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Military Affairs
I have to admit to some surprise in seeing Michael's post on torture below. QandO has been pretty much opposed to the use of torture, and we've taken some heat for it every time the subject has come up. But, once you open up a libertarian blog to others to write for it, and tell them to feel free to write their own opinions without prejudice or favor, then, before you know it, they go off getting ideas of their own, disagreeing with you, and generally acting with an outrageous sense of independence.
What're you gonna do?
I understand the attraction of torture, both on utilitarian grounds, and in terms of what I will call "emotional reciprocity", so I won't re-cover Michael's arguments, tendered, as they are, more inquisitively than asseveratively.
When I speak of "torture", I want to be sure that we all have the same thing in mind when I use the word. So I will define it here as the intentional application of physical pain, accompanied by the possibility of permanent injury, scarring, derangement, or death. This will, I think, encompass the entire spectrum pf physical discomfort comfort from beatings to anything else more severe. I specifically reject a definition of torture that includes psychological pressure, such as putting a particularly nasty-looking beetle in the cell of a prisoner who's afraid of bugs. I also reject questioning methods as sleep deprivation for a couple of days, or discomfort from keeping the air conditioning too low as torture. These things might be unpleasant, but they are not physically or mentally harmful in any significant sense.
It's possible to construct any number of scenarios in which torture is acceptable–perhaps even moral. But that doesn't negate the general rule that torture is, in fact, wrong.To continue, I would then proceed to the question, "Is torture always wrong?" Well, that's a silly formulation of the question. In every human action, context matters. I think there is general agreement that lying is generally wrong, yet if a terrified woman approaches us and pleads for us to hide her from a crazed stalker who intends to kill her, I think there is also general agreement that if the stalker subsequently approaches us, we would have a positive moral duty to lie to the stalker and deny any knowledge of her whereabouts. There might also be general agreement that lying has a social purpose at times, in the sense that the answer to the question "Does this dress make me look fat?" is pretty much always, "No."
In light of the above, it's possible, then, to construct any number of scenarios in which torture is acceptable–perhaps even moral. But that doesn't negate the general rule that torture is, in fact, wrong, in the widest range of circumstances. If we actually believe in all that stuff about "inalienable rights", then certainly the right not to have hot needles shoved under our nails is one of them.
Beyond that, however, we enter a terrifically complicated area, when we begin to discuss giving the government the power to have recourse to torture as a matter of policy. As a practical matter, it is nearly impossible to construct a system in which any official sanction to torture will not inevitably spiral out of control. Once a set of rules is in place–any set of rules–there will inevitably be torture imposed on anyone on whom an official wishes to impose it. Officials will ensure that the rules will apply to the persons they wish to torture. Sure, the guy may look like an innocent Kabul taxi driver, but there will always be an official who "knows" better, and who will ensure that all the proper boxes are checked before the flensing knives are brought out.
We have elaborate rules, for instance, covering the issuance of search warrants, and severe criminal and civil sanctions for their abuse, yet, oddly enough, police agencies fairly routinely deliver no-knock drug warrants on innocent homeowners, which, not infrequently, result in homeowners or policemen getting shot. Or in the case of 90 year-old Kathryn Johnson in Atlanta several months ago, police just ignore those rules, and seek to provide creative ex post facto justifications. In that case, of course, we learned that such actions were not at all uncommon in portions of the Atlanta PD.
It is nearly impossible to construct a system in which any official sanction to torture will not inevitably spiral out of control.Providing legal sanction to use torture invites similar overzealousness on the part of officials. Moreover, if the government can point to some cases of torture's utility, the pressure to increase the range of acceptable subjects will inevitably increase–just as the drug war has increased the incidence of no-knock warrants being issued to "take down" non-violent drug offenders. And, frankly, we haven't done a very good job of guarding the slippery slope in these and similar areas of government activity.
That doesn't make me sanguine about giving the government the legal sanction to engage in torture, especially in an environment where heathen foreigners will be on the receiving end of it, and their redress in case of mistakes are…limited. That seems to me to have all the element necessary for an unconscionable abuse of power.
Now, let's look at the question of whether torture works. That answer to that is, yes, but not reliably. There are a number of celebrated cases in World War II where French or Yugoslav partisans were captured by the Germans, turned over to the Gestapo, and essentially tortured to death without telling the Germans anything. We also have, conversely, literally thousands of "confessions" of witchcraft during the Inquisition, extracted under torture.
What does that tell us? Well, nothing really that we didn't already know, which is that if you wish to get a suspect to talk, 220 volts to the genitals will probably work better than a medium-rare steak au poivre with shallots, and a robust glass of Côte de Nuits.
Whether the subject can be relied upon to tell you the truth, or just what he thinks you want to hear, is more problematic. Torture can work–by which I mean you can receive reliable information from it– through the following iterative process:
1) The subject can be induced to talk through physical pain. You can eventually get someone to tell you something, if enough torture is applied. To ensure that something is useful,
2) You must be able to verify the subject's information in whole, and provide…correction if any part of the subject's statement appears to be untrue.
You must be able to repeat the above steps until the subject is convinced of your ability to verify his statements and punish evasions or subterfuges. This can, needless to say, become an elaborate process. If you can't go through the process, then you don't really know if you're getting reliable information from it, or if the subject is shining you on to obtain relief. Perhaps he's telling you the truth. Perhaps he's just getting you to look askance at an innocent taxi driver in Kabul.
Michael asked:
Moreover, if it really is ineffectual, why does it continue to happen? Clearly, somebody somewhere is getting results.
Two things come to mind.
First, the vast majority of torture use, both historically, and in the modern world among those regimes that use it, is directed to obtaining confessions of guilt from criminal suspects. It comes as no surprise that it's highly effective at obtaining them. Again, I refer to the Inquisition, where the possibility of death at some unspecified future date became more attractive than than the prospect of a continuance on the rack in the present case.
Second, as I wrote previously, torture does provide more information than would be obtained by abstaining from it. One wonders, however, how much of that information is actually reliable, as opposed to how much of that information is beleived to be reliable by officials. Or simply politically convenient. Those two latter things may not, in fact, be the same as the former.
Finally, the question arises, "who do we torture?" Certainly, every real terror suspect has some knowledge that can be useful. Do we get to torture all of them? Most of the justifications I've seen would give us the option to torture someone in a ticking bomb scenario. Which sounds nice…if you actually know there's a ticking bomb. In the normal scheme of things, though, you really need to torture people to find out if a ticking bomb exists, not to figure out where it is.
The vast majority of torture use among those regimes that use it, is directed to obtaining confessions of guilt from criminal suspects. It comes as no surprise that it's highly effective at obtaining them.Or do we just torture the higher-ups in the terrorist movement, as a sort of fishing expedition? This is, I gather, the justification for the interrogation techniques used on some of the al Qaeda biggies. We thought they were up to something, and we used harsh interrogation to find out what they knew.
The most interesting thing about that is that we didn't have to brand these guys with hot pokers to get them to give it up. These guys apparently have little resistance. Threaten to open a box of StayFree® Maxi-Pads in front of them, and they sing like superstars. So maybe we got lucky in that some of these guys were easy marks.
But, as the Gestapo experience of WWII shows, sometimes, people will let you torture them to death without telling you anything. Even in Vietnam, our POWs in Hanoi would resist real, actual torture for extended periods before giving up a "confession" to their captors.
But I digress.
Either you are going to define the torture-liable population so broadly, that officials will pretty much have a license to torture, or so narrowly that, as a practical matter, you'll never use it. If the former, you've got a slippery slope problem, if the latter, it's not useful enough to even worry about sanctioning it, rather than just worrying about it on an ad hoc basis.
Jonah Goldberg has written often about the unwritten law, vs. the written law. Fifty years ago, it was against the law for the police to dispense street justice. In practice, the beat cop, who walked the same neighborhood day after day and who knew the residents, would occasionally rough up some troublemakers pour encourager les autres, and in so doing, kept the peace on his block. It wasn't legally sanctioned, but it worked–and the cop knew that when he did it, he was risking at least his career, if it became a problem.
For a variety of reasons discussed above, as well as other, more prudential reasons in terms of the country's image, and diplomatic reputation, I'd prefer never to see torture be enshrined in the written law.
I've noted before that, when I was on active duty, if I'd ever been faced with getting caught behind enemy lines in a Soviet attack in Europe, I would like to have the option of capturing a Russian officer, and finding out how to get back to our lines. And, if I had to hook up a field telephone, and make a collect call to his genitals, I'd do it without blinking, if that's what it took to get my guys back home alive.
I wouldn't brag about it, or mention it to anyone in responsible authority later, but if I got found out, I'd expect to take the Court-Martial. And, as long as I'd gotten my guys out, I'd have been happy to do it.
Necessity, it's often said, knows no law. But the law shouldn't explicitly bow to necessity. I would rather have it understood that any torture inflicted is done without sanction, and the official authorizing the torture may be in danger of serious sanctions if he uses it.
It's probably not the best solution. But, on balance, I think it's a better solution than giving the government explicit permission to conduct torture however they see fit. Torture is problematic for a number of reasons, and the ethics of engaging in it are, at the very least, difficult to parse. And, as Michael should well know, "hard cases make bad law".
UPDATE [McQ]: What Dale said.
Torture: What Is It Good For?
Paralleling the song, the answer should be "absolutely nothing" with a testosterone laced "Huhn!" thrown in for good measure. Personally, I have my doubts.
This is not a new topic here at QandO, as my esteemed brethren have weighed in on numerous occasions, each time settling on an emphatic "No! Torture is not acceptable." While it would be difficult, if not impossible, to put into words the esteem that I hold for my blog brothers, I have to say that I disagree. That may be because I have never been in the military, nor been subjected to anything close to the sort of forced life-or-death decision making that breeds a camaraderie distinct unto itself. And it may be because I have the luxury (thanks to said camaraderie) to simply ponder these things at my leisure. Just the same, I cannot say that I am opposed to torture of our nation's enemies, nor can I honestly say that any experience will change my opinion.
First, the reason I even broach the subject: release of "secret torture memos" (link added):
President Barack Obama's administration said it would Thursday release four memos, with sections blacked out, covering the Bush administration's justification for CIA interrogations of terror suspects … The memos were authored by Jay Bybee and Steven Bradbury, who at the time were lawyers for the then-president George W. Bush's Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel.
The memos provided the legal framework for a program of interrogations of "war on terror" detainees that included techniques widely regarded as torture such as waterboarding, in which a detainee is made to feel like he is drowning.
I have not read the memos, and I probably won't. The sole reason being that I've slogged through enough of these legal documents to have a pretty good idea of what's in there, and to know that there is plenty of qualifying language to mitigate whatever damning quotes are eventually culled therefrom. In point of fact, these "memos" are little more than legal research projects specifically drafted so as to provide both the underlying judicial framework for the issue at hand, and the best guess at how the current policy might fit into that framework under certain factual parameters. They are merely legalese for "this is what the law says, and this is how the policy may not run afoul of that law."
Leaving aside definitional problems (does being confined with an insect constitute "torture"?), let's just assume that what the memos described was not only policy, but a policy that was carried out. Why is that a bad thing?
Tom Maguire provides some thoughts:
IN OUR NAME: The newly released torture memos are cold-blooded and clearly client-driven – the lawyers knew the answers they wanted and reasoned backwards. Quick thoughts:
1. The US concern about actually harming someone comes through on every page. In fact, at one point (p. 36 of .pdf) the legal team wonders whether it would be illegal for the interrogators to threaten or imply that conditions for the prisoner could get even worse unless they cooperate. I suppose these memos will provide welcome reassurance of our underlying civility to both the world community and the terrorists in it.
2. There are some fascinating legal gymnastics on display. My favorite might be on p. 39, where we learn that Article 16 of the Geneva Convention does not apply because the CIA is operating in areas not under US jurisdiction. Nor do the protections of the US Constitution extend to aliens being held prisoner under US control but abroad outside of US jurisdiction.
However, another contender for the "It Would Take A Lawyer To Think Of This" prize is the argument that waterboarding does not constitute a threat of imminent death because, even though the prisoner thinks they are drowning, they are not, and anyway, the mental effect is transitory and does not result in long term mental harm – call it the "Psych!" defense. (The absence of long term harm comes from the experience of US sailors and soldiers passing through SERE school in the service of their country; whether a jihadist waterboarded by the Great Satan would also rebound psychologically is not explored here). I would think that a game of Russian Roulette played with a fake bullet might pass all these requirements other than the SERE experience.
Tom's comparison to Russian Roulette intrigues me because I think it is the perfect analogy. I've written before that, in my opinion, waterboarding crosses the legal line because of the way the law is written. I've never been convinced that the technique crosses any moral boundary because I'm not so sure that it's any different than placing a caterpillar in the same cell as a man who's deathly afraid of caterpillars. Playing on the mind's fears is part and parcel of both manipulation and torture, but does not mean that the two are equivalent. Morally speaking, therefore, I have doubts that techniques akin to waterboarding amount to "torture" per se.
But assuming that they do, again, what exactly is the problem? Aficionados of the subject will say that torture is ineffectual. Yet, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed would appear to be a test case in contrast to that wisdom, as would the fact that our own soldiers are routinely informed that "everyone breaks eventually." Moreover, if it really is ineffectual, why does it continue to happen? Clearly, somebody somewhere is getting results.
Even leaving aside the efficacy vel non of torture, does it hold such moral deficiency as to abandon it altogether? Here I plead ignorance because, in my mind, I view enemies to my country as enemies to my family. By that I mean, if anyone were to hurt, or even threaten to hurt, a member of my family, I can't even begin to express the unholy hell I would visit upon such a cretin. When I view A Time To Kill I can't help but think that that the murderous, rapist scum got off too lightly (which, of course, was the point of Grisham's characterization). Other than the fear of anything nefarious happening to my children, my greatest fear is of what I would try to do to those who hurt them or even suggested that they might do so. I have the same feeling when it comes to anyone who seeks to destroy my country and her citizens with whom I've (gratefully) cast my lot. My morality directs me to say that what any of you visit upon the least of my fellow countrymen, I will repay you a thousandfold and more. That may be my Irish bravado speaking, but it speaks as honestly as any man possibly can.
So I am left with the conundrum of how my actions in response to an attack on my family should be any different than an attack on my country, and why I should feel any differently about the perpetrators of such actions, whether they have followed through with their plans or not. I understand that my response — i.e. the sanctioning of "torture" — may not be entirely rational. Indeed, if a firetruck runs over my child while rushing to save an orphanage, I would feel no less grief, and probably wish an equal amount of horror upon the transgressors as I would upon 19 hijackers who murdered 3,000 of of my fellow citizens. In fact, probably more. There is nothing particularly rational in such a response. But I have little confidence that, should I have the chance to avoid either disaster, I would refrain from running the perpetrators' minds through a psychological cheese grater if there was even a small chance that the disaster could be avoided. That may be little more than a testament to my weakness as a moral human being, but I think that I'm not alone.
Torture, however defined, is not a pretty thing. I make no bones about having zero regard for my enemies (i.e. those who want to destroy my country a la 9/11). If subjecting them to extreme psychological and/or physical discomfort, or the threat of such, will prevent further attacks, then I confess that I am happy to reward those monsters with the penalty they richly deserve. I accept that I may be wrong in such thinking, but I don't find that case has been successfully made as of yet. Indeed, I defy you to take this test and declare that "torture" can never be acceptable.
The ultimate point is, torture is a horrible thing and should be avoided if at all humanly possible. But, unfortunately, we live in a world where the "humanly possible" has limits. In those cases, why is it that torture should be off limits? Is there a rational reason? I'm willing to be convinced, but I have my doubts.
Pirates: Facts, Fiction and Opinion
If you look at the big picture, you realize that the pirates off the Somali coast are more of a nuisance than a problem. Estimates are that 25,000 to 30,000 ships per year transit the Gulf of Aden (headed for the Suez Canal) or the east coast of Somalia. The bulk, of course, go through Suez. The successful hijackings over a multi-year period have been very low in comparison. In 2007, for instance, there were 12 successful hijackings.
The area of ocean in which these events take place cover approximately a million square miles. Here's a great map (pdf) which shows the areas and the incidents through 2007. Obviously the pirates can pick and choose where to strike while the navies of the world can only react and hope they are close enough to prevent the hijacking. That was demonstrated quite clearly in the latest hijacking of the US ship in which Capt. Phillips was taken hostage. It took hours for the USS Bainbridge to arrive on scene and the rescue was only effected because the skiffs the pirates had used had been destroyed and they were forced to use a lifeboat.
20 countries are now concentrating naval assets within the area, most concentrated in the Gulf of Aden. A coalition of nations commanded by a US admiral constitute Task Force 151 which is strictly an anti-piracy task force. TF 151 operates in the Gulf. China and Russia have also committed naval assets to the task but do so outside TF 151. They coordinate with the TF but only escort their country's flagged ships.
With the amount of traffic which transits the area, it is obvious that no navy has the assets to escort all of the ships.
But there is a tool through which the TF can coordinate its efforts and ensure those ships which are most likely to be attacked have a safe passage. One of those tools is a website. There vessels transiting the area can register their vessel and alert the TF of their time of arrival in the area in which hijacking is most likely. There are also tips for the masters of vessels transiting the area, maritime intelligence reports and alerts.
Obviously with that number of ships transiting the area, some are more susceptable to attack than others. What type of ship are the pirates looking for? According to Admiral Terry McKnight, (pdf) the TF 151 commander, they're looking for ships traveling under 15 knots and with a low freeboard with aids boarding. As Adm. McKnight says, those sorts of ships seem to scream "pirate, me, pirate me". If the TF knows ships which fit this template are going to be transiting the region, they can arrange to group them with other ships, track their movement and arrange for that movement at a time when the pirates are less likely to be out hunting.
The pirates have also adapted their tactics, especially off the eastern shore in the Indian Ocean. As shipping has moved further and further off shore to avoid the skiffs employed to board them, the pirates began using "mother ships". Those are larger ships which carry a number of skiffs and 10 to 20 pirates. This enabled the pirates to go further and further off shore to attack shipping.
As you'll note on the map linked above, there are three major areas on the eastern shore (to include Mogadishu) where the pirates seem to be concentrated, one on the tip of the Horn of Africa and one on the north shore of Somalia on the Gulf of Aden. Admiral McKnight said that "99.99 percent" of the pirates they've run across have been exclusively Somali.
The question, however, is would a land-based military mission which attacked these centers of piracy successfully end the attempted hijackings?
In my opinion, probably not. To date the risk to reward has been so low that there is a seemingly endless supply of would-be pirates. And, as long as shipping companies are willing to pay the ransom when one of their ships is hijacked, it will, in relative terms, remain a fairly low-risk way of making huge sums of money. Shipping companies know the numbers and recognize that the real chance of hijacking is very low, relatively speaking, and seem to prefer to pay off the hijackers if their ship ends up hijacked. And, of course, they're all insured, so that is also part of the equation.
While we may clean out the nests of pirates for a short time if we mount a military operation, I find it hard to believe that others won't step in, adapt to the new reality (perhaps by moving their base of operations frequently) and again head out into the Gulf or Indian Ocean in search of easy prey.
Punitive military operations may be satisfying in some way but in reality I would think their effect would be a very short term one. Just like war against insurgents, war against the pirates will see a constant adaptation by the pirates to any tactics the military might use. But this isn't a military problem – it is a failed state problem. The problems ashore – a failed government, abject poverty, and few choices for gainful and legal employment – are what must be solved if we hope to see piracy in that area defeated. Until they are solved, there will be plenty of eager replacements for whatever casualties we might inflict on the current pirates, and the attacks on shipping will continue.
Meanwhile, what can be done to make attacks on the high seas less likely? Well the obvious way is to arm the merchantmen. But for various and sundry reasons, most shipping companies don't want to do that. They range from liability concerns, to concerns about essentially untrained crewman with weapons to concerns about gun laws in the various countries the ships go. We know there aren't enough naval ships to escort each merchant ship, so options are limited. Some merchantmen have armed their ships with high-pressure water cannons which have succesfully thwarted a few pirate attacks.
What I expect to see offered soon, perhaps by Blackwater, now known as Xe, is rent-a-gun teams. For those that want them, a team is air-lifted to the ship as it enters the pirate zone and taken back off by air as they successfully exit the zone. I'm sure there are some legal and liability concerns there as well, but it may be one of those times when showing up at the rail and pointing a few automatic weapons at a very vulnerable skiff below you would be enough to disuade the would be pirates from attempting to board.
Food for thought.
Pirate Rescue – Both Right And Left Spinning It Hard
Anne Scott Tyson, at the Washington Post, seems to have the low-down on how the mission to rescue Captain Phillips went down.
The pirates apparently were growing increasingly agitated with the situation and were making threats when they made a fatal mistake and gave SEAL snipers 3 targets at once. Feeling that Captain Phillips life was in imminent danger, the on-scene commander called the shot and the snipers took all three of the pirates out.
Okay and well done. But there seems to be a whole bunch of spin on both sides as to what role Obama played. The left seems bound and determined to spin this as some sort of "military victory" which proves Obama has stones of steel and the right seems equally as determined to deny him any credit for the rescue, claiming it was the "on-scene commander" who made the decision.
Look – Obama was most likely briefed and asked for the go ahead to use both the military and lethal force if the situation called for it. He gave his approval for both. I doubt he tried to tell them what tactics to use or how to carry out the rescue. Instead he allowed those on the scene to make that determination. His concern was Phillips and resolving that situation in a way that the captain was rescued unharmed. By approving the use of lethal force, he made it clear he had no concern for the final disposition of the pirates and placed no constraints on the military in that regard, assuming the main mission – rescuing Phillips unharmed – was accomplished.
Great – that's what he should have done.
But a "military victory"? It was a hostage situation – albeit on the high seas with lots of drama. But at its foundation, it was no different than a situation the local sheriff finds himself in with a domestic disturbance gone bad and hostages held in a house. The reason the national command authority and the military were involved at all is because the situation developed on the high seas in international waters. But at base, it was a run-of-the-mill hostage situation that law enforcement deals with routinely without presidential input.
So? So Obama did the right thing (at the right level of visibility) and so did the military. The situation was resolved. To the right – Obama did a good job. Get over it and understand that it wasn't his job to "call the shot." He gave the on-scene commander, through his authorization to use deadly force, the latitude to make that call himself without seeking further permission.
To the left – this was no more a "military victory" than was Ruby Ridge or Waco. Quit trying to make it more than it is. If you think popping 3 rag-tag pirates is going to be interpreted by Iran or North Korea as a demonstration of our military might, you're dreaming. Obviously, had it gone bad, it would have reflected badly on the US. However it didn't (thankfully). But it proves nothing more than in the situation presented – a hostage situation – we were able to resolve it to our advantage. That's good and it reflects well on us. But a "military victory"? For heaven sake, get a clue.
SEALS 4, Pirates 0 – Final
Some form of strange aquatic life, not native to the coast of Somalia, helped Captain Richard Phillips escape his pirate captives. He's now safe aboard the USS Bainbridge.
The pirates? Not so good:
The American captain of a cargo ship held hostage by pirates jumped overboard from the lifeboat where he was being held, and U.S. Navy SEALs shot and killed three of his four captors, according to a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation.
You knew it was coming – you just wondered when.
My guess is remaining pirates will now immediately go to remedial flag identification class and learn the difference between the US flag and the flag of Panama.
Pirates, operating off the coast of Somalia, have grabbed an American flagged ship. Although they're rare, it's just not a good idea to grab American flagged ships because it is likely to bring a response that for which the pirates aren't looking. I.e., a crew that fights back, and every available American military vessel in the area.
As it turns out the pirates grabbed the Masersk Alabama off the eastern coast of Somalia yesterday. That's below the Horn of Africa since the Gulf of Aden, their previous hunting grounds, has been pretty effectively policed by TF-151 – a coalition of 12 navies.
It is assumed, since the attack on the Alabama occurred 350 miles off the coast of Somalia, that the pirates came from a "mother ship", a larger ship from which they launch their attacks in the small, swift skiffs they use.
The pirates grabbed the Alabama early in the morning but by afternoon, the crew had retaken the ship. All except the captain who the pirates somehow kept in their custody. Apparently they negotiated with the crew for a pirate the crew had captured and agreed to an exchange. But the pirates didn't keep their side of the bargain and kept the captain while the crew gave up the pirate.
The pirates and captain are now, apparently sitting in a lifeboat near the ship, negotiating with the crew. On site are the destroyer USS Bainbridge and some air assets.
My guess is this will go on a couple more days with the military content to let it continue as long as they don't threaten to kill the captain or try to move out of the area. In the meantime they'll gather as much intel as they can and formulate a plan to retake the captive.
Lesson to pirates? When they see that flag with a blue field full of stars and red and white stripes below it – let it pass. Not worth the effort. They don't play patsy like the others do.
Oh – and too those trying to make this a presidential level "crisis", it's not unless he injects himself into it (and I don't think he will). If the Pentagon needs guidance or permission for something, they'll ask. Otherwise they should keep the administration informed and be left to do their job (here's an interesting rundown of the last US ships taken in international waters and the reaction of three different presidents).
However, one has to wonder if the seizure of a US flagged ship might not increase calls for this:
Retired U.S. Ambassador Robert Oakley, who was special envoy to Somalia in the 1990s, said U.S. special operations forces have drawn up detailed plans to attack piracy groups where they live on land, but are awaiting orders from the Obama national security team.
"Our special operations people have been itching to clean them up. So far, no one has let them," Oakley told the Daily News.
The veteran diplomat, who also was ambassador to Pakistan, said teams of Army Delta Force or Navy SEALs "could take care of the pirates in 72 hours" if given the order to strike.
"They have plans on the table but are waiting for the green light," Oakley said.
A Special Operations Command spokesman at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., declined comment.
A U.S. intelligence official, though dismissive of the pirates having any terrorism links, said "there is a more intense focus" now on these criminal gangs.
We'll see. What concerns me about this is the administration may see this as a relatively cheap opportunity to demonstrate its willingness to use military force to protect American interests. Piracy, while a pain in the rear, is not such a threat that it requires that level of a response (of the 33,000 ships that transit the Gulf of Aden, less that 1% are hijacked).
Obama Visits Troops In Iraq
I was wondering if this would happen:
The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, met Obama shortly after Air Force One landed in Baghdad about 4:42 p.m. local time (9:42 a.m. ET).
Obama chose to visit Iraq rather than Afghanistan because of its proximity to Turkey, which Obama just visited, said Robert Gibbs, the president's spokesman.
In addition, Obama wanted to discuss Iraq's political situation with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talibani, Gibbs said.
Mostly, however, the stop is about Obama visiting troops, he said.
Good – a tip of the cap. This is important and I'm glad to see President Obama made time to see the troops. We can get all cynical about a lot of things, but I, for one, appreciate the effort and the gesture.
Do Habeas Hearings Violate the Geneva Conventions?
Ed Morrissey highlights an order of a U.S. District Court regarding detainees at Bagram AFB:
A federal judge ruled on Thursday that prisoners in the war on terror can use U.S. civilian courts to challenge their detention at a military air base in Afghanistan.
U.S. District Judge John Bates turned down the United States' motion to deny the right to three foreign detainees at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have the right to challenge their detention in court. But the government had argued that it did not apply to those in Afghanistan.
Bates said the cases were essentially the same and he quoted the Supreme Court ruling repeatedly in his judgment and applied the test created by it to each detainee. It is the first time a federal judge has applied the ruling to detainees in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, I think Bates is correct here because of the ruling in Boumediene. As I pointed out in February:
Similarly, extending habeas corpus rights to prisoners detained on the battlefield is an exercise in futility. Of course, that ship sailed with the ruling in Boumediene v. Bush. I'm not sure what argument the government could make that any prisoners under the control of the U.S., regardless of where they are being held, are not entitled to some sort of habeas proceeding. And since the very procedures deemed constitutionally valid by the Supreme Court in Hamdi were struck down as inadequate in Boumediene, I don't know what options are actually left to the Obama administration other than the unsavory prospect of field executions.
Barring a contrary ruling from the Supreme Court, I think this most recent case proves the point.
But, Ed Morrissey seems to think the Bates' decision does much more. Where he (reasonably) finds that the foregoing is an unconstitutional interjection of the judiciary into matters delegated to the Executive, Ed also seems to think that Bates' order violates the Geneva Conventions (his bolding applied):
Not only does this violate the separation of powers in the Constitution, it actually violates the Geneva Convention. Article 84 states clearly that prisoners of any stripe shall not get tried in civil courts:
A prisoner of war shall be tried only by a military court, unless the existing laws of the Detaining Power expressly permit the civil courts to try a member of the armed forces of the Detaining Power in respect of the particular offence alleged to have been committed by the prisoner of war.
In no circumstances whatever shall a prisoner of war be tried by a court of any kind which does not offer the essential guarantees of independence and impartiality as generally recognized, and, in particular, the procedure of which does not afford the accused the rights and means of defence provided for in Article 105.
We do not try our military personnel in civil court for offenses committed in the service. Therefore, we do not have the right to try prisoners in our civil courts, either.
There are a few problems with that conclusion:
(1) The detainees are not being tried. They're challenging their detention. Another way of putting it is that they're the plaintiffs in such an action (habeas hearing) as opposed to the defendants (as in a trial).
(2) Civilian courts may be used under the GC where the crimes/offenses alleged are already illegal (i.e. no a bill attainder or ex post facto law) and the court procedures provide the minimum guarantees set forth in the GC (this is spelled out in the rest of Ed's Article 84 excerpt starting with "unless").
(3) The Boumediene decision pretty much made this ruling necessary since the SCOTUS designated anywhere under U.S. control as being "U.S. territory", with a few exceptions. An active battlefield is one of them IIRC and the judge may have decided that Bagram AFB doesn't qualify.
In fact, on that last point, Judge Bates specifically noted that:
… non-Afghan detainees captured outside the country and moved to Bagram for a lengthy detention should have access to the courts to prevent the United States from being able to "move detainees physically beyond the reach of the Constitution and detain them indefinitely."
As Boumediene is written, I think Bates got it exactly right. I do think that the entire line of reasoning and case law is incorrect from both a policy and constitutional basis, but Judge Bates is required to follow Supreme Court precedent. That his ruling serves as a perfect example how reductio absurdum can happen in real life doesn't make him wrong.
Furthermore, I don't see how allowing detainees to challenge their detention could possibly violate the Geneva Conventions. Again, that does not mean detainees should be afforded such rights, just that such a grant does not in any way run counter to either the letter or spirit of those treaties.
Russia: The New Military and The New Currency
Russia is our friend. Don't believe it? Well let's look at a couple of things.
Just as the US starts talking about cutting defense spending and axing weapons systems and programs, what are our friends in Russia doing?
President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday announced a "large-scale" rearmament and renewal of Russia's nuclear arsenal, accusing NATO of pushing ahead with expansion near Russian borders.
Meeting defence chiefs in Moscow, Medvedev said he was determined to implement reforms to streamline Russia's bloated military and stressed Moscow continued to face several security threats needing robust defense capacity.
"From 2011, a large-scale rearmament of the army and navy will begin," Medvedev said.
He called for a renewal of Russia's nuclear weapons arsenal and added that NATO was pursuing a drive to expand the alliance's physical presence near Russia's borders.
"Analysis of the military-political situation in the world shows that a serious conflict potential remains in some regions," Medvedev said.
So, new nukes and large-scale rearmament in the face of US defense cuts. As the article asks "reset" or new Cold War?
And then, just to really upset the apple cart, how about a new currency?
The Kremlin published its priorities Monday for an upcoming meeting of the G20, calling for the creation of a supranational reserve currency to be issued by international institutions as part of a reform of the global financial system.
The International Monetary Fund should investigate the possible creation of a new reserve currency, widening the list of reserve currencies or using its already existing Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, as a "superreserve currency accepted by the whole of the international community," the Kremlin said in a statement issued on its web site.
The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the existing official reserves of member countries.
The Kremlin has persistently criticized the dollar's status as the dominant global reserve currency and has lowered its own dollar holdings in the last few years. Both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have repeatedly called for the ruble to be used as a regional reserve currency, although the idea has received little support outside of Russia.
Now there's not much "there" there as it pertains to this initiative, but it another indicator, among many, that the "Joe Biden Challenge" is alive and well and Russia is in the running to bring it to fruition.
Bombers and "Bombers"
Daniel Larison is trying to smack Ed Morrisey around over a particular story:
There is a non-story making the rounds that the Russian military might base bombers in Venezuela and Cuba, provided that the Kremlin wanted to do this. In the same story that is being circulated, the Kremlin ruled out the idea as hypothetical speculation. Naturally, this had no effect whatever on wild accusations of Obama's foreign policy failure.
As you can tell, Larison is sure there is no smoke or fire with this particular story, but refuses to let an opportunity go by to blame Bush for something, which he proceeds to do. However it seems Larison's research into the story must have omitted this CNN version. The lede:
Russia expressed interest in using Cuban airfields during patrol missions of its strategic bombers, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
I put them in bold so they might catch Larison's eye. You see, when most people see the words "Russia expressed interest" they interpret them to mean the state of Russia – you know, the country?- is interested enough in something to actually express that interest outloud to where a news agency heard it and reported it. And the words "Cuban airfields" usually mean, well, you know, airfields in Cuba – the object of the Russian interest. The thing airplanes fly off of. The fact that a Russian news agency reported the story about Russia's interest and Cuba's airfields, while also mentioning strategic bombers, kind of ties it all together and gives the statement some credibility over and above Larison's hand-wave of dismissal. It certainly makes it more than a "non-story".
In fact, Russia has obviously done more than just "think" about it. Here's the scoop on Venezuela:
Zhikharev also told Interfax that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered a military airfield on La Orchila island as a temporary base for Russian strategic bombers.
"If a relevant political decision is made, this is possible," he said, according to Interfax. Zhikharev said he visited La Orchila in 2008 and can confirm that with minor reconstruction, the airfield owned by a local naval base can accept fully-loaded Russian strategic bombers.
Offer made by Venezuelan head of state. Enough interest to host a visit by Zhikharev (Chief of Staff of Russian Air Force). Further interested enough to scope out the construction necessary to make it suitable for strategic bombers.
Yup – non-story. [/sarc]
But hey, never let the opportunity for a rant get slowed by facts, huh?


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An Autopsy Report on the 'House' Series Finale
Channel Guide By Amber Humphrey on May 23, 2012 | Comments (3)Dr. Gregory House was a caustic, egotistical pill-popper who'd insult a dying woman to her face for his own misanthropic reasons but also because doing so would have provided him with some vital insight into her condition. There was brilliance behind that cantankerous behavior and if it weren't for the Holmesian powers of deduction that allowed him to save lives (and his dreamy eyes), he would have been totally irredeemable. As it stands, he's one of the most memorable and beloved TV characters in recent history. And now, after eight seasons and more than one hundred last minute diagnoses, Fox stalwart House has ended. Along with all of the standard medical puzzles, this year, the titular doctor, played as wryly as ever by Hugh Laurie, was incarcerated, then released from jail to find that many of the familiar faces at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital had dispersed; he added a couple of new members to his diagnostic team (Charlene Yi and Odette Annable) and learned that friend and fellow M.D. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard)—one of the only people that he ever truly cared about—was battling cancer. Although the episode that capped off this final season was far from outstanding (or even an episode that will be remembered in a year's time), it was a suitable conclusion and a welcomed end to a powerful show that had been puttering along during these last several seasons.
Freshman Series 'Covert Affairs' Gets A Second Season
Television By Merrill Barr on August 19, 2010 | Be the First To CommentUSA Networks is no slouch when it comes to the summer fun. And the networks newest series, the Doug Liman produced Covert Affairs, has officially been green-lit for a second season. This comes after six straight weeks of increasing ratings with the latest episode pulling in 5.36 million viewers. By comparison, the show's lead in, White Collar, now in its second season, pulled in a smaller but still respectable 4.48 million viewers on its most recent episode. Covert Affairs follows the life of CIA rookie agent Annie Walker played by Piper Perabo. Think ALIAS the beginning, minus the sci-fi elements. Every week is an hour of pure escapist entertainment with some heart. If you haven't seen the show yet, they you have no idea what you're missing.
Neil Miller
Scott Beggs
Rob Hunter
Kate Erbland
Christopher Campbell

subset: commoncrawl


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Within 93,000 square feet, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores manages to fit all of the state's and most of the world's main aquatic environments into five galleries. A 30-foot waterfall throws a cool mist over guests as they begin a journey that brings them to the Piedmont gallery, where the aquarium's three spunky river otters?Neuse, Pungo, and Eno?frolic and play poker underwater. Further exhibits promise other memorable encounters, such as the Dinosaur Adventure where visitors come face-to-face with the lifelike extinct creatures, and the Tidal Touch Pool where handlers let visitors touch skates, rays, and select invertebrates. At the epicenter lies the ocean gallery, anchored by a 306,000-gallon tank with a 65-foot viewing window. Sand tiger sharks and moray eels swim about the Living Shipwreck exhibit, a replica of a German U-boat that sank off the United States' East Coast in 1942. Behind the glass of another tank, a young loggerhead sea turtle named Nimbus flashes its gold-toothed smile and rare white coloration.
Divers host live shows twice a day in the ocean tank, answering visitors' questions via special equipment. They've also been known to assist with proposals, unveiling engagement rings as an unsuspecting fianc? peers through the glass. Beyond overseeing the standing exhibits, the staff also ventures outside for numerous educational programs and activities. Participants can catch crabs, fish in the surf, explore the marsh, take a paddleboarding class, or even explore the water on canoeing and kayaking outings.
The IKO-certified instructors at Kite Club Hatteras help their pupils grab hold of kites and soar above the sky-blue waters of The Outer Banks. Using the ocean as their classroom and the back of a sea turtle as their chalkboard, the boarding profs teach students how to launch, land, and master complex techniques during three levels of instruction. Aside from helping pupils gain their IKO certification, they also lead multiday events, during which kiteboarders can relax in beach houses and take lessons on becoming independent riders.
At more than 1,200 Mattress Firm locations around the country, shoppers sink into plush mattresses, recline on firm beds, and belly-flop onto pillow tops. Knowledgeable staffers can help customers create an ideal bedtime environment by dispensing advice based on sleep preferences and illuminating the difference between the many kinds of mattresses. And to the delight of their customers, much of Mattress Firm's bedding wears the label of a premium brand, such as Sealy, Serta, Simmons Beautyrest, or Stearns & Foster.
Sun Tan City's trained tanning consultants help clients get bronzed via UV-free tanning booths and ergonomic tanning beds. Guests can schedule a single visit to touch up an existing tan, purchase a multivisit package to get a discounted rate, or become a member to take advantage of the salon's 100% guarantee.
Bringing a whole new world of entertainment to coastal Carolina. Relax and enjoy great shows and events for the whole family. Need a space for your performance, wedding or event? We have just the place on the beach with 550 seats, free parking, state-of-the art lighting, sound and video.


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from Meek Mill (Ft. Birdman, Diddy & Travi$ Scott) – I'm Leanin' Lyrics on Genius
Wasabi is a Japanese very spicy condiment often put on sushi. Has a taste reminiscent of horseradish or mustard, but much stronger. Real wasabi is made from grinding the stem of the Japanese horseradish plant and mixing it with water.
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit "I'm Leanin'" by Meek Mill (Ft. Birdman, Diddy & Travi$ Scott) Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


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Opening Ceremony's New Smart Bracelet Looks Nothing Like Wearable Tech—But It'll Cost You
Opening Ceremony and Intel's new smart bracelet, the MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory), looks just like a piece of jewelry—but comes with the price tag to match.
Would You Try The Man Repeller's Palm Cuff?
Would you try the newest trend in jewelry—the palm cuff?
Get A Close-Up Look At Lauren Conrad's Wedding Band!
Finally, Lauren Conrad is showing off her brand-new wedding ring from hubby William Tell.
Why Wear One Necklace When You Can Wear Three?
Seriously, when it comes to necklaces, layer up!
EXCLUSIVE: Ashley And Mary-Kate Olsen Discuss Their New Collection Of Jewelry And Bags For StyleMint—Shop Every Piece Here!
Inspired by constellations, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen's new accessories collaboration with StyleMint will be available to shop starting November 1.
We've Found It: The Perfect Choker
Jennifer Fisher's modern, minimalist designs are as sleek as it gets.
50 Impossibly Pretty Pearl Jewelry Picks Under $50—These Aren't Your Grandma's Gems!
Typically thought of as ladylike and delicate, pearls are now looking more modern than ever.
Treat Yourself: 35 Outfit-Making Jewelry Finds You'll Wear 24/7
Deserve a little gift? From minimalist cuffs and elegantly edgy earrings to dainty pendants and rings worthy of piling high, I've rounded up a handful of pretty jewelry pieces you'll want to wear around the clock—plus, none of them cost more than $500!
These Southwestern-Inspired Jewels Are Now On Our Must-Buy List
We can't get enough of Mociun's stunning stacking rings.
A Coffee Cup Full Of Sparkly Necklaces? We'll Take Two!
These $42 sparkly collars are must-haves.
Happy World Smile Day! 15 Cheery Jewelry Picks Guaranteed To Get You Grinning
As Little Orphan Annie once sang, you're never fully dressed without a smile!
Is There Anything Better Than Kittens Wearing Jewelry?!
We think not. Click through for the cutest photos you'll see all weekend.
BaubleBar Taps Emma Roberts As Its New Guest Bartender—Shop All Her Pretty Picks Here!
As BaubleBar's next Guest Bartender, actress-slash-bookworm Emma Roberts is taking shoppers on a literary journey with her just-revealed collection.
40 Pieces Of Radiant Rose Gold Jewelry—From Rings To Bracelets And More!
Rose gold obviously gets its name from its pinky hue, and adds a little something different to your jewelry game.
17 Gold Rings To Rule Them All, In Honor Of Hobbit Day
It's Tolkien Week, which means I'll be partying up hobbit-style with endless feasts, second breakfasts, fireworks and merriment. But it wouldn't be a proper celebration without paying homage to The One Ring—click through to shop gleaming gold rings fit for humans and hobbits alike!


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Search results for Maggie Smith
UPDATED LIVE: See the Winners at Tonight's Emmy Awards!
Aug 25, 2014 6:58PM
7 Reasons Why the SAG Awards Rocked! Plus, See the Full Winners List
Jan 18, 2014 11:00PM
'Downton Abbey' Creator Julian Fellowes Says the Show Might End After Season 5
Jan 5, 2014 12:00AM
Who Swept the SAG Awards: Winners Revealed!
Jan 28, 2013 4:34AM
The Screen Actors Guild Awards: Our Predicted Winners
Jan 25, 2013 9:00PM
Which Stars Were Missing From the Golden Globe Awards?
Jan 13, 2013 8:25PM
Golden Globe Awards Nominees: Who We Think Will Win
Jan 13, 2013 5:00AM


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David Johansen
I am a 60 year old retired Marketing Executive that is finally getting the time to pursue my passion for photography and music. I was brought up on 35mm and large format film photography but find I love digital because it allows me to concentrate on the subject not the technology.
Find me at: http://web.mac.com
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A man accused of shooting a woman to death while she was on a phone talking to an emergency dispatcher appeared in court Thursday on his own behalf and said that he thinks he should be appointed a public defender, even though he is out of jail after his family posted a $450,000 cash bond.
Dressed in a black suit, Richard Douglas Reinert, 28, appeared before District Judge Mary Jane McCalla Knisely and said that he disagrees with the assessment by the public defender's office that he doesn't qualify for a public defender.
The judge told him he can have the matter re-evaluated and scheduled a status hearing for July 31.
Reinert previously retained Billings attorneys Vernon and Cammi Woodward, but for unclear reasons they no longer represent Reinert.
In April, Knisely signed an order reducing Reinert's bond from $750,000 to $450,000 and setting the conditions of his release from jail, which include that he must wear a GPS-tracking device.
A bond receipt filed June 6 indicates that Richard Douglas Reinert Sr., of Tallahassee, Fla., posted the younger Reinert's $450,000 cash bond.
Plea of not guilty
Reinert pleaded not guilty on Jan. 6 to a count of deliberate homicide with a weapons enhancement in the Dec. 21 shooting death of 25-year-old Jessica Stephenson.
Court documents say Reinert shot Stephenson multiple times at his home in the Heights as she called 911 after Reinert pointed a gun at himself.
The incident was recorded by the 911 operations center. When she called, Stephenson told a dispatcher that she helped her friend bring her friend's drunken husband, identified as Reinert, home from a bar that evening.
During the call, several gunshots could be heard and the dispatcher could no longer speak with Stephenson, charging documents state.
However, the line remained open and a different woman could be heard yelling, "You shot her, what are you doing?"
A man in the background could then be heard saying, "You made me do this," and talking about pulling the trigger.
When officers went to the house, at 1247 Hawthorne Lane, they saw the door open and heard a woman screaming for help. Inside, they found Reinert with blood on his face and straddling a woman, later identified as his wife, according to charging documents.
In a nearby bedroom, police found Stephenson's body, a semiautomatic handgun and spent shell casings, the affidavit states.
An autopsy determined that Stephenson suffered gunshot wounds to the head and body.
Reinert's trial was recently rescheduled for Nov. 3.


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The ubiquitous draped cardi that all the stores have lately, done in an hour (give or take).
I took the pattern for the sleeves from a sweater in my closet.
A big square (actually a rectangle), 2 slits for armholes and sleeves – that's all.
The white flower brooch is knit from yarn and wire: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/red-lia/02-flower-scarf
Knit Boucl fabric.
Nov 21, 2011, 05.37 AMby shkoober
great job! very versatile! what was the size of your rectangle, and where did you place the slits?
Nov 21, 2011, 07.56 AMby red-lia
I used the entire width of the fabric – 160cm. That's the measurement from one arm to the other.
The length is 1.1 meter: 40cm above the shoulders, 23 cm long slits for armholes, and the rest is below armpits.
The distance between the slits is my shoulders width – 38cm (but you should measure your own shoulder width).
I also rouded the slits slightly (to look like a very narrow lense shape).
The sleeves took additional 60cm of fabric.
Nov 20, 2011, 02.59 AMby runningwithscissors1
Very cool, I must make one for myself!
Nov 20, 2011, 06.39 AMby red-lia
Thank you!
Yes – go ahead!
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The Red Line on Iran
Now is not the time for launching a war against Iran, and we know the American public agrees. A recent survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs indicated that a full 70% of Americans are opposed to unilateral military action against Iran. Our politicians need to hear this opposition directly from you, their constituents. Some in Congress - who are being lobbied hard every day by familiar war hawks - continue to push the nation towards war, calling for an end to diplomacy and a return to the disastrous policies that led our nation into the swamps of Iraq. Our politicians should be pursuing diplomacy to end Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, not saber-rattling for political purposes.
A recent report endorsed by more than 30 former military officers, diplomats and others explained that for a military operation to achieve more than a temporary setback to Iran's nuclear program, a ground war with Iran would be more costly than the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. Send a message to your member of Congress telling them you want diplomacy, not costly war with Iran.


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Baked Oatmeal II
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In this video, you'll see how to make baked oatmeal with eggs, milk, cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins. It's best refrigerated overnight—and makes for a quick-and-easy breakfast or brunch treat. Watch the video, then get the 5-star recipe for Baked Oatmeal I. Serve it warm, topped with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit. See more breakfast and brunch videos >>
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I have a set of lamps by Collection Francaise. I did a search for them but couldn't find anything even close to these lamps. Does anybody know anything about them?
Thank You |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by lazygardens (My Page) on Tue, Oct 23, 12 at 10:50
The Collection Francaise was a US company that issued limited edition reproductions of classic French sculptures on a "bronze finish". They also sold lighting, making repros of expensive French art nouveau, and classical lamps As lamps go, they are good quality, but not considered as good at the French originals they copied. |
Would you happen to know what these lamps might be worth. Thank you |
- Posted by lazygardens (My Page) on Wed, Oct 24, 12 at 12:29
Whatever you can get for them. I'd ask at least as much as a similar lamp from a mid-range modern manufacturer. If you are in an area where traditional and French sells well, you will get more than if you were in a place where it has to be IKEA. Identify the metal and the black stuff - an accurate description will always help increase the sales price. And sell as a pair, or a trio, because they are harder to find in vintage lamps |
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NEW YORK, NY and ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Remark Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: MARK), a global digital media company, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2012.
"In 2012, Remark Media is focused on accelerating growth by transitioning from a service model to owning and operating digital brands. This strategic decision will help position Remark Media as a leading digital media company and will provide the potential to generate new revenue streams," said Carrie Ferman, CEO of Remark Media. "The current financials reflect a company in transition and actively investing in assets that will create a diverse portfolio of websites in personal finance--the hub of which will be DimeSpring.com."
· Revenue for the second quarter was $33,000, a slight increase over the first quarter due to consolidation of several days of Banks.com revenues. Revenue was down from $1.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the end of the service agreements with Sharecare and Discovery and a shift in the strategic direction of the company. · Operating expenses decreased 27% to $1.6 million compared to $2.2 million in the prior year period. · Net loss was $(2.2) million or $(0.34) per share compared to a net loss of $(1.0) million or $(0.19) per share in the prior year period. · Cash balance as of June 30, 2012 stood at $2.3 million compared to $3.0 million on June 30, 2011. Balance Sheet Highlights. With the Banks.com merger completed, Remark Media's total assets increased to $8.9 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $3.7 million at December 31, 2011. The book value of our investment in Sharecare increased to $1.6 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $0.9 million at December 31, 2011. Operating Highlights. DimeSpring.com is expected to transition from beta to full consumer launch in early September accompanied by an advertising launch campaign. Remark Media is also on track to re-launch Banks.com in September, an asset that has the potential to drive significant value. Future focus will be on redevelopment IRS.com and FileLater.com. In addition, in the second quarter Remark Media added key employees to its management team in the areas of product, editorial, marketing, and sales. Sharecare Highlights. During the quarter ending June 30, Sharecare generated $8.2 million in revenues compared to $2.9 million in the prior year period, representing 181% growth. As of June 30, Remark Media owned approximately 10.9% of the outstanding common stock of Sharecare. MERGER TRANSACTION On June 28, 2012, Remark Media, Inc. completed the merger contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 26, 2012, among Remark Media and Banks.com Inc. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of the outstanding common stock of Banks.com was converted into the right to receive 0.0258 shares of Remark Media common stock, for an aggregate of 671,332 shares of Remark Media common stock. The outstanding shares of Banks.com preferred stock, including all accrued and unpaid dividends as of the date of closing of the Merger on such preferred stock, a Note and a Warrant, all of which were held by Daniel M. O'Donnell, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Banks.com, and his affiliates, were converted into cash in the aggregate amount of $300,000 and the right to receive 31,452 shares of Remark Media common stock. In connection with the Merger, Banks.com issued an Amended and Restated Promissory Note in the principal amount of $125,000 to Mr. O'Donnell and his wife; the Note was settled on the effective date of the merger.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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Handyman Perth
Western Australia > Perth Directory > Home Repair and Improvement > Perth Handyman
Your search returned 2 Perth Handyman listings
Wallach's Services
Phone: 0458 995 788 | Location: 69 2nd Avenue, Perth, WA
Home & Office handyman repairs and maintenance ,pool maintenance and repairs ,garden reticulation and NEW!! patio and drive way high pressure cleaning service.
Sullivans Garden and Home Maintenance
Phone: 0450 500 461 | Location: Mignon Ct, Perth, WA
We do a variety of handy man jobs in and outside your home, we also do all your gardening needs, we work 6 days a week and you can be assured that when using us you are going to save your valuable dollars. CALL TODAY for a free quote
Handyman in Perth
If you own a business in Perth and would like to have your business listed here then add your business to the guide. You can get a Classic Listing where you will be able to feature your business including a photo, opening hours, specials and more in our Perth Handyman directory.Handyman in surrounding locations
Heathridge Handyman Kingsley Handyman Leederville Handyman Gwelup Handyman Hamersley HandymanBrowse other businesses in Perth
Klimek & Co
Phone: (08) 9221 5775 | Location: Level 5, Mint House, 326 Hay Street, Perth, WA | Web: http://klimek.com.au/
Premier family law firm specialising in family law matters like divorce, property settlement, financial agreement & child support. Call today!
Bonefish Glass
Phone: (08) 9247 3465 | Location: PO Box 501, Balcatta WA 6021, Perth, WA
Bonefish Glass operates a domestic window repair service throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
Core IT Solutions
Phone: (08) 9200 6030 | Location: Unit 202/471 Hay Street, Perth, WA
Core IT Solutions is your IT company in Perth, with expertise in IT services including managed IT solutions for small and medium sized business.
See the Handyman main category for all Handyman business listings.


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New King James Version (NKJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. | 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. |
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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King James Version (KJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; | 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- |
The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Just back from my WI. I lost .8, which is less than I hoped for but still not a bad loss. I am just 1.6 lbs. away from my 10 percent.
WW Clubs and Groups - Fabulous Forties #68View Full Version : Fabulous Forties #68 mpinkham 08-15-2001, 08:54 PM Just back from my WI. I lost .8, which is less than I hoped for but still not a bad loss. I am just 1.6 lbs. away from my 10 percent. points 08-16-2001, 02:01 AM Congrats Myra! You are losing well every week. You will get your 10% next week. You will see. Lookin' good! :D Terri JanieD 08-16-2001, 12:54 PM Myra, Congratulations, You are doing wonderfully. Keep up the good work! I was bad last night I went out to dinner with my family and made a pig of myself. I am such a sucker for pasta. Oh well, today is another day. OP! My folks arrive tomorrow night. Wish me luck. -JanieD Livermore, CA Jenny523 08-16-2001, 01:37 PM Myra and Janie...... good going on the losses! You guys are doing great. :) Terri...... yes, we're happy about the Cubbies; Sammy is awesome. I hope for the sake of all the "die hard" fans that they make it to the Series this year. It's been fun watching them this year! POOL'S UP!!! My yard looks like a war zone, but we've got a pool. Of course it's raining and 60 degrees today but the weekend looks promising. Now we've got lots more gardening to do. But I'm not complaining. :) Where are Essie and Dianne? :( I know that Anita dropped by the wayside; I hate to see this group growing smaller. I check in each day to see how everyone's doing, but I'm not proud to say that I've not been OP. However, after meeting such nice people here (since August of 99), I hate to stop coming. I know I'll get motivated again, just hope it's soon. Joyce....... how are you? Our garden is bountiful! So happy to have red tomatoes; I could eat bruschetta every day :). I imagine you're busy w/yours. Have a good day everyone ~Jen points 08-16-2001, 02:07 PM Jen, DON'T LEAVE! Patti isn't here either. I wish everyone would stay. That is a sure fire way everyone would go back to being motivated. I know this is HARD but we can do it even if it is eventually. You are right JanieD. Tomorrow is another day. We will always have to pig out a little sometime. GO CUBBIES! Terri mpinkham 08-16-2001, 02:17 PM Don't leave! I might be doing well now, but I was floundering for three to four years!!!!!!!!! If I gave up then I wouldn't be where I am now and this board has definitely helped me stay focused amid extreme frustration. JanieD 08-16-2001, 04:07 PM Jen, Please don't leave, I just got here. You'll give me a complex ;). I would hate to loose you as a friend just as I'm getting to know you. Chin up girl!!!! JanieD Livemore, CA Joyce 08-16-2001, 08:35 PM Hi everyone :wave: Congrats Myra & Janie on the losses. My WI was Tues. I lost 1.4 pounds. Jen, Jen, Jen .... don't stop coming just because your not OP. I am on a roller coaster myself. I do really well and then I do really bad :devil: You are an uplifting encouraging person. We all need your input. Like Myra said we have all been where you are now. Just don't give up and leave us. Garden - hah!!! :lol: Once it hits August in Texas our garden is through. Just the opposite of you'll up north just getting going. It just gets too hot here in the summer. We plant early around Feb-Apr. This time of year we are inside just trying to stay as cool as possible. Your pool sounds nice. Not much going on here other than trying to stay cool. My daughter & I are going to get our hair cut tomorrow and have another girls day out. Then Saturday they have a Shrimp festival at UTSA in San Antonio and Charles & I are planning on going. There will be live music and all the shrimp you can eat. Surely boiled/broiled shrimp wont blow my diet too bad. ;) Sure was slow here this weekend. Hope everyone had fun. I'll check in later. Have a great evening. Joyce georgia peach 08-16-2001, 08:35 PM Hey points, Just wanted to say hi. It's been a long time since I posted on these board----medical problems, but just lurking around to see if I still recognized anyone. Sounds like you are doing good. peach points 08-17-2001, 01:10 AM Hi Georgia Peach. Is everything ok.? How was your daughter's wedding last year? I miss your posts. I loved reading about the preparations of the Big day! Thanks for saying hi! Joyce, Congrats on your loss. That is wonderful. You are so right. We have all been there. Hi Myra, Jen, Essie, Dianne and JanieD. Terri georgia peach 08-17-2001, 10:20 AM Hey points: Great to hear from you. Have had a rough few months but I'm ......baaaaaaaaaackkkkkkk. I did gain back all 45lbs and then some. HRT is a killer for weight. After my surgery it took my gyno 5 months to get it semi-regulated. All that time I was up, up, up with the weight gain ( gained 16 pounds in 10 days) even thought I stayed OP and journaled every BLT. For the last 2 months I "think" things are settled and I am gradually on my way back down....lost 19 of those pounds again....I am also able to get off my rear and exercise again which makes a tremendous difference for me. I usually walk 4 miles in the AM (6:00) and then 2-3 more in the evening. I can tell a real difference with my clothes now. SO......hopefully I am back on track. My daughter's wedding was toooooooo beautiful. She made a beautiful bride. I really miss her not being here every day. She seems to be very happy. For my little couch potato daughter she has turned into Betsy Homemaker....Martha Stewart watch out!!! LOL :lol: Well got to go. Maybe we can chat more later. Pat points 08-17-2001, 10:40 AM Pat, I am so glad things are getting back to normal. That must have been so frustrating. I have all the faith in the world that you will get it all off again. 19 pounds is a great start. :D I hope everything is ok now. You are a great leader. You are always so positive and easy to talk to. Good luck to you and stick around. You are going to get it all off again. I just know it! You have the oomph to do just that! Talk to you again soon. Terri mpinkham 08-17-2001, 10:43 AM Pat, Welcome back. Hang in there. I was going some "female" problems too for the past year or so and many other stresses and got up to my highest weight ever. But since May I've been really centered and have lost nearly 16.5 pounds in that time. The support from this group has definitely helped me stay in control. I hope you continue to post here. Also we have a journal thread going if you want to post your journal daily with us. It has really helped me be accountable. Good luck to you! decemberdianne 08-17-2001, 12:01 PM Helllllllllllllo my buddies :wave: Do you guys remember me? :D So sorry I haven't been around lately. I'm just so busy with all this college preparation stuff:dizzy: Alana is leaving next Wednesday :( ! You can imagine everything that has to be done. All the paperwork and then we had to do the "dorm shopping". That was actually so much fun, I almost forgot the reason we were shopping:^: Anyway, I'm back! We are having a barbecue "farewell" party for Alana at her sister's house this Sunday. Not sure if I'm ready for that, lol. Hope it doesn't rain. Then on Wednesday, Willie and I will drive her and all her "stuff" up to Binghamton. We are staying in a hotel overnight and will spend some time with her on Thursday, make sure she's all settled in her room, etc. And thennnnnnnnnnnnnnn.........its bye-bye and I'm sure I will cry all the way home. Willie will have to slap me :devil: so I can "snap out of it" like Cher says in the movie Moonstruck! You all seem to be doing so well - that's great! Keep up the good work! Jen - I think you and I are in the same boat as far as not being totally on program. I'm up and down, up and down, but that's okay. This is life, not something we have to do for a week! There are times when I'm sooooooo motivated and then there are times when I honestly say "the **** with this"! I'm gonna eat whatever I want :s: We will go through those periods all our lives, I'm sure. But I have to tell you that if you leave this group, I will be "so-so sad" as my grandson Joseph says all the time. Don't you dare leave us! I hope Essie and Zoe/Patti and Anita come back soon as well. You guys are all great and I would miss each and every one of you if this group went by the wayside. Soooooooo, after having written this novel (I have diarrhea of the mouth, lol), I will try and come say hi as much as possible, but will be busy for the next week or so. After Alana leaves, you guys will quickly get sick of my whining, and will probably throw me out! Have a great day everyone!!!!!!! Hugs, Dianne mpinkham 08-17-2001, 12:14 PM Glad to hear from you Dianne. Please try to find a few minutes to post. points 08-17-2001, 02:40 PM Oh Dianne I have missed you. I am so glad everything is going well with Alana. She will have such a good time and get an education to boot. :cool: You have done well mom. You can cry on our shoulders when it is time to come home. :cry: With everyhing that is going on it is hard to stay op so not to worry. when things settle down it will be better for you program wise. How far away is Alana from you? Tell her good luck!! Terri :wave: decemberdianne 08-17-2001, 03:38 PM Thanks Myra, I will. And congrats on how great you are doing with the weight loss. I'm happy for you. P.S. Happy very Belated Birthday!!! P.S. Georgia Peach - remember me? DD? I used to talk with you in 3fatchicks chat? Good to hear from you. Dianne decemberdianne 08-17-2001, 03:41 PM Hey Terri - thanks, I've missed you too! Alana will be 4 to 4 1/2 hrs. away:( But I must keep in mind that she will be home plenty -- in December they come home for a whole month! But, I will keep in mind your shoulder to cry on:p Thanks!! Dianne Jenny523 08-17-2001, 10:52 PM Hi girls, I just meant that I feel like a non-contributor at times, probably cause I'm so busy beating myself up about not being OP. I do feel that I provide some well-deserved cheering whenever I read about your losses....Terri, down in the 140's! whooee, and Myra, finally getting reconnected and feeling good about it. I guess I've just been bummed that even tho I've struggled w/my weight for years, it's never been difficult to lose weight when I tried. Now I'm finding it extremely hard to lose. I don't know why such a big deal is made about reaching 40....the later 40's are a much bigger change, in my opinion, what with being on hrt, etc. :) Anyhow, thanks for all the words of encouragement, I truly like all of you and look forward to saying hi each day. :D Essie, where are you girl?????? :( Joyce....1.4 ! :D Good work! Enjoy those shrimp, yummm Terri, arrgghh! I forgot about Patti/Zoe! probably out enjoying her new deck. :) Pat/Georgia Peach, HI! nice to meetcha. Wow, you're walking as many as 6 to 7 miles a day? That's great. Welcome to this wonderful group. :) Dianne, hi! Never will I get sick of you! It was good to see your post. Summer is a busy time for all of us; hopefully we'll get back here more often with the cooler weather. Have a good time at Alana's bbq on Sunday.....my best to her at this new time of her life! Okay, the last time I mention it :rolleyes: went in the pool for the 1st time today.....water's verry cold....but we had fun. We've got a forecast for high 80's next week, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! It's big enough for me to actually do laps (albeit small ones) in.....I was pumped about that, until my son told me it'd be 126 laps to make a mile!!!! Oh well... Who did I miss? Have a good evening everyone ~Jen points 08-18-2001, 10:23 AM Jen, You are welcome to talk about your pool anytime you want to. I love hearing about it. We might get one next year and I will need some advice. Have fun and swim those laps girl! One more thing. You ALWAYS contribute. I love hearing about the love you and Joe have for one another and your children and grandchildren. You are a wonderful person and weight loss is just one subject this group talks about. We have been together too long to let a slide in program stop us from talking. We need each other and we are here for the long run. Enjoy the pool. Hi everyone! Terri Jenny523 08-18-2001, 12:42 PM Terri :angel: ~thanks~ points 08-18-2001, 03:10 PM Jen ;) Welcome! Joyce 08-19-2001, 04:10 PM Hi everyone :wave: Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Pat - Welcome, you were not here when I began coming to this thread. But glad your here. The more the merrier. :) Diane - Good to hear your doing fine, missed you. Well we did not make the Shrimp Fest. :( Our A/C went out. That is BAD in Texas with 100 degree temps. Our normal serviceman is out of town so we called a friend of my husbands who walked us through some things to get it going temporarily until we can get the repairs made. Bummer!!!! I think last year our plans were interrupted by the water well having problems. :mad: Oh well there is always next year right? ;) Hi Jen! Glad you had a chance to enjoy that pool. I guess I have not been paying attention - is it above ground or below? Big enough for laps? That would be fantastic. You would not be able to get me out of it this time of year. :lol: I have a silly question how do you'll get the color, bold text etc. on your replies? I have tried to highlight the area I want to change but it doesn't work. Help please :?: What am I doing wrong? Hello to Terri & Myra and all the missning persons...miss you. Joyce Jenny523 08-20-2001, 11:57 AM Terri.....you had a great loss last week! I just read it on the journals thread, why didn't you post it here? Way to go! :D Joyce, yuck...it must be awful to be without the air conditioning! Come on over and we'll go swimming. :) We got an above-ground pool; it's 20 ft. long so I'm able to use it for exercise too, not just fun. :lol: When you post a reply, look at the 4th box down, titled "vB Code". Click on "color", choose the desired color, it'll give you a text box in which to type the words you want in that hue. Just experiment, I think you'll find it simple. Hope everyone's having a good day. I've been drinking water, and journalled my breakfast today; so far so good, just a baby step. :) ~Jen points 08-20-2001, 12:22 PM Thank you Jen! I don't know why I didn't post it. My family weighed and here are the results: I lost 2.5# for a loss of 11.5# -( 49.5# total) Bruce lost 1# Brittany lost 1# Brandon lost 1/2# for a total of 10.5# Bradley was to busy to weigh-in lol I had to experiment with the colors too. :lol: Wish I could swim with you too. We left our pool in Florida. Bruce wouldn't let me take it with us to Al. :devil: :lol: Hi Dianne, Essie, Myra, Joyce, Janie D, and Pat!!!! :wave: Terri JanieD 08-20-2001, 01:15 PM Hi Terri, Great Losses!! Your family is an inpiration to all of us. What keeps you all so motivated? Happy Monday Gals :wave:, My parents arrived on Friday evening. I have not been able to stay within my points range since Friday :devil:, although I have only been a few points high. I'm trying. Week days should be easier. I will only be having one meal that mom makes while I'm working. She says she is trying to accomodate me by cooking diet foods. She cooks chicken (but leaves the skin on and covers it with gravy). She makes Salmon (but smothers it in butter). I will be cooking tomorrow night so I'll have some relief. It's my own fault. After having Ellen in 4 different day cares, camps etc for the summer :dizzy: and with 2 weeks left of vacation I just couldn't arrange any more and begged mom and dad to come out to watch her for the last 2 weeks. They should have fun. They can go to the club, bowling, mini golf and if they get ambitious they can always go into SF. I will keep you all posted. JanieD Livermore, CA points 08-20-2001, 01:45 PM Thanks JanieD, I thought Brandon would be dragging by now but he loves it. We eat our favorite foods just not a lot of it. I think since I let him have a lot of snacks (low points) he is satisfied. He feels so much better and can wear his old t-shirts again and that makes him feel great. If I deprived any of us of foods we liked we all would have quit. :lol: He thanks me everyday for helping him. He is learning to looking forward to other things now and not just the food. Something clicked with me this time around. I like the no deprivation part. I really feel I can live with this. That is the most important thing for me. That is great that your mom and dad are helping you. Don't worry just keep trying and don't eat big portions when your mom makes dinner. Take the skin off (I know that is hard once it has been cooked) and let most of the butter fall into the plate. Good luck! Have a great day! Terri Jenny523 08-21-2001, 03:01 PM Janie, I think the most important thing is to enjoy your visit with your Mom and Dad; the program will always be in the back of your mind, you'll make the best choices you can. It's only 2 weeks out of your life, you can get back OP when they return home. Have fun and enjoy! :) Terri, Wow, the family does it again! Congrats to all of you! :D Hi to Dianne, Myra, Essie, Joyce :wave: ~Jen points 08-22-2001, 03:07 AM Thanks Jen! :D Terri mpinkham 08-22-2001, 05:04 AM Tonight is my WI and I am hoping to make my 10 percent. Wish me luck. I am just 1.6 lbs. away. vBulletin® v3.6.7, Copyright ©2000-2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
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Sun, Apr 15, 12 at 14:22
hi, just wanted to throw out the idea of a southern tier plant swap. im from lisle ny and i havent been able to find anything in the area for anything like that. maybe if i find enough people in the area we could set one up??? i would even be interested in hosting it if we could get enough interest. the only problem is that i dont have that much to trade/swap... would people be interested in a small fee amount if a swap is not possible? im trying to work on my home that i purchased in december and i dont know how much of anything i have, but i really would like to add more myself so that i have a feeling of ownership when i look outside. the only problem is that we live on a very low income. so i figured insetad of shelling out tons of money at nurseries and such i would look into plant swapping or even purchasing some that would be at lower cost than at a nursery. im new to all this so i dont know if im steooing over any boundaries or rules when it comes to plant swapps and such. if someone could fill me in on the whole idea that would be great, and let me know if there is any interest in a local plant swap. thank you for at least listening. |
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i love plant swaps. count me in. easy swaps are the best. you have to bring a set amt. of plants, take a number, and swap, and plants left over are give aways |
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On Jan. 11, a Jackson Township police officer responded to a suicidal man standing on an I-77 overpass and tried to talk him down. The officer eventually yanked him off the ledge, an encounter that was captured on the officer's dashboard camera.
The distance between good and great is exponentially greater than the margin separating average and good.
In a world where perfection is rare, Jackson senior Hunter Shelton has achieved it twice.
The good news is there are only two more months of winter. The bad news is there are still two months more of winter.
Walsh University honors Martin Luther King every year by holding a community day of service. Students, teachers and administrators all volunteer their time that day to help community organizations.
Locke was one of 128 players selected to the 2014 Academic All-Mid-American Conference football team.
Jared McCully, a senior at Jackson High School, presented a proposal for a Andrew Jackson/Veterans' Memorial to the Jackson Township Trustees during their regular meeting on Jan. 13.
The Board of Education for the Jackson Local Schools elected new officers during its annual organizational meeting on Jan. 13.
Despite bitter cold and snow, the recent blood drive held at the MAPS Air Museum in conjunction with the Aultman Blood Center and Huntington Bank was successful.
Winning a state championship can be a daunting task.
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Third Millennium Bible (TMB) | New International Version (NIV) |
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. | 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. |
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved. (Third Millennium Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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by David Cole
Friday, November 2, 2012
Norfolk's Federation bowlers gathered at Pinewood Park on Friday evening to celebrate another year of success.
Combining the indoor and outdoor seasons, Norfolk had three national champions and featured in seven other national finals – the best showing for a number of years.
Guests of honour at the presentation evening were EBF President Mick Warriner and EWBF President Margaret McManemy.
Suffolk County President Don Catchpole also attended to mark the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Norfolk and Suffolk Alliance.
The guests were welcomed by County Presidents David Filby and Carole Swan.
Linda Blake won two national titles – the indoor mixed rinks with Colin Blake and Ian Wones and the outdoor two-woods rinks with Sue Lee. She was also a finalist in two other events. Norfolk's other national champion was Marion Hempleman, who won the outdoor senior singles
• Following their top of the table clash, Acle A have moved to the top of Division One of the Norfolk CIBA County Bowls League, after beating County Arts A at home by 88 shots to 54 – the rink skipped by Jamie Howlett top scoring 27-11.
Norfolk BC A moved into second place by beating previously unbeaten Lynnsport A 84-65 at home, Bernie Perrett's rink winning 26-11.
Wymondham A gained their first win of the season, beating Lakeside A 91-71 (Roger Guy's rink 27-14) while Pentney A also recorded their first win 76-69 at home to Gallow A (Mike King 28-9).
Pinewood Park A are the new leaders in Division Two, after they won 99-57 at home to Acle B (Keith Medlar 29-11). Diss A have dropped to second place despite winning at Hunstanton by 81-79 (Roger Barnbrook 26-13).
Browston A beat Norfolk BC B 84-68 (Vic Moore 29-14) and County Arts B beat Shotford A 81-78 (Norman Gant 25-16).
In Division Three, Lakeside 'B' won 92-72 at home to Acle C (Geoff Mooring 30-13) and North Walsham beat Pinewood Park B' 101-83 at home (Tony Elvin 25-15).
The only match in Division Four saw Wymondham B' go top of the table after they won 124-51 at Dereham B (Mick Sadd 38-9).
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