during adolescence.
"We don't know the long-term implications of drug use on the developing brain," McGunn says. "What we do know is that if we can postpone the use of alcohol until the age of 21, we will not, very likely, have an alcoholic."
The powerful role parents play
Following the battle to get his son help and inform others about K2's dangers, Miskokomon has formulated advice for other parents: "Get more involved."
Parents, he says, are "so busy" with their "day-to-day lives" that sometimes, they believe "as long as my kids aren't in trouble, they're fine."
"I just think as parents, we need to step back and take time with our kids," Miskokomon says. "Pay attention to what's going on in their lives."
And if parents see a change in their teen's behavior, he says, "Ask why."
As McGunn has found through the teen focus groups she studies with her coalition, teens want their parents to be involved in their lives, and studies have shown that parental involvement is one of the biggest factors in preventing teen drug use.
"(Teens) don't want parents to be controlling their every movement," she says, but "they want parents to be involved. They really want parents to listen." When parents supervise their teens' actions and whereabouts, get involved at their schools and listen to their thoughts and feelings – even those they don't like – teens feel protected and cared for.
"All the common-sense parenting ideas are really the most important things that can occur for kids to keep them from experimenting," she says.
Teens are susceptible to making bad decisions based on their premature brains, so "parental presence is so very important" to help kids make the right choices, McGunn says.
What parents can do
To talk to teens about drugs, parents must be informed, McGunn stresses.
"In terms of what parents should be aware of, I think it starts with parents educating themselves on current trends," she says.
The next step is having a conversation about drugs with kids at a young age.
"Basically by starting to ask what the teen knows, (and) what they're observing," parents can start the dialogue, she says. She suggests parents also do this by "expressing considerable concern about any drug – alcohol, marijuana, tobacco – really anything at all that might be used."
And again, parents should also keep in mind the examples they're setting for teens, Hackel says.
"I think they need to start realizing it's our responsibility to set the tone," he says. "We don't realize that we're role models and mentors to kids – not just kids in our own homes."
McGunn suggests parents occasionally throw parties at their home that don't include alcohol, for example, since alcohol is "the primary drug that teens are going to see their parents use.
"It sends a distinct message that you can celebrate and have a good time without alcohol," she says.
Peers also play a large role in influencing teenagers. Therefore, McGunn says parents should get to know their teen's friends.
"One of the ways of determining whether a teen uses is whether they're associated with other teens who use," she says.
Fighting the never-ending battle
Sometimes, though, parents cannot stop their teens from trying drugs.
Miskokomon says he talked to his teen about drugs, and spent a lot of time in his son's life – from Boy Scouts and baseball to attending parent-teacher conferences.
"You can't stay on your kids 24/7. There's so much peer pressure out there," he says.
But Miskokomon's message to other parents whose kids are doing drugs is "not to give up on their kids." Today, Miskokomon's 17-year-old son is back home in Michigan after completing a 30-day drug rehab program in South Dakota.
"He did great," Miskokomon says, but adds that his son still "has a long road ahead of him."
While other teens across the nation face similar roads to recovery, new drugs will threaten to wreak havoc on teen lives.
"There's always going to be the drug of the day," McGunn admits. "However, that doesn't mean that parents can't inoculate their children so they're less likely to use it."
The best way to reduce teen drug use is to fight the demand, Hackel says.
"(It's) K2 today, but what's it going to be tomorrow? Something different," he says. "We can't constantly be chasing after the supply when there's the demand. How do we get people to say, 'We don't want to do drugs?'"
Getting teens to avoid trying drugs is a community effort, McGunn says, and everybody in the community – from law enforcement and churches to schools and coalitions – have a place in doing so.
Yet in the end, "It's always going to come back to good parenting," she says, and when you bring all areas of the community together on the issue, "the head of the table is always going to be the parents."
My son committed suicide after smoking spice. He was 19 years old. I did NOT see it coming, did not see the signs. I think, according to friends, he had only smoked it one or two times prior. It is so important to talk to your children of the dangers of these 'designer drugs' and what they can do to you!