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The pistol appeared in his hand the way a dove appears in the hand of a good magician, as if it materialized out of thin air. "You think I won't do it right here in the open. But you'd be surprised.... You'll drop before you get the breath to scream." The truck driver is decked out like a rhinestone cowboy, only instead of a guitar he's slinging a gun - and Odd Thomas is on the wrong end of the barrel. Though he narrowly dodges a bullet, Odd can't outrun the shocking vision burned into his mind...or the destiny that will drive him into a harrowing showdown with absolute evil.
How do you make sure a crime that hasn't happened yet, never does? That's the critical question facing Odd Thomas, the young man with a unique ability to commune with restless spirits and help them find justice and peace. But this time, it's the living who desperately need Odd on their side. Three helpless innocents will be brutally executed unless Odd can intervene in time. Who the potential victims are and where they can be found remain a mystery. The only thing Odd knows for sure is who the killer will be: the homicidal stranger who tried to shoot him dead in a small-town parking lot.
With the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock riding shotgun and a network of unlikely allies providing help along the way, Odd embarks on an interstate game of cat and mouse with his sinister quarry. He will soon learn that his adversary possesses abilities that may surpass his own and operates in service to infinitely more formidable foes, with murder a mere prelude to much deeper designs. Traveling across a landscape haunted by portents of impending catastrophe, Odd will do what he must and go where his path leads him, drawing ever closer to the dark heart of his long journey - and, perhaps, to the bright light beyond.
©2013 Dean Koontz (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
"Koontz gives his character wit, good humor, a familiarity with the dark side of humanity - and moral outrage." (USA Today)
I read, I write; I listen
"Odd Once Again"
Odd Thomas is back for the sixth time in what is supposed to be a seven part series; and the end seams near.
"Deeply Odd" begins with Odd and Annamaria together in a small cottage along the California coastline; but Odd must leave to follow his instincts. Soon after leaving the small cottage he runs into a physcopathic, rhinestone wearing, cowboy truck driver that immediately tries to kill him. During the struggle Odd has a vision of this man committing a horrible act.
Odd gets away from the man but then must track him down to try and stop his vision from coming true. Along the way he meets a very interesting elderly woman, Edie, that helps him on his journey. There is also a cameo appearance from Alfred Hitchcock again.
As is with all of the Odd series, this is a disturbing look into the darker side of humanity and Odd will be pushed into becoming something he does not want to become, a killer; but he must kill in order to protect the innocent. Odd is changing and like many I miss the Odd in previous books but also realize characters do change.
The end is coming as Odd's path seems to be headed back to Pico Mundo and a reunion with Stormy Llewellyn, and with a few twists and hints of a parallel universe the ending should be epic.
I would not recommend this book if you have not listened/read the previous ones as there are references to the past as the series winds down.
A word about David Aaron Baker; I have read a few of the Odd books and found with David doing the narration just reading this story falls short of the experience the audio version offers. Mr., Koontz obviously is a gifted writer but David Aaron Baker is Odd; no pun intended.
I am an avid listener. I listen between 75-100 hours per month on my iPhone: 60% fiction to 40% non-fiction.
"Oddly Excellent!"
What does an exploding cantaloupe and a simile equating perfect hash browns to driving speed have to do with the new Odd Thomas installment? You'll have to listen to find out. The plot is laid quickly, Odd finds himself going head-to-head with a maniacal trucker who tries to kill him not ten minutes in and the vision of what he is bound to do is grizzly. Even though the mission is somber, like all adventures, Odd is full of metaphors and witticisms as usual. Odd keeps collecting folks and Edie will charm your shocks off.
The great thing about the Odd Thomas stories is how deeply sincere and amusing the character is. I love how self-effacing and humble he is; and, with each story we learn more and more about him and his journey. You would think that this would get old given we've been we Odd through heartbreak and triumph and pretty much think we know him. But Koontz continues to unravel us a little more each time as he writes another one of these stories. He not a FBI agent of a Forensic Scientist from a Lincoln Child or Patricia Cornwell – he is simple Fry Cook, a very, very interesting Fry Cook.
This is book seven for David Aaron Baker who is now the voice off Odd Thomas. His narration fits the quirky nature of Odd Thomas and very much like his easy going narration.
I love these series! My heart still aches for him and Stormy Llewellyn way back from book one. Koontz has managed to tap into a vein with the Odd Thomas stories that keep you reading and wanting more. Perhaps it is the simplicity that surrounds the deeply complex Odd Thomas as his enigmatic cast. I highly recommend this installment of Deeply Odd – please give it a listen.
I focus on fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, science, history, politics and read a lot. I try to review everything I read.
"Best Odd Since #1"
This is not quite as good as the first Odd Thomas book, but it is better than all the others. Deeply Odd captures the best aspects of Koontz and Odd Thomas. After the loss of Stormy, books 2-5 had the humor and quirkiness of the first book, but were missing some of the family feeling that I enjoy in most Koontz books. This book may have the best human ghost of the series (Alfred Hitchcock), a great eccentric spontaneous family, a good dog, and a nice story that does not over do it. Annamaria makes only a cameo appearance in this book (which was OK with me).
The narration is just about perfect, capturing the Oddness of all the characters (and he does a respectable Hitchcock).
I believe a reviewer should finish a book before submitting a review. What do you think?
"Oddly Disappointed"
Oh I was hoping Mr Koontz would bring back the magic of our beloved Oddy. Although this book was an improvement on the last two in my opinion, the overall charm and cohesion was still missing a bit.
There is a cult of supernatural (some are) bad guys who have kidnapped a group of young children for reasons that are super creepy, the spirits that Oddy sees, a darling hot rod wealthy granny with lovely charm and plenty of dogs, what's not to like?
This all makes for a pretty good Odd book, however because the earlier ones were so good I can't help feeling this disappointment.
And I can't write this review without a mention of the ever pregnant Annmarie character who once again is dangled in front of the listener without any connection to the story. This one pony trick is wearing; doesn't Mr. Koontz realize that there is no need for this ploy? We are loyal reader/listeners and we do not need the "enigmatic ever pregnant woman" to keep us interested in your books. I have the opposite reaction personally.
So of course I look forward to the next Odd book and perhaps the baby will finally arrive and the annoying Annemarie will fade away into the past. Happy listening!
"drones on...."
I have loved the Odd Thomas books in the past, but this one just bored me. I couldn't finish it. There were just tooooo many asides to the past, to Stormy and to things that had already happened. I didn't think that so much time should have been spent on it, because it left me saying, "get on with it". My other half, however, really liked it, so perhaps I am just impatient.
Amazing Entertaining Storytelling
The writing is superb. The reading by David Aaron Baker is also world class. So believable and enjoyable. I wish other Audio books could compare to this, however, most don't even come close to this series.
He is the manifestation of his character. He brings you into his experience with his style, his vocals are unmatched in my opinion. Listen to the entire series, you will not be sorry.
Yes. Both, this series is just an amazing work of art. Koontz really weaves incredible, yet strangely believable characters into his stories and brings you close to them. He is a master. Listening to these books during long road trips was magical. If you can listen to this series in long stretches on the road it is an amazing experience.
It's simple really, I am just a guy looking to enjoy the writing and reading talents of others while raising my family the best I can, just Like most everyone else!!!
"Might be the best Odd Thomas book!"
In most Odd Thomas book's reviews, besides the first one, I'm never sure if a review is needed because odd fans know what to expect. This one is different, a review is needed! Until now the first book was hands down the best and I was shocked when I started liking Deeply Odd more. The characters, mostly the old woman, are one thing that stood out for me. That woman is a great character! A magical, gun carrying, filthy rich, kind and helpful, funny old woman who always knows someone who can help her and Odd, and a woman who drives over 100 mph almost anywhere she goes, is someone to keep writing about. There is so much to write about here, but I DO NOT WANT TO SPOIL SUCH A TREAT FOR ANY OF YOU!!! If you liked the other books then I am pretty sure you will love this one, it is special in my view.
Sure, I'd love to hear your story....
"Better, but no cigar"
I've enjoyed this series for a while and was DEEPLY disappointed in the last couple of books. I was afraid I was ready to say goodbye when this one came along. At least I'm not ticked off at using my hard earned credit. The good news is the addition of a great new character ("call me Edie") that almost made the weird presence of the perpetually pregnant Madonna like character less annoying. But not quite. There is more humor, fewer monsters without rules, and frankly, at least this one has a plot. So I'll just keep complaining that I miss the old Odd, and pony up my credit for the next book. And, the narrator is pitch perfect as usual. Glad he had something to work with on this one.
"Soooooo Gooood"
After the last Odd Thomas installment, I felt the Mr. Koontz was getting a little boring with Odd's adventure and that Anna Maria was annoying as hell. However, in reading this installment of Odd, I am once again hooked on this series. Odd has some inner thoughts that had me laughing so hard--Odd even mentions reading Twilight Eyes (One of Koontz's previous books about Carnies). Since I had read it, I found the mention worthwhile. The characters Odd meets, becoming the chauffeur of Mrs. Fisher and the family living off the grid had me rethinking my life and asking the question... What does Dean Koontz know about the true nature of the universe that I am overlooking? Odd just has some serious deep thoughts and nice one liners. My favorite, "We may as well eat." This adventure is just an amazing ride with Odd is worthwhile and of the same caliber, if not better than the first few stories in Odd's adventures. I highly recommend this story.
"Love Odd, Koontz is getting depressing"
New twists and dimensions to Odd's talents and I like the new characters and how the story is evolving and developing.
I did NOT at ALL like some of the "editorial" comments that he (Koontz) had Odd and other characters make about life. When Odd and other characters made comments about how terrible the world is now and how it is all going to hell in a hand basket, it felt more like Koontz philosophy was spilling through and didn't really match with Odd Thomas' nature. It muddied the waters and I felt like Koontz needs to stop watching so much Fox News. I will of course still continue to follow along with the series as I love Odd Thomas but it would be a much more enjoyable read if Mr. Koontz would leave some of his (what seems to me) Liberterian views out of the story. Yes, he does use his novels as a soap box for his views on life, but I don't remember them being this dark and unrelentingly negative. Ugh. Normally I love the Odd Thomas series and can't get enough but I found all of the negativity very distracting and irritating and repetitive. He kept harping on the same negatve themes over and over again. We got it the first several times, thank you.Normally I have a very easy time being in the story and enjoy being carried away by the fast paced action of what poor Odd has to deal with but when he makes comments that are so jarring as to bring you out of the story and go: "what, Huh?" It diminishes the experience.
Love him as Odd, he does a great job in the entire series. He is perfectly cast and I hope he can continue throughout the series.
"Not the usual ."
I have read the Odd Series and enjoyed them. This seemed to be lacking something to ensure you were on the same wavelength as Odd.
No. Not the best.
I enjoyed the narration.
If there is a follow up it needs more kick to it other wise they are to predictable and monotonous.
Not one of the better ones.
"Best Odd Thomas book"
yes, such a great story you get to know the people in the book
Odd Thomas He's so kind and thinks of other people
He made the story come alilve
"Best Odd Book Yet"
This is the best Odd Thomas book to date. Lots of action, horror and supernatural events in the usual Dean Koontz style. When you get to the end it still leaves you wondering who and what his new friends are and if Odd is the same. I hope there are more Odd book on the horizon.
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Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year everyone!
Re: Merry Christmas
have a fantastic time folks!!!
Re: Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to everyone!
Re: Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all you Carrettes!!
"Feels good to mingle with these laid back country folk, hey Har? I like it a lot".
Re: Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all!
I'm very happy to be part of the JCO community and I want to thank you all for welcoming me!
You're all awesome!
I'm a guardian of the spark...
I'm a God damn and proud good fan... and I love it! = )>
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Merry Christmas!
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29k is fine for heroics, although it's inevitable you're going to meet some retards with attitude problems. Such is life, unfortunately.
If you link your armory, we could help you fine-tune a bit.
I've been getting asked to tank for heroics but the problem is I mainly prot pvp. My GS is around 5100 with pvp on. My old tank set from the beginning of the expansion meets 540 def, but the health pool is pretty low at 29 k - I really don't wanna hear rofl rogue has more hps than the tank. =P
So, where do I begin this late in the game? or should I just wait it out until cata.
29k is fine for heroics, although it's inevitable you're going to meet some retards with attitude problems. Such is life, unfortunately.
If you link your armory, we could help you fine-tune a bit.
29k is more than fine for heroics.
I started doing heroics with a bout..I wanna say 20k health but I was defense capped through the daunting set.
Good healers will make sure you are defense capped, and it will give them something to do.
Get up to 32k, gem and enchant any gear that is i245+ (if you start raiding, youll be replacing one item or more in a week, generally.) Start raiding ToC10, know the fights and ask if you can OT it.
Once you are around 34-35k ask if you can go into ICC. 30% buff will make your health be around 50k buffed, I would believe. Mine is 40k unbuffed, and around 60k in ICC.
tldr; go spam heroics for some i245/232 gear. priority always is 4pt9 --> black heat from toc5 normal --> neck and belt from conquest --> glyph of indom. trinket. Basically once you cant get anything more from triumphs, youll be around 5050gs and be more than fine for heroics.
If you are into Arena, make an arena team and get 300 or so arena points and buy the 277 shield. I believe it will replace any shield before ICC, maybe the shield from ICC10 is better? If not, get the i219 shield from regular HoR, its ezmode compared to heroic.
I could be way off.
I was told that 4pt9 is desireable for any class.
But yeah, helm and shoulders are better in terms of stats..but meh.
My friend told me for holy, 4pt9 > all (for nonraiders atleast), so I assumed it did for most classes. My bad.
Someone will always have something to say about your health pools as a tank if you are below ICC gear. Don't sweat it, make sure you are at 535 def for heroics, 540 for raids and que up for heroics. You'll gear up fast and enjoy the last few months or weeks of wrath.
My blog: Judging Chasey
4pT9 for warriors isn't magical, but it can help with threat generation if you are having agro issues.
I went 245 helm and shoulders, and they lasted me until I got the 277 shoulders from heroic lootship. Still gunning for the 264 hat from LDW.


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The Rājāvaliya: or, A historical narrative of Siṇhalese kings from Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Sūriya II, to which are added a glossary and a list of sovereigns
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Akbo Ambulugala Anuradhapura Arachchila Arya Chakravarti attack Bdhu Bhalluka Bodhimandala Brahmin brought Buddha Buddhist built called caused champions Colombo dagaba Dambadiva daughter death demons Devenipetissa fight fortress Four Korales Gampola gave gods hill-country island of Lanka Jambudvipa Jayavira Bandara Kadol elephant Kandy Kasubu Kavantissa Kelaniya killed king Bhuvaneka Bahu king Dharmapala king Elala king Gemunu King Mayadunne King Raja Sinha king Vidiye king Vijaya Bahu kingdom Konappu Bandara Kotte Lemani lived low-country Magama Maha Mihindu monks Nandimitra Negombo Nirmalaya nuwara Okkaka palace Parakrama Bahu Polonnaruwa Portuguese army Prince Gemunu princess queen RAJAVALIYA Rayigama reigned an asankhya resided returned to Sitawaka royal father Ruhuna Sakalakala Walla Sakra Sakya Sammata seized Senarat sent Seven Korales Sinhalese Siri Sangabo Sitawaka Soli country Tamils Thereupon throne Tissa took tooth-relic tree Upatissa Vehera Velusumana Vihara Vijayapala Vijitapura Vikramasinha Mudali village Vimala Dharma Surya Vimaladaham Surya whilst Yapapatuna yodun younger brother


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M.A.D. Classic Aluminator Turkey Pot Call$53.99The Classic Aluminator is a very similar design to the Cherry Bomb, but has a walnut pot with a aluminum striking surface. This pot produces some great high pitch yelps and gets that will help you locate and kill more gobblers. However, it also have a ver Learn More


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Benjamin Lock
With over 15 years industry experience, I have designed for a wide range of clients ranging from start-up companies through to large corporations and regularly take projects from client
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I have freelanced as a senior designer for a number of design agencies which include - Deadeye Design, Dynamite Promotions, Kee Scott Associates (now KS Agency), Revolver Entertainment, TCS Europe, What is Bobo and Wildhorse. This is in addition to working with my own clients.
Please consider me for both freelance and part/full-time roles.
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I've worked with Ben Lock on & off for over 12 years, first as a colleague for six years at another agency, and since as a regular freelancer at my own company. Ben's a fantastic all rounder, with the creativity to carry a branding project through from concept to roll out & the attention to detail to work on the more pernickety projects such as brochures & localisations.
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MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky. (8/28/13) – The Muhlenberg Job Corps Center has named Greenville native, Betty White as Employee of the Month.
During the month of July 2013, White processed over 1,500 items through the warehouse. According to Job Corps Spokesperson Karen Robinson, White is a key part of the accounts payable process which scored 100% on the recent audit.
White makes sure supplies are delivered in a timely and efficient manner. She continues to go above and beyond on all her job duties to assist the students with clothing when needed and ensures all shipment orders are correct so there is no potential loss of money to the Center.
The greatest thing Betty brings to work is her smile and caring way. Because of the kind person she is, she makes everyone she comes in contact with have a day that is always a little bit better. A lot goes on behind the scenes at Muhlenberg Job Corps and management considers her a vital component.
White began her employment at the Muhlenberg Job Corps on March 13, 1989 and has served the center for twenty four years. The Muhlenberg Job Corps and contracting officer, Horizons Youth Services, considers Betty White a major asset to the Center operations.
Muhlenberg Job Corps is a free career training educational facility for low-income individuals ages 17-24. Individuals can train and earn certifications in Certified Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide, Insurance Claims Processor, Pharmacy Technology, Clinical Medical Assistant, Heavy Equipment Operator, Construction Equipment Mechanics, Class B – Commercial Driver's License and Welding. If you or a family member is interested in the Job Corps program, call for a tour of the campus today (270) 377-3269.
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2010 / 09 - September Issue of American Cinematographer
The September 2010 issue of American Cinematographer magazine has a special focus on international production.
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
ASC members Stuart Dryburgh and Kramer Morgenthau alternated with fellow cinematographer Jonathan Freeman while shooting this 13-part television series created by Sopranos alumnus Terence Winter and co-produced by Martin Scorsese, who also directed the pilot. Inspired by Nelson Johnson's nonfiction book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City," the show mixes historical figures with fictional characters in a saga about criminals exploiting Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. Steve Buscemi stars as the city's corrupt treasurer, Nucky Thompson, who manages to build a lucrative business based on "tributes": $6 for every case of liquor brought into Atlantic City, "inspection fees" collected from brothels, "wire service charges" from horse-betting operations, and percentages from gambling and numbers syndicates. Dryburgh, Morgenthau and Freeman discuss how they combined practical New York locations and impressive sets to create the show's period ambience.
The Expendables (Lionsgate)
Jeffrey Kimball, ASC (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, Star Trek: Nemesis) brings his flair for action to this adrenalin-packed adventure directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, who cast a veritable Who's Who of fellow tough-guy stars (Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin and Randy Couture) as a team of mercenaries who head to South America to overthrow a dictator. Kimball explains the daunting logistics he confronted while shooting on location in Brazil.
Centurion (Magnet Releasing)
Cinematographer Sam McCurdy went on location to England and Scotland for this full-blooded historical adventure about a group of Roman soldiers who must fight for their lives after their legion is decimated during a surprise attack by the Picts, a warlike tribe that takes no prisoners. McCurdy discusses his ongoing collaboration with director Neil Marshall, for whom he shot the memorable 2005 horror film The Descent and the 2008 sci-fi thriller Doomsday.
Nowhere Boy (The Weinstein Co.)
Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC effectively captures the ambience of 1950s England in this affecting period drama about the pre-Beatles youth of future rock 'n' roll icon John Lennon (Aaron Johnson). McGarvey discusses the strategies he and director Sam Taylor-Wood employed to portray a slice of Lennon's life that's generally familiar only to Beatles aficionados.
The September issue's departments also offer illuminating insights:
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Peaches At Jewish Museum In Berlin
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Canadian electronic musician and performance artist Peaches waits for... News Photo 178933291Adult,Adults Only,Artist,Arts Culture and Entertainment,Berlin,Canadian,Celebrities,Circus Performer,Custom,Electro Music,Electronic,Exhibition,Germany,Horizontal,Judaism,Last Day,Month,Music,Musician,One Person,One Woman Only,Peaches - Singer,People,Performance,Performer,Portion,Religion,Run,Second,Showcase,Singer,Visit,WaitingPhotographer Adam BerryCollection: Getty Images Entertainment 2013 Adam BerryBERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 31: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Canadian electronic musician and performance artist Peaches (Merrill Beth Nisker) waits for visitors in the 'live exhibit' portion of the exhibition 'The Whole Truth - Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Jews...' on its second to last day after a run of over five months at the Juedisches Museum (Jewish Museum Berlin) on August 31, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The temporary exhibition, which challenges cliches about Jews, featured a different volunteer 'real live Jew' on site for two hours every day to answer visitors' spontaneous questions about their religion. Critics compared the exhibit to 19th-century European freak show attractions under the name Hottentot Venus, but supporters saw the live section as being educational for visitors. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)


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By JOHN NICHOLSON
AP Sports Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Phil Mickelson had a putt for 59 in the first round of the Phoenix Open that caught the right edge of the cup, curled 180 degrees and stayed out. Three days later, he flirted with the PGA Tour's 72-hole scoring record.
History aside, Lefty left the desert with the big trophy Sunday and a huge confidence boost after a season that got off to a shaky start on and off the course with middle-of-the-pack finishes at La Quinta and Torrey Pines and headline-making talk about tax increases.
"It's an important one for me, because it's been a while since I won, been a while since I've been in contention," Mickelson said. "I was certainly nervous heading into today. I think the thing I'm most excited about was the way I was able to regain control of my thoughts after a few shots early on that I didn't care for."
He thrived when the pressure was the greatest Sunday.
The biggest test came on the par-3 seventh when his 5-iron shot sailed long and right, stopping an inch from the fringe and leaving him in danger of losing at least a stroke to playing partner Brandt Snedeker. Instead, he ended up leaving Snedeker shaking his head and went on to complete a wire-to-wire victory.
Fifty-five feet away, with a mound and a 20-foot swath of fringe between his ball and the hole, Mickelson decided to putt through the taller grass rather than chip over it. He had caddie Jim Mackay remove the flagstick so that it wouldn't deflect the ball if it had too much speed, a move that proved wise when the ball raced into the cup.
"The challenge of that was to judge the speed where half the putt is through fringe and half is on the green," Mickelson said. "I got lucky to have made it, obviously. I was just trying to two-putt it. It was going fairly quickly when it got to the hole, probably would have been 6, 8 feet by. With Brandt in there close, that was a big momentum change."
Snedeker joked with Mickelson for a moment before holing his own birdie putt.
"Are you kidding me?" Snedeker said about his reaction to the putt. "I fully expected Phil to hit a flop shot from there. He didn't have much of a putt, and he putted through it.
"I hit a great shot in there close and I thought, `Hey, I can get one on him here and put some pressure on him.' He makes that, and he let me hear about it before I putt, and he let me know that I needed to make that to tie. We had fun with it. That's Phil being Phil."
Mickelson shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 28-under 256, two strokes off the PGA Tour record set by Tommy Armour III in the 2003 Texas Open. The 42-year-old former Arizona State star settled for a 60 on Thursday and followed with rounds of 65 and 64 to take a six-stroke lead into the final round.
"I think that sets up the tone for the rest of the year, because I really started to play well," Mickelson said. "But for me, the rest of the year took a turn on Tuesday when I got my new driver. It just changed my whole deal."
Snedeker finished second, four strokes back after a 65.
"Sometimes you have to tip your hat and say, `Phil played unbelievable and deserved to win,'" Snedeker said. "That's kind of what this week was all about."
Mickelson took a three-stroke lead to the 17th tee, and nearly drove into the left-side water on the drivable par 4, his ball stopping a yard short of the hazard. He flopped his second shot 15 feet past the hole and made the birdie putt.
Mickelson parred the par-4 18th after another drive to the left, one that easily cleared the water he hit into Friday en route to a double bogey, and Snedeker closed with a bogey.
Mickelson had his third wire-to-wire victory and first since the 2006 BellSouth Classic _ a 13-stroke blowout the week before the second of his three Masters victories. He pushed his victory total to 41, winning for the first time since 51 weeks ago at Pebble Beach _ where he will go for a record-tying fifth victory in a few days.
Making his 24th appearance in the event that he also won in 1996 and 2005, Mickelson tied the tournament scoring record set by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001, and joined Calcavecchia, Arnold Palmer and Gene Littler as the only three-time winners. With six victories in Arizona, Mickelson also matched Johnny Miller's tour record.


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President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act into law.
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Jhumpa Lahiri
Dima Gavrysh/Associated Press
News about Jhumpa Lahiri, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Chronology of Coverage
Sep. 29, 2013
Siddhartha Deb reviews book The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. MORE
Sep. 20, 2013
Michiko Kakutani reviews book The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. MORE
Sep. 8, 2013
By the Book interview with author Jhumpa Lahiri, whose forthcoming novel is The Lowland. MORE
There are no additional abstracts to display.
Highlights From the Archives
Wonder Bread and Curry: Mingling Cultures, Conflicted Hearts
In these stories, Jhumpa Lahiri writes about Indian immigrants and their American-reared children with an intimate knowledge of their conflicted hearts, using her lapidary eye for detail to conjure their daily lives with extraordinary precision.April 4, 2008 booksReview
Film Review: Modernity and Tradition at a Cultural Crossroads
Mira Nair's "The Namesake," based on Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate.March 9, 2007 moviesReview
Questions for Jhumpa Lahiri: Crossing Over
Q: In your first book, ''Interpreter of Maladies,'' and your new book, ''The Namesake,'' you write about Indian immigration and the difficulty of assimilating into American culture. But Indian culture has recently become very hip in the United States -- from films like ''Bend It Like Beckham'' to fashion to yoga. What do you make of that?September 7, 2003 magazineInterview
India's Post-Rushdie Generation; Young Writers Leave Magic Realism and Look at Reality
Although their voices are being heard much more loudly in the West than in India, some young writers are ushering in a new era for Indian literature in English. They are often called Midnight's Grandchildren in homage to another seminal Indian novel, Salman Rushdie's ''Midnight's Children,'' the dark parable of Indian history since independence that won the Booker Prize in 1981.July 3, 2000 artsNews
Author's First Book Wins Pulitzer for Fiction
Jhumpa Lahiri, 33, who was born in London and raised in Rhode Island, won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction yesterday for her first book, a collection of stories evoking the isolation and disconnection of South Asian immigrants in America.April 11, 2000 theaterNews
In Jaipur, New Feminists Are Born
In this installment of their India tour diary, the women's rights activists Ruchira Gupta and Gloria Steinem are determined to make their presentation at the city's literature festival an organizing meeting, not just a one-way speech.
February 6, 2014, Thursday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Kom, Mary , Lahiri, Jhumpa , Steinem, Gloria , Kolkata (India) , Jaipur (India) , India , Delhi (India) , Ms (Magazine) , Discrimination , Child Abuse and Neglect , Prostitution , Poetry and Poets , Sex Crimes , Sexual Harassment , Domestic Violence , Women and Girls , Documentary Films and Programs , Men and Boys , Human Trafficking , Youth , Writing and Writers , Women's Rights , Books and Literature
A Pocket Guide to the 2014 Jaipur Literature Festival
From Friday through Tuesday, celebrated writers from India and abroad will talk about not just their books but also about the two World Wars, Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops, Himalayan languages and the making of modern China.
January 15, 2014, Wednesday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Lahiri, Jhumpa , Sen, Amartya , Rajasthan (India) , Jaipur (India) , India , Indian-Americans , Books and Literature , Writing and Writers , Women's Rights , Nobel Prizes , News and News Media , United States Economy , Pulitzer Prizes , Book Trade and Publishing
Sins of the Brothers
In Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, the consequences of siblings' actions reverberate for decades.
September 29, 2013, Sunday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Books and Literature , The Lowland (Book) , Lahiri, Jhumpa
A Brother, Long Gone, Is Painfully Present
Jhumpa Lahiri's new novel, set in India and America, explores the relationship between two brothers whose paths diverge.
September 20, 2013, Friday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: The Lowland (Book) , Books and Literature , Lahiri, Jhumpa
Shortlist for Man Booker Prize for Fiction Announced
The winner of the prize — which is open to writers from Britain, Ireland or one of the Commonwealth nations — will be named at a ceremony in London on Oct. 15.
September 10, 2013, Tuesday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Toibin, Colm , Lahiri, Jhumpa , Ozeki, Ruth L , Catton, Eleanor , Crace, Jim , Bulawayo, NoViolet , Great Britain , Man Booker Prize , Books and Literature
Jhumpa Lahiri: By the Book
The author of the forthcoming novel "The Lowland" says there's no such thing as immigrant fiction: "What do we call the rest? Native fiction? Puritan fiction?"
September 8, 2013, Sunday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Lahiri, Jhumpa , Books and Literature , Writing and Writers
The Writer's Room
A view of Rome, a pristine computer screen, a photograph of Basquiat, an I.B.M. 196c typewriter, the ghost of another author. For these writers — each of whom releases a new book this fall — all they need to inspire is within these walls.
August 23, 2013, Friday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Barnes, Julian , Lahiri, Jhumpa , Lethem, Jonathan , Danticat, Edwidge , Dawkins, Richard , Writing and Writers , Books and Literature
A Conversation With: Director Mira Nair
On the filming of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," post 9/11 America and the "twin cities" of Delhi and Lahore.
April 25, 2013, Thursday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Azmi, Shabana , Schreiber, Liev , Sutherland, Kiefer , Lahiri, Jhumpa , Nair, Mira , Hamid, Mohsin , Hudson, Kate , New York City , Lahore (Pakistan) , Delhi (India) , Pakistan , Boston (Mass) , W Hotel , September 11 (2001) , Movies , Terrorism , Books and Literature
Why Choose a Women's College?
International attendance is rising rapidly at Barnard, which counts Jhumpa Lahiri and Fatima Bhutto as alumni.
March 22, 2012, Thursday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Berkeley (Calif) , Spar, Debora L , Columbia University , Lahiri, Jhumpa , Bhutto, Fatima , Admissions Standards , News , Colleges and Universities , Foreign Students (in US) , India , Women and Girls , Barnard College , China
The Art of Writing: The Story's the Thing
The author of a writer's guide responds to Jhumpa Lahiri's Sunday Review article about crafting stories, sentence by sentence.
March 22, 2012, Thursday
MORE ON JHUMPA LAHIRI AND: Writing and Writers , Lahiri, Jhumpa
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Morning 5
5 short marriages
|Kim Kardashian, right, and Kris Humphries are shown in this Aug. 17, 2011, photo. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)
John and Ann Betar of Fairfield have been married for 80 years. Here are five couples that didn't quite make it that long:
1) Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley — The marriage, sparked at Johnny Ramone's birthday party, lasted 107 days.
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Heather Brady, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - The first indication that Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" at the Kennedy Center had something to teach its audience came before the orchestra had even played the first note of the overture.
A friendly voice came over the loudspeaker in the Opera House, reminding those in attendance that the musical takes place in a time before cellphones and watch alarms and inviting them to silence their own devices in that spirit.
Lesson one: Unplug.
"White Christmas" was originally a movie released in 1954 co-starring Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, the original pair who sang the title song as a duet. It was adapted into a musical in 2004 and has since been on a worldwide tour through Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The musical begins with soldiers goofing off and singing on Christmas Eve in 1944 during World War II. Though the original movie was, in all likelihood, not intentionally written to connect future Christmases to the ones it portrays, the parallel between then and now that presents itself in the modern musical is striking.
War themes that many struggle with in America today are woven into the musical. General Thomas Waverly, shown in the beginning, comes back into the picture 10 years later as the musical shifts into 1954 after the first scene. The general is the head of a small Vermont inn, a destination that the show's main characters travel to after a bit of scheming and trickery.
All has not been well for Waverly after the war, as it has been hard for him to transition back to normal life. The stiff former general in "White Christmas" craves the structure of the Army, and many pieces of Army culture filter into everyday life at the Vermont inn, even as the business struggles and the bills form an ever-growing pile.
But while Waverly considers going back into active-duty service to resolve his inner turmoil, his family, friends and even former battalion members show their love and support.
Where: Kennedy Center
Date: Now through Jan. 6, 2013
Tickets: $39 to $150
Lesson two: Support loved ones when times are hard.
Concern for Waverly is present throughout the entire musical, adding depth to the easygoing, carefree nature of the romances that develop and the show tunes performed. Even the general's grandchild in the musical is worried about his happiness, as shown by her prayer for him toward the end of the first act.
Lesson three: Let children affected by the grown-up world feel needed.
On its surface, the musical is a show about a show, derived from a film about a show. It provides a window into the magic of making a musical, even as the audience's suspension of disbelief kicks in -- kind of like a window into the magic of Christmas.
Lesson four: Americana-style Christmas is one part spectacle, one part meaningful interaction.
There's the playful version of a Scrooge theme, where one man on the train to Vermont has been tricked into heading north for Christmas, instead of traveling to sunny Florida. The passengers around him sing about how excited they are to see snow while the man sits stubbornly in the center, not participating and looking decidedly grumpy that things did not go his way.
Of course, he is the same character who shows the most growth in the musical, falling in love and revealing his true, good-natured colors.
Lesson five: Wonderful adventures can be had when people let loose and have fun.
The humor in the musical is cheeky, reminiscent at times of the comedic "Make Em Laugh" song from "Singin' in the Rain." It is somewhat old-fashioned but just daring enough to pull a modern audience in using the characters' confidence, despite knowing the humor may have come at the characters' expense.
Lesson six: Learn to laugh at the world's ridiculous nature.
But the most important lesson to be learned from "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" comes at the end, when the general is presented with his Christmas surprise: All the people who love and care for him, come to show how much he has helped them by visiting him for Christmas and helping to revive his struggling inn. Deeply moved, he invites the audience to sing "White Christmas" with the characters as snow cascades from the stage high over their heads into the auditorium.
As the chorus of voices rise up to the Opera House's high ceiling, and bewildered audience members touch their snow-filled hair, the final lesson is clear: The joy and love of Christmas is meant to be shared.
Follow @WTOPLiving on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)


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When you move from Blue to Silver status, or from Silver to Gold, your status review date will be one year from the end of the month in which you achieved your new status.
In other words, you will have until the end of the same month the following year to earn the 25,000 tiers miles (Silver) or 50,000 tier miles (Gold) you require to retain your tier status.
Your membership card and status, and the benefits they afford you, extend two months beyond your review date. This gives you at least 14 months to enjoy your status, and ensures that we can deliver your new card to you before your old one expires.
For example, if you achieve Silver status on 17th March 2010, your Silver review date will be 31st March 2011. Your Silver status and membership card will therefore be valid until 31st May 2011. If you qualify and renew your Silver status on your review date, your next review date will be set for 31st March 2012, and your new Silver membership card will be valid until 31st May 2012.
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It took a long time to figure out how our credit card number was stolen. Almost a year after it happened, we got a letter from an online store thst DH buys bike equipment from. They said that someone had hacked onto their system and was getting their customers information.
So now we use virtual online numbers through Citibank. It's like a one use number, so if someone tries to use it again, it won't work and a red flag goes up. I love it!


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- A Continuum Electrostatic Approach for Calculating The Binding Energetics of Multiple Ligands (2007)
- Complex biomolecules like proteins or nucleic acids can transiently bind various ligands, e.g., electrons, protons, ions or larger molecules. This property is the key to enzymatic catalysis, regulation and energy transduction in biological systems. Interactions between different ligand binding sites can lead to complex titration behaviors, which can be explained based on a microstate description of the system. Previous approaches to calculate the binding behavior of multiple ligand, only treated sites with one or no ligand bound by using a binary state vector to describe the system. Also only one or two ligand types, i.e., protons or electrons, were used for the calculation. In this thesis, I derive a more general formulation of the theory of ligand binding to biomolecules. For each site any number of charge forms and rotamer forms are allowed as well as any number of ligands and any number of ligand types can be bound. Charge and rotamer forms of sites can be parameterized by measurements on model reactions in solution or by quantum chemical calculations. An energy function is described, consistently combining experimentally determined contributions and those, which can be calculated by continuum electrostatics, molecular mechanics and quantum chemistry. Programs (i.e., QMPB and Perl Molecule) were developed to perform calculations based on the generalized ligand binding theory. The class library Perl Molecule was developed to write powerful Perl programs, which perform the necessary processing steps, e.g., for the conversion of a pdb-file into the input required for energy calculations. The generated input contains all experimentally determined or molecular mechanically and quantum chemically obtained parameters. The energy calculations are performed by the program QMPB, which uses other programs for the continuum electrostatics calculations to solve the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The computations scale linearly with the total number of sites of the system and can easily be performed in parallel. From the obtained energies, microscopic ligand binding probabilities can be calculated as function of chemical potentials of ligands in solution, e.g., by a Monte Carlo program. Additionally, microscopic and macroscopic equilibrium constants can be computed. The usefullness and correctness of the new approach based on a generalized ligand binding theory is demonstrated by a number of studies on diverse examples. Because various groups used Lysozyme as benchmark system for continuum electrostatics, it is chosen to test if previously obtained results can be reproduced with QMPB. Different quantum chemical approaches are applied to the benzoquinone system for parameterizing a site with several protonation and reduction forms. A complex site is also the CuB center in Cytochrome c oxidase, which is studied to decide if multiple protonation forms of the coordinating histidines are involved in the reaction mechanism. Factors influencing the reduction potential of the electron transfer protein ferredoxin are analyzed using the programs Perl Molecule and QMPB. Here, in particular conformational changes of a peptide bond in the vicinity of the [2Fe-2S] center are of interest. The protonation form of a neighboring glutamate turns out to influence the reduction potential strongly. Protonation and phosphorylation studies on the protein HPr lead to the development of a four-microstate model to explain conformational changes on a histidine, which can be observed by experiment, molecular dynamics simulation and electrostatic calculations. The phosphorylation and protonation state dependent conformational change can be related to the dual role of the protein in regulation and phosphate-transfer. The new microstate description does not only allow to analyze thermodynamic properties but also paved the road for the study of the kinetics of charge transfer.


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Yoga Classes in Margate City, New Jersey
| Yoga Classes in Margate New Jersey
|Core Fitness Studio
|Yoga Style: Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Kripalu, Bikram, Hath
8506 Ventnor Ave.
Margate, New Jersey 08402
|We also have mommy and me and Yoga on the Beach
|Update listing
|In Home Yoga Training
|Yoga Style: Vinyasa, Hatha Bikram, Private
Margate, New Jersey 08402
|Contact:Eliana or Bernardo
|Will come to your home and do personal or group training!!
|Update listing
|MYOGA Studio
|Yoga Style: Kripalu, Vinyasa, & more
to be announced
Margate, New Jersey 08402
|Contact:Amy Stephanik
|Update listing
|_The Zen Den
|Yoga Style: Vinyasa
101 N. Washington Ave. #2A
Margate, New Jersey 08402
|(609) 335-6232
|Contact:Arianne Green
|Inventive vinyasa classes with an emphasis on alignment and creativity. Challenge your body and calm your mind in our fun-filled and supportive environment.
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Linwood New Jersey
4.06 Miles Away
|Hummingbird Yoga NJ
|Yoga Style: Kripalu
199 New Rd.
Linwood, New Jersey 08221
|609 927-8010
|Contact:Heidi Farber
|Be a part of our Yoga Community. Kripalu Yoga offers you an opportunity to improve health, manage stress, stretch, strengthen, and relax. Hummingbird Yoga create a calm, safe and enjoyable atmosphere for .. More about Hummingbird Yoga NJ
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Somers Point New Jersey
4.92 Miles Away
|Eternity Yoga's Power Fusion Training
|Yoga Style: Hatha, Multi-Style
Somers Point, New Jersey 08244
|Contact:Giselle Toner
|Experience yoga in a private, personal setting located in Southern New Jersey by the beautiful beaches. We are a Yoga Alliance Registered 200 Hour School. Teacher Trainings are offered several times a year. .. More about Eternity Yoga's Power Fusion Training
|Update listing
|Seashore Healing Arts Center
|Yoga Style: Kripalu
Miami- Somers Building, 505 New Road Suite #7
Somers Point, New Jersey 08244
|All teachers are Certified Instructors. Childrens Yoga Mondays 4:45pm.-5:30pm. Tuesdays: 9am.-10:15am., 6pm.-7:15pm. (Women Only) Wednesdays: 10am.-11:15am., 6pm.-7pm. Thursdays: 6pm.-7:15pm. Frida .. More about Seashore Healing Arts Center
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Ocean City New Jersey
5.20 Miles Away
|The Zen Den
|Yoga Style: vinyasa
922 Asbury Ave
Ocean City, New Jersey 08226
|609 335-6232
|Contact:Arianne Green
|Vinyasa-based classes for every level. Focusing on alignment and breath awareness, students are able to find inner peace while challenging themselves at the same time. All while practicing in a supportive, n .. More about The Zen Den
|Update listing
|NJ Yoga Zone
|Yoga Style: Vinyasa
12th & Asbury
Ocean City, New Jersey 08402
|Contact:Melissa Goldstein
|Vinyasa playground offering classes for all levels!
|Update listing
|Yoga Dog
|Yoga Style: Kripalu
Ocean City, New Jersey 08226
|Contact:Steve Mullen
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey
5.15 Miles Away
|Shanti yoga Institute
|Yoga Style: Shanti Yoga
646 London Court II
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234
|Contact:Yogi Shanti Desai
|Yogi Shanti Desai is a master of Yoga. He has taught over forty years, trained teachers and authored 12 books on yoga and meditation. Check his website "www.yogishantidesai.com" to see his publications, vide .. More about Shanti yoga Institute
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Marmora New Jersey
7.82 Miles Away
|CK Pilates
|Yoga Style: Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow
533 Route 9 North
Marmora, New Jersey 08223
|609 457-3041
|Contact:Melissa Terrels
|we are a Stott Pilates studio. We offer small and intimate classes. we also offer yoga, spin a massage with fully certified intructors registered with Yoga Alliance. Please call or email us for more informat .. More about CK Pilates
|Update listing
| Yoga Classes in Brigantine New Jersey
9.09 Miles Away
|Tri Heart Yoga
|Yoga Style: Kripalu
Brigantine, New Jersey 08203
|Contact:Gillian Eyde
|Private classes/sessions available. Yoga parties for children. Instructor is certified Kripalu/Yoga ED.& CPR.
|Update listing
|You also might be interested in...
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text:
The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
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Malaysia Today - Malaysia
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Community resources
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Re: FOR EDIT - syria/ksa/iran - Bashar's message to the king
Released on 2012-10-18 17:00 GMT
|2011-04-13 22:56:41
march but looked like that never happened
On 4/13/11 3:22 PM, Reva Bhalla wrote:
Syrian President Bashar al Assad plans planned or had plans to travel to
Riyadh April 13 to meet with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz,
according to Saudi newspaper Okaz. As of the time of this writing, al
Assad's trip to Riyadh doesn't appear to have been confirmed, pending
several last-minute details.
Given the array of political crises afflicting Arab regimes and an
ongoing standoff between Iran and the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) states, diplomatic traffic in the region has been understandably
heavy in recent days. Alongside al Assad's potential visit, Bahrain's
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa arrived in the Saudi capital April 13.
Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon arrived in the
United Arab Emirates April 13, a day after he was in Riyadh to
hand-deliver a personal letter from U.S. President Barack Obama to the
Saudi king. Less than a week earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates was in Saudi Arabia meeting with the Saudi royals.
Head of state visits between Syria and Saudi Arabia are quite rare. When
one occurs, such as Saudi King Abdullah's high-profile visit to Lebanon
alongside the Syrian president in July 2010
they are usually designed to raise the idea of Syria drifting away from
its alliance with Iran into the Arab regional consensus. In reality, the
situation is far more nuanced.
With anti-government demonstrations persisting across Syria, al Assad is
facing the biggest internal challenge to his regime yet. Though it does
not appear as though the demonstrations have the critical mass to divide
the army and destroy the regime, the situation presents new challenges
for the regime to manage carefully lest it inadvertently add momentum.
Moreover, the regime has quietly vocalized its suspicions that its Sunni
Arab neighbors are playing a role in prodding the Syrian unrest as a
pressure tactic to coerce Damascus into distancing itself from Tehran in
exchange for the stabilization of the country. According to a Syrian
diplomatic source, al Assad has two main messages to convey to the
Saudis. The first is a confrontational message, in which al Assad would
demand that the Saudis curtail the flow of militants and arms that Syria
claims are being smuggled overland from Sunni strongholds in Tripoli in
Lebanon to northern Syria. In return, Syria would likely offer limited
concessions on Lebanon involving the make-up of the Lebanese government
and constraints placed on Hezbollah.
might mention somthing about how they hezbollah led attempts to form a gov
seem to have stalled anyways
The second message, according to the source, would be a peace offering
from the Iranians. The source claims al Assad will relay a verbal
message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which Iran has
allegedly requested Syria to mediate between the Iranian government and
the GCC states over the current standoff in the Persian Gulf region,
where Saudi-led GCC forces remain in Bahrain to clamp down on a Shiite
uprising that they fear could spread throughout the peninsula. The
source added that al Assad is offering an Iranian promise to discontinue
meddling in the internal affairs of the GCC countries, in exchange for a
promise from Saudi Arabia to discontinue using northern and central
Lebanon (which are heavily Sunni-concentrated areas) as a staging ground
for destabilizing acts against the Syrian government.
There are a number of peculiarities to this message that the Syrian
president is allegedly trying to relay to the Saudi kingdom. Al Assad
is certainly feeling pressure, and has been engaging in quiet
with the Saudis in trying to find a pressure release from the
instability at home.
who all in all don't want to see him go, at least not now right?
Iran has meanwhile run into a number of obstacles in the Persian Gulf
region in trying to sustain Shiite unrest in Bahrain and force its Sunni
Arab rivals on the defensive. Still, Iran has reason to be confident.
The impending withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq and the Iranian ability
to scuttle attempts by the United States to legally prolong its stay in
the country are building a scenario in which Iran is extremely
well-positioned to fill a power vacuum in Iraq, much to the concerns of
the surrounding Sunni Arab states. Iran also has assets in the Levant to
open a second front against Israel
The should it feel the strategic need. The Iranians are unlikely to
undermine their own negotiating position and concede to Saudi Arabia at
this stage of the standoff for the sake of the al Assad regime, an
important yet not entirely dependable ally. Moreover, the Iranians would
unlikely need to rely on Syria, which will place its own interests first
and play to both sides of the geopolitical divide while trying to
extract concessions along the way, to act as a conduit for a negotiation
of this scale. Ultimately, this is a dilemma between Iran on the one
hand, and the United States, Saudi Arabia and the GCC states on the
That said, al Assad would unlikely be making a trip to Riyadh without
first coordinating with Iran. This could be an attempt by Iran and Syria
to coax the GCC into drawing down its military presence in Bahrain,
allowing Iran the potential opportunity to reignite Shiite tension there
at a later time.
Also random thought. Iran acting (at least temporarily) like someone who
can voluntarily pull back and keep their word might lead into an example
of how iran could cooperate with the US...(at least enough ton continue
dragging out negotiations until the SOFA negotiations run out)
At the same time, Syria would benefit from any support in trying to
stabilize its own regime while Iran could work to maintain a key ally in
the Levant. The GCC states are likely mulling these issues and more
behind closed doors, but chances are low that they would respond
favorably to the Syrian outreach without firmer guarantees from
Damascus, Tehran or both. Whether he actually makes the trip and whether
the outcome of the trip will work in his (and potentially) Tehran's
favor remains to be seen.
Michael Wilson
Senior Watch Officer, STRATFOR
Office: (512) 744 4300 ex. 4112
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text: 4 Surprisingly good!Boooof | 16/11/2008 | See all Boooof's reviews (196)Top 100 Reviewer Top 100 DVD Reviewer Top 100 Music Reviewer I have never watched the series of Lizzie Maguire, it looked so boring but then I went to a friend's party to see this film and I liked it! 5 years on I still like it! A good movie with a good moral message to it.


text:
Motorcycle Boot Shopping Links & Resources
Shopping for boots online can make you a little nervous. After all, it's difficult to try them on through a computer screen. But the savings can be substantial compared to a local retailer.
We've shopped for motorcycle boots on many web sites. Most reputable shops like these offer easy exchange policies if you get the wrong size.
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For more motorcycle sources check our Gear Page.
It's all about the ride.
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text:
Rosemount Analytical X-STREAM Enhanced Process Gas Analyzer from Emerson Process Management
- Category: Measurement & Sensing
- Product Type: Analytical
- Manufacturer: Emerson Process Management - Rosemount Analytical
The X-STREAM Enhanced process gas analyzer features a web browser-based interface that allows operators to configure, calibrate, and monitor the instrument, manage alarms, and program the sample handling system through any browser. This simplifies diagnostics, speeds troubleshooting and reduces trips into the field by 50 percent. The analyzer undergoes the industry's most rigorous testing and offers the most comprehensive three-year warranty. With the lowest span drift, it uses less calibration gas and requires less service, lowering the cost of ownership.


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" Our Decommissioning Program, using InfoSphere Optim, is going to save our company millions of dollars and provide the business with standardized access to the data from hundreds of applications. "
- Jon Massey, Senior Director, Application Optimization, Dignity Health.
InfoSphere Optim is part of an overall Information Integration and Governance strategy.
InfoSphere Optim is a market-leader and provides the simplest, most robust solution for data lifecycle management. By managing data properly over its lifetime, organizations are better equipped to support business goals with less risk.
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text:
Union Gospel Mission's Search and Rescue Van brings help and hot chocolate to the streetson May 8, 2013 @ 5:28 pm (Updated: 5:21 am - 5/9/13 )
"We meet their physical needs," says Search and Rescue's Dru Lee. "Blankets, hot chocolate, food, hygiene, clothes. But now me, personally, I got real big on the other side, which is the relational side. Most of the time I'll spend 20 minutes to a half hour at a spot. I know all the guys. Outside of us, they don't get much normal, healthy conversation. And that's what we bring 'em."
Dru got dropped off at Union Gospel Mission two years ago. Here's his life story in 21 seconds.
"I actually left my house when I was 15 because I was stabbed and shot and I lived on the street. Cleaned up a little bit. I ended up doing a four and a half year bit in prison. Got out, went back to the same kind of stuff, got good again, opened a business, got bad again, attempted suicide. Family brought me out here, tricked me into coming here. Two years later here I am."
Now he's a changed man, who works with the Search and Rescue Coordinator on these nightly missions.
"When I first started it, I did it to get out of the building. I didn't care about anybody. But doing this, you know, it showed me love and compassion. I love it. Not only was it the path that was set in front of me. It's a deep, deep passion of mine."
Every night he works with a new crop of volunteers. He gives them a little speech before they go out.
"You're gonna be conversating with people. All of them are going to be high, they're going to be drunk, they're going to be mentally ill. If you don't know how to start a conversation, say 'Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?' Most of them love it because I make some killer hot chocolate! Engage them, ask them how their day was. How they're feeling, anything good happen, bad happen?"
Before they leave, there's always a prayer. A Union Gospel Mission intern named Adam leads the prayer.
"Let us treat them like humans and let them feel like humans tonight for once. Ask all this stuff in Jesus' name. Amen."
Our first stop was in SoDo, where a scattering of people live in their vans and old RV's. Including Norm, a kind older man with a big white beard who doesn't feel comfortable going to the shelters and soup kitchens.
"I don't do well with crowds and whatnot. I'm kind of a shut-in because I shut down around too many people. I can't do more than a half dozen people. I get very claustrophobic."
When Norm got out of prison, the only work he could get was as a telemarketer, but he was laid off when the economy tanked in 2008 and hasn't snagged a job since.
"The items that they bring us, that really helps out," Norm told me from inside his van. "But the fact that people come and they'll talk with you and spend some time. Recognizing that somebody takes some time out of their day to come down and help somebody that's down, it means a lot to us because when you're in this kind of situation you lose touch with friends and family and whatnot. Not having contact like that, it makes you feel very, very alone. Very vulnerable."
He's formed a little ragtag community on the streets.
"Hey Roger!" Norm calls to a passing man. "82 years old. Been living in his van for 20 years or more."
We left Norm with a pair of socks, some hot chocolate and a couple of sandwiches.
Next stop: Westlake.
A young, very pregnant girl approaches Sharon, Union Gospel Mission's PR person. She says she needs a place to stay. Sharon immediately makes a call to a women's shelter to get the girl a phone number and some information.
Dru says the work they do on the street is different from what happens at the Mission in Pioneer Square.
"What we do at night, we pass no judgement. We help them. Whether they're drunk, high, whatever. It's very different from what goes on [at Union Gospel Mission]. The mind set in here, you're drunk or high, you leave. Out there, I don't turn anybody away."
Which is 180 degrees different than the way he used to be.
"I used to hate people, I couldn't stand them. But I was also never a believer in God. Finding my way through God and learning as much as I have, at the end of the day I'm doing what I'm supposed to do."
The thing the homeless people need most is socks, and Union Gospel Mission never has enough. They hand out 35,000 every year.
If you would like to donate some socks, you can drop them off or mail them to:
Union Gospel Mission 3800 S. Othello St Seattle WA 98118
Rachel Belle is a feature contributor and personality on The Ron & Don Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 3-7pm), and host of Ring My Belle Weekends (Sundays at 3pm).
Please login below with your Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Disqus account. Existing MyNorthwest account holders will need to create a new Disqus account or use one of the social logins provided below. Thank you.
Please send Rachel your story ideas, weekend events and taco truck tips!


text:
OK, I could not stay away for very long and this blog is functional again. I don't guarantee how often I'll update though, as I haven't had as much genealogy time as I'd like.
I had a few days off work due to Hurricane Sandy, though, so I spent some time playing with Ancestry.com's Facebook app. I had been hesitant to try it for fear it would be creepy, but it wasn't that bad. At least it didn't post random things to my facebook page.
First it identified me, and then it rifled through my facebook friends and suggested connections. Confirming them was a little tricky as there was an intricate panel of dropdown menus for specifying relationships. For example, that cousin is my father's brother's son. Some distant relations required workarounds in that I had to specify how they were related to other relatives (chosen from another dropdown menu) to get them to connect. I ran into a few instances of confusion about where to assign children in cases of multiple marriages. (People on Facebook don't generally specify "step" when they name their relatives because it doesn't sound warm. Also, subsequent spouses often adopt children of previous marriages.)