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Author Archives: Josh Dahl
Objects at Rest #2 Cover
Cold Little Girl
Shawn's Icicle
She's definitely seen better days. @RapidCityComic #BelowZero pic.twitter.com/onwvaj4snP
— Shawn Langley (@Shawn_Langley) June 1, 2014
Pride in the Blank Page
Writers and artists talk about the fear of "the blank page".
It is the anxiety of getting started. That sea of white perfection staring back at you waiting for you to fail. Before it is begun, the project is a perfect concept existing in the brain-o-sphere.
And every pixel or drop of brings the concept closer to reality… and potential imperfection.
The un-begun page cannot be flawed.
Every mark is a potential flaw.
That can be a pretty frightening prospect, especially if you are unsure of your ability to realize this projects potential. The cure is to train yourself to believe that getting it done is better than getting it perfect.
And, the more you get it done, the more you will trust your ability to get it right (not perfect, right).
Recently, the confidence I have gained from conquering the fear of the blank page has led me to its opposite, pride in creating the blank page.
Last week, my Rapid City Below Zero artist, Shawn Langley, submitted a completed page on which he had not drawn a single line. He did nothing but fill the entire printable area with blackness. He was happy to get his usual page rate for a page that likely could have been completed with about 4 mouse clicks. And I was happy to pay him to do it. He nailed it. That was exactly how I wrote the page.
Because that is what the story called for right then.
A page of blackness.
A less confident writer might reason that a reader is paying good money for 22 pages of writing, and a blank page is not delivering. A less confident artist might also worry that blank pages are not what readers are paying their money for.
What I know is that readers are not paying for every individual panel and word. They aren't even paying for every individual page.
Readers are paying for 22 pages worth of story.
Handing over that three dollars is a way of saying "I trust you to tell me a story".
And showing that blank page… that all black page… is my way of assuring that reader "I've got you. I know what I'm doing. I'm going to tell you a story."
I am not trying to say that my confidence in that moment and that technique is fully earned, I am just saying that I feel it.
And, apparently, Shawn feels it as well. He cares about this project and this story, but when I told him draw a page by literally drawing nothing he happily obliged. And, not just for the easy page rate. He gets the power of the blank page.
It is similar, in the world of comedy, to the pause before the punch line. It takes real confidence to own that stage and let that set-up just float out there over everyone's heads. And it is scary. Because if it doesn't work then it's just wasted time, or wasted page space.
Is it? We'll see. But until then I am proud to have written it, proud to have it in my comic, and proud to have paid Shawn for a page on which he didn't draw a damn thing.
The Below Zero page 20 breakdown.
This is the latest Below Zero page form artist Shawn Langley. And it is a big one.
Below Zero is a twelve issue revenge story. The forward movement of those twelve issues is powered by the pain of loss which happens in the first few pages.
This flashback page shows the two villains falling in love.
This is the start of what they had, that when taken away is the driving force behind the revenge. So this page has to work.
Up to this point, in flashback, we have seen that young Icicle has never felt a connection anyone in her life. Her own family is indifferent at best. On this page we see (I hope) her connections to the criminal underground take root.
So let's take a look.
Panel 1. Here Icicle physically enters the criminal under-world. Shawn initially drew the wall at a 90 degree angle. I suggested slanting it slightly. I think it has made a big difference. The situation seems unstable, but also draws her forward into it.
Panel 2. Part of the script for this panel reads "Piledriver is smiling at her and reaching for the bottle". I saw it as an implied romantic connection. Shawn drew her facing us with her back to him. This makes her still feel isolated and his gesture is much more proactive. In my vision of it, it was a shared bond. In Shawn's final product it is him intentionally drawing her out. He is taking action and giving attention that no one had ever given her.
Panel 3. This was just intended to show her having fun with her friends. I think it does that.
And panel 4. The kiss.
Will Eisner Week workshop today
Today, find writer, Josh Dahl (Rapid City: Below Zero), teaching local kids how to write comics, as part of a week dedicated to comics visionary Will Eisner.
Million Year Picnic and The Cambridge Public Library host a series of workshops teaching young artists and writers what it takes to make comics. The workshops run today, Saturday March 8th 2014, in the downstairs space at the Cambridge Public Library.
Josh Dahl has been invited to instruct on character generation and story elements. By guiding this workshop, Josh hopes to show kids how fun it is to create comics while giving them real-world skills for storytelling.
The workshops start at 12:30pm and will be followed by signings at Million Year Picnic from 3pm-6pm with local pros and comic creator Gregory Benton. If you know kids that love to write and draw stories, bring them over to join Josh and everyone, at the Cambridge Public Library, today!
Networking vs Not Working
I was at a con a few months ago talking to an artist who I had met a few times before. He had a booth and I was just walking the floor, and we were sharing our impressions of the show in general. We both agreed that the turn-out was not very good.
He asked me about who else was on the show floor. I shrugged and said that I was not too impressed. A few nice looking projects, but mostly I was just going around talking to the other creators so that they would know who I am.
And then there was that awkward pause…
"Like we are both doing right now."
And we laughed. We are both relentless self-promoters. We were networking.
Everyone who knows how the comics business works will tell you that it is who you know as much as it is what you know. The exact ratio between them varies from person to person, but you need both.
Someone who does not network is not going to work.
Beware, however, of the allure of putting the cart before the horse.
Working, on your own, in seclusion, and for no pay, must come before networking.
This work that you do toward perfecting your craft must come before "getting your name out there".
The reason that this is important to point out, as opposed to being completely obvious, is that seductive allure I mentioned above. It goes like this…
I know that networking is essential to a career in comics. To move forward, I must network. Networking effectively takes time and energy. This time and energy I am expending is going toward my career in comics. I am good it, as evidenced by my many contacts and associates in the comics field.
Can you tell how good that feels?
I get the energy of meeting new people and finding what they are all about. I get attention and praise. I get contacts! And it feels, because everyone has told me how important it is to network, like I am advancing toward my dream!
Advancing without the arduous labor of actually making the stuff. Without the emotional risk of putting myself behind a creative endeavor. Without the loss of hours and hours at the drawing (or writing) board. Without the Without the risk of wasting all of that on a project that goes nowhere.
All of the benefits and none of costs!
Except that if you don't do all of the real, hard, work, when your networking finally pays off and the editor of your dreams shakes your hand, looks you in the eye, and asks "what have you got for me?"…
all you will have is "a bunch of great ideas" or "some pin-ups and commissions"…
or, as it is known in the comics industry: "nothing".
Absolutely get good at networking, but not if it means not working.
-Josh Dahl
Writing dialogue, how I do it: A numbered list
Writing good dialogue is hard.
In comics, that is the writing flaw which shows up the fastest.
If you know nothing about character development or plotting, those will take a few scenes to surface. Dialogue, however, can sink you in a single panel.
I think that I am pretty good at doing dialogue… though I do fall into the same traps again and again. But this is true of even the best writers. Every person has only one view of the world, despite how well they may take on other views. In some way or another, all of my writing is going to sound like me.
But, to work as hard as I can to avoid repeating myself, I have gleaned a few tactics from the reading and experimenting I have done. Here's a bit of it.
These are some guidelines I follow when I am writing dialogue. This is just my approach, there are many others that work very well for lots of pother people.
Usually I start by vomiting out huge passages of rambling, repetitive, chatter that generally gets out what is going to be said. Then I run it through these filters.
1. Show character.
This is not just words on a page. this is a person opening their mouth and letting others know their thoughts. This means something. Basically, I ask "how would THIS person say this?" Is she shy? Academic? Bold? Stupid? How can those qualities surface in word choice? In speech pattern? This is the first level, where it starts to look like that person in general.
If it isn't quite coming through, I have another trick or two.
1a. Base it on people you know. Or, failing that, actors.
When it comes to how they talk, I base almost all of my characters on people I know. Or if I can't think of someone I know, I think of an actor I know of who could pull it off. Once I have that character model in mind, I take the raw dialogue I wrote above and strain it through this person's mouth. How does it sound with him, or her, saying it? This will change a lot of the word choices and cadences. With flat. stock, or background characters, this is often enough.
1b. Don't show off.
This is more a warning against bad dialogue than a rule for good. Don't try to sound like a scientist or a cop or whatever. Sound like a person, and then add some cop words on top of that. Don't try to write great dialogue. Write natural dialogue in great scenes and it will seem great.
2. Show background.
Realistically, you can't use this one every time. There are some situations where an individual's background simply does not surface in their speech. However, if you dig you will get more mileage out of this filter than you think. Essentially, you ask yourself how this character's unique background would affect what they are saying. At the shallowest level, this is accents and regionalisms. What does he talk like? Deeper than that, look at the position life has given your character. Someone who has worked in restaurants their whole life is going to ask for help in a different way than someone who has only even been waited on. Someone who is ashamed of their ignorance is going to speak differently than someone who is fundamentally curious.
This is not a mandate "You MUST show background", but rather an opportunity "how can this background come through in what is being said right now?".
3. Show perspective.
Ok, this one is more like a mandate. Especially when page space is limited. If you are not showing some unique perspective, then shut your mouth and let someone else talk.
Perspective is related to background, but it is more specific. Background never changes. It is who you are. Perspective, on the other hand, changes from moment to moment. It is how the world looks to you right now. When you are relaxed and comfortable, you have a very different perspective from when you are terrified. When this guy says this thing at this moment, what does it mean to him?
"What do you want for dinner?" can mean just that, but it can also mean "I Still love you and your well being is important to me." That depends on the character's perspective at that moment. For this filter to work you have to really get inside your character's head.
This is where great misunderstandings and unanswered questions can come from. A character who is feeling shaken from a previous interaction may take a simple question as a flagrant challenge to his authority. Or a character who is giddy on the high of a new relationship may completely gloss over relevant details.
This is similar to showing motivation. Every writer has a slightly different approach to finding this level.
Again, not every line of dialogue is going to reveal this level of depth. But if it isn't, that is a good red flag. If you are not showing perspective, do you need this line?
4. Less is more.
This is a tough one for me. I like my dialogue. I like the way my characters talk. A tend to want them to just talk and talk. But space is limited, and a little goes a long way. People in comics do not talk like people in real life. Don't try to make them.
One stammer in an acre of word balloons is enough to let the reader know that this person is insecure right now. One dropped 'r' is enough to show a Boston accent. Let it go. Trust your reader.
And to demonstrate that less really is more…
-Josh Dahl


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with efke 25 iso bw film, love the high contrast!
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- Anglia
- 9 updates
WW2 code breaker Alan Turing given pardon
Cambridge mathematican and codebreaker Alan Turing has been given a parliamentary pardon over his prosecution for his sexuality.
Live updates
Turing's 'distress' letter sent to friends before conviction
A letter sent from Alan Turing to his mathematician friend Norman Routledge shows the codebreaker's worries and "distress" ahead of pleading guilty to gross indecency in 1952.
An excerpt from the communication is printed on the website Letters of Note, citing a Turing biography by Andrew Hodges.
'Old police trick' revealed Turing's gay relationship
Alan Turing revealed he was gay to the authorities by falling for an "old police trick," New Statesman legal writer David Allen Green reports.
Reporting a theft to police in 1952, Turing was forced to fabricate details of the account to conceal his relationship with a man.
Asked to repeat the account a week later by police, Turing was unable to accurately remember some of those fabricated details, Allen Green writes.
On realising his lies had been exposed, the brilliant mathematician produced a five-page letter admitting untruths as well as describing graphic details of his homosexual relationship.
The statement was enough for police to convict Turing and arrest his partner.
WW2 code-breaker Alan Turing given posthumous Royal Pardon
Second World Warcode-breaker Alan Turing has been given a posthumous royal pardon for a 61-year-old conviction for homosexual activity.
Dr Turing, who was pivotal in breaking the Enigma code, arguably shortening the Second World War by at least two years, was chemically castrated following his conviction in 1952.
His conviction for "gross indecency" led to the removal of his security clearance and meant he was no longer able to work for Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) where he had continued to work following service at Bletchley Park during the war.
Dr Turing, who died aged 41 in 1954 and is often described as the father of modern computing, has been granted a pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy by the Queen following a request from Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.
"Dr Alan Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind," Mr Grayling said.
Prime Minister pays tribute to 'remarkable' Turing
David Cameron has paid tribute to Alan Turing for his role in "saving Britain in World War Two" after the famous code-breaker was awarded a a posthumous royal pardon.
The Prime Minister said: "Alan Turing was a remarkable man who played a key role in saving this country in World War Two by cracking the German Enigma code.
"His action saved countless lives. He also left a remarkable national legacy through his substantial scientific achievements, often being referred to as the father of modern computing."
Turing issued pardon under Royal Prerogative of Mercy
Dr Alan Turing died of cyanide poisoning and an inquest recorded a verdict of suicide, although his mother and others maintained his death was accidental.
There has been a long campaign to clear the mathematician's name, including a well-supported e- petition and private member's bill, along with support from leading scientists such as Sir Stephen Hawking.
The pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy will come into effect today.
The Justice Secretary has the power to ask the Queen to grant a pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, for civilians convicted in England and Wales.
A pardon is only normally granted when the person is innocent of the offence and where a request has been made by someone with a vested interest such as a family member.
But on this occasion a pardon has been issued without either requirement being met.
Miliband 'delighted' at Royal Pardon for Turing
Ed Miliband has spoken of his "delight" that Alan Turing has received a Royal Pardon.
Reacting to the news on Twitter, the Labour leader posted:
Turing Royal Pardon 'just reward' for code-breaker
News of the royal pardon granted posthumously to Alan Turing has been applauded as a "just reward" for the code-breaker.
Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, who was involved in the campaign to secure a royal pardon, said: "Alan Turing was an incredibly important figure in our history. He was the father of computer science and the originator of the dominant technology of the late 20th century."
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said that the granting of the royal pardon was "long overdue" and called for the same treatment to be given to others convicted in similar circumstances.
He said: "Singling out Turing just because he is famous is wrong. Unlike Alan, many thousands of ordinary gay and bisexual men who were convicted under the same law have never been offered a pardon and will never get one.
"An apology and pardon is due to another 50,000-plus men who were also convicted of consenting, victimless homosexual relationships during the 20th century."
Pardon would be 'final cleansing of the wrong' done to Turing.
The Cambridge mathematician Alan Turing who saved thousands of lives through his code breaking work in the Second World War, is expected to be given a parliamentary pardon.
Turing, who was prosecuted and convicted over his homosexuality in the 1950s, has already received a posthumous apology.
The MP for Milton Keynes South, Iain Stewart, says a pardon would be 'a final cleansing of the wrong' done to Turing, as Alistair Nelson reports.
- ITV Report
Alan Turing set to receive pardon
Latest ITV News reports
Alan Turing set to receive pardon
Alan Turing is expected to receive a full parliamentary pardon.


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adjective \ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-təl, ˌtem-pər-ˈ\: likely to become upset or angry
: unpredictable in behavior or performance
: of or relating to someone's usual attitude, mood, or behavior
Full Definition of TEMPERAMENTAL
: of, relating to, or arising from temperament : constitutional <temperamental peculiarities>
a : marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes <a temperamental child> b : unpredictable in behavior or performance <a temperamental computer>
— tem·per·a·men·tal·ly \-təl-ē\ adverb
Examples of TEMPERAMENTAL
- The actor is known for being temperamental.
- The old computer is temperamental.
- They divorced due to temperamental differences.
First Known Use of TEMPERAMENTAL
Related to TEMPERAMENTAL
- Synonyms
- moody
- Antonyms
- certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying
Rhymes with TEMPERAMENTAL
accidental, adjustmental, apartmental, biparental, compartmental, complemental, condimental, continental, departmental, detrimental, documental, excremental, elemental, firmamental, fundamental, governmental, grandparental, incidental, incremental, instrumental, managemental, monumental, nonjudgmental, occidental, oriental, ornamental, regimental, rudimental, sacramental, sentimental, supplemental, transcendental
Learn More About TEMPERAMENTAL
Next Word in the Dictionary: temperance
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byEdward J. Correia on
2011 Tech Innovator Award Winners
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A good many products come through the Test Center, and at this week's NexTI Conference in Miami, Test Center Managing Editor Ed Moltzen and Technical Editor Eddie Correia recognized vendors who who stood out in the past year for their out-of the-box thinking.
The 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors Of 2015
The 2015 installment of the 100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors highlights the best of the best in platforms and development, security, infrastructure, storage and software.
Here are 10 recent searches by CRN visitors.


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First of all, i dont know if ive posted this in the correct place. Im sure mods will move if its wrong. Gunsmith/Riflesmith - UK Firstly, and most importantly you must be willing to relocate to the UK. This is a great opportunity for anyone whos ever wanted to work in the UK or abroad. We will assist the successful applicant in all stages of settling here, including finding accommodation and help with visas etc. But you must take it upon yourself to check eligibility for working in the UK, criminal convictions etc. If this is something you could be interested in, please read on. We are looking for a gunsmith to join our existing team. You must be smart and punctual and be someone who works well in a team and on their own. You must be methodical and precise and take care when dealing with customers guns. Reputation is everything in a small country like the UK. As for ourselves, we are a fun but serious bunch. We can have a laugh but know when to knuckle down. For the most part, everyone is a shooter, hunter or fisherman of some kind. Its an industry we love and we hope you will too! We are looking for a gunsmith, primarily a rifle smith but someone who is also comfortable working on shotguns. Air rifle experience would be an advantage. The kind of work we undertake is listed below. Action work; To include Bolt Action rifles, Semi Automatic rimfire rifles. Double Rifles. Underlever Rifles. Box lock and Side Lock shotguns. Barrel Blacking & Browning Screw cutting and crowning Restocking Chequering Stock Casting Stock refinishing Barrel Filing Strip and relay ribs Jointing Engraving Trigger Regulating Ejector Regulating Machining & fabricating component parts Manufacturing and modifying firearms If this sounds like something you could be interested in please get in touch. Either send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com or give us a call on +44 161 480 8222 and introduce yourselves. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon. John Farrugia MD Cheshire Gun Room
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reviews & comments (4)
Wow, what a pleasant surprise! This recipe was very good. I have never made (or wanted to make) a dish that included anchovy's. No one knew they were in this dish. It is salty and high in flavor, so make sure you pair it appropriately. DON'T NOT MAKE THIS BECAUSE OF THE ANCHOVY'S!!!
Excellent--we don't like anchovies so we left them out. This makes a very impressive first course.
This was a wonderful recipe! It was very flavorful. We added onion to the tomato mixture and used a mixture of Munster and Feta cheese to give it a different taste. We were in a hurry, so we put the peppers in the microwave for 3 or 4 minutes first, then cooked it in the oven for 20 min. or so.


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Housing Information
For more info regarding student housing (both on and off campus), visit SDSU's Housing Office website(external link).
(external link)
If you are interested in a graduate program at SDSU, we would like to know more about you so we can customize communication with you. Please visit the MyGap page(external link).
General Admissions Information
Students interested in applying to a degree program at SDSU within the School of Art and Design can find information about specific admission requirements to different degree plans in this section.
There are two main classifications of student status within the School: graduate and undergraduate. There are three degrees offered for graduate students within the School of Art and Design:
- Master of Arts (Art History)
- Master of Arts (Studio Arts)
- Master of Fine Arts
Graduate applicants should be aware that there are at least two parts to the application process: 1) sending general materials to the university Graduate and Research Affairs office and 2) sending materials to the School of Art and Design specific to the degree program you are seeking. Please click on the graduate admissions link for specific requirements for each.
Undergraduates have two degree options within the School of Art and Design:
- B.A. degree in liberal arts and sciences
- B.A. degree in applied arts and sciences
Each of these undergraduate degree options requires an emphasis in a specific art discipline. To learn more about these area disciplines and programs, please read more in the undergraduate admissions link.
Other students interested in enrolling in courses can do so through "Open University" via the Extended Studies program(external link) on campus.
This page was last updated at 3:33PM on July 2, 2008


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The strategic geniuses in the White House are planning a regional war that would engulf the Mideast and Iran? That may not be Bush's stated intention, but that is the risk America takes if his administration follows through with military strikes in Iran, as reported in The Washington Post. Attacking Iran may be the stupidest idea since our last war. You know, the one that is more than three years old in the neighboring country of Iraq? You can see how well the strategic planners did on that one. The arguments against such attacks are pretty easy to see: we're already militarily stretched and such an attack on Iran runs the risk of enraging the entire Arab world. If the Bush Administrations uses tactical nuclear weapons, the United States will have cemented itself as the hypocrite of the millennium. I'm no fan of Iran. The government is downright scary, especially considering repeated vows to destroy Israel. Aren't there better solutions than attacking the country? By the United States constantly threatening that nation, the religious extremists are strengthened, not weakened. Populations tend to rally around leaders under attack from foreign sources, and the U.S. threatens that nation seemingly every week. And let's not forget politics at home. An attack on Iran may well provide Bush's Administration the political camouflage it needs to weather its remaining three years in office. But this would be at huge expense: further straining our society with another war; thousands more Americans maimed or killed; increased debt; and environmental harm from using weapons, especially nuclear. Constantly playing global policeman means an unwillingness to deal with this nation's festering problems, such as a crappy educational system and a deteriorating social net. Is the nuclear threat from Iran even real? Possibly, though we've learned not to trust this Administration's prognostications. What happens if a war with multiple Muslim nations really does begin? Will America's young men keep enlisting? Or will the draft become necessary? Will this ongoing cycle of war drag my children into the military 15 years from now? While such a war may be short, will our children face a Muslim world that is so angry it spends the next two decades trying to become a regional nuclear power? Certainly we saw shades of that as Pakistan provided nuclear technology to other nations. Regardless, this is not the type of world I want my children to grow up in. The lesson in life I teach will not be that war is the resolution to all problems. But the message our government keeps sending is, yes, it is. |
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text: We had a nice meal, 2 appetizers, bottle of wine and some great entrees. Kid friendly staff and good price. The lobster pasta was wonderful! Only down side was the waitor opened our wine, but then did not pour it? He was really young so I am guessing he did not know. Overall good experience.


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Rhino horn seized in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh
- Published: 7 Jan 2013 at 23.07 | Viewed: 7,311 | Comments: 11
- Online news:
- Writer: AFP
More than 27 kilos of rhino horn worth an estimated 42.6 million baht (US$1.4 million) have been seized by airport officials in Thailand and Vietnam.
Seized rhino horns are shown with alleged Vietnam smuggler Pham Quang Loc, 56, arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport when he arrived from Ethiopia on his way to Vietnam. Thai Customs estimated the horns are work more than $500,000 on the black market. They were allegedly hidden inside a souvenir hippo carried by Mr Loc. (AP Photo) A 56-year-old Vietnamese man was arrested on Sunday at Suvarnabhumi airport after six pieces of horn, weighing about 10.6kg, were found in his luggage, authorities said Monday.The same day in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, airport customs officers confiscated six pieces of rhino horn weighing some 16.5kg, the state-run Thanh Nien newspaper said.In that case, a 33-year-old Vietnamese man admitted to smuggling the horn from Mozambique via Doha and Bangkok, it said.Illegal hunting of rhinos has risen in recent years to meet surging demand for their horns in parts of Asia, particularly in Vietnam...
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Archive for the 'Israel' Category
At a DNC fundraiser in New York last night, President Obama said that the world isn't falling apart, it's just that social media is making him look bad:
President Obama on Friday said social media and the nightly news are partly to blame for the sense that "the world is falling apart."
"I can see why a lot of folks are troubled," Obama told a group of donors gathered at a Democratic National Committee barbecue in Purchase, N.Y. But the president said that current foreign policy crises across the world are not comparable to the challenges the U.S. faced during the Cold War.
There's no question that social media spreads the news around quickly. That doesn't explain away the multitude of crises that've started during President Obama's administration or the threat posed by ISIL.
President Putin doesn't take him seriously. At best, the Obama administration is an afterthought to Putin. America's allies don't trust us because of amateurish moves like dissing allies like Egypt in attempting to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.
Egypt and the UAE hit Libyan targets without informing the Obama administration:
CAIRO — Twice in the last seven days, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have secretly launched airstrikes against Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli, Libya, four senior American officials said, in a major escalation of a regional power struggle set off by Arab Spring revolts.
The United States, the officials said, was caught by surprise: Egypt and the Emirates, both close allies and military partners, acted without informing Washington, leaving the Obama administration on the sidelines. Egyptian officials explicitly denied to American diplomats that their military played any role in the operation, the officials said, in what appeared a new blow to already strained relations between Washington and Cairo.
America's enemies don't fear us. Iran and Russia laugh at the Obama administration. Putin keeps trying to rebuild the former Soviet empire and Iran continues on its path to a nuclear weapon.
Worst of all, ISIL is the biggest terrorist threat in history. They're exceptionally well-financed. They have a military capable of dominating the Arabian Peninsula. They're training fighters who have European and/or American passports.
No, Mr. President, it isn't that social media is spotlighting the usual things. It's that they're highlighting your administration's multitude of mistakes. Mr. President, there's wide consensus that your administration is the worst foreign policy/national security administration since WWII.
Technorati: ISIL, Vladimir Putin, Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, UAE, Libya, Terrorist Hotspots, Foreign Policy, National Security, John+Kerry, Hillary Clinton, President Obama, Democrats
Bill Burton's op-ed about President Obama's frequent golf outings is a nice attempt to distract from Americans' chief complaint:
I thought that going on vacation with the president would be a real perk of serving as deputy press secretary in the Obama White House.
Don't get me wrong: Some elements of it are amazing. When you do find some down time, you can find yourself in one of the most beautiful places on Earth enjoying its splendor with the leader of the free world and your buddies.
That is—when you can find some down time.
As Washington chews over yet another presidential "vacation," and that most Washington of words—"optics"—let me take you behind the scenes of the last time President Obama took flack for supposedly being "disengaged" while world events marched on around him.
First, let's dispatch with the word optics. It's mostly used by liberal journalists who then ignore the problem. Yes, the optics are terrible when the supposed leader of the free world talks somberly about the beheading of an American journalist, then is seen joking and fist-pumping an hour later.
When those things happen, it's natural for people to question President Obama's sincerity and his commitment to ridding the Middle East of terrorists.
What actions did President Obama put into action from the sand trap on the 9th hole? Did he finally figure it out that ISIL is a real threat to the American homeland while putting on the 15th hole? If he didn't figure that out on the 15th, did he get word of Gen. Dempsey's statement that we'd need to take out ISIL's command-and-control while driving up to the 18th green? By the time he got back to his compound, had he called Gen. Dempsey and told him to stop talking about ISIL as a threat more dangerous than al-Qa'ida?
It was Christmas Day 2009. Osama bin Laden was still at large. A 23-year-old Nigerian man was caught trying to bring down a passenger airliner headed for Detroit—which would have been the most devastating terrorist attack since 9/11. The day of, and the days that followed, the botched bombing saw the president and his staff, in Hawaii, at the White House and scattered across the country on their own family vacations – snap to attention and drop everything else to make sure we were doing all we could to keep Americans safe.
The president was not a passive bystander. He led America's response to the apparent terrorist attack, soaking up new information as it came in, running meetings and issuing orders. As a regular matter of course, vacation or not, the president is briefed on intelligence every day. In this instance, he was receiving twice-daily updates on the situation in Detroit as well as three-times-daily updates on matters around the world from the Situation Room. As events developed, the president was directing his national security team—cabinet secretaries, intelligence officials and the military. He was awash in reports from the government and from the media.
Thank God for the Obama administration snapping to immediate attention. If only they hadn't told law enforcement to read the failed bomber his Miranda rights.
While it's true the optics have stunk all summer, the truth is that President Obama's policies have been disastrous. That, Mr. Burton, is what Americans are most worried about. Russia annexes Crimea. President Obama proposes limited sanctions on a handful of Russian billionaires. When ISIL captured Fallujah, President Obama called ISIL a jayvee team. When ISIL threatened to capture Baghdad, President Obama talked about the need for Iraq to sing kumbayah.
When Hamas killed Israelis, President Obama criticized Israel for not being gentle enough on terrorists who then hid behind 5-year-old human shields otherwise known as children. When missiles were found in a UN-run school, he dispatched John Kerry to the region, where Kerry's plan was immediately rejected by the responsible nations of the region.
Just once, it'd be nice if the administration would get a policy decision right.
Unfortunately for America, it's more likely that President Obama will hit a hole-in-one on his next vacation than he's likely to make a solid policy decision.
Technorati: Shoe Bomber, Miranda Rights, Crimea, ISIL, Intifada, President Obama, Martin Dempsey, Military, Syria, Golfing, Vacations, National Security
Thanks to Israel's insistence on doing the right thing for their people, Israel's security cabinet told the IDF, aka the Israeli Defense Forces, to keep hitting Hamas hard:
Amid mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire, the security cabinet on Wednesday instructed the IDF to continue to "forcefully hit Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza," and to conclude its mission to destroy the tunnels leading from the Strip into Israel, diplomatic sources said.
The army's actions in locating and destroying these terror tunnels have brought about significant strategic achievements in an area in which Hamas has invested much effort over the years, the sources said.
Israel should ignore world opinion when it comes to decimating Hamas. Hamas is committed to eliminating Israel as a Jewish state. They've frequently used students as human shields to protect their missiles, which are then used to kill Israeli citizens, including children. (The world apparently doesn't experience outrage when Israeli children are killed. That's apparently used only when children in Gaza are killed.)
I'm totally in favor of Israel destroying Hamas's missiles, then demolishing their tunnels. I'm totally in favor of Israel doing these things to protect their people.
What's particularly disgusting is the fact that 'the world' reflexively criticizes Israel when a child is killed or injured in Gaza but there's silence when Israeli citizens are brutally and intentionally killed by Hamas. Why doesn't the UN blame Hamas for the violence? Is it because the UN, especially UNRWA, is exceptionally corrupt? Is it because the UN isn't really about resolving disputes but in affixing blame against the US and/or Israel?
The US is pressing Israel to halt the fighting. On Sunday, in a phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Barack Obama urged an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The UN Security Council also urged a ceasefire. On Wednesday, Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned: "Israelis have to understand that, while they are defending their security in seeking to root out these rocket launchers and deal with the attack tunnels, they are also undermining the support for Israel that exists in the West." Netanyahu on Monday told Israelis to be braced for what he called a prolonged operation.
Mr. Hammond's statement is talking in circles. While he's saying that Israel sshould "root out these rocket launchers", he's also saying that Israel is "undermining" international "support for Israel." Why shouldn't Israel gain support for defending themselves? That's what they're doing. Why shouldn't Hamas lose support for using children as human shields? Why shouldn't the interational community condemn Hamas for trying to destroy and terrorize Israel?
Israel is used to international criticism. Personally, I'd modify the old cliche that there's only 2 things that are guaranteed: death and taxes. I'd modify that to 3 things: death, taxes and the international community condemning Israel for defend itself.
Technorati: Hamas, Human Shields, Missile Strikes, Terrorist Tunnels, Terrorists, International Community, United States, Israeli Defense Forces
Based on this report, I'd say there's better than a 50-50 shot that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is defeated Tuesday night:
This past Saturday, Wasserman Schultz personally lambasted a longtime Democrat supporter from Miami-Dade County who was caught talking to Harrington. This same individual further annoyed Wasserman Schultz by refusing to display a "Wasserman Schultz for Congress" sign and then told Debbie that he had already voted for Harrington instead of her.
This longtime Democrat leader, who shall remain anonymous for purposes of this report, indicated that he was disgusted and said that had never been so insulted in his life.
On Sunday, the Shark Tank visited one of the strongest Democrat precincts in Congressional District 23- the City of Hollywood's main public library- and in speaking to Democrats waiting in line as wells as those who just voted, many of them said that they voted for Harrington over Wasserman Schultz.
What a night Tuesday might be. It starts, of course, with Mitt defeating President Obama, ending this neverending economic nightmare. Defeating Debbie Wasserman-Schultz would be a nice bonus for Republicans nationwide who are tired of Ms. Wasserman-Schultz's lippy behavior.
This information is potentially enlightening:
Coincidentally, Harrington herself was working voters in the line, she indicated that she was receiving extraordinary support from Democrats and Independents who were waiting in line to vote. There's no doubt that there are many disaffected Democrats throughout the district are irritated with DWS's partisan rhetoric and her neglect of congressional responsibilities as the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
DWS's district has lots of Jewish voters. It isn't a stretch to think that a healthy portion of the Democrats that are voting for Ms. Harrington are Jewish. Considering the possibility DWS spent considerable time defending President Obama's harsh treatment of Israel, it's entirely possible that Jewish voters are taking their frustrations out on DWS.
The recent Harrington v. Wasserman Schultz polling has the incumbent congresswoman with a 4.5% lead over there challenger, and some local politicos believe that not only is the race competitive, but also that an upset is possible.
This year's polls haven't been that trustworthy. That's especially true if they're basing their polls on 2008 turnout models. If people really have tired of DWS's boorish behavior, then I'd bet the polling is essentially irrelevant.
Tags: Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Miami-Dade, Hollywood, Florida, Jewish Vote, Independents, Polling, DNC, President Obama, Democrats, Karen Harrington, Campaigning, GOP, Election 2012
In 1979, Islamic extremists raided the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. In 1983, U.S. Marines were ordered out of Beirut after a massive attack killed 241 Marines. In 1993, the Clinton administration ordered U.S. troops out of Somalia after al-Qa'ida terrorists shot down a U.S. Blackhawk helicopter in Mogadishu.
UBL summarized the lesson al-Qa'ida learned from those experiences during an interview with ABC News' John Miller:
Miller: You have said, "If the Americans are so brave they will come and arrest me." Do you think that is something my country will try?
Bin Ladin: We have seen in the last decade the decline of the American government and the weakness of the American soldier. He is ready to wage cold wars but unprepared to fight hot wars. This was proven in Beirut when the Marines fled after two explosions, showing they can run in less than twenty-four hours. This was then repeated in Somalia.
It's easy to understand why UBL reached that conclusion. His mistake isn't that Americans haven't fled hotspots. It isn't just that Americans have looked impotent. It's that American presidents have contributed to U.S. soldiers looking impotent by having them flee after terrorist attacks.
The lesson that President Bush learned from these lessons is that terrorists are terrified when U.S. soldiers don't hide from adversity. Terrorists are most worried when U.S. soldiers run towards hotspots. Unfortunately, President Obama didn't learn that lesson. He 'learned' that it's best to be timid, to talk in civil tones to barbarians. That's what he did here:
The president said the disputed election would not change his belief in greater diplomatic efforts with Iran.
"I have always felt that, as odious as I feel some of President Ahmadinejad 's statements (are), as deep as the differences that exist between the United States and Iran on core issues, the use of tough hard headed diplomacy, diplomacy without illusions, is critical when it comes to pursuing a core set of national security interests," the president said. "We will continue to pursue a tough direct dialogue between our two countries."
That's what ABC's Kristina Wong wrote on June 15, 2009 during the Green Revolution. What the Iranian mullahs heard was that President Obama was giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wanted. They essentially heard President Obama say he was ambivalent to the protests.
A short 39 months later, North Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia have erupted in anti-American violence. The people serving in the U.S. embassy in Pakistan are only safe because the embassy compound is surrounded with a wall of tear gas. The consulate and annex, aka the safehouse, in Benghazi, Libya are decimated, the ruins the product of a well-planned, coordinated terrorist attack.
This is a great political opportunity for Mitt Romney because it's a great opportunity for him to explain his vision and strategy for the Middle East, Southwest Asia and North Africa. Simply saying that a Romney administration would a) have an open door relationship with Israel, b) use covert assets to prevent terrorist attacks and c) condition foreign aid on nations' willingness to partner with the U.S. in preventing the security nightmares currently erupting around the Mediterranean.
That would dramatically differentiate Mitt's foreign policy from President Obama's failed foreign policy.
Tags: Paper Tiger, Blackhawk Down, Somalia, Bill Clinton, Beirut, President Reagan, Tehran, Hostage Crisis, Ayatollah Khomeini, Jimmy Carter, Benghazi, Pakistan, Terrorist Attacks, Embassies, President Obama, Israel, Covert Operations, Foreign Aid, National Security, Mitt Romney, GOP, Election 2012
During his speech at the Democrats' convention, Vice President Biden asked whether Osama bin Laden was better off now than he was 4 years ago. Since he set that benchmark, it's only fair to use that criteria across North Africa and the Middle East. Charles Krauthammer's column provides proof that life's pretty good for some disgusting people:
Iran repeatedly defies U.S. demands on nuclear enrichment, then, as a measure of its contempt for what America thinks, openly admits that its Revolutionary Guards are deployed in Syria. Russia, after arming Assad, warns America to stay out, while the secretary of state delivers vapid lectures about Assad "meeting" his international "obligations." The Gulf states beg America to act on Iran; Obama strains mightily to restrain…Israel. Sovereign U.S. territory is breached and U.S. interests are burned.
Life couldn't get much better for state sponsors of terrorism and traditional American enemies. They know that they're on easy street. They know President Obama's foreign policy of appeasement is good for bad guy business.
In a very real sense, Iran, Russia and Syria are much better off today than they were 4 years ago. In fact, it won't take long before Iran's mullahs will be insufferable and unstoppable. Just a little more enrichment and they'll have a nuclear weapon. By any sane administration's measure, that means Iran is the biggest winner in President Obama's high-stakes gamble.
Meanwhile, trusted allies like Israel and Poland were thrown under the bus. President Obama sent the final unmistakable message to Israel when he accepted a meeting with Egyptian President Morsi while refusing to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu or Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
President Obama's message to the Israelis was simple: Drop dead. We don't care.
Another unmistakable message this administration sent was during the protests of the rigged Iranian elections of 2009. This administration's message to the protesters was equally clear: Drop dead. We're siding with the mullahs, not with Iran's freedom-loving people.
Things are badly wrong when the people that should fear the US are smiling and the people that trust the US are worried and fidgeting. That's where we're at right now.
To adapt a phrase from a legendary story, there's no joy in Worldville tonight. The One just made the world a nastier neighborhood.
Tags: President Obama, Foreign Policy, Iran, Russia, Syria, Oppressive Regimes, Democrats, Israel, Poland, Green Revolution, Liberty
President Obama's insistence that he's Israel's best friend is taking a beating, especially after reading this article:
Tensions between Israel and the current U.S. administration further deteriorated last week when President Barack Obama refused to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to New York, where he will address the UN General Assembly.
The White House insisted that the meeting would not take place due to the president's pressing "campaign obligations" which would take him out of New York.
Obama has further snubbed Israeli leaders by refusing to meet with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who will also be in New York next week, WND news station reported.
Barak is scheduled to attend the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative, an annual summit of high-powered political and business leaders scheduled to overlap with the U.N. General Assembly.
While the President has not cited any pressing "campaign obligations" that would take him out of New York during Barak's visit, he has, nonetheless, refused a meeting, WND reported.
While Obama will not meet any Israeli leader during their visits to New York, he will, however, find time to meet with Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi.
It's insulting to Israel and to the Jewish community in the United States that President Obama refuses to meet with Defense Minister Ehud Barak or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during what I refer to as UN week.
President Obama's insistence that he's Israel's best friend is spin based on his hope that he won't get hurt too badly in Florida by his hostility towards Israel. President Obama knows that he's been the most hostile, anti-Israeli president in this nation's history.
The fact that he's meeting with Egyptian President Morsi, whose government didn't attempt to protect the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on 9/11, proves that President Obama hates Israel.
Tags: President Obama, Egypt, President Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood, US Embassy, Cairo, 9/11, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, Israel, Florida, Election 2012
Liberals were outraged when Mitt Romney said that the Palestinians aren't interested in peace. Thanks to this article, we now know that Mitt had it right:
Palestinian Authority head, Mahmoud Abbas, proposed cancelling the Oslo Accords with Israel at a weekend meeting of the PA leadership, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told AFP on Tuesday.
PLO Executive Committee member Wassel Abu Yusef said Abbas raised the idea of "cancelling the Oslo agreement as well as the associated economic and security arrangements," at the meeting on Saturday and Sunday.
Abu Yusef said that "members of the Palestinian leadership had mixed opinions on the issue, and it was decided to postpone any decision until their next meeting," due to be held after Abbas's return from the UN General Assembly later this month. "It was the first time the Palestinian leadership put the issue of the Oslo agreement on the table since it was signed in 1993," Abu Yusef added.
Cancelling the Oslo Accords means Hamas/Fatah/the PA is free to resume their terrorist attacks. The Accords were political cover for their terrorist attacks. Nobody really thought that they'd lost their love of pushing the Jewish state into the Mediterranean.
Liberals touted the agreements as proof of the PLO's seriousness about peace. We have an agreement, they said at the time.
Conservatives laughed at the notion that that leopard had changed its spots.
The most telling thing about the media's going ballistic over Mitt Romney's statement is that they think it's wrong to state what's painfully obvious. If the media thinks it's wrong to state what's painfully obvious, what other principles do they are important?
I know this administration won't agree with this but it's time to call terrorists terrorists. Mahmoud Abbas is the leader of a government of terrorists.
Rather than sticking the nation's head in the sand and pretending like the Middle East isn't one lit match away from erupting in violence, perhaps it's time for the US to push aside this administration's fantasies that Iran can be held in check by sanctions.
Perhaps, it's time that the US government took a harder line stance with the Muslim Brotherhood.
President Obama's belief that we should coddle state sponsors of terrorism while turning our backs on our greatest allies is repulsive.
Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority, PLO, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Correctness, Terrorism, Benghazi, Iran, President Obama, Democrats, Mitt Romney, Israel, National Security, GOP, Election 2012
Michele Bachmann said what's been on everyone's mind recently when she urged President Obama to cancel his appearance on Letterman so he could meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), speaking at the Values Voter Summit last week in Washington, D.C., said that President Barack Obama needs to cancel his upcoming interview with David Letterman and instead meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"And President Obama needs to get his priorities straight. What he needs to do is cancel his planned interview with David Letterman, cancel his meeting with Beyonce, cancel his meeting with Jay Z, and instead agree to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, because you see, America and Israel have a commonality of interests," Bachmann said.
The images being transmitted by this administration are that they can't be distracted by crises in the Middle East and in North Africa. They're in full campaign mode and nothing, not even terrorist attacks in Benghazi or Iran getting nuclear weapons, will prevent them from showing up on cheesy talk shows or attending glitzy fundraisers.
While the economy stumbled, allies got ignored and threats developed, President Obama stuck with a schedule filled with golf outings (100 and counting), fundraisers (200 and counting) and appearances on late night talk shows (too numerous to count).
Given his disinterest in his official responsibilities, it isn't surprising that most of the Middle East is ablaze, the economy is in shambles and Israel thinks that this administration is jerking them around.
Rest assured that Jewish voters in Florida will notice the disdain this administration has for Israel. Don't be surprised if you hear from Mayor Koch about that in the very near future.
President Obama won't get away with simply saying his administration is tight with the Israeli government, either. He'll have to prove that his administration is willing to fight Iran to protect Israel.
Anything short of that will be seen as the actions of a weak-in-the-knees politician who isn't interested in Israel.
Tags: Michele Bachmann, Israel, GOP, President Obama, Benghazi, Iran, Recession, Terrorist Attacks, Fundraisers, Israel, Democrats, Election 2012
President Obama's words are meaningless, especially when it comes to Israel. Last week, President Obama said that he'd "stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel." This week, when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked to meet with President Obama, President Obama chose to appear on David Letterman's show instead:
The president will chat with the "Late Show" host during a trip to New York City next week, according to the National Journal. Letterman's nightly monologues mostly spare the president from satirical ribbing, saving his most cutting remarks for the Romneys…or even former President George W. Bush.
The news comes on the same day Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he couldn't meet with him due to a scheduling conflict.
Nothing says standing with Israel like sitting down with David Letterman for a chat.
The fact that President Obama hasn't announced that he's rescheduling his Letterman interview to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks louder than 100 of President Obama's speeches.
President Obama hasn't been faithful in dealing with America's best ally in the Middle East. Instead, he's tried re-establishing a diplomatic relationship with Iran and Syria while throwing Israel under the proverbial bus.
After the Democrats' platform difficulties with regards to Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Right of Return, don't be surprised if Jewish voters don't reward him this November.
Tags: President Obama, David Letterman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Allies, Iran, Syria, Forida, Elections


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Film Review: The Passing (2011)
SYNOPSIS: The three Naibert children, in their teens and early twenties, inherit a vast estate from their grandmother Rebecca. But unknown to them, the family inheritance has passed from grandmother to granddaughter for centuries-and Rebecca has a long reach from the grave to assure that the line is unbroken. REVIEW: "The Passing" comes from director John Harwood, a relative up-and-comer in straight-to-video material. The cast is comprised of mostly no name talent, with the exception … Continue reading


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Playground Photosession Theme - Right before replacement from LSI of this LC-A+ RL claimmed as the lightmeter problem
Playground and Spooky Session with : Otan http://www.lomography.com/homes/08thzolt http://www.lomography.com/homes/istionojr/albums/1708765-session-child-ish-pt-1 | Part 1 http://www.lomography.com/homes/istionojr/albums/1721033-session-child-ish-pt-2 | Part 2 http://www.lomography.com/homes/istionojr/albums/1723699-child-ish-session-pt-4 | Part 4 http://www.lomography.com/homes/istionojr/albums/1724960-child-ish-session-pt-5 | Part 5
This photo was shot on film. Taken by istionojr with a Lomo LC-A+ RL (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Fuji Sensia film (available in our Online Shop) in Bandung, Indonesia. These tags describe this photo: lc-a, istionojr, bandung, project#2, russian lens, under exposure, girl, skirt, sweater, balloon, yard, childish, cute, sensia, cross process, toys, and indonesia. Date: 2011-04. Time: Noon. This photo can also be found in the album Session : Child-ish pt.3.Please login to get more out of this site
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The study included 240 children, 6 to 12 years old, with allergies to mold or dust. The children all suffered from rhinitis, which presents as the familiar runny nose, itchy nose, and nasal congestion. Some children also had itchy, red, watery eyes, and some had mild asthma symptoms like cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Participants were divided into two groups: one received a probiotic supplement with 2 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus salivarius once daily for 12 weeks, and the other group received placebo. Their symptoms and use of allergy medications were monitored weekly by parents and at regular check-in visits during the study.
Symptoms and medication use were similar in the probiotic and placebo groups at the beginning of the study, but over the course of the trial, several differences developed:
"We found a marked reduction of the allergy symptom scores during treatment with Lactobacillus salivarius," said study coauthor Dr. Rong-Hwa Jan from the Institute of Medical Science at Tzu Chi University in Taiwan. "The dramatic improvement in symptoms along with the decreased use of medications suggest that Lactobacillus salivarius may be an important treatment tool for allergic rhinitis in children."
Although no one knows for sure why probiotics have anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects, some laboratory studies suggest that the presence of healthy intestinal bacteria may increase levels of chemicals that are responsible for keeping the immune system in check. A properly controlled immune system is less likely to be triggered by particles in the environment like dust, pollen, and animal dander.
Here are some ways to help reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in your children:
(Indian Pediatr 2012;pii: S097475591100603-1)
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On Thu, 2006-02-02 at 12:51 -0500, Brett McCoy wrote:
Hmm, I used to have that, but somehow it got uninstalled.
Still, this is not good - what the heck is the point of the "Plugin
Finder" in firefox then, if it isn't even aware of the package manager?
To install random binary codecs Windows style? I've seen it hundreds of
times and never once had it do anything useful.
LINUX® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the USA and other countries.
Linuxaudio.org logo copyright Thorsten Wilms © 2006.
Hosting provided by the Virginia Tech Department of Music and DISIS.


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Bryan Silas
TRUCKS: Bryan Silas Falls Out of Truck - Martinsville 2014
NASCAR Trucks: Bryan Silas takes a little tumble out of his truck after wrecking with Spencer Gallagher.
Timothy Peters survives wild day to win 'Dega truck race
Crafton suffered a major setback when his No. 88 Toyota incurred significant right-front damage from a collision with Bryan Silas while trying to exit the pits. Crafton made three additional pit stops under the yellow to repair the damage and remained
Live Blog: Sights and Sounds From Eldora
is next on SPEED. Jeb Burton will start from pole and is joined by Johnny Sauter, Ryan Newman, Justin Jennings, Bryan Silas , Ty Dillon & German Quiroga. 8:20p ET -- Burton survives a battle with Newman to win the fifth and final heat
Headbanger's Ball: NCWTS driver wrecks, falls over backwards trying to get out of his truck
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Bryan Silas had a memorable Martinsville moment on Sunday. Although, he'd probably rather forget about it. First, he ran into Spencer


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Illinois couple includes natural elements, bamboo flooring
Illinois couple includes natural elements, bamboo flooring
A couple in East Peoria, Illinois, has melded both modern and traditional elements into their home to provide a comfortable living space that is perfect for entertaining guests. According to the Peoria Journal Star, Jeff and Holly Henline were largely inspired by bringing outdoor elements inside.
"I wanted something durable but casual for the grandkids and comfortable for us," Holly told the news source.
The news provider reports that the Henlines used muted, colors throughout their decor. Along with a natural tone, the couple made sure to incorporate some environmentally friendly components to their home as well. Holly's latest renovation project was particularly eco-conscious as she and a friend installed bamboo flooring in their living and dining rooms.
Homeowners who are looking for a way to mimic the Henline's green design can consider laying bamboo flooring in their own abodes. According to the World Floor Covering Association, the material is extremely eco-friendly. When the bamboo is harvested,comma the root system remains intact, so it is not damaging to the plant.


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Amazon Studios is keeping the John Goodman-led comedy and picking up six of the 10 shows it tested in its latest "pilot season," including one that gives Amazon its best shot at taking on Netflix's Emmy cred.


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Ring In The New Year With A New Relationship
3. Remember what year it is: If you are holding on to issues from 2012, it is time to let go. That doesn't necessarily mean you act as if the issues never happened. Can anyone do that? Instead, have those conversations with your partner, talking about how each of you feel. The best way is to listen to your mate without interrupting. Don't keep a tally, while he/she is speaking, of what you think he/she has done wrong. Honestly try to understand only from their perspective before reacting. Remember, you love each other. No one is deliberately hurting the other. Often the case is, both of you are reacting to preconceptions of intentional pain.
Related: Does Your Past Interfere with Your Present?
4. Be Open: In the late 1800's, inventor Thomas Edison, and his team, experimented with thousands of different filaments in order to get the right material to make a long-lasting light bulb. What does this have to do with your relationship? Throughout 2013, you and your partner will also experiment with thousands of different ways to make a long-lasting relationship. Just like Edison, be open to other interpretations or ideas. More importantly, ask for help or advice when needed. Edison didn't succeed alone and neither will you.
5. Control only what you can: Realize that just like last year, there will be situations to create setbacks in 2013, times where you will feel personally hurt or your relationship threatened. That doesn't have to halt all progress. Make the decision to continue forward. Just because someone or something has attempted to hurt you does not mean you are required to react negatively. You cannot control what happens but you can control how you react. Once you master this, you will see that the negative issue is only 10% of the situation and how you react is 90%.


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I also think I was a bit ignorant to the situation as well but I didn't want to think about it. |
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By Paul Watson:
Lets Save Sea World! What I would do if I could take over the management of Sea World Commentary by Captain Paul Watson There is an axiom in business that a company must adapt or die. Sea World is in this position now. Awareness is changing and just as human slavery was tossed onto the dust heap of history so will the idea of enslaving marine mammals for purposes of entertainment. Sea World is under a great deal of public pressure thanks to the film Black Fish and an ever-growing global movement to shut it down. Sea World is losing money. Performers like Bare Naked Ladies, Willie Nelson and Heart have cancelled their performances and some shareholders are already divesting themselves of their shares in anticipation of a dramatic fall in the value of those shares. The public is becoming increasing horrified by the bloody slaughter of dolphins in Taiji Japan and the violent drives to capture dolphins to perform at aquariums and the slaughter of the ones not deemed desirable to exhibit to the public. Sea World has said nothing in opposition to the dolphin killing or whaling while maintaining the myth that they love whales and dolphins. The public is seeing through the charade and this does not bode well for Sea World. Could Sea World close down? Possibly, although Sea World is gambling that they will weather the controversy. The media and the public are notoriously fickle and what is a passionate public cause today, is often forgotten tomorrow. But there has been a persistent anti-captivity movement for decades and it grows stronger each year and the film Black Fish has greatly increased the strength of this movement. That persistence will continue and it will get stronger every year. Like any industry, Sea World must adapt or die. Thus I believe it is inevitable that Sea World will be faced with closing its doors, certainly within the next decade. I think it is time for new management and Im quite willing to take the job. I think I can turn this downward trend around and in so doing I think I can breathe new life into this increasingly heartless institution. More and more people want Sea World shut down but there are many with seemingly legitimate concerns about what will happen if it is shut down. Some of the criticisms of the opponents of Sea World include. 1. Where do children go to see marine mammals? And what a shame it would be to close down an educational facility like Sea World. 2. Sea World rescues animals and provides care facilities for animals injured in the wild. 3. If Sea World closes what will happen to the captive animals? With regard to the first criticism the answer is simple. Children can be educated about whales through film and they can see whales in the wild on whale watch trips. The price of a ticket to Sea World is not much different than the price of a ticket on a whale-watching vessel. But some have said that not everyone lives close to the sea and thus they do not have the opportunity to see whales in nature. The answer to that is if you can go to Sea World Orlando or Sea World San Diego, you can also go on a whale-watching trip. Both these facilities are near the sea. On a whale watch trip children can see whales behaving like whales do in their natural habitat. There is nothing educational about seeing whales jump through hoops or carrying a trainer around on their back. Sea World is not and never has been an educational facility. Sea World does not talk about the threats to the whales like whaling, pollution, over-fishing etc. Basically it all comes down to hey boys and girls, do you know that Orcas are mammals just like you. And the average kid already knows that. Presently Sea World appeals to stupidity and when it comes to ecology and the oceans, young people are much better educated now than when Sea World first opened their ticket booths. We need a Sea World that appeals to people genuinely concerned about saving our oceans With regard to the second criticism. Yes, Sea World does rescue and care for stranded animals and this is a source for many of their display animals. What would happen if Sea World were not to do this? There are more non-profit marine mammal rescue centers than there are Sea World facilities and these organizations would be much more likely to receive more public and government funding without Sea World doing their collecting and sampling. I was on the beach in La Jolla, California when Sea World rescued a sea lion. I was not impressed. The rescuers were clearly hurting the animal but seemingly did not care until I introduced myself and they saw I had a camera. Suddenly they became much more gentle. The last concern is probably the most important. What will happen to the animals if Sea World closes? Sea World could euthanize them if the government granted them permits to do so, but that would create a **** storm of a public outcry. They could release the ones that can be released but a great many cannot be released and the responsibility to care for them would belong to Sea World. After all they have made hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from these animals. Sea World would have to maintain the facilities and to provide food and care to the animals they are obligated under the law to care for. But there is an alternative whereby Sea World could survive. It may not be the money-making circus it is today but it could survive and function as a real educational facility with human entertainment instead of animal entertainment and most importantly it would be relevant. This would allow Sea World to care for the animals they have and to care for animals they rescue. They could give presentations on the importance of our oceans and on finding solutions to the threats to the survival of the oceans. They could maintain the theme park like other theme parks. Whereas Universal Studios has Waterworld, Sea World could have a Captain Nemo theme show. There are many possibilities but it all comes down to shows that provide real education in addition to real entertainment. The most popular and beloved circus on the planet is Cirque du Soleil. Why? Because they dont exploit animals. Sea World needs to take a lesson from Cirque du Soleil. They can still have water tanks. For example there could be a vertical tank going down 300 metres where human free divers could be seen displaying their skills. Another pool could provide mermaids doing synchronized swimming. There could be a tank simulating the oceanic gyres with demonstrations of what can be done to solve the problem. There could be facilities for teaching diving. There would be tanks for rescued animals where people can see caregivers rehabilitating stranded, sick or injured animals. The tanks would also contain the retired Orcas that cant be released and they would swim about and trainers would interact with them in games that benefit the animals and keep them from being bored. They simply would not be forced to do things contrary to their nature. If given a choice between watching animals doing silly tricks or seeing hands on efforts to save our oceans, I believe young people especially will be interested in dealing with real problems. The new Sea World could have life size robotic whales and dolphins. It could have a wave machine swimming pool for surfing like Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World. Surfing demonstrations could be performed by the worlds greatest surfers. There could be a Maori whale riding ride for children with a large robotic whale. There could be a tank featuring old style hard-hat diving and demonstrations of the evolution of diving. There could be breeding facilities for protecting endangered fishes and corals. There could be a kelp forest. There are many possibilities to provide a highly entertaining and educational facility in place of the slave circus non-educational travesty that Sea World is presently running today. Sea World should be able to evolve and to transform into something awesome and relevant. Will such a thing happen? Probably not. The executives at Sea World lack the vision to see and implement positive alternative approaches. But one thing is for certain. The days of public tolerance for animal abuse are coming to an end and I firmly believe Sea Worlds days are numbered unless they adapt. And if they dont and they begin to lose money as the share-holders abandon the sinking ship and they will be faced with the dilemma of what to do with the slaves. If they cant free them or euthanize them, they will be legally bound to care for them for the remainder of the natural lives of the animals. Any attempts to euthanize them will be opposed by the public. Sea World can make a choice to survive as a positive educational and entertainment facility that does not exploit animals or it can go out of business completely as the public becomes more educated to the abuses and contradictions of this institution of slavery. |
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I think regrettably no matter what SeaWorld say those who are set on bringing them down will not believe them.
Most of those teetering on the edge will also not be persuaded by their comments either. Its a shame, the Whales and dolphins are clearly made to do things they wouldn't do in the wild. They will inevitably have to scale down the "performance" element of the show and revert to something more conservation related. With viewing galleries and enrichment shows rather than what they do now. Surely people don't only visit to see the shamu show. As for the other fellas "brilliant" ideas, seaworld have done most of this as Discovery Cove and Aquatica But go out of business - No chance, they will simply build bigger and better coasters to rival Universal etc, people will still visit.
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It was reported here that their profit has risen 300% no chance they are going to go out of business even with all this bad publicity. |
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There will be some that will go juts to see what all the fuss is about.
I am going Christmas day and going to the Dine with Shamu for dinner. I certainly wont be boycotting them I fully support the work that they do. Its 2013 not 1960 and we can only deal with the situation at hand not punish them for something they may have done 50 years ago WAAAYYY before anyone thought any different.
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Just watched Blackfish. I thought I was going in prepared having known of all the incidents and how they were captured, etc. But I was not. The poor mother orca crying for her baby taken away just completely got me.
I'm so glad I didnt buy tickets for SeaWorld for my upcoming trip,I will not support the company nor step foot on their property until they make some drastic changes. The thing that concerns me the most is the breeding programme. It is wholly unnecessary to breed these whales - any legitimate breeding programme usually does so with the aim of eventually reintroducing them back to their natural habitat, however that clearly can't properly happen here as without their pods the whales will likely die if released into the wild.
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Your daughter can always be a marine biologist that studies orcas in their natural environment. I'm 38 now, but when I was 18 and entering college, I was going to be a Zoologist/Marine Biology major so I could train killer whales, but changed my mind due to captivity not being ethical. I ended up in law enforcement....but still love orcas and will not visit SeaWorld or any other park that keeps orcas prisoner.
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Julianneboo - Thanks for posting that. Now, if Paul Watson took over, and changes like that were made, we would visit SeaWorld, but until it adapts and makes those changes, we will not go.
I think the film has made great strides in making people aware of what is really going on, however, you will always have people who dismiss it and feel it's one sided, but the fight against cetacean captivity is gaining momentum like never before and spreading like wildfire....and I LOVE it. |
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The film is totally biaised.
just look at this thread. If there is one thing posters vividly keep in mind, it's the crying orca, and the taking of the calf. Seaworld has not done such a thing in the last 35 years Tilikum, the killer whale involved in Dawn's death was born in 1981 and was captured in '83 at age 2 and brought to Sealand and later was sold to Seaworld after the death of a student. What viewers need to consider, it's that this movie is showing some outdated facts to depict current events. Let me give you an example : imagine a movie about South Africa, depicting apartheid, violence and segregation against black people, and these footages be used to try and prove that we need to boycott south africa today. that's basically the pretense of this movie. of course, it's not an orca's place to be in a glorified fish tank. but another question comes to mind. What if Seaworld closes ? What do you do with the whales, dolphins and other animals, if, and that's the purpose, marine animals can no longer be "shown" or "detained". These animals would need to be killed, or they would be sentenced to death because they can't go back to the wild (think of the "Free Willy" Orca's death. Some people are not ok with animals being kept in "cages" ... but they're ok with them being killed or sent to their death now what about the millions of dollars spent by seaworld on protection and rescue. This is genuine, a rather vast sum of money goes back to the animals. It's a two sided coin. Of course I wouldn't like being a whale in any marine park. nobody would. But that film is so biaised that people should try to go beyond the shocking images and realise that, between Seaworld's corporate version, and this film's version, there is something in between that's closer to the truth. Now, as for the "agenda", PETA is somewhere behind all this. They've been acting for some years now, not only against Seaworld. But on the director's part, the agenda is plain to see. Think about Michael Moore and his controversial documentaries, and you'll see how you can build a reputation out of thin air, just by blowing things out of proportion. As long as the audience gets the impression that "ohh I've been lied to all this time", when it's actually the movie that's biaised, then you WILL get awards (Sundance Festival anyone ?) and sell DVDs, and become more "bankable" in your playing field. I will not stop going to Seaworld. I've never been in denial as to think that those animals lived in the best conditions and could be at least as happy as they'd have be in the wild. To me it's obvious that a captive animal is captive, period. But I also understand the educationnal value and the work that's been done, and that's still done by Seaworld in the field of protection and rescue. People are shocked by the slaughter of Dolphins and demand that marine parks be closed down. I suppose they'd be ok with letting hundreds of animals die, stranded on beaches, or mowed down by boats, nets, and so on. And that what would happen without the money Seaworld injects back into the rescue effort. That's a very precarious balance, and right now, movies like this do not help, they tilt the scale, and it might do more harm than it would do good. (the road to hell is paved ... you know ...)
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I'm not sure if this has been mentioned already, but for the other side of the story, here's a former employee's (pro-Seaworld) response: https://www.facebook.com/notes/julie...52163058773885
Honestly I haven't watched the documentary, I'm not planning to watch it and I'm still going to go to Seaworld. I'm not under the illusion that they're perfect. |
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Sea World's annual revenue is 1.5 billion yearly. 9 million is spent on conservation. That means 0.0006 of the company's net revenue is being funneled into research and conservation annually. For every $100.00 made by the park, less than 1 cent benefits wildlife. They do not commit as much to rescue and rehab as they want you to believe they do. Most of its rescue work is with animals that are not profitable as performers in its shows. Sea World has NEVER released an orca back into the wild. Using education as an excuse to bring in billions of dollars for profit is immoral. Please go back and read Captain Paul Watson's response that Julliannboo posted on 12/16 in this thread. There are alternatives. Research both sides. No matter how you spin it, whether you approve of Blackfish or not, these large mammals, all cetaceans, do not deserve the treatment they are receiving at Sea World and all of the other marine parks and "swim with" programs across the globe. If you research all of the orcas born in Sea World facilities you will find they do continue to separate calves from their mothers. Many of the captive born babies are moved to other facilities. Using Tillicum as as the sole example of this practice does not show the whole picture. And on a personal note, using South Africa and apartheid as a comparison to cetacean captivity and the movie Blackfish is ridiculous and offensive to me. |
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The footage of the "crying" orca mother mourning the baby that was stolen from her is not old footage from the 60's or 70's. That was fairly recent and happened at a SeaWorld Park. It is also not an isolated incident, and still happens. Why does SW do this, you ask? Because having a calf takes away from the orca's ability/willingness to perform. Their babies are their first priority, and during shows, if a mother's calf is in another tank, and calls out to them, they are not going to be paying attention to their trainers, and will not be of good use in the money making shows. Bottom line....it affects their profits if their money making orcas as not performing, so even though it psychologically hurts the mother (and of course the baby) SW decides to send the baby off to another park (either SW or "on loan" to a crappy, ill-run place like Loro Parque in Spain). Speaking of Loro Parque.......it's not owned by SW, but most of their orcas are owned by SeaWorld, and are in poor health (they have eaten parts of their tank!).
Not too go off course too much, but the SW breeding program is AWFUL! They are artificially inseminating young female orcas (under the age of 10) who would never get pregnant that young in the wild. They never learned how to become a mother from their Pod members, and may reject their calves. Not because they want to, but because they don't know what the hell to do! This would be the equivalent of forcibly impregnating a 12 year old human child, and then expect her to know how to properly mother a child. AWFULNESS! Don't believe me? Read this article; http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhi...ty-than-males/ |
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Oh, and don't let me forget to mention poor Katina, who they started breeding at age 9, (wild female orcas don't typically reach puberty until age 10-14) is basically a baby machine for SeaWorld, having baby after baby stolen from her. She has even mated with her own son and has had inbred babies. I guess we can equate SeaWorld to an "orca mill" as it doesn't sound too much different than those evil puppy mills we have all heard about.
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