text:
One way the mainstream media breaks down coverage of Iran policy is to place people (both inside and outside government) into two neat categories – those who want to engage Iran and those who want to isolate Iran. Admittedly, there are other ways to create camps on the Iran issue – use of force vs. diplomacy, for example – but the engage vs. isolation dichotomy is the one I most often read about those at State purportedly chomping at the bit to negotiate with an Iranian, any Iranian. Let me offer another way to look at the issue.
I'll start with a simple premise: diplomacy without incentives and disincentives (carrots and sticks) is just talking. Put another way, diplomacy without the proper mix will accomplish nothing when dealing with an adversary. The question then becomes one of establishing both sides of the equation – incentives and disincentives -- before any negotiation. So those who want to divide the world into engage vs. isolate camps are missing the point. In fact, it is not a binary choice. Instead engagement and isolation are two different sides of the same coin.
Experience tells us that without creating significant leverage, you will fail in a negotiation – unless of course you face a weak or unthinking opponent. So, unless the U.S. creates the right conditions for successful negotiations with Iran, we won't get anyplace. For example, part of creating the right conditions is to make clear to friends and the Iranian government that the U.S. has interests in the Gulf it does not plan to abandon. Carriers in the Gulf and building strong military relationships with allies in the region are one way to demonstrate the seriousness with which we take those interests, and our readiness to assist our friends against any threats. Arms sales are just one element to building those strong relationships; we are now working with Congress to gain approval for sales to bolster our allies. Going after Iranian-backed networks targeting our troops with sophisticated improvised explosives is yet another way in which we show our determination to defend broader interests, as well as protect our troops.
On the diplomatic side, Secretary Rice met September 28 in New York during the UN General Assembly with Foreign Ministers from China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom—the so-called P5+1 (easier than writing out the names of each country when talking about this group). They repeated the 2006 commitment to a dual track diplomatic approach to Iran. Basically, this translates to increasing pressure (vias sanctions and other diplomatic means) on Iran to come clean with the world and meet its UN and other obligations, while at the same time offering Iran direct talks on the nuclear issue if it suspends its nuclear enrichment activities. The offer to Iran also includes the prospect of assistance with the development of a peaceful, civil nuclear program if it agrees to comply with its international obligations and come clean with the international community regarding its nuclear past and generous economic incentives for Iran, including support for Iran's ascension to the World Trade Organization. The P5+1 proposal remains on the table. It is also worth noting that we have made it clear that the Iranians can also bring up whatever other topics they wish in these talks. We will certainly be prepared to bring up other issues of concern to us. The group's only condition for starting talks is that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment work; for our part, we will suspend UN Security Council sanctions for the lifespan of the negotiations. We have even been flexible in considering the duration of negotiations/suspension.
Until that point, we will continue working with the Treasury Department and key international financial institutions to ensure that Iran does not abuse the international financial system to fund its proliferation and terrorism activities. We are joined in efforts to pressure Iran outside of the UN framework by allies such as France, which recently announced its support for imposing broader EU sanctions on the Iran.
I hope that gives you an idea of how we are working to establish both sides of the equation – incentives and disincentives. In our view diplomacy still has a lot of legs left, but in order for it to succeed we need to keep working both sides of the isolation/engagement coin.
Kenneth in Canada writes:
What makes you Americans think that you can order the world around?
If and when you attack Iran, I hope that the Russians and the Chinese launch a preemptive strike on the U.S. This will carry a message to the American people, that to every move, there is a counter move. If one plays chess, one learns that.
For the last five years, I have been urging the Chinese and Russian Governments to re-arm, and be ready to attack the U.S. itself. No country since World War II, has been more involved in the overthrow of foreign governments than the U.S. Thus, steps must be taken to bring it under control by whatever means is necessary.
The world of today, does not need a rogue cop, like the U.S. to deal with its problems. Sometimes it becomes very necessary to imprison the rogue cop. Right now, I do not see any way out, without a direct attack on the U.S. itself. Enough is enough. Let us have an end to the madness that the U.S. has exported to a peaceful world.
Yaser in Saudi Arabia writes:
What is the point of your demand that Iran suspends its nuclear enrichment activities? Is it temporary suspension? Or you do not want Iran to ever has the nuclear technology knowledge. I think it is possible to check if Iran program is peaceful or not but your main concern is that you do not want Iran to have the knowledge.
Ronnie in North Carolina writes:
My question is this, was Iran's "weapons of uranium enrichment" discovered before or after the attack on Iraq?
Because, if it was after the attack on Iraq,then this is just another deceptive ploy by the Bush administration to sacrifice more of this countries courageous young men and women in uniform, unnecessarily,for the sake of oil! (Oh, by the way, I'm veteran)
If it was discovered before the invasion into Iraq,then this is without a doubt,"all about oil"...
Let's think this situation through before the U.S. attack.
Baron writes:
How does one "engage" a theocratic dictatorship? The idea is manifestly absurd.
It is official Iranian state policy that the state of Israel must be destroyed. How does one engage that? What compromise will we offer? To allow them to destroy *part* of Israel??
The president of Iran has declared his mission to be the fulfillment of Shi'ite prophecies, that is, to bring war and destruction upon the world in order to usher in the reign of the Twelfth Imam. Do you think he is being coy? Is this mere rhetoric on his part?
Ahmedinejad has issued "the Call" to the United States. Our failure to heed it and convert to Islam requires our destruction.
He is as clear in his intentions as was Hitler in "Mein Kampf". Not to take him at face value is the height of foolishness.
If we are too weak to confront Iran, then it must be contained, not "engaged". Prudence and common sense demand nothing less.
Ralph in Greece writes:
I have been waiting for the U.S.A. to settle the score with Iran since the day our U.S. mission staff were taken hostage many years ago. Although I realize that this is not the reason we are pressuring Iran, it still gives me great pleasure to see the Iranians squirming under the international pressure.
To the gentleman in Canada (Kenneth): Your narrative reads more like the work of Tom Clancy. In my opinion, I think this blog tries to stay in the realm of non-fiction.
Kashif in America writes:
Hello Mr. McCormick i hope you read my comments and the comments of others such as Kenneth in Canada. For too long the U.S. has used various slogans such as freedom, democracy, axis of evil, and so forth to push ahead with it's agendas. The only reason countries follow the american's around is because they want to have good trade relations with it and will say anything to please it. America is not all evil lot's of countries rely on america for trade because they are undeveloped like China for example. To use that desperation of countries who are seeking development through good trade relations to advance an agenda that serves the protection of countries that have violated numerous human rights is deplorable at best. If countries you are allied with such as Turkey had true democracy then they would be allowed to wear scarfs and become islamic however that is not the case and the iron hand which the rest of the world is familiar with in their own respective governments shows it's ugly face through their militaries and other nefarious means. When Ahmedinejad was allowed to speak at columbia i was astounded that americans had the courage to hear another point of view but by the actions of the hooligans at columbia it became clear that certain sloganering from the americans was going to obscure the debate. I hope America will give up it's pretentious claims to be being the saviour of a bankrupt ideology of capitalism and democracy. Let China become economically strong don't restrict trade with them if you don't like what you hear from them and let them get strong enough to beat your country up, PLease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because you are strong today and have an economic adavantage over other countries that doesn't mean that will protect you on the day of judgement when God will send all jerks to hell, inshallah.
S in Florida writes:
Gee, Kenneth in Canda, it sounds like the latest "worthwhile Canadian initiative" is a desire for global thermonuclear war.
Trust me; neither the Chinese nor the Russians are as stupid as you desire them to be. They'd much rather us get bogged down in some quagmire in Iran. When one plays chess long enough, one sees that.
Condi and her friends are trying to avoid two things: one-a nuclear armed Iran and two, a return to American isolationism. You'd want to avoid that too, if you actually thought that through.
A nuclear armed Iran leads to a couple of things; a possible accidental nuclear conflict between her and Israel and an almost certain nuclear arms race in the Middle East as the Sunni states, such as Egypt, ramp up their programs with Saudi financing. Turkey won't stand idle, either. Now you can either scream "Bush Lied, They Died!", or you can try and do something about it with the proper mix of carrots and Dick Cheney. And that's what Condi and her subordinates are trying to do.
Whether it has any noticable effect on the kind of people who make up the Revolutionary Guards Corps is another question.
The other issue is a return to Isolationism. This is far more likely than some of our friends at State would like to admit. The American electorate doesn't see itself or it's efforts as wicked, bad, evil, especially in a world that produces the likes of Hitler, Pol Pot, and Kim Jong Il. That might be a staple of Canadian politics, but that dog don't hunt down here. However, believe me, out in the country, people tire of getting blamed for everything by our so called "friends". People don't like shoveling out 15 to 30 billion dollars for AIDs research in Africa and then getting the big Eff You from the rest of the world in response. People at Foggy Bottom are totally at sea about this, but when someone like Ron Paul is pulling in the big bucks with his America First platform, it's time for foreigners to take notice.
Casual anti-Americanism is fine when it's cost free. It's when the notion of "American Imperialism", popularized by people wearing Che merchandise who should know better, begins to have an effect on normal people's impression of America that things begin to corrode. Where a lot of our so-called "friends" just don't like us. Then we may arrive at a point at which the American people decide to pack things in and go home. The last time that happened was the 1930's.
We see how well that worked out, don't we?
Brady in Greece writes:
A remarkably insular blog posting. Has the author ever been outside the U.S.?
Given that the U.S. also derives benefit (e.g., increased safety for U.S. personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, stability in energy prices, potential limits on Iranian support to anti-Israel groups) from engagement with Iran, the inducement for Iran's "good behavior" must be proportional to that potential benefit, not simply the privilege of negotiating with the State Department to make a sacrifice Iran has no obligation (under international law, at least) to make.
There is no international prohibition on enriching uranium, simply a set of safeguards. Iran has told the IAEA it will apply them, though Iranians are internally divided on the issue. The realistic goal, because America has neither the cash nor the troops nor the legitimacy to impose a new regime on Iran, is full Iranian compliance with those safeguards. That can be negotiated pretty cheaply, once it is acceptable U.S. domestic politics to do so.
Foppe in The Netherlands writes:
We Dutch know quite well that our government yielded to USA pressure, threats by former ambassador Bremer, to send troops to Afghanistan to help NATO with the destruction of that country.
We have seen how the U.S.A. has destroyed Iraq, and still continues doing this.
It is strange that the U.S.A. government still does not realise that most people in the world see it as the evil power in the world, and that the U.S.A. wants to destroy Iran for the same reasons it destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.
James in Virginia:
I would hope that the U.S. can focus enough energy on the Iran problem early enough to solve it. I think some credibility is lost, and that makes solving this peacefully very difficult. Iran, like Iraq, is probably bluffing in a feeble attempt to hold their status. This may result in the U.S. calling their bluff, hopefully not alone, and attempting to drag yet another country out of the middle ages. Thank you for the site, and for the humor these comments so often provide!
Dave in Florida writes"
Basically: Speak softly but carry a big stick. Generally seems to work..
Jeff in Washington, DC writes:
Your thesis seems to be that you need leverage in order to prevent failure in negotiation. Many would argue, and the UN was partly created because, almost all wars are started on the basis of some kind of misunderstanding on one or both sides and the primary to prevent misunderstanding is to talk to each other. Communication is not just a tool - its a victory unto itself because it increases information and prevents misunderstanding by all sides.
Richard in Massachusetts writes:
This has been a very useful start in agency transparency (btw, isn't blogging a gas?). Two short points on a subject fraught with potential global mishap -- as in so many matters these days, China is central. Some direct, no nonsense signal from Beijing that Iran has to follow a rational collegial path will carry profound weight, given China's looming political and commercial strength. Also, let's get non-governmental communicators into Teheran's cultural bloodstream -- a week-long speaking tour by someone like Garry Wills on religion and freedom could yield an impressive frisson.
Mike from Kansas writes:
Negotiate with Iran? LOL, "I've got a Bridge for Sale!" Let's see, How long have we been "Neogtiating" with the Mullahs?? Didn't Jimmuh Catah start this process?
Unbelievable, Just more of the Same from State! "Neva, Neva Land!"
Kenneth in Canada writes:
@ Ralph in Greece -- Realm of non-fiction and Tom Clancy's work? Have you never heard it said that reality imitates fiction? Then, of course you are an American, which actually means that you do not read anything written by non-American authors, do you? That, of course speaks volumes. Besides, any publication that is not censored by the Bush regime, cannot be sold in book stores.
That strikes one of the book-burning period in Nazi Germany. Is the U.S. any different to Nazi Germany today? You will not be able to answer that question on the grounds that it would incriminate you. Too bad
Robert in Ohio writes:
I can't believe I'm actually about to quote Monty Python, but it applies:
"All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
Stop demonizing Americans.
Let's look at this another way. Consider all countries to be people. Relative to other countries that have been around for ages America is still a child. Children also sometimes do not recognize their own strength and damage things without malicious intent. Now continuing with this line of thought, the countries that have been around for so long would be adults. Adults have more experience than children. But how did they gain it? By going through the same process of development as everyone else. Now, it is frustrating to watch a child do something that the adult knows to be wrong to any extent. But which will teach the child more, setting a good example and sharing wisdom gained with age or just scolding the child?
Not only does calling Americans evil and wishing harm upon us sound immature, but it makes you sound rash and unreasonable. You have the right to be frustrated. Many Americans are as well. But I urge you to be thoughtful in how you vent that frustration. Instead of providing useful insight you just put people on the defensive. Once people are on the defensive because of an affront to their homeland they will not be receptive to suggestions for improvement. This is basic human nature. I can only imagine that in chess it would also help to be able to understand how your opponent thinks . ;)
Attack the policies, not the people. Speaking in generalities about a people is irresponsible at best and can lead to disastrous consequences.
Kenneth in Canada writes:
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard are no different to the U.S. National Guard, to call them terrorists is some kind of joke. But, what is more galling, is to refer to the Iraqi Patriots fighting for their homeland against a foreign occupier, as insurgents, you've got to be kidding. If that is the case then George Washington and his band pof insurgents are also terrorists in the same vein.
Please, don't come out with that patriotic garbage that they were fighting for independence, because they were not. Their sole aim was to gain power. That is no different to the Bush regime in the U.S. today. Sorry, your propaganda has not touched me in any way, any more than the Chinese Maoist propaganda of the People's Republic of China, when I was there. Funny how some countries refuse to face up to reality, and cover everything with a veneer of home-spun propaganda.
Back in Shanghai, China I saw the way the Red Guards treated the ordinay people. I was appalled by their attitude. When I got back home, I vowed to fight against them. This I did with gusto. Today, that moment came, when I saw the U.S. for what it was and decided to take action aganist it, all over the world. I am very proud to be an individual and can stand up to anyone. What guides me most, is intelligence, that is something you Americans lack.
My greatest hero, believe it or not, is that grand old Englishman, Thomas Paine. I like him, I will stand against all comers. Yes! the same Thomas Paine that you call an American.
Verily, the pen is mightier than the sword!
Tom in Illinois writes:
I think some of the nuance you'd like to see can be found in a forum and debate on Iran taking place at the Encyclopaedia Britannica blog
Some very prominent, knowledgeable, and thoughtful people are posting there, as well as some who are more, shall we say . . . impassioned?
Brad in Florida writes:
Mr. McCormick:
I appreciate your point.
The concern I have is that the "engage" side of the coin assumes Iran and the U.S. have compatible goals, absent which diplomacy" - even with 'carrots' and 'sticks' - is still just talking.
We believe Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program. As I understand it, we also believe Iran's goal is to dominate the Middle East & Southwest Asia, which will require (at a minimum) that it either eject, or at least neutralize, the United States. Finally, we believe Iran sees its nuclear weapons program as the means by which it will accomplish its ejectment/neutralization of the United States / domination of the Middle East & Southwest Asia, that no one will challenge Iran once it openly possesses nuclear weapons. There is no indication that I'm aware of that Iran is interested in ratcheting down its goals, no indication that it is ready to live with Israel in peace & to accept American influences in the region.
As an attorney, I engage in negotiations all the time (far less complex, I admit). There's one constant - if one side's goal is victory and the other's is settlement, THERE WILL BE NO SETTLEMENT.
I see no indication the Iranians are interested in abandoning "victory" as they define it, in which case their participation in any "negotiation" will not be devoted to "settlement" - except on their terms. Assuming the United states refuses to surrender (and there's a significant block of our electorate who'd be fine with that), the Iranian's participation will be intended to advance "victory."
Now, how does that play out, given what we believe to be the facts on the ground?
* Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
* Iran doesn't have them yet.
* Iran believes the tables will be turned as soon as it gets them.
* Iran believes the United States won't act against it as long as there's some 'hope' that 'negotiations' will prevent conflict.
Doesn't it seem obvious that an Iran devoted to "victory" will use 'negotiations' to forestall any move against it until Iran has nuclear weapons?
Why does anyone at State believe Iran's goals are compatible with our own?
Kenneth writes:
@ Dave in Florida -- This is not the early 20th century. To speak of: "Talk softly and carry a big stick," as Teddy Roosevelt said. We are now in the 21st century and things are a lot different. They other chap might also have a big stick, even though he does not talk softly, so be aware of its pitfalls.
Who came up with idea of talking religion to the Iranians. Gary Wills, might have his head separated from his body, if he started to talk about any religion but Shiite Islam.
What I said earlier, was true. You Americans have no idea about the world you live in. You assume too much, which is not in evidence. What, does Dave from Florida want? To have Gary Wells' head separated from his body.
Remember something that is very important. If you are to take up an issue, make sure you have studied all the facts. I know, what I am talking about, because I study history and religion. I note that even the people employed by the U.S. Department of State, are not experienced, and it becomes obvious, when they say or express themselves. Don't shoot your mouth off, when you are not an erudite. You are liable to make people realize that you are a rank amateur.
I could give you people a history lesson. I mean even in U.S. history. I write articles on it and advise people. You are still wet behind the ears, you can take that from me.
Catherine in California writes:
The situation with Iran and the rest of the Middle East and Asia is complicated. I applaud the State Department for dealing with the threats and promises on a daily basis.
Most frustrating to me is the fact that U.S. policy has failed to do a good job of employing the Iranian people, inside and outside Iran, who are willing to overthrow that radical regime with help from the U.S. There are many opposition groups around the world including the controversial MEK, which the DOS classifies as a terrorist group. A large group of the MEK are under our protection inside Iraq. Before we invaded Iraq. the MEK had protection of Saddam Hussein in exchange for the MEK protecting the border between Iran and Iraq.
Mu question is why the U.S. doesn't negotiate with the MEK leaders, exiled in Paris, and other opposition groups to empower them to take out the regime.
The MEK has given the U.S. the first accurate reports of Iran's nuclear program, among other intelligence.
It is unclear to me why the U.S. doesn't make a full-hearted attempt to assist expatriates and Iranian, who face more and more repression, instead of focusing solely on military invention vs. direct negotiations with Iran, a terrorist state.
We may be able to avoid military action with Iran or giving in to fruitless negotiations with the Regime which has never given us a thing.
Can you enlighten me?
Thank you and take care.
Eric in New York writes:
In the presidents words, "I stand before you as a wartime President. I wish I didn't have to say that, but an enemy that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001, declared war on the United States of America. And war is what we're engaged in. The struggle has been called a clash of civilizations. In truth, it's a struggle for civilization. We fight for a free way of life against a new barbarism -- an ideology whose followers have killed thousands on American soil, and seek to kill again on even a greater scale.
We fight for the possibility that decent men and women across the broader Middle East can realize their destiny -- and raise up societies based on freedom and justice and personal dignity. And as long as I'm Commander-in-Chief we will fight to win. I'm confident that we will prevail. I'm confident we'll prevail because we have the greatest force for human liberation the world has ever known ", the truth is alluded to yet concealed.
The goals of diplomacy are apparent. To avoid open hostilities when progress is being made diplomatically.
However, a "new barbarism" is not the truth. There are those of a belief that their religion should govern the globe. This is the truth and not new by any means. The US, her allies and those who seek a mutually progressive way of life must continue with resolve in this path toward freedom and justice while at some point, again, making a demand that those nations either stand true with us, feign support in hopes of failure or openly be held in defiance. The latter two are becoming more obvious by the day as citizens around the globe are faced with the reality of what exactly these beliefs transform into, terrorism in furtherance of their cause, religious supremacy.
Is it diplomacy to deny the truth of these religious imperialists as innocent people die waiting for this great power to behave as confidently as it speaks? Is tolerance the new word for lack of resolve?
Brad in Florida makes an excellent observation, diplomacy can become a useful tool of the opposition in weakening resolve. Should the resolve of ending this imperialistic religion ( I apologize if I don't mince words) weaken then the victory the other half seeks will be further exacerbated by would be followers. Jumping on the band wagon so to speak. Should that occur the world will definitely be more divided and at a horrific price.
How much walking must one do before using his big stick? Will the stroll end in clouds of mushroom dust?
Eric in New York writes:
@ Kenneth in Canada -- It is with great sadness that I must read words of such ignorance on this blog before hearing them on C-SPAN, from the UN or from Columbia University.
Nina in U.S.A. writes:
Stop the dogs of war. Have you learned nothing from the horror you have created in Iraq and yet pine for more?
Bloody, blind, stupid fools, no wiser than the beasts you feed upon. Diplomats? What a laugh. You are merely pawns in a game played by madmen. Man of peace or man of war - the peacock spreads his fan.
Find your spines.
Kenneth in Canada writes:
@ Eric in New York -- You said, that it was with great sadness that you must read words of such ignorance on this blog, before hearing it on C-SPAN, from the U.N. or Columbia University (the old King's College). Perhaps the real issue here is that you live in a country where ignorance is bliss. Take a good look around you, and what do you see? A land where ignorance has taken hold in a big way.
Your very news media is government controlled, and then you speak of free speech? A free press and free speech are the first victims of any tyranny, including the U.S. Ask your government why it must spy on its citizens? Then ask yourself, is this any better than the Soviet Union of yesteryear? Every American today bows before the altar of mammon, in fear lest they are incarcerated. I ask you is that really living? Do you really believe so?
Some years ago, I paid a visit to Runnymede, England, to view this memorial to our freedoms, and noted that it was built by the American Bar Association. Where has that freedom gone today? Do you know? I doubt it, because you follow the dictates of your federal government without question. I on the other hand do not take government or freedoms lightly. I question anything the government does, because government is known to err.
If Thomas Paine, who wrote Common Sense, were here toady, I am very sure that he would agree with me on all counts. You had better go back and search where you took the wrong turn where the road forked. It is never too late to find your way back to democracy. Thus, it is sorrow, that I have to chide you on the error of your ways. Don't give in to tyranny, because you demean democracy and hurt humanity.
Max in Germany writes:
Fighting terror with violence makes the terrorists stronger.
The Americans should ask themselves why the world hates them. Every Story has a piece of truth, like the Story of isolating America.
Actually the people hate Bush and his supporters for his lies and because he can't admit that the main Reason for the Iraq-war is oil.
I hope that the U.S.A. goes another way in 2009.
Mike in Kansas writes:
@ Ronnie in North Carolina -- Here's a clue for ya, it is about oil as well as the survival of the West! You can thank the LiBruls for that! No refineries built in this country over the last 30 years due to the govt. regulation and accompaning costs, No drilling for oil in Anwar and elsewhere!
What do you think would happen if Iran controlled the oil reserves of the ME??
Oh, thanks for your service!
Mike in Kansas writes:
@ Jeff in Washington -- Communicate with mad men, terrorists? Again, how many years have we been trying to do just that? This country donates more to the World than Europe combined and yet we are hated?
Are you beginning to see a Pattern here?
S in Washington, DC writes:
I rarely agree with Sec. Rice, but this time I absolutely do. On the subject of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sec. Rice is calling it exactly the way it is. Iran is a liar, it lies continuously-it is how it conducts its foreign policy-you can never ever believe anything it says on the international level-it speaks always with the proverbial forked tongue-all conciliatory and compromising on the outside-to the foreigers, but back on the home front, it goes right back to single-mindedly pursuing its deadly aim to create nuclear weapons-as if Iran had never said a word to the contrary-to the IAEA or to anyone else. With the Persians, still waters run very very deep, their deceptiveness knows no bounds, which explains in part why they are the world's number one exporter of terrorism by proxy-they work below the radar to carry out their objectives against U.S. and Israeli interests-providing arms and logistical support to various terrorist factions throughout the world-not to mention gold shipments. To destroy the U.S. and Israel is part and parcel of Iran's entire raison d'etre, all the way back to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 when they took 89 American embassy hostages for some 444 days.
Accordingly, the U.S., with its allies, is going to have to "deconstruct" the Islamic Republic, and this time France has already stepped up and called out that they will be there with us on this fight.
France is with us on Iran, because it is the right thing to do-it IS Realpolitik writ large, this threat must be gotten rid of-by whatever means necessary.
The Persians will only understand sheer brute firepower-and that is exactly what they should and must expect. This country cannot sit idly by and allow Iran to go forward with nuclear weaponizing-come hell or high water, the cancer known as the Islamic Republic must be surgically removed, or we will never have anything approximating peace in this world, but we could quite actually be facing the end of the world, if Iran is allowed to continue on their path of world destruction.
Kenneth in Canada writes:
@ S in Washington, DC -- S from Washington, DC has a very short memory span, is saying that France is now with us. Does he nor remember that President Jacques Chirac of France would not join in the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq? Remember also how Bob Ney called the French SURRENDER MONKEYS. Then went on to change FRENCH FRIES to FREEDOM FRIES, and FRENCH TOAST to FREEDOM TOAST. Short memory S. Do you suffer from loss of memory?
I find it hard to believe that the U.S. is like dog barking up the wrong tree. Get your priorities straight, and go from there.
To the members of the U.S. Department of State, wise-up. You just do not have the intelligence to deal with world issues. Go back to school and learn more, before taking up a job, that is out of your sphere. Are you people not lucky, that I have been approached by parties against the U.S., and I refused to become join them. I also know my true worth. Besides all this, my eldest brother Joe became a GI, during the Korean Conflict in 1950. Yes! I will continue to criticize the U.S. because, if I did not, you people would still be running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
So, if I criticize you understand me well. I really feel sorry for the American people, because they have been mislead by the clowns that they call politicians. Work to make your country better, not worse. Because, there is going to be a tomorrow, and the next generation will have to bear the brunt of the problems that now beset your country.
Remember also, whatever happens we are still family. That is something that cannot go away.


text:
In view of the recent petition for cert. filed by W. L. Gore, asking the Supreme Court to review the standards for joint inventorship, the February panel decision in Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. v. W. L. Gore & Assoc., Inc., 670 F.3d 1171 (Fed. Cir. 2012) just got a lot more interesting. The Fed. Cir. affirmed the panel decision en banc in June, (682 F.3d 1003), but did not disturb the panel's 3/2 finding that the claimed PTFE (Gore-Tex®) vascular grafts were a sole, not a joint invention. What is unusual about this decision is that the "maker", Cooper – an employee of Gore – was found not to be an inventor, while the "tester" – one Goldfarb, a surgeon at the Arizona Heart Institute, was found to be the sole inventor. In other words, while acknowledging that Cooper actually had the invention in hand and sent it to Goldfarb for testing, Cooper was found to know so little about the tubes he sent, that Goldfarb's discovery of the critical claim element not only was sufficient to make him a co-inventor, but his work did not "inure" to the benefit of Cooper to the extent that Cooper should be properly named as a co-inventor.
The grafts comprised expanded, porous PTFE having a microstructure consisting of nodes interconnected by fibrils, which permits tissue ingrowth, where an average distance between nodes is not less that about 6 microns. Now things get complicated.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Friday, June 13, 2014
U.S. Navy Awards AAR Vertical Replenishment Contract
Source: AAR
Military Sealift Command provides ocean transportation for the Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense, operating approximately 110 ships daily around the globe. AAR has been performing commercial VERTREP services including ship-to-shore replenishment, ship-to-ship underway replenishment, search and rescue, and support for humanitarian aid operations for MSC since 2007.
AAR Airlift will provide two helicopters, personnel, and operational and technical support to the detachment. The new contract will be the third helicopter detachment operated by the company for MSC.
Related: DoD News


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Interactive Travel Map|Text the Secretary|Trip PageAbout the Author: Arturo A. Valenzuela serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Blogging from 30,000+ feet is the only way to go.
I am with Secretary Clinton and the rest of the traveling party en route to Lima, Peru, the first stop on a four nation visit to Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the latest in a series of trips to Latin America the Secretary has made since taking office, reestablishing the strength of the U.S. partnership with our neighbors in the Americas. The great part is that we waste no time while traveling: the Secretary's U.S. Air Force Boeing 757 functions as a mobile office. On board the flight with us are members of the press corps and several of the Secretary's closest policy and public diplomacy advisors.
We've got a busy week ahead.
While in Lima, I'll accompany Secretary Clinton at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States. We'll also have the opportunity to meet with President Garcia while in Peru.
On Tuesday morning, we'll depart Lima en route to Quito, Ecuador. Following our meeting with President Correa, Secretary Clinton will make an important speech at a cultural center in Quito. The Secretary will lay out the broad outline of the Obama Administration's policies towards the countries of the Americas. Visit www.state.gov for more details on how to tune in as we get closer.
We'll fly to Bogota, Colombia Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning, we'll meet with the two Colombian presidential candidates -- Juan Manuel Santos and Antonus Mockus. Secretary Clinton and I will also meet with current Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
The last stop of our visit will be Barbados. We'll arrive late on Wednesday, and participate in a meeting of CARICOM nations of the Caribbean on Thursday. Secretary Clinton will have the opportunity to engage on our regional security partnership through the newly launched Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
Keep up with us while we're on the road (and in the air!) via the Secretary's Interactive Travel Map. Tweet me your questions, or text the Secretary directly. We'll continue to blog throughout the week, so stay tuned to DipNote.
Gaston H.A.O. in Ecuador writes:
Thank for come to Ecuador, there is a lot of respect for you and for the President Obama, and Clinton era. Now, please be hard with Correa, he needs more the money that will gona request that the dare o risk of get out of dolarization that gived us 10 years of TRUE VALUE currency. Thanks again and goodspeed
Marcos in Guatemala writes:
it seems to be a very busy agenda..enjoy it. One of the best things a man can get is a nice work. Bye
Rosemary in New Jersey writes:
First of all, my prayers are always with you and our Secretary of State on these important missions. You and she are doing a wonderful job, and we all appreciate your hard work. It is delicate at times, but you are both excellent in dealing with touchy situations.
I keep saying this (partially to encourage you) so I'll say it again, you ROCK the social media! I LOVE it when you are on a trip with her! We get so many great tweets from you! I am a Hillary blogger and very much appreciate what you share - as do my readers.
Bless you, sir! May the angels watch over all of you. (And keep tweeting - seriously - you rock!)
Palgye in South Korea writes:
Expects the Secretary's U.S. Air Force Boeing 757 functions as a mobile office
Link, americanprogress.org/cartoons/2010/06/060310.html( for A poor fisherman) and freejisoo.org/ (Says that the near confinement life is continued in 10 months.)
Thank You.
P.S. Brazil?
Idasil in Turkey writes:
really nice sharing thanks admin!!


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2012 RSW/Agency Search Outlook: Agency and Marketer Expectations for the Coming Year
April 20, 2012
RSW/Agency Search surveyed 100 senior client-side marketers and 100 agency professionals to learn about their 2012 outlook.
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USAV Beach Volleyball Contact:
B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Communications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Release courtesy of the NVL
BALTIMORE, Md. (May 14, 2012) – The National Volleyball League (The NVL) will host its first event of the season, a two-day $50,000 tournament on May 18-19 in Baltimore, Md. where 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Todd Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) will make their 2012 domestic debut.
London Olympic contenders Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) will also be participating.
"Phil and I are very excited at the opportunity to compete on U.S. soil in the National Volleyball League's season-opening event," Rogers said. "Last year's event at the Preakness was a huge success with thousands of people watching and we wanted to be a part of it this year. We're happy that we're able to play with the NVL and support their goals for the future of beach volleyball while also showcasing our talents domestically before going to London to defend our gold medals."
The tournament will take place in Baltimore Beach and the Pimlico Race Course infield on Preakness Day. The Main Draw will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 18th at Baltimore Beach and will run all day. Athletes will battle in two featured evening matches at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with the winners moving into the semifinals. The men's and women's semifinals and finals will be played during Preakness InfieldFest at Pimlico on Saturday, May 19 with the men's final at 2 p.m. and the women's final at 3:30 p.m.
"Last year was a huge success and we look forward to building on this momentum leading into the Olympic games," said Albert Hannemann, CEO and Founder of The NVL. "The NVL was created by players for the players and we're thrilled at the level of competition, including gold medalists and Olympians, who will be competing at the NVL Baltimore Preakness event. We are dedicated to growing this sport and introducing it to a broader audience while featuring the best players in the world."
Partnering with The NVL through Corrigan Sports for a second year at the Preakness, Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chukas says the new dynamic in the Infield is paying off. "The proof is in the pudding this year with the Olympic teams competing at Pimlico on Preakness Day," he says. "This just illustrates how far we have come since changing the landscape in the Infield in 2009. What a big coup for us to have Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers here just two months prior to the London Games."
The NVL played its first pro season in 2011, creating a new model for the sport by producing tournaments in conjunction with large scale consumer lifestyle events like the Preakness. This year, the NVL is scheduled to host six professional tournaments and 25 collegiate events in partnership with "King of the Beach" Sinjin Smith and his National Collegiate Sand Volleyball Association. NVL events are sanctioned by USA Volleyball and players who compete will receive a USA Volleyball national ranking.
"The National Volleyball League provides an important domestic platform for our experienced professional stars, and our elite development beach volleyball athletes," said Dave Williams, USAV managing director for beach volleyball. "We are excited to see world-class athletes and compelling lifestyle events showcasing our sport."


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Overcast ~
High: 55°F
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
Photography issues getting closer to home? Taking a public photoPosted Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 7:33 AM
Does anyone KNOW what the laws are in Tennessee about taking public photos? Here is another article on taking a photo in public, this time of a police officer, but THIS time in the U.S. http://www.tricities.com:80/tri/news/loc...
Chances seem high that this is much to do about nothing, but it makes me wonder what the laws are regarding photography in public. You might remember that the British have some sort f ban on it from another post I made. I have seen more about that in the news, so that may be real, but what about here?
I thought it used to be that you could take pictures, but not use them in a commercial way without a model release. IfF someone asks you NOT to take their picture or a picture of their home, I am sure it is common etiquette to not do it, but is there a law?
Somewhere in my brain I seem to remember that authorities can seize photographs of sensitive military or terrorist targets, but I am not sure if that is a mix between reality and fiction or.....?
Anyone know?
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]
As I understand the law, any photo that contains the "Copyright" symbol, cannot be used without the permission of the creator. Any photo that does not have the "Copyright" symbol, is free to use with no permission necessary.
I think the persons involved in the above article will succeed, because of the 1st Amendment. If there are charges brought against the photographer, the ACLU is ready to spring and bring suit against the parties suing the photographer. There are people that are taking photos of police arresting people, with camera phones, with the attempt to show police brutality.
No prosecutions. Usually, New York, California.
A little bit off the subject: Evil Money, in a previous blog you asked about Christmas decorations. A couple of years ago, the ACLU sued in Federal court over Christians displaying Crosses, Nativity Scenes, Etc, on public property.
They succeeded against All religious faiths except Muslims. That's why I made the statement we would be decorating our back closets.
In Saudi Arabia, it is forbidden to take photos of Saudi people, government buildings, airports, Gold Shops, Etc. I have a photo of my wife smiling, with the Saudi King's Seal in the background, on the block wall around his 10,000 acre compound.
Priceless! I've seen Saudi Police confiscate a camera, open it up, unroll the film and give the camera back to the photographer. More than 3 dozen times.
Just look for the "Copyright", or website logo on the photo.
Hope this helps. I don't think there is a Federal Law, or State Law, regarding photos because of the 1st Amendment.
Just what I see.
-- Posted by framestraight on Sun, Jul 13, 2008, at 10:20 AM
I can't get the link to work. :<
The various issues that could (or should) affect photos might be dealt with some application of common sense and courtesy.
What might be the motive of someone taking a picture of a child playing?
If someone takes a picture of your house,are they admiring your landscaping or new addition or are they going to use your place as an example of "remuddling" or a good target for a home invasion?
The person who takes a picture of a neglected or abused animal is a hero-just like the person who records an assault on a school bus with a camera phone or photographs a polluted waterway.
But,what of the person who takes a pic of a woman entering a hotel with a man who's not her husband or one of a person claiming disability who's shooting hoops in a friend's backyard?
It might be one thing to take a snapshot of a quaint family cemetary and another to trespass on a farmer's land to get it.
Then,there's the whole issue of digital photography and pictures that can be sent off or altered in a heartbeat.
(No film,no negatives,no way of determining the true source of the image.)
We have a lot less privacy these days.
That transparency can keep us on our best behavior but it also leaves us less posession of our own lives.
In this matter and others,we'll need to develop ways of respecting each other's boundaries and making sure that the trust we place in one another is warranted.
-- Posted by quantumcat on Sun, Jul 13, 2008, at 12:32 PM
Actually that is incorrect about copyright, the Berne Convention overrides the Copyright. Trust me I am going through the same thing with a large corporation stealing images that I took and the Berne Convention sides with me.
-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Sun, Jul 13, 2008, at 1:17 PM
Below is the correct link for the web site about the guy that was arrested for taking a picture of a police officer.
Laws change according to individual attitudes of police officer. I have taken many pictures of city police and fireman with very few problems in well over 40 years now. Remember to stay out of the way, do not interfere with the officer doing his or her duty but that can change at any second. It depends who the officer is or how much of the police academy instruction classes they retained, if he or she even went to the academy. Most have the attitude that because they have a gun, they are God and they are not. Manchester, Tn. seems to be more sensitive to their officers being photographed than other places in the 40 years that I have been a freelance photography and also an X-Police photographer myself. In the 70's we did not have a problem with people taking our pictures or even taping us with hand held tape recorders and that was over 35 years ago. Did they pass a law that no one knows about or what.
Photo Man 44
-- Posted by Photo Man on Mon, Jul 14, 2008, at 12:03 AM
I am not aware of it, but I am not as involved as you appear to have been and maybe are still. I have a feeling it you hit this on eon the head about the individual policeman and may a little friction with the guy who did the photo.
I have been following stories like this over in Great Britain and apparently there it is backed up by more law.
I like your blog name. What do you think of digital these days?
-- Posted by stevemills on Mon, Jul 14, 2008, at 5:57 PM
Hey Steve
I got interested in Photography while in the Air Force in the early 60's. Its been an avid hobby and job at times most of my life. I still have an 8' X 14' totally dedicated dark room in my home to this day. I went digital several years ago and love the new higher resolution of the new cameras. I use strictly Sony, but there are many other fine cameras just as good if not better out there and they get cheaper by the day seems like. Editing is just so easy and a snap. Remember the good old days when you had to run out, take a picture with the old film 35 mm camera and then rush back and develop it, even if you had to push it some to get decent results, then all the dodging and burning, Not any more. Photo shop it and your done. I taught both our kids how to roll, develop and print their own photos. I now teach the grand kids the basics of the old film days and they seem to love it, well makes them appreciate the easy of digital. You know kids. Anyway, digital cameras are definitely here to stay and I see them getting even better. There are so many laws about the use of and taking of pictures you would not believe it. I have several books on the law and photography and it really all boils down to common sense when taking pictures. I photograph old barns, scenery, and stuff like that and occasionally run up on a wreck or police situation that I photograph and believe it or not have only had 2 run ins with the law and both were in Manchester, Tn. for some reason and that's within the the last 2 years. I was threatened to be arrested one time for taking a picture of a policeman man handling a drunk one afternoon in Manchester, Tn. I got the picture anyway, but did back off pretty quickly, but was still threatened by the policeman who is not on the force anymore. I carried the picture still on the camera to the police department and made a complain on the officer. But I still use courtesy and common sense when taking any kind of pictures out in the public and always avoid pictures of kids of any kind. It just makes life easier if you know what I mean. I don't respond to blogs to often, but this one hit close to home for me. I read them quiet often and Shelbyville seems to keep pretty busy and up to date on their local information. I like that very much. Have a great day.
-- Posted by Photo Man on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 1:32 AM
Thanks photoman. It is nice to know you are out there.
Kids are such fantastic subjects, and I never thought about the other side until just recently, but I understand and will think twice about it when I get my new camera.
I sold my darkroom equipment about a year and a half ago. Had not used it in years and digital seemed to be here to stay. I used to enjoy the "magic" of the darkroom but not the chemicals.
I do some advanced things with photoshop, but I have seen our daughter do wonders. It is amazing.
-- Posted by stevemills on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 4:48 AM
I'm not sure the legalities, but as a journalist and photo journalist, I let basic courtesy be the rule of thumb. Any time I see a great picture opportunity with a child that will be missed if I wait too long, I go ahead and take it. Then I immediately identiy myself to the parents and let them know why I am taking the picture.
For someone outside the newspaper field, I recommend getting the parents' permission first. Generic release forms can give you permission to use the images in commercial ways.
-- Posted by MotherMayhem on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 9:05 AM
I have a question, I took a picture of a public building, I used it on my website and it has my name right under it. A major corporation has used that image on one of their main advertising books without my permission. What are my options as they will not return my calls?
-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 12:09 PM
That's what I was saying about U.S Copyright Law,
If there is anything on that photo, it CANNOT be used without the makers permission. I write for 4 forums, and some include photos. If there is nothing on the photo, I still caption the photo with
"With Acknowledgment of the Maker"
If YOUR name is on that photo, with no acknowledgment of you, they are in violation of the Copyright Law. I understand the Berne Convention.
Sounds like you need a Copyright Attorney for Copyright Infringement. I bet you win. Copyright infringement is taken very seriously, all over the world. Example: Chinese duplicating CD's, DVD's,
and Microsoft Windows software.
I think those people are in trouble. Good Luck with it. I'm on your side on this one!
-- Posted by framestraight on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 1:42 PM
could you contact me at 536-1279 I have a few questions.
-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Tue, Jul 15, 2008, at 5:48 PM
Based on this information from the Tennessee code, it does not appear that the East Tennessee incident has any merit, except that an officer made a poor decision, based on the information we have and should have backed off his arrest.
From this page click on Title 39, then Chapter 13, then part 6 and you will see 605.
39-13-605. Unlawful photographing in violation of privacy. --
(a) It is an offense for a person to knowingly photograph, or cause to be photographed an individual, when the individual is in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, without the prior effective consent of the individual, or in the case of a minor, without the prior effective consent of the minor's parent or guardian, if the photograph:
(1) Would offend or embarrass an ordinary person if such person appeared in the photograph; and
(2) Was taken for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the defendant.
(b) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "photograph" means any photograph or photographic reproduction, still or moving, or any videotape or live television transmission of any individual so that the individual is readily identifiable.
(c) All photographs taken in violation of this section shall be confiscated and, after their use as evidence, destroyed.
(d) (1) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(2) If the defendant disseminates or permits the dissemination of the photograph to any other person, a violation of this section is a Class E felony.
[Acts 1994, ch. 970, � 2; 1997, ch. 469, �� 1, 2; 2000, ch. 667, � 2.]
-- Posted by stevemills on Thu, Jul 17, 2008, at 10:08 AM
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Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.
Hot topicsHas every presidency been judged like Trump's, before it ever starts?
(140 ~ 9:17 AM, Jan 24)
Yes, I withdraw my decision to not close down posts.
Have you felt your thumbs itching? Just a little?
Calling all people who like to fish.
If you have a creative bone, believe in recycling, repurposing and need a good read


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If tests fail this year, the U.S. could cede its lead in the controlled fusion race to China and other nations.fusion research as it eyes a potentially game-changing way to power its headlong industrial growth.
Since the 19th century, scientists have theorized that humans could recreate the energy that powers the stars.an enormous amount of energy. In 1939, physicist Hans Bethe wrote a quantitative description of fusion energy processes in stars, a breakthrough for which he was eventually awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Researchers in the U.S., the U.K., and Russia — their interest stoked by the successful deployment of the hydrogen bomb in 1950 — worked on systems to use magnetism to confine targets to pinch together atoms to induce fusion. Among the research leaders was the dissident Soviet physicist, Andrei Sakharov, who developed a type of magnetic confinement that is the basis for the major fusion efforts today, including the NIF.
Even project researchers say fusion on the power grid remains at least 15 to 20 years away.facility soaring from $400 million in 1990 to at least $3.9 billion today. Paine, of the NRDC, says the real cost of the so-called "National Ignition Campaign" is now $5 billion to $7 billion. In an email to Yale Environment 360, he also said that Lawrence Livermore and NIF ignored concerns that a more extensive period was needed for research and development, and he claimed that a scientific review committee that gave the go-ahead for the project was "blatantly stacked" in favor of the NIF.
MORE FROM YALE e360
The Nuclear Power Resurgence:
How Safe Are the New Reactors?


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DPS says gang activity high in Hays, county lawmen decline to comment
News Editor
San Marcos and Hays County are well-known to Texas street and prison gangs, but just how the county stands in combatting gang violence isn't all that easy to find out.
Last week the Department of Public Safety released this year's Texas Gang Threat Assessment that classifies Hays as among Texas counties with the highest level of gang activity. In fact, all the counties along the IH-35 corridor from San Antonio to Austin are classified as high risk for gangs, the "most significant" of which are the Texas Mexican Mafia, Texas Syndicate and Tango Blast.
Click here to see the full story in our e-Edition.


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Bosnian Muslims thrive in U.S. despite unease over homeland
BOSTON (RNS) Despite their relatively short time in America and the traumas of war, Bosnian Muslims are thriving in American society. Success, however, hasn't diminished the sense of injustice that many feel over how the bloody war ended, or concerns that their trials could be too easily forgotten. By Omar Sacirbey.


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by Anton Shilov
Samsung Electronics said Friday that in little more than a month it managed to sell three million Galaxy Note II smartphones. The milestone not only illustrates rising popularity of expensive Samsung smartphones, but also growing adoption of handsets with ultra-large displays.
It took Samsung 37 days to sell three million Galaxy Note II smartphones globally. By contrast, the company shipped five million Galaxy Note II handsets in around five months after launch, which indicates faster adoption of the latest device compared to the predecessor. According to Samsung, Galaxy Note II is selling three times faster than the first version of the smartphone which boasts 5"+ screen.
Quite naturally, hybrid Galaxy Note II cannot boast with adoption rate of Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S III, but keeping in mind the fact that just a year ago many observers did not believe there is a market for such products, three million is a huge number. As it appears, "phablets", as some call smartphones with screens larger than 4.8" are getting popular among those, who need the most efficient pocket-sized Internet device possible.
The Galaxy Note is based on quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 (four ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked at 1.6GHz, ARM Mali-400MP graphics engine), is equipped with 5.55" multi-touch LCD screen with 1280*720 resolution; 2GB of LPDDR2 RAM, 16GB/32GB/64GB of flash storage; Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and GSM/HSPA+/GPRS/HSUPA/LTE connectivity. The smartphone features a 8MP rear camera and a 1.9MP front cameras. The device sports massive 3100mAh battery. The Galaxy Note II comes with installed Google Android 4.1.1 "Jelly Bean" operating system.
Despite the much larger battery, the device weighs slightly less than the original Galaxy Note. As a result of a narrower bezel on all four sides of the screen, the screen is larger but the overall device is narrower. The Galaxy Note II also features redesigned S Pen stylus that has a button for gestures and an eraser tip for easy corrections.
One of the features that distinguishes Galaxy Note II from all other smartphones on the market is Multiscreen feature, which allows users to actually operate two different apps side-by-side, simultaneously, on the same screen. Apps supported for Multiscreen are Popup Note, Popup Video and an Internet Browser.


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Price - $
Designed by Venus Williams, the lightweight EleVen Versailles Pique Top features a V-neck, side vents, and a metallic heat transfer EleVen logo on left chest. On the inside hem of the top, there's a screen print inspirational message from Venus. In her handwriting, the message says, "oh & oh, Beat em!"


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I've always figured that right-wing radio blabber Rush Limbaugh isn't nearly as stupid as he pretends to be. He strikes me as a poseur who plays his vast listening audience of mostly angry old white men for suckers.
On the subject of artificial birth control, however,� El Rushbo almost seems sincere in peddling foolishness, as we see HERE:
The most obvious example of this came when Limbaugh went after Sandra Fluke, arguing, �The women in her law school program are having so much sex, they are going broke buying birth control pills.� In the radio host�s mind, women apparently ...Read more


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CA minimum wage will go up gradually
October 7, 2013
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — California's minimum wage workers can expect a pay increase in the next several years, thanks to legislation recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
AB 10 was passed Sept. 25 and raises the minimum wage from $8 an hour, established in 2008, to $9 an hour as of July 1, 2014, and $10 an hour as of Jan. 1, 2015.
The increase means increased pay for low-wage employees, but challenges for business owners who will be forced to spend more of their budget on salaries.
"As a business owner, it is going to hurt the economy in the long run because we have to pay a higher salary, and because of that, we'll have to cut back hours or increase our prices," said Cindy Smith, owner of Beach Hut deli in Grass Valley.
Implementation of the increase, though gradual, does not fall in line with the economic times, Smith said.
"I just don't think it's a good thing overall," she said. "It's not the best timing, either. It's going to help the first year that we don't have to go straight up to $10 an hour, but I don't see the economy making any kind of turn-around in the next two years to warrant a $2 an hour raise for minimum wage."
Supporters argue this bill will strengthen and depoliticize California's minimum wage by providing a modest increase to millions of struggling Californians.
Proponents cite the California Budget Project, which calculated that between 1968 and 2008, the purchasing power of California's minimum wage fell by 24.8 percent.
Proponents also bring attention to the Public Policy Institute of California's findings that the state is experiencing the largest income gap in at least 30 years, exacerbated by the fact that California's current minimum wage, when adjusted for inflation, is less than the minimum wage workers earned in 1979.
Peggy and Bob Wright, owners of Treats, an ice cream and sweets shop at 110 York St., Nevada City, say they pay employees more than $8 an hour already.
"If we find employees we want to keep, we continue to bump them up," said Peggy Wright. "The longer they're there and trained, the more valuable they are, and it's hard to get by on $8 an hour. I think it would be nice if employees working full time could support themselves earning a living wage."
Opponents say California's economic recovery is still in the infancy stage and that a minimum wage increase in 2014 will negatively impact any economic recovery by limiting available jobs or creating further job losses.
Opponents also argue that although the initial $0.25 increase may seem minimal, combined with the unknown increased costs associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the tax increases approved under Proposition 30 and the partial reduction in federal tax credit in 2014 could force struggling employers to reduce their costs in other areas, such as labor, or pass such increased costs on to consumers through higher prices.
Opponents state that a study conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business found that depending on the rate of inflation in future years, enacting this bill could result in 46,000 to 68,000 lost jobs in California by 2023, and a reduction in real output of somewhere between $4.7-$5.7 billion.
Opponents note that the Federation study also claims that the increase in minimum wage might cause employees currently earning above the minimum wage to put pressure on their employers for raises in order to maintain the wage premium between them and the lowest-earning individuals in the economy.
According to the State Controller's Office, the state government employs approximately 4,500 minimum wage workers, mostly student assistants and seasonal employees.
Based on a 40-hour work week, this bill results in increased salary costs of $585,000 in 2013-14, rising to $16.3 million in 2017-18 (General Fund and various special funds). Payroll taxes would increase by $1.2 million in 2017-18 upon full implementation of the wage increase.
Additionally, there would likely be increased state budget costs for workers currently paid between $8.01 and $10 per hour, the extent of which is unknown.
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Soul Eater
The Enchanted Sword Masamune - Break the Soul Possession: A Heart Sings in the Rain?
Episode 10 | TV-14
Black☆Star and Tsubaki face Masamune, and as the battle against the dark Weapon escalates, it becomes clear that Tsubaki must finish the fight alone.
Dub Expires: 12-27-2013
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/soul-eaterHide Details


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $0.00 (0% off)
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The information in the book is very basic. You can find much more about supplement facts and latest news online. The author takes a very narrow mindset on the supplements. In short, they treat supplements like drugs and expect supplements to kill. Considering the author is not even a ND but MD, I will strongly recommend to keep away. Check out my page for more reviews!
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If you have Type 2 diabetes you still have time to get back to normal. Read this book and get these herbs and vitamins.
ADA herbs for Diabetics
Posted by Reviewer1306818 on Sep 15, 2010
I was surprised that the ADA would give it's approval to a book about herbs and supplements. While the book does try to guide you to 'real' medications it does provide a lengthy list of herbs and supplements that may help a diabetic. There is a good presentation on each herb and supplement to help you decide on whether to try it for you.
Posted by Reviewer2342779 on Jul 23, 2010
I liked the easy way of navigating through the book to find out about supplements and how they will or will not help. I was told that I was border line Diabetic and with supplements I was able to bring that under control.
Good book
Posted by GallaChiro on Mar 10, 2010
Good information for everybody not just diabetics.
American Diabetes Association Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements for Diabetes.
Posted by Reviewer2140932 on May 16, 2010
I am a Diabetic and I found this book gave me personnaly a greater understanding. Hopefully someday I will not have to take oral medicine for diabtis.
Detailed review of supplements
Posted by Vancouver on May 30, 2010
Superb book, I wish there were such books for other conditions as well. The author(s) has(have) done a lot of work preparing this publication. All reviews follow the same format. They are concise, but contain enough important details to make an educated decision about most supplements.
Well Organized
Posted by Tracey on Dec 02, 2011
Very useful! I buy a lot of health book and found this very well organized and good information even an old alternative medicine pro and ten year diabetic didn't know!


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European Privacy Update
May 10, 2012
Huw Morris, associate at Reed Smith, LLP, discussed recent updates in European Union (EU) data protection reform issues related to online cookies, Google and Facebook clashes with regulators, and online behavioral advertising (OBA).
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Fusilli with Shrimp and Arugula
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- 12 ounces fusilli pasta
- 3 cups (packed) fresh arugula, torn in 1/2
Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and white wine and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the wine reduces by half, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook just until they are pink, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Drain the fusilli. Add the fusilli and arugula to the skillet. Toss to combine. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
CATEGORIES:View All
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Fusilli with Spicy Pesto
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
Fusilli with Shrimp, Orange and Arugula (Summer)
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
Fusilli With Spinach-Nut Pesto
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen


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Want your bat fast, but you also want it from one of best wood bat companies out there? Choose from one of our in-stock baseball bats and skip the 1 to 4 weeks of production time (depending on the season).
In-Stock Bat Wood options:
Rock Maple, Yellow Birch or Northern White Ash, see individual bat for specifics
In-Stock Bat Weights:
Not heavier than -2 or lighter than -3
In-Stock Bat Lengths:
32" to 34" in half-inch increments
Be sure to check out our line of baseball accessories and apparel for all your essential game day equipment.


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Square Foot Gardening Book
This item is currently not available.
Additional Information
The All New Square Foot Gardening Book, by Mel Bartholomew
- An ideal resource for planning raised bed gardens
- Grow more fresh produce in less space
- Save on weeding and watering
The original edition of Square Foot Gardening was the most popular gardening book in America ever, with more than one million copies sold! In this timely sequel to his original book, Mel reveals ten major improvements to the SFG system that make it even easier to get an abundant harvest of fresh and delicious, home-grown veggies. You'll discover how planting your garden in one-square-foot blocks saves space, saves weeding, saves water and saves time. Saves on grocery bills, too! Best of all? The SFG system really works! Whether you're a first time gardener or a seasoned expert, you'll be amazed by the quantity and quality of food you can produce in your own square foot garden.


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Gordon S. Young, Jr., 53, of Warren, passed away peacefully at his residence, Wednesday, July 10th 2013 at 8:00 p.m., surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born August 24, 1959 in Warren to the late Gordon and Gertrude (Greene) Young Sr. Gordy lived his entire life in Warren and will be greatly missed by his family, his friends and his lovely dogs, Jersey, Dixie, and Cody. He was a great businessman, working for 25 years at the North Warren Car Wash. He also owned his share of businesses in the area including the car wash in Youngsville, the Pure Country Restaurant and Bar, along with Debbie and Gordy's family Restaurant in Youngsville. He also had been employed at the National Forge, Huber's Blacktop in Warren, and also at the State Police Barracks. He was currently serving as superintendent of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Warren. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and being outdoors, and most of all, being with his family and his grandchildren. He also enjoyed working on cars and fixing up the house with his boys. He was a member of the Warren Moose Lodge #109, the Warren American Legion, the Warren Eagles Club and the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 37 years, Debbie (Swanson) Young of Warren, whom he married on June 5, 1976, the best sons, Sam Young and his wife Bonnie of Warren, Jamie Young and his fiance MacKenzie Donovan of Russell, Shawn Young and his fiance Kristy Phillips (Darts) and Brandon Young and his wife Amanda, his grandkids, Alyssa, Dylan, and Ethan and Owen "Owen boy" Young, Mckenna, Morgan and Emily Darts, his brothers Bill and Jack Young, sisters, Mary Campbell and Linda Wareham, all of Warren and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters Sandy Knopf and Patricia Cummings, a brother in law Burt Knopf and his fatherinlaw Eric Swanson.
A celebration of life service is being planned and will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the family may be made at any Northwest Savings Bank under Debbie Young, to help defray medical expenses.
The Nelson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 314 N. Main St. in Youngsville have been entrusted with all arrangements, and condolences to the family may be made at www.nelsonfuneralhome.net.


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-T / T / +T | Comment(s)
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Airbus, Avicopter Plan to Produce One Thousand EC175s
Airbus Helicopters has reached an agreement with China's Avicopter to jointly produce 1,000 new generation EC175/AC352 rotorcraft.
Photo, courtesy of Airbus Helicopters
The production agreement was signed at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Airbus will produce the EC175 for the worldwide market at its facility in Marignane, France, while Avicopter will produce the AC352 mainly for the Chinese market.
France and China first launched cooperation on the EC175/AC352 in 2005. The EASA certified the airworthiness of the EC175 earlier this year.
Li Fangyong, executive vice president of Avicopter's parent company AVIC, said the agreement allows the two companies to "satisfy the Chinese and worldwide market needs in the medium helicopter segment."
Related: Airframe News


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When we talk about flight training, we typically talk about how many people are trying to learn, earn certificates and ratings, or even how many "dropped out" and didn't finish. We assume there will be enough flight instructors to train anyone who wants to learn. But this may not always be the case.
Jonathon Freyeand I recently co-authored a white-paper specifically discussing "Flight Training Capacity in the Context of Recent Legislation." The goal was to provide an examination of the impacts of reduced training capacity and the declining rates of airmen certification. What we found worried us. I then spent some time last week at the Embry-Riddle University hosted National Training Aircraft Symposium in Daytona Beach, a two-day conference of aviation educators (mostly collegiate), training industry organizations, and airline representatives. I came home even more worried.
Our capacity to train pilots relative to the demand that is forecast is in question. It is even more troubling if we consider the potential of proposed rulemaking that the FAA has issued in response to law that was made by Congress requiring additional training, and a minimum of 1500 hours for those in professional pilot positions (airlines, charter, and fractional ownership aircraft operations). We have talked about pilot shortage possibilities for years, and it has been a "cry-wolf" kind of situation, but I think we are going to have some real pilot shortage problems in the near future. The propsed regulations will fundamentally change the types and quantity of training that universities, colleges, local FBOs, and academies, are going to need to provide to graduate or create a pilot qualified for a professional pilot job.


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Morelia bredli
- Common names: Bredl's python, Centralian python, Centralian carpet python, central Australian carpet python, bredls carpet python, central Australian bredls carpet python and the central bredls carpet python.
Morelia bredli is a non-venomous python species found in Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]
Named after its founder Josef Bredl father of Robert Harold Bredl The BareFoot Bushman. This is a heavily-built species with adults approaching or exceeding 2 metres or 6ft 5 inches in length. Many captive specimens have been recorded at 3 metres or 9ft 9 inches and slightly above. The color pattern consists of a brown-to-reddish ground color with a highly variable pattern of pale intrusions. There are normally black borders around the intrusions that become more extensive around the tail. The belly is yellowish to pale cream.[3]
Geographic range
Found in Australia in the mountains of southern Northern Territory. The type locality given is "Pitchie Ritchie Park, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia (23°42', 133°51').[1]
Prefers very arid desert areas. Normally arboreal inhabiting ranges and rocky outcrops.
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ "Morelia bredli". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634777. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
- ^ Centralian Carpet Python, Morelia spilota bredli at the Snake Ranch. Accessed 11 April 2008.


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When religionists get into nasty debates because one of them thinks he's found such-and-such evidence proving this or that claim about their god/savior/holy man, and all the others think he's full of it for one reason or another, atheists find themselves in the curious position of watching the whole scrap from the sidelines. It's like being a parent, watching your kids arguing over topics that seem profoundly important to them, like who would win in a fight between Superman and the Incredible Hulk, but couldn't matter a hill of beans to you as you spend most of your time in the real world.
Most recently, there was the whole flapdoodle over The DaVinci Code, a bad novel that became a boring movie that nevertheless sold zillions and launched an entire cottage industry of Christian apologetics works dedicated solely to debunking the novel. That evangelists sincerely seemed to believe that the faith of millions could be blasted to smithereens by a book written and openly marketed as fiction (and thus at least more honest than the Bible in that regard) says more about the worth of faith than any criticism an atheist could make.
Now we have a similar media circus in the offing over a Discovery Channel documentary premiering this coming weekend, executive produced by no less a filmmaking luminary than the King of the World himself, James Cameron.
The Lost Tomb of Jesus purports to present physical evidence of not only the burial place of Jesus, but also Mary Magdelene, and the rest of a whole massive family the two of them are said to have sired as man and wife. That this claim will prove staggeringly provocative to Christians doesn't begin to describe the full impact of it. If what the documentary claims is true (and I'm not for a nanosecond saying it is), then it would be proof that the Resurrection never occurred. And if the Resurrection never occurred, then Christianity is false. Full frickin' stop. Two thousand years, untold billions of minds washed and lives lost for the biggest of all lies.
We atheists already know pretty confidently that Christianity is false, but this documentary casually intends to be marketed to a mass audience, in the interests of telling them to their faces that their whole lives are a lie, and claiming to offer "historical evidence" that this is so. On the face of it we atheists ought to find the whole thing amusing as all git-out, and to a degree it is. But it's too bad that this documentary is going to be 100% full of crap, its "evidence" not worth the paper it's printed on. Christians will rightly dismiss it as not proving a thing, then go on to get the wrong idea that their traditional beliefs have been given an intellectual shot in the arm. Lost in the shuffle will be any room for legitimate discussions of why Christianity ought to be rejected, buried under the media-feuled "controversy" over "evidence" that isn't really evidence claiming to disprove something that the use of common sense alone ought to be sufficient to reject as stuff and nonsense.
Let me say that, as a filmmaker currently at work on a documentary of my own, the idea of slapping together a doc like this with such obviously slapdash and credulous research work offends my professional sensibilities almost as much as being told Jesus not only didn't get crucified but repeatedly bred with Mary Mag would offend a Christian. Director Simcha Jacobovici seems to have gone about the project the same way creationists think you do science: start with the predetermined answer, grab whetever evidence looks supportive of it, and rush the results to the public without any of that pesky peer review.
After all, doesn't it just seem awfully conveeeenient that the entire family crypt of the guy everyone believes died and rose from the dead because he was actually, you know, God just happened to be found beneath a Jerusalem apartment complex? With everybody's names on all of the ossuaries so you'll know who was packed where?
Jesus and Family buried here. For real. They have a nice little lintel and everything.
Cameron himself, whom many folks were starting to think was a guy who had some respect for science after his recent deep sea documentaries and oft-stated desire to shoot 3D IMAX footage on location in orbit, sounds no less dippy and doe-eyed than Oprah when he discusses his attraction to Jacobovici's project: "I'm not a biblical scholar, but it seemed pretty darned compelling." Replace "biblical scholar" with "biologist," and "it" with "intelligent design," and you'll see the intellectual laziness of Cameron in all its embarrassing glory.
Not exactly redounding to Jacobovici's credibility is the fact that he was taken in by that infamous recent forgery, the James ossuary. If he was that easily gulled then, what's stopping him now? Especially as he's clearly a man on a mission to be the world's first to present proof of any physical remains of Jesus. And rack up huge ratings while doing it, of course.
Devastating fiskings of the claims the documentary makes aren't hard to turn up. And over the period the doc airs, we'll see Christian sites getting into the ring with their objections too. And once again, we atheists will be sitting here on the sidelines, shaking our heads and wondering why the kids get so worked up arguing over superheroes and fantasy, when they could be doing their homework, devoting their time to knowledge and learning something real.


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David Rizzo
David Rizzo, 76, passed away Wednesday morning March 27, 2013, at Monte Vista Grove Homes of Pasadena, Calif., under the exceptional care of VNA Hospice.
David was born in Jamestown, to Frank and Jennie Rizzo on March 23, 1937.
He was a graduate of Jamestown High School in 1955, and worked in several industries in Jamestown, before moving to Los Angeles in 1961. Since 1991, he had been employed by Mole-Richardson Inc., as a draftsman of high-end stage lighting equipment for the movie industry, and was still employed by them at the time of his death. He was very proud to be in their employment.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Della Rizzo of Los Angeles.
David is survived by sisters: Verna McCormick of Lake Oswego, Ore., and France Rizzo of Frewsburg, N.Y., as well as brothers: Russell Rizzo of Arnold, Pa., Vernon Rizzo of Jamestown, N.Y., and Paul Rizzo of Falconer, N.Y. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; and many great- nieces and nephews.
The extended family of David wishes to extend heartfelt love and deep appreciation to nieces: Johanna Meyer-McCormick of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Roasanne Keddie of Charlotte, N.C., for their many trips away from their families and homes to be with David during his illness.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Forest Lawn of Glendale, Calif.


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We all love a little Rube Goldberg craziness every now and then, but You Tube's favorite band, Ok Go, have taken it to a whole new level with the video for their single 'This Too Shall Pass'. Involving a team of eight handling design and building, 12 part-time workers, and six weeks of work – this was a massive undertaking:
- Don't miss: Top 7 Incredible Rube Goldberg Machines
The project involved two months' planning and involves dozens of moving parts. Shooting the video apparently took two days and over 60 takes, and resetting the entire contraption took a team of 30 people almost an hour. Tell us about your favorite Rube Goldberg machine in the comments – Here are a few of ours:


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TIP Makes Notable Cross Below Critical Moving Average
Written by: ETFChannel.com
Tickers in this article: TIP
In trading on Thursday, shares of the iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund ETF
crossed below their 200 day moving average of $121.31, changing hands as low as $120.90 per share. iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund shares are currently trading off about 0.7% on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of TIP shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Click here to find out which 9 other ETFs recently crossed below their 200 day moving average »
Looking at the chart above, TIP's low point in its 52 week range is $118.43 per share, with $123.44 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $120.93.


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When living in Naples, Italy, I was surrounded by ancient history. The fragments of Roman columns, mosaics and frescoes are my inspiration and I am grateful for those "ancient voices". Translating these voices into designs fills my days with joy and wonder and I cherish my "connection" with the past. Teaching and beading are ways for me to share this wonderful experience and bring those voices of the past into the present.
Maggie Meister


text: Back to traveling as we are a little older...Traveling By CarWhen taking a road trip...and staying in hotels, try placing your clothes in a clothes basket in the trunk instead of a large suitcase. Carry a rolling backpack into the hotel each night with the necessary items for getting on the road the next morning saves a lot of lugging of luggage.It is easy to take into the room whether for one night or a couple of nights. When traveling to a place for an extended stay, have the bellman take the luggage, cooler, etc., to the room. Carry dirty laundry and unneeded items back to the car each day leaving less to carry at checkout.When Flying, Book Into Smaller AirportsWhen flying, long lines, crowds, full parking lots and holiday travel can all be stressful. Check out some of the smaller airports. It is a lot less stressful to leave from a small airport then to drive to a large city...load the luggage onto a shuttle and ride to the airport. At smaller airports it is easier to drop other passengers and luggage right in front of the airport and park the car. The same goes for the destination. Instead of Orlando, fly into Sanford Orlando Airport. Consider taking the train or the bus as both offer senior discounts.Pack Extra Medications and Other TipsAlways pack a couple of extra days of medication in case there is bad weather or some kind of delay. It is always good to leave the itinerary with a relative or friend.Make sure someone knows you are safe. Have a cell phone, know how to use it and leave it turned on and fully charged.Avoid getting sick. In public make sure your hands are washed with hot soapy water. Carry hand sanitizer, especially on the crowded planes. Ask your doctor about the preventative medications and if they are right for you.There are germs lurking in those planes, trains and hotels but, there is a good time to be had and no matter what limitations there are, travel can be managed and enjoyable. Go see the country it is beautiful with many exciting places to visit...!


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Multiple Language Options in a Single Course with Adobe Captivate 5.5
When we create courses for global audience, oftentimes we come across a need for localized version of the course. The common workflow is to create the course in one language and then duplicate the course and then change the language for text/graphics/audio. This is the easiest way to localize content, but is an inefficient workflow for course maintenance, where you need to make the same edits in each version of the course.
To overcome this problem, Adobe Captivate provides you a way to create a single course with multiple language options. This can be done by using Advanced Actions and Variables.
Here's an example of Continue reading…


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Arrieta Hoping To Follow Higuain's Breakout
The Columbus Dispatch - August 17, 2013 09:04 AM
Last Saturday, Crew designated player Federico Higuain had his most impactful offensive performance of the season. The team captain scored both goals in the 2-0 win against New York, a game that could prove to be a spark for one of the team's key offensive options.
Whether that will spark fellow forward Jairo Arrieta to have a similar performance remains to be seen. Last year's co-leading scorer, Arrieta continues to earn praise from coach Robert Warzycha for being dangerous but remains in a scoring drought that stretches back to late June.
Arrieta's last goal came June 29 in a 3-2 road loss to Sporting Kansas City. He missed the next three games while on national team duty for Costa Rica, but he has eight shots while starting the last three games without a goal to show for it. The goal against Kansas City was his first since the second game of the season.
"It's important to create chances and it's important to play for the team but obviously personally you want to be able to score goals as well, but I'm left with having worked for the team and worked really hard creating chances," Arrieta said through an interpreter. "Having said that, I'm looking forward to scoring when it matters for the team and potentially (this week)."
Arrieta was subbed off at halftime of what would become a 3-1 loss to Houston on August 3 for rookie Ryan Finley, who helped create the team's goal. Despite that, Warzycha said Arrieta's starting spot remained his to lose.
His statistics so far this season help to tell the story. In 18 games – all starts – last season, Arrieta averaged one goal every 4.6 shots and every 2.3 shots on goal. This season, those numbers have increased to 19.5 and 6.5, respectively. In addition, Arrieta put 51.2 percent of his shots on goal last season compared to 33.3 percent of the time this season.
Those numbers have been affected by his back-and-forth between the Crew and the Costa Rican national team, but Higuain said Arrieta remains a valued asset.
"Jairo, whether or not he scores, is a key piece for this team," Higuain said through an interpreter. "I see him creating chances and making us more dangerous every game. I have no doubt in his qualities and I'm sure if he keeps working as hard as he has been, the goals are going to come for him. Both for me and the team, he's a key piece and I consider him to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the league."
As for whether Higuain's performance last weekend could spark Arrieta, the Costa Rican said, "That's what we're looking for. That's what we work for every week. We're looking forward to in the next games finding our own spark. Something like that ignites the fire in us and we keep working to try to get back to goal in the next game."


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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 1 pound bittersweet chocolate
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 3/4 cup egg whites (4 to 5 extra-large eggs), at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons instant espresso powder, dissolved in 1 1/2 teaspoons water
- 3 tablespoons dark rum, optional
DirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.
Chop the chocolates and place them in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan simmering water. Stir until melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
Mix the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Place the bowl of egg whites over the pan of simmering water and heat the egg whites until they are warm to the touch, about 5 minutes. Return the bowl to the electric mixer and whisk on high speed for 5 minutes, or until the meringue is cool and holds a stiff peak.
Add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, while beating on medium speed. Scrape down the bowl, add the melted chocolate, vanilla, espresso, and rum, if using, and mix for 1 minute or until the chocolate is completely blended in. If the buttercream seems very soft, allow it to cool, and beat it again.
2007, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Ron's Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Recipe courtesy of Ron Ben-Israel
French Buttercream
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen


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Food director thanks contributors
November 3, 2012
The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico is celebrating the success of our most recent food drive "Stuff Nancy's Truck" in which communities donated over 8,000 pounds of food and more than $500.
Our food drive was also an opportunity to celebrate "Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico Day."
An event like this is only possible because of the support we receive throughout the communities we serve.
Thank you to Ray Sullivan for spearheading this campaign and his help throughout the 10 days we stuffed "Nancy's Truck."
Thank you to the United Way, one of our biggest partners, for their constant support.
Thank you to Mayor David Lansford and the city of Clovis for the declaration of Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico Day.
Thank you to the Clovis/ Curry and Roosevelt County Chambers of Commerce for their support and donations to our food drive.
We are most appreciative of the donors who made the purchase of Nancy's Truck possible.
A special thanks to Steve Lynch who helped us with the purchase of Nancy's Truck and also traveled all the way from Lubbock to be a part of our special day.
And, of course, a big thanks belongs to the many sponsors, hosts, volunteers and businesses who all gave of themselves to help ensure that we can continue feeding the hungry people of eastern New Mexico.
MelindaJoy Pattison
Executive director, Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico
Portales train depot sign incorrect
While visiting in Portales a few days ago, I read the new sign in front of the Post Office about the train station.
It is a very nice sign, but not entirely correct.
It states the depot closed when the final passenger train ran in 1965.
The depot remained open for freight customers until 1988.
In the book "Roosevelt County History and Heritage" printed in 1975, on page 51 it gives a list of the agents with me as the final one, from 1971 to present.
I was the station agent there from 1971 until the station did closed in 1988.
Doyle Miles