text:
- Font:
- +
- -
Guests: Mark Penn, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ron Reagan, John Heilemann
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: So how does Obama beat Romney?
Let`s play HARDBALL.
Good evening. I`m Chris Matthews in Washington. Leading off tonight:
Beating Mitt. First it was Donald Trump, then Michele Bachmann, and then
Rick Perry. Now it`s Herman Cain who`s leading in the polls as the darling
of the right. But the one constant has been Mitt Romney hanging around as
(ph) the Republicans, Mr. Right now, if not, it`s (ph) Mr. Right. Romney
clobbers President Obama in our new poll in New Hampshire and is neck and
neck with him in Iowa, two states Obama won in 2008.
If Obama`s going to beat Romney and win reelection to his second term
in these very challenging times, he can`t totally blame Bush. He can`t
focus on the past. He`s going to have to make a case for the future. Can
he do it? That`s where we start tonight.
Plus, we`ve been talking about it for days here on HARDBALL, and now
it`s gone mainstream. Can the Democrats embrace the Occupy Wall Street
protesters? Should they? If they jump in, as one person pointed out, what
happens if the protesters start throwing garbage cans through the windows,
or worse?
Also, the president`s jobs bill. We know it won`t get 60 votes
tonight to overcome a filibuster. The question is, will it get enough
Democratic votes to avoid embarrassment for President Obama? Will he get,
say, 50?
And a story right out of Robert Ludlum novels. Federal authorities
say they`ve foiled a plot by men linked to the Iranian government to use
Mexican drug cartels to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. and to bomb
the Saudi embassy here in town. We`ve got some fascinating details on that
story that just broke.
And "Let Me Finish" tonight with the case for a really big jobs bill.
We start with how President Obama can beat Mitt Romney. We`re going
to ask the question. Michael Steele`s the former chairman of the
Republican National Committee and now an MSNBC political analyst. And Mark
Penn is a Democratic strategist and a former Hillary Clinton campaign
Mark, Hillary`s not running this time, I don`t think. President Obama
is running for reelection. He has to make the case for a second term. He
has to probably -- we`re just going to propose this now -- beat Mitt
Romney, the way it looks right now. Romney`s got some great numbers.
Let me show you why we`re proposing that, just came in from the new
NBC News and the Marist poll up in Iowa and in New Hampshire. In the Iowa
caucuses, Mitt Romney leads among Republicans, but Herman Cain is right
behind him. Ron Paul and Rick Perry are both well behind -- well behind
In the New Hampshire primary, Republicans overwhelmingly now go for
Mitt Romney. More than 30 points behind him are both Herman Cain and Ron
Paul, with Rick Perry down to fourth place up there.
By the way, in head-to-head matchups -- and that`s what we`re going to
talk about right now, a possible head-to-head matchup, in fact, a probable
one now between President Obama and Mitt Romney -- the president narrowly
defeats Mitt Romney in Iowa by just 3 points, while Mitt Romney beats the
president in New Hampshire by a pretty impressive 9 points, 49 to 40.
So given all that, we`re just proposing tonight it`s time for the
president`s -- because I know the people in the White House, as you know,
are thinking about this. How do they beat Mitt Romney?
MARK PENN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, you know that they`ve got to
occupy the center. The problem with Mitt Romney is that he is the most
centrist possible Republican candidate, and the conservatives are
fragmented. So that means there are two things. Is Mitt Romney a
conservative or is he a centrist? I think the president`s got to push him
to the right. It`s got to use Mitt Romney`s primary answers to show that
Romney, the old Romney, might have been in the center, the new Romney is to
the right. The president is mainstream. Give him a chance. His policies
will work.
MATTHEWS: So say he`s not good on immigration, he`s not good on
abortion rights, he`s not good on all the issues where the center tends to
be more in the center. Put him over on the right.
PENN: Put him on -- over the right so that he can`t have access to
the women voters, to the Latino voters, the kinds of voters that make up
not just the Democratic base but that go beyond the base into the center.
MATTHEWS: Michael Steele, former RNC chair, what happens if you see
the Republicans doing -- I`m sorry, the Democrats doing that, beginning to
craft Mitt Romney as a right-winger, as basically a Rick Perry?
MICHAEL STEELE, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I mean, I think that
there are -- there are a couple dangers in there for the left in doing
that. Number one is that as 2010 showed us, that there are a lot more
people who tend to hew more to the center-right of the spectrum politically
and will support conservative candidates. And Romney, I think, can stake
that ground out very comfortably, particularly after the nation sees him go
through this primary process.
MATTHEWS: So you`re saying that their strategy, if it becomes the
strategy, to jam him over on the right, isn`t going to hurt him?
STEELE: It`s not going to hurt him that much. No. I think it`s
probably ultimately an OK place for him to be, as this cycle has shown
itself over the last, you know, seven, eight, nine months.
PENN: Well, look, I think that, also, is it a Massachusetts miracle
or a Massachusetts mess that Romney created? You`ve got to go after his
record as governor. You`ve got to go after his record with big business,
favoring big business. And you`ve got to show on the social issues and the
issues of values, he`s to the right. It`s a three-part strategy.
STEELE: But the problem that the Obama team has is the last three
years. And so--
MATTHEWS: OK, let`s stay off--
STEELE: No, but I`m just saying--
MATTHEWS: That`s the counterargument. But I want to -- what do they
do if they make this guy on the right? Suppose they make him Gordon Gekko?
Suppose they say, He`s one of the pigs on Wall Street, one of the big
investment bankers, one of the equity people, who`s been making tons of
money through lobbying in Washington and keeping their taxes from having to
be paid--
STEELE: Bring it on.
MATTHEWS: Suppose he portrays him as a bad--
STEELE: Bring it on because then that clarifies and lays on the table
what we`ve been saying, that the Obama administration and the Democrats
have been nothing more than class warfare. So it etches -- it puts it up
to that level. If you`re going to look at a Romney and you`re going to
look at his success and what he`s done -- he`s not -- he was not part of
the debacle over the last five years or the last two years--
MATTHEWS: You think the public likes the people that brought us
through financial hell--
STEELE: But that`s the--
MATTHEWS: -- in `07, `09?
STEELE: You`re saying that`s Romney? Are you equating Romney to
that? Is that what you`re saying? Because if that`s what you`re saying,
bring it on because everyone knows that`s a lie.
MATTHEWS: They know he`s a big business equity guy,
STEELE: He`s a business guy who`s--
STEELE: -- not been in that business the last three years when all
MATTHEWS: Your argument?
PENN: You`ve got to defeat the three parts, that he`s moved to the
right, that he`s big business, that his record`s not as good as it
STEELE: And I say bring it on and let`s have fun doing that, and
we`ll win on that. We`ll win on Obama`s record against that argument.
PENN: Those are -- those are--
MATTHEWS: Do you think the public is rooting for the people
protesting in Wall Street or Wall Street?
STEELE: I think the republic right now is rooting for itself. And
the protests--
MATTHEWS: OK, well, I`m asking if they have to choose between a
MATTHEWS: -- a Gekko type and a regular person.
STEELE: No. Well, you know, first off, I don`t accept your analogy
that Romney and Gekko are one and the same. So let`s take that aside.
MATTHEWS: So greed`s not good?
STEELE: That has nothing -- Romney has not--
MATTHEWS: You`re saying--
MATTHEWS: Will you say greed`s not good?
STEELE: I`m not -- what I`m saying is, Chris, what you`re trying to
do is disingenuous.
MATTHEWS: (INAUDIBLE) strategy.
PENN: There`s frustration throughout the country.
STEELE: But if Romney is beating Obama by 9 points in New Hampshire,
clearly, that`s not reflected in the voters` attitude.
PENN: Yes, but Romney`s not well known. They don`t really know much
about Romney--
STEELE: Romney`s not well known? He`s been running for president for
five years!
PENN: He`s been keeping out of the controversy. I think the voters--
STEELE: If this is the strategy, bring it on!
PENN: -- they will say, Where`s the record? They`ll say he`s big
business. And they`ll say, Hey, we liked you when you were to the center,
but not when you move--
MATTHEWS: Let me -- let me--
MATTHEWS: -- go through some stats here to firm up -- in fact, I don`t
think it needs firming up. Every poll that`s taken by every legitimate
organization shows that the American people believe our tax system is
totally unfair. They believe the rich should pay a higher percentage.
The reason the Democrats are going after millionaires plus is because
that`s a very popular position to take. You say it`s not popular. You say
it`s fine. You think the millionaires would win the argument against the
regular people.
STEELE: Oh, I`m not--
MATTHEWS: That`s what you`re saying right here!
STEELE: Chris, no, that`s not what I`m saying! That`s what you`re
saying I`m saying--
MATTHEWS: He`s a plutocrat--
STEELE: Listen to my words and don`t reinterpret them!
MATTHEWS: You were saying--
MATTHEWS: -- go over to the right, and it`s OK.
STEELE: What I`m very clearly saying is, if the strategy is as you
set it up--
MATTHEWS: He set it up.
STEELE: -- as you set it up, then that`s a great argument for us to
have. And I think the American people, as they`ve shown since 2010, are
more inclined to not disabuse themselves or dismiss a Mitt Romney just
because you, Chris, says--
MATTHEWS: It doesn`t matter. You`re basically saying -- let me
clarify definitions. Because you shock me, Michael, because you say it
doesn`t matter whether you run Rick Perry or Romney, as long as you`re on
the right, you`re right where it belongs.
STEELE: That`s -- no, I`m not saying that!
MATTHEWS: You said that!
STEELE: No, I did not say -- I`m addressing your supposition that if
Romney is running, that he`s going to -- as Mark said, we`re going to force
him to the right. And I`m saying that`s not necessarily a bad place to be-
PENN: Force him? The Republican Party is moving to the right.
MATTHEWS: -- saying not necessarily.
STEELE: No, that`s what I just said!
MATTHEWS: A minute ago, you said it was fine.
STEELE: It`s the same thing. It`s OK.
MATTHEWS: OK, let me take a look at how the Republican field is
shaking (ph) up right now, and the reason we`re talking about Romney right
now, how it shifts. Remember the familiar sight of front-runners Mitt
Romney and Rick Perry sparring in the center of the pack in those fall
debates beforehand?
Well, tonight Rick Perry has been upstaged. In perhaps one of the
truest signs of his surge in the polls, Herman Cain will be standing there
next to Mitt Romney in the center. And the people who organize these polls
(SIC) say they don`t do it -- these debates -- but they do it. They put
the front-runners in the middle. And you can see the full seating
arrangement in this chart. So you see Herman Cain there in the center, or
I guess the left over there at the top, and Romney on the right at the top.
Are they the two front-runners in your party right now?
STEELE: Who`s that?
MATTHEWS: Is Romney ahead, or is Cain really a threat to him?
STEELE: No, I think Romney`s ahead, and I think Cain is in the hunt,
if you will. Perry`s still a gamer. And then, of course, you still have
someone like a Rick Santorum and--
MATTHEWS: OK, but Romney has positioned the fact -- isn`t Romney
responsible for Herman Cain winning that straw vote in Florida? We`re
reading that he -- you`re laughing because he put him -- he got his people
to push him so he`d be his alternative.
STEELE: Well, maybe that`s true. You have to ask those guys--
MATTHEWS: Is he using Herman Cain as a tackling dummy?
STEELE: No (INAUDIBLE) tackling dummy. I think he sees him as
someone who he can work with, should this thing progress and he becomes the
nominee, and you`re looking at a Romney/Cain ticket.
MATTHEWS: Let me set up the guy for you. Here`s yesterday, Romney
touting his business credentials and his service as Massachusetts governor,
but he was also quick to say nice things about Herman Cain. Here he is
setting up his favorite sparring partner, whom he clearly sees as -- not as
a threat. Let`s listen.
MITT ROMNEY (R-MA), FMR. GOV., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was able to
find ways to use my skills in a public sector setting. And that`s probably
something if I were Herman, I`d say, I wish I had that, too, because you
don`t want to necessarily learn that for the first time as the president of
the United States. He`s a great guy. Vote for either one of us, and
you`ll be happy.
MATTHEWS: Isn`t that amazing language? He was able to use his skills
in a public setting, a public -- in other words, he was governor of
Massachusetts, and he`s acting like -- don`t blame me for being in the
government -- a public setting.
PENN: Look, it`s very clear what`s happening, Cain surging, Perry
collapsing. Cain`s a conservative with some economic credentials. The
conservative vote is being split. It`s allowing Romney, because Chris
Christie didn`t get in, to run away with the moderate Republican vote.
That`s what`s happening.
STEELE: And to run away with what Chris Christie brings to the table,
as well, with this announcement today, that that grass roots activism, that
sort of Tea Party effect, I think Romney right now is the tortoise that`s
looking at the finish line and feeling pretty good about it.
MATTHEWS: I still think there`s a problem in your party, and I think
it`s been addressed by Mark, that in the end, the only way you win the
Republican nomination is rhetorically going to the right. You can`t win as
a centrist. And by the time he`s done--
STEELE: How do you win the Democrat nomination?
MATTHEWS: -- doing that--
STEELE: How--
MATTHEWS: -- Obama has him in the corner.
STEELE: Well, let me -- how did Barack beat Hillary? Hillary was
considered the conservative in that race.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
STEELE: So you know, she -- Obama spoke to the liberal wing of the
party. Why do you act like this is somehow some new political revelation--
MATTHEWS: Because McCain--
STEELE: -- newest thing in politics?
MATTHEWS: Because McCain was eight years too late to the fight,
that`s why. And you know it.
PENN: It`s not just the social issues. It`s the Republicans in
Congress are at 12, and Romney is backing the Republican congressional
PENN: -- which means he`s going to be out of step on the social issues
and then out of step on the economic issues.
STEELE: Yes, but it`s a whole different dynamic--
MATTHEWS: Let him finish his point.
MATTHEWS: You`re overwhelming this guy--
STEELE: I`m sorry!
MATTHEWS: -- with your verbosity here!
STEELE: No, no. But go ahead. Finish your point.
PENN: No. No, that`s it.
MATTHEWS: OK, thank you both, then. Thank you, Michael Steele, and
thank you, Mark Penn.
Coming up: Can the Democrats embrace the Occupy Wall Street protests
themselves? They could use the anti-Wall Street fervor, but they won`t
want to be associated perhaps with those protests should they get ugly.
And that`s their conundrum right now. They don`t know whether to join this
crowd or to watch for a while more.
You`re watching HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.
MATTHEWS: Build, baby, build. The White House singled out 14
projects around the country for expedited permitting and environmental
review, a move the administration says will help create jobs.
Topping the list, the big New York Tappan Zee Bridge, a deficient
bridge over the Hudson -- there it is -- just north of New York that was
built in the last 50 years, but is already older than that and needs to be
replaced. Sure like to know that when I drive over there.
Other projects include light rail in Los Angeles and Maryland,
highways in Utah, and airport improvements in Houston.
We`ll be right back.
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to HARDBALL.
The Occupy Wall Street protests began 25 days ago in a New York park,
but the anger has grown and the protests have spread across the country
now. Today, protesters in New York were hopping -- hoping to highlight how
much less the wealthy pay in taxes by carrying giant checks and protesting
at the homes of some of the Big Apple`s richest residents.
With the protests growing in number by the day, Democrats have merely
been expressing support for the groups in statements and letters like this
one from the Progressive Caucus. However, yesterday the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee sent an e-mail, asking its supporters to
sign this on-line petition to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street
protesters and to send a message to Republicans, who`ve been critical of
the movement.
If the Democrats are trying to join or lead this Occupy Wall Street
parade, it`s a strategy that comes with considerable risk, of course.
U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the chair of the
Democratic National Committee. She joins us now.
Congresswoman, thank you so much for joining -- are you, as a leader
of the party, still trying to figure out the cut of their jib up in New
York, whether it`s a group you want to get identified with or what? Where
are you with the protesters in New York and across the country now?
REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (FL), DNC CHAIR: No, I`m not still
trying to figure it out. As both a leader of my party and also as a
representative of my congressional district in south Florida, I think the
Occupy Wall Street movement represents a reflection of the callous
indifference that for years under Republican leadership in this country
really ignored the needs of the middle class, gave all the benefits and all
the advantages in the terms of a regulatory scheme in the financial
services industry to corporations and to Wall Street and to the wealthiest,
most fortunate Americans.
And this is the pushback. This is the point at which that middle
class folks say, No more, it`s time for some balance. And I think the
worst of it is reflected in Mitt Romney`s unbelievable -- within 24 hours,
saying two sides of the same coin, in one day going from calling these
protesters dangerous to being able to the next day say that he identified
with the 99 percent.
I haven`t ever seen anything that Mitt Romney`s done that`s shows a
sensitivity or an orientation towards the 99 percent of Americans who are
struggling to make sure that they can put food on the table and have some
balance in their lives economically.
MATTHEWS: Let me show you three top political leaders, allies of
yours, colleagues in the Democratic Party, extending their hands to the
protesters. Listen.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think people are
frustrated, and you know, the protesters are giving voice to a more broad-
based frustration about how our financial system works.
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The American
people do not think the system is fair or on the level. That is the core
of what you`re seeing on Wall Street.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: I support the message to
the establishment, whether it`s Wall Street or the political establishment
and the rest, that change has to happen. We cannot continue in a way that
does not -- that is not relevant to their lives. People are angry.
MATTHEWS: When do you believe, Congresswoman, that Democratic
officials will begin to meet with the people who are protesting, the way
that Republicans in the last election certainly met with Tea Partiers and
used them to get elected to control the Congress?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, I think many of my colleagues would be
willing to sit down and meet with them.
I know that I have not had requests in my congressional office to meet
with the Occupy Wall Street protesters in South Florida, but I would be
glad to meet with them. I agree that it is a reflection of the frustration
of the middle class and working families, who feel like the policy under
the Republicans gave -- put the wind at the backs of the wealthiest and
most fortunate, and that, thanks to President Obama, now we do have an
orientation and a pressing forward of trying to put some balance in there,
focus on the needs of consumers, add some weight to the scale on behalf of
And Occupy Wall Street protesters are pushing for that advocacy to
make sure that we can even the scales up. That`s what President Obama`s
doing on the policy side as well.
MATTHEWS: Well, can you list the things that you would do as a member
of Congress and a leader of the party that`s going to make them happy?
What are you doing to win the support? From what I understand, the people
in the streets are so alienated right now, so angry, they don`t like either
political party.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, for starters--
MATTHEWS: It`s not a place where President Obama, for example, could
go up and get a big -- a big applause from showing up, or he`d be there
now. How do you make them see you guys as the good guys?
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, for starters, we`re pushing to get Richard
Cordray, the president`s choice for the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau, to be approved by -- as his nominee by the United States Senate.
The Republicans are blocking that.
So continuing to advocate for the full implementation of the consumer
protections of the Wall Street reform legislation, that`s a way to help
address the concerns of Occupy Wall Street, but we have already
accomplished quite a bit, the credit card holders` bill of rights law that
passed and was signed into law by President Obama, that really makes sure
that credit card companies can`t jack up interest rates arbitrarily and
focuses on the needs of consumers that are credit card holders.
And there`s more that we should do. But we have got to balance the
scales here. The Republicans want to put all the weight on the side of the
wealthy, most fortunate Americans and corporate America. Mitt Romney even
said that corporations are people.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Democrats believe that people are people.
MATTHEWS: Well, well-said. Thank you much. Thank you for joining us
up in New Hampshire--
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.
MATTHEWS: -- scene of the somewhat-less-than-interesting debate, I
think, tonight, because I haven`t even figured out what channel it`s on.
MATTHEWS: Anyway, thank you, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, congresswoman
from Florida--
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you very much.
MATTHEWS: -- and chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Joining me now is the political commentator Ron Reagan, who is also
author of "My Father at 100."
Ron, what are your impulses when you watch those people up in New
York. I mean, we have gotten different pictures of them. Do you feel for
them? Do you think -- do you wish like, in the summer of `67, we all felt
we were all out in San Francisco? Is this something you wish you were a
part of?
RON REAGAN, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, actually, I can be part of
it myself if I just want to stroll a few blocks from here, because an
occupy Seattle movement started over the weekend. I think it`s at Fourth
and Pike here in Seattle. I just got back from overseas, so I haven`t had
a chance to go down there.
But the impression I get is -- and I think Joe Biden even mentioned
this in one of the clips you just played -- this is a movement that has a
broad-based anger.
And the challenge, it seems to me, for the Democratic Party, if they
want to somehow join the movement or co-opt the movement, or however you
want to put it, is that these folks are just as mad at them as they are at
the Republicans.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
REAGAN: The Republicans may be more egregiously in the hip pocket of
the Wall Streeters and the bankers, but the Democrats are too. There are
plenty of Democratic congressmen and senator who have staked their whole
careers on providing tax loopholes for the richest 1 percent.
They`re not the natural allies of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
MATTHEWS: And, by the way, let`s not forget the Democrats controlled
both houses of Congress and the White House numerous times in our
REAGAN: That`s right.
MATTHEWS: And they didn`t fix the tax system when they had all the
power in the world.
Let`s take a look at the "New York Times" reports today, reports that
some of your party, actually, the Democratic Party, are nervous about
getting involved with these protesters. Democrats are nervous.
Here`s Eric Lichtblau writing -- quote -- "They see the prospect of
protesters pushing the party dangerously to the left, just as the Tea Party
has often pushed Republicans farther to the right and made for intraparty
run-ins. Some officials in the party remain wary of their potential
impact, especially if the protests were to turn more disruptive or even
Do you sense there`s a downside for the Dems if this stuff gets more
rowdy, if you will, rougher up there and other places besides New York?
REAGAN: Well, yes.
Imagine -- imagine what would happen if people at these Occupy Wall
Street groups should start showing up with assault-style weapons and
talking about Second Amendment solutions. Yes, then I`m sure the roof
would come off, wouldn`t it?
REAGAN: But the problem for the Democrats isn`t that this might turn
violent. I suppose it could, but I don`t see any signs of that so far.
The problem is, again, that these people are angry at a system that
has been rigged by both parties to serve moneyed interests. The Democrats
have been complicit in that, just as the Republicans have been complicit in
Your question to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, what are you going to offer
these people, is exactly the question. What are the Democrats going to
offer these people? They going to throw some bankers in jail? Are they
going to close the loopholes for the richest 1 percent? I`m not so sure
that all the Democrats are on board with that.
MATTHEWS: Yes, I wonder if both parties aren`t hoping for colder
weather to come soon--
MATTHEWS: -- because then they can say, what a great demonstration of
happiness and how wonderful it`s over so we don`t have to worry about it
MATTHEWS: Anyway, thank you, Ron, as always, Ron Reagan. Thanks for
joining us tonight.
Up next: another awkward campaign moment, no surprise there, for Mitt
Romney. Catch the "Sideshow," where he`s getting a real home right now.
You`re watching HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.
MATTHEWS: Back to HARDBALL. Now for the "Sideshow."
First up: He may be the GOP front-runner, but Mitt Romney`s more
spontaneous attempts at humor are often more spontaneous than humorous.
And, yesterday, he gave us just one more instance to add to the list, when
he was joined by his wife, Ann , at a New Hampshire town hall. Let`s
ANN ROMNEY, WIFE OF MITT ROMNEY: I am -- I`m thrilled to let people
also know the other side of Mitt, which you might not all get to see, and
ROMNEY: Oh, dear.
MATTHEWS: "Oh, dear."
Is this the return of the Cleavers?
And speaking of Romney, remember a few weeks ago when he stood side by
side with former presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty? Well, it seemed like
Pawlenty`s endorsement meant that he had moved on from his White House
ambitions, his own, at least, but as it turns out, Pawlenty`s still stuck
on the what if.
Yesterday, Pawlenty pointed out that he regrets putting so much
campaign cash into his early campaign days in Iowa, saying -- quote -- "We
were out of money. To go forward, you have to have money. Hindsight`s
always 20/20."
And then, speaking about the decision to actually drop out of the
race, Pawlenty said -- quote -- "Based on what we knew at the time, we
thought it was the right call," to drop out.
Pawlenty also pointed out that he would have remained a contender if
he -- quote -- "knew then what I know now."
Well, isn`t this odd timing, don`t you think, given Pawlenty`s new job
as a national co-chair for Romney`s campaign, and he`s still talking about
what he could have done, would`ve, could`ve, should`ve?
And now for the "Big Number." There may be a total of eight
candidates in the GOP roundtable debate tonight, but in reality, the field
of candidates is a whole lot larger, on paper, anyway.
According to the FEC, the presidential findings are still coming in
and show no signs of slowing down. So what`s the all-inclusive tally of
2012 presidential candidates on the Republican side? Well, as of Friday,
239 people, and an overwhelming majority of them got their paperwork in
well before the ones we will see at tonight`s debate -- and on the 2012
ballot, for that matter, 239 candidates. Wow. They`re all running for
president. That`s tonight`s "Big Number."
Up next: President Obama`s jobs bill faces a big vote tonight. In
fact, it`s coming soon. And while it won`t pass, the big question is
whether enough Democrats will support the jobs bill to spare the president
You`re watching HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.
AMANDA DRURY, CNBC CORRESPONDENT: I`m Amanda Drury with your CNBC
"Market Wrap."
Stocks finishing mixed after bouncing around in a narrow range all
day, the Dow Jones industrial slipping 16 points, the S&P 500 adding half-
a-point, and the Nasdaq is up almost 17.
Well, let me start with some news out of Europe breaking just after
the closing bell, with Slovakia`s Parliament rejecting an expansion of the
European bailout fund in a first of two votes. They are the last of 17
E.U. nations that has to approve it. It is expected to pass on the second
Meanwhile, Eurozone inspectors gave tepid approval for another round
of aid for Greece in November, despite the fact that it has already missed
strict deficit targets. And Alcoa here in the United States kicking off
the earnings season with solid revenue, but weaker-than-expected profits.
Shares are moving lower in after-hours trade.
And Dollar Thrifty left at the altar by Hertz Global after a long, but
rocky takeover courtship. Dollar says it will continue on as a stand-alone
And that`s it from CNBC. We`re first in business worldwide. It`s now
back over to HARDBALL.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And, today, the Senate
of the United States has a chance to do something about jobs right now by
voting for the American Jobs Act. This is a moment of truth for the U.S.
MATTHEWS: A moment of truth for the U.S. Senate. Well said.
Welcome back to HARDBALL.
President Obama was in Pittsburgh today, as you saw, for a meeting of
his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, and he made sure to let voters
know there was a jobs bill vote today, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell described the jobs bill as a political stunt. Well, that`s what
he says. Let`s hear.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: Democrats have designed
this bill to fail. They have designed their own bill to fail, in the hopes
that anyone who votes against it will look bad for opposing a bill they
mistakenly refer to as a jobs bill.
MATTHEWS: Wow.
The upcoming procedural vote requires 60 votes to keep the jobs bill
alive. That looks mighty unlikely right now. But will the president get
enough Democrats to support his bill to save his face and to look strong?
Howard Fineman is editorial director of The Huffington Post Media
Group and an MSNBC political analyst. And John Heilemann is a national
affairs editor of the "New York" magazine.
You folks are both up there watching that Republican debate tonight.
But let me ask you about this vote.
Howard, it seems to me that based upon the latest tally, they could
get as many as 52 out of the 53 Democratic coalition. They could also get
less -- perhaps less than 50. We`re going to watch that and come back in
our second edition tonight of HARDBALL to give you the results of the votes
this evening, but how high are the stakes, sir?
HOWARD FINEMAN, NBC CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the stakes
are high and it`s no accident that this vote is happening today in parallel
with this Republican debate here at Dartmouth College, Chris, because in
talking to White House people, what the strategists there are telling me is
that they like the contrast.
They want to be able to say that this Congress down in Washington
isn`t just a do-nothing Congress, it`s a prevent-anything Congress, and
that Republicans in the Senate, in particular, are blocking this jobs bill
on the same night that Republicans are up here in New Hampshire claiming
they want to talk about how to create jobs in America.
That`s a contrast that the White House says it likes, even if they
don`t get every Democrat to vote for this bill.
MATTHEWS: OK, Heilemann, John, the question to you is how many votes
they need tonight. There`s 53 Democrats in the coalition, including two
independents. So, the question -- Lieberman, of course, and Bernie
Sanders, but that includes -- that`s 53. They have already lost Bill
Nelson -- or Ben Nelson, rather, of Nebraska.
They`re up to 52 possibles. Do they need at least 50 to say they won
tonight or what? What`s the number?
JOHN HEILEMANN, "NEW YORK": Chris, that sounds about right to me.
You know, look, I think, from the president`s standpoint, as you have
acknowledged and as we have talked about over the course of the last few
weeks, they have know that this bill was not going to pass. And as Howard
pointed out, what they want is the contrast with Republicans. It`s not
good for them to lose a lot of Democrats, because that allows it to no
longer be a party-line thing and they can`t paint Republicans as the only
obstacle to progress.
But, at the same time, the president`s going to end up running against
the do-nothing Congress. And that`s going to include some number of
Democrats. He`s going to run against them as much as he`s running against
Republicans. He`s going to have to -- he`s going to have to save his own
skin more than he is being a party leader as he goes forward towards
MATTHEWS: So let`s take a look. President Obama called on voters to
support his jobs bill and actually reprised that "Pass this bill" mantra.
Let`s listen.
OBAMA: Let Congress know who they work for. Remind them what`s at
stake when they cast their vote. Tell them that the time for gridlock and
games is over. The time for action is now. And tell them to pass this
If you want construction workers on the job, pass the bill. If you
want teachers back in the classrooms, pass the bill. If you want tax cuts
for your family and small business owners, pass this bill. If you want our
veterans to share in the opportunity that they upheld and they defended, do
the right thing. Pass this bill.
MATTHEWS: Howard, my big question to you both right now, is this big
enough? Is this big enough, this difference between Democrats and
Republicans, for the president to be able to say, with a $175 billion
infrastructure bill -- is he able to say, this is a turnaround proposal,
this is the difference between economic hell and economic heaven, this is
the good guys` position; the other guys are the bad guys?
FINEMAN: No, I don`t think the numbers are big enough, Chris, for
that kind of thing. He had his one shot at that in the original stimulus
bill, when he had more political clout. Some would argue that he didn`t go
big enough, but be that as it may -- no, I don`t think the numbers here are
what turn it.
He`s really making a sort of political and procedural argument, which
is that this Republican-controlled or at least Republican-frozen Congress
just won`t move at all. That they won`t listen to reason, that they`re on
another planet, politically, and in terms of economics. And no matter what
reasonable package he proposes, not the biggest in the world, but a
reasonable, decent package, as he describes it, they aren`t even willing to
consider. That`s what his argument is, not, as I said, not just do-nothing
Congress, but stop-anything Congress.
MATTHEWS: Same question to you, John. I`m looking at the violence --
not violence, the activity on the streets of New York. I hope it doesn`t
turn violent, the frenzy of passions at work in this country right now.
For everybody that`s on the street, there`s probably 1,000 people who have
that same kind of anxiety and anger about what`s going on.
Is this president meeting that zeitgeist, if you will, that feeling in
the country head-on, or is he doing it small bore?
HEILEMANN: I think he`s doing it small bore, Chris. And I think it`s
a mistake, for two reasons. You know, you have a goldilocks approach here,
what`s supposed to be a goldilocks approach, and you end up with a bill
that for people on the left, it`s not big enough. It`s not bold enough.
It actually won`t fix the problem.
And I think as a matter of substance, even if you pass this, no one
really believes that this would fix the problem with joblessness. And
among those who think that all stimulus is wasted government money, this
looks like another liberal boondoggle.
So, I`m not sure who this wins with. It doesn`t win with people who
want big spending. It doesn`t win with people who are skeptical of
spending. It ends up in the middle ground that doesn`t satisfy anyone.
MATTHEWS: Well, let`s take a look at Chuck Schumer, the senator from
New York, here he is with Chuck Todd on what happens after the bill doesn`t
get 60 votes. Of course, it always takes 60 to break a filibuster.
They`re just trying to get 50 to look good as Democrats.
Let`s listen.
CHUCK TODD, NBC NEWS: What is the plan after today? The whole bill
does not make it, doesn`t get to 60 votes. Then, it`s piecemeal?
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Yes.
TODD: You start doing it piece by piece?
SCHUMER: Piece by piece. I mean, each of these pieces has broad
support among the American people. As we draw the line on the specific
issues, I think you may find the kind of coming together that we`re not
going to find on the vote today.
MATTHEWS: So what`s going to get through if this doesn`t in terms of
pieces? Will we get a payroll tax cut for workers to make hiring workers
cheaper? Will we get an unemployment benefits extension, which they`ve
always fought? Will we get infrastructure?
What`s it going to be, Howard? What gets through after this?
FINEMAN: Well, I think payroll tax, probably. I think they`ve got to
do it, having cut it twice, they`ve got to do it again. Otherwise, you
know, we could be tipped back into a second recession, because of cuts and
consumer spending and consumer confidence.
That`s probably number one. After that, who knows? I don`t know what
else will get passed.
And the question you asked is the right one, Chris. This isn`t
something that is going to do much more than preserve the status quo --
extend unemployment benefits, continue a payroll tax cut. Yes, the
infrastructure piece is a big piece, but I seriously doubt that the
president`s going to have the muscle to get that through.
MATTHEWS: Yes, I wonder if this administration is the last one for
President Obama, will he look back and say -- I tried to do too much on
jobs, or I didn`t try enough. I think we`re getting to the answer.
Anyway, thank you, Howard Fineman. Thank you, John Heilemann.
Up next, we`ll be back with you in a second edition tonight at 7:00 to
talk about what happened on the Senate floor tonight and the jobs bill
fight. Great question tonight, coming up.
By the way, the administration busted up a terror plot by Iranian
agents today that would have targeted a Saudi ambassador to the United
States. This is really Robert Ludlum stuff. We`ll tell you what just
happened here in Washington. Big attempted assassination, it looks like.
This is HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.
MATTHEWS: Well, Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman is
denouncing those comments by Pastor Robert Jeffress that Mormonism is a
cult. Huntsman, who like Romney, is a member of the LDS Church says, "The
fact that, you know, some moron can stand up and make a comment like that,
you know, first of all, is outrageous. Second of all, the fact that we`re
spending so much time discussing it makes it worse."
Jeffress, a Perry supporter, called Mormonism a cult at the Value
Voters Summit Friday and did so again last night on HARDBALL.
We`ll be right back.
MATTHEWS: Welcome back.
FBI Director Robert Mueller today said it read like a Hollywood
script, an alleged Iranian plot to hire assassins from a Mexican drug
cartel to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador here in Washington. Two
men have been charged with the plot and one is a dual American/Iranian
citizen. The other man, who has not been apprehended, is a member of Quds
Force, Iran`s special operations unit.
There are still a lot of questions about this, not the least of which
is how high up in the Iranian government this plot goes.
To help us understand what`s going on, we`re joined by NBC national
investigative correspondent, Michael Isikoff, best in the business.
Michael, what do we know about this plot? It involved the restaurant
here in town, almost like a gangland style assassination attempt, like you
do in the mob days.
MICHAEL ISIKOFF, NBC NEWS: Look, the restaurant is something that was
the FBI informant`s suggestion. It was a fictional restaurant. There was
no real restaurant. And that`s one of the problems in sorting out this
case. Clearly, there was something real there. And this is a wild case,
you know, from the Mexican Zetas cartel to the, you know, Saudi ambassador,
the Iranian ambassador --
MATTHEWS: But the Iranian agents paid $1.5 million to knock off
ISIKOFF: Allegedly. Although, if you read the complaints closely,
it`s not clear that they were willing to put up $1.5 million for this, that
that was the suggestion of the informants. And as I was trying to say --
that`s one of the difficulties in sorting through this here.
What we know is this American Iranian in Corpus Christi, a used car
salesman, apparently, makes contact with a federal drug informant out of
Texas. And says he wants to plan an attack against the Saudi ambassador in
the United States. Now, in the original conversation, according to his
confession, all he talked about was a kidnapping the Saudi ambassador, Adel
At some point in the conversations with this informant, it becomes a
much more elaborate and deadly plan to bomb, to assassinate and carry out
other attacks.
MATTHEWS: How does the Iranian official from the Quds Force get
involved? That`s what interests me.
ISIKOFF: This guy, the chief suspect, the used car salesman, is
traveling back-and-forth between the United States and Iran and is
allegedly meeting with Quds Force commanders. And just late today, the
Treasury Department announced designations against some of those high level
Quds Force commanders who they say were coordinating the attack and
supervising, and it clearly go, according to the Treasury Department
announcement, high up in the Quds force. One of them had been previously
designated by the Treasury Department for plotting a mass attack on U.S.
soldiers in Iraq and had been previously designated. Another Quds force
command her been previously accused of human rights abuses in Syria,
suppression of protesters there.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
ISIKOFF: So, this clearly, according to the U.S. government
allegations, goes high up in the Quds Force. Now, does that mean that the
Iranian government itself --
MATTHEWS: What about the Iranian government itself and the Quds
ISIKOFF: There are a lot of factions in Iran. And --
MATTHEWS: But these are public officials who are getting paid.
ISIKOFF: These are clearly public officials, these are clearly people
who are in positions of responsibility in the Iranian government, but
what`s not clear is whether they were operating on their own, you know, for
instance, take an analogy, was this -- if this was the United States
government, was it a rogue operation by the Quds Force, or was it
sanctioned by the Islamic country?
MATTHEWS: Look, if we knock off or trying to knock off somebody
inside Iran who is an ally of Iran, that would be a huge international --
ISIKOFF: Of course, and it is.
MATTHEWS: And would make the biggest stink about that in the world,
at the U.N., right?
ISIKOFF: Absolutely.
MATTHEWS: So what are we going to do about it? In terms --
MATTHEWS: Will they just make it a criminal case?
ISIKOFF: Well, they have certainly made it a criminal case.
MATTHEWS: What about the government of Iran? Are we going to hold
them responsible as an enemy or just talk about a political -- rather, a
criminal investigation, that this is a Dick Tracy case in.
ISIKOFF: Look, we`ve been squeezing the government of Iran for some
time over their nuclear program. We`ve been imposing sanctions against the
government of Iran. You know, they have gone pretty far in what they think
they could do without provoking some sort of military conflict with the
Iranian government. I think this ratchets it up, but how far are they
going to take this? I don`t know. It`s going to be interesting to see.
MATTHEWS: When these two guys, one of them are go to court.
ISIKOFF: And he`s confessed.
MATTHEWS: And he will confess and he`s the one who nailed the other
guy, he`s fingered the other guy.
MATTHEWS: So, he`s already talking.
ISIKOFF: Right.
MATTHEWS: So, this could -- he will continue to talk, I assume, to
get his sentence down.
ISIKOFF: Right.
MATTHEWS: So they will continue to negotiate with this guy, a rough
looking customer. They`re going to bring him -- they`re going to bring him
into the old Dick Tracy interview room.
ISIKOFF: Right.
MATTHEWS: And they are going to get him to tell everything, right?
ISIKOFF: Right, and I think he already has told quite a bit. The
question is how much, if you read the complaint closely, it is not entirely
clear how much the Quds Force commanders who were supervising him and who
were running him were approving -- were directing to him and how much the
federal drug informants, they understand --
MATTHEWS: OK. Somebody shows up with a promise of $100,000 and a
down payment.
ISIKOFF: Yes.
MATTHEWS: Perhaps a longer promise of $100 million. Where`s that
money coming from? It comes from Iran.
ISIKOFF: It`s coming from the Iranian government. Right.
MATTHEWS: Well, follow the money.
ISIKOFF: Don`t get me wrong. There is something clearly here.
MATTHEWS: Yes.
ISIKOFF: There`s real meat here. I don`t think this is made up or
concocted. What I`m saying is there`s a lot of ambiguity --
ISIKOFF: -- about what exactly --
MATTHEWS: Remember how World War I started, assassination of an
official in a foreign country.
Thank you, Michael Isikoff.
When we return, "Let Me Finish" with a bold way to get the economy
moving again, and why I think we deserve to hear what President Obama
thinks about this bold plan. You`re watching HARDBALL, only on MSNBC.
MATTHEWS: "Let Me Finish" tonight with this: what to do. What to do
to save this economy of ours from another downturn, that new recession that
seems to be creeping our way. What would you do?
I`m not asking about ways to reduce the deficit or diminish the
overall national debt, nor do I want political flourishes gestures that
give joy to the left or the right. No, I`m asking about what we, the
people, can do that will avert another recession, that will act on the
economy in a way that cuts the unemployment rate, puts money in the pockets
of consumers and gets this country moving again, gets business investing in
products that have a market out there of American people who are able,
willing and stirred to spend money.
What would you do?
Today, a columnist for the "New York Times" offers us an answer. It`s
a prescription for meeting the great malady of the American economy:
unemployment -- or if you want to put it more brutally, the oversupply of
labor in this country.
Call it what you want, the simple fact is there are more people
looking for work here than there are people looking to put them to work.
Nobody has to be told that. It`s the condition we`re living in.
Part of the proposal suggests in "The Times" today is to create 5
million new jobs a year with a five to seven-year infrastructure program at
a cost of $1.2 trillion in government and private sector spending, but
mostly government spending. This drives us right to the point of decision,
doesn`t it?
You can support such a proposition which goes well beyond anything
President Obama is pushing, or you can oppose it, saying the government
ought to be cutting spending. I think the president ought to make it clear
where he stands, that even if he doesn`t have the votes right now to get it
passed. If he thinks this bigger program is called for, he ought to say
People ought to know where their leader wants them to be led, don`t
you think? Don`t we have a decent claim on knowing that our president
agrees with the need to do something this vital, this big, even if he can`t
get the votes for it?
Nothing would dramatize the ideal of a second Obama presidential
administration than him himself simply laying out where he would like to
take the country in meeting its imminent economic challenges -- 5 million
new jobs a year, or continued deflation, continued decline in investment,
consumption and overall economic activity. Get the country moving again or
stay the course that course that`s headed right now for the second
recession of this presidency.
And that`s HARDBALL for now. Thanks for being with us.
"POLITICS NATION" with Al Sharpton starts right now.
United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed,
transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written
permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark,
copyright or other notice from copies of the content.>


text:
Cadiz, Kentucky: Doug Freeman, Ham Man
Editor's note: Occasionally what looks at first glance to be a conventional guidebook transcends the genre in surprising ways. John T. Edge's Southern Belly is just such a read, which is why I'm pleased that he has allowed us to excerpt selected items from it on Serious Eats, where they appear every other week. —Ed Levine
But for the most part, we Southerners just knuckled under when the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared that unless a ham is cured in a USDA-inspected facility, it cannot be commercially transported across state lines or served in a restaurant. In other words, Trigg County ham producers like Doug Freeman and Charlie Bell Wadlington, Tennie Vanzant, and Kerry Fowler, who, like their fathers and grandfathers before them, put up hams the old-fashioned way, could no longer ship their product to customers in the Carolinas, much less California, nor could they sell their hams to the local café.
Never mind that nary a soul has ever fallen ill from ingesting a true country ham, while outbreaks of botulism seem to be rife in our nation's baloney and hot dog processing plants. "That's as poor a law as I've ever heard of," Freeman tells me when I stopped by his farm to pick up one of those teardrop-shaped beauties hanging in the back of his smokehouse. "I remember when I was a boy everybody up and down the road killed their own hogs. My father used to buy his groceries on credit and settled up with the store when he brought in those hams. Some years they even owed him money. My wife and I used to sell our hams to pay our fertilizer bill. Those days are gone."
Traditionally the cycle starts sometime around November, soon after cold weather sits in for good. After the hogs are butchered and the lard rendered, hams are trimmed of excess fat and submerged in a vat of salt with perhaps a little sugar added to the mix. There the hams rest for a period of two to five weeks before being wiped down and hung to cure.
Ask 20 folks what is best done next and you're likely to get 20 different answers. Some smoke their hams for a few days over smoldering hickory while others like Freeman add a bit of sassafras wood to the mix. Most agree that hams must go through what are called the summer sweats, wherein excess moisture not coaxed out by time spent in the salt trickles away during the infernal heat of summer.
Nearly a year passes before Freeman pulls his hams down from the rafters of the family smokehouse. Curing a country ham takes patience, but with the first bite you will soon resolve that it is worth any amount of money, any length of wait, for the meat is as sublime a treat as you are likely to ever sample: smoky, sweet, and bracingly salty if sliced and fried, salt-kissed and mellow if boiled.
And though you may curse the government regulations that are to blame for a decided drop in ham production by some of the old masters, there is an ancillary benefit to this unwarranted governmental intrusion: if you travel to Trigg County, you get to meet kind folks like Doug Freeman. Ask nicely, and he'll give you a lesson in carving that lovely hunk of hog flesh, so that you can avoid flecks of what Doug calls sawdust and you might recognize as bone dust. "A butcher with one of those saws will spray the ham with dust," says Doug. "But if you do it yourself and you're real careful, you can slice it up nice and clean."
Doug Freeman's Country Hams
605 New Hope Road, Cadiz KY 42211 (map) 502-522-8900
N.B.: Freeman is angling to retire any day now. If he can't take care of you, Colonel Bill at Newsom's Country Hams will.
Newsom's Country Hams
208 East Main Street, Princeton KY 42445 (map) 270-365-2482
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, March 7, 2011, 9:04 AM
Town Square
Marche restaurant in Menlo Park is closing
Original post made on Mar 7, 2011
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, March 7, 2011, 9:04 AM
Comments (14)
a resident of Woodside
on Mar 7, 2011 at 10:56 am
Howard, et al-
thanks for the wonderful food and ambience over the prior 9 years. Marche brought a very interesting and classy restaurant to downtown MP. You will be missed. Good luck in the next venture, what ever it is.
a resident of College Terrace
on Mar 7, 2011 at 10:56 am
Did the landlord offer to renew their lease? Or did the landlord just kick them out?
Evil landlords are one of the hardest parts of doing business in this area.
a resident of another community
on Mar 7, 2011 at 11:26 am
The downtown parking policy strikes again. Aggressively ticket customers and watch them go elsewhere.
This was a highly rated restaurant and one that would have drawn customers downtown, if not for the nasty nasty parking police. We reap what we sow.
Look for more of these announcements in the days to come, not by unsuccessful businesses, but the smart ones, that know they can succeed elsewhere, voting with their feet as penalized customers vote with their wallet.
I now look forward to the numerous non-business parking supporters to denigrate this restaurant at this site, and any business that does not choose to survive with one hand tied behind their back.
Business owners of downtown Menlo Park, rise up and let the city council know, that you will move if they do not ease up on their policy of hate and start showing the customers a little love. I vote daily with my wallet, and Menlo Park is too much of a hassle due to the Meter Maids. Another one bites the dust.
a resident of College Terrace
on Mar 7, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I think it will be really hard for the city to change their parking policy without building more parking lots. Are the businesses willing to pay for that?
a resident of Mountain View
on Mar 7, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Don't worry. All the business generated by BART, CalTrain and HSR will make up for lost businesses......
( My sarcasm for Menlo Park's NIMBY is quite heavy today )
a resident of Mountain View
on Mar 7, 2011 at 1:39 pm
P.S. Need any Coal Oil Lamps?
How about Buggy Whips?
I'm sure you can get these items in Menlo Park........
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Mar 7, 2011 at 8:26 pm
This is sad news. After Chez TJ the best restaurant in South Bay.
Somehow, I don't think this has to do anything with parking or rent, but rather a weird miss on the Michelin scale. To me Marche has always deserved a star, and a very strong one. For the 2nd one they needed a longer tasting menu, but for the 1st they certainly had everything. They certainly deserve it more then Madera (I don't dispute their quality), but Madera must have thrown a lot of money behind that star so quickly...
a resident of Menlo Park
on Mar 8, 2011 at 8:13 am
I never seem to have trouble parking in downtown Menlo Park. I don't know about the rent issue. There are however, several vacant storefronts in the area. So now the owners get to sit on an empty property for how long?? Seems like a bad time to raise the rent. Must be planning on selling.
a resident of another community
on Mar 8, 2011 at 9:41 am
I have never had a problem parking in downtown Menlo Park -- PARTICULARLY at dinner time.
The place is pretty dead, and I suspect THAT is the problem that faces stores and restaurants in the area.
I think the issue may be the LIMITED TIME allowed for parking, rather than availability.
a resident of another community
on Mar 8, 2011 at 10:32 am
I wasn't referring to the availability of parking or even to the 2 hour limit, which Palo Alto and many areas have instituted. Menlo Park is notorious for having over aggressive Parking Patrols that they use to supplement their budget. This all-out-attack on customers is insane and has made Menlo Park a No-Go-zone for many of us.
I have never received a ticket there, but I also never linger, and would think twice before having a meal there. I don't go there as often anymore after all the horror stories from friends who did get parking tickets, mere minutes after the limit, and after spending their hard earned cash there. None of them will ever go back, get their hair done there or make reservations for a large group of people to meet and have dinner there.
Downtown Menlo Park is not customer friendly. The business owners know this and here this from their customers have complained, numerous customers have complained to the city council, which just loves that ticket revenue, not understanding how short sighted the policy is. Just look at the illegal red light cameras they installed at intersections without any safety and fatality justifications, soles to raise revenue. The red light policy was illegal and a tremendous failure, a supposed safety act under the guise of revenue generation, just as the over zealous parking policy enforcement is supposed to turn over parking spots, but is really another revenue generator that kills business downtown. More and more owners are voting with their feet. If you are in a wonderful location, and the rent gets raised, you pay it. If not, you go.
There are no bottomless wells, and Menlo Park is starting to come up dry.
a resident of College Terrace
on Mar 8, 2011 at 10:35 am
Do the parking limits even apply at dinner time, when the restaurant does most of its business? Most cities end their parking limits at 5pm or 6pm.
Daytime parking limits are to prevent all-day office workers from stealing all the customer parking spaces.
a resident of East Palo Alto
on Mar 8, 2011 at 11:55 am
No, parking limits don't apply at dinner in MP. I suspect it's bad landlord, plus economy plus limited menu limits appeal, even though it's an excellent restaurant. Given how many restaurants fail, how high their overhead is & these still difficult economic times, I'm not surprised, but I am sorry. There are a number of notoriously bad MP commercial landlords - I had one & heard many stories when I was in downtown.
a resident of Menlo Park
on Mar 8, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Marche is an outstanding restaurant with an amazing chef and great staff. What a loss for Menlo Park! At the rate the place is losing businesses, it looks like it's turning into a spooky ghost town, and I'm worried that we will be soon discussing safety, not parking.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 9, 2011 at 6:50 pm
There is another thread on The Almanac town forum. The Marche chef has written a response (page down to end). He specifically says that the landlord and/or rent had nothing to do with the failure. He put it very precisely: not enough customers.
Don't miss out
on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.
Post a comment
Get important election coverage sent straight to your inbox daily.
Thinking of moving? You're not alone.
By Sherry Listgarten | 17 comments | 5,583 views
Wood-fired everything: Burlingame's Rise Pizzeria expands with second restaurant
By Elena Kadvany | 0 comments | 3,065 views
Premarital & Couples: The Blame Game: In Which No One Wins
By Chandrama Anderson | 0 comments | 2,003 views
Ballot propositions have problems
By Diana Diamond | 10 comments | 1,162 views
Changing Our Focus
By Cheryl Bac | 0 comments | 713 views


text:
Obama Admin Threatens to Sue AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio
August 18th, 2010
Ben Johnson, Floyd Reports
The Obama administration has decided to get tough on illegal immigration…enforcement. The Washington Post reports today that Eric Holder is threatening to sue America's toughest sheriff, Joe Arpaio if the sheriff does not help the administration continue a second frivolous lawsuit against him:
Justice Department officials in Washington have issued a rare threat to sue Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio if he doesn't cooperate by Tuesday with their investigation into whether he discriminates against Hispanics…a federal grand jury in Phoenix is examining whether Arpaio has used his power to investigate and intimidate political opponents and whether his office misappropriated government funds, sources said.
That sounds serious. It's not. Apparently "civil rights groups accuse the 78-year-old lawman of racial profiling," as they do everyone else. (The Department of Homeland Security has estimated that 62 percent of all illegal immigrants are from Mexico, and even more from other Latin American nations. This suggests a potential profile.) In addition, "some Maricopa County officials say Arpaio has launched meritless corruption investigations against officials who have criticized his policies or opposed his requests" — so they're launching a meritless investigation of Arpaio.
The Attorney General is demanding compliance even as his Justice Dept. is stonewalling an investigation into charges levied by a former employee that the department turns a blind eye to black crimes.
Left-leaning prosecutors do not see any merit in the case against Arpaio. Former Justice Dept. prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg, who helped prosecute Scooter Libby and donated $1,400 to Barack Obama in 2008, said, "I don't know what a charge would be…I'm not aware of any federal statute that would fit."
Even the Post couldn't help but notice the odd timing: "The standoff comes just weeks after the Justice Department sued Arizona and Gov. Jan Brewer (R) over the state's new immigration law, heightening tensions over the issue ahead of November's midterm elections." This is merely a second front in the administration's crackdown on its own citizens (on behalf of non-citizens).
Although it is unclear how he could win or hope to keep his case from being laughed out of court, Holder said he expects his case to "produce results."
That phrase reveals everything. The intention is not justice but harassment. This threatened lawsuit is simply the latest bout of federal thuggery, extortion, and intimidation against the Obama administration's critics.
This prosecution of those who uphold the law on behalf of those who transgress the law represents Barack Obama and the Washington Democrat''s modus operandi: every decision they make is 180-degrees from reality.
Obama will not enforce federal immigration law but is suing a state that offered to help Washington pick up the slack.
Although Obama does not want to investigate the funding of the Ground Zero mosque, Nancy Pelosi said yesterday she will "join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded."
The president would not comment on the "wisdom" of putting a mosque on the site of the worst act of Muslim terrorism on U.S. soil (so far), but he has called police officers stupid for arresting a hostile suspect and auto officials avaricious for refusing a hostile union takeover.
He refuses to prosecute members of the New Black Panther Party (who voted for Obama) for threatening to beat white voters (who have voted against him), but instructed his Dept. of Homeland Security to spy on housewives and veterans who oppose abortion or gay marriage (or, yes, illegal immigration).
Michael Reagan points out in his column today that Obama has no time for Boy Scouts or the National Prayer Breakfast but he has hosted an Iftar dinner surrounded by Muslims. (He also held a Seder that reportedly commemorated the struggle for socialized medicine.)
This is the logical outcome of an administration that believes we must tax our way into prosperity, "spend money to keep from going bankrupt," cower our way into respect, expand health care by reducing the number of doctors, bow our way into dominance, and balkanize our way to unity.


text:
About Hepworth Dixon
Vintage fountain pens are meticulously restored to period working order from our Old Newton studio and workshop. We use specialist machinery, handmade traditional tools and materials.
We pride ourselves in our product photography, providing up to 20 high-resolution images of each project.
Founder of Hepworth Dixon, Dr Michael Knott has over forty years experience in precision engineering, design and materials technology.
Hepworth Dixon also repair and service a wide range of classic fountain pens from the period, 1970 to 1999. A collection of modern contemporary fountain pens dating from 2000 to present day is also available.
Hepworth Dixon is a private independent company offering competitive prices and a personal service.
"It is said that with a treasured fountain pen, the writer assumes an air of accomplishment as they practice the art of fine handwriting. As we write, we express our innermost thoughts and passions to the world. A pen in the hand becomes an extension of the body and soul. Writing with a fountain pen is a romantic link to our past culture that allows a personal expression that cannot be emulated by today's sterile forms of communication. Rising above the times a fountain pen will stay, and forever remain, the purest means of self-expression."
The Fountain Pen
Writing instruments with the ability to carry a self-contained supply of ink were only introduced in the late 1800's. Lewis Waterman patented the first "practical" fountain pen in 1884, a design which allowed the controlled flow from an ink reservoir to nib tip.
For 65 years, prior to the introduction of the ballpoint pen in the early 1950's, fountain pens were, to most people, the main instrument of writing.
A resurgence in fountain pen popularity came in the 1980's, unfortunately too late to save many fountain pen manufacturers who met their demise as a consequence of thinking ballpoint pens were a fad. A few of those casualties included; Conklin, Eversharp, De La Rue, Mabie Todd, Burnham, Mentmore, National Security, Stephens, Unique, Curzon, Summit, Croxley Dickinson and Valentine.
Why buy a vintage fountain pen?
Why would someone wish to buy an old fountain pen? Simply because they are beautiful writing instruments made of such high quality that would be uneconomical to produce nowadays. Some designs were extremely complex and ornate while others were very plain and simple.
Today there are many collectors from all over the world who enjoy this diversity of design and the pure pleasure of cursive writing with a fine vintage fountain pen. A restored fountain pen can quickly become a prized possession.
Pens offered for salePens offered for sale are divided into three categories:
- Vintage - Pens manufactured pre-1970.
- Classic - Pens manufactured after 1970 which are no longer in production.
- Limited Edition - Limited, Special and Commemorative Edition Fountain Pens
Many of the pens we restore were originally produced by well-known manufacturers, some of whom are still trading. Brands such as Parker, Sheaffer, Montblanc, Pelikan, Waterman's, Onoto and Conway Stewart. We must point out that Hepworth Dixon has no affiliation to, or are endorsed by these companies.
Our PromiseAll pens are sold in full working order, our descriptions provide details of pen and nib, overall condition and what, if any, restoration work or repairs have been carried out.
We never knowingly sell fake or reproduction items.
As with all items of age, vintage pens are susceptible to various degrees of wear and ageing. If you have any doubts, please ask any questions before purchasing.
Our pen Photography
We believe that a picture 'tell's a thousand words'. All pens offered for sale on this site have been carefully photographed to show as much detail as possible 'warts and all'.
Many macro images will have had their backgrounds digitally removed for image clarity. Obvious dust spots may also have been removed. We do not digitally enhance our images to remove evidence of flaws, blemishes or surface defects which may be apparent.
Currently, the Hepworth Dixon website contains over 5000 fountain pen images.
Contacting UsWe welcome enquiries relating to vintage and classic pens featured on this site. Please click here for our contact details.
Passionate about Pens ..."If you share my passion for vintage and classic fountain pens, originally created in a bygone era, you will appreciate the meticulous attention to detail which has been lovingly applied during the restoration process."
Please visit our constantly updated Vintage Pens for Sale or Classic Pens for Sale pages where you will find classic models from a variety of manufacturers. Some of the many restored and already sold pens can be viewed in the Archive Gallery.
Do you have an old pen you would like to sell?
We are always on the lookout for quality used vintage and classic fountain pens that require service or restoration. If you have such a pen and wish to sell it; irrespective of age, condition or make, contact us via e.mail including a couple of images. We may be able to offer a price based on a sensible market value.


text:
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
An insurrection or insurgency was an armed uprising against an established civil or political authority.
In an alternate 1944 encountered by Enterprise NX-01, a group of insurgents fought Nazis in New York City. (ENT: "Storm Front", "Storm Front, Part II")
V'Las described Syrrannites as radical insurgents, and believed they should be eliminated. (ENT: "Awakening", "Kir'Shara")
Trelane charged James T. Kirk with attempting to foment an insurrection, among others, after destroying Trelane's mirror. (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")
The counter-insurgency program was adopted on Terok Nor in the event that the Bajoran laborers began an insurrection and gained control over the station. (DS9: "Civil Defense")
The Kriosians formed an insurrection to fight for their independence from the Klingon Empire. They were secretly assisted by the Romulan Star Empire. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")
After the Maquis Val Jean crew was fully merged into the Starfleet USS Voyager crew, security chief Tuvok determined that an insurrection was unlikely to occur. (VOY: "Worst Case Scenario")
Top Dominion experts predicted that an insurrection of Jem'Hadar rebels, promoted through the use of an Iconian gateway, would be able to take over the Dominion in less than a year. (DS9: "To the Death")
Photonic insurgents were the enemies of the Lokirrim. They were originally holographic workers for the Lokirrim. (VOY: "Body and Soul")


text:
Kino 0.7.0
This captures video to disk in RawDV and AVI format, in both type-1 DV and type-2 DV (separate audio stream) encodings.
You can load multiple video clips, cut and paste portions of video/audio, and save it to an edit decision list (SMIL XML format).
Most edit and navigation commands are mapped to equivalent vi key commands. Also, this can load movies and export the composite movie in a number of formats: DV over IEEE 1394, Raw DV, DV AVI, still frames, WAV, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and DivX.
Still frame export uses Imlib1, which has built-in support for PPM, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and whatever your ImageMagick installation supports.
MP3 requires lame. Ogg Vorbis requires oggenc. MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and DivX require mjpegtools 1.6.0. RPM and Debian packages as well as tarballs are available.


text:
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink
Pilot models with navigation allow you to make and receive calls while keeping your hands on the wheel by using Bluetooth technology and the HandsFree profile with the audio system and your mobile phone. All of this can be done without ever having to handle your phone as long as it's somewhere in the vehicle. The system is easy to operate using voice commands and can be paired with up to six different phones. The Pilot's HandsFreeLink internal phone book can store up to 50 phone numbers, and the Pilot with navigation lets you import your entire phonebook into the navigation system.
For more detailed information on your HandsFreeLink system, please visit handsfreelink.honda.com .
Phone Pairing
Each phone will have its own pairing process. You can view the pairing instructions for your phone-and print them out-at handsfreelink.honda.com . You can also call the HandsFreeLink help center at 888-528-7876 for information on how to pair your phone to the system. See your Technology Reference Guide (Quick Start Guide on 2009 models) or Pilot Owner's Manual for additional details.
Making and Receiving Calls
To use the HandsFreeLink system, turn the vehicle's ignition to ON, turn on your phone-with Bluetooth enabled-and place it anywhere inside the vehicle. Wait for the phone link icon to appear on the center display. Then press and release the HandsFreeLink TALK button. After the beep, say "Call" or "Dial," followed by the phone number. Or choose one that you've stored in the HandsFreeLink phonebook by saying "Call" or "Dial," followed by the phonebook entry name. For more details on using the Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system, please watch the video or see your Technology Reference Guide (Quick Start Guide on 2009 models) or Pilot Owner's Manual.
Phone Book Function
Your Bluetooth HandsFreeLink internal phonebook allows you to store up to 50 contacts. You can input them via speech recognition or you can use Bluetooth to send individual phone numbers from your cellular phone. To add a number to the HandsFreeLink phonebook using Voice Recognition, press and release the TALK button and say "Phonebook." The system will then prompt you with available commands. For complete directions, view the video or refer to the Technology Reference Guide (Quick Start Guide on 2009 models) or the Pilot Owner's Manual.
Phone Book Import
The Pilot Touring's navigation system has an expanded contact database that can store up to 10,000 phone numbers per phone, allowing your entire phonebook to be imported into the navigation system's database at one time. It's separate from the HandsFreeLink voice-command phonebook and can only be accessed through the navigation system INFO screen menu. Currently, only a select few cellular phone models have this capability, so make sure yours is one of them before beginning this process; you can find out at handsfreelink.honda.com .
Content may not apply to all models. Consult your owner's manual for specific information about your vehicle.


text:
Best of AppStorm in February
We've collected the top four reviews, roundups and how-to articles from across the AppStorm network in February. Whether you're interested in Mac, iPhone, Web, Android, Windows, or iPad apps, there's bound to be something you didn't spot over the course of the month. Now would be a good time to explore a part of the AppStorm Network you've never seen before!
Thanks for reading AppStorm, and I hope you enjoy looking over some of our favourite posts from last month!
Best of Android.AppStorm
20+ Apps to Consolidate Your Life in the Cloud
With so many social networks and cloud storage services out there, it can become ridiculously hard to manage them all. Many of us are trying to be everywhere at once, while others just wish everyone else would make up their minds where the best virtual hangout is. Some are torn between their Facebook and Twitter friends, or can't decide whether to post that photo on Instagram or Photobucket. It can all become overwhelming very fast.
Fortunately, a number of developers have had these same thoughts and aimed to help consolidate your life in the cloud. There are apps that help you post to multiple networks at the same time, apps that let you see all your friends social activity in one place, apps that help you collaborate with colleagues regardless of what tools they choose, and even apps to help you keep your own content in order. This post will highlight a few of these to help you make the most of your life in the cloud.
Movie Mate Pro Makes Finding and Tracking Movies a Breeze
I love watching movies. I have a pretty decent collection, reference movies often, and always have a list of movies I want to see — both old and new. Just recently I noticed my brother updating a list on his phone of movies he'd like to see while we were watching previews in the theater. He was using a simple text file, but I started to wonder what kind of apps existed to do just that. Then Rita told me about Movie Mate Pro [Editor note: you're welcome!].
10 Fabulous Fashion Apps for Your Style
While there are apps we can't live without, there are others that exist to simply entertain and delight the senses. Such is the case with apps for beauty, fashion and shopping. If you're into any of these and own an Android device, then this article is for you. In this roundup, we picked out ten excellent fashion apps to match your personal style.
Why the New Flavor of Jelly Bean Might Be the Best Android Yet
From the release of the Nexus 7 in the summer to a whole line of Nexus products in the fall, Android has come a long way in the past year. Sadly, hurricane Sandy struck the USA's East Cost right when Google wanted to proudly unveil their newest line-up, so their announcement was restricted to mass e-mails and an online launch.
Alongside the Nexus 7, Google launched the Nexus 10, a 10-inch NVIDIA Tegra 3 powered tablet, and the Nexus 4, a 4-inch smartphone with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. To support these devices, the company "refreshed" Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, giving it a version bump to 4.2, while retaining the Jelly Bean codename. Want to find out the improvements done? Read on.
Best of iPad.AppStorm
Innovative Task Management in Daily Routine
I work from home, and that requires a lot of discipline. Without a boss looking over my shoulder, it's easy to check the clock and realize I've spent the day watching reruns of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I need to stick to a schedule, and I'm the first to admit I need some help with that.
Enter Daily Routine, a time management app that's all about customization, and I can create as many different routines as I need for all my different activities. Will all that customization, not to mention the very distinct Daily Routine interface, just end up getting in my way, or is this the thing to get me on track?
USA Today Gets a Fantastic Face Lift
I'm going to level with you here: I get most of my news from Facebook and Twitter. That's not to say I don't use legitiment news sources; I follow CNN, Breaking News, NY Post and USA Today, and will visit BBC News when I'm fed up with all of those. What I'm saying is I don't use apps or regularly visit websites to read the news. However, when I'm using my iPad, my news source of choice is the beautifully redesigned USA Today for iPad app.
Let's find out more after the break.
Do it Like Anthony Bourdain with Travel Channel Layover Guide
Have you ever found yourself between flights in a foreign city with several hours to explore but no idea what to do? It's easy to be overwhelmed and end up wasting hours standing in line with thousands of other tourists. Avoid the lines and explore the city like a local using Travel Channel Layover Guide with Anthony Bourdain's favorite places to eat, drink and stay. This engaging app is full of videos, photos, maps and contact information to inspire you and help you plan. Don't just stand on the sidelines and watch – create your own layover itinerary by adding timelines, photos, notes and mapped locations.
Don't waste precious time on the touristy destinations during your next layover. Read on to learn more about making every second in a foreign city count with Travel Channel Layover Guide.
Rise: A Minimal & Intuitive Alarm Clock
When I take a moment to think about the number of devices my iPad and iPhone have replaced, it's quite impressive. With these two devices I no longer need an MP3 player, camera, camcorder, GPS device, voice recorder, flashlight, calendar, calculator, dictionary, notepad, address book or guitar tuner. Another device that my iPad has replaced is nearly everyone's least favorite device — the alarm clock.
I've tried third-party alarm clock apps like Alarm Clock HD and iHome+Sleep, but found the first-party Clock app provided a better overall experience. With that said, Rise Alarm Clock by Simplebots recently caught my eye with it's gorgeous design and intuitive interface, and I wondered if it could be my go to alarm clock app. Find out the answer to that question after the jump.
Best of Windows.AppStorm
The Elder Scrolls Online: Can Bethesda break the MMO Stalemate?
In 2004, Blizzard released what has probably been their most prolific and most successful game to date, it is of course none other than the fantasy MMORPG World of Warcraft. Love it or hate it, the impact that the game has had on the MMO scene has been astronomical, not only pushing its predecessor titles into irrelevance, but managing to rack up an absolutely massive eleven million subscribers at its peak.
Even nine years after its release, WoW continues to dominate thanks to a steady content stream from developer Blizzard Entertainment, which has proven successful in keeping the fans satiated, and more importantly, paying.
Mouse Without Borders: 2 PCs, 1 Mouse
Looking for an easy way to control two or more computers with a single mouse and keyboard? A little while ago we looked at look at Multiplicity which enables you to do just this, but Microsoftís Mouse Without Borders adds handy extra options.
The app is free of charge and can be used to control up to four computers that are on the same network with a single set of peripherals. But the clincher? Thereís also a shared clipboard so you can copy and paste text and files between machines.
A Quick Tour of Office 365 Home Premium
Microsoft recently pushed out its latest version of Office. The app suite had been available in public beta for sometime, but nobody seemed to realize exactly what the company had in mind for the final release. Well, on January 29th the world found out and it was bit different from what most users were expecting.
First, the suite was released as not just Office 2013, but also as Office 365 Home Premium. While Office 2013 comes as traditional desktop software and in several different versions like Home and Student, Home and Office and Professional, it is an expensive suite and can only be used on one computer.
6 Tweaks for Your New Windows 8 Installation
ìOur dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.î ñ Sydney J Harris
I donít think I am the only one who agrees with the quote above. Windows 7ís successor, Windows 8, was released some while ago and chances are, you either really donít like the system or you absolutely love it.
Good odds are also that you are having a hard time learning or adapting to the whole new interface. There are so many new features in your new operating system that you might have not discovered or simply didnít know it existed. This article will mostly consist some essential tips on basic features that you should learn and get used to.
Best of iPhone.AppStorm
Polyvore: Fashion Design on the Go
If you've never been to the Polyvore website, it's a bit like Pinterest, but just for fashion (because there aren't enough people posting pictures of fancy clothes on Pinterest as far as I'm concerned). Users create fashion collage boards called sets, pieced together from articles of clothing they find on Polyvore and elsewhere on the Internet.
This already sounds like the best site ever, right? Random people on the internet using the tools of high fashion to create their own works of clothing art, with sometimes lovely and sometimes dismal results. But it gets better, because you can get all this on your phone, too! Let's take a look at the Polyvore iOS app and see if it can measure up to its web app big sister.
Document Your Day With Lightt
Like it or loathe it, the increased desire to document and share each and every aspect of daily life is here to stay, with Instagram, Hipstamatic and a whole host of photo sharing clones dominating the App Store year after year. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. But what if you'd like to say just that little bit more?
Enter Lightt, an app which captures normal day-to-day activities via a series of photographs that are then merged together to create a seamless visual timeline of your life. Sound interesting? Hit the jump to find out more!
Do it Like Anthony Bourdain With Travel Channel Layover Guide
Have you ever found yourself between flights in a foreign city with several hours to explore but no idea what to do? It's easy to be overwhelmed and end up wasting hours standing in line with thousands of other tourists. Avoid the lines and explore the city like a local using Travel Channel Layover Guide with Anthony Bourdain's favorite places to eat, drink and stay. This engaging app is full of videos, photos, maps and contact information to inspire you and help you plan. Don't just stand on the sidelines and watch – create your own layover itinerary by adding timelines, photos, notes and mapped locations.
Don't waste precious time on the touristy destinations during your next layover. Read on to learn more about making every second in a foreign city count with Travel Channel Layover Guide.
Vine: Here's the Thing
I need another social network in my life like I need a hole in my head. Let's just get that out of the way right now: there's no need for another Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr in my life, not when Pinterest, LinkedIn and even the new MySpace want a piece of my time. No, I'm fine with what I've got, thank you very much.
Then there's Vine. At first, my usual "meh" response was triggered, but then I started learning more. Vine was recently acquired by Twitter, giving some legitimacy to the fledgling service. People have also used the service for a wide variety of things, including movies. So what allure does it have for me? Let's find out.
Best of Web.AppStorm
How to Download – and Use – Your Twitter Archive
Twitter can be addictive. Once you get started with writing tweets, it can be difficult to stop. Unlike other social networks, Twitter has a wider sense of community outside of your own friends, largely because of the way hashtags can be used to comment on events as they happen and browse through tweets relating to a particular subject. Plus, it's rather simple to churn out dozens of 140 character messages.
Whether you have been using Twitter for a few months or a few years, you may be surprised at just how many words you have put online through the service. Recently, Twitter announced plans for a feature many people had been asking for – downloading your Twitter archives.
Here's how you can grab yours, and what you can do with it.
The Failure of the Cloud
Ever seen a device advertised as coming with extra "cloud" storage? Depending on what device you buy, you'll get 5-50Gb of free storage in iCloud, Skydrive, Box.net, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any number of other online storage services. Gmail amazed us all when it offered 1Gb inboxes when it first came out, but today, it seems that everyone is offering tens of gigs of storage for free, and ever-larger amounts for basic paid accounts.
And yet, when the Microsoft Surface Pro came out, everyone was dumbfounded to find it had so little local storage space free. It was advertised as coming with 10Gb of free online storage, so shouldn't that help?
As anyone who's use online storage enough knows, free online storage won't help anything.
Manage Projects Easily With Do.com
There are many ways you can organize your tasks, be it on your own or with a group of people. From simple to-do apps like Wunderlist to full-featured ones like Flow and Producteev, there's always something for any sort of task or project. If you haven't found one that works for you, then Do.com is one that you should be sure to check out.
Do.com is a web app for managing multiple tasks and projects using a simple and intuitive interface, from the Salesforce team. While it can be great for collaborating with a team, I found that it's just as good when you're working on your own.
Typeform: A Brilliant New Online Form Tool
It really shouldn't be that hard to make a form to get feedback online. You just need a way to ask some questions, let people choose from multiple choice options and perhaps add their own feedback, and then let you easily get the data for your own analysis. There's a ton of tools: Google Spreadsheets, Wufoo, Polldaddy, and more.
Plenty of them are decently easy to use to make forms, but usually they're confusing and frustrating for users wanting to give feedback. On a computer, they'll take a ton of back-and-forth between the mouse and keyboard to get the form filled out, and on mobile devices they can be maddeningly difficult to get filled out on a touch screen without tapping the wrong button.
Typeform, a new tool for creating online forms, might just be what we've been waiting for. It's still in beta, but is far more interesting than any other online form tool we've ever seen. Here's why.
Best of Mac.AppStorm
MultiMarkdown Composer 2: Editing Just Got Smarter
When I first discovered Markdown and shortly thereafter MultiMarkdown, I instantly fell in love. Almost overnight, my writing workflows and tools were transfigured. They became more streamlined and ubiquitous.
Therefore, when news surfaced that Fletcher Penny was readying the release of MultiMarkdown Composer 2, I was antsy to get my hands on it. The wait was a long one… but well worth it!
PopClip: The Unexpectedly Awesome Productivity Tool
There's two kinds of Mac users: the ones who love the iOS-style simplification that's come to OS X in recent years, and the older-school Mac users who love the keyboard shortcuts, automation, scripting, terminal, and more that make OS X one of the most powerful – and productive – operating systems on the market. These two camps seldom find common ground.
When PopClip first came out, I tried it out, but decided I vastly preferred tried-and-true keyboard shortcuts, and uninstalled the trial. It just wasn't for me, and felt like iOS eye candy compared to what I was used to.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that PopClip is quite the productivity tool these days, one that geeks and everyone else can love. What made the difference? Extensions.
Organize Your Tasks With Cheddar
Sometimes it feels like a day doesn't go by without the release of another app in the over-saturated to-do list category. I've used Things to organize my life since it was first introduced, and I've stuck with it through the years, even despite the developers' embarrassingly long delay for proper cloud syncing. My loyalty to Things has always been shaky, which has kept me experimenting with it's many competitors.
I recently tried out Cheddar to see if it could replace Things as my go-to organization tool on my Mac. Here's how that worked out.
Take Care of Your Taxes with TurboTax 2012
For people like me that hate paperwork, tax season can be a terrifying time of year. The tediousness of entering a slew of financial information and the fear of a potential audit makes the whole process one that I dread. For the past few years, I've been content to just dedicate a weekend to organizing my information and doing it all myself via the TurboTax website. When I saw that TurboTax offered a desktop version of their service via the Mac App Store, I decided to use it this year instead of the web app.
How does the app stack up against its own web-version and the competition?
Share Your Ideas
Is there something in particular you'd like to see on the site next month? We'd absolutely love to hear your suggestions for articles, topics and giveaways. Just let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading AppStorm!


text:
Mount Saint Mary - 94, Farmingdale State - 81
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team fell, 94-81, to Mount Saint Mary in a Skyline Conference game this afternoon. The Rams now stand at 11-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play, while the Knights improved to 13-4, 9-1.
Leading 13-8 in the opening minutes, Mount Saint Mary used a 23-5 run to extend the advantage to 36-13 with 9:03 remaining in the first half. The Knights led by as many as 30 in the half and took a 53-27 lead into the break. As a team, Mount Saint Mary shot 52% from the field, including 47% (9-of-19) from behind the arc. Senior guard Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) led the way with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and was 5-for-6 from 3-point range.
The Rams scored six straight points to start the second half to cut the deficit to 53-33 and force a Mount Saint Mary timeout.
Trailing 62-38, an 11-3 Farmingdale State run pulled the Rams within 16, 65-49, with 14 minutes to play. Farmingdale State would close to within 11 points over the final minutes but fell, 94-81.
The Rams were led by junior guard Justin Bailey (Jamaica, N.Y.) who scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while senior guard Timothy Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) added 20 points. Senior guard Jonathan Annan (Staten Island, N.Y.) tallied 17 points, seven boards and four assists and senior center Donald Lawes (Queens, N.Y.) finished with a double-double scoring 11 points and taking down 10 boards.
Senior forward Chris Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) finished with a game-high 23 points for the Knights, while Howell had 21 points, including five 3-pointers.
Farmingdale State next will travel to Maritime for a Skyline Conference game on Wednesday, January 29th at 7:00 p.m.


text:
View as PDF
By Valentina Riccardi
culture360.ASEF.org is proud to announce the launch of the Green Guide for Spain, the 7th in the series Creative Responses to Sustainability.
By David Fernández
This month culture360.ASEF.org unveils a new series of articles and interviews titled 'Independent Hubs / Creative Entrepreneurs'. This series takes into account the emergence of independent hubs and creative entrepreneurs ...
By Naima Morelli
The independent publishing house Delere Press is bringing together art and literature in Singapore
One of Vietnam's first book curators, Dang Thanh Long co-founded Saigon Artbook in 2013 as a non-profit organisation. He has become a local cultural key player in Ho Chi Minh ...
By Claire Rosslyn Wilson
"There is no story without a teller and a listener. The storytelling cycle expands and becomes "ripples of telling and listening, and telling and listening all over again".
By Claire Wilson
People's lives are more mobile than ever with estimates that this will only increase. However, the need for feeling like one belongs in a place is even more relevant in ...
Claire Wilson takes a look at the diverse cultural scene in Australia's second largest city. There is no doubt that the creative industries play an important role in the state ...
Poets Translating Poets is a project of the Goethe-Institut/Max Muller Bhavan Mumbai that brings together poets from Germany, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to translate each other's poems in ...
ASEF culture360 contributor Claire Rosslyn Wilson looks into some of the some of the features and challenges of literary translation.
Dhaka Literary Festival co-director and producer Sadaf SAAZ discusses with Claire WILSON how literary festivals can build bridges and mutual understanding.
Claire Rosslyn WILSON talks to Marja UNT from the Prima Vista Tartu International Literary Festival to find out more about the literature scene in the Estonian UNESCO City of Literature.
ASEF culture360 contributor Claire Rosslyn WILSON looks at some of the literary festivals making waves in Asia and Europe.
By Kerrine Goh
ASEF culture360 contributor Naima MORELLI interviews Ilaria BENINI, curator of the Asia series of ADD Editore, an independent Italian publisher based in Turin and promoting cultural dialogue between Italy and ...
Contemporary Indonesian art and literature have found a new home in the Italian city of Naples.
By Magali An Berthon
In 2015, ASEF culture360 invites you to get an insight on issues that are highly discussed in the cultural sector across Asia and Europe. Through a number of in-depth articles ...


text:
How to Make Sushi Burritos
I'm afraid I can't take full credit for the idea of sushi burritos, that honor goes to one of my chef idols, David Chang of Momofuku fame in New York. I will however try and take a little credit for transforming them into a heliski picnic lunch or afternoon tea snack after a big day in the deep stuff. When out there in the Boondocks served with a hot thermos of Jenmai Miso, with silken tofu and kombu strips, it is a pure energy brick. Scale it up for a great dinner party dish by providing saki bombs and plum wine!
The idea is to have some fun with the contents.
1. Start with a quality pesto wrap, smother it in guacamole, then lay a sheet of nori on top.
2. Begin layering the sushi rice with pickled ginger, wasabi, and mayonnaise.
3. Top with white crab meat, sockeye salmon, tuna and caviar along with cucumber strips, grated carrot, and mizuna before wrapping tightly and cutting on the bias.
Enjoy experimenting!
See Hughes's web site for more.