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While a substantial tragedy, Statoil seems a bit either naive or disingenuous to claim it as 'unimaginable...' I'd also be curious to know more about Statoil's in-house security teams and systems; did they fail or were they not in place based on Statoil's attempt to operate that part of its facility on the cheap?
The international community will at some point recognize that these so identified Islamist organizations will not be appeased and will not stop to 'negotiate.' Theirs is a skewed ideological commitment to which most everything done is subservient. It is, largely, how they rationalize actions from remarkable brutality and murder to drug and gun running; behavior otherwise seen by an alternative majority, to include a huge proportion of Muslims, as the antithesis of god and faith.
Though the Algerian military might have thought things out a bit more before dropping missiles on a collection of terrorists and hostages in jeeps, I am broadly supportive of the Algerian government's less than tolerant approach to the hostage takers. I'd also hypothesize that the actions taken by the Algerian government probably saved far more hostages than would have been otherwise the case. Both the US and the west still haven't fully recognized that this is not principally a country to country fight but one with an enemy who does not acknowledge national borders or governments.
Our strategy, then, should not target nations but organizations and related structures that are increasingly leeching onto nations to bleed them and their citizens. In this vein, the French assault on the jihadi groups in Mali who are brutalizing and trying to commandeer that suffering nation is valid and in need of international support and backing.
Similarly, the Algerians don't need US or British 'permission' to protect their country from a parasitic assault and I'd think the jihadi parasites will think twice before taking continued actions in Algeria. The Algerians put themselves directly on the line and deserve our credit and support rather than reproach and self righteous second guessing.
That way.... a real collaboration from a position of international strength with common goals can become possible.
Without diagnosing the actual problem it will remain a futile effort at the part of France. House of Saud is funding all such efforts to spread Wahabi Islam. KSA has two faces one for the Western world and one for the Muslim World. Alqaida and extremist Muslims all are the products of Sauid interpretation of Islam. This mind set playing havoc all around in Muslim countries. Western world leaders have closed their eyes to this fact for the reasons better know to them.
Nothing will be settled as long world leaders identify the actual reason and uproot it.
I think you have a point. Ultimately, I think the Muslims should repudiate and expel extremists within their ranks and not stay quiet and wait for the West to do it for them.
Another War. Seems like the rebels, Jihadists and all other warmongers just gave got a new job opening. All those who were shown pink slip in Afganistan will be be recuited again.
My Dear France,
Either you are befooling the all world or you are doing same mistake as done by America in Afghanistan. I can bet that this all expenditure which you have done on operations in Mali and more you are going to do; if you have given it to those handful of rebels, this problem could be solved easily in a very peaceful way. Dumbhead.
Yes. All the world would have to do is submit to Islam, that's all. Easy as that...
Islamists are like bankers, they never have enough.
Wow what a comparison of economy of France with a so called Terrorist Group. DO not forget France has attaked them, they did not attak France.
Submit to Islam? Has France attacked Islam? Easy to say I agree. But difficult to do, I need justification. Even if difficult to do, its also easy to start killing people.
Has France attacked Islam?
Yes it is more easy to kill?
I honestly have no idea what you are going on about.
" Has France attacked Islam?" What on earth are you talking about?
" Yes it is more easy to kill?" More easy to kill than what? It seems for Islamists it is markedly easier to kill than to form a coherent, rational thought.
" Even if difficult to do, its also easy to start killing people." Well, which is it? Is it difficult or is it easy to kill people? Make up your Islamist mind - or what passes for it...
Ransoming eight French nationals under threat of beheading is attacking France. Flogging free women, amputating hungry men and rubbishing mankind's heritage is an attack on mankind (including the Umma), a mankind of which France claims proud membership.
I'm especially happy that when François Hollande was asked what his plans were for the jihadists, he did not say "bring them to justice" or "expel them". He paused, smiled and said "why, destroy them".
Your logic is skewd.Common yet popular quote "Islam spread by the swords"is flawed.
It is to do with re-distribution of wealth,Mahmood of Gazni never sought lasting abode in India,looting Somnath fled to Afghanistan to balance the treasury,akin to modern time QE method.
Islam as any other faith follows organic evolution.
Hinduism spread to SE Asia over millinnia emulating local cultural colours,values,customs...layers upon layers.
Islam as sub species of Indo-Pak type took more from Hindu Baghti such as new commers to supplicate with open palms(as opposed to closed palms: Namaskar) to retain any offering from the diety.
Submission to the will of the Almighty was core concept rather blind obedience..."submit to Islam" as you wrote.
Sufism,Hindu Bhaghti developed in parallel in India...wealth hoarding is frowned upon by both schools,for example.Charity as virtue practised with equal zeal and pride.Caste System still exists on both sides,though.Hence early inroads by Islam in India.Islam was thus boosted by Sufis not bigot Mullahs in Mosques. Christian Missionaries made faith transfer easier task in India or Africa,replcing existing idols with images,icongrphy,Bible in the vernacular,money for the poor.
Unfortunately,terrorism by so called Islamists is product of capitalism,Madrassas run by Mullahs for easy money combined with youth unemployment is global as far as Mali.
This again made worse by heavy handed millitary intervention by countries such as France.
Indo-Pak region will never be the same even after American exit from Afghanistan,aka,grave yard of Civilisations.
Indian intervention in Blauchistan and Pakistan response in kind coupled with usual sabre rattling is failure of creative diplomacy...
" Your logic is skewd (sic)."
Oh, thanks for the enlightenment. And you are under the impression that, you are the one who will set me straight? Really, now. I have no idea what your post might have been about (did not bother to read it beyond the first two sentences), but just to spare you further effort - because I am a nice guy - I am letting you know that, I'll not read any further post of yours, for that is my prerogative, and in the event you address me with other posts and will not receive any answer, it is not because of your coruscating intellect will have stunned me into silence, but because I will not bother to read whatever you post.
Have a nice day and good luck to you.
My Friend Garaboncias you said "Yes. All the world would have to do is submit to Islam, that's all. Easy as that..." Right! Thats what I am saying what do you mean by submit to Islam. They are terrorists and Terrorists do not have any religion. Why don't you understand that? Where Islam has come in all this episode? Is it a war between Crescent and Cross? Who has called France to attack those rebels? This is what I wanted to make you understand.There agenda is not Islam? Regards
My Friend Dominique II, emotional words will not change the sequence of events of history.Please read them again. Secondly, do not justify French attack with feeble reasons. What on earth had happened that France thought it as a matter of life and death to attack on those handfull of rebels? Thirdly, do you know what is Jihadist? or just heard this name from media or some politician? Where was your humanitarian logics of holocaust to 'destroy them' when Hitler smiled and said 'why, destroy them'? For God sake. I am not with those rebels but France is also doing wrong. It will not solve problem, it will aggravate it.
"when François Hollande was asked what his plans were for the jihadists, he did not say "bring them to justice" or "expel them". He paused, smiled and said "why, destroy them."
Oh dear is Hollande going to do in Mali what De Gaulle did in Algeria?
We will never know would we. After all it took decades for the French media to finally reveal what was actually going on in Algeria.
Hollande's comments remind of a Quebecois's remarks that if France had suferred a terrorist attack of the magnitude of a 9/11 with 3000 dead, there would have been concentration camps for muslim immigrants with the French media & parliament averting its eyes.
Nice try, but no cigar...
2 Canadians among the terrorists, better watch your back, Toronto suburbs will surprise you
Looks like 1800s slaves craving action by ex-colonizers. When will the Sun shines for Africa except blazing heat and foreign domination.
If France hadn't intervened, another Afghanistan would have appeared. I think Malians were more clever than Afghans, incalling for help before it was too late...
You don't know much about slave trade history, do you. Malian and Senegalese sedentary villagers still remember vividly the raids (rezzou) by Tuareg slavers for stocking the Mauritanian and Arabic slave pens, minus balls of course (high mortality rate). Goes a long way toward explaining, if not excusing, today's resentment against Tuaregs.
An African once told me "We want the whites out, and the Arabs dead."
Gaddafi was a useful dictator. He used to manage extremists very well, giving the region stability. Sarko killed him, as you know well. There is no one who can control extremism in the region. Basically france opened the hell's gate. It's french problem and also ours. Avoid traveling that part of the world. Avoid mixing with french. Avoid becoming yourself victims of this madness.
Californian suburbs are worst
Public wants to know how many civilians and other innocent have been killed by the French military in Mali.
It is because French love counting casualties caused by other countries fighting in the Middle East. Now time comes to count French hits and learn about "humanistic fighting".
By the way we are still waiting the dead civilians count from the Libyan war.
"they have weapons captured from Malian bases they overran in the north or smuggled from Libya after Muammar Qaddafi fell."
France fights rebels armed with weapons from the Libyan bases robbed after the unexplained attack on Libya by France.
However Mr. Hollande says nothing about the ties between the unresponsible agression in Libya and the fires in the North Africa and the Middle East.
Is it a blindness of the politician or the famous European hypocrisy?
" France fights rebels armed with weapons from the Libyan bases robbed after the unexplained attack on Libya by France."
Unexplained? Maybe you were back on your home planet when Qaddafi promised to kill all rebels as rats?... Or maybe you had your head stuck in a place where the sun does not shine?.. Or, whatever, but it was explained rather well for the rest of us... Have a nice day and good luck to you. Don't forget to take your medication, please. They are no good unless you take them...
Dear Garaboncias,
Did you put your attention that 90% of your comment are dedicated to my health instead of the discussed issue? Do you really have something to say?
From my planet I sow that Qaddafi was a regular dictator, not harder than Saddam Hussein beloved by France or this gentleman ruling Mali now. Yes, Qaddafi forces killed rebels, but what do our French boys in Mali right now? Prepare popcorn?
Did anybody count people killed by French and British bombs in Libya? Did anybody count people killed by rebels after Qaddafi's fall? Is anybody counting people killed by weapons leaking from the Libyan bases?
" Did you put your attention that 90% of your comment are dedicated to my health instead of the discussed issue?"
Isn't it nice that some one cares about your health? Since you don't seem to...
a regular raper of virgin libyan girls and boys
you are ready to endorse any monster for your supposed safety, which can be ruined by one of your locals more quickly
Within days of France's intervention in Mali, French troops were reported to be engaged in street-to-street fighting to repel the Islamist forces' advance. This rebellion can be traced directly to the Tuareg tribesmen, warriors that have returned from neighbouring Libya after the fall of Gaddafi and the superfluous stocks of loose weapons readily available in the region.
With Bashar al-Assad still holding power in Syria and civil war raging, Libya and Yemen volatile, popular discontent rising in Jordon and the Gulf, and the post-revolutionary regimes in Egypt and Tunisia following the Arab Spring only just holding their own, the spectre of instability, if not all-out war, in a region extending from West Africa to southern Asia, is a very real one. This threat of instability comes at a time when the United States and other NATO allies are losing their appetite for military intervention. Yet, whether the French can extract themselves from Mali as quickly as they hope – dependent on African Union troops arriving and sufficiently trained – some analysts may wonder whether other members of NATO have a responsibility to support France given that the Islamists have shifted from Libya to the vast, barren and unregulated territories of north Africa, and the fact that France intervened in Mali on the basis of authority granted through a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Nevertheless, other than Britain despatching two RAF transport aircraft in ferrying French troops and equipment, neither Britain nor the US have shown any enthusiasm in providing anything more than logistical support.
Such widespread unrest has long-term implications for global security. In addition, the kidnap of foreign nationals in Algeria can only add to the tension in a region in which vast swathes of territory, from north Africa to the Middle East and adjoining regions, have to be regarded as unsafe.
Except that the US are in Mali since 2009, and don't advertise it for good reasons
Another world flashpoint involving Islam and another damage control by the blatant lies: all is caused by the fringe extremists misinterpreting Koran. There is never an outrage from the mainstream at their "beautiful" religion being high jacked by the fundamentalists. No, the silent Muslim majority is always tight-lipped and clandestinely sympathises with the medieval cowards whenever targeting innocent infidels.
Your religion is much worse than Muslims.
Religion is something that people with low brain capacity believe.
Just follow the teachings of Richard Dawkins! He is a real good person that I respect.
Seven839 asked a valid question. And we, the rest of the world, want a valid answer: why is the maintstream global Muslim community 'so' quiet about the hijack of its beautiful religion by a minority of extremists???
My Friends althought it was not a religious issue yet you have made it. Don't forget that the govt is also Muslim who asked for help from France against rebels. If you say why mainstreem Muslim are quite, reasons is simple it has nothing to do with Islam. Its a humanitarian issue which is being dealt wrongly by France. If other Muslims are quite, why are you quite against the atrocities of Jews and Indians in Palestine and Kashmir respectively? Why are you following media blindle? Go and see at your own, listen to the sries of people there.
You are presenting it fack to bront. Islam is at war with ALL of it's neighbors. Islam has been at war with Jews, killing Jews wherever they can find them. Islam is at war with Christians (in the M.E., Europe, USA), at war with Hindus (Kashmir) and with Buddhists (Lashkar-e-Toiba, Bali bombing). More tellingly about the "religion of peace", Islam has ALWAYS been at war with itself (Shia vs Sunni, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Palestinian terrorists, Egypt, Libya, etc.)
Connecting the dots here makes it plain to see. Islam is at war with everyone. It always has been. Islam has a stated goal of imposing Islam and Sharia on the ENTIRE WORLD. What has changed in recent decades is that Islamists have found the money and weapons to make their religious wet dreams come true.
So long as politicians pretend that it's just some shadowy group called "al Qaida" which never had an address or a leadership structure, then they will never solve the problem. Islam is the problem. Face it.
Interestingly, the Malian military, who know how to throw a coup, cannot handle the Jihadist Rebels. They wait for the French to do the work for them. They might as well allow a re-colonization. It is so sad to see so called African leaders look so weak when a real crisis comes along.
I believe the excuse for the coup was that the prior government was proving too weak and incapable at handling the Jihadists and/or possibly discontented Touregs.
Seems things didn't improved much afterwards.
I am not sure France's influence in what were once its military territories of French West Africa ever diminished significantly. I think support for the budgets for several countries was quite large, while France had military forces stationed around the continent (Chad and Gabon come to mind).
So, they may not have decolonized too much, or moved into a model of neocolonialism to justify the ideas of some on the left.
Between Jihadists and the reintroduction of significant French influence and military presence, seems like the public is more for the latter (maye some in the far north beg to differ, or the Touregs may have additional opinions/grievances of their own?)....
I would like to learn more about the specific motivations France has to intervene in this country and why Europe including UK, supposed to be so pragmatic, are just watching.
The only thing I understand is that apart from France interests (French residents, uranium, etc...), Europe is benefiting from a French strike against terrorists linked to al qaida.
At least me as a European Citizen, I am grateful to France.
This article from the New York Times is six years old, but provides a decent, high level backgrounder:
I am sorry. There is nothing to be proud of. The new colonial war shall be stopped. Two state solution shall be proposed. Touareg people are the ancient nation known from the times of Roman Empire and they deserve their own state.
As we know France supports two state solution in other part of the Middle East, where the "nation" invented at the last XX century is involved and already received to the UN. But when it comes to their colony, French prefer killing instead of looking for peaceful solutions and negotiation.
Exactly the New York Times hit the nail:)
But nothing ever has changed within the last 6 years.
So this article is actual as it was 6 years ago.
Thank you for the fine link:
I only can underline the opinion of the commentator.
I' would like to remind you that the touareg people live across a large region covering many countries, so the creation of a state would involve very complicated diplomatic repercussions. Besides, the touareg are not the only ancient nation who doesn't currently have a state, hence, enacting your idea would equivalent to opening a pandora box.
I would like to remind you that modern borders in the Africa and the Middle East are product of the British-French colonial politic. Do you think people living in the Mali-Algiers area or Syria-Iraq area carry about lines depicted in Paris or London?
They cross valleys, mountains and dunes as did hundred years whatever gentlemen with cigar drew in exclusive clubs.
You relate to the international borders as timeless and there is no larger mistake. Borders set after the WWII change as arrangements set after the WWII change. In the same way as borders set after the WWI collapsed with WWII start.
Hopefully you know about states like Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia established recently crushing the known borders in Europe.
What is called "the Arab Spring" is a collapse of the known states and raising of formations based on tribal and religious ground. The Pandora Box was opened a long time ago.
Of course post colonial borders are artificial.I'm from west africa and am very aware of the fact that people cross borders easily.
Furthermore, international borders have changed time and time again through various means (purchase, war, political agreements...). Slovakia etc. are accurate examples but I'm not sure these states where based on tribal/religious grounds, those where "nations" (and not "people" or "tribes") who wanted an independent state.
Therefore I do not think the arab spring (in africa) will lead to new independant states. You're surely aware that in the "touareg region" of mali for instance live other tribes (mainly songhai), hence a touareg state will include other tribes which, if we follow this tribal-state-creation logic, will also ask for a state. Elsewhere in west africa, the mandingo people will ask for the same, the haoussa too etc. This would be a never ending nightmare because a viable independant state can only be based on a nation's will.
There's a reason why african states decided in 1963, not to change boarders, at least not through warfare: there would be countless wars over the same territories and thus genocides.
You are right, Slovakia is a"national" state. But not most of the states in Africa, Except from Egypt and may be Morocco. As we learn now, there is no such nation as "Libyans", as well "Malis". There are tribes unified by the power of dictator. When the dictator is weak, rebels come and parts of the state are not controlled by the central government, as it happens in Nigeria and other African states. When the dictator disappears, the state falls to the anarchy threatening the world. It happened in Somalia, it happens now in Libya.
As to the Mali, can 2000 French soldiers control such huge country? We learn from Afghanistan and Iraq that the answer is NO. They could control only the south close to the capital and the airports and also this by the price of thousands lives of innocent. Because of this I called for counting the French victims.
On the rest of the area an independent state will come, officially or not officially.
Yes very few nations exist in africa, that's exactly my point: with less nations than europe, borders have been more stable in africa than in europe since 1960!
If new states are allowed to be created based on tribes in africa, the whole continent will descend in chaos. That's in the interest of nobody (african, european, american or asian). That is why I think nobody will let this pandora box officialy open.
Now, unofficial (meaning unrecognized and thus unthreatning) independant states already exist in various parts of africa: kenedougou (mali-cote d'ivoire-burkina border region), haoussa (niger-nigeria)... on that we can agree!
i hope when frane will surrender and she will believe me ; to not come and cry to the us
we are already in big miss
A bit confused. Are you from the U.S.?
France's military contingents provided invaluable service to the Americans in the first year of the Korean War.
They also contributed to settling the Balkans in the 1990s, (granted they should have done that on their own), and was a partner in the air operation over Libya recently.
Otherwise, they capably handled rebel incursions into Zaire and Chad in the 1970s and 1980s respectively. This seems to be their specialty.
So kind of the French to have helped in the Balkans conflict which was on European soil creating instability on France's doorstep with war refugees flooding into France.
Yes, France did a great honor to the USA even though geographically isolated America was not affected by the Balkan's war at all.
Likewise the same with Libya. On Europe's doorstep with war refugees flooding into cash strapped Italy facing euro crisis. European dependence on Libyan oil. So kind of Franch to have helped the USA on that one too even though the USA was affected by Libya at all and had no oil contracts with Libya. The French and Italians did.
the Balkans conflict was a german bombon
Tell us why two Canadians were among the Terrorists?
The west became powerful by stealing knowledge from the rest of the world, Europeans have perfected the art of technology thieving.
"C. K. Raju has argued that the Catholic Church has systematically stolen mathematical knowledge from Muslim, Hindu, Persian and Arab sources, then gave these ideas a theologically correct Greek origin.[7] Calculus was developed in India 250 years before Newton and Leibniz claimed independent rediscovery[8]. C. K. Raju argued that Calculus was imported to Europe from India by Jesuit missionaries in order to calculate trigonometric values which were in great demand for the Mercator chart which was indispensable for European navigation.[9]"
Mizutofu:"The west became powerful by stealing (Muslim) knowledge from the rest of the world, Europeans have perfected the art of technology thieving."
What is your point? Your Muslim world must be quite miserable and poor despite your advance "knowledge" when you coming in thousands to "thieving" Europe. Your post typifies the world of fanaticism.
Actually I believe the church or some Italian localities debated whether it was good to use hindu arabic numbers back in the 12th century or so.
The church had bouts of obscurantism later on too.
Most people know the middle east and India generated some good math concepts. Having had five years of Latin, I am certainly greatful for hindu arabic numbers.
The history of STEM is interesting, and there are all sorts of claims ejaculated out there (like the famous Soviet statement along the lines of "we invented it first" from the cold war). Maybe some claims are valid, maybe some are not, and maybe the real history is still being overlooked?
Otherwise, the industrial revolution was a phenomenon of W. Europe, foremost Britain, from the 1780s on into the mid-19th century.
You could say they got capital from less than wonderful sources, like exploiting the new world, slavery, etc.
But, the working out of a heavily mechanized society and culture of applied science and innovation stemmed from those local markets (Britain, then some continental countries, followed by the US a bit later, etc.).
How does one go about stealing mathematical knowledge?... And, your silly bout of inferiority has what bearing on the article, exactly?... What else has C.K. Raju argued that gets his lot and his ilk off the hook?... And blames everything on somebody else?... I am guessing that, the Catholic Church is responsible for the latest earthquakes, too; and the Jihadis in Mali and Algeria, isn't it so?... This is a blog on TE. Are you aware of it?
don be ridiculous. I am a hindu residing in India and i hear this bullshit daily. When boson particle was invented some morons started saying that it was already stated in the holy books. We have many good things which world has accepted but don think there is nothing beyond the holy books. Hindus,christians and moderate Muslims began to think and view the world through a human perceptive once the jihadis change their perception world will be safe place. Hope it won't take much time .
In 1939 few Europeans saw the rise of Adolph Hitler as the beginning of World War II.
They thought he was a wacky dictator that could be easily contained.
The views of Neville Chamberlain, French President Albert Lebrun, Ambassador Joseph Kennedy and Charles Lindbergh believed that staunch level headed German common sense would prevail.
And we all could get along with our nutty neighbors.
Then Hitler Invaded Poland, The Nederlands, and France and Russia.
Started Genocide. Bombed England. Torpedoed world trade.
And Europeans woke up in WWII.
It was a big surprise!
The Europeans are also in denial and ignorance about the NEW WAR in their midst.
For the past twenty years, if the West goes to War, it is predominantly with Islam.
Radical Muslim Terrorists have declared war on the West.
Every Terror Incident from 9/11 to 7/7 to 3/11 to the underwear bomber to the Liege Shootings to any next catastrophic terror attack => is Connected to this War.
There is NO MYSTERY when the next commercial jetliner explodes and a bomb is suspected.
We see these as isolated events, when they are all connected to Radical Islam. And financed by oil.
And now the West has no choice but to wage brutal full-frontal War on Islam.
France is NOT going to War in Mali.
This is only one battle in the whole connected World War III spanning the past generation:
Algeria, Cyprus, Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Kurdistan, Turkey, Chechyna, Libya, and now Syria. Perhaps next Iran.
To say that France is going to War in Mali, is similar to saying WWII was fought ONLY in the Philippines.
In fact, WWII involved the Whole World comprehensively for a generation.
WWIII is no different.
But it has already lasted 3x longer than WWII!
War on Terror = War on Islam.
Mali intervention is no different than NATO/ EU/ Western/ UN warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
They are there to kill Muslim guerillas.
It is Christians vs Muslims.
World War III will go on for at least another generation, if not several generations.
The tragedy is when you refuse to see the Large Picture.
The first step to Cure is to make the right Diagnosis.
It is Muslims vs the World( Predominantly Christians, but including Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists, Agnostics and Atheists, and now other Muslim minor sects as in Syria.)
Now let us seek solutions.
If you stay in the same rut, it will continue for a century.
A newborn baby born today will be outlived by this Muslim-West Terror War.
Or we just suffer through another round of home land terror that leads to another heavy handed war intervention.
And await the next Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Mali that is guaranteed to erupt somewhere in the Arab World.
WWIII is happening today.
All Arabs know this.
But Westerners are in a spell that blinds them to reality.
Peace loving liberals argue appeasement and tolerance.
We are in 1939. And the future is dire unless action is taken.
Cast off Denial and Ignorance...see the REAL WORLD.
Make a correct diagnosis.
Then cure the disease.
We are treating the symptoms.
And not attacking the disease.
And the results will continue to be poor.
Timbucktu is not the epicenter of disease.
Rather it is Radical Sharia Law financed by Saudi Oil.
=> Follow the Money.
Why do you copy-paste the same post over and over again? It doesn't make your arguments stronger. Plus it sounds like a cheap piece of neocon propaganda.
"The Europeans are also in denial and ignorance about the NEW WAR in their midst."
Oh what a nonsense. I think you are suffering from an Islamophobia.
Some European countries may have in regard of their special attitude little problems but these problems are nothing but national problems which are out of any interest to anybody in a foreign country.
It depends where you live in Europe and regarding to most European countries I can only underline that in some European countries people of all religions live together in real peace and full of respect.
The so called islamic attack is as true as the fairy tales of George W.Bush and his government about Saddam Hussein and therefore it is very obvious and everybody knows very well which kind of people is reluctantly trying to demonize the whole islamic world.
The end of this kind of propaganda against a religious group is too obvious.
In many countries- and especially in Germany which is after the opinion of the spiritual fathers of these fairy tales and lies the most racist country in the world- there are living millions of muslims completely peaceful and friendly together with other religions.
Millions of muslims have German passports and are German citizens.
So the Armageddon may happen in some weird fantasy but never in reality.
And Europe will have to accept that Africa and the Arab countries are going their own way without asking their former colonial masters in Europe.
The time of colonies and big Empire has gone for ever.
China is overtaking leadership fortunately and new centers of power are in creation.
Some old and big European nations are now in a position of a battle of retreat.
Maybe you are right.
Or maybe you are Neville Chamberlain 2.0
In the 1930's, many wise Germans--including your relatives-- were waylaid by the Rise of Hitler...they went with the flow, built his empire, killed for him, and hoped for his victory.
"in Germany ....there are living millions of Muslims completely peaceful and friendly together with other religions.
Millions of Muslims have German passports and are German citizens."
-German Ambassador
Sometimes invasions come by marching armies...sometimes it comes by baby foot steps.
But either way it comes.
Muhummad is in the top ten baby names in Germany.
I do not think you should take comfort in the millions.
Is Muslim integration in Europe perfect and seamless? ---I would disagree.
Wait for the next terror bombing and ask yourself this question.
Maybe its not "Christians vs. Muslims". Maybe it's "secular society and the rule of law and religious tolerance" vs. religious extremism.
So what do you propose the West should do with these mooslum immigrant communities in its midst? Do you agree with a "final solution" for these "aliens"? Or do you think there should be wholesale expulsions and repatriations back to their homelands?
Let us say there is a religion that has a central tenet of their belief of Cannibalism.
They believe that eating human flesh of a strong individual with courage and intelligence propagates those virtues.
And only require a human sacrifice only about once a month.
And they eat what they kill.
And are otherwise a benevolent religion, valuing children, family, nature, and honesty.
And this may be cultural acceptable in the tribal, dog-eat-dog jungle.
But then these believers move to the West, learn modernity and participate in the global economy.
THEN, this religion CANNOT be allowed to practice their violent sacrifice and cannibalism.
Cultural Relativism has its limits.
They MUST change and adapt to modern social norms.
Because Western values forbid murder and cannibalism.
This is a zero-tolerant, non-exceptions, ABSOLUTE LAW.
In the same way we can accept ALL religions of the world.
But there is an absolute ZERO TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE, EXTORTION, BOMBING, AND TERROR.
Allow Islam => But strictly forbid Violence.
Otherwise eliminate ANY violent religion or religion that condones violence.
whether you are an individual or a world religion.
Only the State/ Police/ Government/ Army has this power.
Never with religious clergy.
Please stop trolling this site with your ridiculous cut and paste shopping lists of xenophobic nonsense.
You may impress your backwoods inbred neighbours with your posts...but you're really boring the heck out of the rest of us.
Hollande is trying to justify bombing civilians by claiming rebels are all al qaeda when only a tiny minority of rebels are affiliated with al qaeda.
We'll kill them all, Allah will recognize his own.
Seriously, "bombing civilians" in a desert environment bristling with weaponized SUVs would be quite an accomplishment.
I certainly don't believe the French are out to bomb civilians. Statements so far suggest a very tough set of rules of engagement (when in doubt, don't shoot).
However, it is conceivable that civilian caravans comprising refugees could get mistaken for rebel formations.
I wouldn't discount that.
Also, the Mali military seems a bit weak, out of form, and could get trigger happy (or have discipline break down, leading to atrocities, who knows, anything is possible).
As for the assertion that only a minority of rebels are Al Qaeda, I would have to see.
My understanding is that some from the Toureg community are involved in rebellion and for now supporting that islamist control of the north. Don't know specifics those or the extent such views are true.
Mon ami, you warn others about trolls like that "Sikko" character - and rightly so - so let me return the favor: don't feed the troll. They all are something you don't want to step into on a hot summer day...
What is happening in Mali is a rebellion against the tyrannical Hollande regime bombing and killing innocent activists and civilians. This can not end in any way other than the collapse of the french economy and Holldande meeting the same fate as Saddam.
The french are clearly bombing civilians in order to protect their Algerian gas facilities.
I think you got names wrong... maybe you wanted to write "tyrannical AQMI regime", but made a mistake and put "Holldande", plus you wrote "french economy" rather than "Jahidist delusion" and you put "Hollande" again when you really meant "Iyad Ag Ghaly". But it's understandable, in the hurry and all... when you work is not easy to focus on posts.
Keep up the good work though.
Are you a partisan of the Jihadists?
Right now I don't believe it is possible to take a gallup poll of the entire country, but it seems the populace in Mali currently support the French.
Seems many people don't like the idea of being killed or brutalized over severe interpretations of religious laws.
NATO Intervention in Lybia undoubtedly saved thousands of civilians and allowed the revolution to take the necessary turn that would lead to the fall of the tyrant. But due to lack of political support, because we failed to mobilize it - beyond the initial enthusiasm- the available knowledge on the Arab-Islamic societies of France, & Europe went to waste. The intervention of France and NATO in Libya has led to the implosion of the country in a myriad of local factions, ethnic or ideological supported on katibas over armed which the post-quadafists puny state cannot impose any monopoly of legitimate force.
Because of this lack of foresight of our decision and policy makers, the entire region, the Sahel is embedded in an influx of weapons from Libyan arsenals massive looting - and this has been a boon for radical Salafist groups. Proliferating rapidly, taking advantage of the widespread disenchantment of disappointed populations two years after the Arab revolutions, facing economic recession and increasing poverty.
The Impunity benefiting jihadists of all kinds has also weakened regional forces of order after the fall of authoritarian regimes, as well as most dubious party leaders come to power through elections, from the Muslim Brotherhood and encourage them covertly to fight their common laic enemy (So do the Gulf states with their petrodollars). May I recall that surely these same mad dogs, AQMI, MUJAO & Ansar Dine are the ones behind the Benghazi & Tunisia US Embassy attacks.
Even Algeria, who felt safe during the Arab spring thanks to its very capable repressive forces, is now suffering the attacks of jihad. The Hostage situation should be a wake up call for the West.
How long will these mad dogs remain uncontested, undefeated, unchallenged?! Westerners stand divided when All Muslim extremists stand united. France had a part in creating this mess, she's trying to fix things and do the right thing. But the USA, UK, Italy, and many other European countries are also responsible. Will they answer their call? They MUST!
I am confident on the competence of French armed forces. Still this is neither Iraq nor Afghanistan, no one is chasing oil or lithium. This is a justified & righteous intervention. We have Mali, the ECOWAS, the UN & most of the West supporting this "diplomatically". If the rest of the West acts now prompt success awaits. If you dont want to send in boots on the ground at least triple your logistical & intelligence support.
What is at stake in Mali is not only a matter of military interventionism and we see that in the days following its occurrence, the war is spreading in a large neighboring country. Terrorism might soon reach Europe again. This requires the implementation of an international strategy and mastery of complex social issues - it is a challenge to civilization in the era of globalization, the interpenetration of cultures and accelerated circulation of doctrines and ideologies, images and videos, people, goods and weapons across borders.
The mess was there, ready to implode soon or later. Better "crever l'abces", at least we know with which illness to deal
Barabarian (Jihadists) are at Europe's door ! What does Ashton, Van Pouic Pouic (President and Baroso (fat guy)..... put their heads in the sand. It looks terrible to see unconcern from Germany (business as usal and other non participative countries. Guys (politics) cancer gains territories, move your a..... Troyan Horse. Cheers
If you like - Switzerland can join with its huge Army. Nobody will stop you:)
Probably the Germans will even take care of the transport of Swiss troops to Mali:)
And as Mali is no German problem nor a German business, people have much important problems as Mali.
What most European don't understand is that this conflict is not only concerning France but whole West Europe. What is Aqmi's main goal : Being closer and closer to Europe... in Order to what? Attack it. Everybody knows it but as always, Europe is flabby and act at the last time. Maybe you will find that not objective because I m french, but I m bored of reading basic french bashing comments from UK and USA. We do what we think is right as we acted like this in Iraq 10 years ago. That's it. As far as USA is not concerned in that conflict, all west Europe countries should be. That is as simple as that.
This conflict (if it is a real one) is nothing but a mere national affair and business of France.
It is very closely noticed that the French are trying to change this national local affair to a European affair.
Mali has been since ever a French colony and so please handle and tackle your own problems by yourself:)
As less as the little conflicts in Northern Ireland are an affair of international importance the less the French conflict in Mali is an international affair.
No other European country, except France alone, is concerned by this little and locally limited riot in Mali.
In other countries they have police-forces for solving local problems of this type.
So the interest into this topic in the rest of Europe is rather little.
So the attempt of the French political class trying to create their national local problem into an international conflict has completely failed.
Even the USA and the UK stay very reluctant.
Any participation of another country would mean an intervention into the inner affairs of France and include a serious attack on French sovereignty.
the terrorists could be Germans
good luck !
The Economist explains: Who would pay a "mansion tax"
The Economist explains
Football and British politics: David Cameron's own goal
Game theory
Britain's election campaign: April 26th: The silence of David Cameron
The week ahead: A very normal affair
Football and politics: David Cameron's own goal
America's Ukrainian mission: Training wheels
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text: Our team is here to make your admissions process easy and (relatively) hassle-free. And just who are these heroes stepping in to guide you through your opportunities and obligations? Meet our admission counselors—and take notes, because there will be a test later. (A. Not really.) (B. Maybe.) (C. All of the above.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
All in the family time...
Tuesday - 11/13/2012, 2:00am EST
It is noble to help starving children overseas, to adopt shelter animals and to donate money to charitable and research hospitals. In return, some offer you a T- shirt, certificate, tote bag or monthly pictures and thank-you cards.
My two favorite charities are a national organization that helps people down-on-their-luck and trains them for work, and a children's hospital where nobody is turned away because they can't pay. Turns out one of my sons has given generously — meaning even more than me — to the same hospital. It is our way of saying thanks for having, between us, seven healthy and happy (most of the time) children.
Global giving notwithstanding, there are times when charity begins closer-to-home. Maybe this is one of them. Superstorm Sandy barely clipped the D.C. area. We stocked up as per usual. Our comfort kit is white milk, white bread and toilet paper. All we got was some cold rain.
Other parts of the Atlantic coast got slammed. New Jersey and New York took a major hit. We've all seen the TV shots of the Jersey shore, flooding in lower Manhattan, etc. People are still without power, heat or fuel. Cops are monitoring gasoline rationing in stations which have the electric power to run the pumps. Many ATMs are out. Some people's homes are gone or uninhabitable.
They can use our support and (if that's your thing) prayers. But also, they can use cash. Like now.
There are many ways we can help. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are obvious choices. And there are many more.
For federal and postal workers, there is an obvious choice: FEEA. The Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund. FEEA gets its money from some very generous corporate sponsors (GEICO, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, LTC Partners), and from some very generous federal workers. Some contribute with each paycheck via the Combined Federal Campaign. Others, at times like now, contribute directly.
Members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association hit by the hurricane can apply for grants of up to $500 through the NARFE-FEEA fund. They must have documentation of damage or need. Those wishing to apply can do so by clicking here. Or, call (800) 338-0755. Remember, the lines are busy, and they are staffed by volunteers.
To donate to the NARFE-FEEA fund members can send tax deductible donations to:
NARFE-FEEA Disaster c/o: FEEA
3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Suite 300
Lakewood, CO 80227.
You can also donate by credit card by calling (800) 338-075 or by clicking here. Select "NARFE-FEEA Relief Fund" from the drop down menu in the Gift Designation Section.
The National Treasury Employees Union (one of the co-founders of FEEA) has pledged to match up to $25,000 based on member contributions to FEEAs's NTEU Fund. More than 30 major federal installations (as well as the homes of workers) were right in the Hurricane Sandy bullseye.
All East Coast victims of the hurricane can download an application by clicking here.
By Jack Moore
Before settling on "The Army Goes Rolling Along," the Army planned to name "The Army's Always There" as its official song. The plan was scrapped, though, because it sounded too similar to a popular 1940s tune "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts."
(Source: Mental Floss)
Tips for Open Season 2013
Open Season started Monday and runs through Dec. 10. During this period,
federal employees can choose a different health care plan within the Federal
Employee Health Benefits Program.
Who's going and who's staying in Obama's
second term
President Barack Obama may be staying put for four more years, but many of the
top officials he appointed to agency posts are eyeing the exits.
Federal-employee, veterans
groups assail proposal to limit COLAs
Congress returns next week and is expected to begin work on an alternative to the
across-the-board budget cuts, known as sequestration, slated to go into effect in
January. But some federal-employee groups and veterans organizations say a
legislative proposal that would result in lower cost-of-living adjustments for
federal and Social Security retirees is a non-starter.
Obama, Boehner hint at
openness to compromise on taxes, spending
President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are signaling they're open
to some compromise on a taxes and spending to prevent more financial pain in the
new year, but the two sides are digging in on raising taxes for wealthier
Americans. Obama said Friday that his re-election gave him a mandate to pursue
that position because "the majority of Americans agree with my approach." Boehner
is still insisting that raising tax rates as Obama wants "will destroy jobs in


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text: [QUOTE=cynical;402696]I think the main issue is not video acceleration by itself, since that can be handed off to gstreamer like Firefox does on linux systems. The problem is more that Chrome is also using gpu acceleration for their UI and they can't guarantee it will work bug-free (imho) primarily due to FGLRX. I can't wait for the radeon driver to kill it so we can finally get decent third party support on Linux. If Nouveau could catch up and Intel would drop vaapi we would be in paradise >


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By falling in line with other states, California is abandoning its push for all eighth-graders to take algebra.
Last month, the State Board of Education unanimously shifted away from a 15-year policy of expecting eighth-graders to take Algebra I. The state will allow them to take either Algebra I or an alternate course that includes some algebra. New state standardized tests will focus on the alternate course -- the same one adopted by most states under the Common Core curriculum being rolled out across the nation.
Supporters welcome the change as more in line with current practice, of schools offering two tracks of math for eighth-graders. But critics fear that the new standard will let schools avoid offering rigorous courses for all. They point to a report released last week showing that some schools are not placing black and Latino students in advanced math courses even when they're prepared.
The change is controversial because success in Algebra I is the single best predictor of college graduation.
Supporters say the state has adopted a more practical and effective way of teaching math. The new standards recognize that not all students can pass algebra in middle school.
"You have a lot of kids who get pushed into algebra when they're not ready," said Mark Stolan, a math teacher at Quimby Oak Middle School in San Jose. "Not only do they struggle, which is demoralizing, then they end up having to take it again."
Since 1997, California standards have included eighth-grade algebra. Under the new standards for algebra: "We are recommending you take it when you're ready," said Thomas Adams, executive director of the state's Instructional Quality Commission.
Competitive track
But critics say the switch could ease pressure on school districts to prepare poor and minority students for college.
"I think it's a step back," said Emmett Carson, executive director of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which has funded algebra-prep courses and has pushed for more rigor for all students.
In 2010, the state board created dual math standards: California's fast track to algebra and the Common Core approach, teaching fewer concepts in depth, leading to Algebra I in ninth grade.
But the Common Core sequence is out of sync with the progression that leads to college-bound students taking calculus in 12th grade, as expected by top-tier universities. The question of how to get kids taking the Common Core nonalgebra math on track for entrance to competitive colleges is left up to school districts.
That could mean students would have to take three years of high school math in two years. Some students do that now, said Morgan Marchbanks, assistant superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District, but it's rare.
If more students stay on the Common Core track, she said, "It's going to have to move from rare to common."
Some say despite its goals, forcing too many students to take algebra in eighth grade has doomed them to fail in math. In Santa Clara County, for instance, two years ago only 44 percent of middle school students tested proficient in math; the figure was only 24 percent for Latino students. And studies show that almost 80 percent of students who retake algebra fail again.
But others argue that California's standards have produced results. Enrollment in algebra classes skyrocketed. The percentage of African-American students who took algebra grew from 24 percent to 60 percent. Latino enrollment nearly tripled to 63 percent.
Yet proficiency lags: Only 60 percent of black and Latino students tested proficient in eighth-grade algebra.
Whether the new system will produce better results will depend on how districts implement it, both sides of the debate say.
Critics point to a report released last week showing how school districts in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties ignore objective data like test scores and grades, and they often place black and Latino ninth-graders in math classes below their level.
Changed practices
In fact, a majority of school districts with ninth-graders in the two counties appear to rely on at least some subjective placement, according to the study issued by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, which compiled previous studies and district data. The result is that students fail to enter the college track at the beginning of high school.
"That's the alarming piece," said Oren Sellstrom, legal director for the civil rights group, which contends that school districts are violating students rights.
Some districts, when notified of racial disparities in math placement, have or will change their practices. They include the Sequoia, Jefferson, Campbell and East Side union high school districts and their feeder elementary districts.
Sequoia, which serves students from Belmont to Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, found that more than 100 students had been mistakenly placed in classes below the level at which they had tested. For example, a student may have done well in an eighth-grade algebra class but been re-enrolled in the same class in ninth grade, Marchbanks said.
So last spring the district decided to adhere strictly to a matrix of test scores and grades when making ninth-grade math placements.
"In looking at the data, we decided to do something to change it," she said.
Contact Sharon Noguchi at 408-271-3775. Follow her at Twitter.com/noguchionk12.


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Looks like Regions Bank is working the "bike culture" angle. And I guess by posting this, I am helping them advertise. Ah, well. Whaddaya gonna do? I was told you must be between 14-16 feet tall to ride this single speed cruiser. Found in The Delmar Loop.
Giant Bicycles
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deform is a Python HTML form generation library. It runs under Python 2.6, 2.7, 3.2 and 3.3.
The design of deform is heavily influenced by the formish form generation library. Some might even say it's a shameless rip-off; this would not be completely inaccurate. It differs from formish mostly in ways that make the implementation (arguably) simpler and smaller.
deform uses Colander as a schema library, Peppercorn as a form control deserialization library, and Chameleon to perform HTML templating.
deform depends only on Peppercorn, Colander, Chameleon and an internationalization library named translationstring, so it may be used in most web frameworks (or antiframeworks) as a result.
Alternate templating languages may be used, as long as all templates are translated from the native Chameleon templates to your templating system of choice and a suitable renderer is supplied to deform.
Visit deformdemo.repoze.org to view an application which demonstrates most of Deform's features. The source code for this application is also available in the deform package on GitHub.
To report bugs, use the bug tracker.
If you've got questions that aren't answered by this documentation, contact the Pylons-discuss maillist or join the
Browse and check out tagged and trunk versions of deform via the deform package on GitHub. To check out the trunk, use this command:
git clone git://github.com/Pylons/deform.git
To find out how to become a contributor to deform, please see the Pylons Project contributor documentation.
Without these people, this software would not exist:


text:
Lackey, Kuroda set to square off at Fenway
Veteran righties to match up in middle game of key weekend series
The Yankees are seven games back in the AL East, and facing the division-leading Red Sox in Boston might not be the best place to gain ground in the pennant race.
After Friday's 4-2 victory, the Red Sox have won nine of their last 10 and 13 of their last 16 games at Fenway Park, and they've won their past eight home series.
That doesn't mean they're taking the Yankees lightly this weekend, though.
"We know they're going to be competitive and field a good team," catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. "It's not going to be your normal games, but we still got to take it as if it was."
The reason Saltalamacchia says the games aren't normal is that the Yankees are still missing some of their biggest pieces. Shortstop Derek Jeter was placed back on the disabled list on Friday, third baseman Alex Rodriguez is still on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and outfielder Curtis Granderson won't be able to begin playing games again until later this month.
"We know we're in fourth place, and we want to get back the pieces that we're missing in the lineup. We want to get our guys back," second baseman Robinson Cano said. "It's going to make a big difference. We know those guys have been here a long time."
The Yankees won't have any of those guys in Boston this weekend, and now they won't have Zoilo Almonte, either. The rookie outfielder suffered a sprained left ankle during Friday's game and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Outfielder Thomas Neal is the most likely candidate to replace him on the roster, but no official announcement has been made yet.
Boston pitchers have taken advantage of the Yankees' bruised and battered lineup. Starter Felix Doubront and three relievers combined to allow just five hits and two runs on Friday night.
On Saturday, the Red Sox will start John Lackey, who ranks second in the team's rotation with a 2.78 ERA.
"I think we've been tested. We've been tested and we have to pass the test," Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said. "We need to do our job and you have to take the best for everybody. We have to do that."
Yankees: Kuroda on a roll
The Yankees will counter Lackey with starter Hiroki Kuroda on Saturday. The right-hander has been a constant for New York this season, and he ranks second among American League starters with a 2.65 ERA.
Kuroda has thrown 12 scoreless innings over his last two starts, allowing just nine hits while striking out nine batters during that span. He's struggled against the Red Sox this season, though, allowing five combined runs over 6 2/3 innings in two losses to them.
Red Sox: Lackey struggles against Yankees
Lackey has been a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox this season. He's posted a 7-6 record and a stellar sub-3.00 ERA after missing all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander has never finished a season with an ERA below 3.01, and his 2.78 mark this year is more than a full run below his career 4.03 ERA. He's allowed two runs or less in each of his past five starts, and he's lasted at least seven innings in each of his last six starts.
New York has not been kind to him in his career, though. Lackey hasn't faced them yet this season, but his 4.68 ERA against them is the third-highest mark he has against any team he's faced more than three times.
Worth noting
• Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino left Friday's during the fourth inning after aggravating a nagging left hamstring injury.
• The Red Sox announced Friday that reliever Andrew Bailey could miss the season with damage to his right shoulder labrum, which could require surgery.
Josh Vitale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: Disclaimer: All Prices, Specifications, Availability and Terms of Offer are subject to change without notice. Images may not represent actual products as they are for illustration purpose only. Product Weight shown is approximate and it could also include weight of packing material. We have stated only the traditionally known benefits of Rudrakshas, Yantras and other items. Celextel Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. is not responsible for non-effectiveness or adverse effect of any of these items. Copyright © 2002-2015 Celextel Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Powered by osCommerce. Monday * April 20, 2015 * 06:18 AM [IST] |


text:
Selected players and coaches from the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Oregon Ducks will participate in a ceremony taking place at Disneyland on December 26. The ceremony, which will take place in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, is scheduled to happen at around 2 pm PT.
Special Edition of 20/20 Looks at the Inspiration Behind 'The Blind Side'
ABC News goes behind the motion picture "The Blind Side," following the real life story of Michael Oher's journey from the projects in Memphis, Tennessee, to realizing his dream of playing professional football. Today he is a rookie tackle with the Baltimore Ravens. Anchored by Deborah Roberts, the special includes Oher's first sit down interview as well as interviews with the entire real life family – mother Leigh Anne Tuohy, husband Sean Tuohy and children Sean Jr., and daughter Collins. Additionally, the hour will include interviews with Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw.
Dates for Walt Disney World's 2010 Star Wars Weekends Announced
On its official blog, Disney Parks has announced the dates for the 2010 Star Wars Weekends event to take place at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The dates are as follows: May 21 – 23, May 28 – 30, June 4 – 6 and June 11 – 13
Muppets to Lead Disney Parks Afternoon Parades in 2010
Beginning January 8, 2010, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Sweetums will join the Disney's Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade which will act as the pre-parade for the afternoon parades at both the Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland.
The Muppets and parade dancers, wearing outfits that celebrate the work of volunteers, will join special floats and vehicles celebrating volunteerism and presenting Honorary VoluntEARS serving as Grand Marshals of the parades.
On February 11, Walt Disney World's Epcot will also be hosting the Disney Parks' Celebration of Volunteerism event which will be a Disney star-studded event, celebrating family volunteering.
Win A Dream Vacation Aboard the Disney Wonder from Hanes Comfort
Hanes, the official apparel of the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, is offering 3 winners chosen at random the opportunity to win a 5 night cruise for four aboard the Disney Cruise Line Wonder. Included is roundtrip airfare to OIA and ground transportation to Port Canavaral. All taxes and fees and meals are included.
In addition, Hanes is giving away free socks to the first 100 entrants each week (week begins Friday night at 12 am).
For the full official rules and to enter, visit Hanes Cruise Giveaway.
New Hi-Res Image from Prince of Persia Featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as Dastan
Walt Disney Studios has just sent us this image of Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) from Prince of Persia. Although a similiar image had been released in the past, this one shows Dastan much more closely.
Sneak Peek of Toy Story 3 Now Available Online (Video)
This past weekend, ABC Family presented a sneak peek at the upcoming Toy Story 3 along with a brief introduction by director Lee Unkrich. The clip, just short of two minutes, shows the beginning of the film where Andy, who is now preparing to head to college, needs to decide which toys to keep, which to store in the attic and which get thrown out. This is basically the same clip that we saw during the Toy Story 3 presentation at the D23 Expo (in 2D) and I remember being shocked when Andy makes one of his decisions. Check it out below, courtesy of Disney/Pixar.
Photo: Justin Bieber at the Magic Kingdom with Aladdin's Genie
Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber poses Dec. 19, 2009 with the "Genie" from Disney's animated film "Aladdin" at the Magic Kingdom. Bieber was in central Florida to perform at a Radio Disney concert at the Celebration Town Center in nearby Celebration, Fla. Magic Kingdom is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. (Preston Mack, photographer)
WDW Refurb Update: CSR Pool in Jan; Backlot Tour and Studio Catering Company in Feb
Both the Backlot Tour and Studio Catering Company at Disney's Hollywood Studios will close on February 15 and re-open on March 28.
Additionally, the Dig Site (Feature Pool) at Coronado Springs Resort will close on Jan 11 for the rest of the month.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!
Reuters: Disney XD picks up 'Pair of Kings'
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Disney XD, a cable channel targeting young boys, is going royal with a series order for the live-action comedy pilot "Pair of Kings."
The series, which will start production in March for a fall premiere, stars "Hannah Montana" veteran Mitchel Musso and "House of Payne" regular Doc Shaw as 16-year-old fraternal twins (one white and one black). They are typical teenagers in Chicago raised by their aunt and uncle until they find out that they are heirs to the throne of the island of Kinkou; they relocate there to become kings.


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The State Department
The diplomatic arm of the United States, official documents and speeches can often be found on their site. -
The United Nations
World body of member nations that attempts to mitigate international disputes and create international agreements. -
The intelligence arm of the US government. -
Foreign Broadcast Information Service, CIA operated service that translates all news sources around the world.(access through Claremont Libraries only) -
CIA World Factbook
Provides "snapshot" images of countries. -
International Institute of Strategic Studies, London based think tank known for its analysis of world trends. -
Centers for Strategic and International Studies, Washington based think tank similar in scope to IISS. -
The Heritage Foundation
Washington based think tank that provides foreign policy analysis from a conservative viewpoint. -
The Brookings Institution
Washington-based think tank that supplies extensive information on foreign policy. -
The Hoover Institution
Stanford based think tank known for foreign policy analysis. -
Internet company that does independent analysis of IR events. -
Yahoo! IR Links
A plethora of other IR related links. - Web Sites for International Relations Majors
Research Links
Keck Center for International & Strategic Studies
Claremont McKenna College
850 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8213
(909) 621-8756
Campus Location
Kravis Center, Third Floor
888 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711


text:
I guess that suspention of KDE doesn't work with a dual-monitor setup?
Phoronix: Ubuntu Unity Proves Very Slow To KDE, GNOME, Xfce, LXDE
Earlier this week when benchmarking the latest Unity and Compiz packages for Ubuntu 12.10, I mentioned a new OpenGL desktop comparison was forthcoming. Those results from the Ubuntu 12.10 development snapshot are now available with the default Unity desktop being compared to KDE, GNOME, Xfce, and LXDE. In no test did the Unity desktop yield the fastest performance with nearly every time the default Ubuntu desktop being left in last place for performance.
I guess that suspention of KDE doesn't work with a dual-monitor setup?
Good cause in some technical parts Unity is bad (it copies existing Apis and just rename them like with Unity.MediaPlayer and Mpris) just look at Unity APIs and for the most parts you'll find an equivalent at freedesktop.org.
Thank you Michael for this benchmark, looks like it's time to move to the Xubuntu/Kubuntu
KDE works flawless with Dual-Monitor: my System http://www.sysprofile.de/id123113.
Why are some faster and slower than others?
I'm curious about the effect of "Undirect fullscreen windows" option for compiz, I think it would be interesting to see its effect(and possibly a couple more options that could improve performance, basically disable "Sync to Vblank" and "Detect framerate", also inserting the appropriate value for the framerate on the same page).
I know that the tests performed here were mostly meant to test default configurations, but I'd be interested to see this tested as well. I've noticed that this option can cause some bugginess .. So is it worth it?
And so .. Was anyone saying KDE is heavy and slow and that XFCE is better for performance/gaming etc?
Edit: Should have also said .. Thanks for the benchmarks, it's good to have those comparisons.
(Although I'm also curious if different hardware[graphics card] causes significant changes)
Maybe, Canonical should think about using kWin instead of Compiz.
So, according to these tests, previous results from other tests would be much better if you were using kWin??
Seems like the answer is obvious. Copy what KDE did. KDE with effects on is nearly identical in performance to Unity without fullscreen mode on, but it performs on the level of uncompositied desktops when using full screen mode.
Unity should just implement what the KDE group did. Seems to work.
Wasn't L4D2 faster on Ubuntu than on Windows?
Didn't that Ubuntu use Unity? [http://blogs.valvesoftware.com/linux.../#comment-4328]
Just imagine a "KDE SC 4.9 - Suspended" so much more frames per second


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1. Where are the benchmarks xrender vs drm vs gl vs gles2/egl vs cairo 1.10?
2. I tried to compile a cairo with a bit more features than the default arch install.
Each one of the following parameters break the build in its own way:
Is this normal?Code:--enable-drm --enable-cogl --enable-gl --enable-qt
Wayland should use the acceleration from glesv2/egl without requiring gl, right?


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e_tornabene The impossible was a great film, highly recommend it !
465 days ago.
sdmunroe I just saw #Mitt. The documentary showed only his "likable" side. The film deserves praise for doing the impossible. Now, let's see #Barack.
lizzyedwards_x @HollyStandfast @UrsulaGardner the impossible is the saddest film I have ever watched.
annalouiseadams Just watched "The Impossible", very good film. Visited Sri Lanka in 2012 and it was unbelievable.
TuihanaKinita @TomHolland1996 I absolutely love you! The impossible is such an amazing film! How long ago was it filmed? You look so young in it
466 days ago.
Interview: 'The Impossible' Director J.A Bayona on Naomi Watts, Shooting a Mega Tsunami Wave and Weeping on Set We sit down with Bayona and talk about the creation of 'The Impossible', from shooting a deadly tsunami wave to Naomi Watts' potential Oscar nomination. More Films on Fandango's Awards Watch More Films on Fandango's Awards Watch


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Hi all! How are you all doing? To the fathers out there....Happy Father's Day!
Well, today has been a roller coaster of emotions. But im very happy that im sober going through them.
I was cleaning most of the morning. While I was doing that I put my ipod stereo on and started listening. Really listening. The music seemed like it was coming from inside me. Seemed like every song that came on brought up different emotions in me about so many things.
One song came on and it made me think about my father. Not my dad, my father. Long story short, he was a drunk. An abusive horrible drunk. My mom finally was able to get away from him when I was 6. Me her and my older brother. She remarried a wonderful and amazing man...my dad. My brother and i asked him to adopt us. He wanted to very much. He went and asked my father. He agreed. I never saw my father after that. I never wanted to. I hated him so much. I found out 2 years ago that he died a year prior. I convinced myself I was happy about that...that he deserved it. That he was horrible and never did anything for us. He couldnt even stop drinking for us. How dare he? How flippin hard could that be?
Yep, you guessed it....he is at the root of a lot of my issues. See, we never talked about it. Nothing, ever was said. I still dont know why. We even had friends and that believing that dad was dad and we had no problems. We even changed birth certificates. Weird. That was a problem too...not talking about it. It was SO taboo.
I finally sat and told my kids on day 1 of sobriety. I told my parents it was crazy to not talk about it.
I love my dad so much and no one could ever take his place. But I realize that my father gave me 2 gifts in life. He gave me life, and by allowing my dad to adopt me...he gave me life again.
I am 33 and only have 4 memories of my father. Only one is good. he never hurt me physically. Only mom. I have come to realize that, even though I hate his actions, its not my battle. Thats my moms issue to deal with. I cant continue to carry it with me.
I need to remember the good he did for me, my brother, and from what I am learning...the country! He was an extremely intelligent man. But he didnt know any better. He was in a place in life that even if he wanted to change...he couldnt have. I know this now.
I forgive him. And I talked to him today. Sorta...I talked to him and God today. I told him happy Father's day. I apologized for all the past fathers days that I hated him. That he was alone.
I felt a sense of peace come over me. I continued talking to God. I told Him all the things I was thinking. As if He didnt know! I told Him about the people in my life that have helped me get to day 18 today. One person in particular...has helped me in so many ways. I told God about this person as well...and told Him all my private thoughts that I had in my head about this person. This person has imparted onto me so much wisdom, peace, a love of life, true joy, support, unconditional care and concern, has been non judgemental, a true friend. Someone I have come to care a great deal about. Someone I want to have the honor of having as a part of the rest of my life, a true friend. As I was talking to God, I was telling Him how I wished there was a way to say thank you to this wonderful soul.
I wont go into details, but something miraculous happened. And it became so obvious what I needed to do.
I thanked this person. And I can only hope that it shows even a portion of my appreciation of them.
I am so blessed. It is only recently that I am truly beginning to see in how many ways I am blessed.
One of my blessings is this site. I thought I found it...but really, I believe I was drawn to it. For many reasons.
I need all of you. I need you reading my words, I need to read yours, I need your hearts, your minds...I need you.
You are all special to me.
Thank you for letting me share.
I love ALL of you


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Main Content
Support Clint Bowyer as you watch him race around the track with this official jacket. It features Clint Bowyer's sponsor logos on the front and back with contrast-colored side panels.
- Officially licensed NASCAR product
- Quality embroidery
- Rib-knit cuffs & waist
Bowyer Customers also liked:
Reviewed by 2 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-2
- Authentic Design
- Durable Construction
- Shows Off Team Pride
Best Uses
- At The Race
- Daily Use
- Decoration
- Showing Team Pride
Comments about Men's Official Twill Jacket Clint Bowyer:
I agree with the other comments, wish it had Clint Bowyer's name and car number on it.
- Durable Construction
- Look
- Shows Off Team Pride
- Unique Item
- Clint Bowyers Name Missin
Best Uses
- Might Need It In October
- Showing Team Pride
Comments about Men's Official Twill Jacket Clint Bowyer:
love nascar and have several drivers gear AND VERY DISAPPOINTED CLINT BOWYERS NAME IS NOT ON MY JACKET especially since he is from the Midwest as I live in Kansas city
- Sizing:
- Feels true to size
Displaying reviews 1-2
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game
or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are
received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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I recently came across an article in a German model publication about what I am calling a vector thrust submarine.
They call the model the Ironfish. Kind of a steam punk design.
The cool thing I liked was the way they apply the power to the water.
It is like a two axis outdrive or vectored thrust.
I find this system totally intriguing and have to design my own version.
Here are some photos I pulled from the PDF using the iPad snapshot function.
The one model they call the Rocket.
I like rockets! BD.


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Book your room at Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites
Standard Double Room, 2 Double Beds
Max Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children, 3 infants)Suite, 1 Bedroom
Max Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 3 infants)Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View
Max Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children, 3 infants)Suite, 2 Bedrooms
Max Occupancy: 6 guests (up to 5 children, 5 infants)Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed
Max Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)Overlooking historic James Bay District in Victoria
With a stay at Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites, you'll be centrally located in Victoria, steps from Victoria Clipper Ferry Terminal and minutes from Victoria Harbour.
This family-friendly hotel is within close proximity of The Robert Bateman Centre and Pacific Undersea Gardens.
Make yourself at home in one of the 196 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and coffee/tea makers.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities including an indoor pool and a fitness center. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and wedding services.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a business center, and express check-in. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge during limited hours, and self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites offers a restaurant and bar serving dinner and drinks. The business center offers print services, a computer with high-speed Internet access, and 10 conference rooms. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Banquet facilities, wedding services, and event catering are available. Express check-in and -out, luggage storage, concierge services, and dry cleaning/laundry services can be arranged by the multilingual staff at the front desk.
This is a smoke-free hotel.
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Number of meeting rooms - 10
- Multilingual staff
- 24-hour front desk
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- ATM/banking
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Express check-out
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Fireplace in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Free WiFi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Express check-in
- Luggage storage
- Laundry facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Number of floors - 12
- Total number of rooms - 196
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Conference space size (feet) - 12917
- Smoke-free property
- Indoor pool
- Wedding services
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Self parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Cable TV service
- Ceiling fan
- Climate control
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free toiletries
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Desk
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron/ironing board
- Free WiFi
- Pay movies
- Premium TV channels
- Private bathroom
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Shower/tub combination
- Phone
Where to Eat
Vic's Restaurant & Bar - Serving dinner and drinks in a casual, elegant environment. Canadian fare, with local flavors from the Victoria area is on offer. Affordable wine selections are available at the bar.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near this Victoria, BC hotel; fees may apply.
- Sailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Pets allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Parking height restrictions apply
- Self parking fee: CAD 15.00 per night
- Pet fee: CAD 35 (varies based on length of stay)
- Rollaway bed fee: CAD 25 per night
We should mention
The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


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The Eagle-Vail Community Garden committee hand-selected 72 varieties of unique, organic and heirloom seeds for "The Great, Amazing Seed Sale," which takes place today at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagle-Vail Pavilion. The sale is a fundraiser for the 72-plot community garden located in Eagle-Vail.
Seeds you won't find at Big Box stores - such as white icicle radish, long red Florence onion, Detroit dark red beet, dragon carrot, blue podded peas, black velvet nasturtium, crisp mint lettuce and true lemon cucumber - are offered at the sale. All seeds were divided into smaller packs for the individual gardener and selected to sow outdoors and succeed in high altitude gardens.
Organized by a core committee and built entirely by volunteer hands, Eagle-Vail Community Garden has 60 4-foot-by-8-foot raised beds and 12 4-foot-by-16-foot "corporate" beds, set aside for businesses. Currently, restaurants Grouse Mountain Grill in Beaver Creek, Splendido in Beaver Creek, Vin48 in Avon, Loaded Joes in Avon and Leonora in The Sebastian at Vail grows in the garden. In addition to individual plots, the garden has communal gardening areas, demonstration gardens to host educational workshops and exhibit high-altitude growing techniques. The garden was recently awarded a grant to build a perennial area, which will include themed garden beds such as habitat gardens, native perennials, a beer and wine garden and sensory plants.
The garden committee is raising funds for this new perimeter area and hopes to build a much-needed new garden shed. Funds raised will also go toward education efforts at the garden.
Currently, the garden is sold out and there is a waiting list. The high participation rate reflects a trend of communities across the country turning to neighborhood gardens both for a food source and a sense of community. For more information about the Eagle-Vail Community Garden or the Great, Amazing Seed Sale, email firstname.lastname@example.com or visit the website at http://eaglevail
garden.wordpress.com" target="_blank">class="NormalParagraphStyle">garden.wordpress.com.


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Welcome! This is where all Active communities connect. Select a community below to get involved in your area of interest.
Online Golf Tee Times with Last Minute Tee Time Deals & Discounts
Cool Running is the complete online resource for runners.
Find your favorite campground from the best campgrounds listing!


text:
Joke of the day
Every man needs a go-to joke.
Gone Fishing.... A young guy from Texas moves to California and goes to a big department store looking for a job. The manager says, "Do you have any sales experience?" The kid says, "Yeah, I was a salesman back home in Texas." Well, the boss liked the kid, so he gave him the job. "You start tomorrow. I'll come down after we close and see how you did." His first day on the job was rough but he got through it. After the store was locked up, the boss came down. "How many sales did you make today?" The kid says, "One." The boss says, "Just one? Our sales people average 20 or 30 sales a day. How much was the sale for?" Kid says, "$101,237.64." Boss says, "$101,237.64? What did you sell him?" Kid says, "First I sold him a small fish hook. Then I sold him a medium fish hook. Then I sold him a larger fish hook. Then I sold him a new fishing rod. Then I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said down at the coast, so I told him he was gonna need a boat, so we went down to the boat department, and I sold him that twin engine Chris Craft. Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that 4X4 Blazer." The boss said, "A guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a boat and truck?" Kid says, "No, he came in here to buy a box of tampons for his wife, and I said, 'Well, since your weekend's shot, you might as well go fishing.'"
Male Comebacks Man: Haven't I seen you someplace before? Woman: Yes that's why I don't go there anymore. Man: Really? I heard it was because everyone there thinks you're slutty. Man: Is this seat empty? Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down. Man: Probably because you'd be on your knees greeting my crotch. Man: Your place or mine? Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I'll go to mine. Man: That's cool, 'cause after I get done nailing you in the back of my car... I don't give a crap where you go. Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning? Woman: Unfertilized. Man: No problem, I can always withdraw onto your face Man: Do you want to dance? Woman: No! Man: I think you misheard me. I said you look fat in those pants. Man: If I could see you naked, I'd die happy. Woman: If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing. Man: That works for me... as long as you're still warm when I do you.
Top 15 Signs You've Been Out Of College Too Long 15- Your potted plants stay alive. 14- You keep more food than beer in the fridge. 13- 6:00am is when you get up, not when you go to sleep. 12- You hear your favorite song on the elevator at work. 11- You go from 130 days of vacation time to 7. 10- Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up". 9- You're the one calling the police because those damn kids next door don't know how to turn down the stereo. 8- Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you. 7- You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore. 6- Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up. 5- You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's. 4- MTV News is no longer your primary source for information. 3- A $4 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff". 2- Grocery lists are longer than macaroni & cheese, Diet Pepsi & Ho-Ho's. 1- Over 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
Selling Life Insurance Private Jones was assigned to the Army induction center, where he was to advise new recruits about their government benefits, especially their Serviceman's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). It wasn't long before the center's Lieutenant noticed that Private Jones had almost a 100% record for insurance sales, which had never happened before. Rather than ask about this, the Lt. stood in the back of the room and listened to Jones' sales pitch. Jones explained the basics of the SGLI to the new recruits, and then said. "If you have SGLI and go into battle and are killed, the government has to pay $200,000 to your beneficiaries. If you don't have SGLI, and you go into battle and get killed, the government has to pay only a maximum of $6000." "Now," he concluded, "which bunch do you think they are going to send into battle first?"
Armageddon George and James were chatting in a bar. George said, "What would you do if you heard the world was to end in fifteen minutes?" "I'd screw anything that moved", said James. "What would you do?" George said, "I'd stand perfectly still."
The Voice A man was walking in the street when he heard a voice: "Stop! Stand still! If you take one more step, a brick will fall down on your head and kill you." The man stopped and a big brick fell right in front of him. The man was astonished. He went on, and after awhile he was going to cross the road. Once again the voice shouted: "Stop! Stand still! If you take one more step, a car will run over you and kill you." The man did as he was instructed, and just then, a car came careening around the corner, barely missing him. "Where are you?" the man asked. "Who are you?" "I am your guardian angel," the voice answered. "Oh yeah?" the man asked. "And where the hell were you when I got married?"
The Blonde It was a really hot day and this blonde decided to go buy a can of Coke. She went to the Coke machine and when she put her money in, a can of Coke came out -- so she kept putting money in. Now since it was such a hot day, a line had formed behind her. Finally, a guy in line said, "Will you hurry up? We're all hot and thirsty!" And the blonde said, "No way. I'm still winning!"


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After having a baby, I feel a little depressed after thinking about getting back in shape. You may have realized by now that our famiy loves dessert. Trust me, we have tried to go without, but it just makes life so unbearable! Rather than giving dessert up completely, I decided to try a dessert I don't have to feel as guilty about. Even my husband devoured these cupcakes!
Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes Recipe:
(makes 24 cupcakes, 110 calories per frosted cupcake, 2 Weight Watchers Points)
1 pkg. Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix (just the powder, not the recipe on the box)
1 (12 ounce) can Sprite Zero
1 (8 ounce) container Fat Free Cool Whip
1 (1.5 ounce) pkg. Fat Free Vanilla Jello Instant Pudding (just the powder, not the recipe on the box)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and Sprite together. Continue to mix until the batter is smooth without any lumps. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter into every cupcake wrapper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool before frosting.
In a mixing bowl, add Cool Whip and pudding. Mix with a whisk by hand or an electric hand mixer until smooth. Spread over cooled cupcakes. Makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes.
Looking for other low fat snack ideas?
Here are some of our favorites:
Looking for more easy recipes?
Check out our 5 Ingredient Cookbook!
This is a collection of 31 of our easiest and quickest recipes, including 11 more slow cooker recipes. You can't miss with the simple desserts and treats! All of them contain 5 ingredients or less and can be put together quickly! You'll love them like we do especially for only $2.47! Get it here!


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Why am I not amazed?
Phoronix: Linux Foundation Struggles With Microsoft UEFI Signing
James Bottomley has written about the problems being faced by the Linux Foundation in having a Microsoft-approved validly-signed UEFI pre-bootloader...
Why am I not amazed?
I'm not a SecureBoot expert, but doesn't this completely defeat what Microsoft officialy wants to achieve with secureboot?
I.e.: A "hacker" could use that publicly available signed bootloader and use it to preload before Windows and make secureboot completely pointless?
Just asking. Hope someone can clarify this.
And so it begins... UEFI is unleashed upon the world and the Linux Foundations is having issues with proprietary technologies from Microsoft. The fact the we need a "Microsoft UEFI Signing" process is really sad. One can only guess how much grief this will generate down the road. I'm pessimistic about this one...
Not sure if serious...Silverlight-based file uploader
EU really needs to something about this.
Silverlight required for the uploader is just icing on the cake, they just made it to fuck with us.
Microsoft even deprecated Silverlight.
Really fucked up that we need the permission of Microsoft to run our system.
SecureBoot is so flawed in everything from its design to implementation.