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Archive for 'NZ foreign policy' Category
Getting real about the NZDF mission in Iraq.Posted on 14:25, November 13th, 2014 by Pablo
When John Key insists that any New Zealand military contribution to the anti-Islamic State coalition will be "behind the wire" in non-combat training roles, he is following a script written by the senior partners in that coalition–the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Germany. The governments of all of these liberal democracies have sworn off ground combat troops while simultaneously sending air power and significant numbers of ground-based military "advisors" to attack the Islamic State forces directly from the air and help train the Iraqi Army to fight rather than run from the Islamicists on the ground. The US already has a brigade's (3000 troops) worth of advisors in Iraq and has asked Australia to up its contribution from the 200 Special Forces already deployed there. The UK, Canada, Germany, France and other European states are contributing special operators as well, but always in a "training" rather than combat role. There are reasons to believe that the definition of the mission as "non-combat" is specious at best and a deliberate misrepresentation at worst. Here is why. Consider this: The Prime Minister has said that he might send the SAS to help guard the bases in which conventional NZDF advisors will help train the Iraqi Army. That is akin to using a Lamborghini to haul rubbish to the local tip. SAS personnel are highly skilled, extremely well trained and acutely specialised in operating in hostile theatres and behind enemy lines. They are a precious military resource that takes a long time to develop into hardened professional soldiers. It costs much more to produce an SAS trooper than it does the average infantry soldier, airman or naval rating. Standing them on guard duty squanders their talents, especially when conventional NZDF personnel are quite capable of standing sentry duty while deployed (as they did in Afghanistan during the decade-long deployment to the Provincial Reconstruction Team located in Bamiyan Province). The last time the SAS was in a publicly acknowledge training role they were serving as mentors to the Afghan Crisis Response Unit, the elite counter-terrorism squad in that country. In their capacity as "mentors" the SAS wound up leading the CRU into several battles and lost two troopers as a result. Even in the face of those deaths the National government insisted that the SAS was not engaged in combat, so perhaps it has a different understanding of kinetic environments than do most people–most importantly those who have felt the impact of hot lead during "non combat" operations. Military deployments of any sort require time and preparation, a process that takes months. Even rapid response units like the SAS need time to get ready to deploy, and to do so they need to pre-position assets on the way and in the theater to which they are going. Yet given the circumstances, the fight against the Islamic State is an immediate concern, one that the US and other coalition partners say needs a response in a few weeks, not months. It is not credible to assert that sending a few military planners over to Iraq twelve days ago will allow them to assess within a few weeks what the NZDF contribution should be—unless that has already been decided and it is the logistics of the deployment that are being worked out. Yet the Prime Minister says that he will wait until their return to decide what the NZDF role will be. That seems to be stretching the truth. Beyond the possibility that Mr. Key is unaware of the role of different military units and the preparations required to deploy them abroad, the fiction of a non-combat ground role for all coalition partners is made evident by where they are going. Two thirds of Iraq and all of Syria are active conflict zones. This includes most of the North and Western provinces of Iraq well as the outskirts of Baghdad. The Islamic State continues to mount offensive operations throughout the North and West of Iraq, and controls Mosul, Kirkuk (including its oil fields) and Ramadi (the capital of Anbar Province). Islamic State forces are laying siege to Fallujah, the scene of the most intense battle between US forces and Sunni militias during the Iraq occupation. Although they have been slowed by coalition air strikes and suffered a few tactical defeats, the larger picture is that at present the Islamic State has momentum and is nowhere close to retreat in the areas that it controls. That means that any coalition ground forces sent to train the Iraqi military will be based in active conflict zones and become primary targets wherever they are located. Knowing this, coalition military commanders operate with the expectation of being attacked. Coalition personnel are and will be armed at all times and confined to base or will have their freedom of movement greatly restricted while in theatre. They will travel in armed convoys or by air when moving between locations. Leave will be minimal. These are the operational rules governing troop deployments in active war zones. The only way to ease the combat conditions in which New Zealand troops will operate is to prepare and launch counter-offensives against the Islamic State that forces it to retreat from territory it now occupies or has infiltrated. That is a big task and not a short-term affair. Since the Iraqi Army has shown appalling lack of discipline and courage in the face of the Islamic State offensive, it is wishful to think that sending in a few thousand advisors and giving it a few weeks training is going to turn the tide. Instead, the up skilling of the Iraqi Army will be a protracted effort and will require coalition military leadership under fire. Even that does not guarantee that Iraqi troops will be willing to fight. The reason that the Western liberal democracies are holding to the fiction of non-combat roles is that their respective electorates are weary of war and generally opposed to more of it. This is, after all, a fight amongst Sunni Arabs first and foremost, and then Sunni versus Shiia in the second instance. Although the weakness of Assad's Alawite regime in Syria gave them their strategic opportunity, the Islamic State's primary targets are the pro-Western Sunni Arab oligarchies. Its second target is Persian Iran and its Shiia co-religionists and proxies in the Arab world (including the Assad regime). The West (and Israel) are convenient foils for its ambitions, as the Western media plays up the atrocities perpetrated against Europeans and North Americans and the involvement of Western extremists in committing them. This allows the Islamic State to draw the West into the fight, thereby making the conflict more inter-religious and civilisational than it really is. Although primordial in nature and capable of spawning small cell and lone-wolf attacks in the West, the Islamic State is a regional rather than global threat. It cannot project sustained force and control territory outside of Sunni-inhabited terrain in Syria and Iraq, and will have trouble defeating established professional militaries such as those of Egypt, Jordan or Turkey should it try to push further afield. It has not been able to make significant advances in Shiia and Kurdish-controlled territory. Yet media coverage and the rush of Western governments to emphasize the threat of Islamic State-inspired home grown jihadis and returning foreign fighters have exaggerated its impact. Even so, New Zealand has principled and pragmatic reasons to get involved in the anti-Islamic State fight. The anti-Islamic State coalition includes all of New Zealand's Middle Eastern trade partners as well as its closest security and diplomatic allies. The responsibility to protect vulnerable populations such as the Iraqi Hazaris is a matter of international principle. New Zealand will soon sit on the UN Security Council. In light of these realities it can do nothing other than join the conflict even if it is not directly threatened by the Islamic State. Now that New Zealand has committed to participate in the military coalition against the Islamic State, it is best for the government to be forthright about the true nature of the mission and the real threats involved. Anything less is an insult to both the intelligence of the pubic as well as the valor of those in uniform who are about to join the fight on its behalf. Media Link: The revolution will not be televised.Posted on 15:01, October 23rd, 2014 by Pablo
I had the opportunity to do a long interview with Olivier Jutel, host of the Dunedin Radio One show "The revolution will not be televised." It is a rare occasion when one gets to converse at length about a variety of subjects on radio or television, so this was a nice opportunity to air my views on a number of issues, to include the conflict with the Islamic state, New Zealand's potential role in it, fear mongering as a political strategy, the impact of social media on political behaviour, etc. The podcast can be found here. Lying, clueless or incompetent.Posted on 15:45, October 15th, 2014 by Pablo
A meeting of the unformed military leaders of 22 countries involved in the anti-Islamic State coalition gathered today at Andrews Airforce Base outside of Washington DC. The participants included the 5 Eyes partners, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, seven Arab states, other NATO countries and Turkey. New Zealand was represented by the Chief of the Defense Forces Lt. General Timothy Keating. John Key says that this is just a regular annual meeting of military heads. I think not. First, regular annual meetings of uniformed defense leaders are highly symbolic affairs with much protocol, pomp and circumstance. When hosted by the US they are held at the Pentagon, which has a ceremonial entrance (the East steps) and E-Ring conference rooms for such events (the E Ring is the outer ring of the Pentagon where the Secretary, Joint Chiefs and military service leaders have their offices). The meetings are generally regional in nature as befits the concerns of the chiefs involved. I know this because I was involved in organising such meetings for Latin American defense chiefs in the early 1990s and know that the protocols are the same today. Working meetings of US-allied military leaders are subject specific and sometimes inter-regional in nature. They are held on military bases with minimal ceremony. They generally address the specifics of carrying out assigned roles and missions within a policy framework established by the political leadership of the countries in question. They usually do not include Defense Ministers, presidents or prime ministers because they are about implementation not authorisation. The meeting at Andrews Air Force Base has four interesting features: 1) President Obama addressed the coalition military chiefs. That is highly unusual because it means he is expending political capital and his reputation on the event. He cannot walk away empty-handed because he will suffer a loss of face and credibility and home and abroad, so something substantive has to come out of the meeting; 2) That mainly involves Turkey. Turkey has not committed to the fight against IS until it has two demands met: the removal of the Assad regime by the coalition and acceptance of Turkish attacks on Kurdish (PKK) forces on the Syrian-Turkish border (in a two birds with one stone approach). The other coalition partners do not want to accept these demands, at least until IS is defeated, so the stage is set for some serious wrangling over Turkish involvement in the coalition. Without Turkey fully on-board, it is quite possible that the coalition will unravel and a reduced number of countries will have to go it alone without close regional support (which could be a disaster); 3) The presence of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE is important. The meeting may signal the first time that they agree to commit military forces and fight together in the Middle East against a common enemy. Their presence gives the coalition credibility in the Muslim world; 4) New Zealand is represented at the meeting, yet is the only country that publicly maintains that it has not yet decided to contribute troops. This is where the PM's remarks are odd. If New Zealand was still negotiating its participation it would have sent a contingent led by a senior diplomat, not a military officer. The negotiations over participation would not take place at Andrews Air Force Base or the Pentagon but at the State Department or White House. The Islamic State is not only about to gain control of the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobali, but have advanced on the outskirts of Baghdad. It controls Mosul, Kirkuk and Ramadi. It is a clear and present danger to the territorial integrity of Iraq. To avoid the partition of Iraq action against it must be taken immediately. Yet Prime Minister Key says that he would like to defer a decision until sometime before the APEC meetings next month. That simply is too late to wait to make a decision given the circumstances. It turns out that Mr. Key did not know that President Obama attended and addressed the meeting. He says that General Keating will report back on what was discussed, which Mr. Key says will cover a wide range of topics. But the Pentagon has stated that the meeting is solely focused on hashing out a military strategy with which to defeat the Islamic State. It beggars belief that Mr. Key did not know that Obama was going to be at the meeting, or that he thinks it is one of the regular shmooze fests that pass as senior leadership meetings. So one of three things is possible: Either he knows full well what the meeting is about and is deliberately lying to the NZ public about NZ's role in the coalition; he is clueless about the nature of the meeting but does not care; or he is simply incompetent and unsuited to be Minister of National Security. Take your pick. Blog Link: NZ embassies used for signals intelligence gathering.Posted on 12:19, October 12th, 2014 by Pablo
Some years ago I ran afoul of the 5th Labour government because I speculated in public that some of our diplomatic personnel and embassies might double up as intelligence collectors. This was in reference to the Zaoui case and the role played by then SIS Director Richard Woods, who had been ambassador to France and Algeria at the time Zaoui went into exile in France from Algeria. Woods claimed that he had never heard of Zaoui until the latter arrived seeking refuge in New Zealand, and that he had never been to Algeria during his entire time as ambassador to that country. I found that a bit hard to believe on both counts and wondered aloud if, to maximise efficiencies given small budgets and manpower, Woods and others worked a bit beyond their official credentials. The fact that embassies serve as intelligence collection points is not surprising or controversial. After all, it is not all about diplomatic receptions and garden parties. Nor should it have been entirely surprising that the possibility existed that some NZ diplomats held "official cover" as intelligence agents. That is, they were credentialed to a specific diplomatic post, held diplomatic passports and immunity based on those credentials, but were tasked to do more than what their credentials specified (for example, a trade or diplomatic attache working as a liaison with dissident or opposition groups or serving as a handler for a foreign official leaking official secrets). Rather than scandalous, this is a common albeit unmentioned aspect of human intelligence gathering and my assumption was and is that NZ is no different in that regard. Prime Minister Helen Clark erupted with fury at my comments, saying that I was unworthy of my (then) academic job. I received a scathing letter from the then State Services Commissioner saying that I put New Zealand diplomats in danger. Most interestingly, I received a phone call at home from someone who claimed to be with the then External Assessments Bureau (now National Assessments Bureau) repeating the claim that I was putting lives in danger and suggesting that I should desist from further speculation along those lines (although he never refuted my speculation when I asked him if I was wrong). Given that background, it was not surprising but a wee bit heartening to read that the Snowden leaks show that NZ embassies are used by the Five Eyes network as tactical signals intelligence collection points. That is, the embassies contain dedicated GCSB units that engage in signals gathering using focused means. This is different and more localised targeting than the type of signals collection done by 5 eyes stations such as Waihopai. There is much more to come, but for a good brief and link to the original article on this particular subject, have a wander over to No Right Turn. Double Trouble.Posted on 13:03, September 15th, 2014 by Pablo
Glenn Greenwald's arrival in NZ has reignited controversy over who, exactly, the GCSB spies on, how it does so, and for whom it does so. Tonight he will outline what he has gleaned from the Snowden leaks, and I have no doubts that what is revealed will be of serious consequence. The impact will be twofold. So far, most attention has focused on the domestic side of the equation, in the form of claims that the GCSB, in concert with its 5 Eyes partners, conducts mass surveillance of New Zealand citizens and residents. The way it does so is to tap into the broadband infrastructure in order to extract so-called "metadata," that is, the key identifiers of cyber messages such as time, sender, internet addresses and geographic locations of those communicating, etc. This information is stored and later subject to data mining from technologies like X Keyscore, which searches for keywords and phrases that can justify opening the metadata in order to reveal the contents of the messages identified by the data-mining technologies. In simple terms, it is like going to people's postboxes and recording all of the identifying features of their mail without opening the mail itself unless key identifiers allow the government to do so. The government maintains that a) it does not collect metadata on New Zealanders and NZ permanent residents; and b) that collecting metadata is not equivalent to mass surveillance in any event since the contents of the messages from which metadata is extracted are not accessed unless there are reasons of national security to do so, and this occurs only in a handful of instances. The reality is that because of a gentleman's agreement between the 5 Eyes partners, metadata of the citizens of one partner state is accessed and collected by one or more of the other partners and only sent to the originating state if data-mining indicates that there is reason to open the contents of specific metadata "packages" concerning citizens or residents of that state. In this way the originating state government can claim that it is not engaged in mass surveillance of its own citizens or residents. That may be parsing the meaning of "mass surveillance" beyond useful construction, but it does allow the government to deny that it conducts such mass surveillance on technical grounds–i.e., metadata is not the same as a private communication because it has no content. The problem with such specious reasoning is that it violates two foundational tenets of liberal democracy: the right to privacy and the presumption of innocence. If it is considered an untoward invasion of privacy for the government or others to systematically rifle through and record the identifying features of correspondence in people's mail boxes, then it is equally a violation of citizen's rights to privacy for the government to electronically collect and store their cyber metadata. Moreover, the mass collection and sharing of metadata by 5 Eyes intelligence agencies violates the presumption of innocence that citizens of democracies are supposedly entitled to. That is because the metadata is collected without cause. The government does not have a specific reason, suspicion or motive for collecting metadata, it just does so because it can under the aegis of "national security." It then subjects this metadata to data-mining in order to find cause to conduct more intrusive searches of the contents. It is, in effect, trawling through everyone's cyber communications in order identify and presumably counter the nefarious behaviour or plans of some individuals, groups or agencies. This strikes at the heart of democracy. Yet the remedy is fairly simple. Under legal challenge the government can be forced to show cause for the collection of metadata of its citizens and residents. If it cannot, then the courts can deem such collection to be illegal in all but the most exceptional circumstances. With that judgement–and I very much doubt that any High Court would find it reasonable or permissible to engage in mass metadata collection without cause–intelligence agencies are put on notice and henceforth proceed with metadata collection and sharing at their peril. In contrast to the attention directed at the issue of mass surveillance, there is a far more damaging side to Greenwald's revelations. That is the issue of the GCSB and 5 Eyes espionage on other countries and international agencies such as the UN or non-governmental organisations as well as foreign corporations, financial institutions, regulatory bodies and the like. Such external espionage is part of traditional inter-state intelligence gathering, which includes economic, military and political-diplomatic information about targeted entities. Judging from what has already been revealed by the Snowden leaks with regard to the external espionage activities of the other 5 Eyes partners, it is very likely that Greenwald will reveal that NZ, through the GCSB in concert with 5 Eyes, spies on friendly or allied states as well as hostile state and non-state actors such as North Korea and al-Qaeda. This may include trade or diplomatic partners. It could well include economic or commercial espionage. The impact of such revelations will outweigh the repercussions of the domestic surveillance aspects of the Snowden leaks. With the nature and extent of NZ's espionage made public, its reputation as an independent and autonomous "honest broker" in international affairs will be shattered. Its pursuit of a UN Security Council seat could well go up in smoke. But above all, the response of the states that have been and are targeted by the GCSB will be negative and perhaps injurious to NZ's national interests. The response can come in a variety of ways, and can be very damaging. It can be economic, diplomatic or military in nature. It could involve targeting of Kiwis living in in the states being spied on, or it could involve bans or boycotts of NZ exports. The range of retaliatory measures is broad. Unlike the other 5 Eyes partners, NZ has no strategic leverage on the states that it spies on. It is not big, powerful or endowed with strategic export commodities that are essential for other countries' growth. Yet it is utterly trade dependent. Because of that, it is far more vulnerable to retaliation than its larger counterparts, especially if it turns out that NZ spies on its trade partners. Imagine what will happen if it is revealed that NZ and the other 5 Eyes partners spy on TPPA members in order to secure advantage and coordinate their negotiating strategies (keeping in mind that Australia, Canada and the US are all TPPA parties). What if if NZ spies on China, its biggest trade partner, at the behest of the US, with whom China has an increasingly tense strategic rivalry? What if it spies on Japan, Malaysia, Chile, Iran, India, Russia or the UAE? What if it spies on the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional organisations? What if it spies on Huawei or some other foreign corporations? Again, the possible range of retaliatory options is only surpassed by the probability that they will be applied once NZ's espionage activities are made public. In light of this it behooves the government to make contingency plans for the inevitable fallout/backlash that is coming our way. I say "our" rather than "their" because the response of the aggrieved parties will likely have, be it directly or as a trickle-down effect, a negative impact on most all Kiwis rather than just this government. But so far the government has indicated that it has no contingency plans in place and in fact has adopted a wait and see approach to what Greenwald will reveal. If so, it will be too late to mitigate the negative external impact of his revelations. And if so, that is a sign of gross incompetence or negligence on the part of the PM and his cabinet because they have known for a long time what Snowden took with him regarding NZ (since the NSA shared the results of its forensic audit of the purloined NSA material once Snowden disappeared). It therefore had plenty of time to develop a plan of action whether or not Greenwald showed up to be part of Kim Dotcom's "Moment of Truth" event. All of which means that, if Greenwald delivers on his promises, New Zealand is in for a very rough ride over the next few months. That, much more so than Dotcom's quest for revenge against John Key, is why tonight's event could well be a signal moment in NZ history. Should NZ renounce lethal drones?Posted on 17:32, May 25th, 2014 by Pablo
The Diplosphere event on lethal drones held in Wellington last week was a good opportunity to hear different views on the subject. The majority consensus was that legal, moral and practical questions delegitimate their use, although one defended them and I noted, among other things, that they are just one aspect of the increased robotization of modern battlefields, are only efficient against soft targets and are seen as cost effective when compared to manned aircraft. At the end of my remarks I proposed that we debate the idea that New Zealand unilaterally renounce the use of lethal drones in any circumstance, foreign and domestic. I noted that the NZDF and other security agencies would oppose such a move, as would our security allies. I posited that if implemented, such a stance would be akin to the non-nuclear declaration of 1985 and would reaffirm New Zealand's independent and autonomous foreign policy. Alternatively, New Zealand could propose to make the South Pacific a lethal drone-free zone, similar to the regional nuclear free zone declared by the 1985 Treaty of Rarotonga. I noted again that countries like Australia and Chile would oppose the move (both have drone fleets and do not discount using them in anger), but that many of the Pacific Island states would likely welcome the idea. Either declaration would in no way impact negatively on the use of non-lethal drones, whose utility is obvious. It would also leave open to interpretation whether NZ based intelligence could be used in drawing up targeting lists for foreign lethal drone strikes, a subject currently in the public eye as a result of claims that the GCSB does exactly that in places like Yemen. The PM says he is comfortable with the intelligence-sharing arrangement as well as the legitimacy of drone strikes, and added that similar intelligence was provided for ISAF drone strikes in Afghanistan (where the US and the UK deploy lethal drones on behalf of ISAF). His confidence notwithstanding, many Kiwis are opposed to any cooperation with lethal drone programs, so the debate could be expanded to include indirect NZ involvement with them. I think this is a debate well worth having. I realize that the security community will want to keep all options open and be very opposed to ceding any tactical advantage in future conflicts, and that extending the ban to indirect cooperation would have a negative influence on NZ's diplomatic and military-intelligence relations with its security partners. I am cognizant that it may be a hard thing to actually do given the balance of political power currently extant in NZ and the hurdles needed to implement it should the proposition be accepted. One of the other panelists dismissed the idea of unilateral renunciation as simply impractical and said that the proper forum in which to advance it was the UN (cue Tui ad here). Some may say that is silly to debate something that does not exist. New Zealand does not deploy lethal drones. However, UAVs are already present in NZ skies, both in civilian and military applications. This includes geological surveys and volcanic research, on the civilian side, and battlefield (tactical) surveillance in the guise of the NZDF Kahui Hawk now deployed by the army. The military continues its research and development of UAV prototypes (early R&D worked off of Israeli models), and agencies as varied as the Police, Customs and the Navy have expressed interest in their possibilities. Since non-lethal UAV platforms can be modified into lethal platforms at relatively low cost, it seems prudent to have the debate before rather than after their entry into service. I am aware that the revulsion voiced by many against the lethal use of unmanned aerial vehicles might as well be shared with all manned combat aircraft since the effects of their deployment ultimately are the same–they deal in death from the sky. Given that commonality, the preferential concern with one and not the other appears more emotional than rational, perhaps responding to idealized notions of chivalry in war. That is another reason why the subject should be debated at length. Such a debate, say, in the build up to a referendum on the matter, would allow proponents and opponents to lay out their best arguments for and against, and permit the public to judge the merits of each via the ballot box. That will remove any ambiguity about how Kiwis feel about this particular mode of killing. UPDATE: Idiot Savant at No Right Turn has kindly supported the proposition. Lets hope that others will join the campaign. Posted in Democracy, foreign policy, governance, History, identity, Intelligence and Security, International relations, NZ foreign policy, NZ Security, NZDF, Politics, Terrorism, UK, USA, War | 6 Comments | Read More »
Something to do in Wellington.Posted on 11:50, May 8th, 2014 by Pablo
On May 20, 2014 from 6PM-7:30PM Diplosphere is hosting a panel discussion titled "Drone Strikes: Are They in New Zealand's Interest?" The event will be hosted by Dr. Kennedy Graham MP-Green Party and will take place at the Theatrette, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. The hosts ask that people register for the event, which they can do by contacting Maty Nikkhou-O'Brien at the following email address: firstname.lastname@example.com The panel Chair is Dr. Roderick Alley of Victoria University, who has just published a thorough examination of drone warfare. The panelists are Professor Richard Jackson of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, investigative journalist Nicky Hager and myself. It should be an interesting discussion. I will try to place the emergence of drone warfare in context before debating its legality and utility. Posted in foreign policy, Intelligence and Security, NZ foreign policy, NZ Security, Parliament, Terrorism, War | 58 Comments | Read More »
Foreign Policy after the Election.Posted on 17:39, April 9th, 2014 by Pablo
Lost amid the distractions of royal visits, Mananet Party circus side-shows and assorted other peripheral issues has been the subject of NZ foreign policy after the September 2014 election. The topic is worth considering beyond the attention it has received so far. In this post I outline some (far from all) of the major areas of convergence and difference in the event a National-led or a Labour-Green coalition wins. If National wins it will deepen its current two-pronged approach: it will continue with its trade obsession to the detriment of other foreign policy areas such as disarmament, non-proliferation and human rights, and it will strive to deepen its security ties with the US and its close allies, Australia in particular. The trade-for-trade's sake foreign policy approach will see National return to the bilateral negotiating tale with Russia regardless of what it does in Ukraine or other Russian buffer states, and will see it attempt to garner even a piecemeal or reduced TPP agreement in the face of what are growing obstacles to its ratification (especially US domestic political resistance that sees TPP as a drain on American jobs, but also sovereignty protection concerns in areas such as copyrights, patents and strategic industries in places like Chile, Japan and Singapore). NZ will continue to try and expand its trade relationships with Middle Eastern states in spite of their largely despotic nature, and it will continue to push commodity specialization, niche value-added manufacturing and education provision as areas of competitive advantage. On a security dimension NZ will continue its return to front-tier, first line military ally status with the US and Australia, and will deepen its intelligence ties within the 5 Eyes signals intelligence network as well as with other pro- US partners and in the field of human intelligence. This will occur whether or not Edward Snowden reveals the full extent of NZ espionage on behalf of 5 Eyes in the months leading up to the election, but the government will find itself under scrutiny and hard pressed to defend the behaviour of the NZ intelligence community in that event. Closer military ties with the US brings with it the risk of involvement in American-led conflicts, but the National approach, as it is with the looming Snowden revelations, is to "wait and see" and deal with the issues as they arise (presumably in more than a crisis management way). Truth is, under National NZ will become another US security minion. One has to wonder how the Chinese, Indians, Russians and assorted Middle Eastern trading partners feel about that, especially if it is revealed that NZ spies on them on behalf of 5 Eyes.. National will conduct its foreign policy unimpeded by its potential coalition partners. United Future and the Maori Party have zero interest in foreign affairs other than to reaffirm whatever status quo they are part of, and ACT, should it survive, is a National mini-me when it comes to the subject. Winston First will not rock the boat on foreign policy issues so long as a few baubles are thrown its way. A Green-Labour government will have a slightly different approach, but not one that fundamentally rejects the basic premises of National's line. The Greens have already begun to soften their stance regarding TPP and trade relations, emphasising their interest in "fair" trade and after-entry protections and guarantees. Labour, which otherwise would have likely continued the thrust of National's trade strategy, will back away from some of the more foreign-friendly aspects of trade negotiations in order to mollify the Greens, and if Winston First is part of that coalition it may place some restrictions on foreign ownership and investment rights on NZ soil. Along with the softening of single-minded trade zealotry, a Labour-Green government will attempt to reemphasize NZ's independent and autonomous diplomatic stance (which has now been fundamentally compromised by the nature of National's two-pronged approach). This will include attempting to rebuild its reputation and expertise in the fields hollowed out by National's razoring of the diplomatic corps, although it will be very hard to replace the lost expertise and experience in fields such as chemical and nuclear weapons control, multinational humanitarian aid provision and environmental protection. To do so will require money, training and recruitment, so the time lag and costs of getting back up to speed in those areas are considerable. With regards to security, the Greens and Labour are in a dilemma. The Greens want to review the entire NZ intelligence community with an eye towards promoting greater oversight and transparency in its operations. That includes a possible repeal of the recently passed GCSB Act and, if some of its members are to be believed, a reconsideration of NZ participation in 5 Eyes. For all its opportunistic protestations about the Dotcom case and GCSB Act, Labour in unlikely to want to see major changes in NZ's espionage agencies or its relationship with its intelligence partners. It is therefore likely that Labour will agree (as it has said) to a review of the NZ intelligence community without committing itself to adopting any recommendations that may come out of that review. It may also agree to a compromise by which recommendations for greater intelligence agency oversight and accountability are accepted as necessary and overdue in light of recent revelations about the scope and extent of NZ domestic espionage as well as its foreign intelligence operations (all of which will become much more of a public issue if Snowden reveals heretofore denied or unexpected espionage by NZ intelligence agencies). The same is true for NZ's burgeoning military alliance with the US. Labour will not want to entirely undo the re-established bilateral military-to-military relations, especially in the fields of humanitarian assistance, search and rescue and perhaps even de-mining, peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations. The Greens, however, will object to continuing the bilateral military "deepening" project and will oppose NZDF participation in US-led wars (especially those of of choice rather than necessity). The Greens will push to further reduce military expenditures as percentage of GDP (which is currently around 1.1 percent) and will seek to restrict weapons purchases and upgrades as much as possible. That will put it as loggerheads with Labour, which will see the necessity of maintaining a small but effective fighting force for both regional as well as extra-regional deployments, something that in turn will require modernization of the force component as well as good working ties with military allies (which is maintained via joint exercises and cross-national training events). What that means in practice is that the Greens will not be given ministerial portfolios connected to foreign affairs or security, although they will be assuaged by concessions granted by Labour in other policy areas, to include (however token or cosmetic) intelligence reform. Minor parties that might be part of the coalition will have little influence on the Labour-Green foreign policy debate. Mana will bark the usual anti-imperialist line but will be ignored by Labour and the Green leadership. Winston First will extract a pound of flesh with regard to the influence of non-Western interests on the NZ economy and NZ's security commitments but otherwise will toe the Labour foreign policy line. The Maori Party will be irrelevant except where there is international diplomatic interest in indigenous affairs. The vote on NZ's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council will not be greatly influenced by the election (the UN vote occurs in October). NZ's chances have risen as of late in the measure that Turkey's has fallen thanks to the increasingly autocratic and erratic rule of the Erdogan government. Spain, the other rival for the "Europe and other" non-permanent UNSC seat (yes, NZ is not part of Oceania when it comes to such voting), has been tarnished by its economic woes, so NZ's relative economic and political stability have bolstered its chances by default. Even so, a Labour-Green government will likely be more appealing to the majority of the UN membership given National's obsequious genuflection to Great Powers on both trade and security. In sum, foreign policy may be a non-issue in the run up to the elections but that does not mean that it does not matter. Party activists and the public at large would do well to contemplate which direction they would like to see NZ steer towards in its foreign relations, and what international role they envision it should properly play. Otherwise it becomes just another elite game uninformed by the wishes of the majority, which means that when it comes to engaging the world it will be exclusively elite logics that inform the way NZ does so. Dismissing Skullduggery.Posted on 11:16, March 1st, 2014 by Pablo
The latest Snowden leaks reveal that the British signals intelligence outfit GCHQ held a top secret conference in 2012 where it briefed its Five Eyes partners on an array of cyber "dirty tricks" that could be used against opponents. These included a range of hacking techniques, to include denial of service overloads, false on-line identities, "spoofing," manipulation and alteration of on-line data and even the tried and true method of luring targets into so-called "honey traps" via social media. The operative terms in such operations are encapsulated in the Four "D's:" deny, disrupt, degrade and deceive. Needless to say, there was the usual hue and cry when the news went public. Civil libertarians are incensed. Privacy advocates are outraged. My reaction was "so what?" This is typical counter-intelligence, disinformation and psychological operations (pysops) taken to a new technological level (there is a positive side to psyops, something that is most commonly associated with so-called "hearts and minds" campaigns, but that is not the objective here). Instead, this program replicates what hackers already do on a regular basis and parallels similar programs run by the signals intelligence services of many countries. The conference just drew together the various aspects and strands of cyber naughtiness into a package made available to the Five Eyes members. The presentation (as provided by journalist Glenn Greenwald) is here: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/02/24/jtrig-manipulation/. Needless to say, New Zealand's signals organizations, the GCSB, as well as the SIS and perhaps other security/intelligence units such as those of the police, have been granted access to this program. Government denials of such are just another smokescreen designed to hide the full extent of what NZ spy agencies can (and) do. I was interviewed on Radio Nw Zealand about this. I pretty much said what I have mentioned above and pointed out that the real damaging news is soon to come: revelations about who NZ spies on, which, if Snowden holds true to form, will include allies as well as trading partners and perhaps even the Chinese. The interview is here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2587171. After my interview former GCSB director Bruce Ferguson was interviewed. What he said was remarkable. He claimed that he knew of no such programs and that as far as he knew the GCSB did not engage in illegal activities. He dismissed my views by saying that some people give too much credit to NZ spy agency capabilities. He also claimed that the Russians and Chinese engage in similar behavior. Let's deconstruct this. The "dirty tricks" conference was held in 2012 and Ferguson left the GCSB in 2009. Perhaps he was unaware of the conference and during his time no such "dirty tricks" programs were operated by the GCSB. During his tenure cyber espionage was not the priority focus that it is today, so perhaps that is true insofar as using hacking techniques on social media and other cyber targets is concerned. He says that as far as he knows the GCSB has done nothing illegal. That flies in the face of the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom (even the government admits the tapping of Dotcom's phones by the GCSB was in fact unlawful) and the revelations that the GCSB misled parliament in its most recent annual report as to the number of warrants and operations it was engaged in (which the government claims was a simple error rather a purposeful deception). This latest embarrassment occurs after the publication of the Kitteridge Report on GCSB failures and the appointment of a new director charged with addressing and correcting them (Kitteridge is now the director of the SIS). So, contrary to Bruce Ferguson's claims, the GCSB has committed at least a few illegal acts, but perhaps not during his tenure as director. I leave it for readers to make judgement on that. Whatever the truth, I believe that we can safely assume that the GCSB employs aspects of the "dirty tricks" program against foreign and perhaps domestic targets (the SIS certainly does in the latter case). I see this as par for the course given the current state of Five Eyes signals intelligence collection. I am not particularly fussed by the revelations, perhaps because it is just a technological extension of what always has been the norm in the world of intelligence and espionage. What I do believe, as I have said many times before, is that these latest revelations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to NZ intelligence operations, and that Snowden, via his circle of investigative journalists, will publish far more damaging information about the role and extent of GCSB spying in the months to come. It is time for the NZ government, if not the NZ public, to come to grips with that fact and prepare accordingly, because my suspicion is that the repercussions will be damaging and not necessarily confined to the diplomatic arena. Media Link: Snowden, Spying and New Zealand.Posted on 10:55, December 3rd, 2013 by Pablo
In a New Zealand Herald op ed I discuss Edward Snowden's actions and their implications for New Zealand. It is possible that he may not be what he claims to be, but whether he is or not, there will be inevitable consequences for New Zealand stemming from his leaks. |


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Holman Christian Standard (CSB) | New International Version (NIV) |
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people. They have eyes, but they don't see. They have ears, but they don't hear. | 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: |
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Holman Christian Standard 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) |

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm not actually going to be the one using clay, but my girlfriend is. She originally wanted to go to art school, but her parents wouldn't let her. I want to get her a "clay setup" for christmas, but I don't know where to start!? I would like to get her some type of clay that isn't too messy, and wouldn't require a lot (or any) equipment. Something simple, but good for her to get started on. Also, what kind of tools (if any) are recommended, and if I would need a mat of some sort for her desk. Finally, where do I get this stuff! I think there is a "Michaels" nearby, so I'm guessing they would have whatever you guys suggest! Thanks in advance! |
Follow-Up Postings:
Hi! Sorry there have been no replies to your request. I have worked with polymer clay but in no way am I an expert. I can, however, get you started. There is polymer clay, which you need a dedicated table top oven to use, and air-dried clay which is self explanatory. The air-dried clay would be the best to start with since you need to keep costs down. DAS Pronto is a good clay to start with. It comes in terra cottta and white. I usually get the terra cotta and I dry it in my regular oven. She would probably need a set of tools to help her sculpt with. They are inexpensive and can be bought at Michael's. Michael's has just about everything to work with clay with. If you want to go to the expense of buying a pasta maker, yep, a spaghetti machine, that would be nice, too, but absolutely not necessary to have. It depends on what kind of sculpting she wants to do. They have books, etc. Someone in that department should be able to help you with your selections. They also usually have a 40% coupon in the Sunday paper that you could use on the pasta machine if you want to buy it. Hope this meager information helps you. |
- Posted by delicatreasures (My Page) on Wed, Jan 31, 07 at 7:30
If you are still looking for information, please let me know. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Delica Treasures
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The injury Sam Morsy sustained against Wolves is nothing to worry about, according to Chesterfield first-team coach Kevin Lynch.
Morsy, who joined the Spireites from Port Vale last month, came off in the second half of Tuesday night's friendly nursing a calf problem.
However, Lynch expects the combative midfielder to be fine for Chesterfield's final pre-season match against Sheffield Wednesday at the Proact Stadium on Saturday.
"It was just a challenge from their lad that I thought was a bit unnecessary to be honest," said Lynch following his side's 2-1 home loss to Wolves.
"He didn't need to go down the back of him. It's just stud marks down the back of his calf, it's not a pull or a strain or anything like that.
"It's nothing to worry about and I'm sure Sam, as brave as he is, won't let it affect him and he'll be ready for the next game on Saturday."


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Law Offices Of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation On Behalf Of Shareholders Of Innospec, Inc.
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that it is investigating potential claims against Innospec, Inc. ("Innospec" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:IOSP) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty or other violations of law by the Company's board of directors. Innospec develops, manufactures, blends and markets fuel additives and other specialty chemicals to oil refineries and other chemical and industrial companies worldwide.
The investigation concerns the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) March 18, 2010, announcement that Innospec had agreed to a $40.2 million global settlement with the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office related to allegations that the Company engaged in widespread bribery of foreign government officials in Iraq and Indonesia to obtain and retain business. According to the SEC's statement, the Company's internal controls failed to detect the illicit conduct, and "Innospec's long-standing practice of bribing government officials was particularly egregious given the role of management, which authorized and condoned the misconduct."
If you are a shareholder of Innospec, if you have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or if you wish to discuss these matters or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, Toll Free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit our website at http://www.howardsmithlaw.com.
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.- A pro-life group is challenging a grassroots group that has launched a concert tour in an effort to defeat President George W. Bush in the upcoming election.
The American Life League's Rock for Life is calling for a boycott of artists like Bruce Springsteen, the Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews band, who are taking part in MoveOn.org's "Vote for Change" concert tour.
Erik Whittington, director of American Life League's Rock for Life, said musicians on the "Vote for Change" tour say they are promoting change, but they actually, "pride themselves on being counter-cultural, [and] are working to maintain the status quo: abortion on demand," reported Cybercast News Service.
Whittington said: "Real change will only come when all Americans – celebrities and average citizens alike – are willing to stand up to protect preborn babies from violence of abortion."
Rock for Life is organizing youth activists to protest the "Vote for Change" tour and to raise awareness about the truth of abortion. They are also urging young people to stop supporting these artists by not buying their CDs or concert tickets "until they stop advocating the destruction of our generation."
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* The number of messages that can be online is limited. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages


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Despite wintry weather, over 250 intrepid Vermonters attended VECAN's 7th annual "Community Energy & Climate Action Conference." Once again, it was a powerful, energizing event focused on clean energy and climate solutions. Read more here!
VECAN is tracking down the most noteworthy leaders, committees, and projects for Community Energy Awards at the Dec. 6th annual conference. We want suggestions from you! Read more here.
The Vermont Climate Assessment is the first state-level report in the nation detailing the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on an individual state. For more information and the report, click here.
The recently released National Climate Assessment is the most comprehensive report on how climate change is already impacting the United States. The report also discusses mitigation and adaptation strategies. Find the report here.
Making comprehensive efficiency improvements in Vermont's homes, schools and buildings can save money, create jobs and reduce pollution. Check out VNRC's collection of Heating Efficiency Success Stories for inspiring examples from around the state.
Vermont's energy transition is taking shape in a number of ways. Learn how community solar is playing a critical role in the process through eight Vermont case studies.
Button Up Vermont Day of Action is quickly approaching. Get involved by entering the video contest and participating in your community! Find out more here.
VNRC's Executive Director, Brian Shupe, talks climate action in Vermont and the opportunity of the soon-to-be-released Total Energy Study.
Nine community solar projects receive funding through the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF). Overall these grants will support the installation of more than 500 kilowatts of solar for schools, towns, and communities in Vermont. For more info click here.
Vermont prohibited idling of motor vehicles law now in effect. The benefits include saving money, improving air quality and our health, slowing the advance of climate change, and conserving energy.
Find everything you need to know at idlefreevt.org
The Vermont Natural Resources Council's Energy Program Director, Johanna Miller, offers her take on what it will take to spur greater action on climate change.
Read more here.


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A 23-year-old Vancouver man, who is linked with a local murder suspect, pleaded guilty Friday to burglarizing a Battle Ground home Sept. 24 and trafficking stolen property.
Samuel A. Scory will be sentenced April 12 by Clark County Superior Court Judge Daniel Stahnke.
Scory; Kirk M. Hernandez Sr., 42, who is also accused of murdering Matthew Clark on Oct. 1; and a third person were allegedly accomplices in the burglary. Guns stolen in the burglary were allegedly the cause of a dispute that prompted Clark's murder, according to court documents.
They stole numerous firearms, night vision goggles, a sheriff's badge and other items from the home, the documents state.
Mykel Bru, 25, of Vancouver was acquitted Feb. 14 of being the third accomplice in the burglary after a three-day trial before Judge Scott Collier.
Scory was also accused of burglaries Sept. 19 in Vancouver and Oct. 16 in Camas. The Camas burglary made national news
because a quick-thinking 10-year-old girl, Paityn Mock, was inside the home at the time and called 911 while hiding in a kitchen pantry.
Charges for those crimes were dropped in exchange for Scory's guilty plea. He would have been put on trial for them, had he and the prosecution not reached a bargain.
Scory pleaded guilty to trafficking a Taurus .357 revolver, a model of gun stolen in the Sept. 19 burglary.
His attorney, George Marlton, said Scory made an "Alford" plea, which means he believes he is not guilty but acknowledges that the prosecution has evidence that could convict him in a trial and is pleading guilty to avoid a higher sentence.
Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; email@example.com.


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As a result of this plastic interest, each of Cartier's pictures is not only a moment, rich with significance, arrested; it is also a moment seen in such a powerful way, and with such a strong sense of the purely formal organization, that the transitory is made permanent.[4]
The decisive moment is the fleeting moment when the apex of the occurring action coincides with the other graphic elements within the frame to create the best possible composition.
"Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes..."
Behind the Gare St. Lazare / Place de l'Europe, Paris - showing a man seemingly levitating as he jumps across over a puddle (1932) - Henri Cartier-Bresson Sunday on the Banks of the Marne - where four well-nourished friends, presumably two middle aged couples, have nearly finished their picnic and are relaxing with a drink that is in the process of being poured (1938) - Henri Cartier-Bresson Kiss by the Hotel de Ville - showing a gentle kiss in a busy Paris street (1950) - Robert Doisneau. This last one of more problematic as it was later found to have been staged with models hired by the photographer.
Both titles came from publishers. Tériade, the Greek-born French publisher whom Cartier-Bresson idolized, gave the book its French title, Images à la Sauvette, which can loosely be translated as "images on the run" or "stolen images." Dick Simon of Simon & Schuster came up with the English title The Decisive Moment. Margot Shore, Magnum's Paris bureau chief, did the English translation of Cartier-Bresson's French preface


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Boingo Wireless Announces Participation At The Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecommunications Conference
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boingo Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIFI), the world's leading Wi-Fi software and services provider, today announced that David Hagan, CEO, and Peter Hovenier, CFO, will participate in the Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecommunications Conference, to be held March 4-6, 2013 at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. The presentation is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 4:05 p.m. ET. The presentation will be webcast live on the Internet, and can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.boingo.com . The webcast will also be archived and available on the website for 30 days.
About Boingo Wireless
Boingo Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIFI), the world's leading Wi-Fi software and services provider, makes it easy, convenient and cost-effective for people to enjoy Wi-Fi access on their laptop or mobile device at more than 600,000 hotspots worldwide. With a single account, Boingo users and Boingo's wholesale partners can access the mobile Internet via Boingo Network locations that include the top airports around the world, major hotel chains, cafés and coffee shops, restaurants, convention centers and metropolitan hot zones. Boingo, through its Concourse Communications Group subsidiary, operates Wi-Fi and/or Cellular DAS networks at large-scale venues worldwide such as airports, major sporting arenas, malls, and convention centers, as well as restaurants and retail establishments. The company's Cloud Nine media platform enables brand advertisers to reach a captive audience through high engagement Wi-Fi sponsorships. For more information about Boingo, please visit http://www.boingo.com and http://cloudnine.com .
CONTACT: Christian Gunning Vice President, Corporate Communications email@example.com (310) 586-4009 Andrew Greenebaum / Laura Foster Addo Communications email@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com (310) 829-5400
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text:
By Doug Beizer
August 28, 2008
Army officials want to find out what procedures and techniques industry
uses to protect sensitive data that resides on computers and other
A request for information about industry information assurance programs
was issued Aug. 27 by the Program Executive Office for Enterprise
Information Systems and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.
Army officials hope to use the information to put language about data
security in future acquisitions The service's Army officials want to
know how digital data controlled by contractors is identified, marked
and protected from unauthorized access and release. They also want to
know how contractors handle encrypted data residing on servers, mobile
devices and portable storage media, the service said.
Those interested in responding to the request must submit a white paper
that describes information assurance program plans, or similar plans,
that are in place to control unclassified data. The submission also
should include a description of non-technical policies and practices
that are used to protect data.
Register now for HITBSecConf2008 - Malaysia! With
a new triple-track conference featuring 4 keynote
speakers and over 35 international experts, this
is the largest network security event in Asia and
the Middle East!


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Originally published March 8, 2012 at 8:42 PM | Page modified March 8, 2012 at 8:49 PM
Scott, Dufner tied for the lead in Cadillac Championship
In fierce and relentless wind on the TPC Blue Monster, Adam Scott kept the ball in play and then hung on for dear life for a 6-under-par 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Jason Dufner in the Cadillac Championship.
DORAL, Fla. — Playing only his sixth round of the year, Adam Scott faced a strong test Thursday at Doral and never looked better.
In fierce and relentless wind on the TPC Blue Monster, Scott kept the ball in play and then hung on for dear life for a 6-under-par 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Jason Dufner in the Cadillac Championship.
"When you're in the fairway on a day like today, you get a chance to hit it somewhere near the hole, give yourself an opportunity," Scott said. "If you're in the rough, it's very hard to even just hit the green, let alone give yourself a chance. I took advantage of the good shots early on, and then battled my way in from there."
It was a battle all day for Rory McIlroy in his first event at No. 1 in the world. He twice flirted with the water, had a three-putt bogey and wound up with a 73.
Tiger Woods wasn't much better. He began his round with a tap-in eagle on the par-5 first hole, but narrowly missed the fairways and had a tough time figuring out the wind and whether the ball would jump out of the rough. Woods badly misjudged the line of his chip on the 18th hole and closed with a bogey for a 72.
Only a dozen players managed to break 70, and a dozen more broke par. The average score was 72.7, and no hole was more terrifying that the par-4 18th, which was 471 yards dead into the wind, water hugging the entire left side of the hole and the front of the green.
The average score was 4.74, which was more than three of the par 5s.
"I hit 3-wood into 18, par 4, and 7-iron into the first, which is a par 5," Luke Donald said after a 70. "Just a beast of a hole today."
Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Thomas Bjorn were at 68, while the group at 69 included PGA champion Keegan Bradley, Steve Stricker and Kyle Stanley of Gig Harbor.
"The course is playable. You can see it in the scores," Stricker said. "It's still playable, whether we have this kind of wind or not. So it's manageable out there, and you just have to play hard and play well."
• Matt Jones and George McNeill topped the leaderboard at 6-under 66 in strong wind in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande. Ben Curtis was a stroke back at 67.
Former Husky Richard H. Lee shot a 71. Ex-Husky Troy Kelly and Kirk Triplett, a graduate of Pullman High School, shot 73s.
• PGA Tour player Jarrod Lyle, 30, of Australia has had a recurrence of leukemia. Robert Allenby supports a cancer program in Australia where Lyle once was a patient. Allenby said he just received word that Lyle had a recurrence and is to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. Allenby also said Lyle's wife was due to deliver their first child in a few weeks, but she was being induced immediately.


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Click a term to initiate a search.
As reported in the Indian Express, around 250 sex workers were amongst those who took part in a silent rally on Friday 10th February in Mysore in opposition to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union aoround the supply of generic life-saving drugs.
NSWP has signed up to this petition and urges others to do so.
Source: Act Up Basel and Change.org
Busan – South Korea - Press Statement – Saturday 27th August 2011- For immediate releasePolice beat and arrested South Korean activists, among them people living with HIV/AIDS, during a PEACEFUL march at the ICAAP in Busan. The march was organised to protest against Free Trade agreements being negotiated across the Asia Pacific region. International and Korean activists were jointly marching through the Conference Convention Center.


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Who answered that message on the QSYSOPR message queue?
Here is a fast and easy way to see who answered a message on Qsysopr message queue.
To see who answered a message on Qsysopr message queue type (from the command line) DSPMSG MSGQ(QSYSOPR) OUTPUT(*PRINT) MSGTYPE(*INQ)
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Then look at the spooled file you just created. You have your answer.


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Dimpy Stuff Light Pink & Cream Bear Couple Soft Toy-20 cm
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Standard Delivery: Dispatched in 2 business day(s)
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Soft toys have pleased and engaged our loved ones from all age groups and at all occasions. Soft toys have been known as 'comfort objects' for growing children and promise a lot of developmental benefits too. Soft toys make adorable companions for people especially children as they render a sense of security and cater to emotional needs of children. The soft and fur material offers tactile stimulation to kids. Soft toys give expression to the unsaid words and assist parents in teaching important lessons to children in the growing years. Stuffed toy can be a child's potential first real friend, So when are you introducing your child to one?
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Upstate News
Darryl Geddes 315 464-4828
ADHD research by SUNY Upstate faculty in issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics
SYRACUSE, N.Y.— The first genome-wide study on children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), led by Stephen Faraone, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and physiology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, is featured in a special issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics (AJMG): Part B: Neuropsychiatric, released this month. The issue covers major trends in the field of complex psychiatric genetics, underscoring how genetic studies of ADHD have evolved, and what approaches are needed to uncover its genetic origins.
ADHD is a complex condition with environmental and genetic causes. It is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that has an onset in childhood. It is one of the most common psychiatric diseases, affecting between 8-12 percent of children worldwide. The drugs used to treat ADHD are highly effective, making ADHD one of the most treatable psychiatric disorders. However, despite the high efficacy of ADHD medications, these treatments are not curative and leave patients with residual disability. Because ADHD is also one of the most heritable of psychiatric disorders, researchers have been searching for genes that underlie the disorder in the hopes that gene discovery will lead to better treatments for the disorder.
Among the many studies in the issue are two from the first genome-wide association study of individual ADHD patients. The study examined more than 600,000 genetic markers in over 900 families from the largest genetic study of ADHD, the International ADHD Multicenter Genetics (IMAGE) project led by Faraone. This work was funded through the Genetics Analysis Information Network (GAIN), a public-private partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the private sector with the goal of promoting genome mapping for various complex diseases.
The studies found that one genetic marker may be associated with ADHD symptoms. The studies, suggests that many genes are involved in ADHD and that each of these have small effects. Thus, larger studies are needed to fully understand the genetic mechanisms underlying ADHD and whether these initial findings can be confirmed.
Another Faraone-led study, funded by Shire Development, is the first genome-wide study of response to methylphenidate in ADHD children. Faraone and his colleagues, examined genetic markers across the entire human genome to search for genes that may someday be used to predict which children respond most favorably to the stimulant medications used to treat ADHD. It demonstrated that, although there are likely to be genetic factors that are associated with stimulant efficacy in children with ADHD, there are no single genes with a very large impact on treatment response.
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- Schumer: Feds should pay $1.3 million bill for Ebola response at Upstate University Hospital
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- Paige's Butterfly Run raised a record $224,000 in 2014 for Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
Syracuse Post Standard
- Your 'living will': What happens if you change your mind?
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Question- what is the non-fasting glucose reading that indicates diabetes? - page 2
I believe it used to be 140, but I can't remember offhand what it is now- Does anyone know the non-fasting blood glucose number which is considered definitive for diabetes? Thanks!... Read More
0May 15, '09 by waitingforthedreamOOPs stand corrected, over 126 if fasting. 200 for non fasting. Thanks!
0May 15, '09 by blondy2061h, MSN, RNQuote from sharkdiverSorry, I missed that the question had already been answered when I posted.Yep, I neglected to add the "with symptoms" qualifier......:selfbonk:
1May 15, '09 by Valerie SalvaSo, is it agreed >200 NON-fasting, and >126 fasting???netglow likes this.
1May 16, '09 by waitingforthedreamThat is what I have been reading. Great question!Valerie Salva likes this.


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- Musician's Friend Best Selection, Price & Service. Guaranteed.
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at: 800-449-9128
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Gear returned in mint condition. If you're looking for a virtually new instrument in possibly less-than-perfect packaging, this is a great value.
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Gear returned in good working condition with one or more scratches or dents, typical of an instrument that's seen normal wear and tear. It's a great choice if you're looking for performance and value and can overlook cosmetic flaws.
Results 1 - 20 of 4010 matches
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Wed, Jun 6, 12 at 16:45
The roses have really quieted down and the daylilies now take the stage. But some roses never get tired. Here are a few from June.
Thanks for looking |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by Kippy-the-Hippy 10 Sunset 24 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 7, 12 at 1:41
Very pretty! I just have boring daylilies! |
Fooled me for a moment with the portulacas, but became clear, as soon, as I saw the "leaves", no wonder they are called moss roses. Lovely photos. |
- Posted by nummykitchen Z5b Michigan (My Page) on Thu, Jun 7, 12 at 8:29
So beautiful! Abracadabra is amazing! Your lilies are so pretty too :) |
Tuscan Sun certainly is pretty and Oh! I LOVE daylilies. They're my other obsession. I actually spend more time at the daylily forum than here. lol |
Lovely daylilies and great bloom close-up pics. |
They're all gorgeous, Kathy, but I love that photo of Tuscan Sun! I was fooled for a Moment too, Inga! |
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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
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"I've made this probably a dozen times and it's wonderful every time. I usually marinate overnight and it's perfect. I always have to do about 3 pounds to feed everyone and tonight I checked the temp after 35 mins in the oven and it was perfect: well cooked and very juicy. Use black pepper instead of white since I don't ever buy it and add some ext..."


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Brazil's navy has signed the last contracts covering research and development work on a locally designed anti-ship missile that is expected to be deployed from late this decade.
With Brazil's Atech and seeker provider Omnisys having already signed up, the two new additions are Avibras and Mectron. The former is being entrusted with developing a solid-fuel rocket engine for the Mansup missile, while Mectron will build the prototype.
The navy will coordinate the development programme, which is intended to provide a replacement for Brazil's MBDA MM40 Exocet Block II weapons from around 2018-19. The project has an initial budget of $50 million.
To have a range of approximately 70km (38nm), the Mansup will use an active radar seeker for terminal guidance.
Local sources have noted the involvement of Avibras and Mectron in a modernisation project for the navy's Exocet missiles. The first modified was handed over last October, with Brazil expecting to field the design until 2021 or 2022.
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Match Report
Sunday 4th May 2014, 15:00
Super League - Round: 11 |
Bradford Bulls (16) 34 |
Warrington Wolves (22) 28 |
6 Jamie Foster, Brett Kearney, Tom Olbison, Adrian Purtell 2, Elliot Kear, |
TRIES | 5 Anthony England, Chris Bridge, Kevin Penny, Joel Monaghan, Matty Russell, |
5 Jamie Foster 5, |
GOALS | 4 4Chris Bridge 4, |
Attendance: 6,173 Official: R Silverwood Venue: Provident Stadium, Odsal |
Action Timeline
Full Time Report
LEE GASKELL produced arguably his best performance yet in red, amber and black as Bradford Bulls pulled off an incredible late fightback to defeat Warrington Wolves at The Provident Stadium.
Francis Cummins' side were six points adrift at the interval and trailed by the same amount, with less than nine minutes remaining.
But with Gaskell and Gale pulling the strings behind the power of new signing Antonio Kaufusi and his fellow pack men, Bradford battled back to seal a memorable victory in front of the Bulls faithful.
Coach Cummins was forced to make late changes to his line-up as Luke George pulled out during the warm-up, enabling Jamie Foster to start on the left wing.
And the Bulls boss suffered a further setback during the opening half hour when Brett Kearney left the field, nursing a hand injury.
However, undeterred and against the odds, Bradford refused to lie down, despite the Wolves moving into an early lead through front-rower Anthony England.
The Bulls responded superbly, though, bagging a quick-fire brace.
A sublime Gaskell miss-pass saw Foster, who landed five goals from seven attempts, crash over in the corner.
And Kearney crossed next, galloping 60 metres to touch down following a Kaufusi break.
Warrington matched Bradford's efforts, prior to the 30-minute mark, scoring two tries of their own through one-time Bull Chris Bridge and wingman Kevin Penny.
And it was Tony Smith's men who claimed control at the interval, much thanks to a late Michael Monaghan score, which followed an impressive Tom Olbison effort.
Somewhat against the run of play, Adrian Purtell opened the Bulls' second-half account, diving on a stunning Gaskell grubber kick to narrow the gap.
Though before going on to seal the most dramatic of wins, Purtell saw Warrington edge themselves clear once more as Matty Russell avoided a host of would-be tacklers to touch down.
But it was not to be for the Wolves, with Elliot Kear taking a Gaskell wonder pass to touch down – just inches from touchline.
With the scoreboard reading 28-26, in favour of Warrington, the Bulls were in desperate need of another try.
And their prayers were answered, just moments later, when Danny Addy sent Purtell racing away for his second of the afternoon.
Foster made sure of the Bulls' success – two minutes from time – as the former St Helens and Hull FC player hammered over a penalty goal from just to the right of the uprights.
Bradford's triumph moves them off the foot of the First Utility Super League ladder and back onto zero points, ahead of next Sunday's visit of St Helens.
BULLS: Lee Gaskell, Elliot Kear, Joe Arundel, Adam Henry, Jamie Foster, Brett Kearney, Luke Gale, Antonio Kaufusi, Matt Diskin, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Jay Pitts, Danny Addy. Subs: Tom Olbison, Adam O'Brien, Alex Mellor, Sam Bates.
TRIES: Foster (11), Kearney (16), Olbison (30), Purtell (48, 72), Kear (70)
GOALS: Foster 5/7
WOLVES: Matty Russell, Joel Monaghan, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny, Chris Bridge, Gareth O'Brien, Chris Hill, Michael Monaghan, Anthony England, Trent Waterhouse, James Laithwaite, Ben Evans. Subs: Roy Asotasi, Ben Harrison, Ben Currie, Micky Higham.
TRIES: England (6), Bridge (18), Penny (23), Monaghan (34), Russell (59)
GOALS: Bridge 4/5
REFEREE: Richard Silverwood


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How Khloe Kardashian Spent Thanksgiving
Khloe Kardashian has lots to be thankful for this holiday season -- a loving husband, a booming career and tight knit family.
Khloe blogged about how she spent her Turkey Day and said:
Hi my loves!! My family and I had the most wonderful Thanksgiving together this year at Kris's house. It's so special to be able to spend the holidays with friends and family, and I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by all of the people I love most in the world. We literally had 30 people at our house. It was loud, crazy, silly -- pretty much just your typical Kardashian Thanksgiving LOL. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my family!!!!!!
Sounds like fun!
How did you spend your Thanksgiving? Hit the comments and let us know!


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8 items from 2014
27 July 2014 1:57 PM, PDT | CineVue | See recent CineVue news »
★★★★★Simplicity is often the conduit to a perverse complexity that grows more enigmatic the longer the gaze of the enchanted is maintained. Even in its present state of butchered grandeur, The Lady from Shanghai (1947) - back in UK cinemas this week - is a joy to behold. Like everything Orson Welles produced, there's an air of fractured menace in this film that resides outside the white noise that surrounds his presence as the poet of film maudit. Its possessed by an uneasy, frivolous wisp of a plot that ponders through the created anecdote whether our internal constructs are true enough to grasp. Welles plays wandering Irish sailor Michael O'Hara, a man too clever, too tough, but not too likable.
- CineVue UK
26 July 2014 7:23 AM, PDT | Keyframe | See recent Keyframe news »
With two ongoing series in New York and a new restoration of Orson Welles's The Lady from Shanghai (1947) screening in London, film noir is the talk of both towns. More goings on: A major exhibition and screening series dedicated to the legendary animator Chuck Jones in New York, films by Hollywood directors exiled to Europe by the Blacklist in Los Angeles, "Cinemaniacs" in San Francisco, the "Sepia Screen" in Austin and a Jim Jarmusch retrospective in Toronto. » - David Hudson »
18 June 2014 4:38 AM, PDT | ScreenDaily | See recent ScreenDaily news »
Exclusive: Icon Film Distribution (Ifd) has signed a deal with UK sales and distribution company Park Circus to represent the Ifd library for UK theatrical release.
The Ifd library comprises more than 200 titles including Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ, Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive, John Hillcoat's The Road, John Carney's Once, Emilio Estevez's The Way, and Tom Ford's A Single Man.
Park Circus specialises in putting classic films back on the big screen and represents more than 20,000 titles from major studios and independent rights owners. This summer, it will handle the international re-release of Some Like It Hot, The Lady From Shanghai, The Deer Hunter and To Catch A Thief.
Ifd, which re-launched last September backed by New Sparta, recently released animated feature Postman Pat: The Movie, which has generated nearly £3m ($5m) at the UK box office after three weeks on release.
The independent »
- firstname.lastname@example.com (Michael Rosser)
1 June 2014 2:00 AM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »
For the month of May, Twitch commemorates what would have been the great Orson Welles' 99th birthday by putting his career under the spotlight. In Full Disclosure, we take the filmography of a revered filmmaker each month and then select a film we have never seen before and assess it for the very first time. While none of our collective needed to strike Citizen Kane off their lists of shame this time around (many having already done so just last year), in the gallery below you can read some fresh thoughts on a wide selection of Welles' works, including Touch of Evil, The Magnificent Ambersons and The Lady From Shanghai. ...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]
28 April 2014 4:23 AM, PDT | DearCinema.com | See recent DearCinema.com news »
A still from Lady from Shanghai
Noir Film Festival
American Center in collaboration with Cinedarbaar celebrates 'Film Noir' through screening of 8 specially curated movies.
8-10 May.
By invitation/ Pass (information below)
American Center Auditorium
24, Kasturba Gandi Marg
New Delhi – 110001
About the event:
8 May, 3:30 pm
Double Indemnity by Billy Wilder (1944), 107 Min
An insurance rep lets himself be talked into a murder/insurance fraud scheme that arouses an insurance investigator's suspicions.
8 May, 6:15 pm
The Killers by Robert Siodmak (1946), 103Min
Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.
9 May, 3:30 pm
The Lady from Shanghai by Orson Welles (1947), 87 Min
Fascinated by gorgeous Mrs. Bannister, seaman Michael O'Hara joins a bizarre yachting cruise, and ends up mired in a complex murder plot.
9 May, 6:15 pm
Thieves Highway by Jules Dassin (1949), 94 Min
A war-veteran-turned-truck driver attempts to »
- NewsDesk
24 January 2014 12:00 PM, PST | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Written and directed by Orson Welles
Michael O'Hara (Orson Welles) is an Irish émigré to the United States who earns his income as a sailor. Walking the streets of Manhattan one night, he comes across the carriage of one Elsa Bannister (Rita Hayworth), whose beauty and charm immediately catch his eye. After rescuing her from a group of thieves in Central Park, he offers to drive her home, during which time they grow fond of one another. Lo and behold, the next day, Mr. Bannister (Everett Sloane), a notorious criminal lawyer and her husband, makes an offer: come sail with them through the Americas on their way to San Francisco. O'Hara, clearly attracted to the man's wife but trepidatious about potential complications, reluctantly accepts the offer. The trip and its aftermath in San Francisco prove unforgettable, with everyone's disdain for Mr. »
- Edgar Chaput
23 January 2014 6:45 PM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »
Quentin Tarantino 'The Hateful Eight' screenplay leak Quentin Tarantino will no longer be making the Western The Hateful Eight. Why not? Well, Tarantino claims he sent out the film's screenplay to a group of six people, one of whom allegedly showed it to his agent, who then showed it to other agents, who then began calling Tarantino's agent Mike Simpson, asking him to cast their clients in the film. (Photo: The Hateful Eight screenwriter Quentin Tarantino.) "I'm very, very depressed," Tarantino was quoted as saying at Deadline.com, which first broke The Hateful Eight Screenplay Leak story on Tuesday, January 21, 2014. "I finished a script, a first draft, and I didn't mean to shoot it until next winter, a year from now. I gave it to six people, and apparently it's gotten out today." Now, before they begin flailing and wailing, Quentin Tarantino fans should be »
- Zac Gille
19 January 2014 10:09 AM, PST | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »
Directed by Giulio Paradisi
Written by Luciano Comici
USA/Italy, 1979
This Euro-American science fiction horror clusterfuck was directed by professional body builder Giulio Paradisi (credited as Michael J. Paradise), who made four other films, but is best known for shooting second-unit footage on Federico Fellini's 8 1/2. It was the brain child of producer Ovidio G. Assonitis – known for his poor quality attempts at cashing in on box office gold by cloning Hollywood's biggest hits. Assonitis was a hack, with a reputation for producing flagrant knock-offs like the 1977 Jaws rip-off Tentacles (starring John Huston and Shelley Winters) – and Beyond the Door, the most successful of numerous Italian horror films produced in the wake of The Exorcist. In the dawn of '70s American blockbusters, European production companies emerged stateside, attempting to emulate the success of their American counterparts. Of the hundreds of these films produced, The Visitor is »
- Ricky da Conceição
8 items from 2014
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
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Ald. April Ford-Griffin, who took over as chairman of the St. Louis city budget committee this year, is leaving the aldermanic chambers for the Mayor's office.
Mayor Francis Slay announced on Friday that Ford-Griffin, who has served as the Fifth Ward alderwoman since 1997, will be the new director of the city's Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, which Slay called a "vitally important agency." The former director, Ruby L. Bonner, retired on July 1.


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Kayne Anderson's CEO Discusses Q2 2012 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. There is no assurance that the company's investment objectives will be attained.
With that, I will now turn the conference over to our President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin McCarthy.
Kevin McCarthy
Thanks, Monique, and good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for joining us today for our second quarter 2012 earnings call.
I'll start today's call with a review of the MLP sector in the broader energy markets during our second fiscal quarter, which ended May 31st. I will also touch briefly on market performance during June and July before we review KED's performance. Then, Terry Hart, our CFO will discuss our financial performance and guidance before opening the line up to questions. With that, let's turn to review of market conditions. The optimism that we saw in the equity markets during the first quarter faded during the second quarter, as the U.S. economic data weakened and concerns about Europe intensified. The S&P 500 Index declined 4.1% during the quarter after rising 9.5% in the first quarter. MLPs were much weaker in the broader market, with the Alerian MLP Index down 10.5% during the quarter. On a total return basis, which includes cash distributions, MLP returns were negative 9.2% for the quarter while the S&P 500 return was negative 3.5%. In our view, MLPs faced selling pressure along with the rest of the energy sector as commodity prices fell during the quarter. In addition, MLPs were very active issuing equity in the first two months of the quarter, and as the market declined and the new deal was traded poorly, the sector came under additional selling pressure. Since the end of our second quarter, MLPs in the broader markets have rebounded nicely. As of July 20th, last Friday, the MLP Index was up 9.5%. Since May 31st, while the S&P 500 Index was up 4%. As of last Friday, the MLP Index is now up almost 14% from its lows in early June and up almost 12% for the fiscal year on a total return basis.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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