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Fallout From Previous War Resolutions Hangs Over Syria Debate
Posted on CQ.com on Sept. 5, 2013 – 2:06 p.m.
By Megan Scully, CQ Roll Call
Looming large over the congressional debate to authorize the use of force in Syria are votes taken more than a decade ago to launch operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As lawmakers sit through classified briefings and public hearings, they are at once skeptical of the administration's case to strike following the Assad regime's Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack outside of Syria and wary that the United States could be dragged into another prolonged war.
After a decade of war, members on both sides of the aisle remain unconvinced that a Syria strike is in the national security interests of the United States. They question the U.S. military objective, the country's ability to keep the operation a limited one and the affordability of even a small strike.
It seems fitting, then, that two of the Obama administration's point men on Syria — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry — took those votes to authorize force in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside their Senate colleagues many years ago.
Both men, veterans of the Vietnam War, voted to authorize operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iraq vote in 2002, in particular, hangs over them as they press the case for a strike in Syria on Capitol Hill.
"Both of us are especially sensitive to never again asking any member of Congress to vote on faulty intelligence," Kerry told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Some lawmakers who voted against the authorization to use force in Iraq (PL 107-243), including Sen. Barbara Boxer, have stressed that attempting to draw parallels between that war and the proposed strike in Syria is a false comparison.
"In Iraq, the Bush administration prepared to invade and occupy a country with well over 100,000 troops," Boxer said at Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. "In this case, the president's been clear. No ground invasion, no occupation."
The California Democrat ultimately voted to support the authorization during the panel's markup Wednesday. But others, like Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who voted against the Iraq authorization as a House member, are unconvinced by the administration's case for a quick strike against Assad.
"Many who voted for it [the Iraq war] came to regret that vote," Udall said during Tuesday's hearing. "Americans are understandably weary after the fiasco of Iraq and after more than a decade of war, how can our administration make a guarantee that our military actions will be limited? How can we guarantee that one surgical strike will have any impact other than to tighten the vise grip Assad has on his power?"
During the Senate markup, Udall offered an amendment that would have sharply limited the scope of the operation. The panel soundly defeated Udall's language and he later voted against the authorization.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., also opposed the Iraq war but has said he supports striking in Syria despite a lack of strong public support for the operation.
"Public opinion was very much in favor of going into Iraq. I voted not to go into Iraq. I thought it was a mistake," Levin told reporters on Wednesday after a lengthy classified briefing. "The phones were ringing off the hook after President Bush's speeches about going into Iraq. If I had followed public opinion then, I would have voted to go into Iraq. But in my judgment at that tie, it was a mistake."
Each senator, Levin added, is ultimately going to have to decide for themselves whether striking in Syria is in America's security interests.
"It may or may not be popular at the moment, but each of us, I believe, will make an effort to the best of our ability make that judgment," he said.
After September 11
Even the war in Afghanistan, which received nearly unanimous support on Capitol Hill and across the country in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is playing into the debate on Syria.
Democratic Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois said on Tuesday he didn't understand then the wide-ranging effects of the authorization for force (PL 107-40) after those attacks, given that it has been cited by two administrations as permitting drone strikes and other counterterrorism operations in a number of countries.
"I still believe that was the right thing to do," Durbin said of his vote to authorize the Afghanistan war. "But I didn't know at the time that I voted for that authorization for the use of military force I was voting for the longest war in the history of the United States and an authority to several presidents to do things that no one could have envisioned at that moment in history."
During Wednesday's markup, Durbin, who ultimately supported the resolution, worked to make the language in the authorization as specific as possible to avoid another broad-sweeping declaration of war.
"I think that what we've done today is a step in the right direction," he said. "I hope that it makes it a safer world."
Earlier Syria Vote
But the Iraq and Afghanistan votes may not be the only ones factoring into lawmakers' decisions on Syria.
In 2003, both chambers of Congress widely supported the Syria Accountability Act (PL 108-175), which gave the president a choice of sanctions aimed at, among other things, forcing Syria to abandon its support of terrorism and its suspected possession of chemical weapons.
The bill states that Syria's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction threatens the security interests of the Middle East and the national security interests of the United States — a statement that administration officials and others in support of a strike have used to buttress their arguments that doing so is in the country's best interest.
"Not all of us were here 10 years ago when that vote was taken," Levin said. "But many of us were here and I think that that will also be something that people will look back to as a reminder of how seriously we took it that Syria might even get possession of — much less use — chemical weapons."
Of course, there have also been times when Congress has debated war authorizations without clearing them, only to have an administration move ahead anyway, effectively eroding the 1973 War Powers Resolution (PL 93-148).
In 1999, the House narrowly rejected — in a 213-213 vote — a Senate-passed measure that would have authorized U.S. participation in NATO airstrikes. The Clinton administration proceeded with the operation, and Congress ended up appropriating funds for the mission.
At the time, lawmakers criticized the floor debate for being overly politicized and not terribly substantive.
"All we're doing in all of these resolutions today is sending messages," House Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairman Sonny Callahan, R-Ala., said during the debate.
In 2011, the House debated — and was unable to pass — resolutions that would have authorized or blocked U.S. involvement in enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, holding votes several weeks after the United States had joined the operation. The Senate never held a vote.
Source: CQ News
Round-the-clock coverage of news from Capitol Hill.
© 2013 CQ Roll Call All Rights Reserved.


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Album Review — 17 May 2010
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Sounds like your only complaint about El Che is that it has 3 tracks talking about women. Not sure how that makes a 16 track album weak considering most rappers brag on their dick for a whole record. As long as they ain't on no Jay Z/Beyonce "Hollywood" type tracks from Kingdom Come I'm gonna give Fest the benefit of the doubt and cop the album.

subset: commoncrawl


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A 14-week old Beagle puppy named Snoopy was found dead, hanging from a tree, by the family's ten year old daughter, according to the Sentinel and Enterprise. Police are investigating the dog's death, as well as Winchendon animal control and the MSPCA.
The Clark family only had Snoopy for about six weeks. Allyson Clark had let Snoopy out on a dog run while she was cooking dinner. The puppy was outside for about 25 minutes when she sent her daughter out to bring him in. After hearing screams, she ran outside to find Snoopy hanging from a tree about four feet off the ground.
"He was tied in so many knots," Clark said. "It took two of us to untie him. It's the sickest thing I've seen in my life."
The dog run had been disconnected and a rope from the nearby bird feeder was found tied around the dog's neck. Snoopy had been murdered.
While the Clark family has no idea why anyone would want to harm the puppy, there had been suspicious activity in the neighborhood that has them concerned. A neighbor told Clark she had witnessed a man coming out of the woods on a regular basis.
"She said she had seen a gentleman keep coming out of our woods, even in the middle of night," she said. "She thought we had many sons, but we only have one son and three daughters."
Clark said she had found numerous cigarette butts in the yard and no one in her family smokes.
The family is taking action by posting flyers of what happened, installing video surveillance, and not allowing their children and other pets outside alone.
Anyone with information should call the Winchendon police at 978-297-1212.
In the news:
Weeks old puppy thrown in trash in Lawrence, MA
Shorty Rossi shares his thoughts on pit bulls, passion and criticism
Bags of poisoned meat found at park in Saugus, MA
35 neglected farm animals rescued from unlicensed petting zoo in Ludlow, MA


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With web traffic being what it is, I'm republishing TBRfan's comments on the games she saw in Florida so more folks can see this first-person, eyes-on-the-ground account…
Hello all— got to watch the instructs game vs. Detroit today…
Oduber had an interesting fielding day in center, seemingly misjudging balls. But in his defense, the sun was wicked bad and two of the hits were tailing away. He really reminds me of Justin Maxwell.
Bryce Harper looks to me like the real deal. Didn't have many balls hit to him, but his arm is strong and accurate. Played good backup defense to Oduber. He had a monstrous home run hit over the right field wall that probably carried 400+ feet. The right fielder just turned and watched.
J.P. Ramirez had a steady fielding game. Souza had his typical error-prone game. I just don't know what the Nats see in him. Adrian Sanchez made some super plays at second. Catching was a platoon of Norris and… Can't remember the name. Both catchers threw the ball well and tossed out runners at second and third.
As for batting… The team was shut down by the Detroit first round pitching prospect [Jacob Turner]. But my Lord: He was throwing smoke. None of the Nats came close to hitting that guy. He'll be in the bigs for sure. Amazing pop of his pitches in the glove and incredible command.
The Nats "lost" 3-2 I am pretty sure. No scoreboard at all. Just the way I like it.
A few comments about yesterdays game: The score was actually tied 3-3 and it was a no hitter until the 7th for the Nats. After talking to a fan at today's game that was at Lakeland last night, he had heard that Harper's home run was one of the longest they had seen there in years and most agreed it was 430+ feet. The pitcher for Detroit was named Jacob Turner. Be looking for him in the majors. Now for today's game, against the Astros…
Today didn't treat the Nats that well and they lost by 8-3 or something close to that. Catching was a platoon of Flores and Leon. Flores looks really svelte… he's been working out a lot. Both catchers had a good game behind the plate. Lombardozzi was at second and had a super game. At third was King. The not-so-funniest play of the game came in the top of the first. Grace was pitching and getting mildly rocked. A routine fly ball was hit to center and Eury Perez. And don't you know? He dropped it, half-assing the catch with one hand. He was immediately pulled from the game and sent to a side field where he shagged fly balls from the machine for the remainder of the game. The coaches did not allow him back on the bench. The entire game all you could hear was Eury yelling "I got it" three times before he'd catch the ball. After that, I was impressed with the Nats coaching staff for making him an example.
Bryce Harper had a so-so game. Nothing real spectacular of note. Was steady in the field.
Pitching was Grace, Estevez, Navarro, Jenkins, Smoker, Morris. Grace was hit relatively easily by the Astros kids. Navarro wasn't much better. Jenkins was pulled after only ⅔ inning and don't know why. I was sitting next to three Nats pitchers and they didn't really express any concern when he came out. Smoker was good except for a mammoth home run to left center. Now, A.J. Morris had it working…. good pitching and good command. The man behind me agreed that his stuff is good enough to get to the Nats next year.
15 Responses to "Over The Weekend In Viera"
So Harper hit a big home run? Glad to hear that. How else did he look offensively? Any video links, like for the first game? I've read about – and seen – his struggles at the plate in the first game, which whetted my appetite for hardcore day-by-day instructional league news, but it's hard for me to find any updates on how he's done in the days since.
To let everyone know, again – sorry for typos. Everything sent was from my tiny iphone, so the typing skills were challenged with a tiny keyboard. :o)
Going to instructs was amazing fun. I met some great people/fans/players/coaches while down there. I think it's the cheapest vacation i've ever been on. Games are free – the biggest challenge is usually figuring out where the game is and what tiny side gate they have open for you to wiggle through to go watch the game. I got two foul balls off of Harper in Lakeland, and a super autograph, too. :o) And yes – BRING your OWN FOOD! There are no concessions, nothing…sure you can leave and come back – but who wants to??
Apparently this year they were re-doing the turf inside the Nats stadium, so the games at Viera were just played on one of their instructional fields. If I hadn't seen the tour bus over there, I might have wandered to the big stadium and missed some game time.
I spoke to many fans like me, and they tell me that either instructs or the first week or two of spring training are the best times to come down there. The players are really open and willing to chat/autograph stuff. At the Viera game, I sat on a tiny metal "high-school" bleacher behind the plate. I had 4 Astros players behind me with the radar gun, 3/4 Nats players next to me charting, and a fun assortment of retirees and fans. No scoreboards, two umps, and a whole lot of fun. And yes, if you didn't have a roster, you had NO idea who was playing. Now, they did have their names on their jerseys, but a host of players were around (mainly pitchers) with just Nats issue shorts/shirts on. Talk about challenging!
After this trip, i'm definitely going back next year. In my eyes, it's perfect baseball. You can keep the crowds, packed stadiums, loud music, carnival rides, and I hate to say – the beer. It was baseball nirvana. :o)
Thanks again, TBRfan! I had never even thought about FIL before as a destination vacation, but you sure make it appetizing.
Glad to see your earlier post about Sanchez, he's another product of the Dominican academy (he's Venezuelan) that looks to be on the fast track. Very much look forward to seeing him next year in Hagerstown.
Badmouthing beer at a baseball game — that's almost downright unamerican!
Awesome, thanks for the report TBRfan
Ok, all flaming aside on the beer comment 🙂 I honestly think the beer distracts from the game sometimes. Heck, I know i've missed runs/innings because the beer goggles came on. And yes at the Muni i'm getting tired of the thirsty thursday 20-something crowd that pays their "cover charge" via general admission ticket and then sits in the beer garden and gets whacked by foul balls. LOL
The purist baseball fan would appreciate the instructional league. The fan that goes to the Muni or the Pfitz as "entertainment" would leave instructs after 2 outs. If you don't love the game and purely the game, you won't like instructs. It was like watching a high school game but with some amazing players. I almost likened it to the field of dreams movie. 🙂
As for Harper, I wanted to try to get video, but all I had was my iphone. Thank my wonderful teenager for that one (insert curse words here). What my eyes saw was a hitter starting to get in a grove. Some at bats he was out on the front foot (i.e. that first snippit of video clip of his first at bats), but i'd say at least 75% or more he was swinging confidently and from the back foot. And that home run was major league material. It's amazing to me to see a "child" of 17 posess the skills and moxie he does. He doesn't act/look/play like 17 at all. I am not sure if he needs more coaching or guidance at this point, and I don't know if i'd even call it "raw" talent. I think the Nats and the farm system are in for a real treat for a bunch of years to come.
Harpers fielding was steady, played good backup to whoever was playing center (platoon of Oduber and Perez mostly) and seemed comfortable. He was always in the right position, even backing up first one time on a ground ball.
Adrian Sanchez made some super plays, and played 7+ innings of both games I saw and was relieved by Blake Kelso, who also played ok.
***Forgot to type this: ~~possible rumor mill info here~~
Straight from a coaches mouth: all outfield from Hagerstown is going to Potomac, plus a vast majority of the infield, incuding Bloxom. Most likely Tarasco is going to Potomac, possible LeCroy going back to Hagerstown (unsure)…hagerstown team will be almost brand new players from GCL and Vermont (Albany).
Harper: spot is still open for his involvement in the AFL. If he goes and does well, the scuttlebutt was he would start in Potomac and not Hagerstown. Again, rumor mill – behind the home plate – high school bleachers chat here. But I found it quite compelling and plausible.
I'll defer to those who saw a lot of games @ Hagerstown, but I thought both J.P Ramirez & Destin Hood were iffy for Potomac, as their numbers didn't say 'instant promotion'.
I'd be stunned if Harper doesn't at least start at Hagerstown; let him show some success first before his promotion. Don't want 'Rhinehart syndrome' to rear its ugly head again.
The end of March is a great time to go to spring training! Minor leagues are playing games at that point. Hang out at the minor league complex and just go from field to field. The players are friendly, will sign stuff.
Mornings are usually drills, etc – yes they have them! Games in the afternoon. You will sometimes see the big boys either in the batting cages or working on extra at-bats.
However, if all you are after is autographs, please don't come – as a fan, you ruin it for the rest of us
As a fan that saw 99% of games at the Muni and 5-6 on the road, JP is promotion worthy, Destin Hood is not. Destin couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the second half and some of his at-bats were so horrible I think a caveman could have done better. 🙂
I am patiently awaiting the end of instructs to see what happens to Harper. This could make for a great sports-soap-opera winter for the Nats.
Thanks, TBRfan, I was hoping for some clarification on both these guys. I'm still hoping for a growth spurt from Ramirez, would love to see updated stats on his height.
The good news on Hood is he's still very young and another year at Hagerstown isn't a deal killer.
link to the home run I saw. Video is sorta sketchy and doesn't show where the ball lands, but you can see the lack of reaction from most of the players on the field – that thing was screaming on the way out. LOL
Sue, kind of sick reading about you bashing Souza. You should truly check your facts as the Organization see great power from him. He had some serious HR's during instructs and all of the staff was very impressed. I guess you can do better so thats why you write crap like this. You see, he prove all of you wrong.


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The principles for governing international trade
Author: Peter Drysdale, Editor, East Asia Forum
The success of President Obama's swing through Japan on his Asia trip last week, he is supposed to have told Prime Minister Abe in The Hague recently, would be measured by whether it delivered a satisfactory conclusion to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations between Washington and Tokyo. On that metric, the trip was an abject failure. There was no conclusion or agreement. Japan is not yet prepared to give sufficient ground on free trade in agriculture. Abe's third arrow also looks distinctly limp after his failure to cut through Japan's agricultural protectionism and the way in which he and the Japanese government continue to approach the TPP, a highly symbolic if relatively minor element in Japan's revitalisation and structural reform.
With President Obama undertaking to defend the status quo on the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, Prime Minister Abe explicitly rationalising his Yasukuni visit in Obama's presence and no clear outcome on TPP, there was awkwardly unrequited progress on the US-Japan security relationship.
The Obama–Abe joint communique claimed that there had been 'significant achievements' and that the two sides had 'defined a path forward' on the TPP. In fact, the mess still outstanding on the trade front leaves the leaderships in both countries looking diminished. In the latest round of negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, the gap on one account, may have narrowed, though most other sources say it is as wide as ever. Whether the gap is still wide or now narrower, neither side has brought to the negotiations a sense of the bigger principles that should inform the ambitions of a high standard trade agreement between the largest and third largest economies in the world, or anything that contributes to bolstering the global trading system.
The likely failure of the TPP to deliver what it promised underlines the malaise in the world trading system, on which the success of the Bali WTO ministerial offered a small ray of hope. Washington and Tokyo increasingly appear bit players in the global system, doing what will be de facto, if it is delivered at all, a bilateral trade deal that swaps benefits between narrow interests on each side — Australia dealt itself out of any serious bigger game and undermined the United States negotiating position with its 'take-some scraps-home' bilateral with Japan earlier this month.
This was made abundantly clear in Abe's comments on the TPP negotiations during the Obama visit. While Obama stressed the potential role of the TPP in Japan's revitalisation and reform, Abe saw the TPP in a significantly different light, as 'creating a zone of strategic importance'. His thrust was about paying the price to buy US favours to achieve that end. He doesn't seem to understand that the TPP is related to structural reform in Japan. He talks about the TPP strictly in the frame of the US–Japan relationship and as an anti-China strategic play, not from the perspective of its role in lifting Japanese incomes and enhancing international competitiveness. For Japan, the negotiations are still framed as a game of giving the minimum amount possible to keep the Americans happy and to deliver a deal, not in terms of Japan's national economic ambitions.
The TPP talks now look as if they could drag on indefinitely, with no real impetus to push the parties forward. Washington is by no means entirely blameless in this outcome. The US administration's failure to secure 'fast track' authority provides no incentive for partners to US negotiations to step up to the plate, since Congress is likely to claim a second bite at the cherry. US demands that Japan reduce government intervention in agriculture and services are legitimate and consistent with the principles of open trade. But the US has also undercut those principles by limiting any significant market opening in US agriculture, by not changing its own domestic economic settings and apparently by insisting that the Japanese government intervene in automobile trade specifically to protect US vested interests.
What is more and more clear is that the TPP and other mega-regional trade deals, ordered as they are around negotiations driven by one or other major centres of economic power, are problematic paths to fixing the global trading system. In the end they are captured by interests that overwhelm the principles essential to maintaining an international public good of the global trade regime, such as the principle of most-favoured-nation treatment embedded in Article I of the WTO. These regional initiatives were supposed to shore up the global trading system. But, like their bilateral antecedents, they are unlikely to do anything of the kind.
The health of the international trade regime now demands consideration by world leaders of the core principles by which it needs to be ordered.
In this week's lead John VerWey draws attention to both the strengths and some other anomalies that characterise the regime. The strengths are reflected in how satisfactorily the WTO can deal with a case as politically sensitive as China's restrictions on exports of rare earths, and settle a dispute that in the interwar period might well have been a cause of war between the protagonists. The anomaly is that, under WTO law, what was properly a case for complaint under the protocols of China's accession to the WTO, might not have been a case for similar complaint against the United States or other initial signatories to the GATT (the predecessor to the WTO). However, as VerWey points out, the case might well be used to put pressure on the US in respect of its restrictions on the export of natural gas.
It's time to stand back and give mature consideration to the principles that should govern international commerce if the regime is to serve the global public interest and not the narrow interests of particular players, as appears more and more the case today. G20 leaders need to give this new priority. Affirmation of the centrality of the WTO in managing global recovery and engagement is the starting point. Engaging all the major centres of global influence inside and outside the WTO in pushing reform of world trade governance focused on a retreat from discrimination and the agenda beyond reciprocal trade negotiations is the next step.
Peter Drysdale is Editor of the East Asia Forum.
Post a comment
East Asia Forum welcomes comments, both for adding depth to analysis and for bringing up important new issues. Original comments adding insight and contributing to analysis are especially encouraged.
The editors retain the right to refuse and edit comments at any time.
Your editorial suggests that "the TPP and other (current) mega-regional trade deals, ordered as they are around negotiations driven by one or other major centres of economic power, are problematic paths to fixing the global trading system."
I disagree. The largest and most troubling problem with the TPP – and the TTIP process involving the US and EU for that matter – is that they are being negotiated in secret. Without public consultation or discussion.
The draft texts are top secret. Not to be made public, unless organisations like WIkiLeaks acquire them.
This autocratic approach to trade is contrary to any basic understanding of how democratic countries allegedly function.
The TPP approach is also arguably unlawful as, contractual law holds that an agreement can only be lawfully binding if it has "the informed consent" of relevant parties. Therefore, if the TPP were eventually signed, the agreement would be unlikely to survive legal challenge in various jurisdictions, including Australia.
Framing global trade protocols around such an undemocratic process is clearly not in the public interest, IMHO, and the TPP thoroughly deserves to be struck out.
To Ray Hunt:
It is not true that the TPP 'would be unlikely to survive legal challenge in various jurisdictions, including Australia'. The TPP's legal status would be as an international treaty (and a regional trade agreement under WTO law), and Australian courts do not have jurisdiction to hear a challenge to the validity of an international treaty. (As far as I know, this is the same for other domestic jurisdictions too.)
However, Australian courts would have jurisdiction to hear challenges to the TPP as implemented under Australian law. So if Australia were to become party to any in-force TPP, the federal Parliament would need to pass domestic legislation transforming the TPP's rights and obligations into Australian law. Being federal legislation, contract law and the principles you suggest would be of no relevance whatsoever though, and the only challenge to the TPP's validity (as Australian legislation) would be under the Australian Constitution.
But perhaps something more on point is whether the TPP breaches WTO law, like the requirement under GATT article XXIV that the TPP eliminate restrictions on substantially all trade between the parties. If it does, then it could theoretically be invalid. The forum with jurisdiction to hear WTO disputes is the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body. But given that hundreds of FTAs perhaps do not meet art XXIV requirements, a challenge to the TPP on this ground is fraught with difficulty.
Abe knows well how to play his cards while Obama seemed clueless and kept repeating the same old Free World rhetoric of the Bilderberg group. The world needs a fair trade not a free trade.
Having lived in Japan on and off for the last 25 years and having many good Japanese friends, I'm 100% with them on closed agriculture. All of my friends who grew up at the end of WW2 (the Pacific War in Japanese) and/or afterwards first mention the massive starvation of their families and friends. They will not be forced by American agricultural conglomerates into the same position of watching their loved ones die. For them, dying of starvation because of blockades is still a very real memory.


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Oct 8, 2012 9:04 AM
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Sailor Moon Crystal premiered a week ago, and there are many reviews out there for the first episode, but I stumbled upon this new series this morning when I turned on my PS Vita and opened the app called "Crunchyroll." I've watched anime growing up, but it wasn't until the 90's that I got really into it, and Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon was one of the series that I was a big fan of. I remember USA Network aired the English dubbed episodes during the time I was in school or work, so I taped them on VHS. I'd come home and be excited to watch the new episodes and see what adventures the Sailor Scouts had next. Shortly after that, I bought the Japanese boxed sets on DVD and read a few issues of the manga.
On to the new series, it was free to watch on Crunchy Roll, so I figured I'd give it a shot. The first thing I noticed is that the characters looked different, they looked more like the manga versions of themselves. This is a nice change, because like with anything, the book versions differ from the TV or movie versions. Other differences are the opening and ending sequences and the theme songs. Even though there's noticeable CG in this new series, the look is modernized for this day and age, and it's refreshing to see a 2014 animated series for Sailor Moon. I had no idea what this new series was going to be about, and while watching it, I noticed similarities with the first episode of the original 90's show.
The episode starts off with the title character, Usagi Tsukino, waking up to the sound of her alarm, and this is where the audience sees what kind of character she is, because she starts yelling and falls down the stairs due to the fact that she's running late. We get a glimpse of Usagi's mom, Ikuko Tsukino, and she tells her daughter to be careful because she knows just how clumsy and klutzy Usagi is. As Usagi runs to school, she steps on and trips over a black cat. She then picks up the black cat and notices bandages on her little forehead, so Usagi takes them off and notices a crescent shaped moon on her forehead. After staring at the black cat's forehead for a bit, the school bell rings, and Usagi runs away because at this point, she's extremely late for school. After this moment, we get a break from the action and get a glimpse of a villain named Jadeite, and we see him conjuring up an evil entity, who he sends out to search for the "legendary silver crystal." Back at the school, Usagi is so late, her teacher makes her stand outside of the classroom. Because Usagi woke up late and missed breakfast, her stomach growls, and she eats her lunch, but she will regret this decision during her lunch break. Shortly after, we are introduced to two of her friends, Naru Osaka and Gurio Umino. Umino is an annoying nerdy kid, and he shows the two girls his test score of 95, which he says he didn't really prepare for. Naru scored an 85, and Usagi narrates to the viewers that Naru is "smart and her family is rich." Unfortunately, Usagi scored a 30, so we now know that she's a space case as well.
Outside of the school, Usagi, Naru, and two girls talk about a robbery at a jewelry shop and that there have been a lot of crimes going on in the past couple of days, which is terrifying. Umino tells them that Sailor V stopped all those crimes, and explains who she is to Usagi, because she never heard of Sailor V. Here, Usagi asks Naru if her family runs a jewelry shop, she says yes, and she tells the girls that they're having discounts and that some of the jewelry is affordable, so the girls head to the jewelry shop after school, and they realize that the place is packed with shoppers. This is where we realize that the evil entity is posing as Naru's mom, and she wants to steal the energy from all the shoppers. Usagi leaves, because with her awful test score, her mom won't buy her any jewelry, and outside, she runs into Mamoru Chiba, who also has a major role in this series, and is a fan favorite as Tuxedo Mask. Mamoru is also in search for the "legendary silver crystal."
Before heading home, Usagi heads to the arcade, and we are introduced to Motoki Furuhata, who works part-time at the arcade, and he's a boy Usagi has a crush on. The black cat reappears, and Motoki tells Usagi that the cat's been wandering around there lately. When Usagi arrives home, her mom is furious of her test score, so she temporarily kicks her out of the house. Here we see Usagi's little brother, Shingo Tsukino, and he makes fun of her because she got kicked out of the house and because he's smarter than her. Afterwards, we get a first glimpse of Tuxedo Mask, and we see the evil entity absorbing the energy of the women who were at the jewelry shop earlier. Back at the Tsukino house, the black cat shows up again, this time talking to Usagi. Here, the cat introduces herself to Usagi, and Luna is her name. Luna tells Usagi that the bandages prevented her from talking, and she gives a "gift" to Usagi, a colorful broach, and Luna explains how important it is for Usagi to go on this mission she was destined for. The broach starts to flash, and Luna tells Usagi the magic words that will transform her to Sailor Moon. Then we see the new and revamped transformation scene, and after hearing Naru's voice crying for help, Sailor Moon heads to the jewelry shop.
This is where the climactic final scene occurs, where Sailor Moon fights crime for the very first time, and since she's new to this, she has no idea what to do or how to fight. With the aid of Luna and Tuxedo Mask, she is successful, and the energies are restored to the women who were possessed. We get a final glimpse of Jadeite, who viewed the fight on a crystal ball, and he realizes that he must find the "legendary silver crystal" as soon as possible. The next morning at the school, Naru talks to the girls about "a sailor guardian" who saved her, and Usagi stands from a distance listening to the conversation. Meanwhile, outside the window, we see the backside of Ami Mizuno, the sailor scout known as Sailor Mercury. It starts to rain, and we see Ami running away, and the infamous words "to be continued" appear on the screen.
I did some research, because I wanted to know more about this new show, and with further reading, it's not a remake of the original series, it's a version that's going to be true to the manga, and when reading all of this, I thought this was a genius move, who's done this before? So once again, after being away from modern day anime for 10+ years, I'm excited to see more and see what direction this new series will take. The first episode streamed live on July 5, 2014, episode 2 will air on July 19, and new episodes will air every two weeks after that.
Overall, this is a great first episode, and it's enjoyable, but for fans of the original series, it'll be more of a "homecoming" than anything else. Fans will have big smiles on their faces because it's so great to see these characters on the small screen once again. One strange moment is Mamoru's first appearance where he's wearing a tuxedo in the afternoon, considering he has to have a secret identity from being Tuxedo Mask. Other than that, the animation is beautiful and the redesigned characters look great. Even though episode one is similar to the first episode of the original series, the manga is faster paced, and if this series stays true to the manga, the similarities will eventually fade away. Viewers will just have to wait and see what happens next with every episode. I give Sailor Moon Crystal "Act 1 - Usagi, Sailor Moon" 4 out of 5 stars. Sailor Moon Crystal is the new anime for the 20th anniversary of Sailor Moon by Toei Animation Co., LTD. Sailor Moon characters created by Naoko Takeuchi, is directed by Munehisa Sakai, and licensed by Viz Media. New and past episodes stream on Crunchyroll, HULU, Viz/Neonalley, and Niconico.


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In the first six months of 2014, two out of every 1,000 accidents in Southwestern Ohio involved texting while driving.
There's more to the story when you become an Insider. WCPO Insider's membership is an additional benefit on top of everything you can get for free on WCPO.com. We created an entire digital organization dedicated to bringing you exclusive access to in-depth stories that you can't get anywhere else, handpicked events, and incredible savings on things you love to do. To find out more click here.
Photo illustration by Kareem Elgazzar | WCPO Digital
In the video player above, see how texting and driving changed a Lebanon woman's life forever – and watch what happened when we put a WCPO employee through a texting and driving simulation.
CINCINNATI -- In the first six months of 2014, two out of every 1,000 accidents in Southwestern Ohio involved texting while driving.
For this analysis, WCPO pulled 13,504 accidents from the Ohio Highway Patrol's crash database that were reported between Jan. 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014.
We found 232 incidents where the driver was distracted by some type of electronic device in his/her vehicle.
In at least 27 of those cases, the driver either admitted to, or was caught, texting or emailing on an electronic device while operating the vehicle.
The 27 incidents were split fairly evenly between male (14) and female (12) drivers. One driver was not identified by gender.
In a majority of those incidents (19), the driver was less than 35 years old, and seven of those drivers were 25 years old or younger. The average driver's age was 30 years old; the oldest was 51 years old, the youngest, 18 years old.
No one was killed in any of these accidents, but eight crashes involved injury. Overall, 12 people were injured in texting-related accidents during the period.
Early afternoon/evening was prime time for a texting-related crash. Eight crashes were reported between noon and 6 p.m.
The majority of texting-related accidents (19) were reported in the area's busiest commuter county — Hamilton.
Hamilton County also has the highest rate of texting-related accidents among the Tri-State's Ohio counties — nearly 1.5 times higher than its neighboring counties.
Here's a breakdown of texting-related incidents per 1,000 accidents in the Tri-State's Ohio counties:
At least 12 crashes involved a single vehicle hitting another object or non-moving vehicle. In the 15 incidents where multiple moving vehicles were involved, all but two were rear-end collisions.


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Project Design Team~Car Seat Swaddling Blanket
Posted by administrator on Thursday, June 6th, 2013
Hello, my Riley Blake friends. I am so happy to be here from U Create again sharing my latest creation with you. This month I am sharing my Car Seat Swaddling Blanket Tutorial.
Being the mother of 3 kids (all of which were colicky babies), I know how much those babies like to be swaddled and cozy. The car seat was my kids' enemy. They would squirm and inevitably kick their warm cocoon of blankets off. So, I created the Car Seat Swaddling Blanket for them (and my sanity). I no longer have babies, but I have plenty of babies around me so I am constantly making these little blankets for baby showers. So, score yourself some Riley Blake Designs Flannel and start creating these today.
Supply List:
1 yard Boy Stars Blue Flannel
1 yard Boys Chevron Blue Flannel
sewing machine and other sewing essentials
Step #1: Wash and dry fabric. Iron all those pesky wrinkles out.
Step #2: Cut each design 36" x 36" square.
Step #3: Put right sides together and pin all the way around…except for 6 inches on one side. (You need this open to pull the blanket right side out.)
Step #4: Using 1/2 inch allowance, sew all the way around…except the 6 inch opening, of course.
Step #5: Cut corners off.
Step #6: Turn right side out.
Step #7: Push corners out. Fold opening under 1/2 inch and press all sides flat.
Step #8: Sew a top-stitch (1/8 allowance) all the way around. At this point you have a perfectly square baby blanket.
Step #9: Turn the blanket so it is diamond shape; from the bottom corner measure up 23.5" and mark with a pin. Measure out from that pin 2 inches on both sides and mark with a pin. Take out the center pin. Cut a 4 inch slit from one pin to the other.
Step #10: Cut tiny slants at the ends of the 4 inch slit. This will make it easy to turn under and create a nice opening.
Step #11: Turn the ends of your opening inside the blanket about 1/4" and pin in place.
Step #12: Sew all the way around with a 1/8" top-stitch.
Step #13: From the edge of the opening you just sewed, measure up 1/2" and pin. From that pin measure up 10.5" and pin. Cut a straight line from the bottom pin to the top. Cut tiny slants at the edges just like you did with the smaller opening.
Step #14: Turn the edges under 1/4" inside the blanket. Pin and sew all the way around.
Step #15: Repeat steps #13 & #14 on the other side. Now you have this creepy face in the middle of your baby blanket. :)
The Car Seat Swaddling Blanket is the perfect fit for an infant car seat and has plenty of room to swaddle and tuck baby in nicely. This is one of my all-time favorite DIY baby shower gifts and is always a hit with mom-to-be. Have fun creating and come see us at U Create Crafts for more DIY inspiration.
I'm going to be the annoying person who jumps in to say that the use of blankets like these is not recommended by carseat manufacturers and will void the warranty on your seat. Manufacturers have no way to test aftermarket products, so there's no way to know how they will affect the performance of the seat. Anything placed between the child and the seat can interfere with the tightness of the harness (which is also why coats and snowsuits aren't recommended to be worn in the seat), which could be very dangerous in the event of an accident. Obviously, it ultimately comes down to a parental decision, but I think it's important information for people to be aware of. I think a blanket like this would be an awesome addition to a stroller instead!by Jenn
June 06th, 2013 at 8:28 a.m.
That's a good point, but I doubt two layers of flannel would have much effect on the tightness of the harness; that's only about as thick as the clothes the baby's probably wearing already. If the blanket were made out of something fluffy or bulky like fleece, it would be a bigger issue. But, as you say, it's a parental decision.by Cassie
June 07th, 2013 at 4:14 p.m.
Hi, I am a child passenger safety technician and I have to say that as cute as this idea is, it is just not safe. You should never put anything between the child and the carseat. And you should never put or use anything on your carseat that did not come with it when you bought it. If you have any specific questions I would be more than happy to answer them. :-)by Elizabeth Gaudette
June 07th, 2013 at 8:25 p.m.
Thank you to Jenn and Elizabeth for reminding us of the safety rules of car seat use. I agree that anything that doesn't come with the car seat should be used with caution. I DID use this blanket because like Cassie stated I felt it was thin enough and my babies did so much better in the car seat with it. :)by Becky @ Ucreate
June 08th, 2013 at 10:08 p.m.
The safety issue is not just about it affecting the tightness. This is not flame retardant like manufacturer car seat covers. If you must, just put a receiving blanket over your child after you have strapped them in properly.by KB
June 09th, 2013 at 1:33 p.m.
Safety of your/our babies comes first but common sense goes a long way also. How did our parents get along without all these rules and regulations that are bringing all small business and our country down.?by jazzelise
June 11th, 2013 at 6:31 a.m.
Very creative, Becky. This is a very cute idea. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.by Lex
June 11th, 2013 at 1:50 p.m.
I love this idea! I'm a mother of three kids who are now all grown up. I swaddled them in flannel blankets bringing them home from the hospital (provided by the hospital)and used them to cover my kids while in their car seat. I also make baby quilts and will make this creative blanket as future gifts!by Debbie
June 21st, 2013 at 8:23 a.m.
I have heard that putting things in carseats isn't safe,but seriously it must come from companies not wanting to be sued. Everyone seems to sue everyone for anything these days just for a buck and companies are trying to protect themselves. I think this is an awesome idea and will be making one or two for my baby! I have 8 little kids and have done alot of things that "they" don't recommend and good gracious my kids are the healthiest on the block! Thank you for the pattern,I've been looking for quite a while. Carseats are made of such icky,uncomfortable material that it's almost essential to make something to go under it!by Mamaof8
July 15th, 2013 at 9:53 p.m.
I have to say that using two pieces of flannel is less than even a thin jacket for a child...let alone a snowsuit, which we all know (and can agree) is NOT safe. The JJ Cole Bundle Me seat covers are thicker than this, so in my opinion these make a FAR superior alternative to any of those...plus they're swaddled, which makes baby happy. I just made one of these today (from another pattern, and wish I found yours first. Love the finished interior cut edges!) and am thrilled with the outcome. Some people will just never be happy!! Just use common sense. The next pattern will DEFINITELY be this one!by Amber
July 22nd, 2013 at 1:10 p.m.
Love this idea! I've been searching online for a pattern like this. I'm a mother of three and my first daughter was born in December. I live in Canada so the Winter months are really cold. I Wish I would've had something like this when she was born. I always stuffed the blankets over and around her but this idea seems like a perfect way to tuck them in for better comfort. Thanks for sharing this tutorial! Great baby gift idea!by Jess
August 06th, 2013 at 11:57 a.m.
Love this and will be making both of my children one! Thank you for the tutorial!by Christy
August 30th, 2013 at 1:35 p.m.
I guess I am not seeing how this adds that much bulk to a car seat harness the way a fleece shirt or jacket would. This is not wrapped around the baby before the baby goes in the harness, the baby is harnessed and then wrapped the way that you would by just placing a flannel blanket over them, which I guess by what some people have said isn't safe either, so we are just to have our babies be cold or not take them out in the first place. I personally love this idea and I will be making one for a nephew that is due in December. Like another poster said if the momma doesn't want to use it with the car seat she can always use it with the stroller. Thank you so much for the tutorial!by Michelle
August 30th, 2013 at 8:20 p.m.
I love this! Thanks for sharing.by Linda
September 17th, 2013 at 1:34 p.m.
I love this idea and plan to make one for my new grandson. As for safety, what are parents to do to keep the baby warm? When babies reach the squirmy stage a blanket tucked in around them winds up on the floor. As for fire resistant material, I highly doubt the clothes they're wearing or the blanket covering them are fire resistant either. Moms and Dads know how to safely buckle their prized possessions in these seats, with or without a blanket!by Leah
October 23rd, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.
Leah, the statistics are actually quite poor with how many parents correctly buckle their children even if they think they're doing everything right. It's an extremely unfortunate statistic of approximately 95% of car seats being used improperly. There are numerous ways to keep a baby warm and safe in the winter, pre-warming the car, blankets, coats warn backwards over top of the straps, car seat ponchos and child sized snuggies just to name a few!by Jill
October 26th, 2013 at 6:33 p.m.
For heaven's sake. What is all the hullaboo about safety, etc. As I see it, the child is strapped in per manufacturers instruction, AND THEN has a snuggly blanket tucked all the way around, on top of him/her AND underneath. It is also possible to purchase fire-proof flannel by the yard.by Gerry
November 03rd, 2013 at 12:10 p.m.
I'm a Mother of 6 Children ..the first was born in 1975 We didn't even use car seats..I had My Son in My arms all the way home from the Hospital. This is a wonderful Idea and I will be making one for each of the four grandchildren that We were blessed with this past year,,,and the two cominerly this yar...THANK YOU :)by Lezlie
November 04th, 2013 at 6:13 a.m.
This is a very good idea.. Specially for those that live in cold climate areas. I know here in Oklahoma you never know when it's going to be cold. All my kids are grown, so I make things for friends and friends kids. I will defiantly start making this. Thanks for the tutorial!by Ryan
November 11th, 2013 at 2:01 p.m.
My stepdaughter pointed this out to me, so I thought great, this I can do and it will be helpful instead of buying the baby a dress or something. Well, I just read all of these comments after finishing one with Sherpa fleece on one side. Now I see it isn't safe and feel like I just wasted time and fabric. Technique-wise I did the slots a little different. Instead of turning them under and top-stitching, I left the edges raw and ran a zig-zag satin stitch.by Heidi
February 10th, 2014 at 11:54 a.m.
I have been looking for an easy tutorial for this, and I don't usually post comments especially when the posts themselves are old. But GIVE ME A BREAK, this is still America people where parents are aloud to make the safety decisions for their children!! Big businesses (ins. companies included) have made a habit of intimidating or scaring parents into not using anything they don't approve of for their kids. Thank you for a great tutorial! I will be making and using this for my children, and to all you annoying people who enjoy pointing out "safety" issues. Get a life and let people make their own parenting decisions. There are more important issues out there pertaining to children than wether we put a blanket on/under our children in their car seats or not. Your parents didn't have any of the crap we use today and you survived didn't you?by Racheal
March 29th, 2014 at 7:05 p.m.
Goodness, I am so glad to be alive!! I survived my parents let me play in the dirt, riding in the bed of a truck on a warm summer day, a mom who ate bleu cheese while pregnant and tuna from a can. I also survived drinking water from the garden hose, lead based paint a d not making the softball team because I didnt pass try-outs. Keep in mind the "padding" is not harming anything since it is mainly acting as a cover for the car seat (actual seat). Heck of a lot less padding than the uber expensive ones!!! P.S. I asked this question to my brother who is the safety inspector for his police department. If you want a good laugh read this short blurb. Sooooo funny :-)by Angela
April 14th, 2014 at 3:23 a.m.
http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/hage5.html Want a laugh? Read this little blurbby Angela
April 14th, 2014 at 3:24 a.m.
So... There's a lot of debate about two little pieces of flannel in the back of a car seat interfering with the seat's safety and functionality. I'm just going to point out that a lot of car seats come with an infant body positioner that is WAY thicker than two little pieces of flannel, and they are approved for car seat use. If you're concerned, don't use it. If you are using it, just make sure the restraint straps are cinched down appropriately.by Sarah
April 25th, 2014 at 6:07 p.m.
Just cut another opening below baby's bottom to pull that clip through...now buckle the the harness, then swaddle baby~over the harness...that takes care of the safety issue! I'll be making some of these...by Lynn
May 05th, 2014 at 3 p.m.
Nevermind, they did that...I work with a pediatric RN who did car seat safety seminars for new moms...I'll ask her...by Lynn
May 05th, 2014 at 3:02 p.m.
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for the advice and in my thought it was a nice to have it in my child's car seat but now have to take it a NO, as you said.by Choofie
July 18th, 2014 at 8:18 a.m.
So i live in Winnipeg where in the winter it gets to as cold as -50 if you not supposed to have anything between your child and the seat how am i supposed to keep my baby warm all winter long, cause a snowsuit is much thicker than this blanket. Im jut curious cause Im hearing about all these saftey issues with having your child in a snow suit or a blanket under them but what else are we supposed to do?by Jennie
September 07th, 2014 at 11:57 p.m.
Would just like to point out that the concern for safety is in deed real. Research science and technology has saved many lives and i do believe its important to be aware of new research even though you may have survived your own childhoods. My question though is from what i have read the concern is the amount of room between the childs chest and legs and straps- shouldnt be able to pinch strap and only one finger under staps. With that said, the blanket goes behingd the childs back and butt and OVER the staps (much like a normal blanket would, so if you place the child and straps propperly you are not interfering with the effects of the straps right? Please correct me if im wrong. I purchased an infant cover that was sold at many stores, safety aproved for sale so whats the difference? I live in chilly MN and need a solution for my now 1 year old to avoid hypothermia bc coats are too thick and you arent able to get straps tight enough.by sheri
October 06th, 2014 at 9:51 p.m.
Lets all be realistic people! Give your heads a shake! To the "Car Seat Technician" if that is what you truly are. Is it safer to place your baby in the car seat stark naked??? They require diapers and clothes, all of which go between them and the car seat. We live in the great white north they need jackets and snow suits!!! Use some common sense!! The straps are inside the blanket against the babies clothes and do not interfere in any way with safety!!by Community Mom
October 29th, 2014 at 10:34 a.m.
I think this is a great tutorial and I'd rather have thin cotton or flannel against baby than anything with flame retardant!by Marcy
November 17th, 2014 at 4:02 p.m.
The flame retardant chemicals are exactly what concerns me. It's next to impossible to find a car seat or even car seat cover that's chemical free and affordable. I'm considering buying a regular car seat and making this out of organic cotton as an affordable alternative.by Sarah M.
January 01st, 2015 at 2:06 a.m.
My concern has always been how to get bub out in an emergency! Its hard enough getting them in and getting the clips in and closed let alone getting them out. I agree the material coming with the seat leaves bub feeling claustrophobic at best. Its great to be able to put something else on. I live in hot Australia and a light cotton wrap or cover in summer would be great. Definately going to try this for my grandy. Also i bought all 4 of my other kids home in bassinets on the car seat with no seat belts and they all survived. Lolby deb Cragan
April 05th, 2015 at 1:45 a.m.
I don't see how putting a blanket like this will affect the safety of the carseat. For one, they are strapped in and straps can be adjusted to fit just as you would do if you have a jacket on your child or clothing that is a little bulky. As with anything, you have to take caution as to what you use. I have raised 5 children and have used different types of blankets and carseats and these have never been a safety issue for meby Victoria Posey
July 28th, 2015 at 1:14 p.m.
I love these. I can't see how two thin pieces of fabric will effect the carseat if you can buy carseat cosy toes which are 3 maybe 4 times thicker.by MustBeMadMumsy
July 29th, 2015 at 7:49 a.m.
For those saying the fabric isn't flame retardant so tuck a flannel blankie around your baby instead of this one under him, I don't understand your logic. Won't the fabric catch on fire if it is going to whether it's over baby or under? Seriously people, use some common sense. No one is going to die because a thin blanket was between the baby and his seat.by Stephani
October 17th, 2015 at 4:09 p.m.
My grandkids live in Alaska,,,,it gets to -50 at times. I will take my chances of two thin pieces of cloth being okay vs frostbite due to accident and broken down car. Also, the clothing they wear is not fireproof, you can't put them in a bubble.by heidi
October 30th, 2015 at 1 p.m.