text:
Also on cricketcountry.com
Ahmedabad: Nov 13, 2012
Two days before the commencement of what is billed as the 'revenge series' for India, England wicket-keeper Matt Prior on Tuesday said that the tourists are well prepared for the tough challenge of taming the hosts.
"We have given ourselves the best chance, we have prepared as well as we can. It's now down to performing on the pitch. It's a tough challenge for all of us," he said ahead of the opening Test commencing at the Motera here on November 15.
"Coming over here, we had a long preparation. We have been able to play a lot of cricket on these types of wickets.
We are now ready after getting used to the heat, the spinning tracks, the traffic. We are going into the Test match feeling fully prepared," he declared.
It has been 28 years since any team from Old Blighty had come and bearded India in its own den and Prior said England are well aware of the history.
"It's always a very challenging place to come and play.
India know their conditions fantastically well as we do when we play in England where we are brought up playing the swinging ball and we play it pretty well. Likewise these guys are brought up playing the spinning ball and they play it pretty well," he said.
"Cricket is a religion out here and to be able to play in front of people with that mentality is a fantastic opportunity. To come out and win in this environment would be even better. Record speaks for itself how it's been since England last won over here," he added.
Incidentally, India were last beaten at home in a Test rubber by Australia in 2004-05 season and since then they have either won the series or drawn them against all other opponents.
Prior conceded that the 3-0 rout against the Pakistan spin duo of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman in the United Arab Emirates a few months ago, still rankles the England squad.
But the 30-year-old South Africa born stumper also insisted that the team has the ability to move ahead and take on the new challenge head-on as it has a very good batting line-up.
Prior was non-committal when asked about the Test wicket at the Motera Stadium that looked barren.
"My reading of wickets is very poor. We will have to wait and see how the wickets change.
"A lot of times in India you looked at the wicket and felt it's going to deteriorate and become dust bowls and it plays flat right through. And at other times it looks flat for three days and suddenly ball starts turning and keeping low on the last two days. That's why we have to keep our mind and options open," he said.
When the inevitable question on the return to the side of star batsman Kevin Pietersen came up, Prior came out with a straight bat.
"We wouldn't want KP to change too much because it's how he is that makes him so special. If KP comes on (as a) shy, introvert character I will be more worried because I want him to go out and express himself like he does.
"You only have to walk round India. These guys who have seen him in IPL can't wait to see him bat. We certainly can't either."
"It's always in the back of their minds (the debacle against Pakistan). But as an international sportsman you have to move on quickly," Prior said.
"What I hope we can do is learn from our own experiences, learn from our mistakes and take them forward into these Test matches. Every big batter in our side wants to score big runs in India. We have a very, very good batting team."
Prior was of the same opinion as his teammate Graeme Swann that the very successful (at home) Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha may not be as mystical as their Pakistan counterparts, but were no less bowlers.
"Probably (they are less mystical). (But) It does not make them any less quality bowlers. And we have to prepare as if against any other spin bowlers. We know their quality. We know their knowledge of their own conditions will certainly help. I reiterate the point that we have given ourselves the best opportunity through our preparations out here," he said.
"We have done a lot of good work. We had a bad experience (against Pakistan in UAE) and we are learning from that. If you have been here (in the subcontinent) before you know what to expect and it does not change really. What is important is how we use the experience to situations, wickets, crowds and everything else (to perform better)," he added.
Also on cricketcountry.com
Play Fantasy Cricket & Win
Cash Daily! Click here


text:
Harper's Magazine
November 2004 issue
|Ellen Rosenbush
|Art, culture, literature
|Total circulation
(December 2013)
|First issue
|Harper's Magazine Foundation
|United States
|Based in
|666 Broadway
New York City
Harper's Magazine (also called Harper's) is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in June 1850, it is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. (Scientific American is the oldest). The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010. Harper's Magazine has won many National Magazine Awards.[2]
Harper's Magazine was launched as Harper's New Monthly Magazine in June 1850, by the New York City publisher Harper & Brothers; who also founded Harper's Bazaar magazine, later growing to become HarperCollins Publishing. The first press run, of 7,500 copies, sold out almost immediately; circulation was some 50,000 issues six months later.[3]
The early issues reprinted material pirated from English authors such as Charles Dickens, William Make-peace Thackeray, and the Brontë sisters.[4] The magazine soon was publishing the work of American artists and writers, and in time commentary by the likes of Winston Churchill and Woodrow Wilson. Portions of Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick were first published in the October 1851 issue of Harper's under the title, "The Town-Ho's Story" (titled after Chapter 54 of Moby Dick).[5]
In 1962, Harper & Brothers merged with Row, Peterson & Company, becoming Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). In 1965, the magazine was separately incorporated, and became a division of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company, owned by the Cowles Media Company.
In the 1970s, Harper's published Seymour Hersh's reporting of the My Lai Massacre by United States forces in Vietnam. In 1971 editor Willie Morris resigned under pressure from owner John Cowles, Jr., prompting resignations from many of the magazine's star contributors and staffers, including Norman Mailer, David Halberstam, Robert Kotlowitz, Marshall Frady and Larry L. King:
"Morris's departure jolted the literary world. Mailer, William Styron, Gay Talese, Bill Moyers, and Tom Wicker declared that they would boycott Harper's as long as the Cowles family owned it, and the four staff writers hired by Morris—Frady among them—resigned in solidarity with him."
Robert Shnayerson, a senior editor at Time magazine, was hired to replace Morris as Harper's ninth editor, serving in that position from 1971 until 1976.[7][8]
Lewis H. Lapham served as managing editor from 1976 until 1981; he returned to the position again from 1983 until 2006. On June 17, 1980, the Star Tribune announced it would cease publishing Harper's Magazine after the August 1980 issue. But, on July 9, 1980, John R. MacArthur (who goes by the name Rick) and his father, Roderick, obtained pledges from the directorial boards of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Atlantic Richfield Company, and CEO Robert Orville Anderson to amass the $1.5 million dollars needed to establish the Harper's Magazine Foundation. It now publishes the magazine.[9][10][11]
In 1984, Lapham and MacArthur—now publisher and president of the foundation—along with new executive editor Michael Pollan, redesigned Harper's and introduced the "Harper's Index" (statistics arranged for thoughtful effect), "Readings", and the "Annotation" departments to complement its fiction, essays, reportage, and reviews. As of the March 2011 issue, contributing editor Zadie Smith, a noted British author, writes the print edition's New Books column.
Under the Lapham-MacArthur leadership, Harper's magazine continued publishing literary fiction by the likes of John Updike, George Saunders, and others. Politically, Harper's was an especially vocal critic of U.S. domestic and foreign policies. Editor Lapham's monthly "Notebook" columns have lambasted the Clinton and the George W. Bush administrations. Since 2003, the magazine has concentrated on reportage about U.S. war in Iraq, with long articles about the battle for Fallujah, and the cronyism of the American reconstruction of Iraq. Other reporting has covered abortion issues, cloning, and global warming.[12]
In 2007, Harper's added the No Comment blog, by attorney Scott Horton, about legal controversies, Central Asian politics, and German studies. In April 2006, Harper's began publishing the Washington Babylon blog on its website,[13] written by Washington Editor Ken Silverstein about American politics; and in 2008, Harper's added the "Sentences" blog, by contributing editor Wyatt Mason, about literature and belle lettres. Since that time these two blogs have ceased publication. Another website feature, composed by a rotating set of authors, is the Weekly Review, single-sentence summaries of political, scientific, and bizarre news; like the Harper's Index and "Findings" in the print edition of the magazine, the Weekly Review items are humorously and arranged for ironic contrast.
Lewis H. Lapham was criticized for his reportage of the 2004 Republican National Convention, which had yet to occur, in his essay "Tentacles of rage: The Republican propaganda mill, a brief history," published in the September 2004 issue. He apologized in a note.[14][15]
The March 2006 issue contained the Celia Farber reportage, Out of Control: AIDS and the Corruption of Medical Science, presenting Peter Duesberg's theory that HIV does not cause AIDS.[16][17] It was strongly criticized by AIDS activists,[18] scientists,[19] the Columbia Journalism Review,[20] and others, as inaccurate and for promoting a scientifically-discredited theory.[21] The Treatment Action Campaign, a South African organization working for greater popular access to HIV treatments, posted a response by eight researchers documenting more than fifty errors in the article.[22]
The abrupt firing of the magazine's well-liked editor, Roger Hodge, by publisher John R. MacArthur, on January 25, 2010, was met with widespread and well-publicized criticism among the magazine's subscribers and staffers alike.[23][24][25] MacArthur initially claimed Hodge was stepping down for "personal reasons," but later disclosed that he fired Hodge.[26]
Notable contributors[edit]
Harper's Magazine, June 1896, by Edward Penfield
See also[edit]
- ^ "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media. December 31, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ^ Awards and Honors (PDF) at Harper's site
- ^ History of Harper's (PDF) on Harper's site
- ^ "Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: Publishing Industry". answers.com. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
- ^ Moby Dick
- ^ Scott, Sherman (Nov–Dec 2007). "The Unvanquished". Cjr.org. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
- ^ Monday, June 28, 1971 (1971-06-28). ""The Press: New Head at Harper's," ''TIME'' magazine, June 28, 1971". Time.com. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
- ^ "''Harper's Magazine,'' "About This Issue," September 1971". Harpers.org. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
- ^ Facts on File 1980 Yearbook, pp.501, 582
- ^ Woo, Elaine (2007-12-05). "Arco founder led firm into major civic philanthropy". Los Angeles Times. pp. B6.
- ^ http://www.mediaite.com/print/harpers-publisher-rick-macarthur-spearheads-change-but-not-enough/
- ^ An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Harper's Magazine, a 712-page illustrated anthology, with an introduction by Lewis H. Lapham and a foreword by Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
- ^ http://harpers.org/index.html
- ^ Shafer, Jack. "Lewis Lapham Phones It In: Figuring out what's wrong with Harper's magazine." Slate 15 September 2004.
- ^ Lapham, Lewis H. "Tentacles of rage: The Republican propaganda mill, a brief history." Harper's September 2004. pp. 43–53.
- ^ Farber, Celia (2006-03-01). Out Of Control, AIDS and the corruption of medical science. Harper's Magazine. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
- ^ Miller, Lia (2006-03-13). An Article in Harper's Ignites a Controversy Over H.I.V.. The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
- ^ Farber Feedback. POZ Magazine. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
- ^ Letters from scientists and physicians criticizing Harper's for poor fact-checking of Celia Farber's article on AIDS. Accessed 21 Oct 2006. Archived August 12, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Harper's Races Right over the Edge of a Cliff, by Gal Beckerman. Published in the Columbia Journalism Review on March 8, 2006. Accessed June 14, 2007.
- ^ Kim, Richard (2006-03-02). Harper's Publishes AIDS Denialist. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
- ^ Gallo, Robert; Nathan Geffen; Gregg Gonsalves; Richard Jeffreys; Daniel R. Kuritzkes; Bruce Mirken; John P. Moore; Jeffrey T. Safrit (2006-03-04). Errors in Celia Farber's March 2006 article in Harper's Magazine (PDF). Treatment Action Campaign. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/business/media/01harpers.html?pagewanted=1&ref=business
- ^ http://www.mediaite.com/online/harpers-publisher-backlash-grows-after-firing-beloved-editor/
- ^ http://observer.com/2010/02/listening-in-on-the-iharperis-meltdown/
- ^ http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/roger-hodge-steps-down-as-harpers-magazine-editor/?scp=1&sq=roger%20hodge&st=cse
External links[edit]
- Harper's website
- Library of Congress collection, searchable text of magazine from 1850 to 1899 with links to scanned pages.
- Hathi Trust. Harper's New Monthly Magazine, digitized issues
- "Book and Periodical Illustration [in America, 1820–1870." American History through Literature, 1820–1870. Ed. Janet Gabler-Hover and Robert Sattelmeyer. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. 144-48.
- NYPL Digital Gallery. Illustrations from Harper's Magazine, various dates
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harper's Magazine.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Education is the vehicle that leads to progress. KVS is an institution which leads to the overall development of a child.
Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1, AFS Gorakhpur was set up in 1972 as a defence sector KV. It was established initially to impart education to the wards of employees of defence and other Central Govt Employees. However with the admission Policy made flexible in accordance with the running demand and popularity of KVS, the vidyalaya has accommodated all qualified and eligible candidates of floating population with in the sanctioned strength.
Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1, AFS Gorakhpur is situated in pollution free campus of air force (New Project), which is nearly 8 KM from railway station Gorakhpur. Vidyalaya is housed in double storied building with 58 well-furnished classrooms and separate rooms for art, music, library, yoga and scout/guide. With its child oriented, all round education, vidyalaya is attaining new heights of glory in both academics and co-curricular fields year after year.
The Kendriya Vidyalayas have a four - fold mission, viz.,
1. To cater to the educational needs of children of transferable Central Government including Defence
and Para-military personnel by providing a common programme of education ;
2. To pursue excellence and set the pace in the field of school education;
3. To initiate and promote experimentation and innovations in education in collaboration with
other bodies like the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Concil of
Educational Research and Training (NCERT) etc. and
4. To develop the spirit of national integration and create a sense of "Indianness" among children.
Kendriya Vidyalayas are spread all over India. These are governed by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and headed by commissioner with head office at New Delhi. KVS's (an autonomous body under Ministry of HRD) main aim is providing educational facilities to the wards of defence personnel, Central Govt Employees and employees of autonomous bodies who are liable to be transferred from one state to another.
The aim of KVS is to provide a thorough education based on the on the principles of new education policies, to bring out the best and noblest qualities, to infuse feeling of patriotism, brotherhood and natural integration among their students, so as to make them good and loyal citizens. Team of Education officers headed by Assistant Commissioner monitors performance of KVs at regional level. Kendriya Vidyalaya N0-1 AFS Gorakhpur comes under Patna Region and has privilege of being benefited with the valuable suggestions and able guidance of Regional ofice.
The medium of instruction at present is bilingual. Mathematics and Science are taught in English while Social Sciences are taught both in Hindi and English.
We are a co-educational Secular Schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) New Delhi.
Date of opening of the KV 25th February 1972.
Highest class and the number of sections sanctioned for each class:
Affiliation No. of CBSE
Vidyalaya's Strength
I to XII
Primary I to V ( 5 Sections in each class)
VI to X ( 5 Sections in each class)
Senior Secondary
XI – XII ( 4 Sections in each class)
Uttar Pradesh


text:
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) encourages everyone to report adverse reactions to
permanent and temporary tattoos and permanent makeup to the FDA's MedWatch. This agency monitors problems caused by cosmetic products and
ingredients, including color additives.
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Last Revised:
May 3, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2014 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Donations to UW Health are managed by the University of Wisconsin Foundation, a publicly supported charitable organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.


text:
Sponsored Education Online: FIUL - The Myths and Realities
CPE CE Credit Approvals
The recommended number of CPE credit hours is: 1
The Society of Financial Service Professionals is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.
The Society offers programs at intermediate to advanced levels of continuing professional education. Although no pre-requisite course or advanced preparation is needed to participate in any program, knowledge of, or experience in, the program topic is required.
The Society's Refund Policy states that a refund may be given in most circumstances, less a $50 service fee. For more information regarding administrative policies on complaints and refunds, please contact our office at (800) 392-6900.
The following State Boards of Accountancy will accept CPE credit from National Registry Sponsors:
There are no formal registration requirements for course providers in the balance of the states.
* You must participate in the live event to get the PACE, CPE and CFP credit.
Program Overview
Fixed Index Universal Life (FIUL) insurance is the fastest growing product in the life insurance industry. Hear about the myths and realities of FIUL from one of industry's top actuaries. Todd Petit will explain the pros and cons of FIUL and how the products are designed. You'll come away knowing: how Fixed Index Universal Life policies work; how they are affected in a low interest rate environment; what goes into setting caps and interest rates; and the risk and return profile of each crediting strategy.
Featured Speaker:
Todd Petit, ASA, MAAA, is a senior director actuary responsible for life product development at Allianz Life, a company focused on providing innovative, value-added products while remembering that "A Promise is a Promise." He has been with the firm for 11 years, focusing on product design, implementation, reinsurance relations, and marketing strategy. Todd has been in the insurance industry for 19 years, and has designed several types of insurance products including variable life, variable annuities, fixed life, term life, and long term care. He has spoken as an FIUL expert at numerous conferences and seminars. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 1994. He is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries.


text:
Want a free ringtone? Audiko.net! Here you can download a free Lazar Berman ringtones for your iPhone or mobile. Specify your favorite segment from your favorite thing - Les jeux deaux а la Villa dEs, Cdur, Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition Promenade 1, or any other track. Then download the prepared Lazar Berman ringtones to your gadget, and enjoy Classical music by Lazar Berman every time your phone rings. If you enjoy Classical or maybe Classica and Instrumental music, then you will probably like Hélène Grimaud, Maurizio Pollini, or Andrei Gavrilov as well. For all who want a free Lazar Berman ringtone, we also recommend listening to PIANO, Classical Piano, and Piano Music. It's possible to have your tune both in the MP3 and m4a formats, compatible with both mobile phones and iPhones. Just select a track, and choose free Lazar Berman ringtones download option.
Download Lazar Berman Ringtones
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition
Lazar Berman
Franz Liszt: Ann馥s De Péer
Lazar Berman


text:
James Otto Hospitalized
September 9, 2010 5:56 AM
[lastfm]James Otto[/lastfm] has been feeling very ill lately and has had to cancel 2 shows, Friday (Sept. 10) appearance in Clarksville, Tenn., and a Saturday (Sept. 11) in Berea, Ohio. The reason for the canceled shows is….
James Otto is in a Nashville hospital being treated for abdominal illness.


text:
Surefire flashlights
in Surefire Flashlights
Aimpoint Scopes » 2010 » August » 3
A DEWAT is an unserviceable gun that has an intact receiver, thus, as of the GCA of 1968, it is a machine gun. In 1955 the ATT decided that a gun that was a registered war souvenir …
Aimpoint Scopes » 2010 » July
Info. You are currently browsing the Aimpoint Scopes blog archives for July, 2010. … Defense, Law Enforcement, And Tactical Technologies …
Surefire flashlights
Aimpoint; aimpoint micro t-1; aimpoint t1; AK-47 Accessories; AmeriGlo; ar-15 Accessories; ar15 accessories; BSA Optics; Camouflage; CRKT Knives; Documentation; DuoStock
Still Awaiting Our Global Warming "Scopes Trial" – DISCOVER
My latest post has just gone up at DeSmogBlog. It's about the Supreme Court's decision yesterday to hear a case I've written a lot about– Connecticut vs American Electric Power –which seeks to hold a group of power companies responsible for their …


text:
Interviewing for ICU...
- 0MSTICU (Med/Surg/Trauma ICU)
I am a new graduate, this is my first job interview for nursing and I am very excited about this opportunity. Please give me some interviewing tips. Especially questions I should have and be prepared to answer. Strengths and Weaknesses, 5-10 year plan I am prepared for. That's just about it though.
- 0Is it a behavioral interview? If so, be prepared to give examples where you dealt with various situations and how you resolved them in a good way. I'm also a new grad and when I interviewed for two positions - one of which was in an ICU - they were both behavioral interviews and I prepared by thinking of various situations I had been in and how I dealt with them. I'll give you some examples if your interview is behavioral.
- 2Also, some ICU's give you scenarios when you interview so maybe think of how you would respond to that (example: you find a patient in resp distress - what would you do, a Dr. prescribes sedative for already zonked out pt - what would you do etc). A question like why the ICU is a good fit/why that floor/why that hospital is always a good one to prepare for. I also highly recommend making a career portfolio if you are doing an in- person interview - it helps you to stand out, and depending on how lengthy and nicely put together it is, shows them how much you want the position (i.e. put extra time and effort into preparing). It also shows them what makes you stand apart from other new grads, especially if you have extra experience beyond nursing school and/or some good accolades. When they ask you if you have any questions, I think its always good to ask something about 1. How does this program/residency go basically 2. What do you look for in your new graduate residents (when they say something, I would try to as subtly as possible get a word in about how you match what they are looking for). If it is a behavioral interview, try to frame your stories using the Situation, Action (you took), Result, and What your learned technique. Smile and try to find a way to let your passion show - not in a crazy way, but let them know this is the job of your dreams and you have the dedication and enthusiasm that makes you worthy! I had a panel interview for the ICU and it was very intimidating but I was successful, so I could maybe give you a few tips on those too, if you'd like.
- 0I won't bore you with the usual interviewing tips that are ridiculously obvious (i.e. arrive early etc), but I will say I would take the time and money to invest in a real ladies - or mens, depending on who your are - business suit. I would not go for business casual, because if this is your dream job, then its worth it to go all out. I bought a business dress, blazer/dress coat, black opaque panty hose, and dress shoes with slight heel and I think that is the best bet. While precepting on the same floor I saw girls going to interviews for that floor in business casual (nice enough clothes) but they would also do crazy things like wear Toms shoes to the interviews. Toms are nice for casual wear of course, but never for an interview! Similarly, I feel that colorful purses - even if by a nice designer/brand - shouldn't be worn at an interview. Just my friendly two cents
- 1I am sure it may be a panel or atleast 2 people, director and clinical coordinator. What is a career portfolio. My goodness it sounds interesting and a great idea. What goes in it, how long should it be?
- 1I was thinking of a nice professional pantsuit. With some nice accessories maybe a pin on my lapel, discreet earrings. Dress shoes.
- 1Behavioral interview is very common in nursing and basically they ask you to give various stories of how you dealt with a particular type of situation. For example: Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult patient or difficult patient scenario and how did you resolve it? Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a difficult/challenging situation or environment and what you did? Or tell me about a time when you were part of a team, what made that team good, and how you contributed etc. Those are just some examples of behavioral questions I've been asked.
- 1Quote from DEE S.A career portfolio is where you put in a bunch of things showing what you have done - i.e. certificates, awards, a nice write up of all your volunteer activities, detailed write ups about any externships you have done etc. You can also include extra copies of your resume and cover letter. I used a nice report portfolio that you can find at Office Depot for about $4. It has a black cover with about 7 sheet protecters sewn in (so 14 pages) that you fill with your content. It also had a spine insert so you could put your name on it.I am sure it may be a panel or atleast 2 people, director and clinical coordinator. What is a career portfolio. My goodness it sounds interesting and a great idea. What goes in it, how long should it be?
- 7Jan 5, '13 by CrufflerJJQuote from DEE S.I occasionally participate in panel interviews of candidates for our ICU.MSTICU (Med/Surg/Trauma ICU)
I am a new graduate, this is my first job interview for nursing and I am very excited about this opportunity. Please give me some interviewing tips. Especially questions I should have and be prepared to answer. Strengths and Weaknesses, 5-10 year plan I am prepared for. That's just about it though.
You will need to be able to explain WHY you want critical care - what draws you to it. If asked your future plans, it is generally not wise to say that you want 1-2 years of CC experience as a prereq for applying to a CRNA program. That would be an instant "fail."
Experience as a PCT/extern (especially if it's in a CC unit) is very helpful. ACLS certification isn't a requirement, nor is it really much of a "plus" for a candidate. If hired, you'd be going through a bunch of added classes in any case.
Be able to express excitement, a willingness to learn, and the fact that you do not know it all. Teamwork is a biggie. You would need to be able to fit in with your coworkers, and be willing to offer help and ask for it when needed.
Be able to tell about the sickest patient for whom you cared during nursing clinicals. What did you see/experience/learn?
If you could shadow for a shift in the ICU (and were well received), that would also help your candidacy.
During your interview, you might have a clinical question or two thrown in your direction (stuff involving DKA, DIC, HIT, sepsis, ARDS, renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, ...). You will not be expected to know everything. You may not even be expected to know the "correct" answer to the questions. What you will be expected to do is to be honest & say "I don't know, but here's how I'd find out" rather than trying to BS your way through things.
Good Luck!


text:
Close X
Prepac Furniture Twin Cubbie Bench
Product Description
Twin Cubbie Bench
Prepac's Twin Cubbie Bench is a versatile storage solution for your small spaces. With two spacious compartments underneath the bench, this piece will keep blankets, pillows, baskets and more neatly stowed away. Its compact size makes it the perfect space-saver for hallways or small bedrooms and its simple style will complement any décor. This bench offers functionality for any space.
- Finished in durable laminate
- Constructed from CARB-compliant, laminated composite woods with a sturdy MDF backer
- Ships ready to assemble, includes an instruction booklet for easy assembly
- Five-year manufacturer's limited warranty on parts
- Internal dimensions: 15.25"W x 14"Back-to-Front x 12.5"H (each cubbie)
- Proudly manufactured in North America
|CARB-compliant, laminated composite woods/MDF
|Assembly Required
|Quick Ship, Duty Free in Canada
|Limited 5-year manufacturer's warranty on parts
This option allows you to filter for home bars that can be used outside or that are commercial grade
Narrow your results by products with or without arms
|Without Arms
Narrow your results by products with or without back support
|Without Back
Narrow your search here by the function/type of bench you desire. Bedroom Benches are a very versatile product and can add a lot of function to your living space.
|Bed Bench Features
|Open Storage
Allows you to choose specific features you want your entryway benches to have.
|Entryway Bench Features
Allows you to select your bench based on the type of storage it has.
|Storage Type
Would you like to update product info, give feedback on images, or tell us about a lower price?
Coordinating Items
View more coordinating items
Related Items
Shop Accessories
$96.32Your total:
Add to Cart
Questions & Answers
Didn't get the answer you needed?
We'll respond to your question in three days or less
There are no questions from the community yet
Customer Reviews
5 star:
4 star:
3 star:
2 star:
1 star:
Average Customer Review
4 out of 5Write a Review
Great bench with storage
By Lisa W. from Stamford, CT on Feb 09, 2012
Great accent piece, great value. Used it in my 11 year old daughter's bedroom against the wall near her door. Fits great, offers nice storage and is great quality for the price.
How would you rank the overall product value?
How would you rank the overall product quality?
Almost Perfect
Was this review helpful to you?
Product Support History
How often do people return this item?
How often does this arrive damaged?
Tag This Product
A tag is a keyword assigned to a product which helps describe the item and allows it to be found by other customers
Add a new tag:
Separate multiple tags with commasWhat's this?
Additional Details
|Mfr Part #
|Group #
|Bedroom Benches - 1032
|Transitional - 15
|Sales Rank
Your Recently Viewed Items
You have no recently viewed items. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to products you are interested in.
Your Recommended Items
You currently have no recommended items. Browse a few more items to give us an idea of what you like.
©1999 - 2014 ATGStores.com.Copyright notice | Site Map | By using this site you agree to our Terms & Conditions of Use and Privacy Statement
Server: WWW111 DBServer: EASTDB01 Created On: 12/28/2014 1:59:17 PM


text:
What exactly is it that Google is building in San Francisco Bay?
The mayor says he doesn't know what it is. Police say it's not their jurisdiction. And government inspectors are sworn to secrecy.
Google is managing to conceal the purpose of the four-story structure that's going up in the heart of the bay, by constructing it on docked barges instead of on land — where building permits and public plans would be required.
The actions of the Internet giant appear to be legal. But the mystery surrounding the bulky floating building — and a similar one near Portland, Maine — is generating rumors and worries.
The head of the environmental group Baykeeper says Google will have to disclose at some point what it's doing. Deb Self says it will be "very sad" if it's a project that isn't allowed there.
There are rumors that it might be a store, or a data center powered by wave action — for which Google has a patent.
But Self says it would be "unacceptable" for the bay to be used as a shopping mall. And environmentalists warn that wave-cooled data centers might warm the sea and harm marine life.
(Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


text:
Vol. 54, No. 6 • Sixth Week • Fall Semester • Sept. 25, 2006
Featured Articles
Program to highlight nanotechnology's current, future impact on Wisconsin
Visitor to examine campus support for diversity, use of resources for minority students
Gloria Steinem opens 65th season of The Forum
Ensemble to perform live score to silent film
Bill Cosby appearance to open Parents Weekend
Mother/son team to speak about alcohol choices
'Women, Money and Politics' is forum topic
Golf outing to support award-winning NYSP
Theme basket benefit drawing is Sept. 29
Program to highlight nanotechnology's current, future impact
on Wisconsin
The schedule of events includes the following activities:
Brown bag discussion, noon-1:30 p.m., Silicon Graphics Inc. headquarters, Chippewa Falls. The event will feature Dr. Franco Cerrina, director of the Center of Nanotechnology at UW-Madison.
High school outreach program, 1-2:30 p.m., Memorial High School, Eau Claire. Presenters will include graduate students from UW-Madison's Nanotechnology Outreach program. High school science classes will be invited to the event.
Tour and discussion, 3-4:30 p.m., Chippewa Valley Technical College NanoRite Center, Eau Claire. Dr. William Ihlenfeldt, CVTC president, will host the event.
Public lecture and reception, 5:30-7 p.m., Phillips Science Hall, UW-Eau Claire. Featured speakers include Cerrina; Doug Dunham, UW-Eau Claire; Forrest Schultz, UW-Stout; and Hans Mikelson from CVTC. Area alumni from UW-Madison and UW-Eau Claire are among those invited to the public lecture and reception.
Visitor to examine campus support for diversity,
William Ponder, vice president for student affairs at Eastern Washington University, will visit UW-Eau Claire Sept. 27-30 to examine the effectiveness of the way resources are currently expended for recruitment and retention of minority students. He also will review the effectiveness of the current organizational structure of student life functions in relation to supporting diversity on campus.
During his visit, Ponder will meet with UW-Eau Claire faculty, staff and students to gather their observations and recommendations. He will submit a report outlining his findings and recommendations to Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich by the end of October.
Ponder will be available to meet with students wishing to provide feedback from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and from 11 a.m.-noon Sept. 29 in the Potawatomi Room, Davies Center.
Faculty and staff are asked to help inform students about the opportunity to share their thoughts with Ponder during the Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 student sessions.
Gloria Steinem opens 65th season of The Forum
Tickets still are available for the Tuesday, Sept. 26, presentation by women's rights icon Gloria Steinem in UW-Eau Claire's Zorn Arena. The program, titled "The Longest Revolution," will begin at 7:30 p.m.and open the university's 65th season of The Forum series. It will be Steinem's second Forum presentation. The first was in 1971, the year before she co-founded Ms. Magazine. Full story.
Ensemble to perform live score to silent film
The Devil Music Ensemble will perform its original score live to John Barrymore's silent film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" at UW-Eau Claire today at 7 p.m. in Schofield Auditorium.
Formed in Boston in 1999, the Devil Music Ensemble is a trio comprised of Brendon Wood on guitars, lap steel and synthesizer; Jonah Rapino on electric violin, vibraphone and synthesizer; and Tim Nylander on drums, percussion and synthesizer. In its short history, the Devil Music Ensemble has been a rock trio, an Eastern European folk band, a country band, a 40-piece modern orchestra, a house band for live theater and a multi-instrumental ensemble performing live soundtracks to silent films.
Tickets are $4 ($2 for UW-Eau Claire students) at the Service Center, 715-836-3727, in Davies Center's east lobby. Tickets also will be sold at the door. Full story.
Bill Cosby appearance to open Parents Weekend
Two comedy performances by Bill Cosby will kick off Parents Weekend at UW-Eau Claire Friday, Sept. 29. The shows, titled "An Evening with Bill Cosby," will begin at 5 and 8 p.m. in Zorn Arena.
Tickets still are available for both performances, with seating in the bleachers and gallery open for the 5 p.m. show and gallery seating only open for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $35 (bleachers, reserved seating), or $30 (gallery, reserved seating) and are available at the Service Center in Davies Center's east lobby. Full story.
Mother/son team to speak about alcohol choices
Chris and her son Toren will share their experience concerning alcohol abuse and will talk about how to engage friends and families in discussion, agree about acceptable behavior and recognize the warning signs of alcohol abuse. The two travel around the country to tell their story and have been featured in publications such as People magazine and The New York Times.
Both presentations are free and open to the public. The first 20 guests at each event will receive a free copy of one of the Volkmanns' books. For more information contact the UW-Eau Claire's Center for Alchohol Studies and Education at 715-836-5110 or email@example.com.
'Women, Money and Politics' is forum topic
Other sponsors of the event include the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Democracy Matters, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Women's Network and Community Shares of Wisconsin.
The event will feature keynote speaker Joan Mandle, executive director of Democracy Matters, and panelists Sara Finger, executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, and Kerry Kincaid of the Eau Claire City Council. Mandel and the panelists will take questions from the audience following their presentations. Full story.
Golf outing to support award-winning NYSP
Theme basket benefit drawing is Sept. 29
A drawing for 13 theme baskets created by UW-Eau Claire employees will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the east lobby of Davies Center. Funds from ticket sales for the drawing will benefit the United Way of Greater Eau Claire and its member agencies. Raffle tickets, which are $1 each or 6 for $5, can be purchased from the campus departments and offices sponsoring baskets, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 in the west lobby of Davies Center.
The following are the basket sponsors and themes (see a complete listing of each basket's contents):
Top News l Calendar l Faculty/Staff News l In the News l Notices l Archive
Julie Poquette, Editor, UW-Eau Claire News Bureau, Schofield 201, (715) 836-4741
Diane Walkoff, Editorial Assistant. Updated: September 29, 2006


text:
Tipple v. Kroger Texas, LP
Filing 37
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE for 33 Report and Recommendations, DENYING 14 Motion for Summary Judgment, filed by Kroger Texas, LP. Signed by Judge Ron Clark on 7/8/2013. (baf, )
**NOT FOR PRINTED PUBLICATION** IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SHERMAN DIVISION KARL TIPPLE, Plaintiff, V. KROGER TEXAS, LP, Defendant. § § § § § § § § § CASE NO. 4:12-CV-573 Judge Clark/Judge Mazzant ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE Came on for consideration the report of the United States Magistrate Judge in this action, this matter having been heretofore referred to the United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636. On June 19, 2013, the report of the Magistrate Judge was entered containing proposed findings of fact and recommendations that Defendant's Motion for Final Summary Judgment [Doc. #14] be denied [Doc. #33]. On July 1, 2013, defendant filed objections [Doc. #35]. On July 2, 2013, plaintiff filed a response [Doc. #36]. The Magistrate Judge determined that defendant failed to establish that there were no material fact issues remaining. Defendant filed fifteen pages of objections that merely reargue the same points made in the motion for summary judgment. The court agrees with the Magistrate Judge's decision to recommend denial of the motion. It is alleged, and never denied, that the defendant's manager repeatedly spoke to plaintiff as follows: "You are a fucking retarded idiot. You are too stupid to live." The court has not heard all the testimony, but along with other evidence presented, this could support a verdict for Plaintiff. The case shall proceed to trial. 1 Having received the report of the United States Magistrate Judge, and considering the objections thereto filed by defendant, this court is of the opinion that the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge are correct and adopts the Magistrate Judge's report as the findings and conclusions of the court. It is, therefore, ORDERED that Defendant's Motion for Final Summary Judgment [Doc. #14] is DENIED. So ORDERED and SIGNED this 8 day of July, 2013. ___________________________________ Ron Clark, United States District Judge 2


text:
Clean My Mac 2 coming in February
Clean My Mac is an app that arrived a few years ago from developer Macpaw, and allowed you to go in and clear up any unneeded system files that you happened to have sitting around on your drive. Last week on the show floor of Macworld 2013, Macpaw was in attendance showing off version 2 of the software, which is set to be released for sale in February.
We got a nice tour through the app at Macpaw's booth, and it looks exactly like what the second version of a great app should: It's both simpler and more powerful. The complicated list on the side of the first version has been replaced by a smaller list of cleaner options, though the new app offers just as many opportunities (more, in fact) to wipe any offending files off of your hard drive forever.
At the top of the window, as you can see above, there is an option for Automatic cleanup. If you want, you can just set Clean My Mac to start running and clean your computer with the default settings, but each of the other little windows offer additional options. System Cleanup lets you choose which system files you would like to wipe off of your hard drive, and "Large and Old Files" lets you target exactly that, listing bigger files or files that haven't been touched in some time that you can delete at your leisure.
After that, the tabs offer some new options. iPhoto Cleanup targets Apple's photo application. Some users may not know that when you edit a photo in iPhoto, your Mac actually saves both the new photo and an old copy, so if you've made a lot of edits in that app, you could have a number of duplicates in your library that you don't need (speaking personally, I know my iPhoto library is often one of the most wasteful areas on my hard drive). Clean My Mac can clear those out with just one button push.
Trash Cleanup is pretty self-explanatory, offering the option to wipe out your trash folder, without an issue. The app also has a "paranoia mode," which will not only wipe out the files of your choice, but then overwrite those with random code, meaning that they really are gone forever, without any hope of recovery. Obviously, that's not for casual use, but if you want to make sure those files are gone, that's a nice option to have.
Finally, the Uninstaller and Extensions Manager tabs have been completely rewritten. The Uninstaller is similar to the great AppZapper, and will allow you to kill any apps you have installed, along with any other related files you happen to have on your hard drive. The Eraser tab offers you full control over your hard drive. It's faster than Finder, Macpaw says, and it will allow you to go in and delete any files you want anywhere in your file system, regardless of the consequences (which you'll have to deal with yourself).
Because Clean My Mac offers such control over your computer (and could possibly damage your file system if you happen to delete something that's necessary), Macpaw isn't offering it over the Mac App Store at all -- the company says that Apple wouldn't allow it. But the app will be available through the company's website next month for US$29.99. And current users of the app, Macpaw told us, will get the update for free. Clean My Mac remains a powerful solution for cleaning up your hard drive, and the second version offers a much cleaner and more sensible interface for this great app.
Source: http://macpaw.com/
Subscribe to Newsletter
Software Updatesmore updates
- Dropbox adds file/folder renaming and Office document editing to iOS app
- Vizzywig 8xHD price tag now a very affordable $49.99
- Automatic targets teen drivers with License+ service
- Dropbox adds support for TouchID
- YouTube for iOS gets updated with full support for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
- iOS 8.0.1 update now available (Updated -- Don't update!)


text:
For those of us who don't have the time or the patience to track down all things chic, Heather Clawson finds the cream of the crop and shares it all on her blog, Habitually Chic.
When Heather talks shop, you get the full story: Shell point you toward Australian design mags, her favorite store windows, and home decor sales. All, of course, while keeping an eye out for any worthy interiors in unexpected places a book about the UN building, for example. Make sure to stay tuned for updates on her museum visits and party hopping both equally chic to this blogger!
Sponsored Links
Special Offer


text:
Maryville University Summer 2013
- 0Mar 26, '13 by FNP2013So I got accepted into Maryville's Summer 2013 class that starts May 6. Woo Hoo!! I am so excited to start this adventure. Was wondering if anyone else was accepted into this class. Hoping to make some friends before class starts. So we can stay together during the program.
- 1Mar 26, '13 by smartypants31usHi! Congrats. Maryville is awesome. A little unorganized at times but I love it.fresh up on ur APA writing.
- 0Mar 31, '13 by flamingopark2Hello there, I am also starting in the summer.
- 0Mar 31, '13 by jetmechgalI start am finishing up the last part of my BSN and starting Maryville in July so we should be going at the same time
- 1Apr 18, '13 by uniquenurse36Quote from rnrandikI currently attend Maryville, and they called to let me know I was accepted.quick question... did they call or email your acceptance letter?
- 0Apr 21, '13 by Sterling-RNI just got accepted into the Adult-Geriatric NP program. May 6th is the start date! Hurray!
- 0Apr 21, '13 by uniquenurse36Quote from rnrandikGoodluck! Hope you get your call soon! Keep us posted!Ok! I am anxiously awaiting to hear back for summer admission! Thanks!


text:
Please join us for a Summer Reception
Saturday, August 24, 2013
5:00 - 8: 00 p.m.
Deer Isle, ME
Your evening with begin with lemonade, beers, wine and cheese on the lawn as guests arrive. Dinner will be served around 6pm, with our featured guest to present after dinner. Dinner will consist of a menu of local fresh seafood (mussels, crab cakes, etc.), corn and other fresh local veggies, biscuits (recipe from an inn on the Maine coast), with Maine blueberries and ice cream for dessert.
Click here to register.


text:
I Love This!!!
I love this product! I've been using it nearly everyday for 2 weeks, and it works great!I love the consistency of the product. One thing it does do, however is clump your lashes up a little bit, so you have to be careful when applying.
Love this!
I love this top coat! It is water proof and totally wonderful! You can use it on your brows or on top of an mascara! It is a must for summer and those days at the beach!
Love this!
This is amazing for waterproofing mascaras that were not made as waterproof. That way, you don't have to buy an already-waterproof mascara that's going to dry up extra fast and you can still make it waterproof. I use it on my lower lashes especially since my eyes tend to water and my mascara never budges!
This is amazing. I just used this yesterday. I went swimming all day and nothing ran down my eyes. I never looked like a raccoon or a panda. I'm going to need to stock up this summer. It's gonna be a staple in my everyday looks.
Little if any smell. Glides on- not sure how long it will last- but it does a great job as a waterproof topcoat. Will buy again
Totally waterproof! It's completely clear and undetectable except for a glossy effect which I personally like. And the brush has a nice shape to it so it doesn't cause clumping or anything like that. This is perfect for the upcoming summer ;)


text:
Timeline: A history of sarin
POSTED: 3:01 AM Dec 24 2013 UPDATED: 9:24 AM Sep 16 2013
Text Size:
A United Nations report due out Monday is expected to say say the perpetrators of last month's chemical weapons attack in Syria had up to 350 liters of sarin gas Look back at the history of sarin, a man-made nerve agent.
You share in the NBC Montana.com community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Please email email@example.com if a comment violates these standards. Due to a technical change, all comments posted before Jan. 9, 2014 no longer appear on NBCMontana.com. Comments posted after Jan. 14 are not impacted. We apologize for any inconvenience. The views expressed are not those of NBCMontana.com, NBCMontana or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum. (Please note the 'Like' and 'Report' buttons.) By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.


text:
UW-Eau Claire
News Bureau
Schofield Hall 218
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
UW-Eau Claire Alumna
Enjoying Government Role
(715) 836-4741
(715) 836-2900
MAILED: Feb. 16, 1999
EAU CLAIRE Most University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire alumni who enjoy an afternoon of ice fishing worry most about catching fish or staying warm.
But this winter 1961 UW-Eau Claire alumna Mae (Gasparac) Schunk also worried about how many reporters and cameras would follow her onto the ice during an annual outing she and her husband had planned with friends.
So it goes when you're a 64-year-old political novice who agrees to be a former professional wrestler's running mate in a Minnesota gubernatorial race and then shocks the nation by actually winning.
"It's been a whirlwind," the longtime educator said of her life since she met Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura. "It's very exciting but it's been a whirlwind. This is my career's grand finale."
When Schunk got a call from a member of the Reform Party asking if she was interested in running with Ventura, she had never heard of the man who was known as "The Body" during his wrestling days and later became a Twin Cities suburban mayor and radio personality.
"My first comment was, 'What? Who is Jesse Ventura,'" the lieutenant governor remembered as she sat in her office in the governor's suite of the Minnesota State Capitol building. "When my husband got home that night I asked him if he had heard of Jesse Ventura and he told me about the wrestler with the hair and the tights and the boa. I thought, 'oh gosh, a wrestler.'"
But any reservations she had about joining Ventura in his bid for the Governor's office disappeared within minutes of her first meeting with him.
"I was impressed," said Schunk, who was referred to Ventura by a parent of one of her students. "Our conversation immediately went to education and as we talked, we realized that our philosophies are very much alike. I was coming from the perspective of a teacher and he was coming from the perspective of a parent. I liked his family values and his commitment to doing what was best for the people of Minnesota."
Despite Ventura's popularity, Schunk said she was unsure that a Reform Party candidate could win the race. However, even as the polls showed she and Ventura getting at the most 15 percent of the votes, her husband, William, predicted that they'd get 40 percent of the votes close to the 37 percent they did receive.
"He recognized before I did how disenchanted people are with government today," said Schunk, adding that it was particularly exciting to see young people who had never before voted rushing to the ballot boxes people's whose opinions the pollsters had not considered. "People were looking for someone they could connect with."
While this was Schunk's first bid for elected office, politics has always been an area of interest particularly how it relates to education, said Schunk who has spent 36 years in Wisconsin and Minnesota classrooms, the last 22 in the St. Paul School District.
"I was too involved in teaching to think about running for office," said Schunk, who had planned to retire from elementary teaching this June to teach part-time at a college. "My passion for teaching kept me from making other commitments."
"Election night was an experience that is hard to explain," Schunk said. "I was ecstatic that we had won but then I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm not a teacher any more.'"
After getting two hours of sleep on election night, she went to school the next day to the cheers of hundreds of colleagues, students and friends. (She worried that she was in trouble for being 30 minutes late when the superintendent met her at the school's door.) After the celebration, she taught her kids like any other day but with journalists and cameras looking on.
"Letting go of the kids was difficult, but I now have an opportunity to make education better for every kid in Minnesota," said Schunk, who plans to continue volunteering at her former school despite her new responsibilities.
And Minnesotans haven't been shy about sharing their ideas on education or anything else that's on their minds, said Schunk, explaining that grocery shopping can now be an all-morning affair and dining out can take hours longer as crowds often gather when she's out and about.
"I really like this job," Schunk said of her new position. "It carries with it a lot of power but also a lot of respect. Because they respect the office, it makes it hard to walk away."
Her passion for teaching began during her years at UW-Eau Claire, said Schunk, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in elementary education. She later earned her master's at St. Thomas in St. Paul.
"UW-Eau Claire was a wonderful experience," the Greenwood native said, noting that she always worked two or three jobs to pay for school. "I loved learning. Those were some of my best years."
[Administrative Offices]
[News Bureau]
Janice B. Wisner
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 218
(715) 836-4741
Updated: Feb. 16, 1999


text:
Is it possible? Could playing video games be—gulp—good for your kids? Academics, the American Psychological Society and gaming experts have been actively looking into the ways this might be true. The reasons why may surprise you.
Can a game teach kids? Professor James Paul Gee at Arizona State University has written several books proposing this idea, and education expert Marc Prensky expanded on it in his book, Don't Bother Me, Mom—I'm Learning! Both argue that every video game requires memorization, computation and critical thinking skills. In order to play, kids have to learn the rules, learn how to exploit those rules and memorize patterns and information. Simulation of real experiences can be educational, too. Games like "SimCity" teach urban planning, while ones like "Civilization" teach about world history and why the discovery of, say, the printing press was so crucial to human development. Many simulated worlds also have some kind of economy.
Yummy recipes, DIY projects, home decor, fashion and more curated by iVillage staffers.
The very dirty truth about fashion internships... DUN DUN @srslytheshow http://t.co/wfewf


text:
Verizon to Benefit From Wireless Buyback, Moody's Says
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) - Verizon Communications ( VZ) stands to benefit from buying back Vodafone's ( VOD) 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, according to Moody's Investor Service.
Verizon was slumping 1.3% to $50.90 in trading Wednesday, paring its gain for 2013 to 18%. Vodafone, which has added 13% this year, was falling 1.3% to $28.36.
The possible purchase by Verizon comes as the communication company is in need of cash flow after cash requirements rose to $19 billion a year. In the past, cash needs were only $9 billion. Known as the CellCo partnership, the largest mobile network operator in the country, Vodafone has controlled 45% of Verizon Wireless since 2009. Verizon has utilized distribution from this source to pay off debts, provide common stock dividends, and fulfill income tax and pension funding obligations, according to a Moody's report.
Verizon is expected to have positive cash flow as debt payments and capital intensity fall as they have finished its FiOS TV improvements. However, the firm is expected to see significant increases in taxes as their bonus depreciation expires.Analysts predict that if Verizon was to pay $100 billion for Vodafone's stakes in the Wireless operations, the company would be able to retain its current rating as stable. However, if they were to spend an additional $30 billion, they would most likely be downgraded. As valuations of U.S. wireless assets are reaching their peak, Vodafone would be able to use the influx of cash to invest in wireline networks in Europe. The UK based company would need to have sufficient wireline assets to compete with incumbent firms. These competitors have gained control of the mobile market by bundling wireless services with other telecom products at a discounted rate. While no deal is in progress, analysts believe the exchange would alleviate Verizon's cash needs while providing Vodafone with the freedom to pursue other projects. "While we remain skeptical that a Vodafone buyout will occur any time soon, nonetheless the incentive to pursue a deal will remain compelling," Moody analysts wrote.
Select the service that is right for you!COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUSTry it NOW
Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.
Product Features:
- $2.5+ million portfolio
- Large-cap and dividend focus
- Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
- Weekly roundups
TheStreet Quant RatingsTry it NOW
Only $49.95/yr
Access the tool that DOMINATES the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500.
Product Features:
- Buy, hold, or sell recommendations for over 4,300 stocks
- Unlimited research reports on your favorite stocks
- A custom stock screener
- Upgrade/downgrade alerts
Stocks Under $10Try it NOW
David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.
Product Features:
- Model portfolio
- Stocks trading below $10
- Intraday trade alerts
- Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock AdvisorTry it NOW
Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.
Product Features:
- Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
- Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
- Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Real Money ProTry it NOW
All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.
Product Features:
- Real Money + Doug Kass Plus 15 more Wall Street Pros
- Intraday commentary & news
- Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options ProfitsTry it NOW
Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.
Product Features:
- 100+ monthly options trading ideas
- Actionable options commentary & news
- Real-time trading community
- Options TV


text:
Like it or not, the end of an year always smells a bit like the end of a cycle: something older than us which somehow makes all look ahead and follow the necessary transformation.
I had the luck to conclude my 2013, at least photographically speaking, sitting on a high rock in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia with ravens, vultures and several other birds of prey soaring in front of me in the crystalline mountain light.
When the most awaited one, the bearded vulture, finally came and slowly circled around my head, my eyes met its: I could perfectly see the famous "cercle rouge" around its orbits (please read the great Robert Hainard on this). Although being an atheist, by admiring the majestic lightness of this species (the "bone breaker") which arrives at the very end of an animal's life, I could not stop reflecting on the perfection of Nature when it comes to cycles. Materials (atoms!) that smoothly move from one creature to another - for ever. Nothing being wasted. Everything transformed. Endless life.
And so, I thought once again of the magic words of Robinson Jeffers in his poem "The vulture" and by thinking of death, I didn't feel sad, but instead it gave me more energies for the times ahead.
My best wishes for a great New Year to all of you!
"The Vulture"
I had walked since dawn and lay down to rest on a bare hillside
Above the ocean. I saw through half-shut eyelids a vulture wheeling high up in heaven,
And presently it passed again, but lower and nearer, its orbit
I understood then
That I was under inspection. I lay death-still and heard the flight- feathers
Whistle above me and make their circle and come nearer.
I could see the naked red head between the great wings
Bear downward staring. I said, 'My dear bird, we are wasting time here.
These old bones will still work; they are not for you.' But how
beautiful he looked, gliding down
On those great sails; how beautiful he looked, veering away in the sea-light over the precipice. I tell you solemnly
That I was sorry to have disappointed him. To be eaten by that beak and become part of him, to share those wings and those eyes--
What a sublime end of one's body, what an enskyment; what a life after death. (Robinson Jeffers)
Location: Ethiopia, Africa


text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
|Mr. Vegas
|Birth name
|Clifford Smith
| 29 December 1974
Kingston, Jamaica
|Dancehall, reggae, soca
|Years active
|This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2008)
|Mr. Vegas
|Birth name
|Clifford Smith
| 29 December 1974
Kingston, Jamaica
|Dancehall, reggae, soca
|Years active
Clifford Smith (born 29 December 1974), better known as Mr. Vegas, is a Jamaican dancehall star.
Smith was born in Kingston on December 29, 1974.[1] The moniker "Mr. Vegas" was given to Smith by his schoolyard football-mates, who thought that he kicked the ball like a Las Vegas dancer. In his early years as a singjay, Vegas sang covers of Jamaican hits at local parties and shows, and acquired a reputation as a troublemaker for his lyrics. During a scuffle over stolen master tapes, Vegas was hit in the face with a crowbar and had his jaw wired shut for six weeks. Vegas claims that, after hearing Beenie Man's hit "Who Am I", he immediately demanded that his still-healing jaw be unwired, changing his speech pattern but allowing him to practice toasting.
He found fame in 1998 with hits such as "Yu Sure", "Jack It Up", and "Latest News".[1] For his first major hit, Vegas versioned the wildly popular "Playground" Riddim (Sean Paul's "Infiltrate" among others) to create "Nike Air", which became a huge hit in Jamaica. The next single, "Heads High", with an anti-oral sex lyric,[2] followed its success in Jamaica with a chart run in the UK and a #69 peak on the US R&B chart, and Vegas became increasingly in demand as a guest artist by acts such as Sean Paul.[citation needed]
In 1998 his debut album, Heads High, was released, which hit #5 on the US Reggae chart. Vegas won a MOBO for Best Reggae Artist for the Heads High album as well. 2000's single "Hot Gal Today" was a minor hit on the US R&B charts, peaking at #66. In 2001, he issued Damn Right, featuring guest appearances from Shaggy and Big Yard; this album went to #2 on the US Reggae chart. 2004 saw the release of the Pull Up LP, and the title track scraped the bottom of the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #98 (as well as #68 on the R&B chart). In 2006 he did a Soca collaboration with Machel Montano, Dance With You on Machel's B.O.D.Y. album. His latest, 2007's Hot It Up, featured the Jamaican hits "Hot Wuk", "Taxi Fare" and "Tek Weh Yuhself". In 2008 Mr. Vegas also recorded "On The Floor" with Trinidadian artiste Destra Garcia on her album, Soca or Die.
In September 2008, Smith announced that he was retiring from the music industry, citing unhappiness with his work and a desire to spend more time with his children and be "closer to God Almighty". Although he had been suffering from ill-health for some time, he denied that this was a factor in his retirement.[3] However, in 2009 and 2010 he made new songs such as "Man A Gallis", "Can't Stop Now" (Major Lazer), "Mix Up Peggy", "Wanna See You Move" (DJ GQ) and "Fi Get Rich".
|This section appears to be written like an advertisement. (September 2013)
Recording throughout 2011 & early in 2012 for his newly formed label imprint, MV Music, Mr Vegas released his new album, Sweet Jamaica on May 29, 2012.[4]
To celebrate Jamaica's 50th Anniversary, Mr Vegas took to the studio to produce an all star remix, The Voices of Sweet Jamaica with a cast of reggae greats including Shaggy, U-Roy, Barrington Levy, Marcia Griffiths and more.
Proceeds of the recording went to benefit the children of Mustard Seed Communities in Kingston Jamaica.
By year end 2012, Sweet Jamaica and Mr Vegas made great strides including a MOBO 2012 Award nomination in the UK. Sweet Jamaica was named by Google Music as 'Top 50 albums of 2012', endorsed by Complex Magazine in the Top 100 Albums of 2012' and well as on the 'Best of 2012' in the reggae section of iTunes.
Leading the way into 2013 with solid rotations on mainstream radio throughout the US and a remix package penetrating the dance market, it is no doubt that 'Bruk It Down' will be this Spring's crossover dancehall anthem, while Mr Vegas' smash single 'Party Tun Up' is bubbling in the dances.
The versatile and accomplished Mr Vegas added yet another achievement to his musical portfolio with multiple awards at the 32nd IRAWMA celebration on May 4, 2013 when "Sweet Jamaica" was selected for Song of the Year, and "Bruk it Down" for Video of the Year.
On June 24, 2013 a song appeared on several music blogs featuring Mr. Vegas and Beyonce.[5] The song called "Standing on the Sun" is rumoured to be the lead single off Beyonce's upcoming album.[6]


text:
Q ? – Concerning Seven Summits Trader Review Click HereComments
- One must use at least 20 characters on Yahoo Answers to ask a question, do you know how I asked this question with only one q?
Solution: Hit the spaces-key on the computer keyboard many times and Yahoo Answers will believe that you've typed a sufficiently long question when in fact you've just typed air.
Answer by xmangomaniax
a loooooooooooot of spaces
- Do you like stacie?
Music; It's my life?
Sponsor AD from Random Ads on the subject of Seven Summits Trader Review :
Seven Summits Trader ReviewRecommended Site
Answer by lauren.
i don't pick favorites:)
- Q: What is the difference between and Virgin and a washing machine?
A: The washing machine doesn't follow you around for two weeks after you dump a load in it!
Answer by britart
What a charming way you have with words, is yours a Harrow education or a reformed school, or need I ask……..lol……….


text:
Sent on the 28th of December, 2012
The best German restaurant in the Country.
Frequently Asked Questions:
This is a list of typical questions we have received on our contact page.
Q. What is this web page?
A. The food pages of Bauernschmaus on 6796 99 Street Edmonton are an online venue connecting this Restaurant Restaurant to its patrons. Bauernschmaus representatives add information to this page such as: menu prices, specials, help wanted ads, gift cards, coupons, notices, descriptions, pictures, hours, etc;, while patrons post reviews, photos, comments, corrections, etc.
Q. How does it work?
A. Restaurant staff logs in to foodpages.ca, where they may also respond to visitors' reviews and comments. Visitors do not have to log in to write reviews. Optionally they can personalize their food pages, however the default visitor profile is anonymous.
Q. You have a visitor counter. Do you track your web page visitors?
A. Your privacy is our number one concern. Unless you have logged in and set your user name, your reviews will be signed by an anonymous nickname 1136th. This is a random word linking your visitor number to the time of your visit. No personally identifiable information about you is stored at foodpages, only a statistical summary. As of today, 1136 visitors have visited this page. You are the 1136th.
Q. How long has bauernschmaus.foodpages.ca been around?
A. For quite some time. It got its first review on December 29, 2008 and was last updated on November 29, 2014.
Q. Does Bauernschmaus pay a fee to be listed here?
A. No. This service is free, and it will always be. We have no conflict of interest in the moderation of reviews.
Q. How do you ensure that the information you are displaying on these pages is correct?
A. That depends on visitors who frequent this Restaurant and suggest corrections if needed, and to a greater extent on Bauernschmaus representatives who have the option of claiming this page and keeping their information up to date. We also make many efforts to keep the Bauernschmaus pages up to date. You may also suggest edits here.
Q. How do you rank Restaurants?
A. We rank Restaurants by first grouping them together by proximity, then analyzing their ratings, reviews and comments. Recent reviews carry more ranking weight. Bauernschmaus is currently ranked number 1 of 9 nearby Restaurants in CPR Irvine Edmonton.
Q. What if someone submits an "abusive" review?
A. We moderate all reviews that are posted anonymously. Only constructive criticism or various amounts of praise will be posted on this page. If you think we have missed something, let us know.This F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) summary was last updated on November 29, 2014.
Did we answer your questions?
If you have another question send it here.
If yours is a frequent question, we may add it to this list.
Peking House
|Ranking of nearby Restaurants
|Bauernschmaus, 6796 99 Street
|Dairy Queen, 0 9855-70th Avenue
|Billy Budds Restaurant and Lounge, 9839 63 Ave NW
|Blue Chair Cafe, 9624 76 Avenue Northwest
|Barb & Ernie's Restaurant, 9906 72 Ave NW
|Plus Inc Snack, 6549 Gateway Boulevard N. Edmonton Alberta


text:
Kristin Davis Visits Horn of Africa to Raise Awareness of Food Crisis
Sex and the City star Kristin Davis visited the drought-stricken Horn of Africa with Oxfam to help raise awareness of what the UN is calling the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
Devastating drought has hit a wide swath of territory stretching through Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, prompting Oxfam to launch its largest appeal ever for emergency aid to Africa.
The group estimates that they need $80 million immediately to help provide emergency food, clean water, and sanitation supplies to 3 million people. Davis visited the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya in her role as an Oxfam ambassador to see the impact of the drought firsthand.
"I feel shocked to see what these people have gone through. I met women who have walked for 20 days through the desert, with children dying on the way, only to arrive at a camp where there is hardly any food and water to go around. We must not allow this to happen in this day and age. Anything that you can give will help people who have absolutely nothing," Davis said.
More details, and ways you can help, after the jump:
According to Oxfam, Dadaab is the world's largest refugee facility, and with 380,000 residents, it's already packed at four times its intended capacity. Thirteen hundred people continue to arrive each day.
As much as 60 percent of local cattle herds have already died in some areas, and the price of cattle has plummeted, while other staple foods, such as cereal, have seen their cost skyrocket.
Reuters and the AP both have more details on the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa.
- Oxfam says that a $50 donation will supply 200 people with a day's worth of clean water.
- The UN Refugee Agency says a $7 donation supplies ready-to-eat therapeutic food for a malnourished child.
- The World Food Programme is seeking help with feeding 6 million people in the coming months.
- Log in to post comments


text:
Math 495.595
Winter 2012
Dr. Laurie Burton
|Required Materials
|Homework Page
|Office Hours
A Green Approach to Paper Use
Please refer to your course syllabus and course schedule electronically.
The syllabus is posted below and will not change--you can access it here any time you wish to refer to the class policies.
The homework schedule is likely to change, refer to it regularly and do not print--you are likely to end up with an out of date version.
|Required Texts and Materials
|Coursepack: Available WOU Bookstore January, 2012
|Graphing Calculator: A TI-83 or TI-84 is highly recommended. A TI-89 or equivalent may not be used on exams or quizzes.
|Quiz Blue Book (8 ½" x 11" required by the second day of class, 1/11/12)
Grade books for 495 Winter 2012 are kept on Moodle . Log in with your usual student user name and password or log into the WOU Portal and use the Moodle link there.
|Paperwork and General Information
Math 495.595 Syllabus, Burton, Winter 2012 (includes learning outcomes)
|WOU Policy on Academic Dishonesty


text:
Photo #: NH 1871
USS Stoddert (DD-302)
Photographed while underway, circa 1923-1930.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 610 pixels
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
10 September 2002


text:
Mark Collins - USN U(C)AVs: Still More on the Wings of Things to Come–and Canada?
Further to this post (with lots of relevant links), the US Navy looks to be getting serious:
Navy to Launch Competition for Carrier-Based Unmanned Aircraft in 2013
Defense contractors will be asked to submit proposals next year for a next-generation unmanned aerial system that will be deployed from aircraft carriers, said the Navy's deputy program executive officer for UAS.
After a two-year delay, the Navy expects to issue a request for proposals in 2013 for its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS). The goal is to have the aircraft in the fleet by 2020, said Patrick Buckley at a Nov. 9 conference on unmanned aerial systems in Springfield, Va.
The road to establishing requirements for UCLASS has been fraught with debate, with officials in a tug-of-war on how advanced UCLASS should be, given fiscal and technological constraints…
The Navy is in the final stages of nailing down those requirements, said Buckley, who offered a few hints of what the service would be looking for.
UCLASS will harness "mature" technology that has been demonstrated in relevant operational environments, as opposed to technology in very early stages of development, Buckley said. Bidders can propose commercial off-the-shelf or modified off-the-shelf components within their design, as well as new components that contain mature technology, he continued.
The project includes three segments: upgrades to carriers to support unmanned operations, the UCLASS aircraft and mission systems, and the command-and-control system. The Navy will be the lead systems integrator for the components, providing data and interface specifications to allow the contractor to deliver the air vehicle and mission systems, Buckley said…
But up here…
with this further delay:
Remember this Request for Information from companies interested in helping Canada build a JUSTAS drone system? Potential vendors now have more time to send in their packages…
The latest on the JUSTAS UAV project: clarification on fuel, frequencies and the fact that where they'll be based hasn't been decided yet…
Good on MILNEWS.ca for the persistent Merx-watch.
Mark Collins is a prolific Ottawa blogger
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
where to buy?
Hey guys, I'm new to this and am thinking of starting my first cycle. Problem is I don't know where to buy. Could someone let me know a good place?
|All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:02 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2014, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


text:
What was the best and worst set you saw yesterday, either from actually being there or by juts watching the streams?
What was the best and worst set you saw yesterday, either from actually being there or by juts watching the streams?
I saw 4 pretty amazing sets in a row, EMA -> James -> Gary Clark Jr -> Jimmy Cliff. 4 completely different styles of music, and all 4 just masterful. I don't know how to pick just one.
The best in order for me...
1. Jimmy Cliff
2. James
3. Madness
4. Pulp
5. Other Lives
6. Swedish Fish Mafia
7. Black Keys
I didn't watch anything bad.
Last edited by gaypalmsprings; 04-14-2012 at 10:42 AM.
I am still absorbing everything but it seems like:
The Rapture
Explosions In the Sky
Jimmy Cliff
In that order.
Steve Winwood| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds| Echo and the Bunnymen| Echo and the Bunnymen| Paul McCartney| Foxygen| FYF Fest| NIN/Soundgarden| Elvis Costello| Swans| Buzzcocks| King Crimson| Elton John| Kasabian| Massive Attack| Massive Attack| Slowdive| Tame Impala| DFA 1979| Fleetwood Mac| A Winged Victory for the Sullen
My list for next weekend is going like this:
Other Lives
Gary Clark
Jimmy Cliff
Death Grips
Arctic Monkeys
Black Keys
Black Angels
Amon Tobin/Swedish House Mafia
Tell me how awesome my band selection was
1) Amon Tobin
2) Pulp
3) Explosions
4) Arctic Monkeys
5) Jimmy Cliff
6) Mazzy Star
7) Breakbot
8) James
All fantastic performances.
Coachella - 4.10.15 - 4.12.15 - Empire Polo Grounds
Pulp was amazing! Death Grips blew me away too. We tried to see M83 but the crowd was too huge for the Mojave.. and as someone else said, the crowd there was total "brochella"
How was the crowd for Pulp?
1/11 Tamaryn @ The Echo, 1/20 Elton John @ Caesars Palace, 2/14 Sparks @ The Ace, 2/17 Emmy the Great @ DC9 (?)
M83 hands down. I didn't think the crowd was douche-y at all, but then I was in the middle of it.
Pulp was also awesome.
The crowd for Pulp was smaller than I expected. My wife and I got there maybe 15 minutes before the show started and got a spot really close to the stage.
Refused! My favorite Coachella performance ever!
im so glad to hear everyone loved Refused...i was so worried about how they would sound after over a decade away...Dennis' voice is just astoundingly powerful.
From watching the stream: The Black Angels & Mazzy Star.
1. Pulp
2. Black Angels
3. Horrors
4. Arctic Monkeys
5. Jobot (do lab)
6. James
How was the crowd for James?
Ooh thats cool! thanks grant.
Refused and The Rapture were my favorites. Refused was absolutely incredible and The Rapture were a great dance party
Jimmy cliff, M83
I cried during. Jimmys first song.
It was so great
I've noticed there's not been a mention of GIRLS, I would've that would be a highlight.
1. Refused
2. Death Grips
3. Pulp
*based upon tedious fact checking.


text:
The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
Our Partners
Al Akhbar - Lebanon
Al Masry Al Youm - Egypt
Asia Sentinel - Hong Kong
Bivol - Bulgaria
Carta Capital - Brazil
CIPER - Chile
Dawn Media - Pakistan
L'Espresso - Italy
La Repubblica - Italy
La Jornada - Mexico
La Nacion - Costa Rica
Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
Nawaat - Tunisia
NDR/ARD - Germany
Owni - France
Pagina 12 - Argentina
Philip Dorling - Fairfax media contributor - Australia
Plaza Publica - Guatemala
Publica - Brazil
Publico.es - Spain
Rolling Stone - United States
Russian Reporter - Russia
Ta Nea - Greece
Taraf - Turkey
The Hindu - India
The Yes Men - Bhopal Activists
Sunday Star-Times - New Zealand
Community resources
courage is contagious
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: weekly for comment
Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT
|2010-02-16 19:14:53
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
From: Michael Quirke <email@example.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:06:17 -0600
To: Analyst List<email@example.com>
Subject: Re: weekly for comment
Great job. Comments in green and purple. Took issue on a few minor
Ben West wrote:
The Afghan war has begun anew.
On Feb. 13 some 6,000 (15,000 total forces- for Operation Moshtarak,
6,000 for Marjah specfically), U.S. Marines, soldiers and Afghan
National Army (ANA) troops launched a sustained assault on
the town of of Marjah> in Helmand Province. //// This is the first major
U.S. and NATO offensive conducted by the Afghanistan surge brigades,
other brigades which constitute the 35,000 extra troops devoted by the
US and NATO allies are still arriving. /// This battle is first major
operation the U.S. and NATO effort in Afghanistan always was constrained
by other considerations, most notably Iraq (I would cut this; there are
still around 100,000 troops in Iraq, which is still a significant
consideration). Prior to the arrival of extra troops, the US was
concentrated on Iraq, and Afghanistan was placed on the back burder, as
such Western forces viewed the conflict as holding the line or pursuing
targets of opportunity. But now, armed with larger forces and a new
strategy, the war -- the real war -- has begun. The offensive -- dubbed
Operation Moshtarak (Dari for `together') -- is the largest joint
American/NATO/Afghan operation in history.
The United States originally entered Afghanistan in the aftermath of the
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. In those days of fear and fury American goals
could be simply stated: a non-state actor -- al Qaeda -- had attacked
the American homeland and needed to be destroyed. Al Qaeda was based in
Afghanistan at the invitation of a near-state actor -- the Taliban, who
at the time was Afghanistan's de facto governing force. Since the
Taliban was unwilling to hand al Qaeda over, the United States attacked.
Within a few weeks both groups suffered devestating losses at the hands
of the Americans, al Qaeda had <cut> relocated to neighboring Pakistan
and the Taliban retreated into the arid, mountainous countryside in
their southern heartland. Slowly, the Taliban regrouped and began waging
a guerrilla conflict. American attention became split between searching
for al Qaeda, and clashing with the Taliban over control of Afghanistan.
In time American attention was diverted to other issues: Russia resurged
in the former Soviet space, Iran attempted to activate its nuclear
program, China began flexing its muscles, and of course the Iraq war.
All of this and more consumed American bandwidth, and the Afghan
conflict melted into the background. The United States maintained its
Afghan force in what could accurately be described as a holding action
as the bulk of its forces operated elsewhere. That has more or less been
the state of affairs for eight years.
That has changed with the Marjah operation.
Why Marjah?
The key is the geography of Afghanistan and the nature of the conflict
itself. Most of Afghanistan is custom-made for a guerilla war. Much of
the country is mountainous, encouraging local identities and militias,
as well as complicating the task of any foreign military force. The
country's aridity discourages dense population centers, making it very
easy for irregular combatants to melt into a countryside. Afghanistan
lacks any navigable rivers or ports, drastically reducing the region's
likelihood of developing commerce. No commerce to tax means fewer
resources to fund a meaningful government or military, as well as (and
instead, encourages) encouraging smuggling of every good imaginable --
and that smuggling provides the perfect funding for guerrillas.
<V7 https://clearspace.stratfor.com/docs/DOC-2586>
Rooting out insurgents is no simple task. It requires a) massively
superior numbers - troops to clear areas, Afghan security forces to hold
those areas, and a competent goverment-economic apparatus to build those
areas, all in the face of a numerically inferior force that can wage
attacks anywhere. b) the support of the locals in order to deny
guerillas refuge and support c) and superior intelligence so that the
fight can be consistently taken to the insurgents rather than vice
versa. Without those three things -- and American-led forces in
Afghanistan lack all three <cut> (not necessarily) -- the insurgents
can simply take the fight to the occupiers, melt into the countryside to
rearm and regroup, and return again shortly thereafter.
But it is not like insurgents hold all the cards either. Guerrilla
forces are by their very nature irregular. Their capacity to organize
and strike is quite limited, and while they can turn a region into a
hellish morass, they have great difficulty (organizing and) holding
territory -- particularly territory that a regular force chooses to
contest. Should they mass into a force that could achieve a major
battlefield victory, a regular force -- which is by definition better
funded, trained, organized and armed -- will almost always smash the
irregulars. As such the default guerrilla tactic is to attrit and harass
the occupier into giving up and going home. They always decline combat
in the face of a superior military force only to come back and fight at
a time and place of their choosing. Time is always on the guerrilla's
side if the regular force is not a local one. GREAT JOB.
But while they don't require as large or as formalized of basing
locations as regular forces, they are still bound by basic economics.
They need resources -- money, men and weapons -- to operate. And the
larger these locations are, the better economies of scale they can
achieve, and the more effectively they can fight their war.
Marjah is perhaps the quintessential example of a good location from
which to base. It is in a region sympathetic to the Taliban: Helmand
province is the Taliban's home region. Marjah is next to the Helmand
capital Laskar Gah, and very close to Kandahar: Afghanistan's second
city and the religious center of the local brand of Islam and the
birthplace of the Taliban, and due to the presence of American forces,
and excellent target. Helmand produces more heroin than any country on
the planet, and Marjah is at the center of that trade: by some estimates
this center alone supplies the Taliban with a DIRECT monthly income of
$200,000. And it is defensible: farmland covered with irrigation canals
and dotted with mud-brick compounds -- and given time to prepare, a
veritable plague of IEDs. (but farmland is less defensible than the
mountains. Yes, there are ways you can defend it, but flat farmland
means that a force can attack from multiple directions and has
relatively flat terrain to traverse. Sounds like the N. Euro plain to
me). (The canals and dotted houses are what provide Marjah such strong
defensives. This is different than other farm areas. But given the
"irrigated pocket" in the middle of the vast desert and proximity to
ISAF/Afghan bases, forces can easliy surround it).
Simply put, regardless of the Taliban's strategic or tactical goals,
Marjah is a critical node in their operations.
The American Strategy
Until recently, places like Marjah were simply not very high on the
American target list (understand the point youre trying to make, but
realize that there were high on the list -Marjah has alwasy been a major
probelm- its just that the US/UK forces were not able to do anything
about it). Despite Marjah's usefulness to the Taliban, American forces
were too few to engage the Taliban everywhere (and they remain so). But
American priorities started changing about two years ago. The surge of
forces into Iraq changed the position of many a player in Iraq. Those
changes allowed a reshaping of the conflict which laid the groundwork
for the current "stability" and American withdrawal. Since then the Bush
and Obama administrations have been inching towards applying a similar
strategy to Afghanistan, a strategy that focuses less on battlefield
success and more on altering the parameters of the country itself
(fragement).... takes precedence.
As the Obama administration has crystallized, it has started thinking
about endgames. A decades-long occupation and pacification of
Afghanistan is simply not in the cards. A withdrawal is, but it needed
to be a withdrawal where the security free-for-all that allowed al Qaeda
to thrive will simply return. This is where "holding and building" of
Marjah comes in.
The first goal of the new American strategy is to disrupt all of the
Taliban's Marjah-like nodes. The fewer the Marjah-like locations that
the Taliban can count on, the more dispersed -- and militarily
inefficient -- their forces will be. This will hardly destroy the
Taliban, but destruction isn't the goal. The Taliban is not simply a
militant Islamist force. At times it is a flag of convenience for
businessmen or thugs and or even simply the least-bad alternative by
villagers desperate for basic security and civil services. In many parts
of Afghanistan it is not only pervasive but the reality when it comes to
governance and civil authority.
So destruction of what is in essence part of the local cultural and
political fabric is not an American goal. Instead the goal is to prevent
the Taliban from mounting large-scale operations that could overwhelm
any particular location. Remember, the Americans do not wish to pacify
Afghanistan, the Americans wish to leave Afghanistan in a form that will
not cause the United States severe problems down the road. In effect the
achievement of the first goal is simply to shape the ground to permit a
college(?) try at the second:
That second goal is to establish a domestic authority that can stand up
to the Taliban in the long run. Most of the surge of forces into
Afghanistan is not designed to battle the Taliban now, but to train the
Afghan security forces to battle the Taliban later. To do this the
Taliban must be weak enough in a formal military sense to be unable to
launch massive or coordinated attacks. Capturing Marjah is the first
step in a strategy designed to create the breathing room necessary to
create a replacement force, preferably a replacement force that provides
the Afghanis with a viable alternative to the Taliban.
That is no small task. In recent years, in places where the `official'
government has been corrupt, inept or defunct, the Taliban has in many
cases stepped in to provide basic governance and civil authority. Ergo
why even the Americans are publicly flirting ('considering' is better
than flirting, this part of the strategy to reduce the Taliban to a
level that can be managed by the Afghan govt/military after an American
withdrawal)with holding talks with certain factions of the Taliban, in
the hopes that at least some of the fighters can be dissuaded from
battling the Americans (assisting with the first goal) and perhaps even
joining the nascent Afghan government (assisting with the second).
The bottom line is that this battle does not mark the turning of the
tide of the war. Instead it is first application of a new strategy that
accurately takes into account Afghanistan's geography and all the
weaknesses and challenges that geography poses (and the political,
institutional, and cultural reality of Afghanistan). Marjah marks the
first time the United States has applied a plan not to hold the line,
but to actually reshape the country. We are not saying that the strategy
will bear fruit. Afghanistan is a corrupt mess populated by citizens who
are far more comfortable thinking and acting locally and tribally than
nationally. In such a place the advantage will always be held by
indigenous guerillas. No one has ever attempted this sort of national
restructuring in Afghanistan, and the Americans are attempting to do it
in a short period on a shoestring.
At the time of this writing, this first step appears to be going well
for American/NATO/Afghan forces. Casualties have been light and most of
Marjah has already been secured. Do not read this as a massive
battlefield success, but by judging the operation through the lenses of
the American counterinsurgency strategy, its a near ideal start. The
assault required weeks of obvious preparation, and very few Taliban
fighters chose to remain and contest the territory against the more
numerous and better armed attackers. This allowed the US, ISAF, and
Afghan forces to swiftly take a away a support base and funding source
without inflamming an already suspicious Pashtun population, whose
support it will need in the coming months. The American challenge is not
so much in assaulting or capturing Marjah, but in continuing to deny it
to the Taliban <cut>. If the Americans cannot actually hold places like
Marjah, then they are simply engaging in a war of wackamole. A
"government-in-a-box" of civilian administrators is already poised to
move into Marjah to step into the vacuum left by the Taliban.
We obviously have (severe) doubts about how effective this
box-government can be at building up civil authority in a town that has
been governed by the Taliban for most of the last decade. Yet what
happens in Marjah and places like it in the coming months will be the
foundation upon which the success or failure of this effort will be
built. But assessing that process is simply impossible, because the only
measure that matters cannot be judged until the Afghans are left to
Peter Zeihan wrote:
comment like the wind, and for the love of pete (that's me!) keep your
comments tightly focused on the topic
trying to get this to marketing asap
Ben West
Terrorism and Security Analyst
Cell: 512-750-9890
Michael Quirke
ADP - EURASIA/Military