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Kent State Theatre students invited to perform original work at Scotland's Edinburgh Festival FringePosted May. 1, 2014
Kent State University's School of Theatre and Dance is proud to announce that members of Transforum Theatre, a student organization dedicated to helping students pursue their passions and explore their creativity through art, have been invited to perform an original work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Aug. 18 – 23, 2014. Eight Kent State students, one recent graduate and faculty advisors Amy Fritsche and Chuck Richie will travel to Scotland to present "A Collection of Grimm's Fairy Tales" for an international audience. Written and directed by Transforum Theatre president and founder Daniel Ebert, the work combines and expands upon some of the most memorable stories written by the Brothers Grimm.
Transforum Theatre will host a fundraiser performance of "A Collection of Grimm's Fairy Tales" on Tues., May 6 at 8pm in the EZ Black Box Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent, OH 44242. A donation of $5 is requested for admission.
Participation in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an honor and an exciting opportunity for all involved, allowing students to hone their craft, gain practical experience and represent Kent State. Writer and director Daniel Ebert is thrilled to "head a student run grass roots effort to create what is essentially a small theatre company producing original work on an international stage." In founding Transforum Theatre and participating in Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ebert wanted to maximize his and fellow classmates' learning experiences in preparation for future careers. Ebert describes the upcoming trip as a "stressful, but phenomenal once in a lifetime experience."
The fairy tales written and published by the Brothers Grimm in the 19th century inspired Ebert's production. In producing the work, Transforum Theatre sought to revive the timeless and universal themes of the stories for modern audiences. "A Collection of Grimm's Fairy Tales" uses a variety of theatrical muses such as enhanced storytelling and shadow puppetry to give life to the classic tales.
In an additional effort to defray the estimated $27,000 cost of taking their production to Scotland, Transforum Theatre has launched a Kickstarter campaign with the hope of raising $10,000. Kickstarter is an online fundraising tool that helps fund creative projects. Project organizers set a goal and a deadline, only receiving the funding from donors if their goal is met within the time allotted. Transforum Theatre seeks to raise their $10,000 goal by May 21. Interested parties may visit Transforum Theatre's Kickstarter website at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1028443110/a-collection-of-grimms-fairy-tales.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and every year thousands of performers converge on Scotland's capital city to celebrate arts and entertainments of all genres. For more information about the festival, visit www.edfringe.com.
For more information contact:
Joni Koneval, firstname.lastname@example.com, 330-672-0116


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How the School Nutrition Association became an ally of what you might call the "let them eat cake" forces is a long story. What matters is that if, like the association, you're taking a stand against the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act — from a food perspective, among the two or three most progressive pieces of legislation of the Obama administration — you are simply on the wrong side. You've pitted yourself not only against better nutrition for current school kids but, even more important, against better nutrition for future students and adults. The School Nutrition Association's position may not be the equivalent of the American Diabetes Association insisting that, say, we serve Coke at all meals, but it's in that ballpark.
HTCE Fast: Stir-Fried Beef with Skillet Kimchi
An easy stir-fry takes on bright, lively flavor thanks to spicy kimchi seasonings.
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed
1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin, flank, or rib-eye steak
Salt and pepper
1 medium Napa cabbage
1 inch fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) or Sriracha (optional)
How to Cook: Tomato Soup
HTCE Fast: Bone-In Chicken Noodle Soup
Every other Wednesday, I'm featuring one of my favorite recipes from How to Cook Everything Fast. If you cook it, too, I want to see it—tag it on social media with #HTCEFast. And enjoy!
It doesn't take long for bone-in chicken to turn water into a flavorful broth. Start with whole pieces, don't overcook the meat or fuss with the bones, and you'll have real chicken noodle soup on the table in 30 minutes.
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 bone-in chicken thighs
4 chicken drumsticks
1 large onion
2 large carrots
3 celery stalks, plus any leaves
4 garlic cloves
5 bay leaves
8 ounces egg noodles or any cut pasta
How Should We Eat?
The recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a nutrition panel that helps update and revise federal dietary guidelines,were announced last week and are easy to parse: The panel, a collection of 14 health experts with dozens of specialists in support, emphasizes things that just about everyone agrees upon: that we need a diet more oriented toward plants, that we should reduce calorie consumption in general, and that less sugar would be a good thing. Not much new there, or surprising.
But on some levels the report is disappointing: For one thing, it's 571 pages (not surprisingly, it stumbles over itself). And it focuses on individual nutrients at the expense of sending simpler messages. No one wants to think about "eating" (or, even worse, "consuming") cholesterol or saturated fat or sodium or "sweeteners." We want to think about eating food.
A Family Affair
Gianni Piscitelli, a home cook I met on a recent trip to Naples, grew up cooking with his grandmother, Maria d'Orsi, and later with his father, Attilio, in Montesanto, a residential neighborhood of the city. His grandparents were smart: They bought a sprawling place high on a hill with a view of the sea in 1933, when the area was still countryside — a home where the extended family could all live and cook together. What this family has always cooked is the food of Naples. Which is not what I thought it was.
If you grew up in Lower Manhattan when I did, 50 years ago, you might have thought you knew the food of southern Italy: Pizza, meat ragu, lasagna, stuffed shells and seafood "fra diavolo."
Read the rest of this column and get the recipes here. Photo by Grant Cornett.
How to Cook: Roasted Salmon
HTCE Fast: Molten Chocolate Cake
Every other Wednesday, I'm featuring one of my favorite recipes from How to Cook Everything Fast. If you cook it, too, I want to see it—tag it on social media with #HTCEFast. And enjoy!
A four-star dessert that bakes in less than 10 minutes.
1 stick unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the ramekins
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
4 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour, plus more for dusting the ramekins
What Is the Purpose of Society?
The world of food and agriculture symbolizes most of what's gone wrong in the United States. But because food is plentiful for most people, and the damage that conventional agriculture does isn't readily evident to everyone, it's important that we look deeper, beyond food, to the structure that underlies most decisions: the political economy.
Progressives are not thinking broadly or creatively enough. By failing to pressure Democrats to take strong stands on everything from environmental protection to gun control to income inequality, progressives allow the party to use populist rhetoric while making America safer for business than it is for Americans. No one seriously believes that Hillary Clinton will ever put the interests of Main Street before those of her donors from Wall Street, do they? At least not unless she's pushed, and hard.
It's clear to most everyone, regardless of politics, that the big issues — labor, race, food, immigration, education and so on — must be "fixed," and that fixing any one of these will help with the others. But this kind of change must begin with an agreement about principles, specifically principles of human rights and well-being rather than principles of making a favorable business climate.
Read the rest of this column here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Topic: Rails 3.2.1 authentication Devise+Oauth
I am building a complex web-project on rails and came upon a step when I need to get user authentication working. Most of the links I went trough on this topic suggest using Devise gem with oauth (for openID authentication like twitter, Facebook, etc.). But the problem is that I can't find a step-by-step manual of how to configure the gems and use them. Besides, my user model (wich is alredy built actualy), has many connections with other models (a separate profile, user groups, messages, etc.)
Can anyone give me a hand with this?
My email is email@example.com, I will be most gratefull for any help.


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7 mm/.284 Caliber (.284) 120 gr. SPT
For rifles in 7mm caliber, the 120 grain #1900 Spitzer bullet offers exceptional accuracy at high velocities for hunting large varmints, small game and medium game. When used at 7mm-08 or 7x57mm velocities, it is an exceptional performer on deer or antelope. When used in magnum cases with heavy loads, this superbly accurate bullet becomes an extremely effective long-range varmint bullet.
In handguns, the 120 grain #1900 bullet would be a good choice for medium game in cartridges of this size. Good ballistic shape and traditional Sierra accuracy make these bullets excellent choices for all target work. The pinpoint accuracy of this bullet makes it a good choice for both varmints and target competition.
|Dia. (inches)
|Weight (grains)
|Sectional Density
|Ballistic Coefficients and Velocity Ranges
.328 @ 2800 fps and above
.326 between 2800 and 2200 fps
.333 @ 2200 fps and below
Price: $30.70Stock Code: 1900
100 bullets
To order by phone, please call 1-888-223-3006
*Sierra Bullets does not sell any loaded ammunition. What you are purchasing are bullets only and will need to be loaded into ammunition in order to be fired from a firearm. Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to correct typographic, photographic and/or descriptive errors.
|Overall Rating
|Rate This Product
|Jason C of Clinton, Tennessee
|June 20, 2016
|Have been shooting this bullets for several years very accurate in my 7-08.My son shot his first deer with it. Very effective!
|T S of Cuba, NY, New York
|November 30, 2014
|7mm-08 around 2900 fps. I shot two deer with this bullet both deer dropped on the spot. The wound channels were massive.
|Alan M of Southaven, Mississippi
|December 27, 2013
|This bullet will hold up to 7mm rem mag speed. Shot a 9 point 200 pound buck quartering towards me between the shoulders. Blew up the heart and lungs. No exit but the deer took all the energy in the vitals and that's how I like my bullet to perform. Had a awesome wound channel and the buck didn't take a step. I load these to 3300 fps and get .25 inch groups out of my tikka t3. Great built bullet! They defiantly passed the penetration test. Thank you Sierra for a great product! Can't wait to shoot one broadside to see the results.
|Richard B of Holt, Missouri
|December 6, 2013
|Shot the smallest 3 shot group ever (1/4") with this 120 and Varget powder out of my Rem 700 7mm08 at a MV of 2800. Shot a large 11 pt. buck in November at 150 yards. Deer went about 40 yards. Bullet entered tight behind right leg, between ribs, exited same distance behind left leg, breaking a rib. Lungs were destroyed, quite a bit of blood gelling under the shoulders but very little meat loss. I've also used the 140 Pro Hunter with excellent results. I tried the 120 hoping for quicker expansion and maybe less running but with lung shots, that is the norm it seems. If I needed to shoot through the shoulder, I'd prefer the 140.


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Hi tea fellows
I have orderes samples from essenceoftea.com they are aged raw puerhs, but now when they are on the way i am geting scared, since i don't wont to spoil them with bad infusions.
I know there is no telling how long should you infuse tea and is a matter of personal taste.
But please can somebody recomend me some standard infusion time,..do you start with 5s, 10s, 15s,...or you make longer infusions and start at 15s, 30s,...
All i know is that some people make 2 cleaning infusions.
Thanky for helping me


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Podium decided
Stephen Ainsworth's Loki and Peter Harburg's Black Jack have been confirmed as second and third overall in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
What a way to end what has been the almost perfect partnership for Ainsworth and his wonder boat Loki, which won the race overall last year. Recently Ainsworth announced he would sell the remarkable Reichel/Pugh 63 and that this would be his last Rolex Sydney Hobart "Until the next time. Never say never," the Sydney owner remarked before the race.
On the eve of his for now retirement, Ainsworth also looks certain to win the CYCA's 2012 Blue Water Pointscore, having led the six-race event from the outset and finished with the best result in the annual 628 nautical mile race to Hobart in Tasmania – the last of the series.
"We were confident going in and we were not too shabby – second overall, first in division – and the Blue Water Pointscore – we drop a second place," Ainsworth said. "It doesn't get much better, especially for my last race for a while.
"I learned from poker machines," said the Aristocrat gaming systems co-owner, "how to quit while you're ahead."
Built in 2008, Loki has never let Ainsworth down; rather the weather has sometimes influenced the larger yacht's results to the negative. Nor has Ainsworth's well-melded crew, including sailing master Gordon Maguire, and navigator Michael Bellingham, ever let him down.
"We are thrilled with our second place. We always saw Black Jack as our biggest threat. We could see her and Lahana ahead of us on the Tassie coast and thought 'We've got them on time'," Ainsworth continued. "We knew from the weather pattern that it would be a big boat race, but we had such a ball going across Bass Strait in those hard running winds. It was a fast, warm and relatively easy race till we ran into the southerlies in the last 100 miles – that's when we knew Wild Oats XI probably had it.
"All of a sudden we went from running to throwing up a No. 5 in the southerlies. It reminded us how tough the Rolex Sydney Hobart could be. We beat all the boats we wanted to, so we're happy with how we went."
Four years old now, Loki holds numerous race records; the Bird Island set in 2011 when she took the treble, Flinders Islet (2010) and the 2009 Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Race in which she also won the treble. She also broke the Cabbage Tree Island record in 2009, only to have Wild Oats XI take it away in 2010.
Navigator Michael Bellingham said today: "We did the best our boat could do. We were sailing uphill for 100 miles – that's tough. Oats was probably sailing uphill for 30 miles. 27 December was one of the most awesome days of ocean racing in the nor' easter. We had our A4 sail up for most of the day and then changed it to our A7 with one reef.
"On the morning of the 28th, I came up on deck and said I hadn't seen much wild life, but then all of a sudden we saw sunfish, some seals and a pod of dolphins."
Talking tactics, Bellingham said: "We were conscious of hitting the lee bubble near Tasman Island and we wanted to get through that quickly. I was constantly looking at the grib files to see what option to take and what it would actually be like – it was a bit of make believe
"On our approach to Tasman Light, we were narrower than Black Jack and Lahana – we could see them coming from further offshore. The narrow approach has worked for us for the last two years."
Bellingham said they were always hopeful of trying to win the race again. "There was only two hours between us (them and Wild Oats XI) on corrected time," he pointed out.
"Wild Oats trucked it down the coast and pushed hard – they didn't leave anything behind – that's some pretty radical and brave sailing. It would have been tough in our 60 footer, but on a 100 footer, it's even braver!"
Loki really did prove her worth in this race, from last year's overall winner to second overall this year. Whoever buys her would be smart to leave her as she is.
A few days before the 2012 Rolex Sydney Hobart start, the Bureau of Meteorology's Michael Logan said it would be a race for the big boats. He pointed to those over 63 feet and he got it spot on.
Third placed Black Jack, with sailing champ Mark Bradford in charge, sailed to their optimum, enjoying the hard running conditions offered up on the first night and the second day when northerly and north-easterly winds helped push the big boats fast southwards.
Bradford, who owns the Queensland North Sails loft and Harburg, had the seven year-old Reichel/Pugh 66 crewed up to the max by some of the best in the business, including fellow Etchells champion, Vaughan Prentice, four-time Finn Olympian and big boat sailor Anthony Nossiter and America's Cuppers, Peter Merrington, Ryan Godfrey and Peter Dowdney.
The top three overall all come from the design board of Reichel/Pugh, and Black Jack is a near sistership to Wild Oats X which they joust successfully with on occasions. Previously, the Queensland maxi took line honours in the 2008 and 2009 Brisbane-Keppel races, breaking their own race record in the latter edition.
Black Jack, which like Wild Oats XI also sports a canting keel, took back-to-back line honours in 2009 and 2010 Brisbane Gladstone races. In August, Bradford skippered the yacht to second on line in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, sailing inside the record time behind Wild Oats XI and claimed second overall.
Although he obviously wanted to win, and was in the box seat at one stage of the race, Peter Harburg, who named the boat for his racing car friend Jack Brabham, was happy to except fourth on line and third overall.
"Third's not a bad place," Harburg said this morning. The top two are always well prepared and always well sailed," he said of Wild Oats XI and Loki. "We did our best. We enjoy close racing with Loki at various events."
Black Jack's owner told of the conditions they found themselves in off Tasmania. "We fell into a hole – it got Lahana before us – Loki sailed closed to the coast and didn't suffer. Then Wild Oats got through, but we hit the southerly going across Storm Bay.
"It was 38 knots at one stage and freezing cold all of a sudden. I asked the guys if we were in Antarctica. We broke three battens in the main and to drop it at night, fix it and put it up again. Loki had to do the same. It's a challenge."
Of his future plans, Harburg was uncertain. "We could build a 100 footer and go head to head with the Bob and Ricko show (Wild Oats XI), but it's shallow water in Moreton Bay. Right now I'm just going to relax – then I'll think about it. The race is a huge challenge," Harburg concluded.


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new remix of Most Likely...., I assume will be on this new 3cd best-of. Hear a snippet here:
incidently, i bought John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline today to add to my Dylan collection. Hope i'll enjoy them!
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Any bag can be a laptop bag when you place your laptop into this padded sleeve and hit the road. Whether it's for work or for fun, your laptop will look stylish in this pretty protector.
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Craig "Bones" Allen Dauer
Craig "Bones" Allen Dauer, age 56, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, (husband of Diane), passed away Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home in Chaska, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, April 4, at 11 A.M., at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson with a private family interment in St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery in Fairfax, Minnesota.
Gathering for Family and Friends will be Wednesday from 5-8 P.M. and Thursday 8-9 A.M. at Dobratz-Hantge Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Craig "Bones" Allen Dauer was born on June 9, 1956, in New Ulm, Minnesota. He was the son of Clarence A. and Dolores (Dummer) Dauer. Craig was baptized as an infant, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth both at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm, Minnesota. He received his education in New Ulm and was in the New Ulm Class of 1974. Craig furthered his education at Mankato Technical College in Mankato, Minnesota.
On June 9, 1979, Craig was united in marriage to Diane Ranweiler at St. George Catholic Church in rural New Ulm. This marriage was blessed with two children, Jeremy and Shelly. Craig and Diane resided in New Ulm, Minnesota and later moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota in 1995. They shared over 33 years of marriage.
Craig was employed at Hutchinson Technology, Inc. in the Tool and Die Department as a Toolmaker. His most recent employment was with 3M Company in Hutchinson as a Maintenance Mechanic. Craig attended St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson. He was a chapter member of South Central A.B.A.T.E.
Craig enjoyed hunting and fishing, motorcycling, building and restoring mini bikes and choppers. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Craig lost his courageous battle with lung cancer and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home in Chaska, Minnesota, at the age of 56 years.
He will be dearly missed.
Craig is survived by his: wife, Diane Dauer of Hutchinson, MN; children, Jeremy Dauer of Hutchinson, MN, Shelly Dauer of Hutchinson, MN; sister, Joyce Dauer of New Ulm, MN; brother, Keith Dauer and his wife, Kimberly of Mankato, MN; father-in-law, Norbert Ranweiler of Gibbon, MN; brothers-in-law, Steven Ranweiler and his wife, Kim of New Ulm, MN, Eugene Ranweiler of Gibbon, MN; many other relatives and friends.
Craig is preceded in death by his father, Clarence A. Dauer; mother, Dolores (Dauer) Hahn; brother-in-law, Wally Bauer; uncles, Leo Dauer, Bernard Dauer; aunt, Esther Dauer; and mother-in-law, Mary Ranweiler.
Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Chapel in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Online Obituaries and Guest Book available at www.hantge.com. Please click on Obituaries/Guest Book.


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The First Family arrived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Monday, July 1, to cap off a three-country trip to Africa. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were welcomed by President Jakaya Kikwete and his wife Salma Kikwete. In a joint press conference with President Obama, President Kikwete said that the "outpouring of love" his people showed President Obama was "unprecedented."
President Kikwete then thanked the United States for its aid programs, which have fought the spread of HIV and strengthened education in Tanzania. Underscoring the importance of education, the First Lady attended a performance by youths from Baba wa Watoto, a center that teaches leadership and life skills to underprivileged boys and girls between the ages of five and 18 years old.
That evening, President Obama participated in a roundtable with CEOs and business leaders which focused on the next era of economic growth in Africa.
"[W]e're close to reaching a historic milestone where foreign aid to Africa is surpassed by foreign investment in Africa. And that's great news," President Obama said. He lauded the strides that have been made but said that Africa and the United States can and must do more business together in the future. President Obama announced Trade Africa, an initiative that will improve trade between countries on the continent -- starting in Tanzania's region, and mentioned Power Africa, a brand new initiative aimed at doubling the access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.
On Tuesday, July 2, President Obama delivered remarks at the Ubongo Symbion Power Plant, where he pointed out that a lack of widespread access to electricity is still "one of the biggest hurdles to Africa's economic development." He demonstrated the Soccket, a soccer ball which generates and stores electricity when played with, and called Power Africa a win-win, saying "[A] growing market in Africa will mean more opportunities for all countries."
Meanwhile, after placing flowers at a memorial to the victims of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing in Dar Es Salaam, the First Lady joined former First Lady Laura Bush at the African First Ladies Summit, where they congratulated First Lady Salma Kikwete and other First Ladies of Africa on the work they have done to create safe places for girls in their countries and stressed the positive impact that empowering girls could have on Africa as a whole.
The visit to Tanzania wrapped up the First Family's travel to Africa, which also included stops in Senegal and South Africa. On the White House Blog, the First Lady thanked readers for joining the family on the trip and encouraged the American people to continue learning about Africa. As the First Lady wrote in her blog entry, the Obamas' recent trip included only three countries on the continent, but there are so many more, each with its own history and culture. You can learn more about these countries and U.S. diplomatic engagement on the continent by visiting www.state.gov and following the Bureau of African Affairs on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Author: Stephen Wood serves as an editorial assistant for DipNote.


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Introducing the fourth member of our ASICS Target 26.2 team - Lee (aka Choisty) With Virgin London Marathon Championship qualification as hi...
Introducing the fourth member of our ASICS Target 26.2 team - Lee (aka Choisty)
He'll be posting his training progress and be receiving physio and nutrition advice from the ASICS PRO Team live on this thread so make sure you bookmark this thread to find out how he gets on. You can read more about Lee's running background and goals by clicking on the article link at the top of the thread.
Good luck Lee!
Congrats !
Was great meeting you in Birmingham and hope the coaching converts your obvious talent for running into a seriously quick time at Paris.
All the best ...
Graham K
No string vests now ya hear!
Brilliant news - will look forward to following your progress! Good luck
Cheers guys..I have to say I though everyone deserved to get through as Brum was brilliant and that was because of the people, I didn't go to sleep 'til about 1am that night. I would be keen to meet up again at one of the halves coming up as part of the prize.
I was told to keep quiet but I have been bursting to get on here as I am very very ...very excited!
So here goes for the target of 2:45 championship qualifying time in Paris (stretch target 2:39)
SB - I do have a string running vest!
Aye ... 02:39 should be the target
Congratulations!, and inspiring target.. Looking forward to catching up with you and the others on Saturday.
Thank you all it means a lot, and I look forward to seeing people in London, where I'm a bit worried about the health check as since I had the snip I don't liek check my health too closely .
SNHN, it's not just the smile that's dopey!!! as I hope to prove
Stolen from KR's thread but details have been changed to mine!
A bit of a background picture:
Age: 38Resident: North Hampshire (Kingsclere nr. Basingstoke)Status: MarriedChildren: 1 Girl (7) 1 Boy (4)Pets: 4 FishDriving Licence: CleanMusic: Anything but Plastic Pop or JazzFood: Roast DinnerFilm: Toy StoryMarathons: 2:54:37 (2006) Qty = 5 + 2 in training last marathon was 200720miles: 2:01:13 (2011)Half: 1:16:06 (2010)10 miles: 56:53 (2011)10k: 34:33 (2011)5 miles: 27:45 (2011)5k: 16:50 (2010)3000m S/C: 10:36.4 (2011)2000m S/C: 6:50.5 (2011)
Total races = 188
Well done Choisty (how did you get that nickname?) and I am glad to see you get roped into steeplechase at Southern League matches but maybe you didn't have to be roped in: your time shows you are somewhat decent at the event.
I am not planning to get anywhere near your time but I am interested in seeing how you deal with the mental side of it. Even at 2:45, let alone 2:39 (which IMHO is a bridge to far), you are looking to knock 10 minutes or so off you PB. Your half and 10 mile times say it is possible but it is a big leap and not the usual 2 or 3 minutes a year safely safely others do.
Congratulations Lee! Look forward to seeing you on saturday
2:39 is an amazing goal - I hope you get there! x
I never need my arm twisting for a spot of chasing, it's where the name Choisty comes form, as Choisty was 50-1 outsider for the national I picked in a sweepstake, it won the virtual national in the indy, then fell at the first in the actually event.
The way I work for goals are main goal, stretch goal and perfect goal...mine this time around is main goal 2:45, stretch goal sub 2:40, perfect goal 2:38. What that means is I will train for 2:38 and my pace will be based on that so that if on the day things don't quite go to plan I have a little bit in the reserve tank.
Also as I haven't run a marathon for a long time and since then I have taken 7mins off my 10mile time I think there is scope to improve by the required amount.
As a clubmate of Lee I'm really pleased that he has been chosen for this.
We are a tiny club and don't have the coaching staff for Lee's level of performance even though the club is extremely successful.
Hopefully we will all be able to learn from Lee's experience.
However, I could add a few different things to his list of "achievements" .
Hope all goes well.
Piers wrote (see)
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Translation of "beseech" - English-Spanish dictionary
(Translation of "beseech" from the Cambridge English-Spanish Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
(Translation of "beseech" from the PASSWORD English-Spanish Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)
Get a quick, free translation!
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Word of the Day
food that is cooked and sold in public places, usually outdoors, to be eaten immediately


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Does anyone know about this type of tea? Has anybody tried a Qilaishan oolong that is worth mentioning? I am having trouble finding a U.S. company that sells Qilaishan oolong teas. Seven Cups is the only one that I have found so far, but I want to try another brand for comparison.
Here's what I know about Qilaishan: it is apparently the highest peak in Taiwan. The highest tea gardens provide for ideal tea growing conditions -- fog cover and drastic temperature changes. From what I can tell, Qilaishan yields a thick, milky tea leaf that lasts for several infusions if processed correctly.


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Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg spoke before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 10, 2011. The Deputy Secretary addressed recent developments in Egypt and Lebanon and their implications for broader U.S. policy in the region. The Deputy Secretary said:
"Last month in Doha, Secretary Clinton challenged the leaders of the Middle East to give greater voice to their people. As the region confronts a potent combination of demographic and technological changes, rampant unemployment, and in too many cases, the denial of universal rights and freedoms, she warned the status quo is unsustainable. And in recent weeks, this dynamic has given rise to demonstrations across the region and changes in Tunisia, Jordan, and Yemen, and of course, sparked the dramatic developments in Egypt that, along with the events in Lebanon, are the focus of today's hearing.
"In such an environment, it's more important than ever that America works both with the people and the governments to democratize and open up political systems, economies, and societies. As the Secretary said just a few days ago in Munich, this is -- in her words -- 'not simply a matter of idealism. It is a strategic necessity'."
Regarding Egypt, Deputy Secretary Steinberg said, "We've all been transfixed by the heroic images from Tahrir Square of young and old, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian, gathering to lay claim to universal rights enjoyed in democratic societies around the world. And as the President has said, Egypt is not going back to the way it was. We have declared publicly and privately that a peaceful, orderly, and prompt transition must begin without delay. And it must make immediate irreversible progress towards free and fair elections.
"We have set out key principles to ensure that the transition remains peaceful. We have made, and will continue to make, clear our support for human rights, including expression, association and assembly, freedom of the press. We have condemned violence against peaceful protestors, reporters, and human rights activists. And we've underlined the need for Egypt's military to remain a force for stability.
"We're urging Egypt's government and opposition to engage in serious, inclusive negotiations to arrive at a timetable, game plan, and path to constitutional and political reforms. And as they do, we will support principles, processes and institutions -- not personalities. The desire for an orderly transition may not be a pretext for backsliding and stalling.
"Another vital message we are sending to all who take part in Egypt's political future is the fundamental need to honor Egypt's historic peace treaty with Israel. As Egypt builds democratic institutions after the recent unrest -- and also contends with the economic challenges that helped to cause it -- we will continue to extend the hand of partnership and friendship to the Egyptian people. And we will act now, as we have done in the past, to support civil society, nongovernmental organizations, democracy groups and economic recovery. As the transition unfolds, we will tailor our support to engage and nurture it."
The Deputy Secretary continued, "In Lebanon, a very different situation is unfolding. Last month, Hezbollah, backed by Syria, used threats of violence to undermine the collapse of the Lebanese Government. We've worked with the international community with one voice to urge the next Lebanese Government to support the Special Tribunal, to honor its international obligations, and to refrain from retribution against former officials.
"We intend to judge the next Lebanese Government by its deeds, mindful of the circumstances that brought it about. We will be watching Prime Minister Mikati to see whether he makes good on his public pledge to build a broad-based government that represents all sections of Lebanese society. The Lebanese people deserve better than a false choice between justice for the murder of their prime minister and stability for their country."
You can read the Deputy Secretary's full remarks here.
Palgye in South Korea writes:
Demonstrations for democracy in Egypt, 45% 35% and Others, the food crisis to the attention of the world started getting it, he comes out a warning when you start the boundaries, the food supply in the North - the least I could have a discussion on the humane. Discussion ....
45%-35% and etc....
Egypt's new hope for the youth class is required. Domestic political and social structure to provide a hammer to break glass, and hope is needed.
and, if can, exile-after monday


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Crime Diary Mystery Pro Walkthrough
Welcome to the Crime Diary Mystery Pro walkthrough where we will provide you with the best in game strategy guide to help you get through all levels of the game. If you want some tips, tricks and cheats to clear the difficult levels then this is place where you will get it all.
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Lungs & Respiratory Care
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men, the second most common in women (after breast cancer) and is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. Tennessee ranks fourth in the nation for Lung & Bronchus cancer incidents in both men and women. Many thoracic cancers are tobacco-related. Every year in the U.S. over 392,000 people die from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death.
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Ventilator Weaning Program
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One-on-one education and client reminders increase uptake of colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screening
- University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Correspondence to: Kathleen Griffith, PhD, CRNP
University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, 655 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Griffith{at}son.umaryland.edu
Commentary on:
Implications for practice and research
Client reminders and one-on-one education are effective community-based interventions for improving screening rates for colorectal cancer (CRC), breast and cervical cancers.
Group education is now shown to be an effective approach for improving breast cancer screening rates.
Needs particular to the target population should be considered in conjunction with published recommendations when choosing interventions to improve screening rates.
Studies which address interventions for increasing CRC screening other than with faecal occult blood test are needed.
An important area to address in future research is the effectiveness of electronic communications in improving screening rates.
Although screening rates have improved overall …


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NEW YORK (MLS Official Release) – At the request of Real Salt Lake Investor/Operator Dave Checketts the MLS Disciplinary Committee has reviewed all available video evidence of the post-game celebrations that took place after the game between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 2 2006.
The Committee found no evidence of any obscene behavior by any Colorado Rapids player or any actions that require disciplinary penalties.
There were however certain celebratory acts that I find unprofessional and inappropriate. I will be addressing these acts with the Colorado Rapids.
In addition the MLS Operations Department will address security at Rice-Eccles Stadium to prevent a recurrence of the actions of a small group of Real Salt Lake fans who threw objects onto the field during and after the game.
In other news today the MLS Disciplinary Committee also fined Real Salt Lake forward Jeff Cunningham $500 for inappropriate conduct following the goal scored by Colorado in the 48th minute of the match.


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Geographic Range
The giant floater is a widespread species, found throughout te Mississippi and Missouri river drainages, the St. Lawrence drainage,, Gulf of Mexico through Louisiana and Texas. In Canada it is in the Interior basin from western Ontario to Alberta.
In Michigan, Pyganodon grandis is found throughout streams, lakes and rivers in the state. In general, it is more common in lakes, but is widespread throughout river systems. (Burch, 1975)
Biogeographic Regions: Nearctic; Nearctic :: Native


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CNN's Black in America/Latino in America
January 28, 2010
A panel of industry experts shared their insights on CNN's series focusing on race in America and discussed what lessons the series might hold for marketers.
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Madison & Wall: A Brand's Reach Should Exceed Its Grasp
November 14, 2012
This edition of Pivotal Research Group's Madison & Wall newsletter discusses mobile display advertising and managing client conflicts within agency holding companies.
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David Akers (1975/88): Except for the relatively common 1908, the 1915 is the most common of the early issues in all Mint State grades. It is not too hard to find in MS-63 or less but MS-64 examples are certainly not available all that often. In MS-65 or better condition, the 1915 is definitely rare, although I have seen more gems of this date than I have of 1912, 1913 or 1914. A few superb pieces exist, including several nearly perfect ones, but better than MS-65, this issue is clearly a major rarity.
The 1915 is typically well struck with lustre that is about average for the series (I have seen some radiant examples of the 1915 and some subdued ones but most have good lustre.) Some specimens show a little granularity to the surfaces but it is less pronounced than it is on most early issues. Color is generally good, usually a light to medium yellow gold, often with some coppery highlights.


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SFJAZZ Collective Plays Stevie Wonder
Mar 23 - Mar 24, 2012
SFJAZZ Collective features new arrangements of the classic works of Stevie Wonder, as well as all-new original compositions by Collective members.
The Collective is comprised of tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, pianist Edward Simon, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, bassist Matt Penman, trombonist Robin Eubanks, and drummer Eric Harland.
The group is touring in support of SFJAZZ Collective: Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions, Live in New York 2011 – Season 8, recorded at the Jazz Standard in New York City.
Samueli Theater, Sergenstrom Center for the Arts
Costa Mesa
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General Surgery provides inpatient and outpatient care for patients with benign and malignant conditions of the:
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Patients are pre-admitted by their surgical coordinator at the outpatient clinic. The coordinator is responsible for obtaining your financial information and scheduling your admission time to Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He or she can also answer any questions you have about insurance. Additionally, your physician may request some tests to be done before you are admitted. The surgical coordinator or your doctor's office will arrange for an appointment to have the tests completed on an outpatient basis.
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On the day you are scheduled for admission, you will check-in at the Admissions Office, located near the hospital's main lobby. Patients should make plans for someone to drive them to Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Parents must accompany patients who are younger than 18 years old. Once you have checked in, a patient services representative will show you to your room where you will be introduced to your nurse and given an admissions information packet. If you were admitted through the Emergency Department, you will be assigned a bed by the operating room. A patient services representative will contact you once you have been assigned your room.
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About the Author: Daniel Fried is the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
Russia's incursion into Georgia -- followed by the failure of Russian troops to withdraw from Georgian territory after Russian President Medvedev signed a Ceasefire agreement to do so -- has generated intense diplomacy and conceptual thinking over the past two plus weeks. Secretary Rice has led on both counts.
First, Secretary Rice helped seal the French-negotiated Ceasefire agreement by flying to Tbilisi and working with Georgia's leaders to get President Saakashvili to sign it. She worked with the French and Georgians to get clarifications of the ceasefire, without which the Georgians would not have signed. Her effort succeeded, appreciated by the French and Georgians alike. While the Russians have not yet adhered to terms of the Ceasefire, without her effort we would have no Ceasefire at all with which to push the Russians and achieve some stability.
Second, Secretary Rice focused the initial outrage and anxiety felt in Europe into a unified front at NATO in support of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the Ceasefire agreement. Anyone familiar with NATO's customary pace understands that we achieved a lot and achieved it fast.
Beyond these operational successes, Secretary Rice helped put Russia's invasion of Georgia into strategic context: Russia, she argued, was trying to behave like the Soviet Union toward Georgia (and other countries close to its borders), while still seeking the benefits of integration into the wider world. Her point, now increasingly accepted, is that Russia cannot have it both ways, and that Russia is in fact choosing a path of self-isolation due to its own actions, not punitive steps by others.
In any crisis, critics and pundits have a lot to say. Some argue the United States was too hard on Russia because we did not give Moscow a "sphere of influence" to dominate its neighbors. We plead guilty: the United States does not "give away" other countries, or sacrifice the freedom of other peoples for cynical calculation. That kind of thinking went out with the last century, and, to our credit, the United States never really embraced it.
Others say we have been too accommodating to Russia. But I would argue that the efforts of the last three Presidents to encourage and support Russia's integration into the world were certainly the right ones. If Russia has failed to make its own shift from imperial- and Soviet-style efforts to dominate its neighbors, that is Russia's choice, and Russia will have to live with the consequences: fear from its neighbors, suspicion from the world's advanced democracies, and isolation.
This crisis is not over. But Americans can be proud of the role their Secretary of State has played in responding to the most serious threat Russia has posed to European security and stability since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
DDS in Virginia writes:
Pathetic attempt to rationalize the failures of this administration. First an embrace of the guy whose soul our fearless leader looked into. Then inability to control the man we supported in Georgia-originally a democrat, and then just another leader trying to stay in power by cracking down on any opposition, media or otherwise.
So now we are forced to back up this impulsive leader and once again, we see the absolute failure of this administration to deal with foreign policy issues in a responsible way.
By the way, we sat back and let the French negotiate a ceasefire, while our Secretary sent a low-level minion. And now we trash the French for the deficiencies of that agreement.
Truly pathetic.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Assistant Secretary Fried,
I've had a fair amount to say and done my research on this issue, and I'm wondering what you think about the following assesment. Sometimes it's nice to get an official reality check, so thanks in advance.
"I think the only rational way to solve the underlying issues that lead to violence is to put the issue up for international arbitration. The parties themselves are too close to the problem to have the proper perspective to solve this themselves, obviously.
It's going to take a real clear eyed, independant, non aligned negotiator to lead that process.
Japan perhaps could, even China.
But without a peacekeeping force that has no vested interest except to keep the peace, this situation will flare up again in violence. Especially if the Russians don't withdraw completely from Georgia proper.
Eventually they will be facing a situation of armed insurgency otherwise.
And there's nothing that the West could do to prevent that, because the Georgian people won't put up with any Russian occupation very long. Protests have already begun.
There's a very limited time to put a lid on this for good and all, and the Russians need to understand this for their sake."
I'd just like to add that in no way am I dissing the Sec. of State's efforts, nor anyone else's to bring peace. I'm looking down the road a bit with this.
Best regards,
Lawrence in Tennessee writes:
Working in the former Soviet countries of Belarus, Russia, and Tajikistan since 1993, I have learned a lot about Russian thinking. Mostly, their mindset that "Our (Slavic) people can not live under a Western style Democracy", has won. They excuse themselves from the hard work of building democratic institutions because of their "defeatest" mindset. Russian excuse their own bad behavior under this "Flag of Exception". Russia will become democratic only after this mindset is changed. This can be acheived through education but in the mean time, like a bad child, they must be punished for their bad behavior. Carrots will never force them to relook their own potential. Unfortunately, the same mindset is increasingly shared by almost all former Soviet countries. Follow the Turkish and Chineese model of opening "American Bording Schools" that offer accreditation and opportunities abroad for students who perform well. Staff the schools with 20% American teachers and establish a 20 year mindset to correcting the Slavic defeatest mindset that blocks out true democracy. Look at what Turkey and China are doing in this area in Tajikistan today.
Secondly, discontinue the policy that considers places like Tajikistan as "Hardship" tours for US foreign service professionals (Ambassadors, Consular officers, Etc.) I have seen these short terms undermine good representation of our democracy by rotating diplomats too frequently. Embassy workers are in country too short of a time to be able to learn the culture and build relationships.
Finally, the short terms of Embassy Staff feed in to a greater problem: A Corruption Bubble that surrounds all NGO and Embassy programs designed to win hearts and minds. How? The problem of corruption in former Soviet countries is the real problem! Nationals who work in or around the Embassy/USAID/NGO's from America and the west form a bubble of corruption that all nationals know about while Embassy and USAID staff live in denial of the problem. This is the problem that undermines most of our nation's good efforts to win hearts and minds. It should really be studied and corrected.
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
My criticism of our policy is NOT related to the obsolete "spheres of influence" theory used to dominate former Soviet states, but is centered on the fact that neither NATO nor the US have given former Soviet states enough time to adjust their relationships with Russia, and not enough time for Russians to adapt to an entirely new economic system, before beginning our relentless meddling in East European politics and militarization of these tiny nations.
In disregarding deeply held Russian beliefs and attitudes, we have antagonized the Russians who initially looked to us in hope of friendship, trade, and an occasional helping hand to integrate into a world economy, only to find disappointment, discouragement, and exclusion. Russians can accept even that, but worry about being militarily surrounded by us and our allies. It does not matter whether their fear of us is rational or not, because for them it is real.
I suppose only a very few of us could understand this better if Russia had supplied nuclear weapons and missiles to Mexico in case Mexico was (again) invaded by America; or if Russia offered Canada membership in a new, Warsaw Pact, along with millions of dollars of arms and ammunition, in the event Quebec decided to declare independence. From the posts on this blog, most of us are so blinded by ethnocentrism that we cannot see this situation through Russian eyes. To avoid a war, we must begin looking at things from the Russian point of view and try to work with them in achieving better understanding of what they want and what we want.
Does it matter to people in Detroit or Peoria whether Georgia joins NATO? Is any conceivable US national interest involved if South Ossetia wins independence? Was our national interest served by Kosovo independence? In summary, are now we involved in things that are none of our business.
Akhteruzzaman in Bangladesh writes:
Dear sir,
The Incidents -- as i think ,was a test/exam of Russian armour and weapons power what USA wanted to observe and Secty.General C. Rice have handled efficiently and diplomatically for check and balance of russian gas diplomacy.
George in Connecticut writes:
American response to Russian invasion was very weak. The main reason Georgia has been punished by Russia is for being US friend. We had to have strategy for defending our friends against slaughter by fascist states.
Joe in Tennessee writes:
QUTOE: This can be achieved through education but in the mean time, like a bad child, they must be punished for their bad behavior. END QUOTE.
What needs to be done is recognize Russia as the World Power it is again. You do nothing but create a worse situation by confronting a Russian with nothing to back your words up....Where did you reside in Russia? If you were in Romania, Poland or Lithuania, then you do not know the Russian mentality at all, much less Putins profile.
We need countermeasures. A good counter move and my guess is after North Koreas move, something else will come to play prior to elections here. Maybe we just need to ask Russia who they want as our President. We have NOTHING for them; we are economically deficit and have no negotiating power. If we did, we would have used it by now. As the second largest holder of oil in the world, they can simply use the Euro dollar as exchange and not give a darn about how much we owe them. That is how Russians think?not as a child, but in end game.
Given the fact we have made no strong actions of any kind beyond words, my guess is, they will push a little further -- and why not?
By the way, Regan dropped the TTS...so why did someone bring it up? That is fact...
John in Greece writes:
@ Lawrence
Your post and views are very interesting Lawrence. Please let me contribute with some "notes-queries".
1. What do you mean by the term "Nationals"? when you write:
"Nationals who work in or around the Embassy/USAID/NGO's from America and the west form a bubble of corruption that all nationals know about while Embassy and USAID staff live in denial of the problem".
2. You write that: "I have seen these short terms undermine good representation of our democracy by rotating diplomats too frequently".
You are right that the ideal would be exactly what you say: "Embassy workers to be able to learn the culture and build relationships".
But how much possible is this and "when" it starts to become dangerous for the prime DoS scope, which is to help them serve as better as they can in order to achieve the best possible diplomatic results?
According to my opinion, it would be impossible for DoS to do it in a different way.
First, there are security reasons: You cannot use the same guys, at same places, for a very very long time. It's? "dangerous" in this "business"!
But the most important is that when you have to serve in places like "hell" -- and there are more than 50 of such areas-countries in the Globe -- you have to offer diplomats, from time to time, a chance to "recover", otherwise they will quit any "effort" due to bad everyday conditions they have to face. After all, they are human beings...
You cannot have them "imprisoned" for years, living in compound blocks, having to face everyday dangers, far away from their families and homes, etc.
3. You write that "Carrots will never force them to relook their own potential".
I strongly agree with you and that's why I strongly disagree with Zharkov in the U.S.A. that suggests us to "help them build an ever better economy" than he is attempting to persuade us that they already have, by selling their products within the States etc. (Besides, what products? Do they have anything at all, except oil and gas that -- Eric you are absolutely right -- they can only sell if only E.U. is willing to buy?)
So, according to my opinion too, Lawrence: anything concerning the Russians or the ex-Soviets "can be achieved through education, but in the mean time, like a bad child, they must be punished for their bad behaviour" in order to learn proper democratic behaviour rules.
It will take time though and meanwhile we should not be so sure that plenty of "hidden communistic talents" in ex-Soviet areas do not STILL love their ex-fiance Russians.
Best Regards!
Cyril in Russia writes:
Russia becomes a new Soviet Union and it is the serious threat for all Western democracies and the Western values and lifestyle. I am a russian citizen and I want to say that here in Russia I feel the smell of police state, things that are normal for dictatorships. President Medvedev has no real power, and Putin remains a real head of state. Russian tv doesn't show international reaction on the actions of Russia, they show only one point of view on this conflict, the point of view of the government. And our government now is a dictator Putin (who stands behind all actions of Medvedev),the Ministry of defense and the Federal Security Service(FSB). I have not seen FREE elections in Russia since 2000. All, which were after that time were without choice.
About corruption. If you live in Russia, you can't do anything against unlawful decisions and actions of Russian militia(police), army and even medical service, which is 100% under state control. Even if you have your own business, you can't be political, because official power will arrest you! (Remember Khodorkovsky and even Roman Abramovich who was forced to leave governor's place).
So, finally. Russians' minds are full of ideas of the rising Russia, which is standing from her knees! Here everybody knows that Russia has HUGE amount of oil and gas and Western countries are dependent from them. And officials here now feel that they can do anything in the foreign policy because there will be no SERIOUS or STRONG answer, just some words against. This tendency is very dangerous and Western states must point Russia on her place! Even because there are some people(I can count them with fingers of my hand) who still loves freedom and wants to life in free country which is the part of the world. Thank You! AND GOD BLESS DEMOCRACY!!!
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
As Cyril in Russia has written, government officials who feel they can do anything they wish without fear of retaliation, are a threat to democracy. If only the average American felt the same!
This week we have massive crowds protesting the democrat convention and not one mention of it in the t.v. news, not a single photo, no news coverage whatsoever -- it is as if the hundreds of people in the streets in Denver never existed -- they are non-people as far as our news media is concerned. We know they are there because private individuals have placed photos of them on websites, and a few internet news people have done stories about the clashes between protestors and police. Do we see any similarities between America and Soviet Russia or China?
Every poll taken shows the American public does not want us to occupy Iraq, yet we continue to occupy Iraq. Our government does what it wishes, without fear of retaliation, because it can, and many people wonder whether Bush has any real power or whether Cheney is the real head of state. How does this compare with the Soviet Union?
Regarding corruption, the only people with real power to stop corruption in American government are the offices of the U.S. Attorney General and regional U.S. Attorneys, and we all know what happened to them under the Bush and Clinton Administrations. How does this compare with the Soviet Union?
Russia can become a free country unless we convince them that they need a strong dictatorship to defend them against us. Surrounding Russia with NATO, missile shields, and sanctions, gives Russian leaders the excuse they need to increase control and suppress dissent. We should be experts in unintended consequences by now and foresee this outcome before we go too far.
Joe in Tennessee writes:
Seems I was correct...What did Russia do yesterday? Pushing again.
Even here in the US we have separations of Leaderships and variances between monetary levels, regardless of who is in power. It is not always about Democracy, it is about Leadership. People anywhere can make a difference and that is what American Democracy originally did and still best represents.
What is missing from most premises here is that should realize that we are all universal in one method or another and how we impute each other is a larger view.
It may be easier for the world to work with a simplistic version of Good vs. Evil to maintain existence rather than more independent versions of Poor democracies; which work like the false religions hiding under a banner they really do not represent except by word only.
This same view has become more relevant even in criminal activities. When there was one basic group controlling crime here in the US, it was much simpler to find answers. Unfortunately, money became God and loyalties became less dependable. When dissolved for the most part, it was all replaced with ten groups for the one lost. This made control and information gathering 10 times more difficult and more costly.
To view it in the same manner as our Russian counterpart, the criminal activity in America, combined with more aggressive passive crime and civil sentences as well as new Homeland security laws makes even America look like a police state. We have the highest percentage of adult population in jails than any other major civilized population. What represents a free and democratic society in that aspect? If our freedom puts more people in jail, than are the parameters and extent of freedoms too liberal for the society? Would more governmental control and tighter laws governing moral and civil conduct be better?
The point is any society today has negatives which, while credible, do not necessarily reflect the overall Government of that Nation. Putin is about Russia, American Leaderships are about Democracy -- that is the only real difference.
Now if you think about it, perhaps this is why one party is being showcased more than another because Americans think America for Americans is more important right now, so where does that leave us? That one party cared too much about democracy somewhere else? Where will it leave the world in three months? But, we do have a choice and either way, America will still be about promotion of a democratic society anywhere.
Putin is as predictable as American leadership decisions in all actuality. We simply are too trusting and arrogant to believe differently, which is why we were not prepared.
I worked for a successful American who was a proud Russian immigrant most of my life, as did my family. It was an honor to know him and special to have his oversight, friendship and brotherhood. I was also privy to being in some of those questionalble places in time....Russias leadership only changed in name while THEY changed the game. Do not think otherwise.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Yeah you're right Joe, the Russians are "pushing"....themselves deeper into a hole they've dug for themselves.
Changed the game? I think rather they've decided to play a worn out one from last century and that didn't exactly work out for them, now did it?
@ Cyril in Russia,
Finally I am witness to some Russian common sense in your post. Thank you for that, and please stick around.
This discussion will be better for it.
I can only hope your level of sanity is contagious in Russia's population.
Then maybe we'll see something good happen eventually.
Remember, while your government has the guns, the people have the numbers, and that's where the real power lies when circumstance forces the people to take to the streets and change the will of their government, or simply the government itself.
If you want change, you'll have to fight for it. Freedom is never a free ride.
Our friend Zharkov has this illusion that he lives in the "Soviet utopia of America".
I think you are in a unique position to buy him a clue...(chuckle).
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ John in Greece,
Embassies often hire locals (foreign nationals) to work in the Embassy in various capacities.
They are typicly screened, background checks etc. , but the human condition being what it is, temptation to use such a position for personal gain outside the embassy, influence, favors , among the local population by these employees is inherant.
It boils down to an individual's ethics.
The solution is better monitoring of these employees.
I posted a link on the question of the week to a speach given by the UK foreign minister that I think you will find interesting in regards to what I said about economic leverage the EU has on Russia.
Quite interesting in fact.
Gasprom lost 19 billion in net worth on Russia's stock market within the last two weeks.
That's got to hurt.
Richard in Maryland writes:
State Department info on Georgia has texts of lots of statements, but I cannot find the text of the ceasefire agreement, which would be very helpful in understanding the situation.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Correction to my previous post;
"Gasprom lost 19 billion in net worth on Russia's stock market within the last two weeks."
"Finally, Russia needs to ask itself about the relationship between short term military victories and longer term economic prosperity.
At the time of the Soviet Union's invasion of Hungary in 1956 or Czechoslovakia in 1968 no one asked what impact its actions had on the Russian stock market. There was no Russian stock market.
Now, Russia can ill afford not to ask that question. Russia's economy has been growing at about 7 per cent a year for the last seven years. But no country can live in isolation in a globalised world, not even a very rich one. Certainly not one whose population is falling by some 800 000 a year with underinvestment and inequality rampant.
Meanwhile the conflict in Georgia has been associated with a sharp decline in investor confidence. In one week Russia?s foreign exchange reserves fell by 16 billion dollars. In just one day the value of Gazprom fell by the same amount. Prime Minister Putin's attack on the coal and steel producer Mechel shook investors; and risk premia have sky-rocketed."
- David Miliband, UK Foreign Secretary
Source: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=Speech&id=5619709
Cyril in Russia wrote:
"So, finally. Russians' minds are full of ideas of the rising Russia, which is standing from her knees! Here everybody knows that Russia has HUGE amount of oil and gas and Western countries are dependent from them."
That is the general perception Cyril, but I wonder what the Russian people will think when they realize their own government has just cut themselves off at the knees just as it was beginning to stand up and become a prosperous nation in partnership with the family of nations.
Such losses are not sustainable by any nation no matter how wealthy. Folks in Europe would rather freeze than be blackmailed by Russia, but they won't have to as they find alternative markets to purchase from.
This loss did not come as a result of any western government action, but as a private sector response to investment risk.
In a curious way, this may also partially explain Joe's question of why the price of oil has not gone through the roof.
If Russia is not concerned about this type of economic impact, it should be.
I'm sure the Russian people don't wish to return to breadlines and economic stagnation.
Ted in Indiana writes:
Mr. Fried,
Your statement that the US does not "give away" other countries is absolutely absurd and an example of propaganda of the worst kind. This type of historical lying is the reason why the US State Department is the most incompetant and damaging organization in the entire government. Here is a historical list of regions and countries that the US has "given away" since WW2:
Eastern Europe
El Salvador
In addition, the US actively participated in the destruction of a sovereign nation: Yugoslavia. All of these statements that the US respects the territorial integrity of sovereign nations is a monsterous lie worthy of anything that came out of Hitler's Ministry of Propaganda. The US has been squatting on Guantanamo Bay for almost 50 years and it says it respects territorial integrity. Why don't you stop your lying and start behaving like a responsible government of grown-ups, rather than the childish, spoiled brats that you are?! You occupy Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. You are the new Kremlin of the world.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Richard in Maryland,
Peace agreement between Russia and Georgia
Source: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en
It revolves around the following points:
the non-use of force
the definitive cessation of hostilities
free access for humanitarian aid
the withdrawal of the Georgian military forces to their usual bases
the withdrawal of Russian military forces to the lines they held before hostilities broke out. While waiting for an international body, the Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security measures
the opening of international discussions on the modalities of security and stability in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
We stand by the terms of the six-point agreement and those in President Sarkozy's letter on August 16, namely:
that these "additional security measures" will be implemented only in the immediate vicinity of South Ossetia, to the exclusion of any other part of Georgian territory;
that they may be implemented only within a zone a few kilometers deep, inside the administrative boundary between South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia, such that no urban center is included, that special arrangements must be defined to guarantee freedom of movement and circulation along Georgian road and railways;
that they shall consist of patrols carried out exclusively by Russian peacekeeping forces at the level authorized by the existing arrangements, the other Russian forces withdrawing to their positions prior to August 5 in accordance with the protocol agreement;
that they shall be provisional pending the establishment as soon as possible of the "international mechanism," the nature and mandate of which are already under discussion in various international bodies, in particular the OSCE, the European Union and the United Nations.
These excerpts are derived from a couple pages on the site and the basic description of the points are copied here verbatim.
When in doubt, simply go directly to the source.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Here's a theory:
Putin has accused the US of having US personel in the combat zone in Georgia, citing military reports to that effect...still to be confirmed, as he put it in a CNN interview.
Some 2000 Georgian troops serving in Iraq were airlifted back to Georgia under existing agreement by the US.
Well, they wouldn't have arrived in their civvies.
And I'm thinking the Russian military may have mistaken their Iraqi battle fatigues (which if I understand correctly one of the Georgian conditions to go to Iraq was being fully equiped by the US to fulfill the mission), for US soldiers, instead of Georgians in US supplied clothing.
It's just a wild thought I had prior to my morning coffee, but certainly somewhat more rational than Putin's accusing the US of starting the conflict for the sake of bolstering the chances of one of the presidential candidates.
By way of evidence, the Russians say that they found a US passport of a male individual in the rubble of a village outside Tskhinvali, where a Georgian special forces unit had been based during the war.
I'd say it was quite a stretch to make these accusations based on the assumption that one guy could have initiated all this , when the evidence strongly suggests Russian troops and armor were already crossing into South Ossetia prior to hostilities being waged.
Seems to me that if a nation is going to make these kinds of accusations, that they would arm themselves with more substantial evidence and confirm the facts prior to any statement.
Heck, what if the guy was just a tourist caught up in circumstance? Russia would look pretty stupid.
And even if a US gov. employee, where's the connect to Putin's speculative remarks about influencing a presidential race.
I think rather that he's trying to influence the US election himself, because one of the candidates has suggested Russia may not be worthy to be a member of the G8.
That seems far more logical to me than anything else.
Since WW2 when Stalin chose to view the folks that helped him kick Nazi butt as Russia's ideological enemy, and took Russia on a very bad acid trip for the next 40+ years, it seems that they've been suffering flashbacks every so often since they "sobered up" in the late 80's and we see now some rather severe hallucinations of their role as a "peacekeeper".
A have a perscription for their psycosis;
A strong dose of "GET A GRIP"
Chou in U.S.A. writes:
I am sorry to say, Russia has every right to attack Georgia since they have attacked first. Russia shows more restraints than US by not overthrowing the Corrupt and stooge regime of Georgia. America instigated this crisis and they are fully responsible for this and like other crisis in the world. I am glad that Russia is coming to the picture now and trying to rein in the autocracy and neo con ideas of US. America should stop butting into other people's business.
Donald in Virginia writes:
2 September 08
We as People of this great world cannot afford to continue having wars and battles because people have disagreements or arguments on how a country should be runned.
We should all find solutions to problems, communicate and above all show common respect for world leaders.
We all including Russia and Georgia need to figure out what went wrong? Identify Russia's positon! Identify Georgias positon! Before the crisis took place. We have diplomats who are suppose to help cool the tensions with other nations and find peaceful solutions to prevent war from even happening.
What is the purpose of the International Space Station? If we can't get along on earth, we sure will not get along in space in future. Which means political leaders need to show more tact and use more diplomacy in dealing with other nations. We will never have Peace on Earth unless people are willing to make the right change and focus on our own problems we face in the United States.
I think the Russian Leaders and United States President George W. Bush should have a meeting and discuss the issues in person and try to resolve and diffuse the situation at hand between Russia and Georgia. Make it a week long meeting, but make it a productive meeting to find a common ground between our two nations. I understand that both sides might be stubborn to this meeting. For the sake of humanity and people of Georgia I believe this would be fruitful if both sides agreed. Another words stop rattling swords and sit down and talk to each other before more problems exist when a dinner or a lunch meeting might get a peace deal for all parties. Then everyone wins!
God Bless and lets hope we all can make peace and bring harmony to this wonderful world we live in today!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ Chou,
You may want to see what the fellow that started this thread has to say on the matter, because he knows what he's talking about.
@ Assistant Sec. Fried,
I know you're a busy public servant, and may not have the time to answer my questions, but right at the moment we seem to be at a crossroads, and the choice for both Russia and western nations is basicly "Where do we go from here?" and "How do we go about getting to where we need to be to keep the peace?"
It's a critical time.
I don't know that what I could bring to the table would be useful, but it would be unique. A perspective the Russians might not get from anyone else, given my family history.
I don't believe freezing arms reductions talks and leaving it for the next admon. is the right way to go at the moment as I believe it would be a missed opportunity to turn what is becoming an increasingly strained relationship around to a more constructive one.
Please consider this; I'm probably among a dozen or so people in the world still living who has held a piece of "trinitite" in my hands. This is the fused sand from the first atomic explosion. Bubbled green glass, encased in leaded crystal, given to the department heads and leading scientists at Los Alamos at the end of WW2 including my granddad.
The rest has been bulldozed underground at the site in White Sands. It is the most concrete example I can show any one of the risk of nuclear war, or the results of it. Any leader holding this potential future in hand, will have something to remember, and think about.
My granddad had it on his roll top desk as a paperweight, and it was on the fireplace mantle as I grew up as a child. In 1970, my dad took a geiger counter to it and while it set it off, it was not dangerously hot, being encased as it was. My dad still has this piece of history that my family was a part of. If it would serve to inspire peace, among world leaders, to see and hold it in hand, I believe he'd appreciate that as much as I would. I think granddad would also, were he with us today.
I can't think of a better visual aid to ask a simple question of the Russian leadership.
"What do we wish to create for everyone's future, this? And will we continue to accept this reality as future potential for both our peoples instead of making absolutely certain it never becomes our fate?"
That the question I'd like to bring to the table, face to face. Just maybe having a citizen asking it instead of a gov. employee will illicit no misunderstanding of intent in the asking.
If this strikes you as having some merit, you'all know where to contact me.
Thanks for your consideration.
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
Mr. Fried said the Russians are "trying to delegitimize any military support for Georgia -- a country that Russia has attacked," adding that U.S. "military cooperation" with Georgia will continue "carefully" and "responsibly."
The obvious question any thinking Russian would ask is, what is the real purpose of arming small nations on Russia's border?
If the goal is to resist a future Russian invasion, then the goal is impossible because Georgia is too small to resist a major military force.
If the purpose is to allow Georgia to join NATO, what benefit would NATO membership be to the people of Georgia, when membership can get them killed in the crossfire between NATO and Russia in a future war?
In the Russian mind, there is a huge logical gap between what the US is doing in Georgia and what the US is saying to Russia about what it is doing.
The Russian government has cooperated in everything requested by the US, so it seems fair to ask the our side to cooperate in matters important to Russia, and keeping NATO away from Russian borders is not too much to ask.
Is there anything stopping Georgia and other former Soviet states from forming their own mutual defense organization if they wish? Could that type of organization avoid any problems the Russians have with NATO encroaching too closely?
NATO has gotten along without former Soviet states since it was created, so why the urgency to have them join now?
Is there something planned that requires Russia to be encircled by NATO members armed with the latest weaponry despite the horse-cart economies of former Soviet states?
How will NATO tanks, missiles, and bombers, help Georgian farmers to grow their crops?
Why are we arming rural nations when they have no real enemies other than poverty and corrupt governments?
Do we know what we are doing to them?
Eric in New Mexico writes:
I think you are forgetting something here Zharkov, that is a process of logical deduction.
And the context of the facts.
Bear with me a moment and I think it will become clear to even you.
To date, the only US military hardware the Russians are putting on "parade" from their adventures in Georgia are 4, maybe 5 humvees the call "war trophies". ( DOD is appropriately enough, "sending them a bill". Unquote.)
Seems if we were training and equiping a brigade of Georgian troops to go into Iraq as part of the Coalition, they would need to get familiar with the general mode of transport there. Therefore you have a few in Georgia for such purposes.
Let's just put aside for a moment that with all the fuss Russia is making about a US warship offloading humanitartian supplies and alleging it is really transporting arms; one would have to think that if they had actually found any offensive US hardware (such as large calber morters, field guns, etc.) that they too would be on public display.
Is NATO an offensive force? In other words, does it actually have sufficiant first strike capability to be a direct threat to Russia? And most importantly, was it intended to become one?
I can only think that given that it was like pulling teeth to get some NATO members to contribute actual combat troops to Afghanistan, that NATO is not even inclined to leave it's own backyard, let alone invade it's next door neighbor.
So much for intent.
The founding of NATO was defensive in nature, and even a half hearted Google search will reveal the historical data on this, so I need not reiterate the details here.
As to capability, neither Russia nor NATO could achieve enough of an element of suprise for it to make a difference. Because the whole concept of "first strike" in any preemptive capacity is to neutralize the the opponent's offensive capability.
With any serious missile defence capability that would change the nature of this parameter many decades away, complaint to the effect that Russian offensive capability is somehow compromised rings hollow at best.
The facts just don't support it.
In regards to any future war you may contemplate Zharkov, it won't happen as a result of any nation joining NATO.
In my opinion, Russia should join NATO.
Because it should be quite obvious by now that NATO membership does not limit soverign rights to self defense.
It has proven to protect territorial integrity of nations.
And most importantly fostered cooperative participation in global security in crisis and conflict situations.
The internal struggle between those in Russia who wish a "multipolar world" in lieu of the ultimate handshake and a permanent end to the post-post cold war mistrust is real.
Such intent breeds mistrust when Russian actions on the ground support the premis that those who want confrontation with NATO are creating it.
So how does one supporting Russia's claims of Georgian agression explain away the fact that S. Ossetian militias lead by Russian officers were shelling Georgian positions in the days prior to any Georgian "offensive" on Aug.7, 2008? Indeed the US did caution srongly to all sides not to provoke, nor to react to provocation.
Let there be no doubt Zharkov, I meant what I said about forensic evidence telling the tale...
How does one who supports Russian claims of Genocide explain away the total lack of evidence to support it?
I think you would have posted it here by now.
Instead, sat photos I've posted the links to previously on Dipnote show the burning of Georgian homes by S. Ossetian militia. Such acts are considered "ethnic cleansing" , directed at civilian populations, and considered to be war crimes by the international community, as outlined in international law, and legal precedent.
It's not for you to answer these questions Zharkov, even if you had one. The Russian gov. is the only one that can.
They've earned the mistrust of nations and they know what they need to do, not say, but do to resolve it becoming harmful to their own national interests.
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
Afghanistan does not border the "North Atlantic", was never part of the USSR, and is one possible example of NATO offensive capability. NATO attacks where and when it chooses. Does NATO have "first strike" capability? Of course it does.
Is NATO an offensive force? What do you think NATO did in Serbia, Eric? If you think NATO is harmless, just ask any Serb. NATO Bombing Yugoslavia should end the irrational idea that NATO is purely defensive.
Russia believes it is in the process of being set up for attack by NATO encirclement, consequently, Russia's top military leaders have warned us that they will commence a nuclear first strike in Europe.
Pat Buchanan has written that Russian leaders do not bluff. He said if they say they will do something, they will do it. He should know because he was in the Nixon Administration. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration and said the same thing. Former Secretary of State Albright of the Clinton Administration said similar things and added she would have gone directly to Moscow immediately to explain.
So our current government is willing to roll the dice, pretend they didn't hear the roar of the bear, and continue their game, but it seems to me that game is over.
If this Secretary of State and President are not getting the message, they will succeed in getting us killed.
They, of course, have nuclear shelters for survival, but what do you and I have? I'll tell you -- nothing! America's civil defense program was quietly abandoned decades ago. We are fully exposed to a nuclear first strike and only the highest level government officials have any chance of survival. In case you haven't noticed, there are Russian nuclear-armed subs sitting just off our coastline.
While Moscow and Beijing are building entire cities underground in tunnels for their people to survive a nuclear war, our government is unconcerned about our survival in that event. This is why their games are so important to us.
The Bush Administration is playing Russian Roulette with our lives when it pushes NATO up against Russia, and people with very high level government service are trying to warn them. I find it remarkable that a certifiably insane foreign policy has so many supporters outside the asylum.
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
This is "Leadership through Negotiation" or is this something else entirely?
Georgia used state-of-the-armed foreign-made weapons against South Ossetia
The press service of Russia's Military Prosecutor's Office quotes this country's Military Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky as saying that during its recent aggressive attack on South Ossetia, Georgia used state-of-the-art foreign-made weapons. Fridinsky has visited South Ossetia and Abkhazia recently. According to him, Russian peacekeepers have seized, besides Soviet-made arms and military hardware, great numbers of hardware and small arms that have been manufactured in the United States, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and other countries, including brand-new weapons that were made earlier this year.
Dick Cheney Seeks War on Russia
By: Ian_Brockwell
Following a three-day visit to former Soviet States Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine, Dick Cheney continued his thinly disguised threats against Russia and sought backing for stronger action against a country that was forced to defend its citizens recently, following an attack by US ally Georgia.
The gall of this man and other members of the Bush administration seem to have no limits. Is it really possible that anyone can take his remarks seriously when he accuses Russia of "bullying others"? Are we supposed to believe that the illegal invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq are nothing more than a friendly helping hand? Is the pressure and sanctions being applied to Iran not "bullying"? And what about the recent trips into Pakistan?s sovereign territory to kill some more civilians, what are we supposed to call that?
Eric in New Mexico writes:
It is well documented that NATO involvement in the Balkans was to protect populations. Thus defensive in nature.
Russia used the same argument to invade Georgia, but the facts on the ground indicate populations were not protected.
Face facts Zharkov.
The Russian Gov. has just assured Sarkozy that they will comply with the terms of the ceasefire and withdraw all troops from Georgia proper and agreed to negotiations on the areas in dispute.