text:
The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
Index pages
by Date of Document
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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[OS] CZECH REPUBLIC - Klaus calls direct presidential election a fatal mistake
Released on 2012-10-11 16:00 GMT
Email-ID | 5114549 |
Date | 2011-12-19 12:40:27 |
From | email@example.com |
To | email@example.com |
List-Name | email@example.com |
19 December 2011
Prague, Dec 18 (CTK) - A direct election of Czech president is a fatal
mistake and it will look like a Superstar contest, President Vaclav Klaus
said on a Prima TV discussion programme Sunday.
The government coalition and the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) passed
the bill on a direct election in the lower house of Czech parliament on
Wednesday. The upper house is yet to discuss the bill.
Under the bill, a presidential candidate could be proposed by at least
50,000 citizens over 18 years signing a petition, or at least 20 deputies
or ten senators.
"I consider the direction presidential election a fatal mistake," Klaus
The election of Czech president by a joint session of both houses of
parliament might have seemed complicated and accompanied by many disputes
and suspicions, but the direct election would become "a new big Czech
Superstar" contest where rational considerations will be put aside, he
Klaus said a direct election was good in a presidential system, for
example in the United States where the president is a key player on the
political scene.
But a directly elected president in the Czech Republic would not have the
present limited presidential powers extended but rather further reduced,
Klaus said. At the same time, the direct election would strengthen the
president's position, which may be dangerous, he added.
Klaus indicated that a directly elected president would focus on being
popular among the citizens rather than on being a unifying element of the
political scene.
The president may have no link to the political scene and play only his or
her own game, Klaus said.


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He also insists that his board doesn't dictate the center's agenda. His staff is as likely to devote time consulting with one of the "affiliate" members, who pay dues of $195-$250 a year, as it is with one of the $25,000-and-up "founders."
Burgess adds that the center deliberately avoided addressing telecommunications issues for the first five years of its existence, even though he regards the field as "the most important revolution going on in our time--as important as the Gutenberg press." Former staffers say they were instructed to minimize the think tank's ties to US West, for reasons both strategic and economic. "There was always a concern not to look like US West was the sole funder and an effort to get money elsewhere--willy-nilly, sometimes," says one.
So what does US West get out of its investment? Board chairman Trujillo wasn't available for comment, but Burgess says he once asked Jack MacAllister that question. "He said, 'What's good for the West is good for US West,'" Burgess recalls. "It made sense then, and it makes sense now."
Yet in recent years the center has focused increasingly on technologies and lifestyle issues in which US West has a clear financial interest: telemedicine, telecommuting, tele-you-name-it. A center study on "high performance communities" concluded that Rocky Mountain scientific talent could be better utilized if linked by telecommunications into "multistate consortia." An article by a center fellow urged smaller communities to get connected to "broadband telecommunications services" in order to attract the economic stimulus provided by Lone Eagles. More often than not, it seems, the center has taken the position that what's good for US West is good for the West.
Burgess contends the center is "observing" the telecom revolution, not promoting it, but the distinction disappears in his own work. In 1993 he tapped out an overheated column praising US West's $2.5 billion investment in Time Warner. "A large part of the future" had arrived, he announced, thanks to the "visionary leaders" of both companies; the ecstatic piece failed to disclose that its author is an employee of US West. Rocky Mountain News editorial-page editor Vince Carroll later described the column as a "blatant ad" for US West. (The News now identifies Burgess's connection to the company when he writes about US West, but not when he addresses telecom issues in general--as he did in a recent column about doing an "information audit" of his home, which concluded that his TCI cable service was a relative bargain.)
The lopsided support from US West remains a sore point at the center. When asked for a list of the organization's top ten donors and amounts contributed, Wurmstedt refused, saying such disclosure "is a privilege of donors." During a two-and-a-half-hour interview, though, Burgess said that the center's "founder" members contribute between $15,000 and $25,000 a year, with two exceptions: GTE, which donates $50,000 a year, and US West, which ponies up $750,000.
Burgess says he hopes to see US West's contribution reduced to $500,000 in the near future, as the center continues to tap into new funding sources. Yet even the $750,000 figure understates US West's current level of support, since it doesn't include Burgess's salary--which is not listed in the center's public tax filings and may be the most closely guarded secret in the organization.
Tax records do, however, reveal that the center's president continues to wear many hats in his dual role as US West exec and independent think-tanker. The center operates a speakers' bureau, and among the disbursements for fiscal year 1994 was an unspecified portion of the $34,400 that Burgess earned in speaking fees. The money was paid to Burgess and Associates, "a corporation wholly owned by Mr. Burgess."
Over the years, the Center for the New West has taken credit for a number of heroic achievements, from slaying ill-advised energy legislation to standing up for the economic vitality of rural communities. Yet the cause-effect relationship between a think tank's work and public-policy decisions is rarely a straightforward one, and even the center's most solid claims tend to involve triumphs of perception rather than fact.
Late in 1992, as the Clinton transition team began making noises about imposing a cap on carbon dioxide emissions, Burgess rallied the troops into action. The resulting study--financed entirely by the center, Burgess notes, but warmly embraced by its coal-burning-utility donors--argued that capping CO2 at 1990 levels would actually damage the environment by, among other consequences, retarding the development of cleaner coal technologies. The Clinton administration subsequently retreated from proposed carbon and BTU taxes, and victory was declared.
A success story, surely. But Burgess points out that there were more than a hundred studies arguing against the cap before the center unveiled its work at the National Press Club. The center's unique contribution, he says, was to put the issue into terms a layman could understand. Burgess himself made the rounds of energy conferences with two Styrofoam cylinders, illustrating different countries' percentages of present and projected world CO2 emissions--an impressive visual aid, right down to the color scheme (United States, green; China, red; emerging industrialized nations, black).
Another major study, backed by the Ford Foundation and others, set out to refute the pessimistic view of the Great Plains economy put forth by Rutgers University professors Frank and Deborah Popper. In 1987 the Poppers had stirred outrage from Fargo to Amarillo by suggesting that much of the Great Plains was in a state of decline and could fare better if it became a quasi-public-land "Buffalo Commons" devoted to tourism and recreation.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Webster Bible (WBT) | New International Version (NIV) |
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? | 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" |
The Webster Bible is in the public domain. (The Webster 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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Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans & Insular Affairs
Democratic Members of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
Fisheries and Coastal Communities
Thriving, sustainable fisheries are a vital component of our economy, providing good-paying jobs. Commercial and recreational fisheries contribute $163 billion in economic activity and support over 1.8 million jobs. As one of the largest consumers of seafood in the world, the United States has long demonstrated strong leadership in responsible, science-based fisheries management. The committee's role is to ensure that our fisheries continue to support our economic and societal well-being for generations to come.
- Fisheries (Domestic and International)
- Working Waterfronts
- Climate Change and the Coasts
- National Marine Sanctuaries
- Chesapeake Bay
Past, present, and future generations look to the world's oceans for sustenance, transport, recreation jobs and inspiration. More than one-half of the world's population lives within 60 miles of the ocean.
By 2025, nearly 75% of the U.S. population will live in coastal counties. The need to protect ecosystems, ensuring clean, safe, healthy oceans is the task of this committee.
- Ocean Acidification
- Marine Debris
- Renewable Energy (Oceans)
- Coral Reef Ecosystems
- National Ocean Policy
For over 100 years, the United States has demonstrated one of the strongest commitments to protect wildlife throughout the world. Abundant, healthy populations of wildlife provides countless benefits to the American people. From hunting and fishing, to wildlife observation, to scientific research, wildlife greatly contributes to our nation's economy and culture. The committee's task is to ensure that our wildlife resources are managed and conserved so that future generations continue to benefit from our wildlife resources.
Insular Areas
American Samoa
American Samoa became a U.S. territory by deed of cession, starting in 1900. The matai (local chiefs) of Tutuila, the largest island in American Samoa, ceded the island to the United States in 1900. Manu'a followed in 1904. Swain Island joined the territory in 1925 by an act of the Congress. Current American Samoa issues include:
- Diversify its Tuna canning based economy
- Adapting to U.S. minimum wage rate.
More Information
- www.americansamoa.gov
- www.amsamoatourism.com
- www.amsamoa.com
- www.house.gov/faleomavaega
- www.amsamoa.edu
- www.nps.gov/npsa/index.htm
Guam became a U.S. territory in 1898 and was placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy. The Guam Organic Act of 1950 conferred U.S. citizenship on Guamanians and established the territory's government. The Act also transferred Federal jurisdiction over Guam from the U.S. Navy to the Department of the Interior. First elections were held in 1970. Current Guam issues include:
- The relocation of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa to Guam
- Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act (H.R. 44 - to recognize the suffering and the loyalty of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II.
- Expansion of the Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver Program
More Information
Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) emerged from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) which the United States administered on behalf of the United Nations from 1947 until Palau, the last member of the TTPI to choose its own political future, became an independent country 1994. The federal law (the Covenant) making the CNMI a U.S. territory passed in 1975. The CNMI adopted its constitution in 1977, and its first constitutional government took office in 1978. The CNMI came under federal minimum wage regulations in 2007 and immigration law in 2008. In June 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security took over the CNMI's immigration and border controls. Major CNMI issues include:
- Transition from CNMI to U.S. Immigration and border control; and
- Economic Development
More Information
- www.cnmi.net/government.php
- www.mymarianas.com
- www.gov.mp
- www.deq.gov.mp
- www.cnmi-guide.com/history
- www.everyculture.com
US Virgin Islands
The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million, mainly for strategic reasons to assure tranquility in the Caribbean Ocean. U.S. citizenship was conferred on U.S. Virgin Islanders in 1927. The Organic Act of 1936 laid the foundation for self-government and a more elaborate governmental structure emerged from the revised Organic Act of 1954. The first elections for constitutional officers were held in 1970. USVI issues include:
- Economic and Political Development
More Information
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, a U.S. possession since 1898, became a commonwealth in 1952. Since then, Puerto Ricans have been considering three significantly different political status options --statehood, enhanced commonwealth, and independence -- as an alternative to the present relationship with the United States.
More Information


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Chicago Ridge mayor: 'I thought I was going to die'
BY STEVE METSCH email@example.com October 23, 2013 11:29AM
Article Extras
Chuck Tokar considers himself lucky to be alive.
Tokar, 59, the mayor of Chicago Ridge, experienced a life-threatening incident in August that, if left untreated, may have had the village seeking a new leader.
He started feeling pain one day in his left hip. He figured it may have been arthritis. Twenty-six years ago, he was involved in a serious car accident in which he suffered a broken hip. Tokar attributed the pain to that accident and didn't give it much thought.
"I thought, 'You break your hip, you probably will get arthritis.' It was not that huge a deal. It bothered me for two weeks or so, then I noticed an ache behind my knee," Tokar said.
He made an appointment with his doctor. That night, at 3 a.m., he woke up with what he thought was a charley horse.
"I reached down to rub it. It was a vein popping out of my calf, and it felt like an ice pick in my calf," he said. "I worked Friday morning for a few hours. They did an ultrasound on it at the doctor's office and the tech said, 'I've got good news and bad news. The good news is you don't have to go back to work.' "
The "bad news" had him heading directly to the emergency room at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a massive blood clot that stretched from his hip to his calf. Some doctors said it was the largest clot they had ever seen.
"I was like, 'Wonderful, that's good to hear,' " Tokar recalled recently.
He was in critical care for three days and, fortunately, a doctor who specializes in arteries and veins was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
Tokar thought his stay would be short. He wound up spending a week combined in the two hospitals. He had three surgeries in two days.
He was fortunate, in a way, that he had that car accident in 1987.
"I did have a blood clot in my right leg that did break off and went to my lung. I was at Oak Forest Hospital. I thought it was a heart attack and I was dying," he said. "They went in and put an umbrella filter in my lung to catch any clots. So this time when they did an X-ray, I said, 'That's the filter from 26 years ago.' They said I should be glad it's still there."
After the latest development, Tokar was put under doctor's orders to not sit too long and to get up and walk around often. He has a stand-up desk in the mayor's office which he uses to avoid sitting in a chair too long, lest another clot be created.
He's extremely grateful that Dr. Amir Motarjeme was able to perform the surgery.
"They say he's the best at this. I was in good hands. He did a great job," Tokar said.
Tokar lost 12 pounds while hospitalized and recently was walking with a slight limp that was expected to be temporary. He has a new chair that slopes downward a bit, designed to enhance circulation to his legs.
"In my old chair, I noticed the pins-and-needles feeling in my feet after sitting at the desk all day," he said.
Looking back at his ordeal, he conceded, "At one point, I thought I was going to die. ... I got lucky."
He offers this advice for anyone who may experience strange sensations in their legs: Call your doctor.


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Access Your Account
To access your account please select your custodian from the list below.
Plan Participant
To access your account please enter your CAPTRUST plan code below.
If you do not have your CAPTRUST plan code, please call 800.967.9948 for assistance.
For information on how to protect your financial identity, CAPTRUST has developed a checklist of action items to ensure your financial accounts are safe and secure. Click link below


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Red Tree Mug with Lid
Product Number - 750159C
Bin Number - NEW
Those lucky ones in love will find a lot to like in this red heart tree mug, which includes a red silicone lid and nonslip bottom to minimalize spills and messes. A leafy tree in the shape of a heart appears on the side, along with the phrase "I love you to high heaven." A charming mug in which to take your morning coffee or tea. |


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Got a game? We've got a competition!
We're combing the Pacific Northwest for the next hot game. The Seattle Indie Game Competition has spotlighted some of the brightest and most innovative game developers in our region. Each year, we set out on a quest to find the next big thing…
Do you think you have what it takes to battle for the elusive SIGC crown? Are you prepared to be judged by industry vets who have created some of the greatest titles? This is your chance to showcase the game you've spent countless hours fine-tuning. We'll give you the stage, you bring your game.
The submission period for the 2014 SIGC is now open – so get to work tweaking your mechanics and upgrading your graphics! It's free, so why not give it a shot?! You have until December 15th!
This year, SIGC finalists will demo at the B2B conference, Power of Play! Judges to date include representatives from Microsoft, Nintendo, Valve and Amazon.
Congratulations to our SIGC14 finalists!
Rad Dragon – Alphabeats
Sunbreak Games – Buddy & Me
Dissident Logic Games – Paperbound
The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild – Tumblestone
Night Light Interactive – Whispering Willows
See them compete for the SIGC crown on Jan 23rd!
2014 SIGC Judges
Dan Adelman, Nintendo
Chris Charla, Microsoft
Jason Chein, Games Industry Veteran
Robin Walker, Valve


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May 11th, 2009 2:17 pm
Posted by Gerry Riveros
Tags: Clusters, high performance computing, HPC, Intel Cluster Ready certified, red hat
[Excerpt] Analysts, engineers, and scientists are constantly pushing the computational limits of current IT resources. In response, businesses are increasingly adopting and utilizing High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters to gain a competitive edge. As a result, HPC is the fastest growing segment in the server industry today.
Click here to download "Red Hat HPC Solution"
You must be a Registered Member in order to comment on Cluster Connection posts.
Members enjoy the ability to take an active role in the conversations that are shaping the HPC community. Members can participate in forum discussions and post comments to a wide range of HPC-related topics. Share your challenges, insights and ideas right now.


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This is the best place for cheap car rental Saskatoon Downtown.
US-RentACar Saskatoon Downtown has the lowest possible prices for dependable and cheap Saskatoon Downtown car rental. The most convenient way to start your holiday in Canada is with a car rental Saskatoon Downtown. Reserve your Saskatoon Downtown car rental in advance to save even more money. You will pay a much lower price when you book your car rental Saskatoon Downtown well before you will arrive. We deliver discounted prices for car rental destinations all over the world, including Saskatoon.
With US-RentACar Saskatoon Downtown, you can be confident that the price you are quoted is the best all inclusive rate possible. Give yourself a perfect holiday with the freedom of car rental Saskatoon Downtown. You deserve a smooth vacation and you will be pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of a Saskatoon Downtown car rental. Do not waste anymore time, book your vehicle today with US-RentACar Saskatoon Downtown. The end result will be a worry free vacation and a satisfying experience.
There is only one place to get the highest quality cars for the cheapest prices and that is US-RentACar Saskatoon Downtown.
If you find a lower price, contact our customer support and we will work hard to match the deal!


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"It seems pretty clear the public really believes the most important things for the economy are these public goods that support economic growth … People want to do better by these assets that matter enormously for economic growth" ~ John Austin, president of the State Board of Education and director of the Michigan Economic Center
Austin is talking about "Michigan Dream Restored," a new report that shows that the public disagrees with the Republican ideas on how to encourage growth and create a higher quality of living in Michigan.
According to the survey, 64 percent of respondents said the most important thing state government can do to facilitate job growth is provide high-quality education and core services such as good roads, police and fire service, parks and libraries.
That compares with 29 percent who said cutting taxes is the most important thing state government can do to increase jobs.
And according to the survey results, residents propose paying for those assets by raising taxes on businesses.
People just aren't buying into the BS that the GOP is trying to sell.
Speaking of people not buying into the GOP BS, Kos has a post on the new permanent minority status of the Grand OLD Party. He credits their growing irrelevancy to a number of factors:
- Their goofy civil war between the crazies and the extra-crazies
- Young voters, especially latinos, are turning out for Democrats while older and predominantly Republican voters are passing on. The math favors the Democrats.
- Self-destructive actions like filibustering a Secretary of Defense nominee and opposing hurricane aid.
- And finally, their inability to move beyond "it's a marketing problem." Let's call this "denial."
And back to Michigan and crazy (or extra crazy) Republicans, here's Republican Michigander complaining about a provision that has been stricken from a gun control bill in the State of Washington. The provision would have allowed Sheriffs to search homes for assault weapons. I don't need to go read the provision because it has been removed from the bill on the basis that it was a mistake in the language. But a good Republican doesn't let that stop him from saying that even though "leftists" came out and opposed the provision as being too extreme on the basis that "even they have their limits," all leftists are lying to you when they say they won't come take your guns. Also although it was "supposedly a mistake" it probably wasn't a mistake because words mean things and attorneys check language before it goes into a bill. That is total Republican proof right there. And we haven't even discussed Ayn Rand yet.
Meanwhile how many pieces of Michigan (Republican) legislation have been challenged in court due to the fact that nobody reads them before introducing them?
Ok then.
I wanted a separate post on this, but that's the story of my life. Rep John Olumba has left the Democratic Caucus to form his own independent urban caucus. Olumba has criticized the Democratic caucus for not prioritizing the needs of Detroit, not supporting him on getting state funds restored to Detroit, and for pressuring him on an investigation into Ficano. (ugh, Ficano) Greimel responded by saying that he reached out to Olumba several times and never received an answer, and ultimately had no warning about Olumba leaving the caucus.
What's interesting about this is what we're hearing from Jase Bolger.
Bolger released a statement this afternoon confirming that Olubma had visited him several times in recent weeks and discussed his desire to leave the Democratic Caucus.
"I told Rep. Olumba that, in my view, there was no need for him to do so as I was and am willing to work with him, or any member of any party, to achieve a healthy Detroit," Bolger said. "I have said repeatedly — and I say again — I will work with anyone from any party who is willing to put politics aside and focus on accomplishing results for Michigan's hard-working taxpayers."
Olumba was obviously talking to Bolger about leaving, and not talking to Greimel about it. (Way to solve problems) And this time it looks like Bolger isn't so anxious to take credit for negotiating a Democratic defection. I don't want to say that Jase learned a lesson, but have we heard anything on that Grand Jury investigation yet?
And finally, the Right to Work for LESS law is being challenged in court again.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed two bills into law on Dec. 11, making it illegal to require public- and private-sector employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.
Ever since, there has been debate over whether the new laws apply to unionized state workers because the Michigan Constitution gives the Civil Service Commission oversight of state employees, including collective-bargaining agreements that apply to those workers.
It's as though the Republicans didn't pay any attention to what they were doing when they passed this crap. But that couldn't happen, because Republican Michigander tells us that mistakes like that don't happen.
Census Daily Wednesday, February 20th. In the early days of the telephone, knowing who had one and what the number was quickly became a problem. The first telephone directory in the U.S. was published this week in 1878, in New Haven, Connecticut. It wasn't a big list — there were only 50 subscribers. A little later, a directory also came out in San Francisco, with about 170 names. Now, there are over 21,000 retail establishments in the U.S. selling landline and cellular phones, with annual receipts from such sales at over $10 billion. Nearly 115 million or almost 97 percent of occupied households in the U.S. have telephones.
I've got one, and IT'S AWESOME! |


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The Spanish Dancer is a a large red fleshy sea slug. It is famous for the way it swims through the water: freely, undulating its body in an exotic dance. My painting dance shows a portion of one of these creatures as its red body complements a bed of green sea kelp. Part of my Companion Collection, this piece was designed to be paired with one of Teresa Testa's scuptural porcelain vessels. For more information about Teresa's work click on the image below. Sculptural porcelain by Teresa Testa |
Copyright © 2006 Bonnie Kelso ~ All Rights Reserved ~ www.bkelso.com


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The Temper Trap
Ace Hotel, New York City
Superb guitar parts. So much so that at first I had trouble understanding singer Dougy Mandagi's vocals—and I'm not talking about a bad audio mix nor a heavy accent, just why he was bothering at all. "They'd be better off as instrumental post-rock band," I thought (then promptly scolded myself for using such a silly term.) Prescient, then, that their only request to the sound guy was "more vocals" (in the monitors)—it all started to make sense after a few songs when other band members started joining in with twisty-turny background vocals, each secondary line every bit as interesting as the lead if you listened closely enough. Godspeed, you Aussie hotshots.


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Author Archive
My Interview with Sloan Parker about Breathe
Today I'm posting an interview with the lovely and talented Sloan Parker, author of More, Take Me Home, and the subject of today's interview, Breathe – 1st place winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards in the Contemporary Romance category among several others. Along with the above mentioned, Sloan is also a fantastic friend – I know as she spent an entire Saturday evening chatting with me back in the summer of 2010 in which we did everything but braid one another's hair. That likely only went by the wayside because it was an instant message chat due to the fact we were each in separate parts of the country at the time. Apparently, I'm cheap and easy – able to be had and held for a lifetime of friendship after only one marathon heart to heart. : )
SP: Hey, there's nothing wrong with cheap and easy. Although, it's definitely more along the lines of you being a fabulous guy that makes you such a good friend. That chat was more fun than anything else that can be had on a Saturday evening. Well, almost anything.
Thanks for the wonderful introduction and for letting me ramble on your blog today, Ethan!
ED: Let me begin by saying congratulations again for your win in Elisa Rolle's 2011 Rainbow Awards. I think it well deserved as I thoroughly enjoyed Breathe. One of the things I found most interesting with this book was your use of hate as an underlying theme throughout. It comes in more than one form, but what struck me as unusual was that the gay aspect wasn't front and center. We often see the use of anti-gay bigotry as a plot device in gay romance. It's all too familiar obstacle to that happily-ever-after. In Breathe, however – the hatred came more from the sense of familial loss over the life not lived due to the death of one character that resulted from the actions of another. The gay aspect was almost secondary – just another log on an already ignited fire burning out of control. Was hate something you purposely chose as an underlying obstacle but determined to use in a different way?
SP: First, I can't tell you how much it means to me that you enjoyed Breathe. Thank you for checking it out and for the congrats on the Rainbow awards. Hearing about the wins for Breathe was quite a surreal moment for me. So many people cautioned me about writing that story. It feels good to know people have been moved by Jay and Lincoln's story.
Definitely, hate was a big part of what I wanted to explore in Breathe. The idea that holding on to anger and grief and blame can ultimately do more damage to the wronged parties than the original loss they suffered through. It was part of the book's plan from day one. That level of hate was inspired from real-life moments that I witnessed after an accidental death of someone in my hometown. The people I watched throw out insults with malicious vehemence didn't even know the man responsible for the accident, and I was very disturbed be the entire situation. I guess I felt compelled to channel the hate I'd witnessed into a love story.
ED: I found your use of setting to be purposeful outside of the obvious world building aspect of writing. Everything surrounding these characters remained rather stark throughout: the houses or rooms in which they resided, the bar they went to for drinks, the anti-gay oppression which can still be quite prevalent in small town USA, even the gloomy winter weather that seemed to never end. It was as if Lincoln and Jay were trapped in a world of grey. I think it provided an almost pin-point focus on the two men and their growing relationship – as if they were the only thing in their world highlighted in color. Was this something that came to you organically throughout the writing process or was it part of the plotting from the very beginning?
SP: I'm so glad you mentioned the setting and weather, and I loved the way you described it. That's exactly what I was hoping for. I wanted the bleak surroundings and the onslaught of the winter weather to help illustrate where each man was emotionally, that is until the final moments when Jay is at the cemetery alone and then later when he goes to see Lincoln. Only then was the spring weather starting to break through, and only then were the two of them really able to think about moving on and accepting the hope of a different future.
I outline every story and make several passes through it while revising and editing. The use of the settings and the winter weather to help set the mood was definitely something I planned out, though not every detail came to me until several passes through revising. I tend to have an overall idea of what I want to accomplish with those kinds of things, but it takes me several times through the story to layer it in with the plot and character interactions. Otherwise it feels forced to me, and ultimately probably would to the readers as well.
ED: Lincoln in particular, despite having been released from prison when the story begins, appears to still be very much in a prison of his own making. The guy never really lets up on himself, and even as the book came to a close, I'm not sure I ever felt he totally let it all go. Was this something you intended from the onset, and do you believe he ever completed his journey from self loathing to forgiveness?
SP: I just want to give you a giant hug. A prison of his own making is a great description. That's exactly where Lincoln was at the opening of this book. He was the first character I envisioned for this story and was the one I wanted to help heal before I even dreamed up who Jay would be. From the very start, I wanted to make Linc a likeable guy who was such a good person that he couldn't forgive himself, couldn't let himself out of those prison walls he'd built up around him.
I think at the close of the story, he has a real shot at moving on. I don't think that would've been possible without Jay's forgiveness and love. Lincoln will never be the same man he was before the accident, and I don't think he'll ever completely let go of the guilt, but I believe that through building a life with Jay and working to be a part of what makes Jay happy, Lincoln will find a purpose in his life (along with caring for his sis and her kids). That purpose will allow him to live a more peaceful existence than where he started at the beginning of Breathe.
I've written a draft of an epilogue that I almost included in the book. Ultimately, I decided the ending was stronger without it and didn't even finish polishing it. Someday soon I hope to get that revised and posted on my website so readers can see a bit of the future for Linc and Jay together.
ED: As someone who's never been a fan of the gay-for-you storyline, which after hearing bits and pieces of the storyline from other people was what I assumed I'd be getting into with this book, I was pleasantly surprised and found it a refreshing change for Jay's character to be a true bi-sexual. He's attracted to both men and women yet manages to maintain a monogamous relationship with whomever he finds himself with at the time. It was something he never hid from his wife, though he did conceal that part of himself from his parents and in-laws. But I somehow got the feeling that had he met and fell in love with a man as opposed to a woman first that wouldn't have been the case – that the only reason he actually hid that part of himself was because he'd never had a reason to do otherwise. That complete honesty within Jay's marital relationship is an aspect of his personality that I've found accurate with regard to the few real-life bi-sexual men I've met over the years. Was this something that was important for you to show when creating this character or did it present itself to you organically as a result of the needs of the story you wanted to tell?
SP: Jay's bisexuality was a very important part of the story for me (and another intentional element. Apparently I didn't write much of this one organically. LOL). I purposely didn't want it to be something he hid from his wife. I think people too often assume when someone realizes he or she is bisexual, they are automatically going to leave the person they are with and run out to explore that part of themselves. That's just not always the case. As for many-real life bisexuals, they share that insight with their partner and discuss it openly. In Breathe, I didn't want Jay's own acceptance of who he was to be an important internal conflict for him. He'd already accepted that as a part of himself. Now, with Lincoln, he was able to explore that physically as well. I've heard from readers who were surprised there wasn't more made of his "coming out." But as you said, if Jay had fallen in love with a man first instead of his wife, he would've brought that person home to meet his family and all would have been revealed about his bisexuality earlier in his life. His internal conflict had much more to do with a perceived betrayal of his wife because of who Lincoln was, not because Lincoln was a man.
ED: Lastly is one of the things that impressed me most about this story, the overall concept of one man falling in love with another man who happens to be responsible for the death of his spouse. It vaguely reminded me of a film I love called, Return to Me – where a man unknowingly falls in love with the woman who received the heart of his first wife (killed by a drunk driver) as an organ transplant. Was there an intent behind it – some particular theme you wanted to play into or simply a really cool idea that happily came to you.
SP: Love that film! You know, I've never thought of it in relation to Breathe before.
The original idea for Breathe came about several years ago when there was a tragic car accident a few miles from where I live. A young woman was killed in the crash as well as her unborn child. Her young son and husband, who were also in the car, were both injured but survived. It was such a sad story. My heart broke for that family. Sometime later, I saw footage on the local news of the man who had accidentally caused the crash. He was in the courtroom for his hearing and was talking to the woman's family. I didn't really hear what he was saying (I had the TV muted), but the look of misery and despair on his face was genuine and something I'll never forget.
Naturally I felt horrible for the family that had lost this woman, but I also couldn't get the other man out of my mind. Would he ever be happy again? Ever smile? Laugh? Love? Ever be able to forgive himself?
Not long after that night, I had several pages of notes about Lincoln and Jay. I wanted to create two characters who were decent, caring guys stuck in an impossible situation. I wanted them to learn to accept that forgiveness and love could make a difference in their lives. I wanted them to learn to love again. The more I wrote about Jay and Lincoln, the more I had to follow them to their happy ending.
ED: Thank you once again for taking the time to answer all my annoyingly nosy questions Sloan! Congratulations once more on the well deserved success of the book. : )
SP: Thank you so much, Ethan. These questions were far from annoying. They were some of the best ones I've been asked about this book. I absolutely loved the way you described the story elements. Thanks again!!
Promotional Blurb:
Lincoln McCaw lost everything—his home, his job, his partner—after he caused a fatal accident. A year later, he's drowning the guilt and despair in whiskey, but he needs to move on. His sister and her kids are counting on him. Then he meets a man who ignites a passion Lincoln thought he'd never find. Too bad one night is all they can have together. Now he needs to figure out how to turn away from the only person who makes him feel alive…before whoever is sending him threats decides Lincoln needs to suffer more than he already has.
Jay Miller is surrounded by grief and misery until he finally gives in to all those years of sexual fantasies about being with another guy. Realizing he's ended up in the arms of the man who caused his wife's accident, he tries to pull away. But how can he give up a friendship he needs more than anything—a friendship and a love that could save him? He may not have time to make the choice before someone else destroys it all.
Excerpt of Breathe by Sloan Parker
"God, you sure are a cute one."
Jay cracked a smile as the woman at the far end of the bar flirted with the dark-haired man wearing a leather jacket. She had no clue she'd already lost the game. Not only was Dark Eyes gay, he also looked as lost as he had when Jay first saw him. No one stood a chance with someone who obviously wanted to be left alone the way he did.
She kept at it, though. "Come on. Buy me a drink." She ran her long, pink fingernails through the hair above his ear. Dark Eyes swatted her hand away and returned his attention to the glass that held something stronger than beer, gripping it with both hands.
Jay couldn't blame her for trying. Dark Eyes looked good in the black leather and faded jeans, his dark hair and skin a temptation for the fingers. Jay clutched his beer and took a swallow before setting it on the table he'd grabbed ten minutes earlier.
Sonny's Tavern was crowded, the eligible singles mixing with the heavy drinkers. Most–like the woman hitting on Dark Eyes–not knowing how to tell the difference between the two. The Friday night crowd was more animated than the last night Jay had been in. A group of couples danced near the back wall, creating a makeshift dance floor. There was a different bartender on duty, the television and music overhead were louder, but the same old man sat sipping whiskey near the restrooms.
Jay drank more of his beer and waited. It wouldn't take long.
By the time he finished the beer, the bar stool next to Dark Eyes was empty, the chatty blonde desperate for a free drink–and possibly more–had moved on. Jay waved for another beer, dropped onto the stool, and said, "Hey."
Dark Eyes ignored him and stood.
Apparently Jay sucked at the flirting thing. Which made sense. He hadn't dated many girls. The only one other than Katie had been a fellow classmate he'd agreed to go to the homecoming dance with his junior year during the five weeks he and Katie had their one breakup.
Dark Eyes removed his jacket, laid the leather over the bar, and sat again. The muscles of his arm flexed as he lifted the glass for a drink. The hint of a tattoo peeked out from under the T-shirt's sleeve. An outline of an eagle feather.
"Do I know you?" Dark Eyes asked.
He'd forgotten.
And here Jay was picturing what it would be like to blow the guy. He'd always wanted to know. Always imagined he'd like sucking cock and couldn't stop dreaming of doing it to Dark Eyes since the man had walked out of the bar the other night. Was it because Jay knew Dark Eyes was gay?
No. This guy was a total turn-on for him. He'd only been sitting next to the man long enough for one smoke, and already all Jay's fantasies were roaring to life.
"I uh…I was in here the other night."
"I remember," Dark Eyes said. "Saw you outside the night before that too. Thought maybe I'd seen you somewhere else, though." He slid the bowl of peanuts toward Jay.
Jay stilled the spinning bowl. "Don't think so. I'd remember meeting you." Heat rose in his cheeks. Shut up! But did he want to? He nodded to the TV. "You watching the game?"
"Nah. I gave up last half."
"Guess I didn't miss much excitement, then. I had to work late."
Dark Eyes removed one hand from his glass. He made like he was going to take a drink. "Where do you work?" The question came out in a rush before the glass hit his lips.
"Stacking loads at McNeil's Lumber Yard." Jay made eye contact with the man. Neither looked away. A nervous jolt shot from his gut to his groin. "It's a shit job, but I'm lucky to have it. I was going to college but, I…uh, I had to quit. And since they won't let you teach high school history without a college degree, or a teacher's license for that matter, I'm stuck with whatever pays the bills."
Dark Eyes let go of his drink and turned on the stool a fraction of an inch in Jay's direction. The slight curve of his lips wasn't as unnerving as the intense stare.
Jay kept talking. "History's always been my thing. Since I was a kid. Everyone thinks I'm crazy for wanting to teach high schoolers, but there's a lot we can learn from history." And why was he sharing any of this?
The grin on the other man's face grew. "You always talk this much?"
Jay shrugged and sipped the beer he'd forgotten he had. "I don't know." He laughed. That statement was worth a laugh–the first real one in over a year–considering Todd's recent comments about how he hadn't been talking much anymore.
"What's funny?" Dark Eyes asked.
"Nothing. What do you do?"
"Just started over at the steel plant. Used to drive loads for them years back." Dark Eyes gripped his glass again, clutching it in one hand. The other joined the first until he held on to it with both hands. What would those hands feel like when they touched Jay's body? His ass? His dick? What would those arms feel like wrapped around him? How would the skin of that neck taste? What would that dark hair feel like when he grasped the man's head in his hands while Dark Eyes blew him?
Jay breathed deep. Fantasies…just a fantasy. He wasn't ready for anything physical with anyone. Was he?
Before that week, he hadn't been ready for so much as a one-night stand. When he let himself get close to someone, all his thoughts would turn to Katie and every sexual moment they'd spent together. He hadn't wanted to go there, especially not for a quick fuck to please his cock.
Had that changed?
His body was ready, but was he?
Maybe someday…a roll in the hay with a woman. Maybe even with a guy. Might be nice to know if all those fantasies had been leading him on about what he wanted–or whom he wanted it with. But not yet. Not after only a year.
Then why had he sat next to the guy in the first place? Why had he looked for the man?
Dark Eyes leaned his upper body in close, almost touching Jay's arm. That rattled him out of his trance. Damn, he'd been staring at the man for too long. The husky whisper as Dark Eyes spoke did nothing to aid Jay in regaining his concentration.
"Quit looking at me like that, kid. Unless you're willing to back it up."
Oh God. Maybe the flirting had gone better than Jay thought.
The only sexual experience he had other than Katie was the ten-minute fuck in the back of Christy Harper's car on homecoming night. He'd gotten off, but it hadn't been anything special. He'd put every last minute of it out of his mind as soon as he and Katie had made up.
The weeks they'd spent apart were the worst weeks of his life until a year ago.
No. The worst part was telling Katie about what he'd done with Christy. Katie had gone on her own date, and Jay hated hearing about the kissing and groping she'd done. He could only imagine how much it hurt Katie to listen to his confession about his backseat "date." He made a promise to himself as he drove her home that night, both of them sitting in the front seat of the Jeep in silence. He'd never hurt her again. Never cheat again. Even though she said he hadn't technically cheated and she understood how it had happened, it sure had felt as though he'd been unfaithful. He never wanted to feel that way again. Never wanted any other person pleasuring him. Only her.
And now here he was hoping another guy was interested in him.
How had he given this guy the right signals? Or the wrong ones? And how was he supposed to respond?
Jay licked his dry lips and forced his attention on the TV above the bar. Commercials. Something with beer and babes in bikinis. How apropos.
"Kid." That one word in the low, deep voice had him facing Dark Eyes again. Jay barely heard the whispered command over the sound of the country music. "Give it a few minutes, then meet me out back." Dark Eyes stood, threw some wadded cash onto the bar, grabbed his coat, and exited out the back entrance that led to the rear parking lot. The music and crowd in Sonny's muffled the bang of the door closing behind Dark Eyes.
Jay turned to the bar. He needed to leave. Out the front entrance. Now.
Why wouldn't his legs help him out? He guzzled his beer in four tries, dropped the bottle onto the bar, and stood. What the hell?
He walked toward the back door at a quick clip, hoping no one knew where he was going.
Or why.
Copyright 2010. Sloan Parker. All Rights Reserved.
A Token of Time is Now Available!!!
A Token of Time
Ethan Day
ISBN# 978-1-60820-650-6 (print) $14.99
978-1-60820-651-3 (ebook) $8.99
Release Date April 2012
Cover Artist Winterheart Designs
paperback 428 pages, 121,000 words
On the run from his family, Zachary Hamilton was cursed with a gift he neither wanted nor asked for. The recent murder of his lover unleashed a chain of events revealing Zachary's connection to the recently deceased legendary matinee idol, Marc Castle. Attempting to unravel the mystery behind the movie star, Zachary encountered an ancient relic shrouded in history and folklore, leading to a discovery so shocking it altered his very existence — challenging everything Zachary knew to be true — to believe that the impossible, was possible.
Missy Welch's Every Time a Bell Rings
The 42 Days of Christmas Series from MLR Press continues and today I'm posting an excerpt provided by Missy Welch!
Every Time a Bell Rings
by Missy Welch
Available at MLR Press
The blurb:
Brian dropped everything last year when his mother became ill so he could take care of her until the day she died. People he thought were friends didn't stick with him and he's somehow become kind of a recluse without meaning to be. Only Mike, his best friend since they were kids, has stuck by him and is now saving him from homelessness after a fire destroys Brian's apartment building days before Christmas. Though Mike has to go down South for the holiday, Brian stays in Mike's apartment with his slightly singed kitten Oreo.
Brian's only goal is to set his affairs back in order before everything shuts down for the holidays and then make it through those holidays in one piece. He's lost so much–his only real possession is a photo album of his mom that he risked death to save from the fire–and he's feeling lost and very alone…until Mike, his hot neighbor Trent, and even little Oreo conspire to give Brian the best Christmas possible and a future that looks a lot brighter.
Tomorrow came all too soon.
It started uniquely when Mike kissed my cheek and turned it into raspberries almost immediately. Nothing like a vibration on your face, some spit, and a giggling maniac to get you going at the butt crack of dawn.
"It's nine o'clock," he said and bounced off the bed. "Not dawn."
I sighed and Oreo grumbled. Neither of us were morning people. Especially not after a long night's worth of trauma.
"Come on," he hollered from the bathroom. I heard him start pissing. "We have arrangements to make with…places before I have to leave."
I got up and arranged the covers around Oreo [my kitten] so she could keep sleeping in toasty comfort.
"What time's your flight?"
"Not until two." He tucked himself away and waved me in. "Save water. Piss with a friend."
I laughed. That was Mike. He wasn't just trying to get his gloomy friend to lighten up, he really was a nut sometimes.
While I complied, he made a few adjustments to his hair. I didn't know how he did it, but his black hair looked practically perfect while mine was doing a half-fluffy and half-flattened thing. I should just buzz it off. I flushed the toilet instead.
"Hearty breakfast or light one?" he asked as we trooped into the kitchen. "You remember how to make the coffee?"
"Light and yes." He'd gotten this single-cup coffee maker you'd have thought was a gift from Jesus straight to Mike. The man had every accessory and his mugs now coordinated with the little red thing. His carousel of cups had a few regular coffee-flavored coffees just for me since I didn't like it to taste like french toast or pumpkin pie.
Apparently, he chose hearty because, while I dealt with a bowl of cereal and a shushing coffeemaker, he made an omelet. I watched him, waiting for the moment when he would flip it in the air. He had gotten better, but it was fun to bet on what would land where.
"So I figure we start with the fire department."
"Why?" I asked. "They did their job."
"To find out when you can go back in." He flicked a glance at the coffee maker, probably hoping it would hurry up so I could get smarter. "Only then can you assess the damage for the insurance company so they can pay you. Oh hey! This is one of those times when the Red Cross swoops in, right?"
I shrugged. "Maybe. The local one anyway." I frowned and munched granola coated in sugar. "That's on Market, isn't it? Near Frank's?"
"That's the only one I know."
Then he went quiet and, with a little hip wiggle and a biting of his bottom lip, he swiveled the omelet in the pan before flinging it up and—
"You did it!"
"Booyah, baby!" He hopped up and landed like a gymnast's dismount with his hands in the air. After a bow to the fridge and one to me, he high-fived the air in front of me and spun away to thrust his hips at the oven.
Chuckling at his antics, I didn't dream of mentioning that half the omelet cooked up the side of the pan instead of in it. It was a definite improvement.
"I'll make a trophy. Master Flipper."
He snorted. "I'll put it next to my trophy for being a Master Baiter."
I laughed, milk dribbling down my chin which just went so well with the topic. He turned and pointed and laughed it up right along with me.
God but I was so glad to have him here right now! Swallowing my breakfast, I sobered to the point of nearly crying. If he'd already left, I knew one phone call would've ensured I could stay here, but to actually have him with me was a balm to my sanity. And when he blew me a kiss over his shoulder, I knew he knew it too.


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UW-Parkside West Disc Golf Course
Primary tabs
Year Established:
(3 votes)
Partially wooded, scenic course, including an elevated tee. Dual tees and alt. pin placements.
Course Details
# Holes: 18
Target Type: Mach New II
Tee Type: Concrete
Elevation: Flat
Foliage: Scattered
Course Length: 5,279ft
Alternate Length: 4,009ft
Course Designer: Duster Don Hoffman
Hole Length: Under 300ft: 12 | 300 - 400ft: 3 | Over 400ft: 3
Hwy I-94; turn east on county Hwy E (Exit 339), 5 miles to a left on county Hwy G (Wood Rd.), 0.5 miles to a left at roundabout into campus. Park in Student Center parking lot. 1st tee near campus entrance. Purchase parking permits (required weekdays until 6:30pm) at University Police Station in Tallent Hall. Meter parking available in SE corner of parking lot.
First Tee:
(-87.852867,42.647367 )
Email: Sergio Correa
Contact Phone #1: 262-308-1675
Course Map
Course Photos
This course has no photos.
Course Reviews
by PDGAStaff on Feb 15, 2013 at 11:59am
On the short side with a few too many open holes. The better of the two courses on campus.
by bryan67 on Mar 30, 2012 at 8:03pm
played it for the 1st time today. Wet conditions, some muddy spots. But otherwise well maintained, nice mix of open and wooded shots, also nice normal and long tee boxes all concrete. Looking foward to trying it agian after the Weekend tourny.
by patwruk on Jul 27, 2010 at 1:29am
It is a very well maintained course with both a pro and an alt tee. Good distances and very challenging setup. Most tee's have multiple locations that move randomly through-out the year to allow for a changing experience. My favorite course.
Courses Close By
- UW Campus-Parkside East, Kenosha WI US
- Hillcrest Elementary School, Kenosha WI US
- Tim Osmond Sports Complex, Antioch IL US
- Bevier Park, Waukegan IL US
- Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Franklin WI US
- Abendschein Park, Oak Creek WI US
- Red Fox at Fox River Park, Silver Lake WI US
- Grey Fox Disc Golf, Silver Lake WI US
- Longwood Centre Park, Lake Villa IL US
- Wil-O-Way Grant Course, South Milwaukee WI US


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According to TMZ, Jessica Alba is in some trouble because some photos have surfaced of her putting up shark posters? Around Oklahoma City? Late at night? To increase awareness about great white sharks? Because that's something that Oklahoma City knows a lot about? (That is not something Oklahoma City knows a lot about?)
The most ridiculous part is that one of the spots she's accused of tagging was a billboard for the United Way. A rep for the non-profit organization told us although the billboard was donated, they'll probably have to pay out of their own pocket to replace it. Either way, the U.W. said, "We remain focused on our work rather than this minor distraction."
So far, cops say no one has filed charges against Alba.
Haha, that victory picture is my favorite. YOU DID IT, JESSICA ALBA! TMZ has already posted an UPDATE explaining that a police report has been filed and that Alba's representatives have already called the United Way offering to replace the billboard.
Many people might wonder why a movie star would deface public property with wordless posters of sharks as an effort to raise awareness in land-locked city. Luckily for those people we have an exclusive interview with Jessica Alba* after the jump:
Videogum: Thank you for being here today, Ms. Alba.
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Why do you think that Oklahoma City is the front line in the war on great white shark ignorance?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Let's pretend that for some reason a city 500 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and more than a thousand miles from either ocean is the front line in the war on great white shark ignorance, do you think that maybe your posters would be way, WAY more useful if they had words on them explaining what is going on with great white sharks?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Do you even actually know what's going on with great white sharks?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Don't get me wrong. Those posters look totally sick and super cool. If I saw one of those posters defacing a hospital or whatever, I would be like, Oh man, Brian, look at that picture of a shark. Monsters of the deep! Do you know what I mean?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: I've seen Planet Earth.
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Do you have much experience in political activism?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Like, did you know that it's illegal to deface public property and that often times political activists will disguise their identity to avoid prosecution, and those are just regular activists, not activists who were also the star of the incredibly popular comedies The Love Guru, and Good Luck Chuck?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: Do you ever get tired of people thinking you're just a ditz and not taking you seriously?
Jessica Alba:
Videogum: NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.
*Thanks, Gabe Liedman.
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Harris County (TX) Emergency Corps Receives CAAS Accreditation January 28, 2015 The primary focus of the Commission's standards is operational excellence and high quality patient care.
Fire Commissioner Promotes Top Chiefs of FDNY EMS Bureau January 26, 2015 James P. Booth Appointed Chief of EMS; Michael J. Fitton Appointed Assistant Chief of EMS
NAEMT Board Adopts Position on EMS Reimbursement Reform January 26, 2015 The EMS industry should work cooperatively with congressional leaders to pass legislation that supports quality patient care and ensures financial sustainability.
After Botched Ebola Response, WHO Tries to Repair Its Image January 26, 2015 Several dozen of WHO's member countries approved a resolution aimed at strengthening the U.N. health agency's ability to respond to emergencies.
Page, Wolfberg & Wirth Celebrates 15 Years of Service January 20, 2015 From Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC The firm has been a wealth of resources for EMS agencies in the United States.


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Yesterday morning, President Obama announced that the United States, in concert with Japan and the European Union, would bring a trade case against China regarding its export restrictions on rare earth minerals. These nations are reacting to significant cuts in Chinese rare earths exports (REEs), which dropped from 50,145 tons in 2009 to 30,184 tons in 2011. Exports levels for this year remain uncertain.
From the president's statement, it's obvious what this action is about for the United States: jobs, jobs, jobs. In the course of making this argument, Obama explained:
We want our companies building those products [that require rare earths elements] right here in America. But to do that, American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth materials — which China supplies. Now, if China would simply let the market work on its own, we'd have no objections. But their policies currently are preventing that from happening. And they go against the very rules that China agreed to follow.
The case against China, and the president's larger concerns, certainly has merit. But in pursuing his desire to revitalize domestic manufacturing, hopefully the president will not ignore his own advice to China "to let the market work on its own." The well-intentioned aim to create jobs and to keep jobs here should not lead the U.S. government to insert itself into the rare earths market.
The truth is, the market is adjusting on its own to correct the distortions resulting from China's export quotas. Derek Scissors makes this argument convincingly: "China's extreme dominance can only last as long as it is willing to offer REEs at below-market prices … As soon as Beijing stopped undercutting market prices, price rose and the hunt for alternatives began—which has started to bring prices down." In other words, global market forces reacted to high prices throughout 2010 and much of 2011, and prices have dropped precipitously in the latter half of 2011. Additionally, as Scissors points out, China may control 90 percent of current supply, but it only has 50 percent of current REEs reserves, which means there is plenty of opportunity for other producers, miners, and manufacturers along every point of the complex REEs supply chain to enter the market. This will allow all nations to decrease their dependence on China for REEs.
In other words, the federal government should not use REE supply problems as an excuse to pick favorite industries or manufacturers in the American domestic market, but rather should allow research and development initiatives to proliferate on their own. Yet the president's assertion yesterday that America must "take control of our energy future," and a number of bills introduced in the 112th Congress prescribing government support for domestic REE production, troublingly suggest that market intervention may be on the horizon.


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Reviewed Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
Nov 27, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"This was fantastic, I made it for Thanksgiving as a happy medium dessert. My husband isn't really a "sweets" fan, and the people who came over really aren't pumpkin fans. Well, i love cheese cake and caramel...so I won! Anyways, I made these bites of heaven and they were completely gone or spoken for as soon as I unleashed em! The only thing diff..."


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Dashing Duncan McKechnie came to Oakdale to keep his wife, Shannon O�Hara, from marrying another man. Apparently Duncan and Shannon married years ago on a drunken lark and went their separate ways without consummating the marriage. Now older, Duncan was determined to hold on to his wife and continually blocked her attempts to get a divorce. As the months wore on, it became apparent that Shannon wasn't his only reason for being in Oakdale: he was also there to investigate reports that international criminal James Stenbeck was alive. Apparently James smuggled drugs into the shipments of jewels that Duncan was sending home and Duncan wanted him apprehended. In the course of the investigation, Shannon and her fianc� discovered a startling secret: Beatrice, the woman Duncan claimed was his sister, was actually his daughter! Growing closer to him, Shannon convinced him to tell Beatrice the truth. Soon after, Duncan and Shannon realized they had deep feelings for one another and they married in a beautiful Scottish ceremony.
The couple was happy until Duncan's first wife, Lilith, arrived on the scene. A mentally disturbed woman, Lilith tried to kill Shannon. Though he sent Shannon away for her safety, Lilith found her and sent Duncan her shrunken head: confirmation that Shannon was dead. While grieving for his beloved, Duncan grew closer to his friend, Jessica Griffin. As time went by, the couple fell in love and, despite objections from family and friends over an interracial marriage, the pair married and had a daughter, Bonnie Louise.
Years later, Duncan received the shock of his life when Shannon returned to town! Shocked that his beloved was alive and suffering from amnesia, Duncan was uncertain about how to proceed. Though he told Jessica he'd honor their vows, it was evident that he was still drawn to Shannon and so Jess granted him a divorce. Unfortunately, in the years that Shannon was missing, she and Duncan had grown and they discovered that they'd grown apart and went their separate ways. A single man again, Duncan left Oakdale to do some reporting in Bosnia. A few years later, he moved to Europe and took Bonnie with him.