text:
Clueless Kerry strikes again
posted at 9:57 am on May 31, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Reason #117 That We Can Be Glad That John Kerry Lost The Election in 2004:
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) believes that on September 11 "we were basically at peace."
Asked to clarify his remarks, specifically asking about the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole during Barack Obama campaign conference call, Kerry said, "well, we hadn't declared war," The Hill's Sam Youngman reports.
Asked if al Qaeda was a threat at the time, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said, "well yes, obviously they were a threat. But, fundamentally we were not at war at that point in time."
Well, we weren't at war, but check out this list and ask yourself if we were at peace:
- 1993 – World Trade Center terrorist attack kills 6
- 1996 – Khobar Towers terrorist attack kills 19 US military personnel
- 1998 – US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed, over 200 dead
- 2000 – USS Cole attacked, 17 sailors killed
AQ had declared war on us years before, even explicitly in 1998 when Osama issued his "fatwa" against America. It was only the cluelessness of people like John Kerry that kept us from recognizing it. We didn't have peace on September 10, 2001; no one wanted to acknowledge that we had been at war for the previous eight years.
Absurd irony alert:
Kerry also called John McCain "out of step with history and facts."
Coming from John Kerry, that is high praise indeed.
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Hindsight is 20/60.
JiangxiDad on May 31, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Him believing that pretty much sums up why 9/11 happened.
AYNBLAND on May 31, 2008 at 10:06 AM
AQ had declared war on us years before
But if Obama had only sat down with Osama over coffee, 9/11 would never have happened.
just watched dean rehash the stole election meme on fox, reminded me of kerry and the dem cluelessness
trailortrash on May 31, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Contrast – Tony Blair on Today show.
Anita on May 31, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Attack? If Kerry can't weasel a Purple Heart out of it, it didn't happen.
RBMN on May 31, 2008 at 10:10 AM
John Kerry would strike out in a t-ball game.
Squiggy on May 31, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Does he still have the hat?
mred on May 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
By "WE" he meant the French.
EJDolbow on May 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
WE weren't at war but THEY were.
Buy a vowel John! At least compared to B. Hussein O. you're a genius.
Mojave Mark on May 31, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Kerry said, "well, we hadn't declared war,"
Well…. anyone can plainly see this statement was taken out of context. For the liberals its all about nuance and context, the definition of words and the historic record are open to interpretation
dmann on May 31, 2008 at 10:14 AM
He was just joking, gosh!
abinitioadinfinitum on May 31, 2008 at 10:16 AM
A Moron+Moronic comments=
You guessed it.
John Kerry
Oh THANKS Massachusetts,keep him on YOUR payroll
Neal4007 on May 31, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I have no doubt that this man will have an important position in the Obama administration. Sec Def wouldn't surprise me.
Limerick on May 31, 2008 at 10:17 AM
This brings up something I find quite devious. The Soros proxy publisher who is producing a group of lefty tomes, (Scotty's as well) all using each other as source material.
This is the kind of crap they throw in your face as "It's a proven fact!"
These bastards want our collective asses and they will resort to anything to achieve their goals.
Now remember, things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is.
Beto Ochoa on May 31, 2008 at 10:18 AM
By "WE" he meant the French.
EJDolbow on May 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
TheBigOldDog on May 31, 2008 at 10:18 AM
It's scary he was the best they had to offer last election, but look what it's lead to this time around.
Tazz 55 on May 31, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Contrast – Tony Blair on Today show.
Anita on May 31, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Hindsight is 20/20
Matt Lauer is a limp tool
abinitioadinfinitum on May 31, 2008 at 10:22 AM
will you just go away. You have been a do nothing for over 20 years. go away, please with jimmah, go away
robo on May 31, 2008 at 10:22 AM
By "WE" he meant the French.
EJDolbow on May 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
ctmom on May 31, 2008 at 10:23 AM
WE weren't at war but THEY were.
Mojave Mark on May 31, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Yep. It only takes one side to make war. The other side can either appease and surrender or fight back.
Clueless Kerry and the Obamanation: Perfect together, just not perfect for the US.
RickZ on May 31, 2008 at 10:24 AM
There were also a lot of guys getting shot at enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq. What does Kerry think they were doing over there?
pedestrian on May 31, 2008 at 10:25 AM
He needs to get his story straight with Madam Pelosi, any peace we had was because Iran was deciding to be nice to us.
John Kerry has not exhibited a fondness for accuracy in his presentation of history or facts since his Christmas spent in Cambodia. Nothing has changed in that regard. What little audience Senator Kerry has remaining continues to shrivel along with his legacy. Hence his need to be outrageous and obtuse in his observations so that he might be noticed.
Yoop on May 31, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Ummm,I think the "we were at peace" from Kerry
is a perfect reason not to vote Liberal,I think
the Pearl Harbour was 911,however war was declared
on America by Iran in 1979,the hostage crisis!
The American's held against their will by Iran,
was AN Act of War! Period!
For Israel,it was the murdering of innocent Israels
at Munich,you know its a freaggin sports event,where
you would think nobody's gonna get killed!
And the first attack against Israel after they
became a state,was again,An Act Of War!
So,again Neville,oops I mean Kerry is a bit confused!
It would really help if John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi
would show up at the Intel meetings and get their facts
canopfor on May 31, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Bush lied people died!!!
Akzed on May 31, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I guess he missed the memo on Osamas declaration of war in 98
Tazz 55 on May 31, 2008 at 10:28 AM
shrivel along with his legacy.
Yoop on May 31, 2008 at 10:26 AM
He has not yet begun to create his legacy. He will do that as a high ranking member of the BO administration. As far as the headline saying that he is clueless. Well I live in MA and I'll tell you right now that very few if any of us have a clue so in that respect he represents us perfectly.
jmarcure on May 31, 2008 at 10:34 AM
1996 – Khobar Towers terrorist attack kills 19 US military personnel
My (then) brother-in-law was in that building when it was blown up. Some of us were quite aware that Global Jihad, Inc. was at war with us.
Thank God (the REAL God, not that phoney pagan moon god) he was on the other side of the building and was not harmed (well not physically at least) but unfortunately he did lose a few friends in that blast. Thank you, oh merciful allah, for having such peace loving followers.
Buffoon is as Buffoon does….
Dale in Atlanta on May 31, 2008 at 10:36 AM
From SHADOW WAR by Miiniter page 31.
"…In 1995, Bin Laden's henchmen bombed an administration office for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Five Americans perished, along with two others. Bin Laden publicly declared war on America five times between 1996 and 1998. …"
burt on May 31, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Um…. John?
Do you know ANYTHING about the Constitution?
You do know that CONGRESS… which you were a part of, is the one who Declares War?
And actualy, still has not done so?
Romeo13 on May 31, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Bush lied people died!!!
Akzed on May 31, 2008 at 10:28 AM
The thread is about Kerry not Bush. I wouldn't what someone to think you are as clueless as Kerry. Unless you live in MA which would explain the mix up.
jmarcure on May 31, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Well I live in MA and I'll tell you right now that very few if any of us have a clue so in that respect he represents us perfectly.
jmarcure on May 31, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Same here in NY, and Ouch!
JiangxiDad on May 31, 2008 at 10:39 AM
John Kerry would strike out in a t-ball game. – Squiggy
"Swiniiiing! and a miss.
Matt Lauer is a limp tool
abinitioadinfinitum on May 31, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Lauer looks sexually excited by quoting from McClellan's accusations against Bush. I doubt he gets that excited about women.
snaggletoothie on May 31, 2008 at 10:41 AM
From SHADOW WAR by Miiniter page 31.
Excellent book. Also check out "Infiltration".
He was just joking, gosh! – Abinitio
Heh. Kerry IS a joke. And a botched one at that. But, hey, at least his hair looks good.
The problem here is that we simple minded Righties aren't smart enough to understan his nuance.
snaggletoothie on May 31, 2008 at 10:41 AM
He did look kinda turned on, ewwwwe
abinitioadinfinitum on May 31, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Romeo13 on May 31, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Being in a war and declaring war are 2 very different and separate things. Congress's approval is not required for war. The legality yes, but in a war, no.
Wade on May 31, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I always loved that picture.
It shows how they pumped all that bulls**t into Kerry.
drjohn on May 31, 2008 at 10:52 AM
"well, we hadn't declared war"
Brilliant. So, by that standard, we've been "at peace" since 10 February 1947 with the Paris Peace Treaties.
How can a United States Senator believe that while any member of the U.S. military is engaged in combat we can be "at peace?" Oh yes, this is the guy who should be shot for treason… that's right. Sorry, I keep forgetting. Just one more law (i.e. Logan Act, Nondisclosure Agreements, immigration law, Tax Exemption Code, etc.) we'll never enforce either at all or against certain parties, but like to have on the books for when it's politically convenient to enforce.
Send_Me on May 31, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I'm so proud to be from Massachusetts…
D2Boston on May 31, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I wonder what Querry calls what happened in Korea in the 1950's? Police action,ha ha ha, because congress did not call it a war. Crapweasels in congress can't find the Capitol Building without a driver.
How about the foul during the basketball game last night, where is Sen. Specter when we need him?
Wade on May 31, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Secretary of State ________________
Secretary of the Treasury ______________
Secretary of Defense ________________
Attorney General ___________________
Secretary of Homeland Security _____________
Add to it CIA, FBI, NSA, JCS, SCOTUS, Federal judges, UN ambassador…….
Fill in the blanks. How many of the new crew will think we are at war NOW, let alone on 9/10? None. The GWOT will turned into the 'terrorist problem' and handed over to Barney Fife to deal with.
Limerick on May 31, 2008 at 11:05 AM
And Kerry is 'Rambo' compared to Obama. Imagine a terrorist attack with BHO as president.
"Osama bin-Who…????"
"My spiritual advisers tell me 'it's chickens coming home to roost. God damn America.'"
"My wife called me a 'no-count Ceechee'and said the attack was my fault for dissing 'people of color' such as Arabs."
"Rather than subject all 53 states to further destruction I have decided on unconditional surrender."
MaiDee on May 31, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Note: Ceechee shoulf be Geechee.
MaiDee on May 31, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Um…. John?
Do you know ANYTHING about the Constitution?
You do know that CONGRESS… which you were a part of, is the one who Declares War?
And actualy, still has not done so?
Romeo13 on May 31, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Of course he doesn't know anything about the Constitution! All he knows about is finding rich widows. He is a typical dhimorcrat, facts just get in the way.
I am so proud that he represents my state in the Senate. He and Fat Boy Kennedy give other states such high opinions of us.
Kerry's an idiot.
Always has been.
Always will be.
AZCoyote on May 31, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Technically, we were and still are at war with North Korea since a peace treaty has never been signed. So, that alone shows Kerry was wrong and has no grasp of history.
Aside from that, there was (and still is) that little problem in the Balkans that billy got us involved in…
rbb on May 31, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Contrast – Tony Blair on Today show.
Anita on May 31, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Matt Lauer still cheering for our defeat.
Kerry still cheering for our defeat.
McCellan still a traitor.
GW Still fighting the enemy on both sides.
Texyank on May 31, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I don't get it.
The US had the primary responsibility of enforcing the terms of surrender with Saddam Hussein, while bombs were dropped in order to "contain", and the Iraq Liberation Act was signed in 1998. Saddam was increasingly prodding the weaknesses of US will, and all the while, we had Al Queda continuing to prove increasingly credible and capable on its threats.
That's peace?
His contempt for the common man is only magnified ten fold when he struts his rhetoric in the belief that he can hide it.
Saltysam on May 31, 2008 at 11:34 AM
We weren't at war. And that's precisely why 9/11 happened.
We should have listened when others had declared war on us. Instead we sat around and said, We're at peace, while the 'warriors' got one up on us. Brilliant.
John Kerry. Please use your freakin' brain.
bridgetown on May 31, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Kerry's drunk the Obama-flavored Kool-Aid
ToddonCapeCod on May 31, 2008 at 11:35 AM
"Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Schmucks"*
*" But Were Afraid To Ask"
profitsbeard on May 31, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Did you know Kerry served in Vietnam? Also in Cambodia.
"Let's talk a little media bias here. The media, I think, wants Kerry to win. . . . They're going to portray Kerry and Edwards as being young and dynamic and optimistic and there's going to be this glow about them . . . that's going to be worth maybe 15 points."
Newsweek's Evan Thomas in 2004
Del Dolemonte on May 31, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I laugh out loud every time I see that goofy picture of him.
As for his statements here, I thank God he is not our president.
CP on May 31, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Kerry needs to learn the first rule of holes.
jukin on May 31, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Kerry is such a joke, all you can do is laugh at this nonsense.
I would sure have a lot more respect for Hillary Clinton if she would come out blasting Kerry for these ridiculous comments and nail Barack Obama to them. 3,000 of her constituents died because of the "peace" we enjoyed on 9/11.
rockmom on May 31, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Confusion reigns supreme (again).
I thought 9/11 was Bush's fault because he ignored the fact that Al Queda was at war with us and was poised to attack and he ignored the Clinton admin's warnings about it and he knew the attacks were coming and … oh my head hurts now that Kerry tells me that until Bush we were at peace. Which f'ing lie am I supposed to be believeing now? Oh to be a liberal with a flexible mind…
in_awe on May 31, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Seems that the Democrats keep having history problems (Auschwitz liberated by dear old uncle). And geography problems (57 states?!). And math problems (57 states anyone?).
And have problems identifying friends and foes (paging Nancy Pelosi).
And Kerry had won the presidential election…right up until he lost.
29Victor on May 31, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Strikes me, after consideration, that it's a good thing for ones like Kerry, that breathing is an involuntary response.
Otherwise you might have to have somebody poke him with a sharp stick every 3 seconds.
irongrampa on May 31, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Thurston Howell III was his uncle.
gmoonster on May 31, 2008 at 1:06 PM
How about these Domestic Terror attacks from '93 to 2001 since the February 26, 1993 WTC bombing:
Saddam Hussein
April 10, 1993
Iraqi Intelligence Agency
…agents of the Iraqi Intelligence Service handed the keys of this death mobile to a team of specially recruited operatives. On April 13, under cover of darkness, some of these operatives started up the vehicle and began a secret trek across the southern Iraqi desert toward the Kuwaiti frontier.
Their intended target: George Herbert Walker Bush, just-retired President of the United States.
Omar Abdel-Rahman
June 24, 1993
New York City landmark bomb plot
The attacks were to take place on July 4, 1993, Independence Day in the United States.
The first target was the United Nations Headquarters; it was to be destroyed by a suicide bomber driving a truck bomb. Also to be destroyed by car bombs were the Lincoln Tunnel and the Holland Tunnel, two busy underground roadways in the city. The George Washington Bridge would be bombed next, as well the PATH tunnels between New York and New Jersey and the FBI's main office at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City.
Rashid Baz
March 1, 1994
New York City
…a Lebanese livery cab driver, opened fire on a van full of Hasidic Jewish boys on the Brooklyn Bridge, killing one and wounding several others. He was sentenced to 141 years in prison. ME Forum: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) at one point ascribed his motive to 'road rage.' But then, in December 2000, federal authorities changed their minds and announced that Baz's actions were 'the crimes of a terrorist.'"
Abu Kamal
February 23, 1997
New York City
…a Palestinian teacher shoots seven tourists on the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, killing one. AP: "'[He carried a note blaming the United States for using Israel as "an instrument' against his people. The note found in Ali Hassan Abu Kamal's pocket contains 'rambling, angry stuff,' and appears to contradict claims by the man's family that the shooting had nothing to do with politics, a high-ranking police source said last night. The letter also expressed anger at France and England for using Israel as 'an instrument' against Palestinians, and indicated that Mr. Abu Kamal planned to vent his anger at the Empire State Building, the source said.'"
Ahmed Ressam
December 13, 1999
Planned Attacks Around the Millennium Celebrations
U.S. customs, law enforcement, and intelligence officers successfully disrupted a series of attacks planned around the Millennium celebrations. On December 13, 1999, an alert U.S. Customs Inspector, pulled over an automobile driven by a 33 year-old Algerian, Ahmed Ressam. Ressam panicked and attempted to flee; he was caught, and inspectors discovered explosives in his car along with a map on which two airports in California and one in Ontario were circled, according to Through Our Enemies' Eyes (Brasseys, 2002), a book by an anonymous senior intelligence official. As Ressam was being arrested and questioned, planned attacks on tourist sites in Jordan were disrupted, and 22 Islamists were eventually convicted of terrorism charges. Ressam was convicted in the United States on terrorism charges in April, 2001.
Following these discoveries, the Intelligence Community and the FBI coordinated a worldwide disruption effort to disrupt other possible attacks. The effort involved dozens of foreign intelligence services that detained suspected radicals in the hopes of gaining confessions or at least keeping them off the streets or intimidating them into aborting any planned attacks. Louis Freeh, the former FBI Director, also related that FBI agents also arrested suspected radicals in the United States for minor violations (often linked to visa problems) and tried to disrupt planned attacks in the United States.
Following the disruption, the Intelligence Community clearly warned senior policy makers that the disruptions only bought time: they did not end the threat of future attacks. Of interest is another attack planned around the Millennium that went undiscovered — the planned January attack on another Navy warship. The plot failed because the terrorists' boat sank, not because the Intelligence Community disrupted it, and a similar attack was carried out on U.S.S. Cole in October of 2000.
rbb on May 31, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Uh, no… Congress never declared War during Korea.
They have not done their Constitutional duty since WWII.
Korea? no Decleration of War.
Viet Nam? nope…
Desert Storm? uh uh…
Afganistan?… no…
Iraq?… not yet…
They have not so they can absolve themselves of responsibility. They can point to the President and say, well, even though through the War Powers Act, we say he can go do somthing, he's the one doing it…
Congresional Cowardice, pure and simple.
Romeo13 on May 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Kerry is a hybrid.
A horse-faced jackass.
fogw on May 31, 2008 at 1:36 PM
John Kerry would strike out in a t-ball game. – Squiggy
"Swiniiiing! and a miss.
Tony737 on May 31, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Let's not forget that Kerry's favorite Boston Red Sox player is "Manny Ortez".
Del Dolemonte on May 31, 2008 at 1:54 PM
BTW, the caption says 60 million votes; didn't Kerry get around 48?
Richard Romano on May 31, 2008 at 2:12 PM
What a dullard John 'F'in Kerry (who served in Viet Nam) is. Does he also have amnesia?
It was he who was calling for Military action against Saddam in 1997. Is that not also "war?"
We Must Be Firm with Saddam Hussein
In my judgment, the Security Council should authorize a strong U.N. military response that will materially damage, if not totally destroy, as much as possible of the suspected infrastructure for developing and manufacturing weapons of mass destruction, as well as key military command and control nodes. Saddam Hussein should pay a grave price, in a currency that he understands and values, for his unacceptable behavior.
This should not be a strike consisting only of a handful of cruise missiles hitting isolated targets primarily of presumed symbolic value. But how long this military action might continue and how it may escalate should Saddam remain intransigent and how extensive would be its reach are for the Security Council and our allies to know and for Saddam Hussein ultimately to find out.
Kerry is indeed a moron!
Kerry is as clueless as Obama. Maybe BHO should pick Kerry for his Veep. Then we could have the "clueless twosome". What an great ticket that would make.
duff65 on May 31, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Future tourist guide:
"Over here, we see the tombstone of John F. (Kohn) Kerry. The late Senator, was well known as 'Traitorous Scum', Gigolo, Kept Man, Dullard, (watch your step on the banana peels) Vietnam Vet (he did serve 2 months longer than the late, unlamented Algore). His picture, once hanging in a place of honor in Hanoi, was removed after the Vietnamese realized their investment in the former future President of the United States wasn't worth beans (or rice).
"(Be careful near that pile of dog squeeze) His most famous quote, saying this country was at peace at the time the country was attacked on Sept. 11, was actually the culmination of his career. You see, his second ex-wife, Teresa, declared war on the Senator when she learned he was actively soliciting Maureen Dowd to become his third wife (thus bestowing a combined IQ above room temperature). Thinking his life was at peace, he was killed when Teresa's armed forces ambushed him while wind surfing the LA River.
"This memorial land fill was established by Teresa as a tribute to everything John Forbes (Kohn) Kerry stood for and accomplished in his life. The gravesite itself will soon be closed when the remaining trash fills the cell."
SeniorD on May 31, 2008 at 3:04 PM
The new media should do what the old media refuses to do; demand that John f-ing Kerry release "all" of his military records. This man should be the laughing stock of the country until he backs up his promise to release his records.
BTW: I still think that alien looking creature in the window (other thread) was really John Kerry looking down on the people from his perch way above the rest of us. Elitist POS…
Keemo on May 31, 2008 at 3:10 PM
SeniorD on May 31, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Cracking me up! Well done.
Keemo on May 31, 2008 at 3:11 PM
All that we have to recall is Kerry's self-described paralysis when the planes struck the Twin Towers and contrast that with Cheney's taking the helm immediately in order to protect the nation's stability. Kerry always spouts off with pompous second-guessing after the real decision makers act. Kerry has always been a ditherer who bloviates about his superior judgment after the dust has settled.
onlineanalyst on May 31, 2008 at 3:38 PM
That's the reason that suit in the picture fits him so well… It reminds us that Kerry's a D*ckhead.
CynicalOptimist on May 31, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Seriously… doesn't he look like someone just pulled him out of a can of Vienna Sausages?
CynicalOptimist on May 31, 2008 at 4:03 PM
It was only the cluelessness of people like John Kerry that kept us from recognizing it.
As it continues to this day.
Jihad, the word, is not even allowed for fear of hurting the Jihadi's feelings.
I don't think "clueless" is correct here. And for those who haven't paid honest attention, Kerry is quite intelligent. I would put it this way: Kerry is ideologically unable to deal with the facts. It's exactly the same thing as people who want to believe in creationism.
I'm not sure why people will believe in something after it's been revealed that the opposing arguments are more than 99.999999999% certain. The only thing that seems to work is dialogue. Much to my sadness, I have found that when people believe crazy things they are less likely to engage in sincere talk. I'm reasonably sure if I were in a room with John Kerry, he would walk out of the room in disgust within two minutes–despite abundant attempts to be polite on my behalf.
In the big picture, the point we need to make is that Obama has the same ideology as Kerry–that Obama is unwilling to be honest about the muslim threat. I tried to make this point with a 20 year old leftist-indoctrinated black boy yesterday. In the context of voting, I refer to every male under 21 as a boy, since I've decided to advocate the repeal of the 26th Amendment, and anyway it's great fun to use "black boy" to annoy the "anti-racist" morons. I tried to get across the message of Obama being a second Jimmy Carter, balancing the right wing points with a discussion of the huge mistake Bush made in not assisting Brazil's pro-gay UN initiative–which would help create a fifth column in muslim countries. As you could probably guess, I didn't get anywhere in convincing the black boy to vote for McCain. I fear the subtlety of my arguments confused his "pre-law" mind, which in any case was focused on the beer and the girls who were coming to the party at his house within three hours.
thuja on May 31, 2008 at 4:07 PM
I wonder if Kerry knows how many states we have in our union? Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.
Honest to God folks….these two clowns were the best that the democrats had/have to offer for their presidental candidate? WTF?????
Winebabe on May 31, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Mrs. Heinz has a 'dog'.
His name is Haughty.
She forgot the door to the doghouse open, again.
Entelechy on May 31, 2008 at 4:16 PM
HaLP ME jAHN kARY! i IS 2 STOOPID 2 NO i IS @ WARE!!! uh…wAR!!!
Vntnrse on May 31, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Okay, junior j-school rangers, find the redundant word in this headline:
"Clueless Kerry Strikes Again."
Full credit: In this sentence, the word "clueless" can be omitted without changing the meaning.
Half credit: The name "Kerry" could be omitted and most people would instinctively know who the sentence was referring to, although Barack Obama is making a hard charge at overtaking Mr. Kerry here, so this construction should be avoided unless as a general reference to all Democrats.
drunyan8315 on May 31, 2008 at 7:56 PM
indeed, Kerry is a moron.
I can't believe the rebublican party cannot beat these tools at the ballot box. But it's not really a suprise considering they are trying to be DIM-o-crats.
jdsmith0021 on May 31, 2008 at 8:41 PM
It's very simple…
U see… Only Congress can declare war… No 2 ways about it….
The President can't declare war…
The Judicial Branch can't declare war…
AQ can't declare war, no matter what they do…
Hamas can't declare war, no matter how many people they kill…
etc, etc, etc…
Only Congress can declare war… And there for in Kerry's mind… On 09/10 we where not at war… Heck… We where not at work on 09/11 or 09/12…. Not till congress declared war…
What a POS… Go back to wind surfing purple heart gigolo…
Y314K on May 31, 2008 at 8:56 PM
What do you expect of a loser like Kerry. The only great thing he did was marrying a rich woman.
mariloubaker on May 31, 2008 at 9:01 PM
They have not so they can absolve themselves of responsibility. They can point to the President and say, well, even though through the War Powers Act, we say he can go do somthing, he's the one doing it…
Congresional Cowardice, pure and simple.
Romeo13 on May 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
So very true.
4shoes on May 31, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) believes that on September 11 "we were basically at peace."
John Who?
seanrobins on June 1, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) believes that on September 11 "we were basically at peace."
John Who?
Oh! The senior senator from Massachusetts.
(Ouch! Sorry…)
seanrobins on June 1, 2008 at 12:06 AM
So, where ARE all of those people who actively supported Kerry in 2004? I don't hear a thing out of them. It's as if he was simply the sacrificial lamb for the re-election of GWB. After all, George was so popular you know.
leftnomore on June 1, 2008 at 4:15 AM
I wasn't able to independently verify this, but I've heard John Heinz Kerry served in Vietnam.
I wasn't able to independently verify this, but I've heard John Heinz Kerry served in Vietnam.
labrat on June 1, 2008 at 4:15 AM
John Heinz, the first husband of Terry Kerry, was a Republican and a far better man that John Kerry.
Be careful not to tarnish the memory of the former while giving the later all the soot he deserves.
EJDolbow on June 1, 2008 at 8:18 AM
Stick in Oklahoma City 1995 since Tim McVeigh had an iraqi phone number on his person and an arab-looking man was with him when he rented the truck and stuff.
And TWA Flight 800 that was shot down with a shoulder-fired missile that Bill Clinton covered up to keep up the illusion that we were not at war with anyone.
1993 – World Trade Center terrorist attack kills 6
1996 – Khobar Towers terrorist attack kills 19 US military personnel
1998 – US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed, over 200 dead
2000 – USS Cole attacked, 17 sailors killed
He also forgot about the attack at CIA headquarters in 1993 where two CIA employees were murdered and three others wounded
Or the "The Millennium Bomber" but maybe he doesn't count cause he didn't kill anyone.
Bicyea on June 1, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Hey, guys, technically Kerry is right–we hadn't declared war–and Congress still hasn't. So I guess we're not at war now, so what's the beef with the Democrats? Heh!Heh!
Congress hasn't declared war since 1941. It's much easier for them to just let the president do things so they can b**** about it later and not take any of the blame when things go wrong.
Makes me think of my favorite scene in the movie "Mars Attacks!" when the Martians blow up Congress and the old grandma laughs her a$$ off.
Dems always talk about the president's low approval ratings–have you seen Congress' lately. If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress? Morons, all of them.
Special K on June 1, 2008 at 6:29 PM


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Top photo: Alejandro Madrigal, Harriett Romo, Charlie Gonzalez
and Ricardo Romo
Bottom photo: Harriett Romo
(Photos by Mark McClendon)
Mexico Center receives $280K in federal funds
By Marianne McBride Lewis
Director of Public Affairs
(Jan. 31, 2008)--Speaking before a group of local business people, economists, faculty and UTSA students at the UTSA Downtown Campus, Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, announced today $280,000 in congressional funding for the UTSA Mexico Center.
Today's headlines
- La Prensa Foundation is newest member of UTSA Lone Star Society
- UTSA alumna Jordan Kaufmann wins $50K for new stent-graft start-up
- UTSA begins new way-finding sign installation this summer at Main Campus
- USA Today: UTSA long jumper Tyler Williamson rescues three-year-old boy
Article tools
UTSA President Ricardo Romo welcomed Gonzalez and heralded the congressman for his many accomplishments, thanking him for his continuous support of UTSA.
Established in October 2005, the UTSA Mexico Center is an umbrella organization that connects existing Mexico-related expertise at UTSA through cross-disciplinary collaboration on research projects and activities. Its primary goal is to address and generate transnational dialogue and research on public policy issues that affect the people of Mexico and the United States.
Gonzalez said it was a "great pleasure to advocate for the Mexico Center" and share with his Washington, D.C., colleagues the importance of the work being done, particularly in light of the contentious immigration debate.
"The Mexico Center fills a void in the gap of our understanding of our neighbors to the south and their understanding of us," Gonzalez said. "Through its programs and partnerships, the UTSA Mexico Center helps us better understand and improve our relationship with Mexico. The center's efforts truly best serve the region's citizens and ecnomic interests."
Harriett Romo, executive director of the Mexico Center, said the funding will support UTSA student workers and additional programming. San Antonio's deputy consul general of Mexico, Alejandro Madrigal, acknowledged Gonzalez and said, "I am convinced that the UTSA Mexico Center will promote a better understanding between our two nations."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
A race that was separated by a mere 900 votes when Jack Taylor went to bed at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, ended in a slightly more decisive victory for Taylor over Democratic candidate Paul Ohri later in the day. Taylor will be going back to Denver as a state senator, riding a 1,141-vote victory.
Taylor replaces another Republican, Dave Wattenberg of Walden, in the state Senate. Wattenberg was forced to leave office because of term limits.
Unofficially, Taylor finished with 26,821 votes to 25,680 for Ohri. Ohri actually won Routt County, Taylor's home, by a slim margin. He took in 46.7 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Taylor, which amounted to about 70 votes.
Ohri was able to put up a strong fight in a number of counties with a majority of registered Republicans, but lost Eagle County, which, with more than 21,000 registered voters, was seen as a swing county in the election.
A third Senate District 8 candidate, Libertarian candidate Michael Zuckerman, ran a quiet campaign, taking no money and doing little actual campaigning beyond attending forums and speaking to the media. Zuckerman received less than 5 percent of the vote in most counties, including 3 percent in Routt County.
Taylor ran on a platform of cutting taxes, continuing to support tourism in the area and education reforms. Attempts to reach Taylor for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Ohri, a longtime Kremmling Realtor, identified growth, housing, education and water as the big issues for District 8. He served as Grand County Commissioner from 1987 to 1999, being named Colorado's "Commissioner of the Year" in 1993. He is also the president of the Board of Directors of the Colorado River Water Conservation District.
Ohri was upset about the outcome of the race, but proud of the people who worked with him during the campaign, including a number of his family members.
"We all worked hard and tried to run a campaign about the issues people said were important to them," he said.
To reach Avi Salzman call 871-4203
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text:
Anybody have any experience with polystyrene hive bodies? I've got a source of free woodenware, so that's what I use. However, I have been itching to try one of Betterbee's polystyrene hives to see if makes any difference.
Anybody have any experience with polystyrene hive bodies? I've got a source of free woodenware, so that's what I use. However, I have been itching to try one of Betterbee's polystyrene hives to see if makes any difference.
I haven't tried a poly hive body, but I do have 2 poly hive top feeders. I was very impressed with the sturdiness of them, and they are much lighter than the wooden top feeders. The bees did seem to like them. A friend who I bought my 2 wooden hives from tried the poly hive bodies and he was pleased. I don't think you can go wrong.
I'm just trying them out for the first time this year. I already have two wooden hives so I'll let you know what I think after we get through the winter.
Here's an interesting web page by a Dutch beekeeper who was using styrofoam hives back in 96/97. Apparently a woodpecker found them easy pickings.
First Year Beekeeping Journal: http://www.blackcatnetworkhelp.net/beeblog.aspx
My first hive last year was a Bee Max and the Bees wintered very well through a very cold winter. The model I had last year had the screened bottom board but no tray. I bought a few of the new Bee Max models with the trays this year, but have the trays out right now for improved ventilation.
The BeeMax hives are polystryene and not styrofoam so while the feel is similar, the BeeMax is much sturdier than actual styrofoam.
As far as being able to take a beating from hive tool prying, dropping etc. though, the Bee Max can't compare to wood in that department. I think the big selling point is they offer better insulation than wood for overwintering, and in my limited experience they have proven winter worthy. I have one of my hives in wood right now, but will be putting the frames in a Bee Max before winter.
[This message has been edited by Let_it _Bee (edited June 12, 2004).]
I'm a Newbee But have done allot of research on these hives it seams to me that they are big in europe but not here I did find one site in the us that sells them
http://www.beneficbee.com/BeeBox.html there also another site http://www.modernbeekeeping.co.uk/ I know when I start beekeeping I will purchase these hives
Hoped this helped you
I over winter my hives in poly nucs and hives. Bees love it as they are warmer and the consume less feed. One downside you get a lot of condensation on the roof and sides of poly hive.!!
Here are European style EPS boxes for sale
Cam Bishop
I started with 2 wooden and one poly hive from Betterbee. Not too easy to add wooden supers if you're having a large flow as the dimensions are a little different. Also they do need to be painted, as the sun will cause the polystyrene to break down.
That hive was my best one last summer and I am hoping they are wintering well in it. Recently bought Betterbee polystyrene nuc boxes, so I will keep you posted.
My first hive was polystyrene. I hated it. I was always leery of busting it with the hive tool. It had a screened bottom with no cover. Idea was for mites to drop out of the hive, but since I regularly saw a big ball of bees under the screened bottom, I'm thinking any that fell came back in on the back of another. My tool dug into the body when prying frames, scraping propolis and removing burr. They don't mix with wood gear.
The only benefit I can see is added insulation during the winter, but since the other 99.999% of colonies live in wood, I can't be convinced that makes the difference worth the lack of strength.
I gave all supers, feeder, top, bottom and bees away because I couldn't in good conscience allow another to pay for it.
I'm contemplating making a couple of nuc bodies from Owens Corning Foamular 250. It can be glued together with foamboard adhesive, is light, and the 2 inch I use for nuc lids has an R10 value.
However, bees will chew on it and so I'll have to puzzle on that.
Poly Nucs is the way forward if there is easy way to clean
I am not happy with the EPS nucs I got from Betterbee. they are not holding up well. Bees are chewing them, particularly around the top bar rests. Outsides are deteriorating in the sun. I've cut large holes in the bottom [and screened the holes] of around 20 of them due to the excessive bearding in the summer. All-in-all I like the wooden boxes better.
Cam Bishop
Search Beemax Hives and you'll find a thread titled " Beemax Hives? " by Jason G in Tennessee. Go to "Mabe" in central Wisconsin in the thread. If your going to use Beemax follow her advice, she knows what she's talking about. I did, and I haven't had any moisture or mold problems like everyone seems to complain about. I think Beemax hives work great. Never had trouble with chewing either.


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text:
Even though he put up good stats, he was highly touted as a great run blocker. Which is essentially why we targeted him in the first place. Unfortunately, I didn't see a high level of blocking ablity, I think he was good in the run game but not great.
I have to believe that is why we probably let him walk. Our scheme requires blocking first and receiving second.


text:
Very Pretty!
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Very Pretty!
Lara B.
Beautiful quilt, nice thought to use her wedding colors.
Wonderful quilt and good choice of floral bouquets for the border quilting.
Oh what a beautiful quilt! Your daughter will just love it!
Lovely quilt and quilting !!!
Dance like no one is watching
That is just beautiful. She will love it....
Only your 2nd quilt. It is beautiful.
It is magnificent!!! She will definitely treasure this!!!
There is no place like home!
I really like the colors and the placements of the blocks. The quilt is striking. Thanks for sharing.
Nami to 6


text:
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Don't see your city? Just do a ZIP code search to find a job near you.


text:
[Article]-June 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - Hacking Dojo
Permanent link: [Article]-June 2011 Free Giveaway Winner - Hacking Dojo
We Have a Winner!
If you've ever done martial arts and experienced learning in a dojo, then you're familiar with a teaching style that has succeeded for centuries. Thomas Wilhelm, author, instructor, speaker, professional penetration tester & all-around kewl guy, brings this concept to the security industry:
"The Hacking Dojo provides students with a long-term training and support system, with readily-available access to instructors. Students attend regularly-scheduled online meetings with their instructor, who teaches hacking concepts relative to students' skill level. When the students demonstrate proficiency in a set of skills, they are moved onto more difficult challenges and instruction."
Up for grabs this month was a full year of training in the dojo with one of the industry's most respected names. But to win the prize, all someone had to do was become an EH-Net member & give back to the community in our discussion forums. About a year ago, a new member named MaXe joined us on EH-Net. And now he's the member with the most posts who has yet to win. So with that, and his amazing jedi mind tricks, he is the winner this month. Congrats.Participation is the ONLY way to win. Start a thread that sparks lots of interest; share thoughts and experiences; help a newbie... quality is more important than quantity.
Only members are eligible!
Registration Is FREE!


text:
Barbados Resorts and Vacations
Book a vacation package to colorful Barbados for its splendid beaches and natural treasures.
Book a vacation package to colorful Barbados for its splendid beaches and natural treasures.
Blended cultures, bountiful natural beauty and underwater wonders welcome visitors to the Caribbean paradise of Barbados. Known for its miles of pristine coastline and enviable waters, Barbados comes alive with snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. Uncover plenty of other things to do on your Barbados vacation, from exploring the opulent plantation of St. Nicholas Abbey, to diving into underwater excursions.
With prime shopping, influential cuisine and impressive hotels, a vacation to Barbados is sophisticated and stylish, yet relaxing and welcoming. From afternoon tea to a game of cricket, hotel deals come rich with fantastic views and tantalizing options. Enjoy plunge pools, private sundecks and flavorful dining with a Barbados vacation package
With direct flights into the island's only airport, Grantley Adams International Airport, visitors arrive on the island's southeastern side. Expect warm and sunny weather, with highs in the mid 80s, but dipping slightly cooler at night.
The ultimate Barbados adventure awaits you! During this tour you'll do exactly what it's title claims, experience the Best of Barbados! With two tour options to chose from your sure to find the adventure that fits you! Snorkel, Swim with Turtles, or spend some time shopping in Holetown. Whatever your preference, this tour is prefect for you! Tour Duration: 6.5 - 7 Hours
Visit some the most historic and beaiful beaches of Barbados on this tour of paradise! Tour the Barbados East Coast with stops at Bathsheba Beach and St Johns Parish Church, which dates back to 1645! Also enjoy 2.5 hours of time at one of Barbados most beautiful beaches, Carlisle Bay! Tour Durations: 5.5 Hours
Experience the Island's natural wonders driving through its lush green hills on this 7 hour adventure. Visit sites like Earthworks Pottery, Flower Forest, Barbados Wildlife Reserve, and Barbados' beautiful North Point where you can witness the power and beauty of the ocean as great breakers crash into the beautiful Barbados cliffs. Tour Duration: 7 Hours
See why Barbados was once called Little England on this sightseeing tour through that shows you the British influences of this beautiful tropical island! Visit the absolutely stunning Huntes Garden and the 350 year old plantation home of St. Nicholas Abbey! Tour Duration: 5 Hours
Enjoy a touch of what makes Barbados such a unique and natural paradise on unforgettable tour through Harrison's Cave, the beautiful East Coast with its fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve! Experience three purely Barbados spots on this amazing tour! Tour Duration: 5 Hours
A Glory Tours favorite, the Just BIM Sightseeing Tour is experience like no other! Visit some of Barbados best sites including Earthworks Pottery, Flower Forest, Harrison�s Cave, and the historic, beautiful St. Nicholas Abbey, an authentic 17th century plantation home! Tour Duration: 7 Hours
Explore and Discover Barbados is a specially created tour that will help first time visitors to Barbados to discover the beauty and charm of this beautiful island! Explore the East, North, and West coasts of the island and experience a boat trip to swim with the turtles and enjoy relax or snorkeling time at the beautiful beach of Paynes Bay! Tour Duration: 7 Hours
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text:
Liberal Opinion Week
Here's a scary fact about America: We're much more likely to believe that there are signs that aliens have visited Earth (77 percent) than that humans are causing climate change (44 percent).
Full text and e-editions are available to premium subscribers only. To subscribe to the digital edition, please visit subscription page. If you are already a subscriber, please login to the site.
We'd be happy to set up login information for a free week of the Liberal Opinion Week website for you. Please email email@example.com with your request. Thanks for your interest in the Liberal!
President Barack Obama will deliver his State of the Union address Jan. 28, but, for my money, his secretary of education, Arne Duncan, already gave it. Just not enough people heard it.
President Barack Obama began his speech Friday by citing surveillance in history. He said:
"At the dawn of our republic, a small, secret surveillance committee born out of the Sons of Liberty was established in Boston. And the group's members included Paul Revere. At night they would patrol the streets, reporting back any signs that the British were preparing raids against America's early patriots.
It's hard to imagine anything more painful than going through the presidential campaign all over again with Mitt Romney.
Unless it's going through two presidential campaigns with Mitt Romney.
But, yes, that's the narrative of a new buzzed-about documentary that had its world premiere here Friday night at the Sundance Film Festival.
In a world in which 71 journalists were killed on the job last year, the expulsion of one ink-stained wretch by Russia may seem a small matter. But the sustained effort of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin to control what is written, said or thought about the regime is a revealing moment in a broad struggle for power in a rapidly changing world.
What would Marlise Munoz have made of all of this?
It's called the Garden State and in earlier days was known for the many vegetable farms in its rural central and southern counties. But New Jersey's reputation beyond its borders more often casts it now as a rough-edged place where the natives "tawk" funny and say they come from "Joisey," (except, of course, around Princeton).
In any complex system, from the human body to the automobile, one malfunctioning part can strain the entire mechanism. The same is true of our out-of-alignment government.
A dysfunctional Congress corrodes the rest of the constitutional architecture. It imposes a burden on other branches to pick up the policymaking slack, and threatens to shift excessive authority outside the legislature.
Even with no real scandal and only one demonstrable policy blunder, the health-care rollout, President Barack Obama had a miserable 2013 as his public standing plummeted. History suggests it is tough for a second- term president to rebound. Here are five ways Obama could defy those odds.
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text:
Mountain Law: Does one man, one woman violate rights of gays, lesbians?
March 27, 2013
The Supreme Court will hear oral argument this week on the question of whether laws requiring that marriage be between a man and a woman violate the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians. What are the cases specifically about?
There are actually two cases before the Supreme Court, each presenting different issues. The first case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, involves the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to say that marriage must be between a man and a woman. As background, the California Supreme Court found in 2008 that the California Constitution created a right of marriage for all couples, including gays and lesbians. California voters then passed Proposition 8 in 2010 to specifically deny gays and lesbians the right to marry. Two same-sex couples challenged in federal court whether Proposition 8 violates the United States Constitution. The trial court found that Proposition 8 violated the right to marry and also violated equal protection by taking away rights from only one class of citizens, same-sex couples. The defendants in the case, who were a number of state officials such as the California governor, declined to appeal the trial court's ruling (thereby evidencing their support for gay marriage and striking down Proposition 8). Supporters of Proposition 8 then successfully gained permission to appeal the case in place of the true defendants. The supporters lost the appeal at the 9th Circuit and appealed again to the Supreme Court.
At issue in the first case, then, is whether citizens can ban gay marriage by amending the state constitution. Before the Supreme Court can even reach that issue, it will need to decide whether the supporters of an initiative can appeal it when the defendant state officials decline to do so. In legal speak, the question is whether the Proposition 8 supporters have "standing" to bring an appeal when they suffered no direct injury as a result of the trial court decision. (For more on this issue, see my May 11, 2011, column titled "Understanding Standing").
The second case, United States v. Windsor, pertains to a federal statute called the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defines marriage as between a man and a woman for purposes of federal laws. In the case, a lesbian couple met in 1963 and lived together in a committed relationship for 40 years. They were married in Toronto in 2007. When one partner died, the survivor was required to pay $363,053 in estate tax, which she would not have been required to pay were the couple considered married under DOMA. She brought suit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA, and the Obama administration refused to defend the case (i.e., it refused to argue that DOMA was constitutional). The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives (BLAG), following a party-line vote, obtained permission to defend the case in place of the executive branch and, after losing at trial and on appeal to the 2nd Circuit, appealed again to the Supreme Court.
The second case is, therefore, about whether the legislative branch can define marriage as it did in DOMA. Like the first case, the second case presents a threshold issue of standing as to whether BLAG can defend a case in place of the executive branch. It also presents issues of equal protection, namely whether DOMA can deny benefits to gay and lesbian couples that are enjoyed by opposite-sex couples.
The Supreme Court could make a sweeping ruling for or against gay marriage that would apply in all states, or it could make limited rulings that would apply only in the cases at issue.
After this week's oral argument, the dramatic actual decisions will likely come this summer.
Noah Klug is owner of The Klug Law Firm, LLC, in Summit County. emphasizing real estate, business and litigation. He may be reached at (970) 468-4953 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Can a computer program reproduce everything that happens inside a living cell?
Brian Hayes
Almost 30 years ago, Harold J. Morowitz, who was then at Yale, set forth a bold plan for molecular biology. He outlined a campaign to study one of the smallest single-celled organisms, a bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma. The first step would be to decipher its complete genetic sequence, which in turn would reveal the amino acid sequences of all the proteins in the cell. In the 1980s reading an entire genome was not the routine task it is today, but Morowitz argued that the analysis should be possible if the genome was small enough. He calculated the information content of mycoplasma DNA to be about 160,000 bits, then added:
Alternatively, this much DNA will code for about 600 proteins—which suggests that the logic of life can be written in 600 steps. Completely understanding the operations of a prokaryotic cell is a visualizable concept, one that is within the range of the possible.
There was one more intriguing element to Morowitz's plan:
At 600 steps, a computer model is feasible, and every experiment that can be carried out in the laboratory can also be carried out on the computer. The extent to which these match measures the completeness of the paradigm of molecular biology.
Looking back on these proposals from the modern era of industrial-scale genomics and proteomics, there's no doubt that Morowitz was right about the feasibility of collecting sequence data. On the other hand, the challenges of writing down "the logic of life" in 600 steps and "completely understanding" a living cell still look fairly daunting. And what about the computer program that would simulate a living cell well enough to match experiments carried out on real organisms?
As it happens, a computer program with exactly that goal was published last summer by Markus W. Covert of Stanford University and eight coworkers. The program, called the WholeCell simulation, describes the full life cycle of Mycoplasma genitalium, a bacterium from the genus that Morowitz had suggested. Included in the model are all the major processes of life: transcription of DNA into RNA, translation of RNA into protein, metabolism of nutrients to produce energy and structural constituents, replication of the genome, and ultimately reproduction by cell fission. The outputs of the simulation do seem to match experimental results. So the question has to be faced: Are we on the threshold of "completing" molecular biology?
Bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma are attractive for experiments of this kind because they are the smallest and arguably the simplest self-replicating organisms. (Viruses are smaller, but they can reproduce only by hijacking the biochemical machinery of a host cell.)
When mycoplasmas were first observed in the 19th century, they were thought to be fungi (hence the prefix myco-, from the Greek root μυκης, meaning fungus). The organisms are now classified among the bacteria, but they are peculiar members of that kingdom. They lack the rigid cell wall that encases other bacteria, having only a lipid membrane. One consequence is that mycoplasmas are resistant to many antibiotics, notably those that work by interfering with the synthesis of cell wall components. Mycoplasmas cause a number of human ailments as well as diseases of other animals and also plants. Perhaps the best known of the human pathologies is a lung infection sometimes called "walking pneumonia."
M. genitalium, the organism chosen for the Covert group's computer model, has been known to science only since 1980, when it was isolated from a few patients with urethritis. Even among mycoplasmas, M. genitalium is a diminutive cell, with a diameter of roughly half a micrometer. The better-known bacterium Escherichia coli, by contrast, is two micrometers long, with a volume roughly 50 times as large. M. genitalium is also tiny in terms of its genetic complement. The single circular chromosome has 580,076 base pairs of DNA and just 525 identified genes (even fewer than Morowitz estimated). The E. coli genome is about 4.6 million base pairs with 4,300 genes.
The compact cells and concise genome of mycoplasmas make them a useful test bed not just for software but also for "wetware" explorations of the minimal apparatus needed to sustain life. One notable experiment of this kind was reported in 2010 by J. Craig Venter, Clyde A. Hutchison III, Hamilton O. Smith and others at the J. Craig Venter Institute. They sequenced the genome of a particular mycoplasma, storing the list of bases as a computer file; then they made a few edits that would serve as an identifiable "watermark" and synthesized DNA corresponding to the altered sequence. Finally—and this was the hard part—they inserted the manufactured DNA into cells of another mycoplasma species, replacing the native genetic material. The cells grew and reproduced entirely under the direction of the artificial genome. The experiment can be viewed as a step toward creating a wholly synthetic life form.
In some respects, simulating life with a digital computer is even harder than synthesizing it from chemical components. Given the right ingredients, a biologist might be able to assemble a living cell without fully understanding all the details of how the parts interact. The computer programmer, however, must describe every molecular event.
Building a computer model calls for a multitude of choices and compromises in finding the appropriate level of detail. Take the case of carbohydrate metabolism, in which sugars such as glucose break down to yield water and carbon dioxide. At the most abstract level, this process becomes a single chemical equation:
which doesn't reveal much about what's actually happening inside the cell. A closer look would add dozens of intermediate steps. For example, the six-carbon glucose molecule is first split into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules, liberating energy that can be captured in the phosphate bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Adding still more detail leads to a vast web of chemical reactions, as in the famous Metabolic Pathways poster devised by the late Donald E. Nicholson. And one needn't stop there. In principle a simulation could follow every individual molecule—or every atom, for that matter—as it passes through the cellular machinery. The Goldilocks strategy seeks a middle path between bland abstraction and pointless verisimilitude.
The authors of the WholeCell project chose to implement different parts of their model with different levels of detail. Certain key macromolecules are represented as distinct and identifiable entities. Smaller molecules are treated as aggregated quantities; the program keeps track of their numbers but not of their identity as individuals.
The distinction between these two modes of representation can be seen clearly in the sector of the model dealing with protein synthesis. Ribosomes, the large organelles where proteins are assembled, are represented as individuals; each ribosome has its own identity and history. Within the computer program, a separate block of memory is allocated to each ribosome. But the program has no representation for individual molecules of amino acids, the subunits that are linked together to form a protein. Instead the model merely keeps track of the quantity of each type of amino acid. There's a variable for counting all the alanine molecules, another variable for the lysines, and so on.
The WholeCell model is divided into 28 process modules, which correspond to major cellular activities such as replication of the genome, synthesis of protein and repair of damaged DNA. In addition, 16 data structures called state variables record the current status of various subsystems at every instant. The program begins by initializing the state variables to values appropriate to a "newborn" cell, just after cell division. Next, all 28 of the process modules are run for one second of simulated time. At the end of this interval the state variables are updated with the results of the calculations, and then the cycle repeats. The simulation continues until the cell completes its growth and divides. For M. genitalium this generation time is typically nine hours, or roughly 32,000 repetitions of the simulation loop. Running time for the program is about the same as the generation time.
The program is written in MATLAB. Source code is available on the project web page at http://wholecell.stanford.edu, along with a knowledge base of quantitative information that went into building the model.
Together with Covert, the principal authors of the software are Jonathan R. Karr and Jayodita C. Sanghvi, who are both graduate students in Covert's group. The model is described in a report published last July in Cell; the authors, in addition to Karr, Sanghvi and Covert, are Derek N. Macklin, Miriam V. Gutschow, Jared M. Jacobs and Benjamin Bolival Jr. of Stanford and Nacyra Assad-Garcia and John I. Glass of the Venter Institute.
In trying to get a sense of how the WholeCell simulation works, I chose three modules for close examination. They are the modules for metabolism, for the transcription of genetic information and for the size and shape of the growing cell.
The metabolism module is where most of the classical biochemistry happens. Here we are in the blue-collar sector of the cell's economy, dealing with energy production, manufacturing and the handling of raw materials and wastes. (Most of the other modules are more concerned with white-collar chores of information processing.)
Even in a cell as tiny as M. genitalium, metabolism involves a bewildering maze of interlinked chemical processes. The metabolism module of the WholeCell model includes 104 enzymes, 585 substrates, 441 chemical reactions and 204 transport processes.
The size and complexity of this network foils many conventional methods of analysis. The rate of any given chemical reaction depends in part on the concentrations of the reactants and the products. But the products of one reaction are the inputs to another, so all the processes are closely coupled and cannot be solved independently. An added complication is that biological networks include cycles, such as the citric acid cycle of carbohydrate metabolism. With a cycle, the products of a given reaction may go all the way around the loop and reappear as inputs to the same reaction, so that the overall flux of material through the network is not uniquely defined.
To sidestep these difficulties, the WholeCell metabolic module relies on a methodology called flux-balance analysis. The underlying idea is that even if a reaction network does not have a unique solution, it may well have a best solution. The process for finding that solution is much like the algorithm used to optimize the operations of a chemical plant or an oil refinery. Suppose a refinery has a range of products (gasoline, diesel fuel and so on), which differ in manufacturing cost and market value. The mathematical technique of linear programming computes a mix of products that maximizes profit. Applying the same method to the living cell yields a set of reaction rates that make the most efficient use of available resources, such as nutrients. (It's not known with certainty that microorganisms optimize their growth in this way, but it's a plausible assumption in the context of Darwinian natural selection.)
The computations performed in the transcription module are quite different from those of the metabolic subunit. Instead of linear programming, we have discrete events governed by probabilities.
Transcription of a gene begins when a molecule of the enzyme RNA polymerase binds to a chromosomal site called a promoter. The enzyme then ratchets along the double helix, producing a strand of messenger RNA whose sequence is complementary to that of one DNA strand. When the transcript is complete, the polymerase drops off the double helix and releases the RNA. Each step in this process requires a variety of other molecules—initiation factors, elongation factors, termination factors, energy donors—as well as a supply of nucleotides to be incorporated into the growing RNA strand.
In the WholeCell system, each RNA polymerase molecule is an individual object with four possible states: actively transcribing, bound to a promoter region, bound to DNA elsewhere and unbound. Transitions between the states are random events with probabilities calculated to match the experimentally observed distribution. Also, various promoter sites differ in their affinity for RNA polymerase, so the probability of binding is higher in some places than others.
Because of probabilistic events like these, the WholeCell model has an element of nondeterminism. Every run can be expected to produce somewhat different results, even with the same initial conditions and environment. But of course fluctuations and chance events also have a role in real biology; even perfect clones will not follow exactly the same trajectory through life.
Reading the source code of the transcription module gives some vivid glimpses of the subtleties that a wary modeler must keep in mind. Suppose a roll of the digital dice dictates that a certain RNA polymerase molecule is to bind to a promoter site. What happens if all the promoter sites are already occupied? What happens if two polymerase molecules try to grab the same promoter site at the same time? What if two transcription enzymes collide as they move along the DNA? Nature seems to handle such conflicts without having to think about them, but the modeler has to think of everything.
Collisions between enzymes scuttling along the chromosome are not rare events. Results of the WholeCell simulation suggest they happen about once per second, or perhaps 30,000 times in the course of a full cell cycle. The model is therefore equipped with rules to decide who has the right of way.
The WholeCell model is not greatly concerned with details of spatial organization. The metabolic module treats the cell as if it were a well-stirred reactor vessel, where all molecules have the same chances of interacting, regardless of their location. Transcription and replication enzymes occupy specific positions along the bacterial chromosome, but the coordinates are one-dimensional, measured with respect to the linear genetic sequence; they do not define position in three-dimensional space.
Nevertheless, the simulation does include a state variable for cell geometry, which describes the bacterium's shape and eventual fission. Curiously, the shape defined by the simulation is not in fact that of the biological cell. M. genitalium is usually described as having a flask or pear shape—a ball with a single asymmetrical appendage. Including this detail would complicate the model without revealing anything of biological significance, so the simulated cell is given a simpler geometry. It begins as a small sphere and elongates into a cylinder with hemispherical end caps. At the end of the life cycle, after the two copies of the genome have migrated to opposite poles of the cell, the middle of the cylinder begins to constrict and then pinches off to form two new cells.
The rules of cell growth are not hard to understand: As the volume of the cytoplasm increases, the enclosing membrane must grow in surface area by a commensurate amount. The mechanics of cell division are more mysterious, but the model nonetheless gives a tentative account. The key component is a protein called FtsZ, which forms a ring girdling the cell in the plane where the two daughter cells ultimately part company.
The WholeCell model is based on data collected from 900 publications. Some 1,900 numerical values were extracted from these sources to become parameters of the model. This is an impressive compendium, which anchors the simulation in real data.
However, a slate of 1,900 parameters also raises a red flag. If each parameter represents a control knob that can be turned to adjust the model's behavior, then by twiddling enough of the knobs, the output could be "fitted" to just about any desired result. When I asked Covert about this, he immediately cited John von Neumann's quip, "With four parameters I can fit an elephant, and with five I can make him wiggle his trunk." But Covert went on to say that the 1,900 WholeCell parameters have not been used for knob-twiddling or trunk-wiggling. Almost all of the values were taken directly from experimental measurements. They constrain the model rather than adapt it to a preconceived outcome.
Yet that's not quite the end of the story. The data come from many different experiments conducted by different workers over a period of decades. Quite a few parameters come from organisms other than M. genitalium, simply because not enough is known about mycoplasma physiology. Given these disparate sources, it's not surprising that the measured parameters are not always consistent. For example, an inventory of cell contents (published by Morowitz 50 years ago) suggested that mycoplasmas have only trace amounts of the amino acid cysteine, whereas analysis of the genome showed a notably greater need for cysteine in mycoplasma proteins. Such inconsistencies must be reconciled if the simulation is to succeed.
Covert and his colleagues tackled this problem by formulating a system of constraints, then searching for parameter values that satisfy the constraints while deviating as little as possible from the measured values. Initially they tried formal optimization algorithms, but these methods failed to converge on a feasible solution. They therefore adopted a heuristic approach, starting from the parameters that are deemed most reliable. Some such reconciliation procedure will remain necessary until more complete and accurate biochemical data become available.
In the meantime, the simulations reported in the Cell paper do give physiologically plausible results. The duration of the cell cycle, the rate of growth in biomass and the concentrations of various metabolites are all reasonably close to values measured in real cells. Further support for the model's robustness comes from a series of "knockout" experiments, in which single genes are deleted from the chromosome. After multiple model runs, a gene is classified as essential if losing it compromises viability. The simulation results agree with in vivo experiments on 79 percent of the genes.
Still another finding extends and explains known results. The mycoplasma cell cycle has an early phase of genome replication, in which the binding of enzymes initiates the process, and a later phase, in which the replication itself proceeds. Each of these phases varies in length, and yet their sum—the length of the overall cycle—shows comparatively little variation. Examination of the internal details of the model revealed the cause of this odd behavior. The nucleotides needed to synthesize the new chromosome are manufactured throughout the cell lifetime. If the early stage of replication is brief, the later stage is slowed by a shortage of nucleotides. If the early stage is prolonged, the stockpile of nucleotides is sufficient to support full-speed replication.
The idea of building artificial life forms, whether in software or in synthetic cytoplasm, has always been controversial. Mary Shelley, almost 200 years ago, wrote a deep meditation on this theme: Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. In Shelley's time the debate was framed in terms of vitalism versus mechanism. The vitalists argued that living things are distinguished from inorganic matter by some "spark of life" or animating principle. The opposing mechanist view had its greatest early champion in René Descartes, who compared animals to clockwork automata.
Within the world of science, the doctrine of vitalism is long dead, and yet there is still resistance to the idea that life is something we can fully comprehend by disassembling an organism and cataloging its component parts. In the brash early years of molecular biology, DNA was "the blueprint of life," a full set of instructions for building a cell. The core process of life was seen as symbol manipulation, a matter of pairing G with C and A with T, then mapping the 4-letter alphabet of nucleotides into the 20-letter alphabet of amino acids. If only we could learn to read the blueprints and decipher the genetic messages, we would know everything about how life works. Now that we read DNA sequences quite fluently, it seems clearer that there's more to life than the "central dogma" of molecular biology.
The idea of simulating a living cell with a computer program stands in the crossfire of this argument between reductionism and a more integrative vision of biology. On one hand, the WholeCell project makes abundantly clear that the DNA sequence by itself is not the master key to life. Even though the transfer of information from DNA to RNA to protein is a central element of the model, it is not handled as a simple mapping between alphabets. The emphasis is on molecules, not symbols.
On the other hand, the very attempt to build such a model is a declaration that life is comprehensible, that there's nothing supernatural about it, that it can be reduced to an algorithm—a finite computational process. Everything that happens in the simulated cell arises from rules that we can enumerate and understand, for the simple reason that we wrote those rules.
I would love to believe that the success of simulation methods in biology might forge a new synthesis and put an end to philosophical bickering over these questions. I'm not holding my breath.
You can find this online at http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/num2/imitation-of-life/3
© 2016 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society


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Navy Kickbacks Defendant Mulling Guilty Plea
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A leader of a kickbacks scheme that cost the U.S. Navy $18 million has been given another week to decide whether to attempt to withdraw his guilty plea.
The Newport Daily News reports that former Naval Undersea Warfare Center civilian employee Ralph M. Mariano now has until Friday. He pleaded guilty in May in federal court to conspiracy, theft of government property and tax evasion, but now says his former lawyer had a conflict of interest.
Mariano and his girlfriend, Mary O'Rourke, signed plea deals that are contingent on one another. If either does not plead guilty, the other's deal would be void.
Four others have pleaded guilty in the case.
Prosecutors say Mariano used his position to add money to contractors, who then funneled kickbacks to Mariano and others.
Image: Shutterstock/Africa Studio


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AccessNow is an HTML5 remote desktop gateway that works from any device with an HTML5 compatible browser, including from Chromebooks and locked down devices
Ericom AccessNow is the market's first high performance HTML5 RDP Client, providing browser based access to Windows applications and desktops (virtual & physical), running on Windows Terminal Services / RDS / VDI platforms, including Microsoft Hyper-V and other hypervisors. Now supports Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 R2. Try our web RDP online demo.
For more information about Ericom's web RDP solution, see our FAQs
With an accelerated timeframe to reach our "1 TWO 1" computing model goals, we tested Ericom AccessNow and quickly discovered how easy it is to deploy and use. You simply log in and you have your Windows desktop. It just works.


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Detroit Film Theatre
Thursday, November 15, 2012
7:00 PM Detroit Film Theatre
A Life For a Life (1916), based on a French novel by Georges Ohnet, received a lavish and eye-popping treatment from the most celebrated director of the day, Evgeni Bauer (Daydreams). An army of technical resources were unleashed for this contemporary melodrama, which more then one critic has compared to the work of American filmmaking giant D.W. Griffith. Accompanying Bauer's film is the comic short film Antonia Ruined by a Corset (1916) made by Czech-born comedian Anton Feriner, as well as newsreel coverage of the vast 1919 funeral of Vera Kholodnaia, beloved star of A Life for a Life – a death which signaled the end of an era.
TWILIGHT OF THE TSARS: Russian Cinema from 1910 – 1919
Banned for more than seventy years by the Soviet government, this astonishing series of cinematic treasures – presented in five programs over six Thursday evenings – provides a revelatory glimpse of the extraordinary quality of filmmaking that existed in Tsarist Russia, right up until the eve of revolution. David Robinson of Britain's Sight and Sound magazine described the viewing of these films as a moviegoing experience akin to "opening the tomb of Tutankhamen." Each program has a running time of approximately 90 minutes and features live piano accompaniment by David Drazin.


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Lawn Fawn
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Lawn Fawn is a small company from Southern California that specializes in crafting products that are fun and lively. Since beginning in March 2010 with four stamp sets, we have grown our collection to more than 130 sets! We have also introduced lots of new products along the way... paper, twine, and dies, just to name a few.Our products feature original designs that range from versatile basics we love alphabets and polka dots to fun and quirky yay for yetis! and everything in between. And of course, we use the highest quality photo-polymer for our stamps, FSC certified paper, and 100% steel for our dies.We hope our products make you smile!"


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Yeah for me
Mileage: 42.2
June mileage: 462.2
Temperature: 57
Yes, this is completely just a bragging post. I learned today that I received a first place award in news page design in the 2007 Society of Professional Journalists' Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism competition. (Take that, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana!)
This is a big deal for me. Maybe even bigger than winning the 24 Hours of Light! (which also will happen this month, by the way. Ha!) I've mentioned before that I'm on a somewhat rough and rocky trail in my career right now, but navigating that kind of terrain makes the podium placement that much sweeter.
I think some readers of my blog might be surprised by the fact that while I play one on the Internet, I'm not actually a writer. I'm a graphic designer. I tried reporting early in my career, but after several brain-numbing city council meetings and reprimands for not being hard-hitting and confrontational enough, I drifted over to the other side of the newsroom. Now I work in copy editing and page layout. I love it, and I'm good at it, but it doesn't transfer well beyond the lumbering Titanic that is the newspaper business. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts laid out my current situation well in his column today: "Virtually every newspaper is going through the same thing: shrinking profit margins, declining circulation, staff cutbacks and morale at subterranean levels as journalists struggle to figure out how we can save the American newspaper. But I have come — reluctantly — to believe we can't. We must blow it up instead."
I can argue my case all I want ("But I'm a good page designer! Look, I'm an SPJ best!") It won't help me much once media sources phase out newsprint and replace it with online design (which, as you can tell from this blog, I'm not so adept.)
Still, I can work. Here. Now. In beautiful Juneau, Alaska, at what is, despite all, a pretty great newspaper with a pretty good, albeit one-and-only, news-page designer (Ha!) And I'll adapt with the changing times. Earlier in my career, I'd be pretty stressed out about this situation; I'd probably be dusting off my 1997 food handler's permit and digging out my old law school applications. This is another area where my traveling and cycling habits have changed me - I've not only become better at embracing my own strengths and weaknesses; I'm so much more willing to embrace the unknown.
OK, tomorrow, back to your regularly scheduled bike programming.
26 comments:
Way to go, Jill - I am glad you are getting the recognition you deserve. And as for those skills not translating - balderdash. I'm making a decent living with about half the effort doing graphic design, pr, etc. and people are blown away by my efficiency and attention to detail, both of which I credit to a decade under the deadline gun with the threat of public humiliation hanging over my head.ReplyDelete
But I would hedge a bet that you could make the switch to digital world pretty easily. Seems to me you were pretty passionate about the things that make journalism humm, not to mention a writer that was missed by the community long after you were gone.
Don't sell yourself short. Life's not long enough to go around doing that.
Jill, that is *outstanding*!!!ReplyDelete
I second what Vito said- When you write your first book, it's gonna be a bestseller.
Congrats!! I too cannot wait for the book!ReplyDelete
Fantastic. I'm really happy for you and I don't even know you.ReplyDelete
I'm riding on the book bandwagon. All you have to do is submit some of your best posts to an editor along with some idea of the format/ storyline you will be using. Toot your own horn a little and mention your award and your marketing opportunity via the blog and friends of the blog. I don't know if you realize the potential there. I really think you are looking at a couple day's work getting it together for a query. You have got a lot of positives that I think an editor would look kindly upon.
Congratulations Jill!ReplyDelete
David, your former neighbor.
you go girl! it's always nice to be recognized amongst your peers. glad to hear that you are staying optimistic...ReplyDelete
-namaste, erin
I had no idea you were a designer. Congratulations on the award. That is one great accomplishment. I've been a designer for 6 years and I've received as many as 0 awards.ReplyDelete
Congrats Again! It's a great portfolio piece.
I am glad the goodness of your work and the goodness of your blog have prevailed... BruceReplyDelete
That is fantastic news Jill! Congratulations!! I don't know anything about the 24 hours of light race, but I know you will do well while Geoff is getting his ass kicked on Richmond Peak.ReplyDelete
As for me, a week from now I will be enroute to Helena, MT to do another few hunderd miles of the GDMBR. This time I am going to sneak up on Colorado from the north. I've got tons to do to get ready again.
Congratulations again!! Keep writing...
Jill Homer #1ReplyDelete
Great! Congratulations.ReplyDelete


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Community group starts to build a vision for a new, improved downtown Pine River
Imagine downtown Pine River as a popular tourist destination, a gathering place so inviting that it draws motorists from Highway 371, bicyclists off the Paul Bunyan Trail and community members who stop by for coffee, a meal and to shop.
This downtown Pine River, in many ways, already exists. The Dam Park has a new playground and plans are in the works for swimming beach improvements, creating recreational opportunities. The weekly summer farmers' markets, restaurants and stores also draw residents and tourists into downtown.
The problem is, most people wouldn't know what the city has to offer if they simply glanced down Barclay Avenue, the gateway to downtown Pine River, while stopped at the Highway 371 intersection.
"When you look down at 371, everyone agrees there's not much to entice you into Pine River," said Phil Hunsicker, lakes region program director for Envision Minnesota.
That may soon change.
About 20 community members, along with Hunsicker, met Wednesday, Dec. 19, at JR's No. 19 Barbeque Restaurant on Barclay Avenue to continue the community dialogue that began in October about creating a vibrant, beautiful downtown.
The citizen group met twice in October and shared ideas on how to develop a more attractive downtown and make it more accessible for bicyclists and walkers. The GreenStep Task Force in Pine River applied for and received a grant that awarded the community free technical assistance from Envision Minnesota to develop a plan to become friendlier to non-motorized traffic.
On Dec. 19 the group decided to select a few top priorities at an upcoming meeting and create a working committee of volunteers to develop them.
A main priority is for Barclay Avenue to become one of Minnesota's Complete Streets, a designation that the street includes all modes of transportation and serves people of all ages and abilities.
Hunsicker said Barclay Avenue is wide enough to construct bike lanes from the Paul Bunyan Trail down Barclay Avenue to the Dam Park. This will involve working with and getting approvals from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the main thoroughfare. Community members discussed the need for a resolution of support from the Pine River City Council for such a project to move forward.
"I think we've had some good ideas," said Pine River Chamber executive director John Wetrosky. "It's my hope the city would be more energized by this."
Wetrosky said he would be willing to send a letter informing chamber members about the group's top priorities once those are better defined at the next meeting in January. It could spur more business owners to get involved in the downtown beautification project once the group has narrowed its priorities.
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Pine River Depot. All community members are welcome to attend.