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Chevy Vans: Problems & Solutions
jhun Posts: 1I had this problem with my 2001 Venture, the dealer replaced a certain parts I think the PCM. Recently my van won't start it was towed and brought to the dealer found out the battery positive terminal was busted. How can this be I only had 60K. I asked if I can look at the battery, they let me. Looks like the battery exploded on that terminal.
mimage Posts: 1I have a 97 astro awd van that i purchased in june of 2005. I went to start it up today and for some reason it would not start. Engine turns and all systems appear to be functioning except i no longer hear the fuel pump.
Since i purchased the van i have been concerned with noise from fuel pump but was told by my mechanic that it was normal. I did not have any signs of pump going out during this entire time thats why i am really frustrated that i cannot start the engine especially when i use it for work. Been really happy with the van up until now because i was not prepared nor have the funds to cover such an expensive repair. -
alleclerc Posts: 5I'm new to this cite but I can identify with many of the grievances people have had... my 2000 Venture Van had the head gasket, manifold gasket, battery, window switch problem, water getting in at the back, catalytic converter needing replacing, brakes leaking . . . and now my transmission has just been replaced!!! My van only has 124 000 km on it!
I did get the area manager to pay for half of the head gasket problem when my van had 84 000 km. Funny that the dealership didn't mention this "goodwill warrantee" when I paid the bill . . . I had to write to the company to get this after reading about it in Lemon Aid.
I am planning to take GM to small claims court for the transmission since they refused to help with any expenses. I just need to get some testimonials from transmission repair people who can attest to the fact that the Venture/Montana transmissions have had problems. What do you think the odds are of winning? -
lemieux Posts: 2Hi, im currently having the same problem. I have a 2000 chevy venture and all of a sudden in the last couple days my temperature gauge wont move. If i drive for like one hour or more it might move slightly. I have some heat but its very little. I find that having it on recirculate the inside air moves the gauge faster. Have you figured out what happened with your vehicle and if so could you email me, i was under the assumption that it was just a thermostat. Ive had non stop problems with mine since we bought it. thank you.
chuck17 Posts: 1Interesting, last month, I did the head gasket on my 2001 Venture, last summer it was a boss on the A/C condenser that mysteriously cracked. Now I'm getting a really bad noise and vibration coming from the tranny. I've changed the fluid and filter twice in the last 3 weeks. What ever came about from your issue?
alleclerc Posts: 5Nothing yet. I've come to know of two GM mechanics (through friends) and I am hoping to access information before going to court. I figure that I need something solid that says that the problem is not uncommon before a judge will say it is not acceptable and make them pay. Hope you got GM to pay for at least half of your head gasket because that problem is definitely documented . . . they paid for half of mine at 84 000 km after I wrote to the District Manager. If I go to court for the transmission I might ask for more for the head gasket because it is such a recognized problem.
jese314 Posts: 1We have a Chevy Venture that is a 2005. Also have had numerous problems including the drivers side window not working properly (rolls down only when it wants to), the cup holder does not stay in, the cig lighter plugs where you plug in a cell phone charger not working, the front drivers side door panel falling off, the front head light filled with water, the windshield making this awful noise and now my cousin got her foot stuck in my sliding side door and could have lost her leg. Chevy is refusing to fix these problems or address the safety issues. I absolutely regret buying this van. Anyone who is considering buying one should run in the other direction now!
dawnie28 Posts: 13 wks ago the van didnt start up so we left it alone(its a 2001 we bought it at 27 thousand miles, its now at 35 thous , owned it 11 mos now) called up someone to pick it up..found out the battery was dead, alternator and starter are great...we get it back, we do errands, come home eat, then go to walmart, turn it off, go in store, come back and try to start it up, the lights flickered on like it was going to start, and then everything went black..nothing...someone jumped it, got it back home, we let it run, turned it off, now back to black...nothing...anyone know what might be the prob because im starting to get aggravated and we owe 9 grand on it still and we just paid 255 to get the battery, labor, a new tie rod, and the alignment done, we also have to dish out more money on weds to get two new tires put on it thanks to the other problems with it..we are on a tight budget and cant afford any other problems with it
come to find out when we bought the van, we were told we had 3 yrs warranty on it, come to find out we were lied to (by a salary employee), we were told why buy the extended now since you have 3 yrs to think about it..
we have since moved to texas from VA..we were told by the Va dealership if we bring it back up there, they will do a goodwill but down here they wont and they knew we were military and moving when we bought it...ugh! -
johnaec Posts: 11I recently purchased a 99 Astro with only 42K mles and the Dutch Door option. I really didn't want the Dutch doors, but it's what it had. Looks like I was right. Less than 2 weeks ownership, and the upper portion won't open. It makes all the sounds, like you can hear what seems to be the mechanism working inside the door, but no go.
I read a bunch of other messages here about similar problems, but none seem to address mine directly.
Any suggestions? I can't even see any way to get into the mechanism from the inside - there doesn't appear to be any way to get the inside panels off while the door is closed. Is a dealer shop going to be able to help me without damaging something? I've got a bunch of stuff that I really need to get out!
Thanks for any info - John -
johnaec Posts: 11Well, I managed to get the trim piece off from the inside, though it meant cracking it where the two upper side screws were, since you can't get to those unless the door is open, (bad design!). I was then able to see where the little plastic connector/holders that hold the outside ends of the release rods to the actual latches had broken on both ends. Hopefully I can get just these from Checy parts. (Why'd they make them plastic, anyway??). I really can't figure how both of them broke at once - maybe when I see what the whole part looks like it will make sense.
John -
michinct Posts: 2Hey guys, I need some HELP...PLEASE !!! I bought this astro not running figuring that it needed a fuel pump. I replaced that and the fuel filter. I then ended up replacing the computer modelue as well. SO I got it running then ended up bringing it to the garage because it was starting intermittantly. They spent a whole bunch of time troubleshooting it and found that there was a bad wire going to the computer module. They replaced/ repaired that and let me have it. I started it up first second I turned the key ! My next stop was Maaco and got a quote of 1270 to strip her down the metal and paint her up. Bad primer as we all probably know. Well.....after driving the van for approx 45 mi I stopped to get something to eat, when I started her back up I was thinking that it might not have been a bad purchase after all when she just died. I turned the key in attempts to start her several times but nothing. I got some starting fluid and she started and stopped. I can hear the fuel pump run for 3 seconds then turn off like it is suppose to. I put 5 gal of gas in but that still didn't do it. The gauge shows over 1/2 full. For some reason the fuel is not getting to the engine with a new pump and filter and I am stumped ! I am open to suggestions.
doc_blazin Posts: 3I was driving back from vacation the other day and at 10:30 at night all the lights went out. I pulled over and turned on the light switch. The head lights came on (I had the "day" running lights on before). I went to a gas station and found out that my fuse was blown for the day time running lights. The thing is my regular parking lights did not work when I turned on the headlights, until I replaced the fuse for the Day time runners.
Anyway, I did not have any break lights and still do not. I replced the switch this evening and nothing. The bulbs are fine and everything. Is there a fuse somewhere I am missing?? I am going crazy here, lol. :confuse: Help needed <------- -
doc_blazin Posts: 3
10anthony10 Posts: 1
mcaracoglia Posts: 1My ABS light is constantly on and my rear brake lights are out. The third brake light works along with all the other lights. I have changed the bulbs and it has worked in the past, but the brake lights go out on it shortly after. I changed the brake switch and that didn't work. Sometimes the brake lights will work and the ABS light goes out when that happens so I believe the two are related. Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so, how did you fix it? I do not want to take it to a dealer for Electrical T/S because it will be too much money. I have brought it to a garage and they have changed the bulbs out which momentarilly solved the problem.
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Alan Howard (I)
Alan Howard was born on August 5, 1937 in London, England as Alan Mackenzie Howard. He is an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) and The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989). He has been married to Sally Beauman since 2004. They have one child. ...
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Kayland Comet
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CLOSEOUTS . On fast trail approaches or during busy city days, blaze a path in Kayland Comet shoes. The flexible suede upper has a rubber rand, a cushioned collar and laces to the toe for a great fit. Available Colors: CROCUS. Sizes: 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11.
- Sierra Trading Post
Description of Kayland Comet Shoes - WomensYoull never lose your feet in these.FeaturesUPPER Suede 1,4-1,6 mm Soft Coated Textile Rubber RandLINING 3D meshLAST ActiveCONSTRUCTION Board LastedINSOLE LIGHTMIDSOLE Soft Multilayer Shock Absorber Microporous EvaSOLE Kayland Hexagon
- US Outdoor Store
Enjoy the precision, comfort, and styling of your favorite approach shoe, even when your destination might be just the center of town.
- Bentgate.com
Ideal for day-long hikes or short backpacking trips, lighten your load without sacrificing performance or protection in thr sturdy yet flexible low-cut Women's Comet Approach Shoes from Kayland. The Comet Approach is constructed with a durable suede upper and is packed full of high-tech safety and comfort features, including a microporous, multi-layered midsole for shock absorption, a moisture-absorbent, cushioned mesh liner, and a multi-directional lug outsole for enhanced traction. The Comet Approach is reinforcements at the heel and toe guard against rocks and sharp objects, while the extended lace-to-toe lacing system provides a more precise fit.
- Altrec Outdoors


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"mmMmmm. Absolutely divine! These brownies were so gooey and tasty."
"I used MizzNezz's Quick Yellow Recipe and it worked really well with this recipe. Instead of using pudding from a package I replaced it with custard and this tasted really nice. The cake was super moist and tasty. It has a very different flavour than most cakes. This recipe is definitely a keeper!"
"This cake is really good. I made it for my mom on Mother's Day and she absolutely loved it! She is diabetic so I substituted the sugar with Splenda and it still tasted amazing. I also put less oil than half a cup - around 1/3 a cup to make it less fattening. Overall, this recipe is a keeper."
"The consistency of the creamy part was too thick in my opinion. Maybe I just did something wrong."
"Amazing! It tastes just right. I reduced the amount of corn syrup to 3/4 cup to make it less sweet. I also had to bake it for another 15 minutes or so and I still felt like it wasn't completely done."
"This was really tasty cake - very light and fluffy. I did not have confectioners sugar and so I replaced the icing with chocolate chips. I added chocolate chips inside the batter as well as on top. This added a nice extra chocolatey taste to the cake and made it a bit gooey."
"these are really yummy - the texture is just perfect, with a gooey and chewy centre. instead of vegetable oil, use butter. melt the butter in a sauce pan, remove from the heat and add the sugar, vanilla and eggs. this makes the brownies even better!"
"Absolutely amazing! I substituted the sugar for Splenda and reduced the amount of butter to less than 1/4 of a cup. I also replaced the brown sugar with Splenda brown sugar. These muffins were some of the best sugar-free muffins I have ever tried!"
"really tasty. i added 1/2 a cup of sugar instead of the full cup and it tasted really good, although i think it made the texture slightly different. it was less sweet and much lighter. i also added around 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips. it turned out awesome!"


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Monday, October 29, 2012
David Bowen, headless horseman, and Si Seciwa prepare to play in the annual WhirlyBall League Halloween tournament in Edmonds, Wash. Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. The costumed tournament is a tradition of about 15 years. Jimmy Gabriele, league manager, says the Edmonds location is the longest-running WhirlyBall facility still in operation in the nation, and the idea for bumper-like cars was originally created for Disneyland.
© The Seattle Times Company


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Egypt Dominates Arab Games
December 29, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, email@example.com
Tunisia's Nour Bo al-Eyuin hits Morocco's Fatima Alzahraelahqr during their Kumite (sparring) Karate match at the Pan Arab Games in Cairo. |
Egypt was once again dominant in the Arab Games as it accumulated a grand total of 233 medals in the 2011 edition of the games. They recently concluded in Qatari capital of Doha. The final tally for Egypt included 90 gold medals, 76 silvers, and 67 bronzes. For Egypt this extended their run to four consecutive Arab Games victories, having been the dominant force in 1999 (0man), 2004 (Algeria) and 2007 (Cairo).
Fellow North African country Tunisia finished as runners up with a total of 138 medals, including 54 gold, while Morocco came third with 113 medals, including 35 gold. The hosts, Qatar, finished fourth with a total of 110 medals, including 32 golds.
Egypt's gold-medal wins included a 26-21 win over Qatar in the men's Handball finals, as well as a 3-0 victory over their same Qatari hosts in the Volleyball finals. In the women's Volleyball competition, Egypt also prevailed with a 3-1 win over Algeria in the finals.
Qaradawi Warns of Niqab Ban Discrimination
May 13, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Anwar ElShamy, Gulf Times
Qatar-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi urged those European countries which are considering outlawing the full veil (niqab) to review their plans, saying that a wider ban on niqab might prompt clerics to campaign for imposing a "modest dress code" on foreigners living in Muslim countries.
In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Qaradawi said the recent outlawing of the face-covering veil in public by Belgium along with a French draft law to make it illegal would be a violation of both religious and personal freedoms.
"I hope that France, Belgium and all of Europe will show respect to Islamic values and creed. Banning a Muslim woman from wearing the niqab would only place her in a dilemma about whether to comply with the law or obey what she believes is a religious order," Sheikh Qaradawi told a congregation at the Omar bin Al-Khattab mosque at Khalifa South town.
However, the scholar, who is the chairman of the Dublin-based International Muslim Scholars Union, said the face-covering veil was not obligatory in Islam and that a woman should cover the head and neck but leave the face open.
"Although I think that wearing niqab is not obligatory and that women should only wear the hijab (covering the head and neck, but leaving the face visible), I am totally against banning a Muslim from wearing niqab if she is convinced of it as a religious obligation," he explained.
"I do not represent all Muslim scholars. There are scholars in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries who consider niqab as obligatory and there are millions of women who wear it by their own free choice. If I asked them to stop wearing it, I would be violating their personal and religious freedom," he maintained.
Quoting from a letter he had sent to former French president Jacques Chirac, the scholar said the ban imposed on hijab in schools would be a betrayal of the principles of the French Revolution, namely liberty, fraternity and equality.
"I told (president Chirac) that prohibiting women from wearing the hijab would be discrimination against them and make them hate France which is known to be a leading country for freedom," he added.
In his letter, he had also dismissed the notion that hijab was a religious symbol for Muslims as "untrue", saying that if it was a symbol, why they were allowed to take it off when they were in the presence of other women or male relatives.
"Wearing hijab for Muslims could not be dealt with as wearing a necklace with a cross pendant for Christians," he said.
He indicated that the sentiments against niqab or hijab were a reflection of a desire by European countries to impose their culture on others.
"I have received a recent visit by French ambassador Gilles Bonnaud and I explained these things to him. I told him that Muslims believed in the unity of humanity but also believed that each nation should stick to its traits," he added.
"When Muslims ruled India, they did not close down temples or impose a ban on cremation. It is the duty of each nation to respect the values of the other, but with the European case, we can make it difficult for French and Belgian women who stay in Muslim countries by asking them to stick to a modest dress," he quoted from the conversation he had with the French ambassador to Qatar.
Remarks by the President at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship
May 6, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
White House Supplied Transcript
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center–Washington, D.C.–6:05 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Everybody, please have a seat. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Washington.
In my life, and as President, I have had the great pleasure of visiting many of your countries, and I've always been grateful for the warmth and the hospitality that you and your fellow citizens have shown me. And tonight, I appreciate the opportunity to return the hospitality.
For many of you, I know this is the first time visiting our country. So let me say, on behalf of the American people, welcome to the United States of America. (Applause.)
It is an extraordinary privilege to welcome you to this Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship. This has been a coordinated effort across my administration, and I want to thank all the hardworking folks and leaders at all the departments and agencies who made it possible, and who are here tonight.
That includes our United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk. Where's Ron? There he is. (Applause.) I especially want to thank the two departments and leaders who took the lead on this summit — Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
We're joined by members of Congress who work every day to help their constituents realize the American Dream, and whose life stories reflect the diversity and equal opportunity that we cherish as Americans: Nydia Velazquez, who is also, by the way, the chairwoman of our Small Business Committee in the House of Representatives. (Applause.) Keith Ellison is here. (Applause.) And Andre Carson is here. (Applause.)
Most of all, I want to thank all of you for being part of this historic event. You've traveled from across the United States and nearly 60 countries, from Latin America to Africa, Europe to Central Asia, from the Middle East to Southeast Asia.
And you bring with you the rich tapestry of the world's great traditions and great cultures. You carry within you the beauty of different colors and creeds, races and religions. You're visionaries who pioneered new industries and young entrepreneurs looking to build a business or a community.
But we've come together today because of what we share — a belief that we are all bound together by certain common aspirations. To live with dignity. To get an education. To live healthy lives. Maybe to start a business, without having to pay a bribe to anybody. To speak freely and have a say in how we are governed. To live in peace and security and to give our children a better future.
But we're also here because we know that over the years, despite all we have in common, the United States and Muslim communities around the world too often fell victim to mutual mistrust.
And that's why I went to Cairo nearly one year ago and called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslim communities — a new beginning based on mutual interest and mutual respect. I knew that this vision would not be fulfilled in a single year, or even several years. But I knew we had to begin and that all of us have responsibilities to fulfill.
As President, I've worked to ensure that America once again meets its responsibilities, especially when it comes to the security and political issues that have often been a source of tension. The United States is responsibly ending the war in Iraq, and we will partner with Iraqi people for their long-term prosperity and security. In Afghanistan, in Pakistan and beyond, we're forging new partnerships to isolate violent extremists, but also to combat corruption and foster the development that improves lives and communities.
I say it again tonight: Despite the inevitable difficulties, so long as I am President, the United States will never waver in our pursuit of a two-state solution that ensures the rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. (Applause.) And around the world, the United States of America will continue to stand with those who seek justice and progress and the human rights and dignity of all people.
But even as I committed the United States to addressing these security and political concerns, I also made it clear in Cairo that we needed something else — a sustained effort to listen to each other and to learn from each other, to respect one another. And I pledged to forge a new partnership, not simply between governments, but also between people on the issues that matter most in their daily lives — in your lives.
Now, many questioned whether this was possible. Yet over the past year, the United States has been reaching out and listening. We've joined interfaith dialogues and held town halls, roundtables and listening sessions with thousands of people around the world, including many of you. And like so many people, you've extended your hand in return, each in your own way, as entrepreneurs and educators, as leaders of faith and of science.
I have to say, perhaps the most innovative response was from Dr. Naif al-Mutawa of Kuwait, who joins us here tonight. Where is Dr. Mutawa? (Applause.) His comic books have captured the imagination of so many young people with superheroes who embody the teachings and tolerance of Islam. After my speech in Cairo, he had a similar idea. So in his comic books, Superman and Batman reached out to their Muslim counterparts. (Laughter.) And I hear they're making progress, too. (Laughter.) Absolutely. (Applause.)
By listening to each other we've been able to partner with each other. We've expanded educational exchanges, because knowledge is the currency of the 21st century. Our distinguished science envoys have been visiting several of your countries, exploring ways to increase collaboration on science and technology.
We're advancing global health, including our partnership with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to eradicate polio. This is just one part of our broader engagement with the OIC, led by my Special Envoy, Rashad Hussain, who joins us here tonight. Where's Rashad? (Applause.)
And we're partnering to expand economic prosperity. At a government level, I'd note that putting the G20 in the lead on global economic decision-making has brought more voices to the table — including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India and Indonesia. And here today, we're fulfilling my commitment in Cairo to deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
Now, I know some have asked — given all the security and political and social challenges we face, why a summit on entrepreneurship? The answer is simple.
Entrepreneurship — because you told us that this was an area where we can learn from each other; where America can share our experience as a society that empowers the inventor and the innovator; where men and women can take a chance on a dream — taking an idea that starts around a kitchen table or in a garage, and turning it into a new business and even new industries that can change the world.
Entrepreneurship — because throughout history, the market has been the most powerful force the world has ever known for creating opportunity and lifting people out of poverty.
Entrepreneurship — because it's in our mutual economic interest. Trade between the United States and Muslim-majority countries has grown. But all this trade, combined, is still only about the same as our trade with one country — Mexico. So there's so much more we can do together, in partnership, to foster opportunity and prosperity in all our countries.
And social entrepreneurship — because, as I learned as a community organizer in Chicago, real change comes from the bottom up, from the grassroots, starting with the dreams and passions of single individuals serving their communities.
And that's why we're here. We have Jerry Yang, who transformed how we communicate, with Yahoo. Is Jerry here? Where is he? He'll be here tomorrow. As well as entrepreneurs who have opened cybercafés and new forums on the Internet for discussion and development. Together, you can unleash the technologies that will help shape the 21st century.
We have successes like Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, who I met earlier, who built a telecommunications empire that empowered people across Africa. And we have aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their businesses and hire new workers. Together you can address the challenges of accessing capital. We have trailblazers like Sheikha Hanadi of Qatar, along with Waed al Taweel, who I met earlier — a 20-year-old student from the West Bank who wants to build recreation centers for Palestinian youth.
Please read continuation at www.muslimobserver.com.
So together, they represent the incredible talents of women entrepreneurs and remind us that countries that educate and empower women are countries that are far more likely to prosper. I believe that. (Applause.)
We have pioneers like Chris Hughes, who created Facebook, as well as an online community that brought so many young people into my campaign for President — MyBarackObama.com. (Laughter.) We have people like Soraya Salti of Jordan who are empowering the young men and women who will be leaders of tomorrow. (Applause.) Together, they represent the great potential and expectations of young people around the world.
And we've got social entrepreneurs like Tri Mumpuni, who has helped rural communities in Indonesia — (applause) — harness the electricity, and revenues, of hydro-power. And Andeisha Farid, an extraordinary woman from Afghanistan, who's taken great risks to educate the next generation, one girl at a time. (Applause.) Together, they point the way to a future where progress is shared and prosperity is sustainable.
And I also happened to notice Dr. Yunus — it's wonderful to see you again. I think so many people know the history of Grameen Bank and all the great work that's been done to help finance entrepreneurship among the poorest of the poor, first throughout South Asia, and now around the world.
So this is the incredible potential that you represent; the future we can seize together. So tonight I'm proud to announce a series of new partnerships and initiatives that will do just that.
The United States is launching several new exchange programs. We will bring business and social entrepreneurs from Muslim-majority countries to the United States and send their American counterparts to learn from your countries. (Applause.) So women in technology fields will have the opportunity to come to the United States for internships and professional development. And since innovation is central to entrepreneurship, we're creating new exchanges for science teachers.
We're forging new partnerships in which high-tech leaders from Silicon Valley will share their expertise — in venture capital, mentorship, and technology incubators — with partners in the Middle East and in Turkey and in Southeast Asia.
And tonight, I can report that the Global Technology and Innovation Fund that I announced in Cairo will potentially mobilize more than $2 billion in investments. This is private capital, and it will unlock new opportunities for people across our countries in sectors like telecommunications, health care, education, and infrastructure.
And finally, I'm proud that we're creating here at this summit not only these programs that I've just mentioned, but it's not going to stop here. Together, we've sparked a new era of entrepreneurship — with events all over Washington this week, and upcoming regional conferences around the world.
Tonight, I am pleased to announce that Prime Minister Erdogan has agreed to host the next Entrepreneurship Summit next year in Turkey. (Applause.) And so I thank the Prime Minister and the people and private sector leaders of Turkey for helping to sustain the momentum that we will unleash this week.
So as I said, there are those who questioned whether we could forge these new beginnings. And given the magnitude of the challenges we face in the world — and let's face it, a lot of the bad news that comes through the television each and every day — sometimes it can be tempting to believe that the goodwill and good works of ordinary people are simply insufficient to the task at hand. But to any who still doubt whether partnerships between people can remake our world, I say look at the men and women who are here today.
Look at the professor who came up with an idea — micro-finance — that empowered the rural poor across his country, especially women and children. That's the powerful example of Dr. Yunus.
Look what happened when Muhammad shared his idea with a woman from Pakistan, who has since lifted hundreds of thousands of families and children out of poverty through a foundation whose name literally means "miracle." That's the example of Roshaneh Zafar. (Applause.)
Look what happened when that idea spread across the world — including to people like my own mother, who worked with the rural poor from Pakistan to Indonesia. That simple idea, began with a single person, has now transformed the lives of millions. That's the spirit of entrepreneurship.
So, yes, the new beginning we seek is not only possible, it has already begun. It exists within each of you, and millions around the world who believe, like we do, that the future belongs not to those who would divide us, but to those who come together; not to those who would destroy, but those who would build; not those trapped in the past, but those who, like us, believe with confidence and conviction in a future of justice and progress and the dignity of all human beings regardless of their race, regardless of their religion.
That's the enormous potential that we're hoping to unlock during this conference and hoping to continue not only this week but in the months and years ahead. So I'm grateful that all of you are participating. May God bless you all and may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.)
Why We Won't Leave Afghanistan or Iraq
May 6, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Yes, We Could… Get Out!
By Tom Engelhardt
Yes, we could. No kidding. We really could withdraw our massive armies, now close to 200,000 troops combined, from Afghanistan and Iraq (and that's not even counting our similarly large stealth army of private contractors, which helps keep the true size of our double occupations in the shadows). We could undoubtedly withdraw them all reasonably quickly and reasonably painlessly.
Not that you would know it from listening to the debates in Washington or catching the mainstream news. There, withdrawal, when discussed at all, seems like an undertaking beyond the waking imagination. In Iraq alone, all those bases to dismantle and millions of pieces of equipment to send home in a draw-down operation worthy of years of intensive effort, the sort of thing that makes the desperate British evacuation from Dunkirk in World War II look like a Sunday stroll in the park. And that's only the technical side of the matter.
Then there's the conviction that anything but a withdrawal that would make molasses in January look like the hare of Aesopian fable — at least two years in Iraq, five to ten in Afghanistan — would endanger the planet itself, or at least its most important country: us.
Without our eternally steadying hand, the Iraqis and Afghans, it's taken for granted, would be lost. Without the help of U.S. forces, for example, would the Maliki government ever have been able to announce the death of the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq? Not likely, whereas the U.S. has knocked off its leadership twice, first in 2006, and again, evidently, last week.
Of course, before our troops entered Baghdad in 2003 and the American occupation of that country began, there was no al-Qaeda in Iraq. But that's a distant past not worth bringing up. And forget as well the fact that our invasions and wars have proven thunderously destructive, bringing chaos, misery, and death in their wake, and turning, for instance, the health care system of Iraq, once considered an advanced country in the Arab world, into a disaster zone(that — it goes without saying — only we Americans are now equipped to properly fix). Similarly, while regularly knocking off Afghan civilians at checkpoints on their roads and in their homes, at their celebrations and at work, we ignore the fact that our invasion and occupation opened the way for the transformation of Afghanistan into the first all-drug-crop agricultural nation and so the planet's premier narco-nation. It's not just that the country now has an almost total monopoly on growing opium poppies (hence heroin), but according to the latest U.N. report, it's now cornering the hashish market as well. That's diversification for you.
It's a record to stand on and, evidently, to stay on, even to expand on. We're like the famed guest who came to dinner, broke a leg, wouldn't leave, and promptly took over the lives of the entire household. Only in our case, we arrived, broke someone else's leg, and then insisted we had to stay and break many more legs, lest the world become a far more terrible place.
It's known and accepted in Washington that, if we were to leave Afghanistan precipitously, the Taliban would take over, al-Qaeda would be back big time in no time, and then more of our giant buildings would obviously bite the dust. And yet, the longer we've stayed and the more we've surged, the more resurgent the Taliban has become, the more territory this minority insurgency has spread into. If we stay long enough, we may, in fact, create the majority insurgency we claim to fear.
It's common wisdom in the U.S. that, before we pull our military out, Afghanistan, like Iraq, must be secured as a stable enough ally, as well as at least a fragile junior democracy, which consigns real departure to some distant horizon. And that sense of time may help explain the desire of U.S. officials to hinder Afghan President Hamid Karzai's attempts to negotiate with the Taliban and other rebel factions now. Washington, it seems, favors a "reconciliation process" that will last years and only begin after the U.S. military seizes the high ground on the battlefield.
The reality that dare not speak its name in Washington is this: no matter what might happen in an Afghanistan that lacked us — whether (as in the 1990s) the various factions there leaped for each other's throats, or the Taliban established significant control, though (as in the 1990s) not over the whole country — the stakes for Americans would be minor in nature. Not that anyone of significance here would say such a thing.
Tell me, what kind of a stake could Americans really have in one of the most impoverished lands on the planet, about as distant from us as could be imagined, geographically, culturally, and religiously? Yet, as if to defy commonsense, we've been fighting there — by proxy and directly — on and off for 30 years now with no end in sight.
Most Americans evidently remain convinced that "safe haven" there was the key to al-Qaeda's success, and that Afghanistan was the only place in which that organization could conceivably have planned 9/11, even though perfectly real planning also took place in Hamburg, Germany, which we neither bombed nor invaded.
In a future in which our surging armies actually succeeded in controlling Afghanistan and denying it to al-Qaeda, what about Somalia, Yemen, or, for that matter, England? It's now conveniently forgotten that the first, nearly successful attempt to take down one of the World Trade Center towers in 1993 was planned in the wilds of New Jersey. Had the Bush administration been paying the slightest attention on September 10, 2001, or had reasonable precautions been taken, including locking the doors of airplane cockpits, 9/11 and so the invasion of Afghanistan would have been relegated to the far-fetched plot of some Tom Clancy novel.
Vietnam and Afghanistan
Have you noticed, by the way, that there's always some obstacle in the path of withdrawal? Right now, in Iraq, it's the aftermath of the March 7th election, hailed as proof that we brought democracy to the Middle East and so, whatever our missteps, did the right thing. As it happens, the election, as many predicted at the time, has led to a potentially explosive gridlock and has yet to come close to resulting in a new governing coalition. With violence on the rise, we're told, the planned drawdown of American troops to the 50,000 level by August is imperiled. Already, the process, despite repeated assurances, seems to be proceeding slowly.
And yet, the thought that an American withdrawal should be held hostage to events among Iraqis all these years later, seems curious. There's always some reason to hesitate — and it never has to do with us. Withdrawal would undoubtedly be far less of a brain-twister if Washington simply committed itself wholeheartedly to getting out, and if it stopped convincing itself that the presence of the U.S. military in distant lands was essential to a better world (and, of course, to a controlling position on planet Earth).
The annals of history are well stocked with countries which invaded and occupied other lands and then left, often ingloriously and under intense pressure. But they did it.
It's worth remembering that, in 1975, when the South Vietnamese Army collapsed and we essentially fled the country, we abandoned staggering amounts of equipment there. Helicopters were pushed over the sides of aircraft carriers to make space; barrels of money were burned at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon; military bases as large as anything we've built in Iraq or Afghanistan fell into North Vietnamese hands; and South Vietnamese allies were deserted in the panic of the moment. Nonetheless, when there was no choice, we got out. Not elegantly, not nicely, not thoughtfully, not helpfully, but out.
Keep in mind that, then too, disaster was predicted for the planet, should we withdraw precipitously — including rolling communist takeovers of country after country, the loss of "credibility" for the American superpower, and a murderous bloodbath in Vietnam itself. All were not only predicted by Washington's Cassandras, but endlessly cited in the war years as reasons not to leave. And yet here was the shock that somehow never registered among all the so-called lessons of Vietnam: nothing of that sort happened afterwards.
Today, Vietnam is a reasonably prosperous land with friendly relations with its former enemy, the United States. After Vietnam, no other "dominos" fell and there was no bloodbath in that country. Of course, it could have been different — and elsewhere, sometimes, it has been. But even when local skies darken, the world doesn't end.
And here's the truth of the matter: the world won't end, not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, not in the United States, if we end our wars and withdraw. The sky won't fall, even if the U.S. gets out reasonably quickly, even if subsequently blood is spilled and things don't go well in either country.
We got our troops there remarkably quickly. We're quite capable of removing them at a similar pace. We could, that is, leave. There are, undoubtedly, better and worse ways of doing this, ways that would further penalize the societies we've invaded, and ways that might be of some use to them, but either way we could go.
A Brief History of American Withdrawal
Of course, there's a small problem here. All evidence indicates that Washington doesn't want to withdraw — not really, not from either region. It has no interest in divesting itself of the global control-and-influence business, or of the military-power racket. That's hardly surprising since we're talking about a great imperial power and control (or at least imagined control) over the planet's strategic oil lands.
And then there's another factor to consider: habit. Over the decades, Washington has gotten used to staying. The U.S. has long been big on arriving, but not much for departure. After all, 65 years later, striking numbers of American forces are still garrisoning the two major defeated nations of World War II, Germany and Japan. We still have about three dozen military bases on the modest-sized Japanese island of Okinawa, and are at this very moment fighting tooth and nail, diplomatically speaking, not to be forced to abandon one of them. The Korean War was suspended in an armistice 57 years ago and, again, striking numbers of American troops still garrison South Korea.
Similarly, to skip a few decades, after the Serbian air campaign of the late 1990s, the U.S. built-up the enormous Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo with its seven-mile perimeter, and we're still there. After Gulf War I, the U.S. either built or built up military bases and other facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, as well as the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. And it's never stopped building up its facilities throughout the Gulf region. In this sense, leaving Iraq, to the extent we do, is not quite as significant a matter as sometimes imagined, strategically speaking. It's not as if the U.S. military were taking off for Dubuque.
A history of American withdrawal would prove a brief book indeed. Other than Vietnam, the U.S. military withdrew from the Philippines under the pressure of "people power" (and a local volcano) in the early 1990s, and from Saudi Arabia, in part under the pressure of Osama bin Laden. In both countries, however, it has retained or regained a foothold in recent years. President Ronald Reagan pulled American troops out of Lebanon after a devastating 1983 suicide truck bombing of a Marines barracks there, and the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, functionally expelled the U.S. from Manta Air Base in 2008 when he refused to renew its lease. ("We'll renew the base on one condition: that they let us put a base in Miami — an Ecuadorian base," he said slyly.) And there were a few places like the island of Grenada, invaded in 1983, that simply mattered too little to Washington to stay.
Unfortunately, whatever the administration, the urge to stay has seemed a constant. It's evidently written into Washington's DNA and embedded deep in domestic politics where sure-to-come "cut and run" charges and blame for "losing" Iraq or Afghanistan would cow any administration. Not surprisingly, when you look behind the main news stories in both Iraq and Afghanistan, you can see signs of the urge to stay everywhere.
In Iraq, while President Obama has committed himself to the withdrawal of American troops by the end of 2011, plenty of wiggle room remains. Already, the New York Times reports, General Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in that country, is lobbying Washington to establish "an Office of Military Cooperation within the American Embassy in Baghdad to sustain the relationship after… Dec. 31, 2011." ("We have to stay committed to this past 2011," Odierno is quoted as saying. "I believe the administration knows that. I believe that they have to do that in order to see this through to the end. It's important to recognize that just because U.S. soldiers leave, Iraq is not finished.")
If you want a true gauge of American withdrawal, keep your eye on the mega-bases the Pentagon has built in Iraq since 2003, especially gigantic Balad Air Base (since the Iraqis will not, by the end of 2011, have a real air force of their own), and perhaps Camp Victory, the vast, ill-named U.S. base and command center abutting Baghdad International Airport on the outskirts of the capital. Keep an eye as well on the 104-acre U.S. embassy built along the Tigris River in downtown Baghdad. At present, it's the largest "embassy" on the planet and represents something new in "diplomacy," being essentially a military-base-cum-command-and-control-center for the region. It is clearly going nowhere, withdrawal or not.
In fact, recent reports indicate that in the near future "embassy" personnel, including police trainers, military officials connected to that Office of Coordination, spies, U.S. advisors attached to various Iraqi ministries, and the like, may be more than doubled from the present staggering staff level of 1,400 to 3,000 or above. (The embassy, by the way, has requested $1,875 billion for its operations in fiscal year 2011, and that was assuming a staffing level of only 1,400.) Realistically, as long as such an embassy remains at Ground Zero Iraq, we will not have withdrawn from that country.
Similarly, we have a giant U.S. embassy in Kabul (being expanded) and another mega-embassy being built in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. These are not, rest assured, signs of departure. Nor is the fact that in Afghanistan and Pakistan, everything war-connected seems to be surging, even if in ways often not noticed here. President Obama's surge decision has been described largely in terms of those 30,000-odd extra troops he's sending in, not in terms of the shadow army of 30,000 or more extra private contractors taking on various military roles (and dying off the books in striking numbers); nor the extra contingent of CIA types and the escalating drone war they are overseeing in the Pakistani tribal borderlands; nor the quiet doubling of Special Operations units assigned to hunt down the Taliban leadership; nor the extra State department officials for the "civilian surge"; nor, for instance, the special $10 million "pool" of funds that up to 120 U.S. Special Operations forces, already in those borderlands training the paramilitary Pakistani Frontier Corps, may soon have available to spend "winning hearts and minds."
Perhaps it's historically accurate to say that great powers generally leave home, head elsewhere armed to the teeth, and then experience the urge to stay. With our trillion-dollar-plus wars and yearly trillion-dollar-plus national-security budget, there's a lot at stake in staying, and undoubtedly in fighting two, three, many Afghanistans (and Iraqs) in the years to come.
Sooner or later, we will leave both Iraq and Afghanistan. It's too late in the history of this planet to occupy them forever and a day. Better sooner.
Tom Engelhardt runs the Nation Institute's Tomdispatch.com ("a regular antidote to the mainstream media").
Gulf Islamic Banks Eye Conversion of Conventional Peers
May 3, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Frederik Richter and Shaheen Pasha
MANAMA/DUBAI (Reuters) – More banks in the Gulf Arab region may convert to Islamic finance in a bid to tap rising demand for sharia-compliant products and to avoid the heavy investment required to launch new banks.
A source told Reuters this month that Qatari investors are planning to buy a 25 percent stake in Ahli United Bank <AUBB.BH> <AUBK.KW> from Kuwaiti investors and have plans to convert Bahrain's largest retail bank, which itself plans to take its Kuwaiti unit Islamic.
"Converting to Islamic is compelling in the region. In Kuwait Islamic banks have rapidly won market share from conventional ones," said Sayd Farook, senior consultant at Dar Al Istithmar.
Converting conventional banks would help the industry expand its retail footprint — for instance in countries where no new licenses are given out but conversions are allowed –, which experts say the industry needs to develop a more sustainable business model.
The Islamic banking industry in the Gulf Arab region has mostly relied on channeling the region's oil wealth into real estate and private equity, and was badly hit by a regional property correction late in 2008.
"I would say between 70 to 80 pct of the Muslim market (in the region) would bank with an Islamic bank….if you are an Islamic bank you get to capture that market," said Sameer Abdi, head of Islamic finance at Ernst & Young.
Scholars have said they do not oppose converting conventional banks as long as their investments and debt levels are brought in line with sharia, which bans investments in certain sectors such as alcohol, over a grace period.
"There is usually a two-year conversion gap from the moment you convert….during which you need to give away to charity any income from conventional instruments," said Farook.
Experts say that converting a bank comes cheaper than launching a green-field retail bank, but costs associated with revamping the bank's work-flow, accounting and core banking IT systems are still high.
"Depending on the scale of the bank and the market in which it operates, it could take two or three years before the investment pays off," said Hatim El Tahir, a Bahrain-based director at Deloitte & Touche.
Abdi said he estimated that up to 15 percent of existing customers could leave a converted bank, not necessarily because they disapprove of the switch to sharia, but because the bank might struggle to maintain its service level during a difficult transition period.
Bahrain's Al Salam Bank <SALAM.BH> is converting Bahraini Saudi Bank <BSBB.BH>, which it bought last year, as is Egypt's National Bank for Development <DEVE.CA> after Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank <ADIB.AD> partially bought the lender in 2007.
But the Gulf Arab region is rarely seeing mergers and acquisitions due to cultural sensitivities and opaque ownership structures, which could be the biggest obstacle to the conversion of conventional assets.
Bahrain's Ithmaar Bank <ITHMR.BH> this month concluded the transformation from an investment house to an Islamic retail bank to improve its funding base, but could do so because it fully owned Islamic retail bank Shamil.
But Kuwaiti banks and merchant families have been badly hit by the financial crisis and are trying to sell down their international assets, which could be a way in.
Their ownership in many banks in the off-shore banking center Bahrain, both Islamic and conventional, could migrate to Qatari investors and banks that are awash with cash, bankers and analysts say.
"Qatar is a small economy…the bigger banks are looking at other markets," said Janany Vamadeva, banking analyst at HC Brokerage, adding that Qatari companies would also be best positioned to raise money in current capital markets.
(Reporting by Frederik Richter and Shaheen Pasha; Editing by Dinesh Nair and Louise Heavens)
Obama Picks Special Envoy to World Muslim Group (OIC)
February 18, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama appointed a special envoy Saturday to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the 57-nation organization that calls itself the "collective voice of the Muslim world."
He is Rashad Hussein, an Indian-American Muslim who has been a deputy associate White House counsel, described by Obama as "an accomplished lawyer and a close and trusted member of my White House staff."
Obama made the announcement Saturday in a video message to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar. He said he made the move to broaden the outreach strategy toward the Muslim world he laid out last year in Cairo.
"Rashad has played a key role in developing the partnerships I called for in Cairo. And as a hafiz of the Quran, he is a respected member of the American Muslim community, and I thank him for carrying forward this important work," Obama said. A hafiz is someone who has memorized the Quran, the sacred book of Islam.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be speaking Sunday at the 7th annual forum and Obama took the opportunity Saturday to laud the event and reiterate what he calls the "new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world" – a relationship that he says has been marred by "misunderstanding and mistrust."
"The United States is responsibly ending the war in Iraq; we are removing all our combat brigades from Iraq by the end of August, and we will partner with the Iraqi people on behalf of their long-term security and prosperity. In Afghanistan and beyond, we are forging partnerships to isolate violent extremists, reduce corruption and to promote good governance and development that improves lives.
"We remain unyielding in pursuit of a two-state solution that recognizes the rights and security of Israelis and Palestinians. And the United States will continue to stand for the human rights and dignity of people around the world," he said.
Obama said his administration has held thousands of events with students, civil society groups, faith leaders and entrepreneurs, including Clinton's "landmark" visit to Pakistan.
"And I look forward to continuing the dialogue during my visit to Indonesia next month. This dialogue has helped us turn many of the initiatives I outlined in Cairo into action," the president said.
Obama also listed outreach initiatives toward the Muslim world in education, economic development, science and technology, food security, and global health.
"None of this will be easy. Fully realizing the new beginning we envision will take a long-term commitment. But we have begun."
Hussain has served as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and an editor of the Yale Law Journal. He posted a message on the White House blog saying he is "honored and humbled" by the appointment.
"I am committed to deepening the partnerships that he (Obama) outlined in his visionary address last summer. I look forward to updating you on the Administration's efforts in these areas over the coming months," he said.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference says it is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations and that its 57-state membership is "spread over four continents."
Israeli's Bid to Buy Al-Jazeera from Qatar
October 15, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
An Israeli media tycoon has offered to buy the pan-Arab Al-Jazeera satellite television network from the government of Qatar.
Haim Saban, has submitted an offer to the Qatari government in a bid to purchase half of the Doha -based Al-Jazeera satellite network.
The Egyptian newspaper al-Mesryoon reported Wednesday that the Israeli billionaire is currently engaged in negotiations with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, over the partial purchase of the media outlet. The talks are said to be conducted through an Egyptian mediator.
The account comes amid reports that the largest and most controversial Arab news channel in the Middle East is grappling with a terrible financial crisis at present. Saban had previously made an offer to purchase al-Jazeera in 2004, but it was turned down.
The Israeli-American magnate has supposedly made an offer of $5 billion for the popular Arabic-language news channel, in an attempt to get a hold of it and to broadcast a pro-Israeli message so as to influence the Arab opinion in favor of Tel Aviv's hawkish regime.
Al-Jazeera spawned a media revolution in the Arab world after it was founded in 1996. The network is reliant on state financial largesse, estimated at over $70 million a year, but does not broadcast shows critical of the Qatari government. Al-Jazeera, however, does air programs leveling criticism at all other Arab governments.
Seban made his fortune by buying the rights to market the Japanese kids show, "The Power Rangers," in America. He is a prominent supporter of Israel and the right-wing Netanyahu government. In addition, the Egyptian-born Jewish businessman is well known for his under-the-table dealings.
US Prepares to Face UN on Torture as Amnesty Report Blasts 'War Crimes'
May 4, 2006 by TMO · Leave a Comment
U.S. Prepares to Face U.N. on Torture as Amnesty Report blasts 'War Crimes'
Courtesy Raw Story
As the US prepares a team of 30 to defend its record on torture before a U.N. committee, Amnesty International has made public a report blasting the US for failing to take appropriate steps to eradicate the use of torture at U.S. detention sites around the world.
US compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment will be the topic of May 5 and 8 U.N. hearings in Geneva.
The United States last appeared before the Committee Against Torture in May, 2000. Amnesty claims that practices criticized by the Committee six years ago — such as the use of electro-shock weapons and excessively harsh conditions in "super-maximum" security prisons — have been used and exported by U.S. forces abroad.
The Amnesty Report reviews several cases where U.S. detainees held in Afghanistan and Iraq have died as a result of torture. The group also lambastes U.S. use of electro-shock weapons, inhuman and degrading conditions of isolation in "super-max" security prisons and abuses against women in the prison system — including sexual abuse by male guards, shackling while pregnant and even in labor.
As of now, the U.S. has yet to prosecute a single official, military officer or private contractor for "torture" or "war crimes" related to its occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, or the "war on terror."
"The heaviest sentence imposed on anyone to date for a torture-related death while in U.S. custody is five months," notes Curt Goering, Senior Deputy Executive Director for Amnesty International USA. "[That's] the same sentence that you might receive in the U.S. for stealing a bicycle."
The five month sentence resulted from the death of a 22-year-old taxi-driver, who had been hooded and chained to a ceiling, then kicked and beaten until dead.
"The U.S. government is not only failing to take steps to eradicate torture," he adds, "it is actually creating a climate in which torture and other ill-treatment can flourish — including by trying to narrow the definition of torture."
The report argues that these cases are not isolated incidents, but part of an overall pattern condoned by U.S. officials.
"While the government continues to try to claim that the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody was mainly due to a few 'aberrant' soldiers, there is clear evidence to the contrary," said Javier Zuniga, Amnesty International's Americas Program Director. "Most of the torture and ill-treatment stemmed directly from officially sanctioned procedures and policies — including interrogation techniques approved by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld."
Amnesty's findings have already been sent to members of the UN Committee Against Torture.
At its May 1-19 session, the Committee Against Torture will consider reports presented by Georgia, Guatemala, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Peru, Togo and the United States. With the exceptions of Korea and Peru, Amnesty has also provided reports about the actions of these nations. -


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Layne unloaded 10 rounds at Jonathan Hoffman over a six-minute span, striking him six times. The high school senior implicated his grandmother in a desperate 911 call before she shot him again with the dispatcher listening.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Paul Walton again played Hoffman's recorded plea for a rescue as he urged jurors to convict Layne of first-degree murder. He rebutted defense claims that she was a helpless woman who fired her Glock after being struck in the face over an argument about her grandson demanding money and pledging to flee Michigan.
"Just because Sandra Layne said it doesn't make it true," said Walton, who described Hoffman as a victim of a "massacre."
"You don't get a gun because he uses bad language. You don't get to shoot someone because they raised their voice. The only thing Jonathan had was a caustic or smart mouth," the prosecutor said.
Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before going home Monday. They could acquit Layne based on her self-defense argument or convict her of first-degree murder or a lesser charge.
Layne last week testified that she was afraid of Hoffman.
Layne testified that she shot Hoffman, ran to the basement to hide and emerged to shoot him again during a struggle.
Defense attorney Jerome Sabbota urged jurors to acquit Layne, asking them to view the incident through the eyes of a woman in her 70s. He said Layne was taking care of a teen who had used drugs and brought strangers to the home. Hoffman's parents were divorced and living in Arizona during his senior year of high school.
"Is there really a motive to murder her grandson? What does she gain?" Sabbota said. "She killed a child she was trying to protect and trying to save. That's a tragedy. Only one reason she did what she did: fear."
Sabbota also played a 911 recording for the jury, a call that Layne made to police two months before Hoffman was killed. Sounding deeply anguished, she said she needed help because her grandson wanted to run away from her home.
"Does she sound calm, cool and collected? Does she sound like Tony Soprano?" Sabbota said, referring to the mob kingpin on HBO's "The Sopranos."
Oakland County Judge Denise Langford Morris told jurors that acquittal based on self-defense could be appropriate if Layne "honestly and reasonably believed" that her life was in danger—even if she was wrong.
The prosecutor reminded the jury that Layne didn't report any injuries to police when they arrived at her home during the shooting.
"Not, I was afraid, I acted in self-defense, he came after me," Walton said. "I murdered. I shot. I killed—those are her first statements to law enforcement. ... She hunted down Jonathan Hoffman because he wouldn't listen."
He said Layne had no injuries, not even a smudge to her makeup.
"If there's a self-defense claim here," he said, "it belongs to Jonathan Hoffman, not Sandra Layne."
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap


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Frosty Pines Wilderness Education Program is currently accepting new volunteer applications. If you love the outdoors and have a desire to share your knowledge of nature with others or have a desire to learn, we would like to have you join our team of Naturalists. No prior experience is required, just a love for nature and desire to connect with nature and teach others.
All volunteers will be working with children therefore the following requirements are strictly adhered to and all steps must be completed before becoming a volunteer with Frosty Pines.
Volunteer Requirements:
1. Potential candidates are required to complete our Volunteer Packet and participate in a volunteer training day.
2. The Volunteer must complete a waiver for background clearance. Provide a copy of your driver's license.
3. Provide proof of CPR/First Aid Certification if you have it.
We select volunteers for placement based on availability, time commitment, interests, and skills.
We are currently accepting volunteers that are available a minimum of 1 day per week Mon-Sat 9am-4:00pm.
Volunteers for Frontier Village are needed and we would like to have regular volunteer participation for the entire camp or weekly sessions.
Volunteers are essential to the camp experience. Volunteers develop their own leadership skills while having as much fun as the children! They connect with & mentor children, experience the outdoors and make friends. If interested please email: email@example.com to request an application. Advance registration required for Volunteer Training Orientation.
Who can participate?
- Students age of 17 & up.
- College Students
- Housewives
- Freelancers
- Nature Lovers
- Naturalists
- Trekking Enthusiasts
Upcoming Volunteer Training Dates: June 18th 2012 9am-12pm OR 5pm-8pm
June 20th 2012 9am-12pm OR 5pm-8pm
Please choose 1 date and time that best fits your schedule
Location: Frontier Village
Please email Marcie at: firstname.lastname@example.com with questions or to get involved.


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Listed below are all of our news and reviews articles for January 2009. If you are looking for an article on a particular day or on a particular topic, you can use the menu on the right to narrow your search
2009 ArticlesJanuary | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
January 2009 Topics |
Digital Camera Articles for January of 2009Below are the 42 Digital Camera articles for January of 2009 1. Most Popular Digital Cameras of December 2008 1/1/2009 Our last list of most viewed cameras for 2008 doesn't come with many surprises. Only one previously unseen model managed to sneak onto the l 2. Canon EOS 5D Mark II First Thoughts 1/2/2009 We've had a day to shoot some early samples - including a video sample - with our Canon EOS 5D Mark II review unit. So far, things are looki 3. Engadget: Kodak bringing 24x ultrazoom to CES? 1/4/2009 Several sites reported earlier today that Kodak was preparing to launch a new 24x ultrazoom at CES, and Engadget has followed up on those ru 4. Lenovo launches dual-screen photographer's workstation 1/5/2009 In our view, Lenovo's recently released W700 is a pretty good photographer's computing companion in its original form, but Lenovo has upped 5. CES 2009: Digital Camera News Headquarters 1/5/2009 It's almost time to head to Vegas for the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show! For the latest digicam news from the show, check out our CES 2009 6. Pentax Optio P70, E70 unveiled for CES 1/5/2009 In anticipation of CES, Pentax has added two new point-and-shoot digicams to its Optio line: the Pentax Optio P70 and Optio E70. 7. "Ultra-ultrazoom": Kodak Z980 officially official 1/6/2009 Kodak is ready to re-enter the zoom length arms race with the official unveiling of its Z980 ultrazoom - a DSLR-styled camera with a stunnin 8. New Olympus FE models refresh manufacturer's budget line 1/7/2009 Olympus has refreshed its FE series of budget-conscious ultracompacts with three new models: the 10 megapixel FE-3000, and the 12 megapixel 9. Olympus revamps outdoor-ready line with three models 1/7/2009 Olympus is serving up three new rugged/waterproof compacts, including 10 and 12 megapixel options released under the recently unveiled "Styl 10. Olympus Stylus 9000, Stylus 7000 offer compact ultrazoom options 1/7/2009 Olympus has presented two new models in the revamped Stylus line, the Stylus 7000 and 9000, that slot into the small but growing compact ult 11. Olympus goes big with 26x zoom SP-590 UZ 1/7/2009 Not to be outdone in the quest for more range by Kodak's 24x optical zoom foray, the 12 megapixel Olympus SP-590 UZ features a 26x zoom lens 12. Eye-Fi shows off wireless video upload technology 1/7/2009 The ability to upload images directly from cameras to the web or your home computer wirelessly is almost certainly the future of file transf 13. Super-slim Samsung TL100 announced 1/7/2009 The Samsung TL100 brings 12.2 megapixel capture and high-res video shooting to a pocket-friendly camera that's less three quarters of an inc 14. Samsung makes HZ concept a reality with HZ10W 1/7/2009 At a press conference this afternoon, Samsung announced that the HZ compact ultrazoom concept we saw at Photokina will be coming to market i 15. Samsung SL102, SL420 update low-cost SL line 1/7/2009 Samsung rounded out this afternoon's new model announcements with the addition of a pair of user-friendly compacts to its budget SL line. 16. Sony rolls out Cyber-shot W220 1/7/2009 Sony has brought a lot of high-end technology into an entry-level model with the introduction of the Sony Cyber-shot W220. 17. SD Association revises standard to better support cards up to 2TB 1/7/2009 With HD video and ultra high-res digital stills putting more strain than ever on memory capacity, it's not surprising that the SD Associatio 18. Casio Exilim EX-FS10, EX-FC100 offer 30 fps shooting 1/8/2009 The Casio Exilim EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 bring the high-speed capture of Casio's F1 - 30 fps continuous shooting and 1000 fps movies - down to 19. CES 2009: Wednesday Wrap Up 1/8/2009 First look: Samsung HZ10W All white K2000 LE spotted "in the wild" Olympus shows off new model line Hands on with Kodak's Z980 24x ultr 20. Sony revolutionizes wireless uploading with Cyber-shot DSC-G3 1/8/2009 The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 features built-in Wi-Fi, but a simple web browser opens up access to public hotspots and photo sharing sites. 21. CES 2009: Thursday Wrap Up 1/9/2009 Sampling the Sony G3's Wi-Fi connectivity Casio FC100 in slow motion Still waiting on new Micro Four Thirds lenses Photo gallery: Samsu 22. Olympus SP-590 UZ Hands On Preview 1/10/2009 We'd already spent a little time with the brand new Olympus SP-590 UZ, but Olympus was kind enough to let us explore a pre-production 590 in 23. CES 2009: Show Wrap Up 1/11/2009 The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show came to a close in Las Vegas today, and we've got a few final thoughts on the trends and products that wi 24. Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Review 1/12/2009 The Canon PowerShot SD990 IS, the latest flagship ultracompact in Canon's Digital ELPH line, was rolled out just before the holiday buying s 25. PrinterComparison.com giving away a photo printer 1/14/2009 If you've been shopping for a new all-in-one printer, the folks over at our sister site, PrinterComparison.com, have got the best deal going 26. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 First Thoughts 1/14/2009 The folks at Panasonic obviously don't believe the megapixel wars are over: the recently introduced Lumix DMC FX150 generates absolutely mam 27. Budget-friendly Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85 announced 1/16/2009 Nothing about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85 is cutting-edge, but combine a very solid list of features that includes optical image stabilizat 28. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15, DMC-FS7 join Lumix FS line 1/16/2009 We were disappointed that Panasonic didn't have any news to share with the world at last week's Consumer Electronics Show, but the company h 29. Casio Exilim EX-Z300 Review 1/16/2009 Casio's slim, stylish Exilim EX-Z300 serves up a huge number of auto-exposure shooting modes, class-comparable resolution, and a bigger help 30. Pentax K2000 Review 1/17/2009 "Small" and "light" haven't always been part of Pentax's K-series vocabulary, but the new 10.2 megapixel Pentax K2000 looks to change this p 31. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 gets firmware update 1/17/2009 Panasonic has rolled out a firmware update for its Lumix DMC-LX3 advanced compact. 32. Head to Head: Nikon D60 vs. Pentax K2000 1/20/2009 What makes the perfect consumer DSLR? After great images and a reasonable price, compactness may be the most important consideration in choo 33. Pentax taking pre-orders on K2000 Limited Edition 1/22/2009 We received word that those of you who have been anxiously awaiting your chance to purchase the visually striking K2000 Limited Edition are 34. Users Speak Out: Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd 1/22/2009 Our Users Speak Out column returns for 2009 with a sampling of actual user opinions about the Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd. The S1000fd has been 35. Olympus E-30 Review 1/23/2009 Olympus has been late to the enthusiast DSLR party, but the new 12.3 megapixel Olympus E-30 has the potential to steal users from Canon and 36. New software hack lets Canon DSLRs with LiveView record video 1/26/2009 New software hack lets Canon DSLRs with LiveView record video 37. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48, DMC-FX580 update FX line 1/27/2009 Panasonic took the wraps off two new FX cameras this morning: the ultracompact Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 t 38. Panasonic announces waterproof/shockproof Lumix DMC-TS1 1/27/2009 Today's most surprising Panasonic announcement came in the form of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1, the manufacturer's first waterproof/dustproo 39. Panasonic replaces TZ cameras with 12x zoom Lumix DMC-ZS3, ZS1 1/27/2009 What was once TZ is now ZS. That's the news that we expect to come out of a Panasonic press conference later this morning in Miami, where th 40. Panasonic seeks 15 percent of digicam market by 2010 1/27/2009 In a forward-looking press conference this morning, Panasonic announced its intent to control 15 percent of the digital camera market worldw 41. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3: Hands-On Preview and Image Gallery 1/28/2009 Following up on yesterday's official announcement of the new 10.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 compact ultrazoom, Panasonic was graciou 42. Nikon Coolpix S560 Review 1/31/2009 It seems like the Nikon Coolpix S550 just rolled out, but with a one-two punch, the manufacturer has refreshed this platform with the launch |
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El Diario: Latina nominated to Supreme Court
Some tiki tiki may be coming to the Supreme Court.
President Obama this morning nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the High Court.
Sotomayor, an American of Puerto Rican descent, is a federal appeals judge and she would be the first person of Latino ethnicity to join the Court if she is confirmed. Azucar!
The self-described "nuyorican" was raised in the Bronx by her nurse mother, a young widow. Sotomayor, seen in this picture from the NY Daily News, graduated from Princeton and the Yale law school. She would replace retiring Judge David Souter.
From the New York Times:
"In 2001, she gave a speech declaring that the ethnicity and sex of a judge "may and will make a difference in our judging." In her speech, at a conference on diversity, Judge Sotomayor questioned the famous notion – often invoked by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her retired Supreme Court colleague, Sandra Day O'Connor – that a wise old man and a wise old woman would reach the same conclusion when deciding cases.
"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life," said Judge Sotomayor.
During the announcement, President Obama pointed out Sotomayor's mother, who came to the United States during World War II and who greatly influenced and pushed her children toward the American Dream.
"My mother has devoted her life to my brother and me and as the president mentioned, she worked often two jobs to help support us after dad died," Sotomayor said during the announcement today. "I have often said that I am all I am because of her and I am only half the woman she is."
If Sotomayor, 54, joins the Court after Senate hearings and confirmation, she would be just the third female justice. Hey, we're making progress.
The June issue of Working Mother magazine includes a list of companies also striving for progress. Check out the 2009 Best Companies for Multi-Cultural Women.
From the magazine: "Women of color still hold only 4% of the Best Companies for Multicultural Women's board seats and 9 of their senior manager and executive jobs."
Among the best: Verizon, Wal-Mart, American Express and Sodexo. Companies across the country may want to study what these companies are doing because the flavor of our country is changing. According to a story posted over at Univision, minorities are the majority in 10% of counties.


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I listened to this great American as she gave her response to Obama's (State of the Union) speech. This is my take on what I saw and heard. Jodi Earnst is a GOP freshman Senator from Iowa. She is in the Iowa Army National Guard and is from Red Oak, Iowa. Her family were pig farmers...
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I was alarmed to read last week that the experts are predicting a chocolate shortage. That's right — gasp — a chocolate shortage. On the supply side, cocoa crops have been poor due to drought, disease and the cocoa pod borer, a tiny moth that eats cocoa pods. To compound the...
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Another January comes and this year marks 42 years since Roe v. Wade. The abortion death count is now estimated at 57 million. Yet, despite all this loss of fellow citizens in our land, the tragic impact of all this death still manages to escape the conscious awareness of so many...
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GOP transportation plan falls short
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January 17, 2015 - 12:00pm
Herbicide- tolerant crop approvals need to stop
Jan 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale and planting of Monsanto's genetically engineered dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. This approval follows that of 2, 4-D tolerant soybeans and corn, billed as the next generation of herbicide-tolerant crops to tackle...
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January 17, 2015 - 11:30am
Go ahead, blame gas station clerks for low gas prices
When gasoline prices were high, there was a tendency of some customers to complain to the gas station's hard-working clerks, as if they had any say in global oil production, commodity markets or even their company's daily price listing. People mumbled. They moaned. They took...
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January 15, 2015
2014 was a good year for DL
From strong city growth to the opening of its newest park – the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area – there's no doubt Detroit Lakes had a good year in 2014. Some highlights from the State of the City address by Mayor Matt Brenk Tuesday evening: With healthy reserves, good...
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The weather is ridiculous, rain, rain, and more rain and brrrr cold. I did see about 10 flakes of snow on my way to work this morning. At this point, I think snow would be better. We decided to have a cut tree this year, too muddy to get it, so we don't have a tree up yet ! Only a few decorations out.
Usually this is all done by the weekend after Thanksgiving, I just can't get into the spirit this year. It definitely feels more of a chore this year. We all have had colds and flu, I've been having more health issues as well. Honestly, I just want this over with. I don't even have all of my shopping done, nothing is wrapped. I use to be so organized and on top of everything, that's obvioulsy in the past now.
I don't feel like doing anything nor do I have the energy to do it. My sweet husband would do it all if I'd just ask. He doesn't want to step on my toes, he knows how independant I "want" to be. He's just waiting for me to give him the go ahead, bless his heart. He always comes through for me.
Maybe I'll shake the scrooge soon and move on to the happy holidays. Hope everyone can do the same and enjoy this time with their loved ones.
Best of luck...View Thread
I have tried many different meds and most recently was rx'd Citalapram. Last "antidepressant" was Wellbutrin, which was ok at best for a short period of time. Tell me about the Citalapram as far as what you've experienced. Weight gain ? Do you find that your mood is better or do you just feel better in general ?
I've been dealing with FM for 15 plus yrs and have tried so many antidepressants, ones that are meant to help FM, and so on. I don't sleep, I have pain every day (like everyone), knees, hips, shoulders, neck, ribs, feet, and flare about 3 times a month to the point I feel as if someone has kicked the daylights out of me on top of having the flu from hell. I also get every virus that I come in contact with. With this being said, yes, I am depressed so I need an antidepressant.
I haven't been able to find one that actually helps with the depression so in turn I truly believe that my FM is way worse. Who wouldn't be depressed when dealing with chronic pain and fatigue. I read that Citalapram is a mood enhancer and gives you a feeling of well being. Well, in my view, If I have a feeling of well being then I will feel better. If I feel better then my pain won't be in my face 24/7.
Now that I've gone on and on, can you tell me how it affects you ? I know everyone is different with meds and FM, this isn't my first rodeo, but I haven't talked to anyone that has FM and takes Citalapram. I would greatly appreciate any info that you are willing to share with me.
Hope to hear from you soon !View Thread
Best of luck...View Thread
Having this knowledge that you shared puts a perspective on things for me now. We need to get to the bottom of this so if it's FM then we can prepare for the future. I never thought of it that way. If I knew what was in store for me I certainly would have done things differently like you mentioned...brilliant ! Why didn't I think of that..wow.
Like Nancy B. mentioned, her Pediatrician needs to know her family history so she knows how to approach this. I will definitely get an appt scheduled.
Thank you so much !View Thread
I hound her about keeping hydrated because of sports and she does well. I think recently she realized why I always tell her to go soak in the tub because she is doing that more on her own. She may be testing me to see if I'll confirm her thoughts of what's going on but it's so hard to tell her because I don't want her to have this to face but its is better to get a grip on things now. Maybe it's something else, I sincerely hope so but to be fair I need to get an appt.
Thank you for your help !View Thread
Thanks again, have a good evening.View Thread
I hate to put a label on her at such a young age but need to get to the bottom of this. Again, I really appreciate your advice.
Have a good evening !View Thread
Fast forward to present. My daughter is an athlete and is a mini me. Over the last few yrs she has had complaints of back pain, with huge knots in her back. Had mono a few yrs back and now has issues several times a yr with being wiped out, sleeps as much as she can but is so active she doesn't want to miss anything. She is now complaining of her ribs hurting and has knots on them as well. (One of my FM issues). It's so painful. It goes around to her back, just like mine. She also has knee pain and several other complaints that are similar to one with FM.
I don't want to mention FM to her because she has watched what I go through for as long as she's been alive and this may freak her out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can handle this without saying the obvious ? She's a junior in high school and I want her to do everything she wants and to enjoy her life before the real world slaps her in the face. Teenagers have enough to deal with so I don't want her to feel "abnormal". She is such a great kid, so understanding of what I deal with but I'm not sure she can handle this. She goes to a career center and is in the Physical Therapy program and is doing so good. Straight A's, perfect attendance, and has had several awards for being a good student. Until she went there this yr, she hated school, grades where not great, and could care less if she was there. She goes when she is wiped out, or not feeling well and I feel horrible for her. I hardly ever miss work and maybe she realizes that she too needs to suck it up sometimes.
I don't want to put too much pressure on her but I also don't want to see her go through this, it breaks my heart. Most days she doesn't get home until 9 or 10 because of sports so it's hard for her to rest the way she should. I stay on her about eating right but again she's a teenager and constantly running. I just don't know what I should do, it's like having your cake and eating it too. She knows a lot about FM because I made her learn about it so she'd have a better understanding of why I can't do everything and why I'm always wiped out and don't feel well. She later did a report on this for Health class, I thought that was sweet but I'm her momma.
Just need some advice please.
Thank you for listening !View Thread
It's strange that they didn't do any type of testing when you were there for your seizure. Obviously, having a seizure is not normal. I've heard that stress/anxiety can be the cause of a seizure (again, I "heard" this) but they still should have done something.
I don't have insurance either but I do know that anxiety meds are not that costly and there's discount cards available everywhere. I found several on line. Is there any type of gov't assistance where you live ? You don't necessarily have to go on medicaid but sometimes they go by your income. Unfortunately, I make slightly more than what they consider to be "poverty". Because I work, it seems to be an issue. Go figure.
If you're that concerned about what's going on, then you really should go get checked out, I would.
Best of luck.....View Thread
This is a great place to vent and learn how to cope. FM is such a difficult enemy to face alone so coping skills are highly recommended. There was a book mentioned that has been helpful and I read it when it was recommended to me. Very valuable information. Also, "Living with Fibromyalgia" is a good one as well. Gather as much info as you can, it's very helpful to know what to expect and know that you are not crazy.
There are so many things to know about FM and not two people are the same with what they experience. I realize that you've been dealing with this for many years and so have I (and probably the majority of our friends here) but it's good to gather as much knowledge and support that you can.
You have been on my mind and I worry about you and what your going through. It's not easy. I really hope you have some kind of support system and remember there are a lot of people here that can help you as well. Hearing someone else say what I've said a thousand times put things in perspective for me. It makes me realize how precious life is and how important my family is to me. I'm not saying that WOW ! Life is perfect now ! Or man, I'm pain free, or that I will never feel this way again but it did make me stop and think about how important I AM to my family. They need me no matter how messed up I am lol.
Please remember that you are not alone. I know these are just words from someone that you don't know but I truly do care. It makes me feel better, mentally, to help people and I'm not focused on poor lil 'ol me for a while. It's ok to feel the way you do, It can't be normal not to feel this way at some point in time. For god sakes, your living with chronic pain and trying to raise children and be the perfect mother. Not too many people can raise children let alone do it in the condition your in. Give yourself some credit. You've gone this far and your babies are ok, they will continue to be ok. Nobody is perfect, you're not a failure. The mere fact that you are questioning yourself about being a failure is proof that your not. If you didn't care, this thought would never have crossed your mind. Obviously your children come first so I think your doing a great job
Take the advise of the gal that told us about all the cool things she did with her children while she was in bed. Those are the things that they'll remember. 30 minutes of reading, coloring, doing crafts or watching movies means a lot to kids and you don't have to be up and moving around. Start journals with them or scrapbooking. You can spend hours, several times a week, doing this and think of the memories they'll have. Go to "Pintrest.com", there are endless, cheap craft ideas there. The cool thing is, it definitely takes your mind off of things for a bit and you certainly need that.
Please let us all know how you are doing, we do care. Let us know if we can help in anyway. You can vent or just say "hey".
You are in my thoughts, please take care and keep your chin up. I know how depressing this miserable mystery can be but you can beat it. Laugh at ridiculous things, smile at beautiful things and cry when it's just too much, but never give up. Your babies need you.
Best of luck.....View Thread
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Relativity and Density
Name: Richard S. Status: other Age: 30s Location: N/A Country: N/A Date: 2001-2002
If relativity predicts mass increases with velocity and length decreases in the direction of motion, if you moved an object to a high enough velocity would its density reached a point at which it would collapse upon itself and become a black hole?
A person observing it fly by might think so, unless he thought the relative motion was due to his flying in the opposite direction. In either case, a person moving at the same velocity as the mass would see it at rest and could find no increase in density.
Relativity has many strange effects, but the effects of relative motion can be among the most difficult to understand. Good luck!
Best, Dick...
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