Posted by: Audiegrl
Tonight, on the premiere of John King, USA, John will sit down for an exclusive interview with Vicki Kennedy. They will discuss her personal reflections on the health care reform vote, her late husband’s impact on the bill, the election of Sen. Scott Brown and more. Tune in to America’s new home for political news and conversation at 7pm ET.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Vicki Kennedy Will Be Interviewed on New CNN Show, "<em>John King, USA</em>"
Friday, March 19, 2010
China Southern Airlines To Offer Premium Economy On All Domestic Routes
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines has announced that it will offer a Premium Economy cabin on all domestic flights in a major expansion of the service, currently available on its non-stop transpacific flight between Guangzhou and Los Angeles. The airline will refit 7,000 Premium Economy seats on nearly 300 aircraft across its Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330, Boeing 737NG and 777 fleets.
Beginning 28 March 2010, passengers will be able to book and purchase seats in Premium Economy Class on routes from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Beijing and Shanghai for the price of a full Economy Class ticket. China Southern Airlines will gradually phase in the service on the remaining domestic routes by July 2010.
Passengers travelling in Premium Economy Class will enjoy a redesigned cabin with 24 to 53 seats (depending on aircraft) for increased privacy. Each seat offers a seat pitch of between 35 to 37 inches for greater comfort, accompanied by pre-flight snacks, a bottle of water, newspaper and wool blankets in addition to standard amenities for Economy Class passengers.
On the ground, the airline will have a dedicated check-in counter for Premium Economy passengers, with a commitment to ensure that waiting time will not exceed 8 minutes. Passengers will also enjoy an additional 5 kilograms of baggage allowance and priority in baggage delivery, upgrades and boarding at their convenience. China Southern Airlines will also extend passengers the option of a complimentary re-routing between neighbouring destinations for greater flexibility and 10% more frequent flyer miles than a full-fare Economy Class ticket.
A member of the Skyteam alliance, China Southern Airlines flies to 139 destinations within China. For more information, visit www.cs-air.com.
Dems sweeten health bill, set showdown Sunday vote
NEWS
Dems sweeten health bill, set showdown Sunday vote
Thursday, March 18 2010
Dems sweeten health bill, set showdown Sunday vote
Thursday, March 18 2010
President Barack Obama again postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia, this time putting it off until June so that he can be in Washington as Democrats in Congress try to pass a health care reform bill, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced Thursday.
Obama had already delayed his trip once and was planning to leave Sunday, but the House health care vote now is expected Sunday as well. Gibbs said the president didn’t want to risk having to cancel at the last minute.
“Passage of health care reform is of paramount importance, and the president is determined to see this battle through,” Gibbs said during the daily press briefing. “The president believes right now the place for him is to be in Washington to see this through.”
Postponing a presidential trip overseas is a dramatic step, and the move — decided on by Obama at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, official said — speaks to the importance health reform has taken on for the president. A trip overseas at such a critical moment could have left him somewhat out of the picture at what could prove to be a signature moment of his presidency, if the House can pass reform this weekend as Democratic leaders expect.
Gibbs insisted that the delay in the trip didn’t mean trouble for the House passing reform. “The president still believes we will have the votes,” he said.
But House leaders say they’re still short of the 216 votes needed to pass reform in the House. That effort got a boost Thursday when the Congressional Budget Office said the bill, which will cost $940 billion over 10 years, would reduce the deficit over the next 10 and 20 years. After the House acts, the Senate also must act to pass a cleanup bill, probably sometime next week.
Obama must sign the House-Senate bill into law before the Senate can pass the cleanup bill.
News about the trip postponement came just as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was ending a news conference. As she left the room, she said: “I’m glad. I like having him here.”
She suggested he was staying because the Senate will take up the bill next week.
“This is historical. I’m sure he wants to be here for the history,” Pelosi said.
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) also is happy the president is staying.
“He may have to twist some arms. He may have to talk to some people. His personal presence helps.”
The Senate will take up the bill soon after House passage, probably Tuesday, aides said.
The overseas trip promises to be an emotional one. Obama was planning to visit Indonesia, where he lived for four years as a child. On Thursday, Obama called the leader of Indonesia and plans to soon call the Australian prime minister, Gibbs said.
“We greatly regret the delay in the trip,” he said.
While pushing back an official overseas trip is a personal first for Obama, it is hardly new to the presidency. President George W. Bush pushed back to July 2003 a major Africa trip the White House had scheduled for January 2003 due to a variety of considerations, according to CBS’s Mark Knoller, who keeps a meticulous tally of presidential statistics.
Bush also postponed a trip to Canada in the spring of 2003, in run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. President Bill Clinton also pushed back international trips. He sent Vice President Al Gore in his place to an APEC Summit in Malaysia.
President Ronald Reagan once cancelled a trip to Indonesia citing the need to remain in Washington to deal with the budget and other issues. President George H.W. Bush postponed a trip to Australia amid criticism of his international travel while Americans suffered in a down economy.
Gibbs said the delay was unavoidable. Unless the president left “extremely early” Sunday afternoon, the trip would not have been feasible and putting it off further seemed the best option when staff reviewed his schedule Wednesday night, Gibbs said..
“It just at that point seemed obvious to us that the best course of business was to reschedule,” he said.
The White House is not concerned about possible diplomatic repercussions.
“Each of these two countries understands what the president has been working on, what he’s involved in and the importance of him seeing it through,” Gibbs said.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Porque tu cuentas - EE.UU. Censo 2010
Ayer recibimos el sobre blanco grande del Censo 2010 que usted y muchos otros en el pais recibieron o empezaron a recibir. No hay casi nada que agregar pues las campañas son inmensas y de amplio espectro.
Es necesario que como hispanos nos sintamos integrados e incluídos.
Es una responsabilidad, y además uno está obligado por ley a hacerse contar. Devuelva el sobre incuído y resporte los datos de hasta 10 personas viviendo con usted al 1 de abril del 2010.
Mientras transitaba por la calle vi un aviso publicitario que caló muy ondo en nuestra vista y en nuestro sentido. No es textual pero decia algo como: “Si no sabemos cuantos somos, no sabremos cuantos buses necesitaremos.
Cierto que hasta se han hecho ini\vitaciones ha boicotear el censo pero eso no es sabio. Es lo mismo que en el hogar, si no sabes cuanto ganas , no sabes cuanto tienes para gastar.
Amigos latinoamericanos viviendo en los EE.UU.: Si por alguna razón estás en estas tierras hasta el 1 de Abril del 2010, hazte contar. NO importa tu situación migratoria.
Exuste el miego que esos dato serán compartidos. Si que lo es pero eso solo puede hacerse por medio de uan corte federal.
Además si realmente quisieran perseguirte, existen varias formas de econtrarte y tu lo sabes. Solo reflexiona. Cómo hacen para llegar a los domicilios de los que han cometido delitos federales?
Las redes sociales están jugando un papel activo este año. Facebook tiene su propia página y en Twitter son dos hashtags las destacadas: #Censo2010 y #becounted.
El poder y la organización de los hispanos depende de que sepamos con la mayor exactitud cuantos hispanos somos.
Tu cuentas, inclúyete. Hazte contar!
Online Mom - Keep The Kids Safe
By: Online Mom
Hi, I’m Jenny,
It is every parents nightmare but unfortunately child abduction is a reality. The statistics are quite terrifying:
Somewhere in the United States a child goes missing every 40 seconds.
A lot of these have innocent explanations. Kids visit friends without telling you. They wander off at the mall while you are paying for something with your credit card.
Even thought there are lots of reasons kids go missing, when it happens, the panic and fear of the worst scenario is all you can think about.
Abduction isn’t what parents want to even think about but it does happen. One of the most common cases is abduction of a child by one of the family members. The latest statistics are that 203,900 kids were abducted by family members every year. Arguments over child custody during and after divorce are commonplace.
I for one put my faith in modern GPS technology provided by Amber Alert. These small devices can be placed in children’s clothing or hidden in their backpacks.
With just the press of a few buttons you can receive instant information on where your child is, displayed on your cell phone or computer.
Click Here to have a look at their website and find out about this wonderful device that helps keeps our kids safe.
-Jenny
Visit the blog: http://childtrackingdevice.org/blog/
Monday, March 15, 2010
India up for sale to MNCs
A nervous Wall Street Journal type-casting Indians!
The recent historic moratorium on Bt brinjal by Jairam Ramesh, minister of environment and forests, has created a network of citizens’ organisations around the country that have risen spontaneously from the ground, and have prevented the country’s agriculture becoming devoid of its diversity and moving in the direction of control by multinational corporations MNCs. (via India up for sale to MNCs).
Grass roots and spontaneous
A 'divided' India has stuck together for more than 60 years - more than any country in the world.
This post makes an excellent point of how Indians ‘divided’ by caste, religion, language, colour made Jairam Ramesh change his mind – and stop Bt Brinjal. And these same ‘divided’, docile, non-violent, supine, Indians, mounted nearly a 100 wars against the British during the 1800-1900 period.
Having met PM Bharagava a lo-o-ong time ago, (my) impressions were exactly opposite of what he is writing in this post now.
An excellent post for many reasons, about the many possibilities that India can wake up to tomorrow – and lies asleep. The one dark cloud, is PMB’s great reliance on the State to take action.
The Great Brown Indian StatePMB – Please! But, puh-leeze, the State will simply take our money, our efforts, our ideas – and finally, our freedom!
It makes little difference, if the colour of the rulers is Brown, Green, Red, Yellow, Black, Blue or White! The Brown Indian State, while better than the White Indian State, is still a bad idea!
It is the Brown Indian State that we must now work on! The nearly 2(0) million Indian who lost their lives fighting the White Indian State did not die to replace the White Indian State with a Brown Indian State.
Remembering David
Today is the 5th anniversary of my older brother’s death, David. He died at age 52 after a ruthless fight with Multiple Myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow, for which there is no cure.
Given 2 years, he lived for 4, surviving endless chemotherapy and 2 stem cell transplants (using his own cells, taken and treated prior to chemotherapy). A donor cell transplant was the next step and I’ll never forget the phone call from him telling me that I WAS a match for him! But, he never became well enough for us to give it a try.
He was intelligent, musically gifted, funny and a great father of two little girls!
My brother, David
After his divorce, he wrote some of these hilarious potential single’s ads:
Recently divorced, balding, 45+, grunt lab technician. Speech impediment, Hearing impaired (rock music), and eyesight faltering. Caustic, blunt, and extremely self-centered. Seeking firm figured, attractive 20 -ish nympho with no personality and a fat inheritance. PLEASE – no redheads.
Quiet, stable, strong Christian father, early 40’s, seeks young co-ed, brazen party animal with low self-esteem, no family ties and lots of money. Prefer no REDHEADS, but send picture if you see fit.
Professional gentleman, 45, handsome, entertaining, convincing liar.. seeks 80-ish Mission Hills widow, for nites of financial counseling, hot tea and contract signing.
Out of State father, 45, broke, crude, … oily scalp, poor teeth, seeks “one nite stand” candidates. … 3 times a week – Holidays off.
It makes me laugh just to hear him coming up with these.
I miss you, David!
Friday, March 12, 2010
U.S. gave Israel green light for East Jerusalem construction
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.(AP)
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By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent, Haretz/Israel, March 12, 2010
The apology offered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Interior Minister Eli Yishai recalls the joke about the servant who pinched the king’s bottom. En route to the gallows, the servant apologized: He thought it was the queen’s bottom.
The statement issued by Netanyahu’s bureau said that in light of the ongoing dispute between Israel and the United States over construction in East Jerusalem, the plans for new housing in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood should not have been approved this particular week. It also said the premier had ordered Yishai to draft procedures that would prevent a recurrence. In other words, Yishai is welcome to submit more plans for Jewish construction in East Jerusalem next week, when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will no longer be here.
Based on Biden’s reaction, it seems that he (and, presumably, his boss) has decided that it is better to leave with a few sour grapes than to quarrel with the vineyard guard. In his speech at Tel Aviv University, he said he appreciated Netanyahu’s pledge that there would be no recurrence. But what exactly does that mean? That next time he comes, the Planning and Building Committee will be asked to defer discussion of similar plans until the honored guest has left?
With the media storm dying down, Netanyahu can breathe a sigh of relief.
In a sense, the uproar actually helped him: To wipe the spit off his face, Biden had to say it was only rain. Therefore, he lauded Netanyahu’s assertion that actual construction in Ramat Shlomo would begin only in another several years.
Thus Israel essentially received an American green light for approving even more building plans in East Jerusalem.
Biden might not know it, but the Palestinians certainly remember that this is exactly how East Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood began: Then, too, Netanyahu persuaded the White House that construction would begin only in another several years.
When Biden arrived, the Arab League had just recommended that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accede to Washington’s proposal for indirect talks with Israel.
But instead of being able to leave with an announcement that the talks have officially begun, Biden is leaving with the news that the Arab League has suspended its recommendation.
Netanyahu can thus hope that the Ramat Shlomo imbroglio has deferred the moment of truth when he must reveal his interpretation of “two states for two peoples.” And just in case anyone failed to realize how impartial a mediator the U.S. is, Biden said in his Tel Aviv speech that the U.S. has “no better friend” than Israel.
For Netanyahu, the cherry on top was that the onus for advancing the negotiations has now been put on the Arab states – just two weeks before the Arab League summit in Tripoli, where the league’s 2002 peace initiative will again be up for discussion. For months, U.S. President Barack Obama has been trying to persuade Arab leaders not to disconnect this important initiative from life support. His argument is that nothing would make Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad happier than a final blow-up of the peace process and the outbreak of a third intifada. And his joy would be redoubled if the fire started in Jerusalem.
But while the U.S. may be papering over the rift for now, Western diplomats said the bill will come due once the talks with the PA begin (assuming they do). The U.S. has already said it will submit bridging proposals of its own during these talks, and its anger and frustration over the Ramat Shlomo incident are likely to make it far more sympathetic to the Palestinians’ positions, the diplomats said.
For instance, Netanyahu wants security issues to top the talks’ agenda, an Israeli source said. But the Palestinians want the first issue to be borders, including in Jerusalem.
And the European Union, which had planned to upgrade various agreements with Israel this week in honor of the resumed talks, has now postponed the upgrade until it becomes clear whether the talks will in fact take place.
Pakistan Navy to participate in DIMDEX 2010
Doha—Pakistan Embassy has announced the participation of Pakistan Navy in DIMDEX 2010. Two Pakistani Navy ships and a submarine will be in arriving at the Doha Port on March 28 to participate in DIMDEX 2010 exhibition and seminar, according to Pakistan Embassy in Qatar.
Units participating include PNS Zulfiquar, a frigate recently commissioned in Pakistan Navy. The ship is fitted with state of the art weapons and sensors and carries a Z9EC helicopter, according to a Qatari newspaper The Pennisula.
The ship is part of the F-22P Project which encompasses construction of three frigates in China and also envisages complete transfer of technology for the construction of fourth ship at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.
PN Submarine Humza is also going to be present in Doha during the exhibition. The submarine was constructed by Pakistan Navy in collaboration with DCNS of France.
Hamza is the first submarine to incorporate Mesma which is an air independent propulsion system installed to achieve an increase in submerged endurance.
The submarine by virtue of its weapons and sensors outfit, equipment efficiency, stealth and well-knit crew is fully capable of undertaking variety of missions.
Third unit to be present at the DIMDEX is PN Missile boat Quwwat. PNS Quwwat was constructed at the Karachi shipyard in 2006.—Online
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
T-Mobile - Aarkstore Enterprise
T-Mobile is the mobile arm of Deutsche Telekom and is one of the largest mobile operating groups, particularly across Central and Eastern Europe. T-Mobile’s operations have seen some turbulent times due to the economic downturn and increasing competition in saturated markets, but overall most are now starting to recover. T-Mobile’s main strategic goals are to successfully integrate its fixed and mobile businesses in the markets where it offers both (in order to become a more customer-centric provider), to increase mobile data revenues through mobilising the Internet and to successfully integrate its UK business with Orange. The biggest challenges for T-Mobile going forward will be to find new revenue growth and to not take its eye off the market by becoming too distracted by internal reorganisations.
Table of Contents :
Executive summary
In a nutshell
Ovum view
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
External conditions
Competitive environment
Regulatory environment
Customer demand
Company information
Organisation
Strategic analysis
Strategic goals at group level
Technology strategy
Segment analysis
Germany
US
Europe
Southern and Eastern Europe
Financial and KPI analysis
Overview
Segment analysis
Germany
US
Europe
Southern and Eastern Europe
List of Tables
Table 1: The competitive environment for T-Mobile operations
Table 2: Ovum’s forecasts for T-Mobile markets comparing 2009 to 2014
More Information:
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/T-Mobile-38134.html
El Dorado County. After winning the right to inscribe his memorial bench the way he sees fit, county officials neglected to inform Mr. Soike that they no longer have the money he paid to inscribe his bench. Now they want more.
El Dorado County: No God, No Heaven, No Money.
By Mountain Republic
Our friend Tom Soike is still having problems with El Dorado County. After winning the right to inscribe his memorial bench the way he sees fit, county officials neglected to inform Mr. Soike that they no longer have the money he paid to inscribe his bench. Now they want more. What a bunch of bull-shit. The following is a letter from Tom to the people of El Dorado County. Please join Mountain Republic in support of Tom Soike.
———————————————————————————————————
How Does Winning Cost Us 2 Grand?
By Tom Soike
On Monday evening March 1, 2001, I was informed that despite the Board of Supervisors unanimous decision to approve the inscription of my family bench, that it would cost us an additional $1900.00 over and above the $3,500.00 I had already paid in 2005 for the purchase of my bench. I had requested to have the following inscription carved on the bench at the beautiful El Dorado County Veteran’s Monument!!!
“God, I’ve tasted your Heaven through Freedom and fought through the pain of these wars and wondered if somehow the something I’ve given could somehow have been something more.”
It seems that the El Dorado County Veteran’s Memorial Committee (aka Friends of the Veteran’s Monument) has just recently determined that they do not have sufficient funds available for my bench to be completed. Every other bench that was bought and paid for was inscribed for the contracted price of $3,500.00.
I was stunned, shocked, hurt and amazed. How could an apparent victory turn so quickly into another series of impediments, designed to keep me from honoring my family, in a time honored and inoffensive American way?
The next day, Tuesday March 2, I made the following statement to the El Dorado county Board of Supervisors:
“Last evening I was totally amazed and disheartened to learn that apparently the Committee have stated that they do not have the $1900.00 necessary to inscribe the Soike family bench. Where in the world did my mom and dad’s money go???
Since the project is on county property, and therefore the county and your board have a very serious fiduciary interest and responsibility, I would like to know if an audit was performed of the project on behalf of you and/or all who have invested tens of dollars to produce the wonderful Veteran’s Monument; and if not, why not? Doesn’t that seem to be a best business practice?
Thank you,
Finally, it has become apparent that I need an attorney. We are still financially strapped do to the economy and related employment issues of our children. The county has very deep, taxpayer supported legal pockets. Obviously, we do not. If anyone out there knows a well qualified, well funded constitutional law firm who would take this on for us, while fronting our costs, please let us know as soon as possible. Frankly, we do not believe we can appropriately deal with this matter by ourselves anymore. Contact us at: katlibicki@aol.com subject – legal help.
Respectfully,
Tom Soike
Monday, March 8, 2010
Using Cash Becoming Taboo
You may be sceptical about the chip implant and chalk it up as religious hysteria but it is planned or already in use in America and Europe. The AMA approved a ‘code of ethics’ concerning the use of the chip in 2007. Why would the AMA create ethical standards if there is no plan to implant?
The use of cash in our society and the world is slowly becoming obsolete. The wave of a plastic card, a new tech stick, cell phone or the chip will be all that is necessary to make a purchase or pay a bill.
Clubbers in Europe are considered VIP’s with ‘chip only areas’ within a bar if they have been implanted. Intel, right here in America is developing a chip which will be implanted in the brain that will operate certain devices like the computer. Specific health issues will be targeted by the implant like hypertension and obesity. Passport holders will by-pass long lines at the airport because the chip will allow them to slide right through. Parents thinking they are doing the right thing will chip their children like the family pet.
God said you will not be able to get a job without the chip. Sound silly? Try getting a job, opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, enrolling in college, getting a phone, etc without your social security number.
Still No News of St Tikhon's Award on oca.org: They Did Post Fluff About SVS Though!
Matusiak, Hatfield, and Paffhausen: “You don’t need to know about the award at St Tikhon’s… that’s why we didn’t post it. Isn’t SVS doing exciting things?” This is why you can’t believe a thing you see on oca.org… isn’t St Tikhon’s an institution of the OCA? FOR SHAME. Send these imposters no money!
Friends and neighbours, here’s proof positive that John Matusiak is a screaming incompetent and a spineless tool of the Syosset/SVS mafia. Read this:
http://www.oca.org/news/2100
The post above was posted today. Hmm… Matusiak could have posted about the award to St Tikhon’s, he did post the above fluff about SVS, after all. He chose not to. Let that sink in… Mr Matusiak chose not to tell you. That means that Hatfield and Paffhauesen chose not to tell you either.
Here is what someone said recently in the commboxes:
The converts in the US are bullies and don’t let anyone who disagrees with them speak up. Any one who does is not a “real” Christian.
That is an interesting observation. I would take this a step further. Many converts came to us not because they loved Orthodoxy, but because they hated what was happening in their former confessions. In short, they never converted in their hearts and souls, indubitably, this is manifestly true of Hatfield and Paffhausen. Both are obvious Anglicans… both are believers in the branch theory, a belief that has been labelled heretical by the most holy Local Church of Moscow. I should add that all other legitimate Local Churches agree with that condemnation.
Both Hatfield and Paffhausen showed their adherence to the branch theory by their pact with Nashotah House (an institution of the TEC), their invitation to Rowan Williams (although they knew it would be divisive), their adherence to the so-called Manhattan Declaration (as it was ginned up by No Church Radical Proddies), and their support of New Skete (and its “Orthodox Feast of St Francis). Now, we see this. St Tikhon’s receives recognition for its role in Orthodox education by the Greek government (one of my friends knows one of the Greek people involved… he tells me that Mr Veniamin is very much on the up and up (and is a very good human being, to boot)). Matusiak and oca.org don’t tell you a whisper of it.
You know what to do. Don’t send these Anglican poseurs a dime. Send your money to South Canaan, instead. God will bless you for it.
Barbara-Marie Drezhlo
Sunday 7 March 2010
Albany NY
Friday, March 5, 2010
USA: Ruling through re-defining and what's up with Armenia?
The Bush administration had this special way of throwing words around so that they could justify any action they’d take. If they did something that was just simply wrong, it could be re-defined to be good. If someone else did something that the US did not like, it could be re-defined to have been an unjust thing to do. A couple of examples:
Unlawful combatants. According to the Geneva Conventions, there are certain rights that POW’s always have. And according to any sensible constitution, there are rights that any civilian should have, like the right to a fair trial. In the US as well, these two held true, but having every terrorist through a court would be an awful hassle, so what to do… The answer, of course, was to implement a new category, unlawful combatant, that did not have any rights at all. Anyone who was deemed (note: not judged) an unlawful combatant, could be sent straight to Guantánamo without a fair trial. And, seeing as this was a world-wide War on Terror, even civilians could easily be re-classified as unlawful combatants, since every civilian is potentially a terrorist. How convenient!
And then the US went on to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, re-defining and justifying their actions along the way. But in August 2008, Russia helped the liberation movements of South Ossetia and Abkhasia and this certainly meant trouble. One wouldn’t have anyone else than the US invading countries at will, and especially not Russia! Moreover, after having invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, it would seem kind of hypocritical to scold Russia over their invasion of parts of Georgia. So what to do… The answer, of course, lies in what kind of country has been invaded. It is obvious that Georgia is a sovereign state, as Afghanistan and Iraq consequently was not. I’ve never seen a definition of “sovereign state” that would include Georgia and exclude Afghanistan and Iraq. If the US had just said that invading oppressive military regimes, or better yet; simply “baddies”, is OK, that would have been a lot more honest than these vague definitions that always seem to prop up after the fact.
But that was over a year ago, Bush is gone and the status quo in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhasia seems pretty stable, so I wouldn’t expect to accomplish much by ranting over old news. The reason I’m writing this, however, is that the US is ranting over old news. Almost a hundred years old, old news, in fact.
Apparently, The House of Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a resolution calling the killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire between 1917 and 1923 a genocide. I have been watching for signs of such re-definitions as the Bush administration was applying, and luckily I haven’t found any before now. I, like a lot of other people, really wanted to believe that Obama was a regular Good Guy, but trying not to be naïve, I have been watching nonetheless. However, it was against the recommendations of the Obama administration that the resolution was passed, so I guess we can continue believing that Obama is a Good Guy. Anyway, back to the resolution.
This resolution, however, is not like the “unlawful combatant” and “sovereign state” definitions. It does not serve to justify some immediate action and it’s seemingly just an acknowledgement of historical fact, which I think is a very important thing. But why now? That’s what I don’t get. Is there some ulterior motive behind it all? Is there some force in the US that wishes to prevent the normalization of Turkey’s and Armenia’s ties? Does the US wish to gain goodwill with Armenia and is this the beginning of a closer relationship between the US and Armenia? Could it be a back-up plan and another way into Iran if something goes wrong with Turkey? And why do I say that?
Well, recently there has been reports of a foiled coup d’état in Turkey. This, perhaps, proves that Turkey is not such a stable country as one would like, being a member of NATO and all. Then, there’s the fact that Turkey has moved politically towards the other Middle East countries, just recently threatening Israel with war if Israeli planes were to cross into Turkish airspace in an attempt to reach Iran. And speaking of Iran, Turkey shares a border with Iran. Very convenient if one needs to enter Iran for whatever reason. Another fact to consider is that 99% of Turkey’s population are Muslims. How many Islamic countries can NATO forces invade before the public in Turkey starts to feel that something is not right? I’m sure these are thoughts have passed the minds of the strategists in the US.
Then there’s Armenia. A seemingly stable apparent democracy without any coup d’états on regular basis and a majority of the population in favor of joining the EU. It has a short borderline to Iran and another to Georgia (meaning passage into Iran from the Black Sea via Georgia and Armenia) and less than 1% are Muslims. It should be a very stable ally indeed, if things were to turn sour with Turkey. And I can easily see that happening.
Having actually bothered about one genocide of Turkey, namely against the Armenians, how would one justify not turning to the next, the one against the Kurds? Perhaps one will not justify it, but just neglect to mention it and pretend there’s nothing more to it.
But then again, this might just be a piece of the big oil pipe game or some hidden economic dynamics which I can’t say I understand too well. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if this turns out to be something important or not.
Happy Birthday, Chicago!
City of Chicago Seal
The City of Chicago was incorporated on March 4, 1837, and the world has never been the same since. Chicago helped shaped American history. No one in Chicago actually celebrates this birthday, but true Chicagoans are always aware when March 4 comes and goes without any fanfare.
The City of Chicago Seal was adopted officially in June of 1837. I will try my best to explain the symbols in the seal. I will rely on my memory, which isn’t always very accurate. I remember a little from the Chicago History course I had to take in the fourth grade. The Lithuanian nuns at Holy Cross School were just crazy about Chicago History. I’m not sure if there’s even an official explanation of the seal anywhere.
The shield represents the United States of America. The colors of the American flag are represented as are the original thirteen American colonies by the thirteen stripes. The sheaf of wheat represents are abundant agriculture and fertility. The ship represents either Columbus, the Europeans, or the Pilgrims arriving in the New World. The ship is seen and/or greeted by a Native American. In the fourth grade they were called Indians, but we all know that Indians is a misnomer because Columbus never did reach the East Indies as he had planned. Well, Native American isn’t a very good term either. After all, America was named after Amerigo Vespucci who did a better job of selling and publicizing the New World to the Spanish Monarchs.
The baby in the seashell represents a new beginning. I suppose it has echoes of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. I remember during Mayor Harold Washington’s reign, some of the African-American alderman wanted to get rid of the white baby because it was racist. The baby might have been legislated of the seal, but then someone projected the cost of removing the white baby into the millions of dollars. And so, the City of Chicago still has a white baby.
At the very bottom is the Chicago motto: Urbs in horto, which means city in the garden. Well, we are a city, but we are no longer in the middle of a garden. And you can thank urban sprawl for that!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Fringe players look for green light in Oranje test
Rafael van der Vaart and the rest of the Netherlands will pose a stiff test for Bob Bradley's U.S. squad. (Photo source: Tsutomu Takasu, Creative Commons)
Don’t look now, but it’s only 100 days until the World Cup kicks off, and it appears Bob Bradley has figured out a significant portion of his roster for the tournament. Wednesday’s friendly in Amsterdam against the Netherlands (1:30 p.m. CST, ESPN2/360) marks a last chance for European-based fringe players to state their cases before Bradley announces his 23-man roster ahead of the team’s May send-off series.
Bradley named this 20-man roster for Wednesday’s game:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton/England), Tim Howard (Everton/England)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA/M.L.S.), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes/France), Jay DeMerit (Watford/England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start/Norway), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas/M.L.S.), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday/England), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/England)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers/Scotland), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro/Sweden), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), Landon Donovan (Everton/England), Maurice Edu (Rangers/Scotland), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers/England), José Torres (Pachuca/Mexico)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull City/England), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake/M.L.S.), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki/Greece)
The interesting thing about Bradley’s roster is that it’s largely made up of first choice players, so he’ll have a good opportunity to evaluate the performances of fringe players alongside his regular starters. Don’t be surprised to see every wing back on the roster get playing time. The American struggles on both sides of defense are well documented, so this could be the final chance to settle on a starter, particularly at right back. Bornstein has enjoyed a lot of playing time at the position recently, but after solid performances at last summer’s Confederations Cup, I’d put my money on Spector to claim the starting position. Spector isn’t as fast as Bornstein, but his presence on the ball and delivery into the penalty area is much, much better. Bornstein’s decision making to go forward is better than it used to be, but it’s still too regular a thing to see an opponent’s left midfielder with too much space on the wing on Bornstein’s watch.
In the midfield, a recent ankle injury to Benny Feilhaber has opened the door to claim the last spot up for grabs. Donovan, Clint Dempsey and the younger Bradley will all start for sure this summer, but the elder Bradley must decide whether he wants to employ a creative midfielder, like Feilhaber or Pachuca’s Torres, or hold two midfielders back to allow Dempsey and Donovan greater offensive freedom. I expect Bradley to make the decision based on the situation. For the World Cup opener against England and matches against favored teams, look for him to play his son and one other defensive midfielder; against Slovenia and Algeria, expect an attacking midfielder with a little more backtracking responsibility for Donovan and Dempsey. Against a fast-attacking Dutch side, look for Edu to partner Bradley as defensive midfielders. Edu isn’t 100 percent game fit yet, but he scored the winning goal in stoppage time of the Old Firm Derby this past weekend after coming on as a first half substitute. I expect Edu to get about an hour of game time before Holden or Torres comes on to introduce a little more aggression to the American attack.
With Charlie Davies’ return still in question after his October car crash, Bradley also must figure out where the speed is going to come from up front. Altidore’s starting position is in little jeopardy, especially now that he’s getting regular playing time for Hull City, but he showed during World Cup qualifying and the Confederations Cup that he’s most effective with a downhill runner partnering him at forward. The chemistry between Altidore and Davies was immediate and undeniable, and despite the good prognosis for Davies’ recovery by June, Bradley must face the fact that he might need to replicate that. Findley was unimpressive against Denmark last year and El Salvador last week, so this could be his third strike. Then again, Johnson appeared to have struck out about a year ago, but a recent recovery of his goal-scoring touch in Greece has earned him a return. Johnson broke onto the scene with a hot streak during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and earned his move overseas with a season-long hot streak for the Kansas City Wizards. There’s no player in the national team pool with the ups and downs of Johnson, but a run of good form could see him sneak onto the roster for South Africa. If neither Findley nor Johnson play well, don’t be surprised to see Donovan move back to forward or Bradley get creative with a 5-4-1 formation.
The final spots up for grabs are those of the back up goalkeepers. Guzan has long been Howard’s deputy, but Hahnemann has pushed hard recently for consideration, and if Wolves stay up in the English Premier League this season, much of it will be due to Hahnemann’s play since he took over the starting goalkeeping job. Guzan has spent most of this season on the bench watching Brad Friedel at Aston Villa, playing mostly cup matches. He was benched for the Carling Cup final on Sunday against Manchester United in favor of the more experienced Friedel.
When the U.S. takes the field Wednesday in Amsterdam, Bradley’s focus will be less on the scoreboard than it will be on seeing how his fringe players fit into a lineup against world-class competition. The Netherlands will be almost full-strength, with several players currently enjoying incredible club form. This will definitely be the best team Bradley’s team faces between now and the World Cup, and based on its current form, it’s even fair to say the U.S. won’t see a team this good until the second round of the World Cup, should the Americans make good on being a favorite to advance from Group C.
What do you think about the question marks in Bradley’s lineup? What position concerns you most? What fringe player do you think could have the greatest impact? What result do you expect
I Can't Believe I Didn't Post This
I totally thought I had, so without further ado, here’s the newest member of our family in the US: This is Cooper.
He’s the second out door cat at home. He showed up as a stray in December about a week before we arrived for the holidays. He was so skinny! Well, he’s not anymore. He’s really enjoying life there. He follows Blair (the other outdoor cat) everywhere. Blair is still getting used to his new shadow, treating him like an annoying little brother, but I think he actually likes the attention. If Blair goes off for the day without Cooper, Cooper meows until Blair comes home. It’s sweet.
And just so the others don’t get jealous, here are some newer pics of the other two boys- Blair and my baby Julian. 
Monday, March 1, 2010
CBC Sports Anchor Jeff Marek on Olympic Hockey: "The wrong team won."
You’d have to hear it to believe it, but a Canadian sports anchor actually said those words today on The Fan Morning Show regarding the gold medal match between the United States and Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Morning Sports Anchor Jeff Marek once again joined the guys, this time to recap all the action from last night’s gold medal game and the impact it will have on the popularity of the NHL.
The guys were also able to get an inside look at how those who work inside the Penguins organization viewed the outcome of the gold medal game as Penguins VP of Communication Tom McMillan joined the show to weigh in.
Post Gazette writer Paul Zeise checked in to talk some Pitt hoops as the Panthers prepare for their final two regular season games and what they hope to be a long post season run.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Beverly Hills disowns Miss California contestant
Thu Feb 25, 12:05 am ET
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Less than a year after dethroned Miss California USA Carrie Prejean stirred up controversy with her remarks against gay marriage, a similar war of words is brewing in Beverly Hills.
Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne said Wednesday she is outraged over a Miss California USA contestant who is claiming to represent the city in the upcoming pageant and who spoke out against same-sex marriage in recent media interviews.
Krasne said in a statement that 23-year-old Lauren Ashley does not live in Beverly Hills or represent the city in any capacity. Krasne said she was shocked to see statements made by a beauty pageant contestant under the name of Beverly Hills, “which has a long history of tolerance and respect.”
Ashley recently told Fox News and other media outlets that same-sex marriage goes against God and the Bible.
Keith Lewis, a K2 Productions stage director for the Miss California USA pageant, told the Los Angeles Times that contestants choose the area they represent and Ashley chose to compete as Miss Beverly Hills in November 2010.
A phone listing for Ashley could not be found.
Krasne said the city has contacted Miss California USA pageant officials to determine ways to formally prevent any beauty contestants from claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills in the future.
Ashley’s comments came just months after Prejean, the former Miss California USA 2009, reached a confidential settlement with pageant organizers on dueling lawsuits over her outspoken stance against gay marriage.
Prejean sued Miss California USA organizers in August for libel, slander and religious discrimination. She accused them of telling her to stop mentioning God even before her controversial remarks against gay marriage.
Prejean was fired in June after pageant officials accused her of missing events, an allegation she denied. The pageant later countersued Prejean.
Prejean said she was dethroned because she said during the Miss USA pageant that gays shouldn’t be allowed to marry.
Courtesy of Yahoo News at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100225/ap_on_re_us/us_miss_beverly_hills
Home is Where the Heart Is
It’s been six and a half months now since I left Germany to study abroad in the United States. This is not my first time of being over here. Actually, I’m feeling very much at home on the other side of the Atlantic. My second cousin in Texas always says I “hop across the ocean as if it were a puddle.” I guess I fit in quite well by now; at least, it’s been a while since the last time that someone noticed that I’m a foreigner or said to me “You have such a cute accent! Where are you from?” And I love it. I love that I have managed to adapt to American culture to an extent where no one can tell that I wasn’t born and raised here.
I’m not exactly sure when that adaptation process started, but it probably all began, when I was about eight years old singing along to songs like Jessie by Joshua Kadison and Give it away by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the radio. Although, singing along is probably saying a bit too much considering I didn’t even know any English then. As soon as my brother, Michael, started learning English in school, I started asking him how different words are pronounced and what they mean. I remember asking him over and over again about a band name on one of the posters in his room. “It’s EAST SEVENTEEN,“ he would say, obviously getting annoyed. I couldn’t wait to finally be in fifth grade and learn English myself.
My first years of English in school were a breeze; it all seemed to come to me almost naturally. I enjoyed doing my English homework and studying irregular verb forms. I even thought about the everyday words and grammar we learned in school during my everyday life. Sometimes, I would even talk to myself in English when I knew there was no one around. So, while my grades in Math and other subjects dropped from an A in elementary school to a C in secondary school, I received mostly As and a few Bs in my brand-new, favorite subject English.
At the beginning of seventh grade, my grandparents promised my brother and me to take us on a trip to visit our relatives in Michigan the following spring. Of course, we had to fulfill our part of the deal first. “We’re only going to take you guys if you bring home some good grades on your mid-year report cards,” my grandfather said with a wink. I knew we would get to go with them even if our grades weren’t going to be outstanding.
The day we got our report cards that February, my brother and I raced home on our bikes. Taking the corner onto our street, I could already see my grandparents car. We jumped off the bikes, leaving them on the driveway, and ran into the house. Both of us were really out of breath. My grandmother just started laughing when she saw us. She and my grandfather, with his boyish grin, were sitting in the kitchen together with my mother. “Let’s see these report cards,“ said my grandfather, so we gave them to him. After what seemed like forever, he looked up. “I guess that’s good enough,“ he said with a smile on his face. Then, my grandmother told us that we were going to fly to Michigan for my second cousin Ralph’s wedding in May.
At school, I told my friends about my upcoming trip. Soon, I began to think of things I needed to bring: something nice to wear for the wedding, my walkman for the long flight, and my camera. And I had to save up money, because I wanted to buy cool American things to show off when I got back home.
At last, three months of waiting had come to an end, and it was time for the four of us to start our trip to the other side of the Atlantic with a nine-hour flight. While our grandparents were trying to catch some sleep on the airplane, Michael and I used the time to get ourselves ready for all the English we were going to be exposed to over the next two weeks by watching some movies and listening to the radio in English. I don‘t remember what movies we watched, but I got a bit scared by how fast everyone was talking. I asked my brother if he understood everything that was being said. “No. You just have to keep watching, though,” he said. So, I did.
Around four o’clock in the afternoon, my great-aunt Inge, who was also the only one we knew over here who could speak German, picked us up from the airport. My brother and I were exhausted but still too excited to fall asleep on the ride to her house. Our grandparents already knew everyone from their previous trips and had told us a little bit about our relatives. Yet, we kids couldn’t wait to meet everyone over the course of the following days.
One day, we went to a nearby lake, where the grown-ups took us kids to ride in the boat and on the tube they were pulling across the lake. My brother and I had the time of our lives – we didn’t know anyone back home who owned a boat, so that was our first time of going tubing on a lake. We had a huge barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, and cookies for dessert, and the entire family was there. I remember thinking this must be what America is about.
On other days, we had dinner at someone’s house. One time, we drove out to Ralph’s house, which actually is an old farmhouse. He also still has an old barn standing on his big piece of property. We had another barbecue, and my brother and I got to ride the lawn mower. Again, back home nobody we knew had one of those, so we were really excited about it. “Make sure not to crush the little pine trees over there. I just planted them last year,” Ralph said, but my brother was a bit too enthusiastic driving the lawn mower; that was the end for those pine trees.
Of course, our relatives also took us to the nearby malls. I loved all the stores and that I got to pay with the American dollars I had gotten from my bank in Germany. A bit confused about the conversion rate, I spent way to much on a tie-dye shirt and a candle, which I thought looked really cool. “Are you sure you don’t want to return this stuff?“ Inge asked after she saw the price tags. But I kept my overpriced shirt and candle; it was my cool American stuff. What really impressed me, though, was the politeness I encountered. “How are you?“ and “Can I help you find something” were the first two things I heard whenever I entered a store, and inside, everybody constantly apologized for almost bumping into me or blocking my view.
On the wedding day, Inge helped me get all dressed up and ready before we had to head out to go to church. I have to admit that I didn’t understand everything, but the wedding was beautiful. Later, at the reception, we all danced and laughed and had the greatest time together; I felt like this was where I belonged.
Since I had only had a little under three years of English in school, I didn’t talk a whole lot during this first trip to the USA; I just listened closely and tried to follow everyone’s conversation, because by the time I had figured out what I wanted to say their conversation had moved on to a different topic. Still, everywhere we went I quickly felt at home. All those strangers that were my family were so welcoming and loving that I couldn’t help but feel comfortable around them.
As a matter of fact, I enjoyed my stay and being around my relatives so much that I decided to use all the money I got for my confirmation on a five-week trip to visit them over my summer break the following year. After that I wanted to go back to the US to stay for a year and go to high school, but my parents said I was too young to be away from home for that long. Moreover, it would have been really expensive. So, after that plan fell through, I decided to finish high school in Germany and then come back to be an AuPair for a year. Even during my time as an AuPair, my relatives were always just a phone call away and helped me to get used to living in a part of the US I hadn’t been to before. Thereafter, I kept coming back every summer to visit friends and family in Illinois, Wisconsin, Idaho, Michigan, and Texas, and now, I’m an international student at College of DuPage.
Over the years, the USA have become my second home. Of course, I don’t like everything over here, but I don’t like everything in Germany either. Just the same, it doesn’t matter which side of the Atlantic I’m on, I’m always missing something from the opposite side. I’m sure that I wouldn’t know these feelings if it hadn’t been for my grandparents and my relatives over here, and without them I might not be “the family’s globetrotter” that I am today.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The RIGHT Way to Celebrate Valentine's Day in Elementary School
I see some problems with Valentine’s Day as it is currently taking place in some schools. If the holdiay is going to be celebrated with class parties in elementary school (as opposed to students giving out their own valentines privately, without anything to do with the school), in my opinion, there is only ONE way to do it.
Having been an Elementary Teacher of many years, the ONLY way Valentine’s Day should be celebrated at school is for children to be required to make a card for every other child in the class. This prevents some children going home upset, deflated, egos damaged.
I taught for many years in an overseas American school in a country where Valentine’s were not sold in large packets, as they are in America.
Valentines in America are sold in easy, class-sized packages
I solved this problem by making heart shapes on a paper, writing “to” and “from” on the card, and photocopying the papers. I gave each child a packet to cut out the 25-30 necessary for the whole class, and kids sat with their friends in groups to color valentines and write simple messages on them.
Since we don’t commonly have shoeboxes easily available in this country, I made large envelopes for each child by folding and stapling at the sides an 18″ x 24″ piece of construction paper, and wrote each child’s name largely in fancy cursive on the envelope. That way we could have a Valentine’s party where everyone could go around distributing valentines to everyone else’s desk, and no one would feel left out.
We also had envelopes taped up around the room for other classes, in case someone wanted to send a card to a brother or sister, or friend in another grade. Of course they could make additional valentines “from your secret admirer,” and we always made a special one to take home to Moms and Dads.
This way, at the end of the day, everyone in the class has a whole packet of Valentines to take home, from the whole class, and is NOT LEFT OUT, while other, more popular children get ALL the valentines!
I was surprised to find how many high school children still had their class valentines, saved from our elementary school parties.
–Mary Mimouna
Dogfish Head Squall IPA
Dogfish Head is one bad ass brewery. Located in Delaware, Dogfish Head continually pushes the boundaries of beer, while at the same time being repsectful of brewing traditions. I love these guys, and will buy any of their beers without hesitation.
The Squall IPA came out last spring. If you see any bottles at your local beer emporium, grab them, because this a tasty treat. This Imperial IPA is super hoppy, and packs a 9% ABV. Very fragrant, and even with that high alcohol content, this drank very easily. I had this with some friends at a boy’s weekend in Vermont, and this was easily the standout beer of the weekend. A solid 9/10.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friends and family.
The thing about having to go between two countries, is that here are plenty of friends and family that you don’t get to see but every few years. People that I grew up with and love immensely. That is something I had to give up with moving here, but I’m thankful to get to spend the little bit of time that I can with people when we do manage to make it to the US.
During our trip in June we were able to visit with friends and family, as I’ve shared other pictures before (on the other blog), but here are the last of those pictures.
One set of pictures with my friend Irene and her son, Jason. (Irene wouldn’t let me take any pictures of her.) *sigh* Irene and I grew up together and were best friends during high school. She is a fantastic person and I miss her a lot! Her son Jason is crazy and a talker. ) He and Fredrik had a lot of fun together while Irene and I were about to talk. And the grass in the pictures.. American grass.. REAL grass. None of this hard, crunchy, mossy grass that we have here in Sweden. But REAL, soft, GREEN grass. It made me miss American summers!
Here is a set of pictures with Leia getting to meet her Aunt Melissa and boyfriend Dustin and her cousin Amanda. (Leia only got to meet cousin Amanda, her other cousins, Josh and Craig, were unable to make a trip to come see us.) Leia also was able to meet Amanda’s daughters, Hailey and Savannah.
Aunt Melissa bought Leia her first ice cream from an American ice cream truck.
Which Leia thoroughly enjoyed.
It is always sad saying goodbye, especially because you don’t know when we’ll ever see each other again – if we ever do.
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