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The mesenteric arteries are the arteries that supply blood to your large and small intestines. Ischemia occurs when your blood cannot flow through your arteries as well as it should, and your intestines do not receive the necessary oxygen to perform normally.
Mesenteric ischemia usually involves the small intestine.
Mesenteric ischemia usually occurs when one or more of your mesenteric arteries narrows or becomes blocked. When this blockage occurs, you can experience severe abdominal pain. Over time, often quickly, the blockage may worsen and cause tissues in your intestine to die because they lack enough blood flow.
Mesenteric ischemia usually occurs in people older than age 60. You may be more likely to experience mesenteric ischemia if you are a smoker or have a high cholesterol level. Mesenteric ischemia can be either chronic or acute. Chronic means that you have had the condition and symptoms over a relatively long period of time. Acute means that the symptoms start abruptly and become very serious in a short period of time. Chronic mesenteric ischemia can progress without warning to acute mesenteric ischemia, sometimes very quickly.
If you have chronic mesenteric ischemia, you may experience severe pain in your abdomen 15 to 60 minutes after you eat. This pain can occur in any part of the abdomen, but most commonly it occurs in the middle to upper part. The pain may last for as long as 60 to 90 minutes and then disappear. Unfortunately, it tends to return the next time you eat. Many people with chronic mesenteric ischemia begin losing weight because, although they may feel hungry, they do not want to eat because they experience the pain.
Sometimes the symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia can be vague and can be similar to those of other conditions. Therefore, your physician will evaluate you and order tests to rule out other problems before making a definite diagnosis. In addition to abdominal pain and weight loss, other symptoms that you might experience include:
With acute mesenteric ischemia, you may have sudden, severe stomach pain. Narcotic pain medications may not adequately alleviate the pain that is associated with mesenteric ischemia. With acute mesenteric ischemia, you may also experience nausea or vomiting.
Atherosclerosis, which slows the amount blood flowing through your arteries, is a frequent cause of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Your arteries are normally smooth and unobstructed on the inside, but as you age, a sticky substance called plaque forms in the walls of your arteries. Plaque is made of fats and other materials circulating in your blood. As more plaque builds up, your arteries can narrow and stiffen. Eventually, enough plaque builds up to reduce blood flow through your arteries.
A clot, called an embolus, which travels to one of the mesenteric arteries and suddenly blocks the blood flow, is a common cause for acute mesenteric ischemia. These clots often originate in the heart and are more common among patients with an irregular heartbeat or heart disease.
Other conditions that may lead to mesenteric ischemia include:
Mesenteric ischemia is a serious condition that may come on and worsen quickly. It is extremely important that you go to your physician or the emergency room if you experience any of the symptoms.
Your physician may perform several tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. First your physician will ask you questions about your general health, medical history, and symptoms. In addition, your physician will conduct a physical examination. Together these are known as a patient history and exam. As part of your history and exam, your physician will ask you if you smoke or have high blood pressure. Your physician will also want to know when and how often your symptoms occur as well as how long you have been experiencing them.
After the history and exam, if your physician suspects you may have chronic or acute mesenteric ischemia, he or she may perform additional tests to evaluate your bowel and circulation, such as:
The goal of treatment for mesenteric ischemia (both chronic and acute) is to re-open the artery to allow adequate blood flow to reach your intestine to allow it to work properly. Because this must be accomplished before permanent damage is done to the bowel, depending on the situation, your vascular surgeon may treat mesenteric ischemia as an emergency or as a scheduled procedure.
For chronic mesenteric ischemia, one treatment method is trans-aortic endarterectomy, which is an operation that removes the plaque that blocks your mesenteric artery. To perform this procedure, a vascular surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen, or side, and then removes the plaque contained in the inner lining of the blocked mesenteric artery. Another treatment option for chronic mesenteric ischemia is bypass surgery. In bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a detour around a narrowed or blocked section of the artery. To create this bypass, your vascular specialist can use one of your veins or sometimes a tube made from man-made materials can be used as an alternative. Your vascular specialist attaches the bypass above and below the blocked area, producing a new path for blood to flow to your intestines. Your vascular surgeon will advise you what procedure is best for you on the basis of your particular situation.
Angioplasty and stenting is a newer method for opening a mesenteric artery and bracing it open to allow the blood to flow through. It can sometimes be performed at the time of the angiogram. In an angioplasty procedure, your vascular surgeon inflates a small balloon inside a narrowed mesenteric artery. After widening the artery with angioplasty, your vascular surgeon may insert a stent, which is a tiny metallic mesh tube that can support your artery's walls to keep your vessel wide open.
Treatment for acute mesenteric ischemia is usually an emergency procedure, since severe intestinal damage can occur rapidly in this setting. Your physician may use medications, called thrombolytic agents, to dissolve a clot, if one is found soon enough. To perform this treatment, your physician injects clot-dissolving medications into a blood vessel, often at the time of the angiogram. In some cases, the medications flow through your bloodstream to the clot and can disintegrate the clot. However, your vascular surgeon may need to remove the clot surgically, especially if there is evidence of intestinal damage or too little time is available for the thrombolytic agent to work.
Since the effectiveness, risk, and durability of each tool available for the treatment of mesenteric ischemia depends upon many issues, your vascular surgeon will advise you as to what procedure is the best for your particular situation.
With acute mesenteric ischemia, you may have sudden, severe stomach pain. Narcotic pain medications may not adequately alleviate the pain that is associated with mesenteric ischemia. With acute mesenteric ischemia, you may also experience nausea or vomiting.
For more information about the treatment of mesenteric ischemia, call LifeBridge Health at 410-601-WELL (9355).
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When I was this paper's police reporter I was immersed for a time in gangsters, cops, parole agents, etc. Granted, that was years ago, and it didn't make me an expert on anything.
When I was this paper's police reporter I was immersed for a time in gangsters, cops, parole agents, etc. Granted, that was years ago, and it didn't make me an expert on anything.
But considering the Marshall Plan is not scheduled to roll out the real experts until next Friday, I'd like to chip in my two cents on crime, gangs and gun violence.
When I first started covering crime, I thought Stockton gangs were hardened criminals, mini-Mafiosi run by sociopaths. Menaces to society.
I thought gun violence such as drive-by shootings was all about criminal competition over drugs or other organized criminal enterprises, or sheer nihilism.
Sometimes it was. But mostly Stockton gangsters were kids. Some were truly bad. Others weren't totally hard core but still had long rap sheets.
Still others, well, they were younger than I expected - most younger than 24 - and most, I finally came to believe, had another attribute, one which I didn't anticipate.
They were afraid.
Many joined gangs because they grew up in a neighborhood with a stark choice: join a gang or be a victim of a gang. Or fall prey to street thugs.
Some got guns because they feared real enemies who had guns. If you have a gun, nobody messes with you. Especially if you've shot or killed somebody. Or so the thinking goes.
Though they were armed, impulsive, party-mad, deep into the drug trade, or other illegal stuff, and held others in their thrall, they weren't rich or powerful.
Many hated their lives.
They had lost family. Or close friends. They saw no future. Many actually felt marked for death. Some seemed to believe they couldn't walk to the end of the block without risking being shot.
Imagine that.
Another thing. When the motives for many of their shootings came out, they were incredibly petty. Often there was no grand battle for supremacy over gang rivals or internal power struggle to be a gang's capo di Tony Soprano, like on television.
The shootings were over minor ripoffs, teen heartbreak and slights. Disrespect.
I'm big on individual responsibility. So, like most people, I held gangsters responsible for their choices. If they got hauled off to prison, I lost no sleep.
I still feel that way, to a degree. Especially since my house has been twice burglarized, my car twice smash-n-robbed, my bicycles stolen, my fence repeatedly graffitied, etc.
There's no doubt certain people - certain cultures, even - are addicted to violence and self-gratification. That's on them.
But that individual responsibility thing cuts both ways. I realized that Stockton has failed them, too.
A city - a civilization - supposedly ensures the public health and safety; in return it expects adherence to its laws.
Today's gangsters grew up after Stockton's crack cocaine epidemic of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some have never known a time of general public safety or a home with safe streets.
They don't have faith in the law, or believe cops protect them, or that government cares if they live or die. Which is true, in a way, if you look at who the murder victims are.
And we have been OK with that.
We cannot allow Stockton to be an analog to the segregated Southern cities of the early 1960s. Segregated not by color but by social contract, a city split between those who receive government's basic protection and assistance and those who do not. Such a city carries the seed of its own destruction.
The solution to Stockton's crime problem must be, broadly speaking, two things.
Using crime data and gang intel, the cops ought to get right in the worst offenders' faces. They ought to deliver the message that gun violence is a deal-breaker.
If punks use guns, the SPD and all their multiagency allies should ruthlessly bust everybody for everything and send the worst guys away for a long time.
But they - we - ought to offer the others a way out, too.
The police should make their streets safe. Public Works should upgrade their neighborhoods. The council should fund after-school programs.
And so on. Gangsters should be given the chance to leave the life, go back to school, vocational ed, get help finding a job - whatever they need to get with the program.
Yeah, yeah, it takes money. I said at the outset I had an opinion about the Stockton Knife & Gun Club, not where to find a golden goose.
Anyway, I believe there's a nucleus of real bad actors out there, and others ranging from half-bad to wannabes. We ought to hammer the worst and offer the others a chance.
Contact columnist Michael Fitzgerald at (209) 546-8270 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/fitzgeraldblog.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sergio Alvarez from Bogota Colombia will dance with the Ballet Theatre of Dover's production of dances from "Raymonda" and "Swing Suite" on Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Schwartz Center for the Arts.
Sergio Alvarez from Bogota Colombia will dance with the Ballet Theatre of Dover's production of dances from "Raymonda" and "Swing Suite" on Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Schwartz Center for the Arts.
The classical challenges of dances from "Raymonda" with music by composer Alexander Glazunov bring us to Europe during the time of the Crusades. The Princess Raymonda is being wooed by a Saracen knight, while her beloved is off to the Crusades. The Saracen knight is eventually defeated by Jeanne de Brienne and Raymonda is united with him.
The divertissement (collection of dances) features music with distinct Middle Eastern overtones. The production is a staging of the original ballet which was first premiered by the Maryinsky Ballet (formerly the Kirov) in St. Petersburg in 1898 with choreography by the prolific Marius Petipa, who brought classical ballet to its golden age in imperial Russia.
Dancers from the Ballet Theatre of Dover will be led by guest dancer Alvarez. He danced with the National Ballet Theatre of Colombia, Ballet Fleming and the Roxey Ballet. He trained at the Anna Pavlova School in Colombia and at the Rock School in Pennsylvania. He will be dancing the role of Jean de Brienne, partnering with local dancer, Sara Biscardi.
Dances from "Swing Suite" will feature the music that got America, from Benny Goodman in the '30s to the contemporary sounds of Brian Setzer and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. A kaleidoscope of the swing dance style will be presented in numerous ways from classical ballet to tap, jazz and contemporary.
Tickets for the show are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Buy an adult ticket and get a child's ticket free. There's a special group discount for the 1 p.m. performance.


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Kathmandu in depth from its stunning palaces to vibrant markets. Immerse
yourself in the culture: witness prayers at the Hindu and Buddhist temples,
watch Nepali dance show and learn from local artisans. Take in the
stunning sunrise and sunset views of the majestic Himalayas from your hotel in
the relaxing hill station of Nagarkot.
Pricing starts at $1050 per person, double occupancy.
Journey north to Nepal to enjoy both the local, Hindu culture and the unique wildlife-viewing opportunities of Chitwan National Park. View the impressive Himalayas close-up in Pokhara or from an optional Mt Everest flight. Start and end in bustling Kathmandu, where you explore its temples with their unique architectural-style and the endless markets. Continue to Chitwan where you ride elephants in search of rhinoceroses and other animals who hide in the tall grasses of the park. In Pokhara, you soak in the stunning mountain scenery while hiking and sightseeing in the valley.
Prices start from $2195 per person, double-occupancy.
DAY 7: Departure
The day is free until you transfer to the International airport to connect with your outbound flights. [B]
Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu.
Green Jungle Lodge in Chitwan.
Fish Tail Lodge in Pokhara.
Continue your exploration of South Asia by venturing into the magical Kingdom of Bhutan, land of the Thunder Dragon. Visit unique Buddhist Monasteries including the Tiger's' Nest which is perched on the edge of a cliff and only reachable by hiking in. Travel over some of the highest passes in the world which afford stunning views of the Himalayas. Ask the Bhutan Program Director if you would like to include trekking, hiking and mountain-biking.
Pricing starts at $1495 per person.
Day 1: Arrival in Paro, Bhutan
Your flight is a spectacular introduction to Bhutan as during clear weather you will have magnificent views of the world's highest peaks and then the lush green Paro valley as you land. After clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Paro. Start your exploration of Bhutan with a visit to the National Museum (Ta Dzong) which was once used as the watch tower for the Dzong. Explore Paro Rimpung Dzong, one of Bhutan's most impressive and well-known temples. Walk from the dzong to the old traditional covered wooden bridge and stroll along the west bank of the river. Downstream from the bridge you have a spectacular view of the dzong. Overnight Paro [LD]
Day 2: Tiger's Nest - Thimphu
After breakfast drive the winding road to Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fortress, which once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions. Continue to Ramthangkha, from where you will hike up to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger's Nest), which clings to the rocks towering 2600 feet above the valley. The hike uphill to the cafeteria will take around two hours on average; it is located about 2,950 meters (9,678 feet) above sea level. At the view point enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. You can choose to continue hiking up to the monastery and visit the monastery.
After the visit to the temples, walk back to the cafeteria for your lunch. After lunch, drive 1 hour to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan with a population of 100,000. The town is made of 3 rose of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening visit the National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of our 3rd king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (a wonderful opportunity to mix with the local population). All the buildings in Bhutan conform to national building principals and are beautifully carved and decorated. Overnight Thimphu [BLD]
Day 3: Explore Thimphu - Punakha
Drive to Sangaygang, a field of Bhutanese prayer flags perched high above the city; colored flags send prayers to the heavens and white flags honor the dead. Visit the Motithang Mini Zoo where you can see the national animal, the Takin, research center where these odd animals graze peacefully in a small protected park. Walk to the Zilukha Nunnery and then drive to the Tango Monastery for a picnic lunch. The hike to the monastery takes about 45 minutes. It is a 13th Century structure and today is home to about 150 monks studying Buddhist Philosophy and meditation. Upon return, explore the weekend market.
In the afternoon depart for the pass, Dochula, climbing steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near the pass (3,050 m). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. It is marked with 100 stupas on a small hillock. Enjoy tea at the pass to enjoy the spectacular views at sunset and sunrise, weather-permitting. You can make use of the telescope at the hotel. Descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha and check in at your hotel. Overnight Punakha [BLD]
Day 4: DochuLa - Punakha
Visit Punakha Dzong, remarkably located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu. Spend the day hiking in the area with your guide. One possibility is a hike to the Khamsum Yueley Chorten (45 minutes each way) through terraced rice fields. Overnight Punakha [BLD]
Day 5: Punakha - Paro
Visit the Wangdue Monastery, then return to Paro stopping at Thimphu for lunch and to visit any sites you may have missed (options include the Folk Heritage Museum (a beautifully restored Bhutanese farmhouse from the last century), the National Painting School, and the Textile Museum). Continue to Paro. Overnight Paro [BLD]
Day 6: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight [B]
Spend the day in Gangtok. Visit Enchey Monastery - a beautiful monastery in an equally beautiful setting, approached along an avenue of hundreds of multi-colored prayer flags. Spend time in the Government Institute of Cottage Industries watching young students practicing the traditional art of thangkha paintings along with weaving, wood carving and carpet making. Also visit the Institute of Tibetology, housed in a beautiful building in traditional Tibetan style, with mural decorated columns and a wonderful smell of beeswax polish from the creaky wooden floor.
After lunch drive through picturesque, terraced rice fields to the headquarter of Dharma Chakra Centers (Rumtek Monastery), the present seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyupa sect. Rumtek is said to be the replica of the monastery at Tsurphu, Tibet with its traditional architecture, exquisite paintings, intricate wood work, and treasures of manuscripts and icons. Rumtek is a splendid example of Tibetan monastic art. Return to your hotel for dinner. Overnight Gangtok [BLD]
Day 3: Gangtok – Pemayangtse (Pelling)
Day 4: Pemayangtse (Pelling) – Yuksum
Day 5: Yuksum – Kalimpong
Day 6: Kalimpong – Darjeeling
After breakfast, start your day at the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang (Lava Monastery). Consecrated in 1976 by the Dalai Lama, this Monastery houses many scriptures brought into India after the invasion of Tibet in 1959. The Monastery is built on top of Durphin Hill, which gives it the advantage of a panoramic view of the town below. Continue to the Tsonga Gumba Monastery, a Bhutanese Monastery believed to have been built around the late 1600s. End the touring at the Lepcha Museum, where you will learn about the native people of Kalimpong, who are no more than a minority today. The Museum exhibits Lepcha treasures, Manuscripts, articles of worship and other tools. Drive to Darjeeling (75 km/1.5 hrs), on arrival check in at hotel.
Day 7: Darjeeling
Day 8: Darjeeling – Bagdogra – Kolkata (Calcutta)
Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the River Hooghly. Including suburbs, its population exceeds 15 million, making it India's third-largest metropolitan area as well as the world's 8th largest agglomeration. Kolkata served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. As the former center of modern education, industry, science, culture and politics in India, Kolkata has many leftovers to bear witness to this history. Kolkata also is noted for its revolutionary history, ranging from the Indian struggle for independence to the leftist and trade union movements. It is also known as the cultural capital of India, home to generations of poets, writers and film directors.
Elgin hotels in Sikkim
Windamere in Darjeeling
Oberoi Grand in Kolkata or similar
"We really enjoyed walking around small towns, driving through the countryside, the bicycle taxi ride through Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, and the boat trips on the Ganges. Last but not least the dinner with the family was among the most valuable of our experiences—a glimpse into local people's lives."
- Wendy Thon and Tom Weingarten, WA


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Skip to comments.Kosovo: The real test of U.S. foreign policy
Posted on 04/05/2006 3:48:46 PM PDT by kronos77
If you want to see a place where Christians are outside of the law on their own ancestral land – come to Kosovo.
If you want to see American troops committed to establishing a narco-Islamic state on Christian land – come to Kosovo.
If you want to see Christian churches, monasteries and cemeteries desecrated on an almost daily basis, under the noses of thousands of Western soldiers – look no further than Kosovo.
Seven years after William Jefferson Clinton launched a bombing campaign against a European Christian land in support of the Islamic terrorist Kosovo Liberation Army, it's as though the bombs have never stopped falling on the Christian remnant in Kosovo. Whether Clinton did it to divert attention from a burgeoning sex scandal, or whether it was part of a global anti-Christian campaign by Western liberals with a cultural death-wish, the results for the Kosovo Christians – and all non-Albanians in Kosovo – are the same.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Im not angry at liberals... thay don`t know better, im angry on the people thet ARE better than liberals, but surprissingly well are hiding that fact.
This excerpt is best description on Serb feelings for Kosovo:
"Actually, this fierce battle on the Field of Blackbirds (the meaning of the name of Kosovo) ended in a draw, with both the Serbian Prince Lazar and the Turkish Sultan Murat being killed in battle. But the weakened Serbia, pressed from the north by the rival Hungarian kingdom, never recovered. It is then, as the story goes, that the bright red peonies that bloom by the millions each year on Kosovo's plains made their appearance, growing out of the soil consecrated by the spilt Christian blood."
Toward the end of that fiasco, Clinton and his cronies were openly ordering airstrikes on civilian targets in Belgrade. Yet I never heard anyone call him a "terrorist".
Isnt that also called St Vitus Day? (June 28th 1389 IIRC).
yes, it is, it is a nacional holliday, but also allmost prohibited by ruling liberals in Serbia.
Interesting fact is that Milosevic was extradicted to teh Hague on that very day 2001. That shorted a life of man who extradicted him, prime minister Djindjic (Democrat Party, members of Socialist internationale) assasinated in 2003.
I was protesting in Portland, but there were very few of us and no press.
Silent during the war????? Everyone was Silent during the entire Balkan Campaign Starting in Bosnia. No one questioned the massacres that were "reported", and there were no major reports of the lack of actual bodies supposedly being massacred.
No one has questioned the disparity between what the Clinton Administration and NATO claimed concerning Kosovo and what was actually found.
In addition, not only has all political parties remained silent about Kosovo they are hiding it to date in order not to upset the Independence effort and not to cast a shadow on the Clinton Administration's fabrications and deception. Some say it was a mistake. It was not a mistake, it was planned and executed on purpose. A black mark in our policy that may never be revealed.
Yes, the liberals are protesting Iraq and still trying to hide Kosovo.......go figure.
If you want to see American troops committed to establishing a narco-Islamic state on Christian land come to Kosovo.
If you want to see Christian churches, monasteries and cemeteries desecrated on an almost daily basis, under the noses of thousands of Western soldiers look no further than Kosovo.
Thank you for nothing Bill Clinton, the President of the United States who picked the wrong side in this war. Like his Demo predecesor Jimmy the Peanut Carter, we will pay and pay and pay for his mistakes. This was just one of them, but a pretty important one.
Anti-war protests are efective only if orgaised by leftist liberals angainst war they have no interest in.
There are few of those wars.
Honestly, it's hard to understand how well the lid was put on it and it stayed. Even JFK has something going on and advocates of people that were important enough. We worred about a few people breaking into offices during Nixon's time, and not even one serious Senate investigation, not even attempt. They are still going after War Criminals for somewhat fabricated massacres that justified this massive "campaign".
I suspect that this "campaign" has a much rooted system linked to the efforts of the New World Order. It's incredible.............You did mention many of the reasons. However, I suspect the lid was put on in the beginning and since it was fabricated to a major extent, many holes were plugged. The Serbs did execute combatants and murder a number of people using the paramilitaries. However, no where near the extent that was claimed to justify our bombings. The Serbs have in fact been demonized unjustly.
I was protesting in Portland, but there were very few of us and no press.
I organized a teach in and invited the history classes to participate. Little interest...little publicity...nothing much happened but those who did attend may have been enlightened.
Christians in this country need to get involved. We need to get the word out about these victims of Muslim cult insanity. But what I find is that even Orthodox Christians are silent. It's maddening.
Halfbright actually forced that war by demanding NATO troops in Serbia proper as well. The State Dept had several people testify to that effect. Exactly what was the point of all this?
And while we are on the subject of the complete ineptitude of the Clinton Administration, one could easily make the argument that Halfbright, Berger and Cohen ultimately made the Iraq war II inevitable. We had weapons inspectors monitoring most of Saddam's activities until the end of 1998 when those idiots decided to airstrike Baghdad over 1% of potential sites (and again there was no outrage from the libs over this).
What is NYS? The New York Slimes??? How old are you? Walter Duranty started the destruction in 1931.
I can't help but think it's a combination of many things, which is also why I can't dismiss the claim that Kosovo wasn't part of some liberal campaign against Christianity. In fact, looking back through Clinton's tenure, this was an administration that was increasingly hostile to Christians, viewing them as a greater threat than the obviously growing Islamic threat.
It was only a few months after the first WTC attack that our attentions were drawn from this Islamic threat (which was treated as a criminal act) to the much more dispicable (in the eyes of libs) fundys at Waco. Even the potential ME ties to the OKC bombing...and the Arab-looking John Doe, found little support as Right-Wing militias and white supremacists became the bigger enemy.
And just as in Kosovo and the rest of the Balkans, it was the Clinton Administration that chose to support the Muslim aggressors in Indonesia and E. Timor against the minority Christian population that was being slaughtered by the tens of thousands. Even after being made aware of these events, Clinton still allowed Indonesia to procure arms from this country.
Whether it was in the Balkans or Indonesia, Clinton was supplying and supporting Muslim governments (in vioation of some of our own embargos) who were killing and displacing Christians around the globe. There isn't a better example of this spite than looking at the WOT and seeing how Democrats attack Bush and other Republicans; they have more contempt and hatred for their political opponents than they do for those who want to destroy this nation. And as most good communists know, they must destroy this Faith, before they can ever control its followers.
I do not think their were any grand goals, Germany had interests in the region, Clinton needed a war to hide stuff at home, Germany is pressuring us through NATO, MSM lies, MSM dislikes Christians, loves Clinton and Germany, and brainwashes the country, so the war happens. Just two sleazebags with media support and that is all you need for this disaster.
A shameful bump.
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The Senate approved a long-stalled, landmark bill Thursday that would ban workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, reflecting the nation's fast-changing public and political attitudes toward gay rights.
The 64-to-32 vote caps a nearly 20-year effort to get the Employment Non-Discrimination Act through the Senate. It's the most significant action on gay rights since Congress repealed the military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gay people serving openly in the military in 2010 and President Barack Obama announced support last year for same-sex marriage.
"For more than two centuries, the story of our nation has been the story of more citizens realizing the rights and freedoms that are our birthright as Americans," Obama said after the vote. "Today's victory is a tribute to all those who fought for this progress ever since a similar bill was introduced after the Stonewall riots," a milestone in the gay rights movement more than four decades ago in New York.
Ten Senate Republicans joined 52 Democrats and two independents in voting for the bill Thursday. Four senators – Bob Casey, D-Pa., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. – didn't vote.
Obama urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to "bring this bill to the floor for a vote and send it to my desk so I can sign it into law. On that day, our nation will take another historic step toward fulfilling the founding ideals that define us as Americans." Boehner opposes the proposal.
Rory Cooper, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said the measure wasn't on the House of Representatives' schedule.
"I hope Majority Leader Harry Reid soon addresses the dozens of House-passed bills that have been ignored in the Senate that create jobs, improve education and create opportunity while Americans struggle to find a good-paying job," Cooper said.
When the measure was first formally introduced in 1994, no states recognized gay marriage. Now 15 states and the District of Columbia do.
But while gay rights have advanced on many fronts, there still is no federal law that protects gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans from job discrimination.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced in Congress every year since, and it failed by one vote in the Senate in 1996. It passed the House in 2007 but died in the Senate.
The bipartisan vote Thursday in the Senate was driven in large part by America's evolving views on gay rights. Poll after poll has found increasing acceptance among people affiliated with both political parties on issues ranging from same-sex marriage to workplace protections for LGBT workers.
"I have seen firsthand the progress that we have made in recognizing that fairness and opportunity are not partisan issues," said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the Senate's only openly gay member. She recalled crafting an earlier House version of the bill with then-Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., another openly gay lawmaker.
"It was a difficult debate and there were many disagreements," Baldwin said. "However, the tone of the debate here on the Senate floor has been remarkably dignified and cordial."
The House passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act by 235-184 in September 2007. Thirty-five Republicans, including Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the chair of the House Budget Committee and presidential candidate Mitt Romney's running mate in 2012, voted for it.
But the current House must approve the proposal, and it has a different makeup.
The House bill has 193 co-sponsors thus far, including five Republicans – Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Jon Runyan of New Jersey, and Chris Gibson and Richard Hanna of New York.
"We firmly believe that if the House of Representatives were freed by Speaker Boehner to vote its conscience, this bill could pass immediately," said Fred Sainz, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for LGBT rights. "It's unconscionable that any one person would stand in the way of this crucial piece of the civil rights puzzle."
Opponents charge that the measure would lead to frivolous job-discrimination lawsuits and gender-reassignment surgeries being covered by employer-sponsored health insurance plans.
"We'll use every effort to stop the bill in the House," said Ralph Reed, the chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. "I really don't see this moving in the House."
The measure would bar employers with 15 or more workers from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It exempts religious institutions and the military.
The bill drew more Republican support after the Senate approved an amendment Wednesday by Republican Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire that would prevent federal, state and local governments from taking legal action against religious groups that are exempt under the act.
Senators rejected an amendment by Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., that would have expanded the number of groups covered under the bill's religious exemption clause.
The amendments were payback for Toomey, Ayotte and Portman in exchange for their support in a procedural vote Monday that advanced the measure to the final-passage stage Thursday. But the amendments weren't enough to satisfy some Republicans.
"Some members believe that these amendments go too far. I, frankly, believe they don't go far enough," said Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind. "I feel it's vital for this body to stand up for our country's long-standing right to the freedom of religion and speech. For these reasons, I am not able to support this current legislation."


text: Garland Fire Chief Raymond Knight has announced appointments to his new command staff, formally introducing them to the Garland City Council on July 2, 2012. Assistant Chief Carl Coan has been in charge of Operations since 2011, managing day-to-day division activity, 240 personnel at 11 stations working three shifts. Last year, the Operations Division answered more than 22,000 calls for service. Assistant Chief Coan joined the Garland Fire Department in 1990, working his way up through the ranks as a paramedic, station Captain, Operations Battalion Chief, reaching the rank of Assistant Chief in 2010 to work with the Fire Marshal Office, Information Technology and Communications/Dispatch. Carl has been active in urban search and rescue and in various regional committees. He currently serves as president of the Dallas County Fire Chiefs Association. Assistant Chief Kelly Miller comes from a family of firefighters. His father, George, retired from the Garland Fire Department has a Battalion Chief in 1991 after 33 years of service. His younger brother works for the Denton Fire Department. He met his wife, April, in rookie school and she works for the Dallas Fire Department. Assistant Chief Miller joined Garland in 1995. He has a bachelor's degree in finance and brings a strong background in budgeting and accounting to his role as Administrative Assistant Chief. Assistant Chief Todd Peele was appointed to Assistant Chief of EMS/Training two years ago, but recently tested to the position. He began his firefighter career with Garland in 1990, later becoming an EMS lieutenant, captain, Battalion Chief over EMS and Training Divisions, before promoting to Assistant Chief. He has extensive training in incident management and disaster preparedness. Assistant Chief Peele oversees all emergency medical services and training, three EMS lieutenants and 11 front line ambulances. He has worked with the City's asset recovery team to improve ambulance fee collection rates. Captain Michael VanBuskirk will continue his duties in the Garland Fire Marshal's Office, where he has served for the past 11 years. A member of the Garland Fire Department since 1994, Captain VanBuskirk has been responsible for every aspect of the Garland Fire Marshal's Office and has developed valuable expertise of fire codes, National Fire Protection Agency standards, and their application in the development, inspection and plan review process. He has developed strong working relationships with Fire Administration and other City departments, including Building Inspection, Engineering, Transportation, Streets and Utilities. He is currently working to attain his Bachelor's Degree in Fire Service Administration from Texas A&M Commerce and holds many advanced certifications. Captain Glenn Johnson has been promoted to Administrative Battalion Chief. He became a Garland firefighter in 1992, promoting through the ranks and becoming a captain in 2006. Battalion Chief Johnson was instrumental in the design phase of Garland's state-of-the-art Fire Training Facility. He has served on the Fire Department's Biotel Protocol Committee, the Apparatus Committee and the GFD Information Technology Advisory Board. He has helped develop a computerized method of delivering training to the fire stations, electronic tracking for fire station supply orders, and an Electronic Patient Care Reporting system. "It is an honor and privilege to present the Garland Fire Department Command Staff to the Garland City Council," said Chief Knight. "These Garland administrative fire officers are as talented and capable as any fire staff in the state of Texas, and will continue to serve the citizens of Garland very well. I am proud to work with these excellent Garland fire officers."


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WASHINGTON – Members of a House panel angry over the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military took a key step toward tackling the problem by passing legislation Wednesday that would strip commanding officers of their longstanding authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in rape and assault cases. Lawmakers believe the revision will lead to a cultural shift and encourage victims to step forward.
The legislation, which will be folded into a broader defense policy bill that the full House will consider in the coming weeks, also would impose harsher penalties on service members found guilty of sexual offenses by requiring that they be dismissed or dishonorably discharged.
The moves by the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee reflect outrage on Capitol Hill over the poor results military leaders have achieved in their efforts to combat sexual assault in the ranks.
A Pentagon report released earlier this month estimated that up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year and that thousands of victims are still unwilling to come forward despite new oversight and assistance programs aimed at curbing the crimes.
The report showed the number of sexual assaults actually reported by members of the military rose 6 percent to 3,374 in 2012. But a survey of personnel who were not required to reveal their identities showed the number of service members actually assaulted could be as high as 26,000. That figure is an increase over the 19,000 estimated assaults in 2011.
Congress has repeatedly challenged the military to take more aggressive steps to curb sexual assault. But the new figures convinced lawmakers that military leaders have not done enough and that swift legislative action is needed. President Barack Obama has weighed in as well, declaring that he wants to eliminate the "scourge" of sexual assault.
The subcommittee's vote came after a string of incidents that raised fresh doubts about the military's commitment to tackling the problem.
The Army said Wednesday that a soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom. Sgt. 1st Class Michael McClendon is facing charges of dereliction of duty, mistreatment, entering a women's bathroom without notice, and taking and possessing inappropriate photos and videos of at least a dozen women who were naked or in various states of undress.
Just before the Pentagon's report on sexual assault statistics was released, the Air Force officer who led the service's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit was arrested on charges of groping a woman in a Northern Virginia parking lot. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski was removed from his post after the Air Force learned of his arrest.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., the military personnel subcommittee chairman, said the proposed changes are significant and will give assault victims the confidence to report crimes.
Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, who along with Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass., wrote several of the provisions included in the subcommittee's bill, criticized the Defense Department's approach to the problem.
"I think the leadership of the military is confused," Turner said. "They believe as long as they have programs where they say sexual assault is wrong that they've done enough. No. They have to support the victim, and they have to support vigorous prosecution."
Turner and Tsongas are co-chairs of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus.
Separately, the Senate Armed Services Committee is taking up a series of sexual assault prevention measures next month. A final plan will eventually be produced after any differences between the House and Senate are resolved.
Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, plan to introduce legislation Thursday with several of the same provisions drafted by Turner and Tsongas. The McCaskill-Collins bill also includes additional measures to protect the victims during the legal process. For example, lawyers for an alleged assailant must coordinate any interviews with the victim through the prosecuting counsel.
The push to eliminate a commander's ability to reverse criminal convictions of service members is rooted in a case that stoked anger among congressional lawmakers. Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, a former inspector general at Aviano Air Base in Italy, was found guilty by a military panel in November 2012 of charges of abusive sexual contact and aggravated sexual assault. Wilkerson was sentenced to a year in prison and dismissal from the service, but Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, commander of the 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, reviewed the case and overturned the jury's verdict of guilty.
Franklin explained in a six-page letter to the Air Force secretary that he found Wilkerson and his wife, who both denied the charges, more believable than the alleged victim.
The authority wielded by Wilkerson and other senior commanders who are responsible for establishing courts-martial leaves victims of sexual assault wary of coming forward because they fear no one will believe them, according to lawmakers advocating the change.
But that clout has been embedded in the military justice system for decades and stems from the longstanding belief that military commanders must be directly responsible for good order and discipline in their units. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has said it's a mistake to strip commanders of their authority.
"For Congress to reach down and change 200 years of tradition because people don't like what the commander did in Aviano, I think sends a terrible signal to the military justice system," Graham told reporters earlier this month. "The issue here is why are there so many assaults and why is it so hard to get people to come forward."
McCaskill is holding up the nomination of Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, tapped to serve as vice commander of the U.S. Space Command, until McCaskill gets more information about Helms' decision to overturn a jury conviction in a sexual assault case.
According to the military personnel subcommittee's legislation, commanders would no longer have the discretion to reverse a court-martial ruling, except in cases involving minor offenses. Commanders also are barred from reducing a guilty finding by a court-martial to guilty of a lesser offense.
The subcommittee's draft proposal also requires an individual found guilty of rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy or an attempt to commit any of those offenses receive a punishment that includes a dismissal from military service or a dishonorable discharge.
The subcommittee's legislation eliminates the five-year statute of limitations on trial by court-martial for sexual assault and sexual assault of a child. It also establishes the authority for military legal counsel to provide legal assistance to victims of sex-related offenses and requires enhanced training for all military and civilian attorneys involved in sex-related cases.
The panel's bill contains a provision that extends federal whistle-blower protections to victims to ensure they don't face reprisal for reporting incidents of sexual assault.
Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rplardner


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Notation basée sur
11 Avis
5 sur juin 13, 2013
Best B&B hor hotel we've ever stayed in! Gorgeous room and grounds! Elegant breakfasts, great innkeeper! Highly recommended!
4,6 sur avril 30, 2013
My time in Asheville was magical. The location was amazing (including the Inn and the property), food fantastic and the Inn Keeper, Nina, immediately made everyone feel welcome and at home. The only downside was that I was not able to stay for more than a long weekend! I will definitely return to the Inn and would highly recommend to family and friends!
5 sur avril 19, 2013
The home and the grounds are absolutely stunning. The views take full advantage of the beauty of western North Carolina. It's pretty amazing to wake up to the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from your bedroom windows without having to take your head off the pillow! The rooms are stylishly decorated and very comfortable and cozy, each with a gas fireplace. The breakfast is hearty and delicious. In short, if you want to pamper yourself, this is the place for you! It would also be a wonderful venue for a family reunion.
4,2 sur avril 17, 2013
I spent 3 days at a retreat held at the Inn. The accommodations and setting were wonderful. The view from the back porch was amazing. The Blue Ridge Mtn were specacular. NIna the women in charge did a good job of taking care of everyone and the food was terrifeic. I can't say enough good things about my experience at the Wineertsun Inn. I will go back when I can.
5 sur avril 16, 2013
Hard to believe such a place exists. Nina the innkeeper is peaceful and welcoming. The grounds are so beautiful--complete with sculptures, hiking trails and a spiritual labyrinth. The rooms are so comfortable you could sleep on and on but then you would miss the day. Asheville is nearby for your dining/shopping needs. I will return because when I drove through the gates I knew it was special.
5 sur avril 16, 2013
My partner and I were in search of the perfect place to have a commitment ceremony after going to D.C. to legally marry, we went to several locations and were about to give up when we heard about Wintersun Inn. We made an appointment with Nina over the phone and then went to the Inn to see what we thought. From the breath taking drive up to the Inn, we were already taken aback! All of a sudden you are in the middle of beautiful grounds and a grand structure known as the Inn appears...wow was all we could say!! We met with Nina and knew this tranquil paradise was where we would have our ceremony! Everything from the catering, to Nina the Innkeeper's attention to every detail and making sure all went perfect!! We could not have asked for more! We stayed the night in the lavish suite the night before the ceremony and enjoyed the comfort and beauty of the Inn. Restaurants and grocery stores are within a few miles of the Inn. We are so pleased with our entire experience at Wintersun Inn, that we will be back and have plans of spending our anniversaries there for many years to come!
4,2 sur janvier 08, 2013
Met there for a girls' weekend. The inn is absolutely beautiful, nicely decorated and the innkeeper, Nina, went above and beyond to cater to us during our stay!
5 sur décembre 10, 2012
Wintersun is a glorious retreat and its Innkeeper welcomes you with open arms. There's everything to love about this gorgeous Inn - scenery, food, furnishings, quiet....you name it and Wintersun delivers.
5 sur septembre 20, 2012
Prepare yourself when you drive up to the gates of the Inn at Wintersun; for we can attest to the fact the all your expectations will be well exceeded. From that first entrance, as you drive through captivating grounds with uniquely exquisite sculptures lining your path and horses grazing as a backdrop to the majesty of mountains behind; it feels a bit like you have entered a place, somewhat enchanted. And then, within this magical setting the Inn itself welcomes you with a perfectly balanced blend of old world charm and contemporary comforts. Each room is more beautiful than the next and yet you feel completely at home even amongst the delightful decorations and antiques. This is a home designed for comfort and we could happily have spent our whole vacation sitting out on the veranda, drinking in the view. It doesn't end there though, for the Keeper of this Inn, Nina Bradbury, is every bit as delightful and welcoming as Wintersun. After only a few days, we all felt like fast friends and were even fortunate enough on our last day to meet the handsome and talented Colin; chef extraordinaire! Oh my goodness, I never knew breakfast could be that good! Nina and Colin are truly an unbeatable pair and I only wish my husband and I lived close enough to really get to know them. Who knows, maybe one day we will, for we were so impressed that we are thinking of moving to the area. Try the Inn at Wintersun; I promise you will find Magic there!
4,8 sur septembre 18, 2012
As a busy executive, it's important that I am able operate in a productive yet fun and peaceful environment. My recent stay at The Inn at Wintersun was amazing on every front. The rooms were impeccable, the food outstanding and OH MY GOD the grounds and the views were spectacular! The team that Ms Bradbury has assembled did an excellent job all week long. Frankly, I plan to return with my family and we will also consider using the Inn at Wntersun for a few corporate events. My rating is A+++++++ EJW
5 sur septembre 12, 2012
The Inn at Wintersun is an extraordinary place. The property and the Inn itself form an oasis in nature's beauty. We celecrbrated our wedding anniversary last weekend. Nina, our innkeepers, and Colin, our chef, made the weekend a very special time. Oh, one should not forget Ray's tireless efforts in partnership with Nina. If you want a quiet place with elegant but comfortable appointments with an attentive team to meet your needs, we recommend Nina, Ray and Colin at the Inn at Wintersun.


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Ankara's Political Self-Blockade
Whenever Turkish geopolitics and the current global situation are discussed, the role of Turkey as a bridge between East and West is always mentioned.
The fact that Turkey has two faces – one looking west and the other looking east – is seen as being good for global and regional stability. Turkey is often said to have the task of creating a synthesis between East and West.
Strategic importance since the end of the Cold War
But it must not be forgotten that this bridging function is the result of a specific historical development – a specific competitive situation. The end of the Cold War did not lead to a reduction in Turkey's significance, as was thought at the time within some circles in Turkey. On the contrary, it boosted the country's international significance.
Turkey is no longer just a country on the south-eastern tip of NATO as it was during the Cold War. It has become one of the most strategically important countries in the world. The American political strategist Richard Holbrooke summarised Turkey's new role by saying that Turkey now has the importance which Germany had during the Cold War.
But the political chances offered by this bridging function are not being exploited. It is true that the idea that Turkey could create a synthesis or become a bridge between East and West is present as a slogan, or at least an issue, throughout the wide varieties of Turkish self-images, from that of Orhan Pamuk to that of Tayyıp Erdoğan. However, it is not turned into a reality.
Holding on to the status quo
The Iraq war resulted in the spread throughout the Middle East of a political climate dominated by violence. New dynamics have been created, and some believe that a Pandora's Box has been opened. One will have to wait and see how the Middle East will develop in the future.
But Turkey is finding that its traditional foreign policy is making it very difficult for it to adjust to the changes in the region. Its primary aim is to maintain the status quo, or, to put it another way, its political assumptions lead it to work towards regional stability, and the Middle East is viewed primarily from the point of view of security.
The Arab states make up one element of the Middle East. They are led by Sunnis who want to block the political advance of the Iran-Syria axis, and especially the expansion of Iranian influence.
The interests of these Arab states coincide with those of the West, and especially with those of the USA, even if this is never openly stated. In addition, there's the continuing conflagration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
All this has resulted in a strengthening of Islamist tendencies in the region, while respect for the West, and particularly the USA, has been significantly declining among wide swathes of the population, with a consequent loss of influence.
The Turkey as a participant in the Kurdish conflict
In this highly interdependent series of regional conflicts – from the struggle between Sunni and Shia in Iraq to the Middle East conflict, taking in Iranian nuclear ambitions on the way – where does Turkey stand? One might be forgiven for seeing Turkey up a dead end.
For in spite of the fact that Turkey is aware that an all-embracing solution for the region's conflicts must be developed, it does not behave itself as a regional power, but as a participant in a smaller conflict: that with the Kurds.
Whatever Turkey claims, its Iraq policy is solely concerned with the Iraqi Kurds. Turkey's oft-stated support for "Iraqi national unity" is primarily an expression of its desire to prevent Iraqi Kurdish independence.
Initially, Turkey rejected the term "federal Iraq," but it has been forced to accept it. But it is questionable whether Turkey would accept or is ready for an independent Kurdish political entity on its border.
It is already clear that the Kurdish problem has an influence on Turkey's relations with the whole of the Middle East and even on its relationship with the USA. Since March 1st, 2003, shortly after the beginning of the US attack on Iraq, when the Turkish parliament threw out a government decree which would have allowed Turkish military cooperation with the USA in the Iraq war, relations between Turkey and the USA have been tense.
Self-blockade in the Middle East
The wave of anti-Americanism which swept Turkey then was largely the result of a widespread feeling that the US was supporting the Kurds.
Turkey shares its refusal to countenance an independent Kurdish state with Iran and Syria, and that has led the three countries to develop closer relations. But this development has led Turkey into a "self-blockade" in Middle Eastern policy. It means, for example, that Turkey is unable to line up firmly on the side of the West when it comes to stopping the Iranian nuclear programme.
In the case of Syria, which has allied with Iran and Hezbollah in trying to weaken the legitimate government of Lebanon, the Turkish government also finds itself unable to take a clear position together with the West and other Arab countries.
As a result of these foreign policy interests, Turkey finds itself unable to fight at its real weight, let alone act as a bridge in the Middle East, however much this may be politically desired and publicly proclaimed.
Position of weakness
Although Turkey has had stable relations with both Israel and the Palestinians for many years, it is unable to play a mediating role in the conflict between them. With the "Middle East Quartet," made up of the USA, the EU, the United Nations and Russia, having failed with its "roadmap," it seems unthinkable that Turkey will be able to be any more successful.
The country also has no means of intervening independently in the Palestinian conflict between the Western-oriented Fatah and the Hamas.
As long as Turkey remains a participant in one of the smaller conflicts in the Middle East and fails to change its traditional foreign policy, it will continue to play an insignificant role.
During the twentieth century it was the international conditions, defined by the East-West conflict between the Soviet bloc and NATO, which prevented Turkey from taking a role as a bridge between the Middle East and the West.
These conditions do not apply in the twenty-first century. Now it is Turkish inability to move on from an outdated Middle East policy which is preventing it from taking on this role.
And it must also be emphasised that Turkey's importance, its "apparent activity" in the Middle East is a consequence of its policy towards Europe. Regional actors consider Turkey to be a politically interesting model on account of its links to the EU.
In that sense, the significance of Turkey and its potential to take on a bridging function between West and East depends very largely on the outcome of its negotiations with the EU over accession.
Cengiz Çandar
© Qantara.de 2007
Translated from the German by Michael Lawton
Turkey between Europe and the Islamic World
Reciprocal Influences, Convoluted Relations
The rapprochement of Turkey with the EU could have positive repercussions on European relations with the Arab-Islamic world, says Lebanese expert on Turkish Studies Muhammad Noureddine
Islamism among Turkish Kurds
Growing Influence of the Hezbollah
A new political movement is making headlines in the Kurdish region of southeastern Turkey – the Islamist Hezbollah. Organized in small groups and modeled after the Palestinian Hamas movement, it is primarily active in ghettos where refugees live. Amalia van Gent reports
Nationalism over Reason
Turkey Fails Again on the Kurdish Issue
In response to the clashes between Kurds and police, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan poured oil on the fire when he gave security forces permission to act against Kurdish women and children. A commentary by Baha Güngör


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text: DETROIT (AP) — In a story Dec. 15, The Associated Press reported that Tom Monaghan, a founder of Domino's Pizza, was suing the federal government over mandatory contraception coverage in the federal health care law. The story should have made clear that Monaghan sold most of his controlling stake in Domino's in 1998 to the private equity company Bain Capital. Domino's now is a publically traded company.


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This is an official record of a debt paid in Hatfield, Massachusetts, on June 3, 1784. John Williams, Simeon Harvey and Joseph Stebbins of Deerfield, Massachusetts, paid 10,150 pounds in old Continental Bills to Cornelius Jones, of Hatfield, to satisfy a debt.
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Looking for a dessert to serve at your next party? This delicious cake, featuring the unbeatable flavor combination of peanut butter and chocolate, serves 24 so it's the perfect choice.
Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.


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EU referendum: The problem with polls and what it means for markets
With a week to go until the UK's referendum on its EU membership, Marcus Brookes looks at what the polls are saying and whether to believe them, and what the vote will mean for various markets.
16 June 2016
As the vote approaches, financial markets are becoming more interested in it, indeed some sterling assets have already started to react to polling data.
A consensus view had been set in financial markets:
• Polling data is unreliable
• Betting exchange data is more insightful
Polling data had proved inaccurate in the past (the Scottish Independence referendum for example), so the small difference between apparent "Bremain" and "Brexit" (henceforth referred to as Stay and Leave) was largely dismissed as irrelevant.
The betting exchanges showing a strong Stay win have been believed to be the better signal to the likely outcome. We have always suspected that this was wishful thinking, after all the polling data seems to suggest that City workers overwhelmingly support Stay, so it might be they found the evidence that supported their own view (known as confirmation bias) choosing the betting exchange view over the polls. Recent data seems to suggest that the polling data might prove to be a better guide this time.
It has been recently observable that polling data is able to influence the odds offered at the betting exchanges. As at June 15 the FT Poll of Polls polling data put the vote at 47% Leave v 44% Remain, which is not what the consensus had thought could happen.
Bloomberg has a Composite EU Referendum Poll Tracker which has the split at 46% Leave and 41.8% remain. The chart is reproduced below and shows the ascent of the grey line (Leave), which appears to be the result of the "don't knows" realising that they do know after all (i.e. making their minds up).
Bloomberg's EU referendum poll tracker
Source: Bloomberg 16 June 2016
So what have we learned so far?
The Leave party got off to a flying start, sidelining UK Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage and Respect Party Leader George Galloway (of Grassroots Out) and allowing the more moderate Conservative MPs Michael Gove and Chris Grayling to take the centre stage. But the real coup de grâce was to persuade the former Mayor of London Boris Johnson to join.
David Cameron has managed to turn the Stay argument into a scare story of what might happen should we all vote to leave (this has been dubbed "Project Fear"). There has been widespread criticism of the Project Fear approach, but it does seem to be resonating with some sections of the voting population. A similar tactic was used in Scotland to great effect. There seems to be a widely held view that the Prime Minister David Cameron has not lead the campaign very well, to the extent that there are plenty of rumours regarding his immediate future; after all he has already stated that he would not stay the whole term.
Disappointingly for him, the Chancellor George Osborne has fared no better, so post the referendum the political risk in markets will turn to a Conservative Civil War irrespective of the final outcome. This will be enabled as the Opposition are, themselves, divided so there is no one to keep the Conservative Party in check.
Implications for markets
Currency: A consensus emerged in the currency markets that sterling would be weak due to worries about the possibility of the Leave campaign working.
This view was too simplistic for us, particularly as sterling had been $1.58 in June 2015 and stood at $1.38 in March 2016, so substantial weakening had already happened months ahead of the date of the vote. At the time of writing, sterling is at $1.41, not what the consensus would have had us believe.
Furthermore, Bloomberg gives us access to data relating to the volatility of sterling relative to the euro, which has recently been above the level seen just before the Scottish Independence Vote, when the SNP seemed to be winning the argument.
Fixed income: Again, a consensus had been built that a Leave vote would be bad for UK government debt (foreigners less willing to finance UK deficits) and corporate debt (recession fears would undermine confidence in default rates).
It is interesting to observe that as the Leave campaign has had some success (in the polls and more moderately in the betting exchanges) 10-year gilt yields have come down from circa 1.5% to sit at 1.11% today, not what the consensus would have predicted. It could be that domestic investors have reduced their exposure to higher risk domestic assets (UK equities, UK property etc.) to hide in relatively secure UK government debt. This could imply that the move following a Remain vote could be pretty painful for UK gilts, which had stood at just under 2% at the beginning of the year, so yields have a long way to rise to get back there (creating attendant capital losses).
Whatever the outcome of the vote, 1.11% is not a yield that looks remotely sensible given our current views; we would have to subscribe to Project Fear's doom and gloom predictions to believe that this offers value (in other words disinflationary bust in the UK economy, in which case equities are the bigger risk).
Equities: The consensus believed that UK listed companies with high levels of UK revenue would be under threat. It is hard to disentangle the UK stockmarket from broader global trends, but a case could be built that FTSE 250 and FTSE Small Cap weakness year-to-date has been in part due to their greater exposure to UK domestic companies. Year-to-date though, the FTSE 250 (-5.0%) and Small Cap ex IT (-1.7%) indices are not that far behind FTSE 100 (-1.7%), but the year began with a pretty decent selloff led by the FTSE 250 index (-11.4%) and from February 12th the FTSE 250 (+7.2%) has been in line with the FTSE 100 (+7.1%). The FTSE 100 benefits from having internationally-exposed companies, particularly commodity-related companies that have done well recently, but that factor can be observed globally, not just in the UK, so it would be expected that this area should outperform in the rebound in markets.
The FT did a survey of strategists/investors (May 11th Brexit Trades: Anticipating the markets if Britain votes to leave) which came to the conclusion that banks, retailers and construction would be sectors that would struggle in the event of a Leave vote. These are areas that (year to date) have already weakened with:
FTSE All-share Banks (-17.5%)
FTSE All-share Retailers (-12.8%)
FTSE All-share (-3.4%)
Perhaps both of these sectors now have a good deal of pessimism already priced in, meaning again that the better risk/reward might be to add to this area. Worryingly though, it is just as plausible that this observed weakness is a signal of a more serious UK economic slowdown that is emerging irrespective of the EU vote.
It feels like this has been a subject of discussion for many months now, and like most of the UK we have found it a pretty uninspiring period, with poor arguments presented by both sides. We now find ourselves in the period where it gets interesting, which means financial markets will suddenly react more frequently and violently to data.
A vote to Leave would appear to create the opportunity for the biggest dislocations in financial assets, but our observation is that many of the consensus victims have already been quite weak. Clearly they can weaken further, which needs to remain under consideration.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
Heat a medium nonstick or well seasoned cast iron skillet over medium to medium-low heat. With a sharp knife or box grater, slice the potatoes as thinly as possible. Pat the potato slices dry on a kitchen towel. Start to arrange 1 layer of overlapping potato slices over the bottom of the pan in concentric circles. Pour the clear liquid of the butter over the sliced potatoes, leaving the milky solids on the bottom of the saucepan. Repeat 2 more times, making 3 layers. Drizzle each layer with a bit of the butter and season the layers, alternating salt, pepper, and then nutmeg. Cook on low heat until potatoes are golden on the bottom and crisp around the outside, about 25 to 30 minutes. Shake the pan back and forth several times while cooking to keep from sticking.
Pour off any excess butter into a small bowl and reserve. Place a flat pan lid, the diameter of the skillet, over the potatoes. Holding the lid firmly in place, gently flip over. Add the reserved butter to the pan and slide the potatoes back in. Put the skillet in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Shake the pan back and forth several times while cooking to keep the potatoes from sticking. The bottom should be browned and crisp and the potatoes cooked through. Pour off any fat remaining in the pan and slide the potato cake onto a serving dish. Slice into wedges, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
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Annika von Hausswolff's Experimental Photographs Visualize the Subconscious
Artsy Editorial
Existing as both material and encounter, Annika von Hausswolff's photographs reflect on a range of subjects: the metaphysical reality of lone objects; the leftovers of vacant spaces, such as a derelict swimming pool or an abandoned office block, pieced together in photo grids or montages; and typologies of architecture and structure. Where bodies are involved, her images are staged and performative; her early series "Back to Nature" (1993) was inspired by crime scene photography. Such work poses questions regarding power and body image in ways that confront viewers' preconceptions.
Swedish, b. 1967, Göteborg, Sweden, based in Stockholm, Sweden