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This afternoon, we learned that the Eagles and Chargers have decided to maintain the status quo in their front offices and keep their coaching regimes intact. In Philadelphia, the Andy Reid-Howie Roseman duo will live on, while Norv Turner and A.J. Smith have officially survived another disappointing season in San Diego.
A month ago, Reid's status was very much in doubt, while Turner and Smith were considered as good as gone. But to finish the season, the Eagles went 4-0, outscoring their opponents 125-46 to make an unlikely run at the NFC East title, while the Chargers went 4-1 in December and January, outscoring their opponents 157-102.
Let's take a quick look at the merits of the four architects who failed to deliver until it was too late in 2011:
To his credit: The mishmash of players he and Roseman accumulated in the offseason didn't have a lot of time to form cohesion. It could be argued that they simply didn't find their stride until it was too late. This is only the fourth time the Eagles have missed the playoffs during Reid's 12-year reign.
But… They haven't won a playoff game since 2008, and some will argue that Reid was reckless in failing to address needs in the linebacking corps while making the inexperienced Juan Castillo the offensive coordinator prior to the 2011 season.
The GLS verdict: He deserved to stay on. Some wanted Reid to pay the price for overindulging in the free-agent market last offseason, but a lot of that was on Roseman, too. Besides, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins panned out fantastically and the highly-criticized offensive line really improved during the course of the season.
To his credit: Free-agent signings Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins had great seasons, the move to acquire Jason Peters is suddenly paying off and signing potential All-Pro guard Evan Mathis cheap was one of the most underrated moves of the 2011 offseason.
But… He hasn't hit on an early-round draft pick since being promoted to general manager in 2010, and the Nnamdi Asomugha signing was probably a mistake considering holes at other positions.
The GLS verdict: He deserves one more year to prove that the 2011 bonanza might still pay off.
To his credit: The Chargers have a 49-31 record, three division titles and three playoff victories since he took over in 2007.
But… The team has failed to win a bad division or get into the playoffs the last two years, despite having one of the most talented offenses in football.
The GLS verdict: One bad year happens. But this season, they proved that 2010 wasn't an anomaly. They simply start too slow and make too many mistakes…again. If the expectations were high enough to can Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season, they should have been high enough to fire Turner, who has failed to win 10 games three of the last four years.
To his credit: Prior to his appointment as GM, the Bolts had won just 14 games in three years. He's done a great job in the draft, getting guys like Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman, Vincent Jackson, Darren Sproles, Antonio Cromartie, Marcus McNeill and Eric Weddle in bargain spots and plucking Antonio Gates as an undrafted free agent in his first season.
But… The team's rise in 2004 had a lot more to do with LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees, who were drafted by the previous regime. And with hindsight, letting Brees go in 2006 probably wasn't a very good decision. He's also failed to add playmakers to the defense, which has unsurprisingly failed to make big plays in recent seasons.
The GLS verdict: He's given Turner enough talent to compete year after year. His track record isn't perfect, but the Chargers have drafted extremely well and held their ground in free agency. He deserved to keep his job.


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As of Friday, June 22, 2012
© Copyright 2015
Gwinnett Daily Post
SUWANEE -- Soon, Suwanee residents may be alerted about an impending storm, crime activity around the corner, or which concert is at Town Center on Saturday night. All on their cellphone.
City officials are pursuing the ability to notify residents by phone with a specific message that may only impact their neighborhood. Discussions about emergency alert systems and companies began in March after severe storms swept through the area. But they were augmented in April when a man, who later died, was accused of killing his girlfriend and shooting a neighbor in Auburn, then fleeing to a home on Scales Road in Suwanee.
That kind of situation makes an alert system that can circle a geographic area in which to notify residents appealing to city officials.
City manager Marty Allen recently told council members that after research of several companies by Suwanee Police Chief Mike Jones and Deputy Chief Janet Moon, a company called CodeRed is their preferred choice. The annual cost for the city is about $10,000, Allen said.
One of CodeRed's products is an emergency notification system that contacts residents by telephone, text message or email during emergencies.
"If we had this system at that time, we could have geographically created a circle that said everybody in here gets a specific message," Allen said of the Scales Road incident. "The benefit of it is it's similar to insurance. You hope you never have to use it, but if you have it, you're happy that you have it."
A CodeRed system was used last month after a chemical plant incident near Dalton. A similar system is in place around Rome. A message on CodeRed's website said the company has grown to include institutions of high education and utility companies. Allen said it's used at schools like Virginia Tech following on-campus emergencies.
A bonus to the system would be an opt-in element that could inform residents by text message or email of an upcoming concert.
"That's not the core of why we're doing it, it's a bonus," Allen said. "I personally think that's going to become even more common, information pushing."
More like this story
- Suwanee to pursue emergency alert system ( June 23, 2012 )
- Suwanee to launch CodeRED alert service ( September 29, 2012 )
- Loganville achieves top honor for financial practices, reporting ( October 14, 2011 )
- Snellville to test emergency system ( June 1, 2012 )
- Suwanee adopts 20/20 vision plan, '13 budget ( June 26, 2012 )
roaads1 2 years, 7 months ago
Opting in to a text message is a good move. If I lived there I'd do it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Explore estas experiencias únicas para que sus vacaciones soñadas se hagan realidad.
Search results 21-30 of 673
New South Wales New South Wales
Rutherford is a suburb of Maitland in the Hunter River country in New South Wales. Take time to enjoy its cafes, restaurants and shopping, golf course and club facilities. Maitland Airport is located in Rutherford and offers joy flights including scenic flights in historic tiger moth's and aerobatics for the adventurous.
Wee Waa is Australia's cotton capital located in the rich agricultural heartland of Lower Namoi Valley in north west New South Wales. A modern town, it has many recreational facilities, cafes and shops. Walk around the town and view its interesting architecture including the Imperial Hotel, the first three-storey structure to be built in the north west, with magnificent iron lace. Stop in at Seplin Estate Winery for tastings at its cellar door. Owned by the Widauer family it has an on-site restaurant and is a great spot for barbecues or picnics. Visit the Namoi Echo Museum on Rose Street, open Thursdays to Saturdays.
Howlong lies on the border between New South Wales and Victoria on the Murray River. Popular for its fishing and water sports, there are also excellent wineries in nearby Rutherglen and north east Victoria. The town has many sporting facilities including a football oval, tennis courts, pony club, cricket club, skate bowl, swimming pool and barbecue and picnic areas. Accommodation includes caravan parks, hotels and bed and breakfasts.
The small town of Morven lies on the road between Holbrook and Culcairn. Settled in the 1850s, it was a Cobb and Co stop for the changing and resting of horses. With the arrival of the railway line to the west of the village, the use of the Cobb and Co declined and the plans for Morven never materialised. As one of the oldest licensed Cobb and Co coach stations in New South Wales, the remains of the old stables can still be seen next to the hotel.
The beautiful coastal town of Iluka is famous for its fishing, rainforests and surf beaches. The World Heritage Listed Iluka Nature Reserve contains the largest remnant of littoral rainforest in New South Wales. It supports rich vegetation and abundant bird and wildlife. There is an excellent surf beach within the reserve and a great lookout platform with panoramic views that are ideal for whale watching. Enjoy the beautiful beaches with picnic areas at Back Beach, Frazers Reef and Woody Head. There is a netted swimming area at Iluka Bay or unwind with a walk along the beautiful seawall.
Bungendore is a friendly, historic village 30 minutes' drive from Canberra and 265 kilometres south west of Sydney. This traditional Australian country town with a relaxed bush village atmosphere is set in a pretty green valley in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands. The town offers numerous specialty shops and old stone, brick and timber heritage buildings, providing an evocative glimpse of 19th century life in rural Australia. Discover art, craft and antique shops in the Bungendore Village Square and browse the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery for sculpture, craft and furniture.
Tweed Heads sits on the Tweed River with beautiful golden beaches and waterways. Enjoy surfing and swimming at one of its beaches or boating, fishing and crabbing on the Tweed River. The town of Tweed Heads offers excellent restaurants, cafes and shops. Visit Point Danger Lookout on the New South Wales and Queensland border that overlooks the popular surf break at Duranbah Beach. Captain James Cook named the lookout as he sailed up the east coast of Australia to warn of dangerous coral reefs off the coast.
Sawtell is found on the beautiful North Coast of New South Wales just six kilometres south of Coffs Harbour. Located 555 kilometres north of Sydney and 400 kilometres south of Brisbane, it enjoys Australia's most temperate climate. Long sandy beaches, pristine rainforest, the magnificent Solitary Islands Marine Park and the nearby Dorrigo National Park make Sawtell a must visit destination. Sawtell is bounded to the east by safe surf beaches, to the north and south by unspoiled waterways and Bongil Bongil National Park and to the west by scenic mountain ranges. Sawtell has 12 restaurants and several takeaways. Bookings for the restaurants are highly recommended. You can enjoy a relaxing drink at the Returned Services League or Sawtell Bowls Club. You can also find an 18 hole golf course, croquet courts and 12 tennis courts.
The historic port town of Morpeth sits on the banks of the Hunter River. Once the gateway to inland Australia, it was the busiest trade port in New South Wales until 1890. Today its historic shopfronts, wharves and hitching posts remain intact along its main street. Classified by the National Trust, Morpeth is home to cafes, craft shops, galleries, antiques and many annual events. Visit Morpeth Wine Cellars and Moonshine Distillery for local wine and cheese tastings and browse Morpeth Trading Post to see beautiful ceramics, glassware, china and old bush tools.
Charlotte Pass is located in the heart of the Snowy Mountains. It is Australia's highest village at 1760 metres above sea level. The resort is snowbound in winter with access only by over snow transport from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal. The village was named after Charlotte Adams who, in 1881, was the first woman to climb Mount Kosciuszko. It is the oldest ski resort in Australia and home to the historic Kosciuszko Chalet that was built in 1930. In summer it's the starting point for two main trails to Mount Kosciuszko - the nine kilometre Summit Walk and the 12.5 kilometre Main Range Trail. At the beginning of the Trail Heads there is a scenic boardwalk called the Snowgums Boardwalk with an observation tower to view the Main Range of the New South Wales Alps and Mount Kosciuszko.
Planifique su visita


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The Message (MSG) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. | 1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. |
2 Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. | 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. |
3 Hundreds of sick people - blind, crippled, paralyzed - were in these alcoves. | 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. |
5 One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. | 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. |
6 When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" | 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" |
7 The sick man said, "Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in." | 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." |
8 Jesus said, "Get up, take your bedroll, start walking." | 8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." |
9 The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. | 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, |
10 The Jews stopped the healed man and said, "It's the Sabbath. You can't carry your bedroll around. It's against the rules." | 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." |
11 But he told them, "The man who made me well told me to. He said, 'Take your bedroll and start walking.'" | 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' " |
12 They asked, "Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?" | 12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" |
13 But the healed man didn't know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd. | 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. |
14 A little later Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "You look wonderful! You're well! Don't return to a sinning life or something worse might happen." | 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." |
15 The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. | 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. |
16 That is why the Jews were out to get Jesus - because he did this kind of thing on the Sabbath. | 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. |
17 But Jesus defended himself. "My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I." | 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." |
18 That really set them off. The Jews were now not only out to expose him; they were out to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was calling God his own Father, putting himself on a level with God. | 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. |
19 So Jesus explained himself at length. "I'm telling you this straight. The Son can't independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. | 19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. |
20 The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing. | 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. |
21 for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. | 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. |
22 Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son | 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, |
23 so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father's decision to put the Son in the place of honor. | 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. |
24 "It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living. | 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. |
25 "It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived - I mean right now! - when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. | 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. |
26 Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. | 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. |
27 And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment. | 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. |
28 "Don't act so surprised at all this. The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice. | 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice |
29 Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life; those who have lived the wrong way, into a resurrection Judgment. | 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. |
30 "I can't do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I'm not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. | 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. |
31 If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. | 31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. |
32 But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. | 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. |
33 Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn't he? | 33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. |
34 "But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I'm speaking to you this way so that you will be saved. | 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. |
35 John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light. | 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. |
36 But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John's witness. It's the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me. | 36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. |
37 The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance. | 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, |
38 There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously. | 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. |
39 "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! | 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, |
40 And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want. | 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. |
41 "I'm not interested in crowd approval. | 41 "I do not accept praise from men, |
42 And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. | 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. |
43 I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. | 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. |
44 How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God? | 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ? |
45 "But don't think I'm going to accuse you before my Father. Moses, in whom you put so much stock, is your accuser. | 45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. |
46 If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me. He wrote of me. | 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. |
47 If you won't take seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?" | 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" |
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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More on Disney Baby
Create magical moments with these inspired ideas and feel-good products.
Homemade Moisturizer Recipe For Baby And Mom
As parents we want the best for our little ones. We carefully shop for and prepare delicious and nutritious foods, we make sure to have the best accessories and baby gear to ensure they are comfortable and happy and that includes soaps and lotions. Make no mistake, there are fantastic products out there that I swear by but if you are in the DIY mood here's a great recipe to make your own moisturizer for you and baby!
I have made my own moisturizer using this recipe many times — each time changing it slightly depending on my needs. The lotion is non-greasy, smells divine, goes on smooth and stays good in air tight containers.My son had extremely dry skin and I used this recipe to moisturize him and at the same time used baby massage techniques to soothe him. Personally my favorite way to make this is with rose water, but you can use chamomile tea or lavender.
And to get even craftier I used an old honey bear container, a soap dispenser (thoroughly cleaned to avoid residue) and small plastic screw top container to store the lotion then labeling it and dating it on the bottom.
Most of the ingredients may already be in your home and it's super easy to make!
- 3 Tbsp of beeswax (I bought a 100% natural beeswax candle at Whole Foods)
- 3/4 cup of olive, coconut or almond oil (use one or a combination)
- 1 cup of rose water or chamomile tea (I made one batch with rose water and another with tea — rose water is my favorite!)
- 2 teaspoons of Vitamin E (helps lotion last longer and great for very dry skin)
- Clean containers for storing (I used a honey bear container and old soap dispenser)
After making it, leave it to cool completely then refrigerate in air tight container so it can congeal.
Remove and use daily. Keep at room temperature.
I hope you enjoy making and using this as much as my son and I did!
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May 2003 archives, part 1
May 9-11 – Senate panel nixes tobacco-fee clawback. "Senators working on a tax bill Thursday stripped a proposal that would have forced attorneys in a landmark tobacco lawsuit to give $9 billion in fees back to the states they represented." Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., had proposed requiring plaintiff's lawyers in the tobacco affair to return to their state-government clients fees in excess of $2,500/hour or thereabouts. "But Democrats, led by Sen. John Breaux, D-La., and joined by Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Gordon Smith of Oregon, won a 12-8 vote to strike the language. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said that if Congress can change the terms of the tobacco settlement, there is nothing to stop it from telling every business in America to change the way they pay their executives." It's almost as if Sen. Kerry doesn't realize that 1) a host of federal laws already on the books, notably tax provisions, do purposely shape the way businesses compensate their executives; 2) lawyers, unlike business execs, practice under professional ethical codes which are supposed to bar them specifically from charging excessive fees; 3) lawyers who claim to represent the government (and thus the public) come under some of the most stringent ethical constraints of all. ("Senate Democrats Strike Proposal to Limit Fees for Lawyers in Tobacco Case", AP/Tampa Bay Online, May 8; Stephen Moore, "Targeting lawyers who got rich off tobacco trials", Scripps Howard/Nando Times, May 2) (& welcome Law.com readers). (DURABLE LINK)
May 9-11 – Update: "U.S. is sued for deaths of crossers". "The families of 14 illegal entrants who died crossing the desert east of Yuma in May 2001 have filed a $42 million lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior." As we reported a year ago when the cases were at an earlier procedural stage, "The suit charges the government with failing to authorize the placement of water stations intended for use by unlawful visitors, though it knew smugglers of immigrants were active in the desert area." (Michael Marizco, Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), May 8). (DURABLE LINK)
May 8 – "No Crueler Tyrannies". Dorothy Rabinowitz's long-awaited book on the mass-child-abuse accusation frenzy of the 1980s and 1990s is now available at this link. It collects and extends the widely acclaimed Wall Street Journal reporting that prepared the way for the author's 2001 Pulitzer Prize (review by Carol Iannone, Commentary, May; C-SPAN "Booknotes" interview with Brian Lamb, May 4; Suzanne Fields, "A cruel tyranny at home", syndicated/TownHall, Apr. 3; other reviews at Amazon site). (DURABLE LINK)
May 8 – More on Edwards' law-firm donations. Washington periodical The Hill digs deeper into the curiously uniform $2,000 contributions Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign got from so many receptionists, paralegals and other low-level staffers at plaintiff's law firms. The $2,000 donors include many employees who had not given to candidates or even voted in the past, and others who are listed on the voting rolls as Republicans. Many spouses and relatives of the staffers likewise contributed the maximum. Some of the munificent staffers have recently gone through the kind of personal financial reverses — bankruptcy filings, for example — which would not seem to correlate in the natural order of things with having a large available checkbook for political donations. "In many instances, all the checks from a given firm arrived on the same day — from partners, attorneys, and other support staff." Employees denied that their law-firm employers had signaled any willingness to reimburse the donations, which would constitute a violation of federal law. (Sam Dealey, "Donations to Sen. Edwards questioned", The Hill, May 7). (DURABLE LINK)
May 7 – Mississippi investigation heats up. Per the Times of South Mississippi (Hattiesburg), the "net may be widening" in the FBI's previously reported investigation of improper ties between Mississippi judges and well-known trial lawyers (see Oct. 9-10 and 11-13, 2002). "Sources said this week as many as 25 indictments could be issued …While reports of the investigation have focused on the Gulf Coast, sources said the probe now includes campaign contributions from trial lawyers connected to Southwest Mississippi," renowned as the center of intense litigation against pharmaceutical companies. ("Bob Pittman, "FBI widening its investigation of campaign funding", Times of South Mississippi (Hattiesburg), May 5. See also "Diaz's dad testifies before grand jury", Jackson Clarion Ledger, Apr. 12; Jerry Mitchell, "Judicial probe intensifying", Jackson Clarion Ledger, May 2).
"Meanwhile," the Hattiesburg paper continues, "four trial lawyers who have been active in lawsuits against prescription drug manufacturers are named as defendants in a growing number of court actions in Jefferson County. In at least four suits filed to date, trial lawyers Dennis Sweet, Shane Langston, Richard Freese and Richard Schwartz, all of Jackson, have been named as defendants in cases in which it is alleged that the four either withheld settlement money from clients or failed to pay hired 'runners' who were employed to enroll plaintiffs in cases which the lawyers filed in several different counties in Mississippi, including Jasper County." (May 5 article, cited above). See also Bob Pittman, "Judge asked to step aside in trial lawyer suit", May 1; Bob Pittman, "Suit alleges lawyer used 'fake clients'", May 1. (DURABLE LINK)
May 7 – Jury selection in Britain. Notwithstanding the understandable outcry over a recent case in which a British judge excluded prospective jurors from a politically sensitive trial based on their religion, the general rule in the English system is for jurors to be drawn from a near-universal pool and selection to be made at random. "English lawyers are not pestered by jury consultants: they do not exist here. We do not have days of jury selection before a trial starts, as I have seen for myself several times in the United States, with prospective jurors questioned in depth and sometimes with aggression by lawyers anxious to explore possible prejudices. Defense barristers in England used to have the right of seven (then whittled down to three) peremptory challenges without any need for courtroom interrogation….But Parliament abolished peremptory challenges by the defense in 1989, and although not technically abolished, 'standing by for the Crown' [the equivalent for the prosecution] now seldom occurs." For-cause challenges are rare as well. (Fenton Bresler, "Picking juries — or not", National Law Journal, Mar. 17, not online). (DURABLE LINK)
May 6 – "Robber sues clerk who shot him during holdup". Muncie, Ind.: "A convicted robber is suing the convenience store clerk who shot him as he fled after a holdup. Willie Brown, 44, claimed the clerk acted 'maliciously and sadistically' in firing five shots as Brown ran out of Zipps Deli with money from the store's cash register." Brown, who was struck by bullets in the back and side, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to four years in prison. His earlier convictions included one for robbery and two for burglary. (AP/Indianapolis Star, Apr. 18). And in Great Britain, "Government lawyers trying to keep the Norfolk farmer Tony Martin behind bars will tell a High Court judge tomorrow that burglars are members of the public who must be protected from violent householders." (Robert Verkaik, "Government lawyers say burglars 'need protection'", The Independent (UK), May 5). Plus: in Bentonville, Ark., inmate Kenneth J. Lewis II is suing Nina Baugh for $140,000 in damages; according to affidavits, Lewis was shot by Baugh after he attempted to burglarize her family's pawn shop and another business. Lewis was sentenced in January to 12 years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to commercial burglary and aggravated assault (Tracy M. Neal, "Convicted burglar sues woman who shot him during crime", Benton County Daily Record, Apr. 19). (DURABLE LINK)
May 6 – Year's most injudicious judges. The National Law Journal's annual survey of misbehavior on the bench includes jurists alleged to have slept with litigants, offered to fix cases, set new records for rudeness, and run a Ponzi scheme from chambers, not to mention the jurist who is said to have referred to himself as "God". (Gail Diane Cox, "The Injudicious: Judges who crossed the line — or erased it", May 5). (DURABLE LINK)
May 5 – Friends in high places, cont'd. A bill expanding wrongful death damages — a top priority of the state's trial lawyer association — is moving quickly through the GOP-controlled New York state senate; it happens that the "head of the Judiciary Committee and the sponsor of the bill is big-time trial lawyer John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse). It's not just Democrats like Assembly Speaker (and trial lawyer) Shelly Silver who are in the lawyer lobby's pocket." ("Lawyer leeches would bleed N.Y.C." (editorial), New York Daily News, Apr. 18)(more on bill, Business Council of New York State)(see Dec. 13-15, 2002, Oct. 4, 2000). And in Kansas, "Gov. Kathleen Sebelius used her first veto to reject a bill designed to promote rural tourism. Specifically, the bill would shield from lawsuits farmers and ranchers who, for a fee, let people watch and take part in some farm activities. … The strongest opposition to the bill came from the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, which employed Sebelius as executive director before her election to the House in 1986." (Steve Painter, "Sebelius vetoes farmer liability shield", Wichita Eagle, Apr. 16). While with the KTLA Sebelius "worked closely with the Legislature as a lobbyist" (bio) and then went on to attract widespread notice as her state's insurance commissioner before running for governor. (DURABLE LINK)
May 5 – Prospering despite reform. Some observers thought the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 law "was aimed at putting [class action firm] Milberg Weiss — and especially partner William Lerach, the lawyer many corporate executives love to hate — out of business. … Instead, according to a new study by Stanford Law School's Securities Class Action Clearinghouse and Cornerstone Research, Milberg Weiss is doing better than ever." (Tamara Loomis, "Milberg Weiss Stronger Than Ever Despite Reform Act", New York Law Journal, Apr. 24). An analysis for the Cato Institute by Adam S. Pritchard of the University of Michigan Law School concludes that the law has, as intended, worked to raise the average quality of securities suits and weed out those with least merit. ("Should Congress Repeal Securities Class Action Reform?", Cato Policy Analysis, Feb. 27 (executive summary, full text in PDF format)). (DURABLE LINK)
May 3-4 – "Streets Strewn With Glass, Gold". Don't miss this profile of D.C.'s subculture of "accident investigators" who solicit participants in car crashes to file lawsuits, often bombarding their phones with evening and early-morning calls for days. "The lawyer who introduced him to the business was killed by a car while standing on an exit ramp, apparently talking with accident victims, ["personal injury specialist" Warren] Johnson says." (Libby Copeland, Washington Post, May 1). (DURABLE LINK)
May 3-4 – By reader acclaim: "Student sues over top title". "A Moorestown [N.J.] High School senior, contending that the district superintendent is engineering new rules that would force her to share the title of valedictorian with another student, sued school officials yesterday. Blair L. Hornstine, 18, who aspires to be a lawyer, asked a federal judge to prevent the school from declaring valedictorian anyone other than the student with the highest GPA." (John Shiffman, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2; Tanya Barrientos, "Student's lawsuit shows lack of class", May 3). Update May 13: Hornstine wins suit (DURABLE LINK)
May 1-2 – It ain't heavy to him, he's my brother. In September, according to the National Law Journal's "Verdicts and Settlements" column (Oct. 7, 2002, not online) a Texas jury awarded $134,000 to Jennifer Grobe, an employee of the Granite & Iron Store in Fredericksburg. "According to Grobe, she suffered two herniated lumbar discs when she lifted one of two 100- to 125-pound granite tables that the store's owners had left in the entrance". Why Grobe's claim went to a jury in the form of a lawsuit, rather than to the workers' comp system, is not clear from the context.
The bit in the NLJ's report that drew our attention was the following: Grobe's suit alleged that her employer was negligent "for placing the tables in the entrance and for failing to comply with store policy by not having two male employees available." Perhaps we're missing something, but wouldn't the employer have faced likely liability exposure if it had enforced a policy of "having two male employees available" to handle heavy deliveries? As any self-respecting sex-discrimination litigator would point out, such a policy closes off some work opportunities to women and trades on impermissible (no matter how generally accurate) stereotypes of men as wielding greater upper-body strength. (DURABLE LINK)
May 1-2 – Those litigious Americans. "An ad for Dutch brewer Heineken NV depicts lawsuit-happy Americans suing each other over spilled beer…The idea is that Heineken is so good it makes Americans abandon their litigious natures." (Erin White, "National Lampoon: U.K. Ads Satirize American Demeanor", Wall Street Journal, Apr. 28, online subscribers only). (DURABLE LINK)


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Why Stephen King wants to see ''Freddy vs. Jason''
I've got a confession, okay? I know that some of you will laugh when I tell you this, and some will sneer. I can take it; that's why they pay me the big bucks ($25 a column, and buddy, that ain't hay). My confession comes in three parts.
(A) I've seen all the ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' movies.
(B) I've seen almost all of the ''Friday the 13th'' movies.
(C) I've seen all the ''Halloween'' movies. In the '80s I even had a button suggesting that Michael Myers and Jamie Lee Curtis would make a hell of a presidential ticket. Do you want to tell me -- seriously -- that Saddam Hussein would have kept rattling his saber once he started hearing that creepy John Carpenter piano music?
Now here's something that may seem to have nothing to do with the above, but trust me, it does. One of my favorite moments in Rob Reiner's ''Stand By Me'' (based on my short novel ''The Body,'' although this isn't in my story) comes when Vern and Teddy -- not the brightest bulbs in the Great Light Fixture of Life -- are discussing who'd win a battle between Superman and Mighty Mouse.
Teddy opts for Superman, because everybody knows Mighty Mouse is a cartoon, not a real guy.
Vern thinks this over, very carefully, and then (with a heartbreaking look) says, ''Yeah, it would be a good fight, though!''
You see where this is going, don't you? Sure you do.
Our parents didn't have Freddy, Jason, and Michael; they were stuck with Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man. But it's always been the same idea: The first movie comes along and scares the bejabbers out of everyone. Then come the sequels. And as any horror-movie buff will tell you, sequels are almost never frightening.
The trouble with the return engagements is that the scary guy becomes your pal. You actually start to root for him. (Frankie, Drac, and Wolfie eventually even appeared in that great Halloween fave ''Monster Mash,'' sung by Bobby ''Boris'' Pickett and his vocal group, the Crypt-Kickers.)
That's what happened to Freddy (bogeyman of Elm Street), Jason (bogeyman of Camp Crystal Lake), and Michael (bogeyman of Haddonfield, Ill.). One of my sons went trick-or-treating one year in a Freddy Krueger hat he carefully distressed himself (although his mother drew the line at allowing him to dismember several pairs of scissors in order to make ''Freddy fingers''). My other son had a Jason Voorhees action figure. He would even take this to bed with him, explaining that Jason could beat up ''the really bad guys'' in his closet.
These three franchises have generated over two dozen feature films, and it's hard to remember how genuinely scary these guys were in their debuts. I'm case-hardened to horror, but ''A Nightmare on Elm Street,'' ''Friday the 13th,'' and ''Halloween'' all scared the hell out of me (although I believe that ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,'' a film to which there have also been a number of paltry sequels, is still the all-time champeen when it comes to pure fright). With the exception of the ''Dream Warriors'' entry in the ''Freddy'' series, not one of the sequels has raised a single goose bump on my arms. So why do these pictures keep on appearing for a week or so at the local 10-plex on their way to Blockbuster and Hollywood Video?
The answer is simple: because schmucks like me keep going to see them. And why? Because the fear generated by a good horror picture is a drug, and as any junkie will tell you, you go on chasing the high long after the high is gone. Sure, ''Halloween: H20'' sucked, we tell ourselves, but maybe the next Michael Myers flick will be made by someone who really understands and loves the genre, and we'll get a jolt of the original terror we felt when John Carpenter actually put us behind the mask, or when Jason came surging out of Crystal Lake to grab the girl in the rowboat after we thought he had to be dead.
When it comes to horror franchises, the second-to-last gasp is almost always the ''combo movie,'' and this summer we have, for better or worse, reached that point with ''Freddy vs. Jason.'' And I'll be first in line. I mean, in my heart I know it's gonna be terrible, but I'll still be there. After all, it's not the final twitch in this evolutionary process: That's the comedy. Eventually someone may convince Tom Green or Adam Sandler to square off against Freddy or Michael Myers. That one I think I'll be able to skip; some things are so shameful and ugly we should avert our eyes.
But that debacle is for later. Now we have Jason versus Freddy. Everyone who goes will be like me, forking over for the ticket while knowing that the very idea is ludicrous, a setup job only a studio accountant could love (and probably only then by looking ahead to the foreign grosses), and yet...
Maybe it'll be good.
Even if it's not, remember what Vern Tessio said in ''Stand By Me'' about a Superman -- Mighty Mouse confrontation: No matter who wins, it'll be a good fight.


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Fri February 1, 2013
China's Incoming Leader Bans Extravagant Banquets
By editor
Originally published on Tue February 12, 2013 11:26 am
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. China's incoming president wants to be seen as a man of the people. And he seems to know what the people don't want from their politicians. So for this year's opening of parliament, the president has banned extravagant banquets, gifts, flowers in rooms.
And in a parliament filled with hand-picked delegates used to launching to endless praise of the party, also banned are long-winded speeches; plus, empty talk is discouraged.
It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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I planted 3 white oleander trees a year ago and they are getting tall, but don't seem to be getting bushy. They are about 8 feet tall and only about 3 feet wide. They are young trees and I want them to eventually be bushy. How and when should I prune them to get them form into a ball type shape? I greatly appreciate advice. I cannot find anything on the web. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by cold_weather_is_evil Tucson Arizona (My Page) on Thu, Mar 13, 14 at 21:57
In the GardenWeb search box at the top of the page type "pruning oleanders". There's a small topic on it. That phrase also gets scads of hits on google. |
Thanks for your response. I saw the topic on pruning oleanders, but when I read it, it was about bushes. I have found a lot on the web related to bushes, but not on how to prune trees. I don't know if they are pruned differently. |
- Posted by lazygardens PhxAZ%3A Sunset 13 (My Page) on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 7:35
You want a "ball on a stick" kind of oleander? Start by making the "stick" ... pick the most vertical shoot it has. Prune off all the side branches and force it into an upright with a single stem. You may have to stake it for a while. Shorten the branches at the top to encourage them to branch out. Keep pruning off any side buds below the spot you want the ball part, and keep the ball pruned. For a multi-branched oleander "tree", pick several thick branches and prune off the side shoots for a few feet above the ground. As the tree grows, keep pruning up the stem until you have a smallish tree. |
- Posted by tomatofreak Z9 Phx USA (My Page) on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 14:12
Oleanders aren't trees; they're bushes. You can form them into small trees with judicious pruning. The first time I saw them as something more than a mess was in Ajo, AZ where they're planted around the town square. Beautiful. The link below has a link to all you'd ever need to know about oleanders. |
Here is a link that might be useful: oleander 'trees'
- Posted by cold_weather_is_evil Tucson Arizona (My Page) on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 16:08
Okay, here's another possibility, The International Oleander Society below |
Here is a link that might be useful: www.oleander.org
Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions. I really appreciated them. I want my oleanders to look like the ball form in the photo above. I definitely need to do some pruning of my trees, but now that it is Spring and there are buds on the branches, I guess I have to wait until Fall. |
- Posted by lazygardens PhxAZ%3A Sunset 13 (My Page) on Fri, Mar 21, 14 at 11:55
You don't have to wait - oleanders can be pruned any time of year. Take off all the side branches under the point where you want the ball to start. In fact, if you are shaping, pruning several times a year, lightly, is the best way. |
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8 March 1997
The Economist, 8 March 1997, pp. 15-16, 21-24.
ADVANCES in military technology have often had momentous effects. The invention of the stirrup enabled mounted warriors to put all the force of the horse behind the spears that they had hitherto thrust with only the strength of their arm. The arrival of that technology in Western Europe in the eighth century soon led to the seizure of church lands and the establishment of feudalism among the Franks. Seven centuries later feudalism was undermined by the longbow, which destroyed the power of horse-owning aristocrats. More recently, the invention of nuclear weapons has brought about a paradoxical peace among superpowers. Now another military revolution is dawning. This one could put the already pre-eminent United States vastly ahead of enemies and allies alike, and thus change the world again.
This latest revolution is based on the application of information technology to weapons. It involves gathering huge amounts of data; processing them so that relevant information is displayed on a screen; and then destroying targets, at much greater distance and with much greater accuracy than was previously possible. These changes favour attack rather than defence: large, easy-to-hit objects -- whether military bases, ships, tanks or concentrations of troops -- are increasingly vulnerable to weapons such as cruise missiles steered by satellite beams (see below).
All this is bad news for America's potential foes. Russia, a once and perhaps future rival, has neither the money nor the know-how to imitate the latest American advances. Other countries with more cash to spare may aspire to master enough of the new technology to challenge American power locally. China, for instance, is plainly flexing its muscles in Asia. Iran wants to develop cruise missiles to allow it to keep other countries' ships away from the Gulf But the Americans' mastery of the new warfare will make it increasingly foolish to take them on in a high-intensity shooting war, as Saddam Hussein did. So if anyone wants to have a go at Uncle Sam, he will probably do so by other methods, such as ballistic missiles, biological weapons or terrorism.
The revolution also has implications for America's friends. By increasing American might, it may encourage the country's unilateralist element to think it can win wars without having to work with troublesome partners. In any event, working with allies will probably become more bothersome: their low-tech armies may be incapable of plugging into American information networks. Moreover, given the increasing vulnerability of military bases to missile attack, America may wish to withdraw its soldiers from Europe and Asia. When necessary, it will be able to strike its enemies with long-range weapons and mobile intervention forces.
Such a retreat inside American frontiers could have dire consequences for Europe. Happily for America's partners, however, there are arguments that may persuade it to share some of the new technologies. The more internationalist among American strategists have long argued that a stronger Europe would be better able to help the United States sort out the world's crises. America could strengthen Europe's military capability by, for instance, giving NATO allies access to cruise missiles and the satellites that steer them (Britain has already bought Tomahawk cruise missiles for its submarines). Sharing could also save money: if America wanted to cast a missile-defence shield over its troops on a task abroad, why not protect its allies' forces on the same mission and send the bill to their governments? Needless to say, American defence contractors are all for helping allies.
So long as the internationalists run its foreign policy, America is likely to share at least the less sensitive sorts of equipment. That would reinforce trends that are already visible within NATO, such as role-sharing between America and its European partners. American voters, and some American defence secretaries, are more reluctant than they used to be to risk their servicemen's lives in a fight; some of America's allies, if not all of them, are still a bit readier to accept casualties. So when America wants to intervene abroad it may expect its allies to provide troops, but offer high-tech equipment as a quid pro quo. That is what happened in Bosnia, in 1992-95: American warplanes, satellites and airborne radars supported non-American soldiers. It was not an entirely happy experience. On the evidence of Bosnia, that kind of division is likely to create huge strains within the alliance. But the allies may still prefer it to being completely cut out.
The more advanced America's technology, the more clout it will have. Already, it would be hard for the Europeans to mount a serious military operation without American help. Last year, when NATO agreed to establish European-only taskforces, the Americans promised to lease the Europeans the necessary command, control and communications equipment. But it is unlikely that they would want to sustain an operation they disapproved of. European governments would be free to back an EU foreign policy with armed force -- so long as America gave its blessing.
The French appear to be the only Europeans worried by the new technology gap. Trying to keep up, they have launched one spy satellite and want Germany to help pay for others. The Japanese have similar worries, and hopes for similar satellites. But, like the French, they are unlikely to catch up with America. Europe may not like the idea of an alliance even more dominated by the United States, but it may have to lump it. Better a dominant than a unilateralist America.
The comfort is that, when America uses its gee-whizz new weapons, it will often be in pursuit of objectives that Europe shares. Many of their fundamental interests are similar. So long as the Americans are prepared to share their discoveries, and so long as the Europeans do not expect just to bask in the Americans' protection come what may, this military revolution could in the end help to tighten transatlantic ties. [End editorial]
Only America is close to mastering the new technologies that are transforming war. That gives it a huge advantage over potential foes -- and allies
MILITARY revolutions occur repeatedly throughout history. They are as often based on broader social developments as on military technology; generally they favour offence. Revolutionary France used new ideas such as liberty and patriotism to create huge "citizen armies" which swept all before them for a while. In the 1860s the Prussians in Europe and the northerners in the American civil war exploited the telegraph, railway and rifle to win wars on the basis of superior logistics. In the 1930s, when all the big powers were developing tanks, radios and bombers, Germany found the tactics and organisation that could meld them into Blitzkrieg.
The world is in the early stages of a new military revolution. The technologies include digital communications, which allow data to be compressed; a "global positioning system" (GPS) of satellites, which makes more exact guidance and navigation possible; radar-evading "stealth"; and, of course, computer processing.
One of the first people to think about what such changes might mean was Nikolai Ogarkov, the Soviet chief of staff. In 1984 he started worrying that America's long-range cruise missiles would create a "revolution in military affairs". Elements of that revolution have already been glimpsed. In the 1991 Gulf war stealthy F-117 bombers, laser-guided bombs and precisely targeted cruise missiles destroyed many Iraqi installations. And over Bosnia the Americans have deployed JSTARS, a ground-surveillance system in the sky: a single screen can display, in any weather, the position and type of every vehicle within an area 200 kilometres (125 miles) square.
This embryonic revolution, unlike the development of nuclear weapons, has not emerged in response to any particular threat to the United States or its allies. It has come about because it is there -- that is, because generals want to play with new technologies in case a future threat emerges. In that it may resemble Blitzkrieg, which was based on the technologies of the 1920s, when defence budgets were declining and there seemed little prospect of another world war. "This revolution is just beginning. It's in the phase of thinking, analysis and war games -- as if we were in about 1922," says Andrew Marshall, a Pentagon official who has encouraged research on many of the new devices. "In future we'll need to spend money on getting the forces to experiment with new sorts of operation."
No one can be certain where this revolution will end. But a few of the questions that it raises can be posed.How will it affect the way armies fight and are organised? Will it make much difference to "low-intensity" conflicts such as guerrilla warfare? How easily could the new techniques be countered? And will the revolution make America unchallengeable?
The revolution in military affairs revolves around three advances. The first is in gathering intelligence. Sensors in satellites, aircraft or unmanned aircraft can monitor virtually everything going on in an area. The second is in processing intelligence. Advanced command, control, communication and computing systems, known as C4, make sense of the data gathered by the sensors and display it on-screen. They can then assign particular targets to missiles, tanks or whatever. The third is in acting on all this intelligence -- in particular, by using long-range precision strikes to destroy targets. Cruise missiles, guided by satellite, can hit an individual building many hundreds of miles away.
America's armed forces have elements of these new systems already up and running. The navy's "Co-operative Engagement Capability" enables several warships to combine their radars into a single, more powerful one, available to each ship. But America has not yet integrated the advances into a single "system of systems", to use the phrase of Admiral William Owens, until recently vice-chairman of the chiefs of staff. Such a system would allow a commander to watch a screen displaying everything going on in a battle, select targets and destroy them by pressing a button.
What are the implications of all this? Much of the thinking about that question -- in the Pentagon and in think-tanks such as the Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments -- concentrates on what might happen as offence is strengthened against defence. Combat will probably be compressed in time: modern missiles and bombs are so powerful that each side will have a strong incentive to strike first and thus stop the enemy doing anything.
Operations will also expand in space, so that fewer concentrations of soldiers or vehicles are exposed. For centuries, the battlefield has been emptying. In 1815 a division (normally 15,000-20,000 men) occupied about three square miles. Today it may take up a space of 25 miles by 25. By 2015 it may require an area of 100 miles by 100. Troops will move rapidly over the battlefield in small groups; there will be nothing resembling a front line.
Since defences against missiles are unlikely to be foolproof, ports and air bases (indeed fixed sites of all kinds) will be increasingly vulnerable. So logistical chains will be harder to sustain, which means that expeditionary forces will need to carry more of their supplies with them. Warriors and their machines will find stealth and mobility more useful than armour.
The new warfare will be "multi-dimensional", meaning not only that air, sea and land operations will be increasingly integrated, but also that information and outer space will be part of modern war. "Information warfare" could mean disabling an enemy by wrecking his computing, financial, telecoms or air-traffic control systems. The relevant weapons might be computer viruses, electro-magnetic pulses, microwave beams, well-placed bombs or anything that can smash a satellite.
Western governments worry that an "information strike" could crash their own computers. America's National Security Agency has recruited hundreds of people to grapple with information warfare. But the decentralisation of modern computer networks, plus the practice of copying databases, makes it unlikely that a single blow could disable a western economy.
On the battlefield the information warrior will aim to create an information gap" between his side and the foe. He will attack the enemy's information-gathering capacity and try to mislead his systems with decoys. He will seek to stop the enemy from jamming or corrupting his own systems by hopping from one frequency to another and by using encryption.
America depends on satellites to take photos, spot missile launches, eavesdrop, run the GPS and route military communications. No country yet threatens its dominance of space and neither America nor anyone else has deployed space-based weapons. But if, at some point, a power such as China sought to challenge American superiority by launching sophisticated military satellites, America would be sorely tempted to militarise space.
It might procure a fighter-borne anti-satellite missile that it has already developed. In fact, any country with inter-continental ballistic missiles could use them to knock out satellites. What may come are killer satellites, armed with missiles or lasers; or space mines that approach a target before exploding. As a counter to such threats, valuable satellites may be given armour or made stealthy and manoeuvrable.
The Pentagon already has, or is developing, most of the technologies required for space weapons. For instance, it has just awarded a $1.1 billion contract for an airborne laser to hit ballistic missiles. If that technology works, it could be adapted for a satellite. The American air force wants a space vehicle that could fly in or out of the atmosphere and deploy or attack satellites.
Wait a moment, the sceptics will say. Is this military revolution all that it's cracked up to be? Even if it really does transform what might be called high-intensity conflict does it have any application to guerrilla wars or to peacekeeping?
Some of the top brass certainly regard many of the claims made for the military revolution as dubious. So when its enthusiasts call, as they do, for less money to be spent on today's weapons, and more on research and development for the future, they meet plenty of opposition. Thus the US air force (whose chiefs are nearly all fighter pilots) is reluctant to replace manned aircraft with unmanned ones.
The army is particularly suspicious of the idea that technology can disperse what Clausewitz called the "fog of war". As an experiment, it set a "digital" battalion against a conventional force in exercises. The battalion with the gee-whizz gadgets performed poorly, its soldiers handicapped by heavy equipment and by the time taken to key in the information. In other tests, however, the digital technology performed well.
America's navy and air force tend to see a battlespace as a big open space containing either friends, to be protected, or enemies, to be destroyed. To the army, things look different: the terrain is full of trees, houses, hospitals and civilians who could be friends, or foes, or neutrals. ''If a tank is beside a hospital, a soldier needs good judgment more than computer gadgets," says one infantry colonel. "No screen can convey perfect information: there is always more to know, like, are the enemy soldiers tired and hungry?"
He has a point. Most current conflicts are festering sores of guerrilla warfare, ethnic hostility or terrorism. As in the Middle Ages, many soldiers fight for local warlords or multinational forces rather than for sovereign states. Even when western powers think a conflict so serious that they must deploy peacekeepers, as in Bosnia, they are reluctant to risk casualties. A soldier who can speak the local language and negotiate patiently may be more useful in these circumstances than a stealthy B-2 bomber.
In Somalia, in 1993, Mohammad Aideed humiliated American peacekeepers by shooting them and then hiding. All of America's information-gathering systems could not find him. And the Vietnam war is a reminder that, even in a high-intensity conflict, an enemy who hides in the jungle and will not come out to fight can resist high-tech weapons.
However, those who think that this military revolution really is transforming war argue that, although it began as an attempt to match the Soviet threat, it can also help in low-intensity conflicts. American unmanned aircraft have monitored the compliance of Bosnia's armies with the Dayton agreement. Had NATO decided to arrest indicted war criminals. such as the Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, satellite espionage would have helped. A Russian aircraft blew up Jokar Dudaev, the Chechen leader, after a mobile telephone had revealed his position.
Precision strikes also offer the possibility of destroying military targets without much "collateral" damage. In September 1995 the Pentagon would not have launched cruise missiles against anti-aircraft sites in Banja Luka if it had not -- correctly -- thought there would be few Bosnian Serb casualties.
The most serious problem for those who espouse "revolutionary" military technology, say its critics, is that enemies could counter or copy its capabilities. Every breakthrough in offensive technology eventually inspires a matching advance in defence.For example, the arrival of artillery in the 15th century led to the trace italienne, sloping fortifications resistant to cannon balls. There is already talk of new radars that can detect stealthy aircraft.
How might other countries react? No country wishing to challenge America could now afford to build a "system of systems". And it would probably not want to invest heavily in traditional weapons, such as tanks and aircraft, which would be vulnerable to American technology. A poor country might choose cheap, horrific and hard-to-counter methods such as terrorist bombs, ballistic missiles or chemical or biological weapons. The regime would hope that, if the Americans had no vital interest in its part of the globe, the risk of casualties would deter them from fighting back.
A richer country might attempt to master some new technologies, such as GPS-steered cruise missiles. GPS is available to any yachtsman or missile-maker (although the Americans' military system is more accurate). Satellite photos and much electronic equipment can be bought commercially. The American navy worries that a country which had a mix of cruise missiles, spy satellites and unmanned aircraft could threaten its surface ships in some seas.
America's "system of systems" would not necessarily enable it to overcome such foes painlessly. But it would help the Americans to best any future foe, especially in a high-intensity conflict. And although other countries may pursue particular strands of the military revolution, they could find "systems integration" -- the skill of weaving all the different components and systems together -- extremely difficult. Japan might seem to be the country nearest to America in having both the wealth and the technological expertise to master the military revolution. But Japanese firms have been trying to make an advanced fighter for decades and still cannot do so without help from an American partner.
Another big advantage of America and its close allies is the culture of their armed forces. A rogue regime may acquire a "multiple launch rocket system". But will its soldiers be well-enough trained and qualified to use the system effectively and to repair it? The creation of a capable fighting force requires decades of investment and effort. As any company in a competitive market knows, the qualities of a successful rival cannot easily be acquired or copied.
The speed at which America will pursue this revolution is uncertain; that it will pursue it is not. America's armed forces -- and others which imitate them -- will have to adapt to the new technologies. Fewer soldiers, sailors and airmen will actually fight. More of them will be specialists in areas like missiles, computers or space warfare; more of them will be women. As Eliot Cohen, a military historian, has written: "The cultural challenge for military organisations will be to maintain a warrior spirit and the intuitive understanding of war that goes with it, even when their leaders are not, in large part, warriors themselves."
The military revolution will allow, in theory, a private to know as much about a battlefield as his (or her) general -- if the general lets him have the information. It will also make the general more confident than his forebears of understanding events in the field. And it will enable a defence minister to watch live video footage of a battle.
So the changes could serve either to decentralise or to centralise power in armed forces. The former may be more likely, if only because soldiers who have some leeway to take initiatives will be more effective. The organigrams of today's forces are as pyramidal as in the 1950s; armies must surely follow companies in "delayering".
Future armed forces will require different sorts of equipment. Because tanks, ships and aircraft are so vulnerable, many of them are likely to be replaced, in part, by unmanned vehicles. Dispensing with the crew saves money. America's F-22 fighters will cost over $100m each. The best unmanned aircraft, although currently less capable, cost perhaps $15m. They are already being fitted with bombs. In the long run, manned fighters may be required for only a limited number of roles, such as shooting down the most advanced enemy aircraft.
Aircraft carriers, like other surface ships, risk being sunk by cruise missiles. Some will be replaced by "arsenal ships" semi-submersible, stealthy barges, carrying hundreds of missiles but few sailors. The Pentagon is developing these ships partly for their cheapness. They would carry no radar or targeting systems: satellites would beam down the relevant information. A large carrier costs $3.5 billion and has a crew of 5,000; an arsenal ship would cost perhaps $500m and have a crew of 50.
So much for the military implications. What about the political ones? This revolution, argues Admiral Owens, offers America a new basis for coalition leadership. "We'll be in a far better position to shape the world, rather than react to it, than at any time since world war two." In the past "the nuclear umbrella provided a co-operative structure, linking the United States in a mutually beneficial way to a wide range of friends, allies and neutral nations." Now an "information umbrella", based on intelligence sharing, could perform a comparable function. If America fails to share the bounty of the military revolution, he says, its allies will try to copy it.
He is probably thinking of France, which, impressed by what American satellites did in the Gulf war, reinforced its own efforts to build spy satellites. But the French have not got the money to develop many of the new systems themselves. Military theorists in Russia and China write copiously about the revolution but neither of those countries' armed forces appear to be doing much about it. So America is likely to maintain its huge lead, at least until and unless a richer China or a revived Russia pushes itself into the competition. America may in the meantime share some of these technologies with its friends; or it may press ahead with them on its own. Either way, the military revolution will greatly expand American power in the years ahead.


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Dutch Queen To Abdicate After 33 Years In Favor Of Son
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will abdicate this year and be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, who will become the country's first king in more than a century.
Beatrix, who turns 75 on Jan. 31, will cede the Dutch throne to Willem-Alexander on April 30, she said in a televised address to the nation from her Huis ten Bosch palace in The Hague Monday evening. Beatrix succeeded her mother, Queen Juliana, when she abdicated in 1980.
"I am not abdicating because this office is too much of a burden, but out of conviction that the responsibility for our nation should now rest in the hands of a new generation," Beatrix said in the speech.
Willem-Alexander, 45, married Argentina's Maxima Zorreguieta, 42, a former investment banker, in 2002 and has three daughters. The Netherlands has had female heads of state since King Willem III died in 1890. Juliana's mother, Wilhelmina, also gave up the throne in 1948.
In 1966, Beatrix's marriage to Claus von Amsberg, a former German diplomat who served in that nation's army during World War II, drew protests that deteriorated into rioting, with smoke bombs thrown at police. That reflected continuing bitterness over Germany's wartime occupation of the Netherlands. Prince Claus died Oct. 6, 2002, at the age of 76.
The Dutch royal family fled to Britain in May 1940 as German troops swept across the border. In June of that year Juliana took her children to Canada. The family returned to the Netherlands on Aug. 2, 1945, according to the website of the royal family. Queen Beatrix graduated in law from Leiden University in 1961.
Willem becomes king at a time when the role of the Dutch monarch in politics has been reduced. The sovereign previously played a key role in the formation of governments. Parliament agreed early last year, though, that it should oversee the process of agreeing on new coalitions without the involvement of the monarch, and the Liberal and Labor parties formed a government under the new rules after elections in September.
The queen also suffered a personal tragedy last year after Friso van Orange, her second son, who is 44, suffered massive brain damage following a skiing accident in Austria. He may never regain consciousness.
Willem-Alexander, now known as the Prince of Orange, studied history at Leiden University and served in the Royal Netherlands Navy. He's a member of the International Olympic Committee. He became chairman of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation in 2006.
Van de Pol reported from Frankfurt.
Copyright © 2015, Hartford Courant


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Research Topics
Species | Faiyaz AhmadSummaryAffiliation: National Institutes of Health Country: USA Publications
| Collaborators
Detail Information
- Alterations in regulation of energy homeostasis in cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B-null miceYoung Hun Choi
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
J Clin Invest 116:3240-51. 2006..Altered expression and/or regulation of PDE3B may contribute to metabolic dysregulation, including systemic insulin resistance... - Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3 signaling complexesF Ahmad
Cardiovascular Pulmonary Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Horm Metab Res 44:776-85. 2012.... - Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B is a downstream target of protein kinase B and may be involved in regulation of effects of protein kinase B on thymidine incorporation in FDCP2 cellsF Ahmad
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
J Immunol 164:4678-88. 2000..These results suggest that PDE3B, not PDE4, is a target of PKB and that activated PDE3B may regulate cAMP pools that modulate effects of PKB on thymidine incorporation and BAD phosphorylation in FDCP2 cells... - Differential regulation of adipocyte PDE3B in distinct membrane compartments by insulin and the beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL316243: effects of caveolin-1 knockdown on formation/maintenance of macromolecular signalling complexesFaiyaz Ahmad
Translational Medicine Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Biochem J 424:399-410. 2009..These results suggest that cav-1 acts as a molecular chaperone or scaffolding molecule in cholesterol-rich lipid rafts that may be necessary for the proper stabilization and activation of PDE3B in response to CL and insulin... - Insulin-induced formation of macromolecular complexes involved in activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) and its interaction with PKBFaiyaz Ahmad
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch, NHLBI National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg 10, Room 5N307, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Biochem J 404:257-68. 2007..Recruitment of PDE3B in macromolecular complexes may be critical for regulation of specific cAMP pools and signalling pathways by insulin, e.g. lipolysis... - A role for phosphodiesterase 3B in acquisition of brown fat characteristics by white adipose tissue in male miceEmilia Guirguis
Pulmonary Cardiovascular Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
Endocrinology 154:3152-67. 2013.... - Female infertility in PDE3A(-/-) mice: polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) may be a target of protein kinase A (PKA) and involved in meiotic arrest of oocytes from PDE3A(-/-) miceWeixing Shen
Translational Medicine Branch TMB, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Cell Cycle 9:4720-34. 2010..PKAc phosphorylated rPlk1 and Hela cell Plk1 and inhibited Plk1 activity in vitro. Our results suggest that PKA-induced inhibition of Plk1 may be critical in oocyte meiotic arrest and female infertility in PDE3A(-/-) mice... - Interaction of phosphodiesterase 3A with brefeldin A-inhibited guanine nucleotide-exchange proteins BIG1 and BIG2 and effect on ARF1 activityErmanno Puxeddu
Translational Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:6158-63. 2009..Thus, PDE3A in these BIG1 and BIG2 AKAP complexes may contribute to the regulation of ARF function via limitation of cAMP effects with spatial and temporal specificity... - Effects of the human immunodeficiency virus-protease inhibitor, ritonavir, on basal and catecholamine-stimulated lipolysisDiane C Adler-Wailes
Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:3251-61. 2005..We conclude that ritonavir decreases PDE3B and perilipin protein expression and affects both basal and catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes primarily through actions at sites downstream of PKA... - Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of murine cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3BFaiyaz Ahmad
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, USA
Methods Mol Biol 307:93-107. 2005..Thus, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is effective for studying expression and regulation of recombinant PDE3 in insulin-responsive cells as well as insulin-secreting cells... - Resveratrol ameliorates aging-related metabolic phenotypes by inhibiting cAMP phosphodiesterasesSung Jun Park
Laboratory of Obesity and Aging Research, Genetics and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Cell 148:421-33. 2012..Therefore, administration of PDE4 inhibitors may also protect against and ameliorate the symptoms of metabolic diseases associated with aging... - Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates lipolysis in differentiated human adipocytes through activation of extracellular signal-related kinase and elevation of intracellular cAMPHui H Zhang
Jean Mayer U S Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
Diabetes 51:2929-35. 2002..Cotreatment with PD98059 restored PDE3B expression. These studies suggest that in human adipocytes, TNF-alpha stimulates lipolysis through activation of MEK-ERK and subsequent increase in intracellular cAMP... - Plasma membrane cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) is associated with caveolae in primary adipocytesRebecka Nilsson
Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
Cell Signal 18:1713-21. 2006..Thus, PDE3B, a key enzyme in insulin signalling, appears to be associated with caveolae in adipocytes and this localization seems to be functionally important... - Multisite phosphorylation of adipocyte and hepatocyte phosphodiesterase 3BRebecka Lindh
Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Division for Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Biochim Biophys Acta 1773:584-92. 2007..Several of the sites were phosphorylated by insulin as well as cAMP-increasing hormones indicating integration of the two signalling pathways upstream of PDE3B, maybe at the level of protein kinase B... - Isoforms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase PDE3 and their contribution to cAMP hydrolytic activity in subcellular fractions of human myocardiumRyan Hambleton
Cardiology Section, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah 84148, USA
J Biol Chem 280:39168-74. 2005..cGMP may amplify cAMP-mediated signaling in intracellular compartments of human myocardium by PDE3-dependent and PDE3-independent mechanisms...


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Papa Murphy's is opening two new take-and-bake pizza stores in Mesa this month.
A store at 1229 S. Power Road will open Aug. 15 and one at 1955 W. Baseline Road will open Aug. 22.
Papa Murphy's already has two locations in Mesa as well as two in Chandler, one in Gilbert, one in Apache Junction and several elsewhere in the Valley. The chain has more than 1,250 stores nationwide.


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A Sporting Chance.
Location of events unknown.
Possibly related to rationing food? People stand waiting in line on a city street, all staring at the camera. Working class. Women holding babies. Slow pan down line - many children. A boy is tapping himself on the chest and calling to someone else in the crowd; girl is holding smaller sister's hand. Woman with pram. Little girl holding pet cat; really cute.
About 1 frame of CU butcher shop. Shot of crowd from above; with vegetable carts alongside and part of awning in FG. Barrow man tips his hat to us several times - it looks quite funny! - SL.


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Showing All "Shaq" Posts
Aug 12th, 2013 6 Comments
Lindsay Lohan met Shaq. THE END, I JUST THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW. -Celebuzz
Have you not yet gotten enough Breaking Bad promotion? Then maybe you want to listen to Vince Gilligan on The Nerdist!…   Read Story »
Feb 4th, 2013 12 Comments
Baldwin Brother OR Elks' Lodge Leader from the 1960s? -Uproxx
Jason Bateman & Jimmy Fallon in Real People, Fake Arms -TastefullyOffensive
Shaq lip-syncs to Beyoncé's "Halo" at The Super…   Read Story »
Jul 5th, 2012 43 Comments
Last night I watched a documentary about "The Dream Team," the 1992 USA Olympic basketball team that had every famous basketball player in the entire world on it, not because I am interested in any…   Read Story »


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If you follow enough Raptors fans on twitter or surround yourself with enough Raptors fans, one thing you've probably read and heard enough of is complaints that the Raptors don't go to the free throw line as much as they should.
Whether it's due to a lack of aggression on offence or a lack of respect from the officials, here's what we do know: In seven games, the Raptors have only had an advantage over their opponents in free throw attempts twice, and on average, they are being out-chanced at the line 27-19.
In comparison to other teams, the Raptors currently sit 27th in free throw attempts per game, with 19.1, heading into Game No. 8 tonight in Philadelphia. They also sit 24th in the league in free throws made per game, with 15.
Making their free throws once they're at the line doesn't seem to be much of a problem, as the Raps currently rank seventh in free throw percentage. Sure, they can definitely improve their 78.4 per cent success rate, but right now, their percentage isn't the issue.
The problem is that it doesn't matter how well the team shoots free throws if they don't get to the line enough to compete with the other team on the floor.
But all of this sounded too simplistic to me, and raised a very important question. What if the Raptors' low free throw attempts are simply the result of a slower offensive pace this season and less field goal attempts in general?
Toronto currently sits 29th, second-last in the NBA, with just 74 field goal attempts per game. In addition, the Raps are 26th in the NBA in "Pace Factor," as the team has only used an average of 91.2 possessions per game during their 3-4 start.
So I decided to crunch the numbers, and look at each team's average free throw attempts per 100 possessions. Looking at things this way was interesting (and ranked the Raptors 26th with about 21 free throw attempts per 100 possessions), but the problem is that it doesn't take into account things like turnovers, which negate a chance at free throws without being a direct result of how aggressive the team is or how favourable the officiating is.
I figured the best advanced statistic to look at was free throw attempts per 100 field goal attempts, and as expected, the numbers weren't too kind to the Raptors. Based on my calculations as of this morning, the best teams in the NBA at getting to the free throw line are the Knicks, Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers and Hawks, with those five teams averaging about 35-37 free throws per 100 field goal attempts.
At the very bottom of the spectrum are teams like the Rockets, Bobcats, Pistons, Bucks and Suns, who average as low as 17.7 free throw attempts in Houston's case, and about 22-23 attempts in the other fours teams' cases.
As for those Raptors, they currently sit 23rd in the NBA with 25.88 free throw attempts per 100 field goal attempts, which means whether you're just making an observation from watching a game, whether you're looking at basic stats like free throw attempts per game, or whether you're digging deeper into advanced stats, you're right when you say that the Raptors need to get to the line more.
Think about it this way. The average team, or middle of the pack team when it comes to getting to the line, gets 29-30 attempts per 100 field goal attempts. If the Raptors got to the free throw line even at just an average rate, for their 74 field goal attempts per game, they would get to the free throw line 21-22 times, instead of their current average of 19 trips to the line per game.
While two to three extra free throws per game doesn't sound like much (and at the end of the day, maybe it's just one more per game from each of Bargnani and DeRozan), a free chance at an extra couple of points per game could be huge for a defensive-minded team that should keep most games close and that's current plus/minus margin is just -1.2.
One last interesting note from my findings. For all of you out there that believe the officiating is usually slanted against the Raptors, there's this: While the average NBA team gets to the free throw line about 29-30 times per 100 field goal attempts, Raptors opponents have gone to the line 34.4 times per 100 field goal attempts through seven games. That rate would be sixth-highest in the NBA if one team actually averaged it, and looks even more inflated when you realize that opponents go to the line about nine extra times per 100 field goal attempts than Toronto does during the same game.
I probably won't have a Six Thoughts on the Game post after tonight's matchup with the 76ers, but the Raptors are in action six times in the next eight days, so I'm sure we'll be in frequent contact.
Enjoy your weekend.


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The Admissions Office of Calhoun Community College today announced plans to conduct on-site registration this Saturday, August 17 from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm to assist students who may still need to register and/or see an advisor. Admissions, advising, financial aid, and cashier's office staff will be available at both the Decatur and Huntsville campuses to assist students in the enrollment and registration process and to answer any questions.
"While registration will continue on campus for the remainder of this week at our regular times, we are once again conducting our Saturday on-site registration to meet student demand and to accommodate those students and parents who may not be able to come to campus during regular hours," commented Pauletta Burns, director of enrollment management and registrar for the college.
Calhoun's 2013 fall semester classes begin Monday, August 19. Students may continue to register through Sunday, August 18 without penalty. Those with questions related to admissions and registration should contact the Admissions Office at 256-306-2593 in Decatur or 256-890-4717 in Huntsville. Questions related to Financial Aid should be directed to 256-306-2628 in Decatur or 256-890-4715 at the Huntsville campus.
For general information about the college, visit the website at www.calhoun.edu


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I must admit, I got a little bit spoiled by ELLIS FAAS, and I can be nothing but grateful for that! I got the ELLIS FAAS Holder with 8 cosmetics of my choice inside! For the next couple of posts, I will be revealing each one of them,
the colours, how it feels and just your usual make-up review. But also, Maria Papadopoulou; the head make-up artist of ELLIS FAAS! Maria is also beauty editor of OZON Magazine. She will reveal the Spring/Summer 2013 make-up looks in the next post! I'm just excited as you are
So stay tuned for some exciting things to come!
For more pictures, click here!
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Apple Tuna Sandwiches Recipe
My husband and his buddies love to pack these tasty sandwiches when they go on fishing trips. The tangy tuna salad gets fun flavor from sweet pickle relish and lots of crunch from apples, celery and walnuts. The satisfying sandwiches are a complete meal in themselves.
-Ivy Eresmas, Dade City, Florida
- 1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 pouch (7.1 ounces) light water-packed tuna
- 1/2 cup chopped red apple
- 6 slices reduced-calorie bread, toasted
- 6 lettuce leaves
- In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; stir in tuna and apple. Spread 1/2 cup tuna mixture on three slices of bread. Top with lettuce and remaining bread. Yield: 3 servings.
Originally published as Apple Tuna Sandwiches in Quick Cooking
May/June 2000, p31
Light-Bodied White Wine
Enjoy this recipe with a light-bodied white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
Reviews for Apple Tuna Sandwiches
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Reviewed Sep. 5, 2014
"I've never had any not like this. Don't be afraid to put the apple in."
Reviewed Nov. 29, 2013
"I don't like tuna, but this recipe is excellent with chicken instead. Favorite lunch sandwich filling for spring and summer."
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2013
"Replaced my old tuna recipe! My kids and I are loving the apples and celery! Light, great texture, delicious!"
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2013
"Great taste and easy! We did not make a sandwich, but used it as a side salad for lunch. Substituted red onion, slivered almonds and a bit of pepper and salt. Will definitely make again."
Reviewed Jul. 6, 2013
"I've been making this tuna salad since the recipe was in the magazine in the 90s. It's my favorite way to eat tuna...delicious!"