text:
Arafat wanted to "welcome" the 1978 Camp David peace talks
The last really positive development towards a just peace in the Middle East came in 1978 when, following Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat's unprecedented visit to Israel, he and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin began secret negotiations at Camp David. These talks led directly to the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. (aka the Camp David Accords). As a result Sadat and Begin shared 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. As part of the Accords, the two also drew up a Framework for Peace in the Middle East, which dealt inadequately but generally fairly with the Palestinian question, but was written without participation of the Palestinian leadership of the time, had little impact and was condemned by the United Nations.
But this was a far more hopeful and potentially fruitful moment for peace in the Middle East than the 1993 Oslo Accords, or the second – abortive – Camp David negotiations of 2000.
However, according to an article in today's Guardian, had Yasser Arafat been willing to defy his closest aides and the Syrians who then controlled Lebanon, he would have accepted Sadat's invitation to join the 1978 talks and, indeed, "welcomed" them. The authors of the piece, Hussein Agha and Ahmad Samih Khalidi know what they're talking about: Khalidi is a former Palestinian negotiator who was part of Arafat's team at the time.
How different the last thirty years or so of the tragic history of the Israel/Palestine conflict might have been if only Arafat had had the courage of his own personal convictions at the time.
The crucial passage is this:
His style of leadership was consensual. He was conscious of the need to maintain support among the broader leadership of Palestinians and their institutions. He cultivated and heeded the opinions of his associates, and often gave way to their demands, sometimes using their objections as a foil to avoid difficult decisions. He never moved too far without the support of those he felt were important in lending political legitimacy to his stance. He would have welcomed Anwar Sadat's 1977 trip to Jerusalem and the ensuing Camp David political process had he been free to decide on his own. In a room packed with most of the Palestinian leadership and senior cadres at which the Sadat initiative was being discussed and volubly denounced, Arafat sat with eyes half-shut, pretending to show no interest, until one of the present authors was asked his opinion. When he suggested that anything that would free Arab land from occupation without bloodshed would be in the national interest and proposed that the Palestinian leader should join the Egyptian-Israeli meeting at Mina House, as invited by Sadat, Arafat's eyes popped open and he nodded in vigorous assent. But his close aides rejected any such notion and he had to go along with the prevailing mood. After the meeting was over, Arafat took the author aside, saying that while he was convinced of what he had said, the Syrians – then in control in Lebanon – would never allow it, and made a cut‑throat gesture with his hand.
Read the entire fascinating article here.
Oxford University Palestine Soc: "We are All Hamas"
I have been asked, by a regular reader, to carry more material explaining our position on antisemitism – and, in particular our allegation that a lot of contemporary antisemitism comes from the "left" and takes the form of Palestinian solidarity (a cause that, in principle, Shiraz supports). I intend to write at some length on this subject soon, but as a starting point I'd refer readers to Galloway's recent refusal to support Palestinian statehood (and his explanation, here) and the following account of a meeting at Oxford University. Note that one of the main speakers is an Oxford academic who frequently writes for the liberal-left Guardian. In other words, these people are not fringe elements within the pro-Palestinian movement in the UK. Support for the total destruction of Israel (ie the Hamas position) and casual comparisons between Israelis and Nazis, are now commonplace in the pro-Palestine movement. Even placards stating "Hitler was Right" are allowed on pro-Palestine demos, apparently unchallenged by the organisers or other marchers. As usual, when we re-publish material, it should go without saying that we don't necessarily agree with all the article's contents or endorse all the politics of the author.:
From Richard Black (via Facebook)
15 October 2014:
Tonight I had the misfortune to attend the inaugural Palestine Society event here in Oxford. I went with Sapan and Jonathan out of a mixture of open mindedness and intellectual curiosity.
What I heard and saw genuinely shocked me. I've heard a lot in my time but this was by far the worst event I have ever attended. I can only describe it as a two hour hate fest of the variety described in George Orwell's '1984.' It went from the downright idiotic to the explicitly anti-Semitic – and often both. I heard a girl complain about the evils of 'Zionist' control in her native America – she even attacked 'Zionists' for controlling the make up she wore! No one challenged this girl's delusions: they only reassured her that fighting Zionism must remain paramount. I heard numerous people glorify the 'right of the resistance' and reject non-violent tactics, even including an Oxford academic on the panel (Karma Nabulsi).
I had a question of my own. I read to the panel a quotation from John Molyneux, a theorist from the Socialist Workers' Party;
"To put the matter as starkly as possible: from the standpoint of Marxism and international socialism an illiterate, conservative, superstitious Muslim Palestinian peasant who supports Hamas is more progressive than an educated liberal atheist Israeli who supports Zionism (even critically)."
I then added – "I'd be interested to know what the members of the panel think about this mode of analysis. Do they support what I consider to be a totally irrational – and dangerous – position?"
Not only did the panelists evade my question – Avi Shlaim, Karma Nabulsi and Barnaby Raine – to my horror, they actually agreed with its sentiment. Mr Raine, a student at Wadham College and a student activist, mocked me by saying that "anyone would stand up for the oppressed against an oppressor." It should also be noted that Mr Raine noticeably hesitated when I put up my hand – he looked everywhere around the room before reluctantly taking my question. This person excuses the most morally reprehensible actions. He practically fetishises totalitarianism.
It got worse. Near the end of the talk, a local PSC activist defended Molyneux's remarks by arguing that he'd rather be a Medieval, backward Chassidic Jew in the Warsaw Ghetto than a cultured German in a Nazi uniform. A sizable proportion of the room – hundreds of people – applauded this awful anti-Semitic distortion of history and trivialization of the Holocaust.
I am aware this status is long and most students couldn't care less about student politics. However, I think it's important that all students know that here, in 21st Century Britain, at one of the best universities in the world, political extremism is flourishing. Whereas far right fascists are, rightly, tarred and made into social pariahs, their equivalents on the far left get away with it time and time again. These are the totalitarians in our midst.
I have done what I can. I tried exposing rampant anti-Semitism in the Palestine Society at the start of this year and I was treated with ridicule. It's time to take this stuff seriously. I saw many freshers at this event – freshers whose minds have been poisoned and given a wholly false narrative which demonises one people at the expense of the other, one that demonises the forces of peace and rewards the actions of hate and terrorism. I saw a room of intelligent, perhaps highly naive students, express the most hideous and morally warped trash. I saw no effort to condemn outright anti-Semitic prejudice when it was expressed. I saw pure intellectual fascism – people attending a talk to confirm their prejudices, and actively ostracising those that disagree with them.
I cannot think of a worse introduction to Oxford for incoming students to this University. Anyone who genuinely cares about Palestinians – whether in the West Bank or Gaza, or elsewhere in the Middle East or the diaspora – should stay the hell away from Oxford University's Palestine Society. And remember that all it takes for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.
Galloway opposes the very existence of Israel
Many people were surprised to note that amongst those MPs who didn't support the motion to recognise Palestine, was George Galloway. I have not been able to ascertain whether Galloway turned up to abstain, or whether (much more likely for such a poltroon) he simply didn't turn up at all.
Here, Galloway explains his position, which boils down to the fact that his hatred of Israel takes precedence over his (supposed) support for Palestinian national rights. All this filthy charlatan's past claims to support two states and a democratic solution is now exposed as so much bluster:
I have been urged by a number of my constituents to support a motion being debated and voted on in parliament on Monday "that this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel".
As many probably know the Palestinian cause has been central to my political activity for the last 40 years. I appreciate the good intentions many have in urging me to support this motion.
However, unfortunately I cannot support this motion as it accepts recognition of the state of Israel, does not define borders of either state or address the central question of the right of return of the millions of Palestinians who have been forced to live outside Palestine.
Israel was a state born in 1948 out of the blood of the Palestinians who were hounded from their land. Since then it has grabbed ever more land from the Palestinian people. In the last five years it has twice launched murderous assaults on the Palestinian people of Gaza, some 1.8 million people crammed into what is in effect a prison camp. In the wake of the most recent war on Gaza, Israel has announced its biggest land grab in the Occupied West Bank so far. Israel has defied UN resolution after UN resolution with impunity because of the continued backing of Western countries and, above all, the US.
I continue to support the only realistic solution, one democratic and secular state, called Israel-Palestine or Palestine-Israel. The proposed two-state solution is to all intents and purposes dead and is only used in order to provide Israel further breathing space to consolidate the illegal settlements and expand its land grab further.
For these reasons, I am afraid I cannot support this motion and will abstain on Monday.
The politically degenerate NUS leadership refuses solidarity with those fighting ISIS
Two motions debated at NUS NEC
The meeting then turned to motions submitted by NEC members. Unfortunately this part of the meeting was no feast of reason. There are two motions I want to focus on: Iraqi solidarity and Israel/Palestine. I urge you to read the motions before continuing.
The "Iraqi solidarity" motion had been worked on with Roza Salih, a Strathclyde university student of Kurdish descent (she submitted an almost identical motion to the Scottish equivalent of the executive, the Scottish Executive Council, which I will post later, which, incidentally, did pass! One must ask Scottish executive members why vote for a motion in Scotland, but not in England?!).
The motion was opposed by Malia Bouattia, the NUS Black Students' Officer, for astonishing and bewildering reasons. Bouattia argued that the motion was "Islamophobic" and "pro USA intervention" – (see Aaron Kiely, a fellow NUS NEC member's, tweet during the meeting as reflective of the position). The motion then fell as large numbers of NEC members either abstained or voted against (including the bulk of the political Left on NEC). I think this says a lot about the current state of the student movement.
(I must also put on record that after only a single round of speeches, Toni Pearce moved the debate on. This was wrong: there was no opportunity to respond to Bouattia's allegations. I had my hand up to speak in response, but was not called.)
Let us look at Bouattia's arguments: is the motion anti-Muslim or pro US intervention?
The motion was partly written by a Kurdish student activist, and presented by the International students' officer, Shreya Paudel. I have looked again and again at the contents of the motion, yet I cannot track any Islamophobia or racism.
The US occupation, and its aftermath, has been an utter disaster for the people of Iraq. Resulting governments, led by Nouri Al-Maliki, have been authoritarian and carried out virulent Shia sectarianism. A civil war in the mid 2000s killed 34,000 civilians. Today there are 1.6 million refugees.
The dynamics in 2014 are complex. ISIS, who have grown out of Al-Qaeda, have seized huge swathes of the country; there is a new, shaky, shia-sectarian government; and a Kurdish regional government, whose self determination I believe we should support.
The ultra-Islamist group ISIS is a threat to all the people of Iraq. It is repressing and persecuting minorities, including Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, and Sunni Muslim Arabs. On the 29th June it declared a "caliphate" (a religious dictatorship). It has carried out rape and other forms of sexual violence are being used as weapons against women in IS-occupied areas.
These developments have been exacerbated and driven by US policy deliberately fostering sectarianism.
The situation is desperate.
In this situation, it is fundamental that the political Left, trade union and student organisations, like NUS, show our solidarity with the Iraqi people, in particular the hard-pressed student, workers and women's organisations, and those fighting for democracy and equality.
It is unclear whether Western forces (which congregated in Paris the day before the NEC meeting, on the 15th of September, to announce a "game plan" to defeat ISIS) will send boots onto the ground in Iraq. We know already that French aircrafts have begun reconnaissance flights over Iraq; and that US aid has assisted the Kurds and Yazidis. However it is unlikely they will want a re-run of a war that even they believe to have been a colossal failure. It may be more likely that the USA assists established forces from afar to defeat ISIS.
However, the motion cannot be clearer in saying that such forces cannot be relied upon to deliver democratic change in Iraq: "no confidence or trust in the US military intervention." If one were to believe it is not sufficiently clear or that the motion is not worded strongly enough, fine: make an amendment to the motion; or seek to take parts to remove or strengthen a particular aspect. Instead, the whole motion – which calls for solidarity with oppressed forces in Iraq – was argued as wrong. This is a grave shame!
It is also true – and Left-wingers should think this over – that the Kurds and Yazidi's thus far would not have been able to survive if it had not been for aid from the Americans. Calling simply for an end to this intervention is the same as calling for the defeat of the Peshmerga forces by ISIS. The policy is based on a negative criteria – opposing the US and UK – instead of positive critera – solidarity with the oppressed.
Perhaps this is what Bouattia meant when saying that the motion is pro-intervention? Such a suggestion is arrived at only when one's "analysis" becomes an issue of principle: that even within limited parameters, that to suggest that imperialism is not the only problem is somehow to "support" imperialism. This is the basis of "Stalinist" politics on international questions: that one considers forces that oppose the US as either progressive or, at worst, not the real issue -no matter how barbaric and reactionary and fascistic that force is. This is not a useful or effective way of looking at the world.
The debate
Two interrelated issues struck me about this debate.
Firstly, there is a stranglehold of "identity politics" on the student movement. This is an issue which needs to be discussed in more depth, but essentially the idea is widespread that if a Liberation Officer opposes something, it must be bad. Of course this idea is not applied consistently (and could not possibly be) – eg the majority of the NEC has not accepted current and former Black Students' Officers' defence of Julian Assange or the SWP. But I think it was a factor here, perhaps because people see or claim to see debate on the Middle East as something that the BSO should somehow have veto power over, regardless of the issues and the arguments made.
Combined with this, there seems to be a low level of political education and even engagement and interest in the NEC. Some appear not to research issues, work out what they think, engage and take ideas forward. Instead, some are not very interested and vote on basis of who they want to ally with on NEC. In other words, many people who voted against didn't seem to care about is happening in Iraq.
Positive Solidarity
Another motion I believe deserves some discussion was on solidarity with an organisation, Workers' Advice Centre/WAC-Ma'an, that organises Jewish and Arab workers in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. This was voted down by both the Left and Right on NEC, for different reasons.
At the last NEC policy was passed favouring Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions policy (BDS) – which I voted against. Policy was also passed favouring a two states settlement for the region, which I proposed.
For the Right on NEC (the "Right" on NEC are not Conservative party members but are certainly on the "Right" of debates on the NEC), the possibility of giving a tiny sum of our national union's money to anyone – whether that is a student attacked by the police on a demonstration, or striking college workers, is unthinkable. We must challenge this! According to NUS estimates at national conference, there is a cumulative £4 million expenditure for 2014/15. Offering our resources to those that share our morals is important and potentially highly useful.
Unfortunately, this argument was also pursued by the Left-winger opposing the motion. Left-wingers: this is not something we should be in the business of doing. If left-wingers disagree with a motion, they should argue it on those grounds, not on the basis the right-wing argument that NUS "doesn't have enough money".
WAC Maan was established in the 1990s. It is one of the rays of hope in a bleak situation in Israel/Palestine. It's an independent, grassroots trade union centre which organises in sectors and industries often neglected by the mainstream trade unions.
It shows that organisation and politics that unite Jewish and Arab workers on the basis of internationalism, anti-racism, opposition to the occupation, and basic class solidarity, are possible.
Currently WAC Maan are set to enforce the first collective agreement against bosses in the West Bank, in the industrial zone of Mishor Adumim, at the Zafarty Garage. This is precedent setting. It is also important as it is forcing the courts to look at how Israeli employers manipulate entry permits as a way of getting rid of militants.
If workers across the occupied territories were organised, they would be able to exert considerable influence over the Israeli government, and over the future of the occupied territories.
To conclude: there are clearly disagreements amongst the NEC, and political Left, about international politics. I hope we can continue to have those discussions openly and frankly. I would certainly encourage those on the NEC to write down their opinions on the subject, particularly if they disagree.
I will continue to write reports of NUS NEC activities, and can be contacted on: firstname.lastname@example.com
Avnery on Gaza: the war for nothing
As ever, words of wisdom from veteran Gush Shalom peace activist and two-states advocate, Uri Avnery:
AFTER 50 DAYS, the war is over. Hallelujah.
On the Israeli side: 71 dead, among them 66 soldiers, 1 child.
On the Palestinian side: 2,143 dead, 577 of them children, 263 women, 102 elderly. 11,230 injured. 10,800 buildings destroyed. 8,000 partially destroyed. About 40,000 damaged homes. Among the damaged buildings: 277 schools, 10 hospitals, 70 mosques, 2 churches. Also, 12 West Bank demonstrators, mostly children, who were shot.
So what was it all about?
The honest answer is: About nothing.
Neither side wanted it. Neither side started it. It just so happened.
LET US recapitulate the events, before they are forgotten.
Two young Arab men kidnapped three young Israeli religious students near the West Bank town of Hebron. The kidnappers belonged to the Hamas movement, but acted on their own. Their purpose was to exchange their captives for Palestinian prisoners. Liberating prisoners is now the highest ambition of every Palestinian militant.
The kidnappers were amateurs, and their plan miscarried from the beginning. They panicked when one student used his mobile phone and then they shot the hostages. All of Israel was in an uproar. The kidnappers have not yet been found.
The Israeli security forces used the opportunity to implement a prepared plan. All known Hamas activists in the West Bank were arrested, as well as all the former prisoners who were released as part of the deal to free the Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit. For Hamas this was the violation of an agreement.
The Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip could not keep quiet while their comrades in the West Bank were being imprisoned. It reacted by launching rockets at Israeli towns and villages.
The Israeli government could not keep quiet while its towns and villages were bombarded. It responded with a heavy bombardment of the Gaza strip from the air.
From there on, it was just an endless festival of death and destruction. The war was crying out for a purpose.
Hamas then did something that was, in my opinion, a cardinal mistake. It used some of the clandestine tunnels which it had built under the border fence to attack Israeli targets. Israelis suddenly became aware of this danger that the army had belittled. The purposeless war acquired a purpose: It became the War Against the "Terror-Tunnels". The infantry was sent into the Gaza Strip to search out and destroy them. Read the rest of this entry »
From an Israeli liberal: is peace too much to hope for?
Cross posted from his blog on the Times of Israel
We can invade Gaza, we can bomb it from the air, we can kill Gaza's leaders, we can deprive Gazans of electricity and drinking water, we can control the sea around the territory and the air above it is clear that the one thing that we are unable to do is stop them shooting at us.
That's a shame because it's the only thing we actually want to do.
There are people who argue that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) hasn't done enough, there are people who argue that it has done too much but in either case the debate is only about how much to punish Gaza and the people living there for the fact that there are projectiles being fired from their territory.
Victory lies in convincing Hamas to stop shooting, not in punishing them for shooting at us. At the time of writing sirens have just gone off in Tel Aviv and a four year old boy has died in the South of Israel. Testament to the failure of our political ad military leaders to stop Hamas. So far.
A part of me wishes to scream at the government, at the IDF and at the world entire "they are shooting at us, we must attack and we must not stop until the job is done!" But what job is this? We used to occupy Gaza and we ate rockets then too. We lost soldiers then also, to what end will we now invest our military might in Gaza when the motivation of Hamas to attack us will remain undiminished, even thrive?
Earlier in the week Israel scored a major tactical victory against Hamas with the targeted assassination of three major Hamas leaders. The Times of Israel reported that;
One, Muhammad Abu Shamala, was said to be the commander of the entire southern district of the Gaza Strip. Another, Raed al-Attar, was the commander of the Rafah region. The third, Muhammad Barhoun, like al-Attar, was deeply involved in the smuggling of arms from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to Gaza. Shamala and Attar, as TOI's Avi Issacharoff noted, were founding members of Hamas's military wing.
Perhaps even more importantly it appears that the IDF has also managed to assassinate the nominal head of the Hamas military wing Muhammed Deif, a man whose name has become something of a buzz word over the last month and whom most of us had never heard of before hand. He has survived 5 assassination attempts in the past.
But all this has really done is show us the limits of the use of force. Killing these men served to increase the amount rockets and mortars being fired at Israel. Hamas has indeed been punished, but we did not achieve our goal of ensuring quiet for Israel. Indeed if the goal of assassinating these men was to gain quiet for Israel that goal was not achieved. If it was to punish Hamas one needs to ask whether it was worth it.
Everyone seems to think that there is an answer. That there is something Israel can do to end the madness. Be it more military action or less, appeasement or aggression. I'm not so sure that there is an answer. In the short term appeasement will gain us some quiet. In the long term aggression may manage to damp down the scale of attack against us. But it appears that we have no meaningful way of stopping the violence altogether.
And so perhaps we who live here are simply doomed to face the wrath of Hamas for the fact that we exist on the one hand and the wrath of the world for fighting Hamas on the other without any hope of achieving the only objective that makes any sense; Peace.
Elizabeth Tsurkov, Israeli anti-war activist, on prospects for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine
My comrade Pate Radcliff conducted this interview with Elizabeth recently. She makes some interesting and perceptive points about the Israeli peace movement, the BDS campaign, antisemitism in the pro-Palestinian movement, and the Netanyahu government's counter-productive attitude towards Palestinian 'moderates' and discouraging demographic trends within Israel.
As ever, Shiraz points out that we don't necessarily agree with all the opinions being expressed (I personally, for instance, think what she says about the Histadrut is unfair, and could be said about any bureaucratic trade union organisation anywhere in the world -JD):
Put half an hour aside to watch this.
Why Israel is not (for Marxists) an "apartheid" state: and why BDS is a program of despair
By Barry Finger in New Politics , July 29, 2014
[NB: Shiraz doesn't necessarily agree with all of this: but we think it's important and should be widely read]
Supporting the Struggle Against Apartheid Then and Now
The discussion of a socialist strategy towards Palestine never recedes from global pertinence and urgency. The basic terms of the Palestinian tragedy established in 1948 remain a festering wound—unaddressed, malignant and oozing in blood and rot. With it the Israeli garrison state continues to descend, and rightfully so, into isolation and disrepute in the court of civilized opinion. But under the protective and ever indulgent umbrella of American imperialism, Israel nevertheless continues to defy international outrage without consequence in its relentless march to impose a grotesque and monstrous caricature of a one-state solution on the whole of Palestine.
The Palestinian plight has its origins in the 1948 partition and ensuing war, although this was a direct continuation of the Zionist-Arab conflict that had been brewing for decades. In that conflict, both sides practiced ethnic cleansing, with no Jews remaining in areas conquered by the Arabs and few Palestinian remaining in areas conquered by Israelis. But the UN partition plan called for the Israeli state to constitute 55 percent of Palestine, in which the Arab population would represent almost half of the population. In the run up to and during the war, the victorious Israeli state expanded its territories to 78 percent, and mostly emptied those regions of their Arab inhabitants. Three quarters of a million Palestinians, some from the original 55 percent allotted to the Jewish state, were driven out; over 450 Arab villages were uprooted and their dwellings leveled. New Jewish villages, kibbutzim or immigration camps were built on or near the former sites of these Arab villages. Urban dwellings were reoccupied by Jews, often holocaust survivors. Jewish refugees from Arab nations, subsequently cleansed in retaliation for the Palestinian catastrophe (Nakhba), were sent to jerry-rigged development towns.
Gaza and the West Bank, the sites of huge concentrations of Palestinian refugees, fell—with Israel's approval—into the hands of Egypt and Trans-Jordan (now Jordan) respectively; the possibility of a Palestinian state all but extinguished. This all changed when, after the Six Day war in 1967, these territories were brought under the control of the Israelis, uniting all of historic Palestine and reviving the Palestinian national movement. The colonial project at the heart of Zionism, of settlement and expulsion, was also reignited and several hundred thousand additional Palestinians were again expelled to Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. The remnants were left to the mercy of an ever more brutalizing occupation. The armistice boundaries of the 1948 war (the green line) were effectively effaced and Israel emerged as a nation unique in its refusal to define its borders—symptomatic of an Israel further seeking to consolidate its character as an ethnic Jewish state, but on a vastly broader canvas.
Today the struggle for justice for Palestinians continues. Where are Palestine's allies? What power can it leverage? International solidarity has yet to save lives, to redeem territories, to compensate and repatriate refugees, or to establish the right of Palestinians to national self-determination in defiance of Israeli intransigence. An internationalist Israeli left, never more than a tiny minority and unable to implant itself in the Hebrew working class, is besieged not only by state repression, but also by a now burgeoning fascist street presence. The protracted Arab Spring, momentarily checked by United States and Iranian intervention, has yet to mature as an agency that can brake and reverse the momentum of Israeli settlement and dispossession. Read the rest of this entry »
A desperate plea for peace in Gaza …
An incredibly moving cry for peace and simple human solidarity with the people of Gaza, from an Israeli citizen:
"I call on the Israeli government to put an end to this bloodshed now … this is not a video game … there are only losers … Israeli society is losing its tolerance and becoming a mob…"


text: CEOs and other businessmen from all over the U.S., Europe and Japan were used as luxury guinea pigs last week. German automaker Mercedes had a psychologist observe the money-men's reactions to the company's $250,000 Maybach vehicle, in one-hour sessions at Coopers Classic Car & ''Cigar. That's the new cigar bar on W. 58th St., owned by actor and Giuliani adviser Elliot Cuker. Appropriately, the Maybach boasted its own humidor, hideaway bar, electric slipper closet and an opalescent panel that lights up the car, bumper to bumper.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
POSTED: Thursday, July 19, 2012 - 9:00am
UPDATED: Thursday, July 19, 2012 - 9:14am
CNN — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, rumored to be among those under consideration for Mitt Romney's running mate, praised the presumptive GOP nominee's campaign on Wednesday for the way it has handled the vice presidential search, and made his own prediction for when Romney will announce his selection.
"I like the fact that the Boston campaign has kept it close to the vest. I think it's kind of humiliating for prospective candidates to be carted out in a public way. There's only gonna be one winner, right? So it's good to do it the way they are doing it," Bush said in an interview with WCPO, a local affiliate in Cincinnati.
Bush made his comments while in neighboring Hamilton, where he appeared at an event for Romney-his first official campaign appearance for the Republican candidate this cycle.
The former governor has previously said "under no circumstances" would he accept an offer to be Romney's running mate. And his son, George P. Bush, said on CNN last week that Jeb Bush is not being vetted by the Romney campaign.
But that didn't stop him from weighing in on the selection process Wednesday, saying he expects Romney to make his announcement "soon" or after he returns from his overseas trip, which he starts next week.
"Either way I think he's got a real wealth of choices to pick from," he said.
While speaking at the event, Bush made a few recommendations of his own for Romney's running mate. He argued Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is a "fantastic young man" and Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio would be "equally good."
"It's a luxury of very good choices that he has," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing who he picks."
Also in Ohio Wednesday, Romney told a crowd of supporters in Bowling Green that he has not yet decided on his running mate.
"I can assure you that even though I have not chosen the person who will be my vice president, that person will be a conservative, they will believe in conservative principles," Romney said.
Along with Bush and Romney, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also campaigned Wednesday in Ohio, where he held an event in Columbus.
™ & © 2012 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
By Ashley Killough


text:
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We're talking easy here, with decidedly delicious results: Of course the end product will depend heavily on the quality of ham you begin with. Shop around, and ask your butcher for advice. Stay away from heavily salted hams that have a lot of fat.
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a roasting pan with nonstick vegetable cooking spray (this will make cleanup easier) or line the pan with foil. If you have a roasting rack, spray it as well and place it in the pan. Place the ham on top. If you don't have a rack, just place the ham in the pan.
Insert a meat thermometer into the center of the ham. Combine all the remaining ingredients and mix well. Brush the ham with the glaze and bake for 1¼ hours, basting every 30 minutes, until the thermometer reads 140°F.
Remove the ham to a carving board and let it stand for 15 minutes before cutting.
Suggested accompaniments: Noodle Pudding or sweet potatoes and coleslaw.
Ham Sandwiches: Variations on a Theme
If you are used to making sandwiches with that boring thin-sliced ham from the deli, making them with your own leftover baked ham will be a remarkable revelation.
Bread-wise, try an onion roll, pumpernickel or dark rye bread, whole-wheat pita, or a cheese croissant. Spread with mustard—grainy, honey, or Dijon—or Major Grey's Mango Chutney (available in the condiment section of the grocery store). Add a slice of Cheddar, Brie, or goat cheese. Top with sprouts, thick slice of tomato, Bermuda onion, or slices of apples, or pears. Enjoy!
Can be made ahead? Yes. The night before. Slice for serving cold.
Can be frozen? Yes. But it will lose some of the nice texture. Use frozen pieces of ham in soups and stews.
Can be doubled? Yes. If you have a large enough oven, bake 2 hams.
Good for leftovers? Excellent. Wrap well in plastic wrap or in a plastic bag I and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in foil. Add to casseroles and soups, or use cold in sandwiches or salads.
Nutrients per serving (% daily value)
This recipe serves 30. Nutritional information is based on using a 6 pound ham.
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ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: Summer 2011 Edition!
Summer 2011 Edition
Aloha and welcome to the Summer 2011 edition of the Polynesian Resort FAQ Thread! The goal of this thread is to answer any questions that you may have about Disney's Polynesian Resort. If you have a question that is not answered here in the first few posts of this thread, please feel free to come on in and ask away. One of our many Polynesian fanatics will be sure to have an answer for you or point you in the proper direction to get the information you need!
Upon arrival at the resort you will be greeted outdoors by bell services who will tend to your luggage, and either point you through the doors towards the check in desk in the Great Ceremonial House, or for Club Level guests, whisk you away to check in at the Concierge desk in the Hawaii building (More information on club level can be found here in post #8).
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At check in, you will receive your Key to the World card (a "credit card" that contains your room key, dining credits, park tickets, and if applicable, room charging privileges).
You will also receive:
A welcome packet which includes a resort map...
Click here to view a higher resolution version.
A directory of services...
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A parks & events times guide...
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A recreation guide:
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Click here for a high resolution version.
...and other information about your stay at Walt Disney World and the Polynesian Resort.
The Great Ceremonial House
Standing tall over the Polynesian Resort grounds, the Great Ceremonial House functions as the resort's lobby and is centrally located. The GCH contains the check in counter, the resort concierge, a beautiful three story waterfall, the resort's monorail station, a photopass booth, and most of the dining and shopping options that the Polynesian Resort has to offer.
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Longhouses & Resort Grounds
The Polynesian Resort's guest rooms are located in 11 longhouses that are arranged throughout the lush landscape of the resort grounds. All of the longhouses are accessible from the torch-lit and music filled pathways that wind through the property.
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The longhouse names are as follows:
Here is an overview of the resort grounds and longhouses:
There are three available view categories for rooms. They are Garden View (GV), Theme Park View (TPV), and Lagoon View (LV).
Theme Park view rooms will feature a view of Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park and the Seven Seas Lagoon. These views are reported to be the most magical on Disney property! Theme Park View rooms can be found in Aotearoa, Hawaii (Club Level), Tahiti and Tuvalu. Theme Park view rooms are categorized by their unobstructed view of Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom.
Lagoon View rooms offer a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Some rooms may offer an obstructed view of the castle or Space Mountain. Lagoon View rooms can be found in Aotearoa, Hawaii (Club Level), Tahiti, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu.
A Garden view features a view of parking area, garden, pool, marina or monorail. Dont let the parking lot in the description scare you; the Polynesian has such lush and beautiful foliage that there are no bad views. Garden View rooms can be found in all longhouses.
The Polynesian also offers Club Level Rooms. The majority of the rooms are located in the Hawaii Longhouse and include all three categories of views. More information on the Poly Club Level can be found in post number 10.
All guest rooms feature:
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Restaurants & Lounges
The Polynesian Resort has plenty of options for a great meal, a quick snack or an icy adult beverage. From Sushi to Cereal to the ethereal Dole Whip, you'll be sure to find something to cure your cravings. The following text is mostly taken directly from the official "Directory of Services" that you recieve when you check-in to the resort.
A 24-hour, walk-up counter cafe on the first floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Features include egg sandwiches, bakery bar, hamburgers, pizza, hot and cold sandwiches, salads and snacks, and grab and go drinks including beer. Capt. Cooks is also home to the dis-board favorite Dole Whip.
Grill Hours: 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Serving the "perfect cup," this family restaurant features American Cuisine with subtle Asian flavors. Breakfast features our famous Tonga Toast. For lunch, try our pot stickers and Pan Asian pasta. Dinner features fresh fish selections. In addition you can enjoy the fabulous desserts that are featured in our on-stage dessert bar. A Children's Menu is available. The Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.
Breakfast: 7:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Lunch: 12:00 Noon - 2:45 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Located just steps away from the monorail at Disney's Polynesian Resort, enjoy coffee, tea, pastries, and fruit in the morning. For dinner, the menu morphs to sushi each evening. Volcano Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, Sashimi, Tuna Poke, and Nigiri. Cocktails, wine, and sake also available. (From the Official Disney web site).
Coffee Bar: 6:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Sushi Bar: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Imagine the warmth of an orange and blue sunset, the glow of the burning embers and the smell of oak from the grill. 'Ohana will transport you to an island far, far away.
'Ohana means family in the Hawaiian language, and everything is served family style in an all-you-care-to-eat setting. The centerpiece of 'Ohana is an 18-foot semi-circular fire pit where you can watch your food being grilled.
Our family-style restaurant features a character breakfast and appetizers, vegetables, delightful salads adn freshly grilled meats served on skewers for dinner.
A spectacular view of thej Seven Seas Lagoon welcomes you to enjoy the spirit of 'Ohana where we celebrate all of your special occasions. Children's options are available.
Breakfast is 'Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast Featuring Lilo and Stitch, along with Mickey and Pluto.
'Ohana is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.
Breakfast: 7:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Be a castaway at this cool, tropical bar with a true island "Hang Loose" attitude featuring wild libation combinations. The Tambu Lounge is located adjacent to 'Ohana on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.
Hours: 1:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight
Appetizers Available: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tropical libations and snacks served poolside at the Nanea Volcano Pool.
Hours: 12:00 Noon until Dusk (weather permitting)
Luau & Recreation
Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is an all-you-can-eat, family-style luau featuring hula, fire and knife dancers in an open air, covered dining theater located in Luau Cove on the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Dinner features BBQ Pork Ribs, Roast Chicken, Fresh Pineapple, Polynesian Style Rice and Seasonal Vegetables. A Chocolate Mousse Volcano is served for dessert. Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks are included in the price.
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The Mikala Canoe Club in the marina is the place to rent Seay Racers, Patoon Boats or even a surrey bike to explore the beautiful Poly property! You can also borrow Coast Guard approved life jackets for your little ones at no charge! Operating hours vary throughout the year. Moana Mickeys Arcade, next to Captain Cooks offers video and skill games.
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The Poly also offers hair wrapping. Located by the pool. The stand is open from 12 noon to about 5pm daily. They take cash only and the charge is $2.00 per inch PLUS the cost of beads which range from $.50 to $4.00. You can pick up to 4 colors. A typical hair wrap will cost you about $20-$35 depending on the length of hair.
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On various evenings, you can catch the torch lighting ceremony in front of the GCH.
You can also catch a movie on the beach between the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian. The movies vary by month and are shown on different nights of the week. Be sure to check your resort activity flyer upon check-in.
Guests of the Polynesian Resort are able to use the Health Club at the Grand Floridian Resort at no charge.
In the evening, the beach becomes the perfect place to watch fireworks on a lounge chair after a long day at the parks. You can also watch the Electric Water Pageant as it passes by the resort every evening at 9:00 PM. (Wishes Photo: sarahnaut, flicker. EWP Photo: gbrunett, flickr)
Pools & Cabanas
The Polynesian's main pool is the Nanea Volcano Pool, which is located adjacent to the beach. This location is said to offer one of the most spectacular view on Disney Property! Tucked into the 40 foot tall volcano is a waterfall and 142 foot tubular water slide that winds through the volcano and feeds into the pool. The Nanea Volcano Pool also features a zero depth entry on the beach side, allowing for a smooth ramp entry without steps. The inside of the volcano houses restrooms, lockers and showers. During the day, various activities are offered poolside such as bingo and hula hoop contests. Information about this can be found on the activity flyer you receive upon admission.
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There is a child's play area situated next to the Nanea Pool.
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The Nanea Volcano Pool has private cabanas which can be rented for a full or half day. The cabana rentals are for Polynesian guests only and can be reserved up to 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.
Prices are:
$100 for a half day (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, or 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
$185 for a full day (10:00 AM - 7:00 PM)
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The cabana rental includes:
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In the "courtyard" that is formed by the Hawaii, Samoa, Niue, Rarotanga, and Tokelau lies the Polynesian's East Pool. The East Pool is tucked away into the resort's lush foliage, and offers guests a more relaxing atmosphere. Because of the location off the beaten path, and the lack of slides and pool games, this pool is often referred to as the Quiet Pool. Restrooms are located nearby.
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The Polynesian Resort is located in a prime area for transportation around Walt Disney World Resort. The Resort Monorail line to the Grand Floridian Resort, Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center departs every few minutes from a station located upstairs in the Great Ceremonial House.
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Water Launches travel a circular route between the Polynesian Resort, Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian Resort. These small boats offer a relaxing and breezy tour of the Seven Seas Lagoon on the way to your destination.
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Buses are available outside of the Great Ceremonial House to transport you Disney's Hollywood Studio, Animal Kingdom, waterparks, and anywhere else in the world.
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The Transporation and Ticket Center is only a short walk or monorail ride away from the Polynesian Resort and offers transportation to Epcot via Monorail, The Magic Kingdom via Ferry, and you can ride to everywhere else in the world via Bus.
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From snacks to souviners and works of art, the Polynesian Resort offers many shopping options.
Located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House, Samoa Snacks offers a host of different Disney themed kitchen utensils, magazines, paperback books, various sundries, cold medications, drinks (including wine and beer) and snacks.
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Next door to Samoa Snacks, in an adjoining store is Trader Jack's. Trader Jacks offers different Walt Disney World themed souviners including photo albums, hats, toys, CDs and DVDs, pins, and other assorted knick-knacks.
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Downstairs in the Great Ceremonial House, you will find Boutiki. Boutiki stocks a variety of men's, women's and children's clothing including bathing suits, shorts, flip flops, and anything else you may have forgotten to pack. Boutiki is also home to a variety of Polynesian Resort themed merchandise such as clothing and coffee mugs. Finally, Boutiki offers up a jewelery counter full of sometimes pricey Disney themed trinkets which include Mickey Mouse Watches and necklaces.
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Wyland Gallery showcases a collectionm of artwork (some Disney themed) by marine-life artist Robert Wyland. Original prints, jewelery and sculpture are for sale.
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Guest Services
Disney's Polynesian Resort offers pretty much any services you need to make your vacation a smooth and happy one. Services Inlcude:
Airline Check In
On your day of departure, you can check your luggage and receive your boarding pass for participating airlines at the Airline Check-in Desk loacated in the Great Ceremonial House.
Luggage Assistance
For assistance with luggage, you can stop by the Concierge Desk or call for Bell Services from your room. Bell Services will collect and store your luggage until your room is ready, or you are ready to depart.
Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Laundry bags and lists are located in the closet of each room. Call Housekeeping before 9:00 AM for pickup and your laundry will be returned after 7:00 PM. The resort also offers coin-operated washers and dryers, with a vending machine for detergent in a small laundromat next to the Neverland Club.
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Internet Service
High Speed Internet access is available in every guest room for a nominal fee.
Lost and Found
For assistance with lost items you can visit the Concierge Desk located in the Great Ceremonial House
Mail drop-off and shipping is available at the front desk (or at the Hawaii Concierge desk for Club-Level guests). Stamps are available at Boutiki and Trader Jack's.
The Neverland Club
The Neverland Club offers a variety of supervised activities for potty trained children from 3 to 12 years old. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Kids Night Out offers in-room child-care services. For a great review and more photos of the Neverland Club by jkstewart1800, click here.
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Club Level
Club Level Concierge, known as The King Kamehameha Club at the Polynesian is a great way to add some extra magic to your Polynesian Experience!
The Hawaii Longhouse houses standard Club Level rooms. There are three view categories, Garden view, which has wonderful views of the gardens and quiet pool. Lagoon View, which faces Seven Seas Lagoon but may have a slight obstruction due to a Palm tree or other foliage and Theme Park View which will guarantee a fabulous views of the Magic Kingdom.
Club Level is located in the Hawaii (Regular CL Rooms) and Tonga (Suites) buildings. These buildings are secured and entry is only possible with a concierge room key.
In Hawaii, the first floor rooms offer a patio and the third floor rooms have balconies while the second floor has sliding glass doors but with only a railing rather than a balcony. The Hawaii Longhouse is loved by many simply due to its location. It is right on the beach, next to the volcano pool and a short walk to the GCH. Theme Park View and Lagoon View room rates are higher than Club Level Garden View Rooms.
Tonga Longhouse is a two story building with suites and also has garden view and lagoon view categories. These rooms are larger 2 and 3 bedroom suites that accommodate larger parties. While they also have lounge offerings they are able to access the offerings available in the Hawaii Longhouse.
Club Level services include pre-arrival personal vacation planning by the Itinerary Planning Office (IPO). The IPO will make your advance dining reservations, assist in purchasing tickets and other advance planning details. Shortly after making your reservation you will be contacted by a member of the IPO office to start planning your stay. Sometimes you may need to contact them first due to computer interface issues within Disney.
Concierge guests can call 407-824-2466.
To Fax the Planning Office use 407-824-3162
Their e-mail is email@example.com
The Planning Office is open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day, Eastern time (excluding holidays).
While staying at the Club Level you will have personalized front desk and guest services. Your room will have robes, phone in the bath area, DVD players and nightly turndown service. Jogging strollers are also available to Club Level guests (first come first serve).
Club Level guests many also are able to experience the Wildlife Discovery Excursion at Disneys Animal Kingdom which is available at 10am & 1pm daily for $50 a person. Part of the proceeds go to the Walt Disney World Wildlife Conservation fund. You can have your IPO planner assist you in making these reservations.
Club Level guests have access to the Club Lounge, a two story lounge that offers a great place to hang out without being in your room. Guests have access to the lounge until midnight on the last day of their stay, which makes it a perfect place to relax before departing for home after checking out. The first floor of the lounge includes seating (some with a spectacular view of the Seven Seas Lagoon, perfect for watching Wishes), a television and the lounge food and drink offerings.
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The spectacular view from the lounge:
The second floor of the lounge offers a quieter area with less seating, a television, games, and a large restroom.
The Club Level Lounge offers a variety of food and beverage throughout the day. These offerings are as follows:
Kakahiaka (morning service) 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. offering muffins and pastries, tropical fruit, cereal, milk, orange juice, pineapple guava juice, ice tea, coffee drinks and hot chocolate from the new coffee machine, glass bottles of water, and toasters are available. Yogurt available as well as other items by request. Just ask at the counter.
Auinala (afternoon service) 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. offering fruit juice, bottled water, soda, ice tea, cookies, tropical fruit, and candys such as gummi sharks.
Ahiahi (evening service) 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. offering different themes each day.
Aumoe (late evening service) 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. offering wine and cheese as well as cordials and desserts.
Sodas and water are usually available 24 hours. A selection of beer and wine is also available by request.
Every evening they also serve a wonderful tropical beverage, the Kuulei Special. If you are so inclined to whip up a batch at home, the wonderful CMs in the lounge supplied a copy of the recipe.
The recipe for Kuulei Special can be found HERE!
New Menu as of 10/5/2009 Thanks to Tess.
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For more detailed Club Level information For more Club level information, The DIS Concierge/Club Level Information - Part III (October 2010) can be found here
Bamboo lined hallways greet you as you enter the resort's rather exclusive Tonga building. All rooms in the Tonga building are club level suites, and guests have access to all club level offerings, although the only food offerings in the Tonga building are the continental breakfast and afternoon snacks and beverages. Tonga guests are welcome to use the lounge in the Hawaii building. The suites in this building range from $600 to $3,000 per night. Most suites have a kitchen area, sitting area, seperate bedroom and bathroom.
The Honeymoon Suite is a slightly oversized standard room with a king sized bed and a whirlpool tub. This suite offers a Marina and Seven Seas Lagoon view.
The King Kamehameha Suite has two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms, a parlor and a kitchen. The suite covers two floors with the main living area on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second. The upstairs master bedroom offers a balcony and king size bed and a whirlpool tub. The second bedroom has two queen beds and a bathroom with double sinks and seperate shower and tub. A suite length balcony faces the marina and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
The Ambassador Suites have two bedrooms, including a master bedroom with a king sized bed, three bathrooms and a parlor area. There are two Ambassador Suites, one each on the first and second floors.
The Princess Suites have one or two bedrooms, each with two queen beds. Each bedroom has a seperate bathroom with double sink vanity bathtub and seperate shower. This suite also includes a wet bar. The One Bedroom Princess Suite has one bedroom with two queen beds. Mary T in PA has supplied us with the following great photos from the inside of the Princess Suite on the second floor. Her full post, with a few more photos can be found here.
Reviews and Frequently Asked Questions
This is where you can find links for reviews of longhouse locations, dining, club level and other Polynesian experiences and the most frequently asked questions about the Polynesian Resort.
Photographs of Wishes from room 2516 By: MIDisFan
2008 Club Level Review By SeaSpray
Late August 2009 Review By: SuAnne
September 2009 Club Level Review By: Tinkerbell 325
Garden View Photos By: BreezysMom
Accessible Room in the Hawaii Building By: SeaSpray
2010 Club Level Review By: Tess
Room 3604 By: Sersee05
Room 3602 Part I By: J.C.&Ali'sMom
Room 3602 Part II By: J.C.&Ali'sMom
Third floor room review and photos By: BreezysMom
Room 3318 view photo By: rcsilverspring
December 2009 Trip Report with link to photos By: eroller
Room 1817 Thoughts By: woodleygrrl
Room 1817 Photos By: woodleygrrl
Room 2821 review By: Zippa D Doodah
Review with Photographs By: Ladybugmom
October 2009 trip report By: Maiapapaya
Third floor Theme Park View Part I By: Lissiesmum
Third floor Theme Park View Part II By: Lissiesmum
Room 1405 Lagoon View Photos By: MsStinkerBelle
Photos of Theme Park View rooms 3409, 3410 & 3411 By: Dawgdad
Review from Tokelau By:Dizneefamily+4
Photos from room 2925 By: Toddd
April 2009 Room & View Photographs By: CAJUNWDWFAN
September 2009 Theme Park View Room Photographs By: GraceLuvsWDW
Princess Suite Photos By: Mary T in PA
Photographs from room 3326 By: ppony
Photographs from room 2701 By: Toddd
Other Reviews and Picture Posts
Polynesian Photo Thread By: Disboard Members
Review and Photographs of the Torch Lighting Ceremony By: CleveRocks
Resort Photographs from September, 2009 Part I By: RonaldDuck
Resort Photographs from September, 2009 Part II By: RonaldDuck
Resort Photographs from September, 2009 Part III By: RonaldDuck
Various Photographs from September, 2009 Part I By: Vicki C
Various Photographs from September, 2009 Part II By: Vicki C
Various Photographs from September, 2009 Part III By: Vicki C
Fireworks and Luau Photographs from September, 2009 By Vicki C
Photographs from May, 2009 Part I By: Mom2mek
Photographs from May, 2009 Part II By: Mom2mek
Photographs from May, 2009 Part III By: Mom2mek
Merchandise Photographs from October, 2009 By: BreezysMom
Photographs from October, 2009 Part I By: Capt Barbosa
Photographs from October, 2009 Part II By: Capt Barbosa
November, 2009 Trip Report with Dining Review from CL Stay By: MickeyNicki
Do all the rooms at the Polynesian get turn down service or just Club Level?
Turn down service is standard in Club Level rooms and is done daily. You can request turn down service in standard rooms. Just call housekeeping and request the service to be done.
Which Longhouses have two sinks in the bathroom?
A few of the rooms in the Tahiti and Rapa Nui longhouses have a double sink arrangement. These longhouses also have balconies on the second and third floor.
Does the Polynesian have a hot tub?
Sadly, there is no hot tub at the Polynesian.
Is there a playground at the Polynesian?
There is no playground at the Polynesian. There is a water play area next to the Volcano pool.
Do all the guest rooms have iHomes?
Yes, every guest room has an iHome alarm clock.
Aloha everyone!
Welcome all to the new edition of the Poly Thread! A blank slate of 250 fresh pages for our little Polynesian lovers community!
This thread is a continuation of the Winter edition found here.
Please PM me (please don't post corrections/changes in the thread, I may miss them) and let me know if I missed anything, or if I made any glaring spelling or grammatical errors. Thank you to 1971DBday for the new photos you sent over.
And now, for your enjoyment, a gratuitous post full of Polynesian Photographs to start things off!
Subscribing to the new thread.
Damn it! You beat me to it, LOL. Yay for #2!
Thanks Rob, for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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My el moco's that came stock on my sl seem to be delaminating between the tread and the sidewall? I bought my sl in july of 10.
Anyone have this problem? I emailed Kenda for service-assuming they dont warranty them, whats a good light am tire for the northeast thats tubeless compatible and not going to break the bank?
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New directors
The Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance has new board members.
The Ticonderoga town board has appointed Bill Drummond, Chattie Van Wert, Jeremy Treadway, Peter Reale, Scott Hearburg and Shana Macey as directors on the alliance board.
They join existing directors Alex Levitch, Jim Major, John Rayno, Sandy Morehouse, and Sue Rathbun.
"I am very happy to announce these appointments and their confirmation by the town board," Malaney said.
Jim Major, chairman of the alliance board welcomed the new directors.
"We've got a lot of work to do and each of these people's hearts are sincerely dedicated to improving Ti," he said. "We are eager to seek their input and counsel, and welcome them to the party."
Woods echoed those comments.
"In addition to being successful in business, each of these directors bring a commitment to serving our community and working to build a better future for Ti," he said.
Drummond has worked for W.E. Aubuchon Hardware for over 30 years. He is currently the district manager, overseeing the Ticonderoga store plus 10 other stores in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Bill lives in Pittsford, Vt.
Van Wert has over 20 years of experience owning and operating small businesses in Ticonderoga, including the Ranch Motel, Sunshine Laundry, Sunshine Apartments and Sunshine Carwash. She has been a member of the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, is part of the Streetfest committee, serves on the board of the Inter-Lakes Health and is on St. Mary's Parish Finance Council.
Treadway is a local businessman and entrepreneur who owns and operates several businesses in Ticonderoga, including Treadway Service, Treadway Fuels, The Pub, Treadway Motorsports and, in the near future, Adirondack Motocross Park.
Reale is a third generation road and bridge contractor and currently serves as vice president of Reale Construction. Reale and his brother John also own multiple properties in downtown Ticonderoga. He has served on several local boards including the town planning board, the comprehensive plan committee and the chamber of commerce board. He currently serves on the board of the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union and is an active member of St Mary's Parish and the Knights of Columbus.
Hearburg owns and operates the Ticonderoga McDonald's franchise as well as McDonald's restaurants in Warrensburg and Fair Haven, Vt. He has served on the chamber of commerce board and many other boards and donated to many charities and causes. For spearheading a multi-year initiative to build a new playground at the Ti Elementary School, Hearburg was named 2011 Community Volunteer of the Year by the chamber.
Macey is the president of Crown Point Telephone Corporation and its subsidiary company, Crown Point Network Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Bridge Point Communication.
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main index
Colonel Stacey: "Greetings, civilians! I'm Colonel Stacey. Some of my close friends call me Theresa."Royal Canadian Air Farce is a long running Sketch Comedy group which began radio broadcasts in 1973 and switched to TV in 1993, with TV specials before that time in 1980 and 1992. The original stable cast consisted of Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, John Morgan, and Dave Broadfoot, many of whom have become institutions in Canadian entertainment in their own right.The Air Farce's mix of political and cultural satire has been a mainstay of the program, and has in many ways set the mold for political satirists of later years, both Canadian and abroad.The show came to a close with the 2008 "Final Flight" season, culminating with their series finale on December 31, 2008. However, they've still done New Year's Eve specials since.For those that want a taste of the funny, the official website has video from every season available for free download.
Audience: "Hi, Theresa!"
Colonel Stacey: *winks*


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The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) treatment market value will increase from $297 million in 2013 to $407 million by 2018, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.59%, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company's latest report* states …
All–wheel drive systems were introduced in the automotive industry during 1980s in developed regions such as Europe and North America. Advancement in technology and emphasis on research and development has given a new face to these systems. At present, AWD systems are classified into automatic and manual systems. Manual AWD systems require human intervention for initiation of the process whereas automatic systems have intelligent control over the process. In earlier days, these systems were available only in high-end premium segment cars and their advantages unknown to majority of the consumers around the world. The introduction of AWD systems in small passenger cars and other vehicles has increased the demand globally. Additionally, increasing demand of SUVs globally, increased safety awareness; affordability, fuel efficiency, stability, and control are the factors driving the demand of multi-wheel drive systems.
This report classifies and defines the automatic and manual AWD systems market in terms of volume and value. This report provides comprehensive analysis and insights on the multi-wheel drive systems (both qualitative and quantitative). The report highlights potential growth opportunities in the coming years as well as it covers review of market drivers, restraints, growth indicators, challenges, legislation trends, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and other key aspects with respect to multi-wheel drive systems.
This report classifies the automatic and manual all-wheel drive systems market by regions (Asia-Oceania, North America, Europe, and RoW); by vehicle type (passenger cars, light-duty commercial vehicles, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles); and by system type (automatic and manual). The key players in the automatic and manual AWD systems market have also been identified and profiled.


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Virat and Chris after RCB defeated NSW Blues
Vikram Afzulpurkar 08 Oct 2011
Virat lost no time in greeting his team mates with a warm smile and a terrific spirit of camaraderie. Talks about how he paced his innings with Gayle. As for Chris, no hit is big enough.
Latest comments
Virat Kholi were are you.........y are u nt showing yor magic@@ we want 2 see yor magic....
shettyriya on 08 May 2012, 08:11 PM
Virat Kholi were are you.........y are u nt showing yor magic@@ we want 2 see yor magic....
shettyriya on 08 May 2012, 08:11 PM
Virat Kohli in great form....Cant wait....
Drishti on 07 Apr 2012, 05:20 PM
virat will be outstanding in this ipl too
devikakohli on 03 Apr 2012, 10:20 PM
we need to win Ipl 2012
sudhirRCCB on 22 Mar 2012, 09:43 PM
CSK no more a defending champs.. It's RCB all the way... No matter whether they win the finals or not but RCB ROCKS With VIRAT... Go On Reds
kohliforce on 10 Oct 2011, 09:56 PM
virat is just awsum!!!!brilliant innings played in past two matches!! Go RCB!!! al da best 4 finals!!!! win it!!!
rcbfanatics on 10 Oct 2011, 03:28 AM
Virat is a superstar now. He has played two great innings and we are in finals now.
shriram-jagadeesan on 09 Oct 2011, 05:12 PM
:( pls fix this soon.... cant watch the video :'(
Arunima-Bhol on 09 Oct 2011, 06:53 AM
good batting by virat...!!!
gopalkyashwar on 09 Oct 2011, 02:44 AM
hot discussions


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Smallville Review: "Icarus"by Jeffrey Kirkpatrick at . Comments
Of all the VRA-themed episodes to date, this was the most entertaining and action-packed yet, but "Icarus" still fell just a little bit shy of what it could have been.
In a move that should either stifle the screams of shippers everywhere or just fuel them even more, (who knows?) Clark proposed to Lois, and she without hesitation accepted.
Despite the engagement bash Tess and the heroes threw at Watchtower, their celebration was cut short by the government's escalated enforcement of the VRA.
For my taste, there was too little time spent with the actual heroes themselves.
The first half of the episode trotted along at nearly a snail's pace. Sure, the interrogation scenes were probably necessary to add credence to the real threat against the heroes, and their supporters, but I sure do wish Stargirl had been given something to do besides a single crack of her staff, and more than just a speechless cameo from Black Canary.
Nearly every time other heroes show up, anymore, it's a ultimately a let down because they don't seem to be used much.
I'll give them this, though, the Hawkman scenes. Blew. My. Mind.The image of him high in the heavens swooping down through the crashing glass to rescue Lois was extremely gratifying to this fanboy. I'd been waiting so long to see him really hurl that mace, and he did so in spades battling Slade.
Having him dive head first, wings ablaze, to save Lois as she plummeted through the window was simply stunning, and would have seemed all the more ironic had Slade not made the irony so explicit with his explanation of Icarus to Clark.
Even still, it was a brilliant visual.
I'm disappointed they killed Carter off, but I suppose that was inevitable since they'd already hinted earlier in the season that Carter believed he'd soon be reunited with Shayera. I rather think a faint vision of him reuniting with Shayera, both in full Hawkman/Hawkgirl garb, would have been a nice touch, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose.
I was confused by Carter's reference to "the darkness" having been here before during the Spanish Inquisition and rise of the Third Reich. Hasn't the notion been so far this season that this would be the greatest darkness the world has ever faced?
Maybe I'm just being nitpicky, but for me that negates, or at least reduces the threat of, the current wave the heroes are facing. If the darkness has been here before, and been successfully conquered, then what's the real worry? So they'll beat it again, big deal?
I still hold to my stance that Lois is the most heroic of this bunch, if just by a hair. Even when she's the victim, she never plays the cowering damsel in distress. She's on the attack with everything she's got, and is determined to win or die trying.
Even though I love how strong a character as she is, I still find the charm in her more vulnerable moments, such as when she asked Chloe, in flashback, about Clark's relationship with Lana.
I don't think I've ever been as enamored with Lois or Erica Durance than I am in this season. She's going for broke in her performances, and I'm lapping it up.
Kat was back and still annoying, but at least Lois was able to convince her who the heroes really are. I can't help but think if they'd just told her the Blur saved her life before, which wouldn't have revealed Clark's identity, a lot of what they just went through may not have ever happened. Something to think about.
The brief Chloe scene was a nice touch, and I guess that means she's still dealing with the effects of her exposure to Doctor Fate's helmet, given that she knew of the engagement before Lois had a chance to tell her. As for Tess, there was far too little of her, but as always she's a force to be reckoned with. It's great to see her still playing for our team, where she fits in quite nicely.
I can't recall if we've seen that little device Clark used to trap Slade/Deathstroke before or not, but that is a handy little trinket. My first thought was either it sent him to the Phantom Zone or to the Fortress, but now I think he's just trapped inside it. Whatever it is, they should use it a little more often - or can it ever only hold one person?
Nice little allusion to Deathstroke's name, by the way.
Not my favorite episode of the season, but a very solid effort. As much as I love Lois and Clark, I really hope the second half of this final season plays up Clark's rise to Superman and focuses less on the lovey-dovey aspects. We can argue all day long that this is a multi-faceted show that appeals in different ways, but be honest - we are all far beyond ready to see him take to the skies in the red and blue.
What did you think of this week's Smallville? Discuss!
Jeffrey Kirkpatrick is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.Tags: Smallville, Reviews
I was a big fan of Smallville..i dont like the way they r portrayin many of the things,they could have shown much more action and shouldve used better graphics,they build up the tension but they loose it elsewhere, i didnt like the ending, i mean towards the end when everyone is takin the Hawkman's body to the morgue only Faces of Clark , Oliver , Black-Canary , Star-Girl ,and Lois r to be seen other r shown to be there but their faces r not visible, its obvious that Flash,Aquaman ,and the like r not there they r replaced by thier imposters, i mean extras if they didnt had the dates of this actors they shouldnt had shown them period n this was very unprofessional so to speak n it looked very weird, the series lost it reality,not that it was real,why did they do that..
Thats for Tati...
Well, the flashback occurs in the time frame of episode one which is the one where I believe Chloe puts on the helmet... and Lois doesn;t take off for Africa until the end of the episode... sooooooo... the conversation could have taken place after Chloe put on the fate helmet so she would know who "is fated to be in Clark's life".... Also, the flashback doesn't talk about the engagement per se... Chloe and Lois simply talk about who should be in Clark's life... and Chloe clearly has the fate helmet now... so she would have been able to foresee the engagement to time a letter to come to Lois congratulating her the morning after the proposal
I loved it and its sad that Hawkman is Dead .. his entry to save Loise Lane was Fantastic... Wow!
OMG! One of the best episodes. Loved it. Just wished they didn't killed Carter, would've love to see him in the end. Now that Clark and Lois' relationship is looking very stable, I WANT to see Clark FLY and in his cape. I seriously hope they don't deprive us of this until the very last episode.
I liked this episode, granted I'm not very critical of Smallville at all this season, as I think this is one the best seasons it has had.
There wasn't a lot they could have done with Slade anymore, not if they're going to have the other 3 as the "boss baddies" (Godfrey, Granny, ?) so it was smart that they ended his current story for now, and I liked his episode.
Would've made more sense to mention if that sword was made out of kryptonite though, just in case Clark showed up not Hawkman. I can imagine him "Oh no, a flimsy sword." /touch you with my emblem crystal. When Hawkman mentioned to Clark that he had been there when the darkness was previously I thought it hinted that he had been there to help guide a leader, or someone else rather then become the take charge kinda guy, or that he would sacrifice himself then for someone else as well.
Of course we know the darkness will be vanquished by the end of the series. What kind of downer would that be if Darkseid wins and everyone dies? But, my thought is perhaps over the centuries it has gotten stronger after each attack and defeat, and now is the perfect time for it to strike again in this era of multimedia saturation and Darkseid using people like Godfrey to spread fear amongst the populace. Certainly something much easier done today than during the Spanish Inquisition and only a little easier in the 1940s with radio broadcasts reaching more people. I think the message is our unprecedented access to the media is going to be our downfall!
Ggirl - you were absolutely spot on in bringing that up. i hadn't stopped to recall what massive atrocities they both were.
well since i was born and raised in germany i am probably a lot more sensitive about the third reich^^ it is kinda hard for me not to think about all the deads when someone references to that time.
still, smallville is just a show, so i also get what your point of view was coming from :)
I agree like the review it could have been more than it was. But the episode is one of the best this season. I believe that this episode should have had more action than it was given because of the tension that rose this episode. Hoping for more action fare and heroes forthe last season of smallville.


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Tiger Woods Embarrasses EA Sports
Tiger sponsors like AT&T (T) Accenture (ACN), PepsiCo's (PEP) Gatorade brand and P&G's (PG) Gillette didn't stick around to see how the Tiger scandal would pan out. They jumped before the ship could sink.
A study by finance professors at the University of California, Davis, estimated that shareholders of Tiger Woods-endorsed companies lost between $5 billion and $12 billion in market value after his sex scandal broke.
Electronic Arts stock fell 4.5% to $14.79 at Friday's closing bell, while Nike tumbled 2.4% to $68.96.
Click here for an overview of Tiger's evolving relationship with his sponsors through his scandal
-- Reported by Andrea Tse in New York
Stockpickr.com. Follow Andrea Tse on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
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|My husband is planning on cashing in some stock options in the next few days while his company's stock is at an all time high. The money will come out to about $130k - 150k. We're planning on buying a house in about 6 months, and don't need to do anything with the money in the meantime. We're thinking that we should put it in a short term CD or money market account, but don't really know all that much about our different options. Has anyone done anything like this, and do you have some tidbits of advice? We'll go speak to our bank once we have the money, but I'd like to do some research first.
Follow-Up Postings:
|I don't know if I would put it in a CD, even a short term. If you should happen to find a special house or an especially good buy your money would be tied up and you would have to pay a penalty to cash it in before it matures.
|But if you keep it in really-short-term CDs (my credit union offers CD terms as short as a month), you may forfeit none of the money at all. OTOH, the interest rates for that short a term typically approaches that of a money market, which imposes practically no penalty on withdrawal.
|What are the risks associated with money market versus CD? Any?
Also, where does one go to do that kind of thing? Is it better to stick to your normal bank, or should we shop around?
|Money market accounts are FDIC-insured, just like CDs. Money market funds offered by stock brokerages, etc., are not FDIC-insured, though they may be privately-insured. Both are quite stable because they're very-short-term holdings of firms which present no significant financial risk over the terms being discussed.
The main differences will be in interest rates and in how long your money could be tied up without penalty. Even a short CD could hold your money for 30 days (which may not be a big deal if you need it for a closing, which typically takes longer than a month to schedule). Money market holdings can be redeemed in a day or so.
Where to get them? Your bank or credit union most likely offers them. So do stock brokerages. I have not canvassed rates, but I don't think they'll be so different that it pays to spend a lot of time shopping around -- especially for the short time you're likely to need it. Go for convenience in making the deposit and redeeming it.
|I don't know if I would put it in a CD, even a short term. If you should happen to find a special house or an especially good buy your money would be tied up and you would have to pay a penalty to cash it in before it matures.
You only pay a penalty on the amount of interest, not the principal. Even if you lost all the interest (typical for a 30-day CD but not longer ones), you'd be no worse off than if you hid the money under your mattress.
- Posted by pebbles396 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 15, 04 at 15:43
|My credit union offers a money market that is just like a savings account. It's actually so smart that when I go below $2500 in balance it turns into a savings account until I go above that balance.
I think the difference in rates is about 1.5%
|Will you be required to pay capital gains tax? Is the 130-150K before or after cap. gains?
|I'm not sure about the capital gains -- how is that different from regular tax? When we cashed the options in, they were actually worth about 250k, but they take out about 40% for taxes. Is capital gains included in that?
|The only reason I have a basic clue about capital gains is because I am in the will of a recently deceased aunt. Her estate has liquid assets and some stocks. I have the option of taking ownership of the stock ("basis" is determined by the value of stock at the date of her death) or selling it, paying capital gains tax, and putting the proceeds into whatever vehicle I so choose.
I think the number you posted in your first post is the "net" proceeds (your realized value AFTER capital gains are paid); I suspect cap. gains tax is a hefty one, depending on the timing and number of times it has been foregone.
BUT, I don't really know... let's hope someone more knowledgeable weighs in soon... I could use the advice, too!
|When we sold our house 9 years ago which was paid off, we took all the money and put it into a money market account at a local bank. We knew it was going to be at least six months before we moved into our home that we were building, so we put it in for six months. We were surprised at how much interest it made in that short time. You really need to go to the bank and talk to someone about your options and make sure the money is going to be accessible when you need it.
- Posted by SouthboundTrain (My Page) on Sat, Jan 15, 05 at 12:43
|If 40% is being withheld, you have what I call "baby options" and the withholding should cover all of your tax liability. You will probably even get a big refund next year. It is treated as ordinary income so capital gains are not involved at all. If you are planning on "spending" the $150K in 6 months, just pop it into a money market fund. Anything that says FDIC insured will cover up to $100,000 so if you are very safety oriented you might want to split your money up. I personally would probably go with the Treasury Money Market Fund from Vanguard for the whole amount. It is not FDIC insured but about as safe as one can get.
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This is why we should keep the nose of the federal camel out of the states' tent.
Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today announced that next week she will introduce the Common-Sense Concealed Firearms Act of 2011, which would require all states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons in public to have minimum standards for granting permits.
Senator Boxer said, The tragic events in Tucson earlier this month are a reminder of why we need common-sense gun laws. This measure will establish reasonable permitting standards for Americans who wish to carry concealed firearms. According to a recent poll, more than 60 percent of respondents believe there should be a reasonable permitting process for those who wish to carry concealed firearms.
Senator Boxers legislation would require all states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons to establish permitting processes that would include meaningful consultation with local law enforcement authorities to determine whether the permit applicant is worthy of the public trust and has shown good cause to carry a concealed firearm.
Official Website of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer: Press Releases - Boxer to Introduce Common-Sense Concealed Firearms Act of 2011


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Tailor's HostelBarcelona, Spain
What a great hostel. You (the staff) are so so good; which is so so important. Always so helpful and always with a smile. This is why people love your hostel and keep coming back. It just gets really hot, and sometimes had problems with the wifi. But not that big of an issue for me.
Hostel MostelSofia, Bulgaria
This hostel, although a little hard to find, is really cool. I only stayed one night, but my ensuite toilet facilities were quite clean! Breakfast was simple, but lots of variety and healthy! The staff were quite helpful and friendly. The people are varied (like most places) and so you just need to find the people that suit your personality. Location is pretty sweet, and their directions on the website was easy enough (I caught the bus from the airport easily enough). Wifi is fast!
A&O Dusseldorf HauptbahnhofDusseldorf, Germany
Great staff, especially the girls on the morning shift! Kept pretty clean, handy lockers in dorms. Just linen should be included. And better management of the large 16 bedded dorms.
Alternative Creative Youth Home HostelBarcelona, Spain
Quite a nice little hostel. Just need to make it a bit easier to find the place. Maybe options for breakfast? Because the hostel is nice and small and cosy.
MEININGER Amsterdam City WestAmsterdam, Netherlands
Towels should be available to all dorms, not just 4 person dorm.
Brussels 2GO4 Quality HostelBrussels, Belgium
The guy receptionist was helpful but the girl not so much. The rooms are pretty clean and the beds good. Showers are mostly ensuite which is awesome. It's close to the north station, but you can easily walk to town square no problems.