text:
Monday, October 18, 2004
Syria, Election, Falluja, Hersh, ......
Nabil's postings from Sunday.....
1) Remember that little mortar exchange last week?
This is a second completely unverifiable story,
planted in the media as a trial balloon for later use.
I am growing more certain that if Bush takes this
election, there will be a US attack on Syria by next
summer. The signs are all there, and they're laying
the seeds even before the election.
To see this story with its related links on the The
Observer site, go to http://www.observer.co.uk
Saddam aide in exile heads list of most wanted rebels
A former Baathist based in Syria has been identified
as the Mr Big behind terrorism
Peter Beaumont
Sunday October 17 2004
The Observer
A senior Baath party organiser and Saddam Hussein
aide, Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed, has been named by
western intelligence officials as one of the key
figures directing the Sunni insurgency from his
hiding-place in neighbouring Syria.
Sources have told The Observer that Younis al-Ahmed -
who has had a $1 million price tag placed on his head
by the US - is one of between 20 and 50 senior Baath
party figures based in Syria who, they believe, are
involved in organising the guerrilla war against the
US-led multi-national forces in Iraq and against the
new Iraqi security forces.
2) The fangs of "globalization". In order to pay for
profits estimated not to have been gained in the
Kuwaiti market due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in
1990, the state of Iraq still owes various US
corporations millions of dollars. Still wonder why
they hate the US? One wonders what payments Syria's
going to be made to pay Wall-Mart after Boeing's
products eviscerate thousands of faceless Syrian
Why is war-torn Iraq giving $190,000 to Toys R Us?
Naomi Klein
Iraqis are still being forced to pay for crimes
committed by Saddam
Saturday October 16, 2004
The Guardian
Next week, something will happen that will unmask the
upside-down morality of the invasion and occupation of
Iraq. On October 21, Iraq will pay $200m in war
reparations to some of the richest countries and
corporations in the world.
If that seems backwards, it's because it is. Iraqis
have never been awarded reparations for any of the
crimes they suffered under Saddam, or the brutal
sanctions regime that claimed the lives of at least
half a million people, or the US-led invasion, which
the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, recently called
"illegal". Instead, Iraqis are still being forced to
pay reparations for crimes committed by their former
Quite apart from its crushing $125bn sovereign debt,
Iraq has paid $18.8bn in reparations stemming from
Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion and occupation of
Kuwait. This is not in itself surprising: as a
condition of the ceasefire that ended the 1991 Gulf
war, Saddam agreed to pay damages stemming from the
invasion. More than 50 countries have made claims,
with most of the money awarded to Kuwait. What is
surprising is that even after Saddam was overthrown,
the payments from Iraq have continued.
Since Saddam was toppled in April, Iraq has paid out
$1.8bn in reparations to the United Nations
Compensation Commission (UNCC), the Geneva-based quasi
tribunal that assesses claims and disburses awards. Of
those payments, $37m have gone to Britain and $32.8m
have gone to the United States. That's right: in the
past 18 months, Iraq's occupiers have collected $69.8m
in reparation payments from the desperate people they
have been occupying. But it gets worse: the vast
majority of those payments, 78%, have gone to
multinational corporations, according to statistics on
the UNCC website.
Away from media scrutiny, this has been going on for
years. Of course there are many legitimate claims for
losses that have come before the UNCC: payments have
gone to Kuwaitis who have lost loved ones, limbs, and
property to Saddam's forces. But much larger awards
have gone to corporations: of the total amount the
UNCC has awarded in Gulf war reparations, $21.5bn has
gone to the oil industry alone. Jean-Claude Aimé, the
UN diplomat who headed the UNCC until December 2000,
publicly questioned the practice. "This is the first
time as far as I know that the UN is engaged in
retrieving lost corporate assets and profits," he told
the Wall Street Journal in 1997, and then mused: "I
often wonder at the correctness of that."
But the UNCC's corporate handouts only accelerated.
Here is a small sample of who has been getting
"reparation" awards from Iraq: Halliburton ($18m),
Bechtel ($7m), Mobil ($2.3m), Shell ($1.6m), Nestlé
($2.6m), Pepsi ($3.8m), Philip Morris ($1.3m),
Sheraton ($11m), Kentucky Fried Chicken ($321,000) and
Toys R Us ($189,449). In the vast majority of cases,
these corporations did not claim that Saddam's forces
damaged their property in Kuwait - only that they
"lost profits" or, in the case of American Express,
experienced a "decline in business" because of the
invasion and occupation of Kuwait. One of the biggest
winners has been Texaco, which was awarded $505m in
1999. According to a UNCC spokesperson, only 12% of
that reparation award has been paid, which means
hundreds of millions more will have to come out of the
coffers of post-Saddam Iraq.
The fact that Iraqis have been paying reparations to
their occupiers is all the more shocking in the
context of how little these countries have actually
spent on aid in Iraq. Despite the $18.4bn of US tax
dollars allocated for Iraq's reconstruction, the
Washington Post estimates that only $29m has been
spent on water, sanitation, health, roads, bridges,
and public safety combined. And in July (the latest
figure available), the Department of Defence estimated
that only $4m had been spent compensating Iraqis who
had been injured, or who lost family members or
property as a direct result of the occupation - a
fraction of what the US has collected from Iraq in
reparations since its occupation began.
For years there have been complaints about the UNCC
being used as a slush fund for multinationals and rich
oil emirates - a backdoor way for corporations to
collect the money they were prevented from making as a
result of the sanctions against Iraq. During the
Saddam years, these concerns received little
attention, for obvious reasons.
But now Saddam is gone and the slush fund survives.
And every dollar sent to Geneva is a dollar not spent
on humanitarian aid and reconstruction Iraq.
Furthermore, if post-Saddam Iraq had not been forced
to pay these reparations, it could have avoided the
$437m emergency loan that the International Monetary
Fund approved on September 29.
With all the talk of forgiving Iraq's debts, the
country is actually being pushed deeper into the hole,
forced to borrow money from the IMF, and to accept all
of the conditions and restrictions that come along
with those loans. The UNCC, meanwhile, continues to
assess claims and make new awards: $377m worth of new
claims were awarded last month alone.
Fortunately, there is a simple way to put an end to
these grotesque corporate subsidies. According to
United Nations security council resolution 687, which
created the reparations programme, payments from Iraq
must take into account "the requirements of the people
of Iraq, Iraq's payment capacity, and the needs of the
Iraqi economy". If a single one of these three issues
were genuinely taken into account, the security
council would vote to put an end to these payouts
That is the demand of Jubilee Iraq, a debt relief
organisation based in London. Reparations are owed to
the victims of Saddam Hussein, the group argues - both
in Iraq and in Kuwait. But the people of Iraq, who
were themselves Saddam's primary victims, should not
be paying them. Instead, reparations should be the
responsibility of the governments that loaned billions
to Saddam, knowing the money was being spent on
weapons so he could wage war on his neighbours and his
own people. "If justice, and not power, prevailed in
international affairs, then Saddam's creditors would
be paying reparations to Kuwait as well as far greater
reparations to the Iraqi people," says Justin
Alexander, coordinator of Jubilee Iraq.
Right now precisely the opposite is happening: instead
of flowing into Iraq, reparations are flowing out.
It's time for the tide to turn.
·Naomi Klein is the author of No Logo, and Fences and
3) Ever notice the antiseptic descriptions used about
Falluja this weekend: "restore control over the city,"
or "obtain al-Zarqawi," or "cleanse the city of
terrorists?" The Fallujans keep saying the demands
are impossible, and no one in the US media asks why
they're saying that. They're saying that because the
Fallujans have never seen Zarqawi, and people are
starting to wonder if the guy even exists. It sort of
sounds like when we invaded Iraq when they failed to
stop their [non-existent] WMD programs.
'They want Zarqawi. They can't kill him so they're
killing us'
By Kim Sengupta
17 October 2004
The missiles struck at just after 3am with devastating
effect. Eight members of the al-Jabouri family were
killed as they slept, their home destroyed. The
following morning the US military issued a statement
saying that fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
America's number one enemy in Iraq, had been taken out
in a precision strike in Fallujah.
The town had been pounded nightly for three weeks,
with the Americans insisting that those killed and
maimed were insurgents mainly from Zarqawi's Tawhid
and Jihad group, which kidnapped and murdered the
British hostage Ken Bigley and his two American
colleagues. Repeated protests by doctors in local
hospitals that the vast majority of the casualties are
civilians have been dismissed as rebel propaganda. Now
the town is waiting for an imminent ground and air
assault, amid fears of a bloodbath.
Among the dead in the al-Jabouri family were
26-year-old Atika, who was six months pregnant, her
three-year-old son Omar, her husband Thamir, 28, her
sister Athra and her mother. Atika's prematurely born
baby lived for a few hours after her, but they were
buried in the same grave.
The only member of the family to come out alive was
Atika's five-year-old daughter, Ayisha. She was
asleep, hugging her grandmother, who was killed
instantly. Miraculously the little girl survived, but
she was badly injured, burnt and lacerated by shrapnel
and flying glass. Ahmed Fawzi, Ayisha's uncle,
recalled: "I live nearby and ran over after hearing
the explosions. There was nothing left. We had to
bring out the bodies one by one." Ayisha, with
injuries to her shoulder, arms, back and legs, was
taken to a hospital in nearby Ramadi for treatment.
She is now being looked after by the family of her
mother's uncle, Khalil Hammadi, in a village outside
Fallujah. Lying on a mattress on the floor, she does
not betray the considerable pain she must be under.
But the normally bright and inquisitive girl is very
Mr Fawzi said: "When in hospital in Ramadi, she
overheard some discussion about an operation on a boy
called Omar. She said to us afterwards 'I hear them
talking about Omar'. She did not know at the time he
was dead. That is the only time she had talked about
her brother. She has not once asked anything about her
mother or father. It is very sad, but what can we do?"
Mazin Younis, an Iraqi -born human rights activist
from Manchester who visited Fallujah to investigate
the damage, found that the overwhelming number of
attacks have been on civilian targets. Mr Younis, who
as a legal case worker helped gather evidence of
alleged abuse by British troops in southern Iraq, is
attempting to raise funds so that Ayisha can get
medical treatment abroad, and hopes that the same help
can be extended to other injured children in Fallujah.
"People in Fallujah say they are being punished," said
Mr Younis. "Ordinary people are being killed. I had a
meal in a kebab restaurant called Hajji Hussain. It
was full of families. Two days later it was bombed by
the Americans." The US military maintained the kebab
house was in fact a front for a command and control
centre for Tawhid and Jihad.
There are already 1,000 US troops, backed up by
artillery, tanks and Iraqi government troops,
surrounding Fallujah. The Americans and Iraq's interim
Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, have demanded that the
town hand over Zarqawi, supposedly based there, or
face retribution. Civic leaders have protested that
this is an impossible demand. They point out that the
Americans, for all their military might and a reward
of $25m, have not managed to capture or kill the
Jordanian-born militant. Rahim Haidar Mohammed, a
resident of Fallujah, said: "The Americans have
created a bogeyman in Zarqawi. We haven't seen him.
They can't kill him, so they kill us. We are just
waiting for the big attack."
Many see the Fallujah deployment as retaliation for
last week's bombings in the Green Zone in Baghdad, in
which four Americans were killed. The bitter Fallujah
clashes of last April were also regarded as
retribution, following the lynching of four US
contractors. After a bloody siege for weeks, and 600
Iraqi dead, US-led forces withdrew, leaving the town
to the insurgents.
At the time President George Bush said: "Our military
commanders will do all that is necessary to secure
Fallujah." The commander of the Marines who carried
out the assault later disagreed with that policy of
aggression, saying it destroyed the trust being built
with local people through reconstruction projects.
"We felt we had a method that we wanted to apply to
Fallujah, that we ought to let the situation settle
before we appeared to be attacking out of revenge,"
said Lt Gen James Conway. But he added: "We follow
orders. We had our say ... We saluted smartly and went
about our attack."
4) Remember when the USG said those veterans' sickness
was all in their heads? You should see the photos of
Iraqi birth defects as a legacy of uranium tipped
shells. Well, at least Toys R Us got their's...
Chemicals Sickened '91 Gulf War Veterans, Latest Study
October 15, 2004
By SCOTT SHANE
A panel studying illnesses among the veterans has
concluded that many suffer from neurological damage
caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, rejecting past
5) Check this out -- RNC Chair Ed Gillespie demands
that the Rock the Vote organizers stop using the
potentially imminent draft (note Syria posting above)
as a reason to mobilize young voters. Rock the Vote
responds in a letter on the website (they have a
facsimile image in Adobe of the RNC letter as well):
Also here:
6) As far as I'm concerned, this election is already
being stolen -- and we just don't realize it yet.
To see this story with its related links on the
Guardian Unlimited
site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk
Any means necessary.
In the 60s, police dogs and billy clubs kept black
Americans from the polls. Today's methods are more
Gary Younge
Monday October 18 2004
The Guardian
There is nothing George Bush likes more than extolling
the virtues of democracy in faraway places. On October
8, during the second presidential debate, he promised:
"Freedom is on the march. Tomorrow, Afghanistan will
be voting for a president." Apparently some Afghans
enjoyed their new freedoms so much, they voted for the
US surrogate, Hamid Karzai, several times over, after
the ink used to mark voters' thumbs wore off. By the
middle of the day, all 15 of Karzai's challengers had
withdrawn. Freedom was not even limping let alone
"Today's election is not a legitimate election," said
Abdul Satar Sirat, after he and the other disgruntled
candidates had met in his house. Bush's national
security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, knew better. "This
election is going to be judged legitimate," she said.
"I'm just certain of it." When it comes to fixing
elections, the Bush administration has a way of making
the lame walk.
By Monday an exit poll funded by the US government and
conducted by the International Republican Institute,
which has links to the Republican party, revealed
Karzai as a comfortable winner. After diplomatic
arm-twisting by the US ambassador, the 15 challengers
withdrew their withdrawals. It was a miracle. A few
days later, in the final presidential debate, Bush
would literally claim divine intervention. "In
Afghanistan, I believe that the freedom there is a
gift from the Almighty."
Back in the US, however, the Almighty seems far less
generous. Bush's enthusiasm to export democracy is not
matched by his desire to defend it at home. With just
a fortnight to go to the presidential election,
efforts to obstruct and deny the vote, particularly to
black and Latino voters, are intensifying. Forty years
after the civil rights act enshrined the franchise in
the constitution for African-Americans, freedom is
being crippled.
The group most likely to serve in Iraq and
Afghanistan, where they are ostensibly extending
democracy and freedom - African-Americans - is most
likely to be denied those rights in the US. There is
nothing new in this contradiction. In the cold war,
when the US lectured the eastern bloc on the delights
of democracy, black Americans couldn't vote....
7) Electoral Map estimation -- it's a tossup at the
8) Letter from one of our readers:
The Editor
Albuquerque NM
Dear Sir:
I am tired of hearing the Bush Leaguers use the word
"liberal" as an insult, implying that the bearer of
the title "liberal" is a villain and not worth of
I would like my fellow voters to ask themselves if
such great works of legislation as Social Security,
Medicare, Medicaid, Minimum Wages, Regulation of
working hours, worker safety,
etc. came from "conservative" legislators of from
"LIBERAL" legislators
. It would take a long time and a lot of written space
to list all the great things that the United States
does for its citizens in need of help and protection,
thanks to the liberals in Congress.
I feel very proud when a friend refers to me as a
"liberal". I first campaigned,though too young to
vote., for FDR vs. Wilkie.
Very truly yours,
Peter A. Low
221 Windsong Lane
Corrales NM 87048
9) This doesn't happen every day -- ADC actually sort
of endorses a Prince video:
ADC Update:
Prince's Cinnamon Girl Music Video
The musician Prince has released a new music video for
the song "Cinnamon Girl" from his highly-praised new
CD, Musicology. The video, directed by Phil Harder,
visualizes the lyrics of Prince's four-minute song. It
stars actress Keisha Castle-Hughes as an Arab-American
girl driven to the verge of a terrible act, but then
pulling back from the brink and reconnecting with
fundamental human values. This music video will be
airing on MTV and elsewhere.
The video/song follows the hardships and confusion of
an Arab-American teenage girl in the post-9/11
American environment. It deals with several sensitive
matters in an interesting albeit cursory manner, as
the video is only four minutes. The issues running
through the video are: the effects of Sept. 11 on an
ordinary Arab-American girl, the confusing and
contradictory feelings of a teenage girl growing into
adulthood, tensions between generations within
immigrant communities including issues of culture and
religion, and the problem of violence.
In the lyrics, Prince sings, "Cinnamon girl mixed
heritage/Never knew the meaning of color lines/9-11
turned that all around/When she got accused of this
crime." In the video the girl faces racism, bigotry,
and prejudice from her classmates because of her
ethnicity. She watches as storefront signs written in
Arabic are removed and replaced with signs in English.
She appears to argue with her parent about modesty
and the way she dresses. Her whole world seems to be
conspiring against her unfairly.
In this context, the character's imagination of a
suicide bombing reflects the torment she feels at
being defined in every aspect of her life by others,
her need to assert her own agency, and her rebellion
against a world that already deems her a "terrorist"
because of her ethnicity. In the end, however, the
character and the video reject the nihilism and
cruelty inherent in violence, in favor of a broader
sense of humanity. Looking at innocent children in
the terminal, the character starts to weep. She has
confronted her rage, and overcomes the desire to lash
Prince's video may be misinterpreted by some as either
rationalizing violence, or promoting dangerous
stereotypes about Arabs and Arab Americans, but the
artist should be credited with raising serious and
difficult issues. Although a music video may not be
the ideal format for exploring these sensitive and
complex themes due to the time length, this video
should be fairly clear to those who watch it
carefully. Much like the many media treatments of
youth and violence following the Columbine massacre
and other violence in American schools, Prince's
Cinnamon Girl video is a laudable effort to confront a
number of very serious issues, many of which go
ignored by the rest of the entertainment industry.
You can watch the video at:
You can learn more about Prince via his official
10) Know how everyone blames Arafat for the breakdown
of Camp David 2000? Or how everyone always says "the
Palestinians never miss a chance to miss a chance"?
Here's a counter narrative:
Number 205
15 October 2004
2425 Virginia Ave., NW Washington DC 20037 Tel:
202.338.1290 Fax: 202.333.7742
The U.S. Role in the Failure of Camp David 2000
Rather than facilitating peace at the Camp David 2000
summit the Clinton administration, for various
internal political considerations but mainly because
it abandoned its role as honest broker and impartial
mediator, facilitated a crisis that continues today.
In his book, "The Truth about Camp David," former
criminal investigator Clayton Swisher exposes the
critical mistakes made by the Clinton administration
at Camp David and addresses the similar mistakes made
by U.S. officials in mediations with the Syrians. On
both the Palestinian-Israeli and Syrian-Israeli peace
tracks, Swisher explains that it was the Clinton
administration which missed the opportunity for peace
in the Middle East. Voices of dissent from within the
U.S. team over the handling of the talks are heard
throughout the book.
Speaking at a 13 October 2004 briefing and book
signing at the DC-based Palestine Center, Swisher
described his book as a collection of the accounts of
40 U.S., Arab, Palestinian and Israeli officials
involved in both tracks. "It is the truth about Camp
David as I see it based on what was told to me,"
Swisher said.
Swisher found that U.S. officials involved in the Camp
David talks were not prepared to mediate a summit that
was expected to end decades of conflict. "The theme
of the Americans not being prepared is something that
is fleshed out almost to the point of nausea in both
tracks," Swisher said. He found that instead of
coming to Camp David with their own proposals, U.S.
officials allowed the Israelis to influence the
development of the only draft that was ever presented.
Middle East envoy Dennis Ross had been authorized to
draft a proposal by former President Bill Clinton, who
left the summit for a fundraiser on the third day.
Swisher said Barak "watered down" the draft to a point
that it "took out any semblance of honest American
mediation or impartiality." Ross took things further
by changing in his own handwriting a clause on
Jerusalem thus limiting the Palestinians to a capital
in Abu Dis, a village at the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Recognizing Ross' handwriting, Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat concluded that the summit was a trap.
The Israelis were surprised that Ross presented Arafat
with the text before showing it to Clinton. By the
third night, both sides had lost confidence in the
The Clinton administration rushed the sides to a
summit based largely on internal political
considerations. President Clinton was coming out of
an impeachment, Hillary Clinton was running for
Congress and Al Gore was going to be nominated by The
National Democratic Convention to run for president.
One external development that encouraged Clinton to
rush to a summit was the election of Ehud Barak in
Israel. Barak defeated hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu
who had reneged on all the U.S.-brokered Wye
agreements and insisted on negotiating new ones. Yet
although Barak ran on a platform of continuing with
the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's peace
efforts, many Palestinians and Israelis and even some
within the U.S. administration were divided over
whether Barak was going to do things differently than
Netanyahu or whether he was going to send everyone on
a "wild goose chase."
Swisher said Barak set the "wild goose chase" in
motion in May 1999. Clinton officials spent almost a
year pursuing Barak—who had signaled a desire to get a
peace treaty with the Syrians before the
Palestinians—on the issue of an Israeli withdrawal to
the 4 June 1967 line from the Syrian Golan Heights and
Lake Tiberias. In March 2000, after being told by his
advisors that Barak had agreed to the principle of a
withdrawal to the 1967 line, Clinton asked Saudi
Arabia to invite Asad to a summit in Geneva. Asad,
believing this was going to be an end to the conflict
and the start of an new strategic era with Israel and
the United States, headed to Geneva with 150 experts.
When Clinton presented the Israeli proposal, delivered
to him by his Middle East Envoy Dennis Ross, it turned
out that Barak had held on to between 10 meters and
400 meters around Lake Tiberias. The Israelis later
said it was 10 meters, the Syrians argued it was 200
meters and Ross said it was 400 meters. One thing on
which the Israelis and Syrians agree is that the
failure was more due to the Americans than either of
them. The understanding is that the Americans had
deceived the Syrian president.
Months later the same set of circumstances repeated
itself on the Palestinian track at Camp David. Again
the Clinton administration rushed the Arabs to a
summit, offered them a plan that no Arab leader could
accept, a plan that was destine to fail and then
blamed the Arabs for missing an opportunity to make
Swisher stressed that because Barak wanted
deniability, a written offer was never presented at
Camp David. Swisher argued that you cannot rely on
oral agreements presented as a "take it or leave it"
offer when negotiating an issue of such magnitude.
America needs to learn from its mistakes. The nation
is at a critical time in history with a hotly
contested election coming up and the formulation of
the next U.S. policy towards the region. Next time,
America needs to get it right.
The above text is based on remarks delivered on 13
October 2004 by Clayton Swisher, author and consultant
on Middle East affairs for a DC-based firm.
The speaker's views do not necessarily reflect those
of The Jerusalem Fund or its educational arm the
Palestine Center. This "For the Record" summary may be
used without permission but with proper attribution to
the Palestine Center.
11) Seymour Hersh yet again, in the SF press:
Thursday, October 14, 2004 (SF Chronicle)
Want to get Seymour Hersh excited? Ask him why Abu
Ghraib is important. Then take cover.
Heidi Benson, Chronicle Staff Writer
He's not rumpled, he's a blur.
Even dolled up in a gray chalk-striped suit, sipping
tea to soothe a raw throat in the lobby of a Nob Hill
hotel -- where the employees are not on strike --
Seymour Hersh is in perpetual motion.
He's all over the couch, first with one foot up on the
coffee table, then the other.
"Where's my briefcase?" he hollers to the
author-wrangler who has been shuttling him around town
on the San Francisco leg of his book tour.
A leather case arrives gaping open, despite a shiny
combination lock. Clearly a stand-in for his
Washington office, it never closes.
Hersh starts digging. "It's in here somewhere," he
says as he extracts items from the bag, slamming them
down for punctuation: "Books! Newspapers! Bath soap!"
"Seymour Hersh did not lose that letter," he mutters
to himself.
Of the many "love letters" he's been getting since his
book came out, this one -- from someone at Amnesty
International -- thanks him for exposing abuse in
Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. Both Amnesty and Human
Rights Watch began reporting problems with the way
prisoners were being treated in December 2001, in
"I can't believe I didn't keep it, because it was so
touching, a lovely little hand-written note. Just
But wait, he's found another treasure. "I just found
something great, you want to see something great?"
He's clutching a cache of documents, recently procured
in London -- internal memos from March 2002 warning
British Prime Minister Tony Blair against invading
Iraq. Seeds of a forthcoming Hersh investigation?
"Shut off that tape recorder."
This is America's archetypal investigative reporter at
work. "Sy" Hersh, 67, has been on the job since the
In 1970, he won a Pulitzer Prize for exposing the My
Lai massacre and its cover-up. For Hersh, publishing
was a patriotic act; his critics called it treason.
That story has been credited by some with hastening
the United States' withdrawal from the Vietnam War.
Today, with the nation bitterly riven by another war,
Hersh -- now a staff writer at the New Yorker -- has
again commanded the world's attention, this time
reporting on American policy since Sept. 11.
His best-selling new book, "Chain of Command: The Road
>From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib" (HarperCollins), is an
expansion of his recent reporting, and Hersh is taking
advantage of the obligatory book tour to speak out.
"I get horrified," he said in San Francisco last week.
"Because if Bush is re-elected, he's going to bomb and
bomb and bomb, and that's what scares me. What else
can he do? The only way he can hold [Iraq] together is
with force."
On Tuesday, he continued the dialogue -- giving a
noontime talk at the Commonwealth Club, taping an
on-camera interview for local news, giving an
interview to The Chronicle -- and then attended an
evening fund-raiser for Mother Jones magazine.
"Bush believes it's America's mission -- our manifest
destiny -- to bring democracy to the Middle East,"
Hersh said. "There's nothing more frightening than a
president who believes he's doing the right thing in
Wednesday morning, Hersh talked with Michael Krasny on
his KQED-FM show, "Forum," before flying south to
speak at UC Santa Barbara.
"It's my thesis that Bush didn't go to war for Israel
or oil. He went to war because he wanted, through
democracy, to make Iraq 'safe' as a collateral issue,"
Hersh explained. "Once we democratize Iraq and Iran
and Syria, the people who support the Palestinians and
the Palestinians will see the futility of protest and
stop. That's his plan. It's completely mad!"
Thursday night, Hersh was in New York to receive a
Lennon-Ono Peace Prize ($50,000) at a special awards
dinner at the United Nations, where he met
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and was seated between
Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow, Olivia.
By Friday noon, he boomeranged back to San Francisco
for a discussion with Chronicle reporters and editors
before giving that evening's keynote at a conference
on government secrecy presented by the California
First Amendment Coalition at the UC Berkeley Graduate
School of Journalism.
Between those two events, Hersh grabbed a front-row
seat in the journalism school's library to watch
Friday night's presidential debate on TV with a
hundred or so students, alumni and faculty, including
Dean Orville Schell and the director of the school's
magazine journalism program, Clay Felker.
"I've been writing an alternative history of the war,"
he said. "And my sources are not people with axes to
No journalist is tougher on the military, yet no one
has better inside sources. Why do they talk to him?
"Because I like the military and because people want
to do their job right. The good ones are really good,
and they don't want to send boys off to die in a
stupid war," he said.
"So, over the years, people in the military don't
worry about whether I'm a lefty or a righty or liberal
or conservative. They just care that I'm going to do
it right. I don't burn sources. I don't write stories
that are false, and they know it."
To get to his sources, he keeps odd hours. Late-night
calls and early-morning liaisons are common.
"I'm a vampire," Hersh said. "I don't bother to call
people at work. I go to their houses before their 6:30
a.m. meeting at the Pentagon."
Ask him why the Abu Ghraib scandal is important, and
you'll get an earful. "Why are you asking me that
question? Are you trying to torture me? Is that a
torture question? If you can't answer that question,
I'm not going to answer it." He's picking up speed.
"Why is it important? It's important because -- let me
tell you why it's important, in a nutshell! It's
important because it's a symptom of a lack of care by
the people at the top," he said.
"The president and (Vice President Dick) Cheney and
(Defense Secretary Donald) Rumsfeld dehumanized the
opposition from the beginning -- out of fear, out of
anger, out of want of payback."
A disastrous consequence of that dehumanization, Hersh
says, was a tacit agreement to overlook the Geneva
"You don't mistreat people for the simple reason that
you don't want to ever treat a soldier any different
than you want your soldiers treated.
"People say Abu Ghraib was just horseplay, what am I
worried about? But it's a symptom. When we learn about
Guantanamo, we're going to be shamed.
It's as bad as Andersonville," he said, citing the
notorious Civil War prison where soldiers were
"Let me put it in My Lai terms," he said. "In My Lai,
soldiers executed three to five hundred people,
cold-bloodedly, and in the middle stopped and had
their C-rations for lunch.
"This wasn't that. But in terms of the consequences,
the damage to America's reputation -- particularly in
the Middle East -- it's every bit as devastating,"
Hersh said.
"People in the Muslim world who want to be our
friends, who send their children to school here, who
like us -- and Americans are very likable, that's a
reality -- were just horrified by this."
Early this year, reports of abuse were all over the
Internet. Some newspapers picked up the story, Hersh
said, "but the government always denied it." The story
became undeniable only when digital photographs of the
abuses surfaced.
"CBS had the pictures and I knew because I'm sort of
tuned in. I was glad for them. But when they didn't
run the story the first week, even before the second
week I said, 'The hell with it.' I knew where to get
the stuff, so I got it.
"They didn't run the story, by the way, not because
Dan Rather didn't want to run it, but because the
corporate suits at CBS stopped it. The White House
said, 'Don't run it.' "Let me tell you something,"
Hersh says, leaning in close. "Pictures like that,
you could die for."
E-mail Heidi Benson at
12) Unauthorized documentary of Dick Cheney, by a
Canadian company:
Subject: Canadian CBC's fifth estate documentary: "In
Dick Cheney's World, what he says is frequently more
fiction than fact"
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 05:18:13 +0000
Click on this link:
The Unauthorized Biography of Dick Cheney
Broadcast C-B-C- TV - 10/06/04
"In Dick Cheney's World, what he says is frequently
more fiction than fact"
This is the story of Dick Cheney's vision of America.
Follow Cheney's Career
Copyright: C-B-C
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this
material is distributed without profit to those who
have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational
purposes. Information Clearing House has no
affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this
article nor is Information Clearing House endorsed or
sponsored by the originator.)
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around


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MsTioga and The Team are Breakfast Camped at the HomeTown Buffet. George is getting a breakfast treat this morning. A buffet breakfast!
12 Noon - Going to a party!
There is a birthday party today at son David's home for 9 year old Javier. We are going to attend.
Son David has been involved with the foster parent program here in Contra Costa County for many years. David has a giant heart, and is a wonderful parent. Our family is VERY proud of David.
David has fostered more than 25 kids over the past 10+ years. Javier was one of those kids, and is now living with his parents. At today's birthday party for Javier, many of David's former foster kids will return to celebrate.
Isn't this the greatest thing?
4PM - Javier's birthday party!
No anchor map link published at our home base.

subset: commoncrawl


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Before Signing Up For a VoIP Service: Things to Consider
Number Portability and Customer Service
One of the most important things to look out for when you're switching to a VoIP service provider is whether or not you can reuse your existing telephone numbers. If you're a typical business, you have probably spent years building up your brand in various channels such as billboards, coupons, magazines etc. All of these places have a contact number that you will be keen to not lose. Regardless of your communication system, you should always be reachable in one place. Most VoIP providers will allow you to retain your existing mobile number for a small fee. But make sure of this before you actually take the jump.
Another important factor when choosing a VoIP provider is customer service. This is one of the "intangibles" that is very difficult to actually measure and can only be ascertained by speaking to existing and past customers as well as asking for opinions on forums and doing the research. But it will probably be one of the most important factors in your long-term relationship. How attentive are they? Do they provide you with technical help in a timely manner? Do they respond positively to feedback? These questions will ultimately determine the success of your long-term shift to VoIP.
Features and Provisioning
Every business is different and the requirements will vary from place to place. Before moving to VoIP, you need to sit down with a qualified team and determine what features you're looking for. You want international calling, conferencing, HD voice, call waiting, IVR options, or all of these? Some service providers do not implement basic features such as SIP forking that allows multiple phones to ring at the same time. You need to determine whether or not these features are important to you and then settle on a hosted VoIP service that matches them.
Finally, try and give some thought as to what kind of landlines you want in your office. When you sign up for an SIP phone system, some services will also allow you to automatically order VoIP landlines at discounted rates. These are actually minicomputers in the form factor of a phone. They automatically update themselves and obtain the best configurations for optimal performance. While they're not necessary for VoIP to work, they can greatly smooth the transition by presenting a familiar and comforting telephone interface to your employees, many of whom would be used to speaking on a traditional landline. They come packed with features that improve productivity as well.
These are just a few of the factors that you need to consider when choosing a VoIP service.
No comments yet.


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We have added a new section called Interesting Aikidokas. Here you will know more about the achivement of people that practice aikido beyond the dojo.
If you have any suggestion that you think should be here, do let us know.
For now, to read the first entry, click here, its about a daredevil that will jump hundreds of meters from a cliff.
Announcements >


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Sri Lanka to stop imports of cars below Euro IV, without airbags, from July 01
Jan 19, 2018 10:29 AM GMT+0530 | 0 Comment(s)
ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka will stop the imports of cars below Euro IV emission standards and those without anti-lock brakes and airbags, the finance ministry said.
An extension had been given at the request of the vehicle industry but importers have been asked not to open letters of credit for vehicles below the specified standards to arrive at the country after July 01.
The cars also should have 'three point' seat belts.
At the moment the rules do not apply to three wheelers, buses and good carrying vans, sources said. (Colombo/Jan19/2018)


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The Helvick Lifeboat Fundraising Branch AGM is scheduled for 8pm this Friday January 26th in Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club (DHSC) on Davitt's Quay.
"The general public are most welcome to attend" said Hon Fundraising Chairman Kevin O'Morchoe.
The RNLI Dungarvan & Helvick Fundraising Branch work hard to supplement the latest training and safety equipment required by the brave men and women in the Helvick Lifeboat Crew who are always ready to volunteer to save life at sea in all types of weather 24-7-365.
For further information please contact Anne 087 970 4830; Nicky 087 763 0062; Dolores 087 174 0141; or any of the fundraising committee who will be delighted to hear from you.
Pictured at the 2017 AGM of the Fundraising Branch of the Helvick Lifeboat in Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club are back row: John Quealy; Terence Morrissey; Nicky Hannigan; Kevin O'Morchoe; Liam Harty; Brian Curtin, RNLI Community Fundraiser, Munster. Front: Oliver Clancy; RoseAnn Foley; Connie Kiersey; Joan Clancy; Anne McCarthy; Deirdre Doocey; Dolores Walsh; Kevin Harty. Absent are FC members Dermot Hickey and Criostoir Ó Faolain. (Trish Brabazon).


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I have good news and I have bad news. We'll start with the good. Data center outages as a whole have grown somewhat less frequent, according to a new report released by The Ponemon Institute.
Unfortunately, they've also gotten more expensive, averaging out at around $9,000 per minute. And while UPS failure is still the leading cause, there's a new source of failure looming just over the horizon – and it's likely only going to get worse.
Distributed Denial of Service attacks. How they work is simple, though the mechanisms through which they're delivered can actually be quite complex. Basically, a system is only equipped to deal with a certain amount of traffic – flood it with enough requests, and it will become overloaded, eventually shutting down.
Currently, these account for one fifth of data center outages on their own. The motives behind them vary – some are carried out by criminals intent on stealing valuable data. Others are politically-charged, meant to send a message. And still more are simply meant to cause frustration and chaos.
Whatever the reasons, if your data center's targeted by a DDoS attack and you don't have DDoS mitigation tools in place, then it's only a matter of time before your servers are brought down. And it's only going to get worse from here. As we begin bringing more and more connected devices online – and as those devices continue to have spotty or nonexistent security – we're going witness botnets the likes of which the world has never seen.
"Security on IoT devices is not evolved and is not a top agenda item for developers," explains IT Business Edge's Carl Weinschenk. "IoT developers also have to keep things as inexpensive as possible, and security may be one area in which they look to cut costs. This is a real danger."
In order to defend against attacks of this size, data centers will likely need to invest in costly DDoS mitigation appliances. And even then, those appliances aren't necessarily perfect. They can be circumvented or overwhelmed.
Experts are aware of the dangers of IoT, and there's a push for better security controls and regulations. But change takes time. For now, all we can do is wait.
Cybercriminals are getting better at what they do – and that's bad news for data center operators. DDoS attacks are currently one of the leading causes of data center outages, and they'll likely only grow more prominent moving forward. In order to protect yourself, you need DDoS mitigation technology.
Alternatively, you could simply host with Liberty Center One, and let us take care of it for you. Contact us today for a free quote.Follow Liberty Center One:


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Audi Nanuck Concept makes surprise Frankfurt appearance
Audi surprised guests and organisers the evening before the Frankfurt Motor Show opened with the appearance of a new diesel sports car. The Nanuck Concept was produced in collaboration with ItalDesign Giugiaro, and Audi reveal that the design 'language' is likely to be seen across its range of new-generation SUVs.
The Nanuck has a 5-litre, mid-mounted V10 TDI engine that will provide give a top speed of 190 mph and, if Audi's claims are correct, a commendable 36mpg.
Fabrizio Giugiaro from ItalDesign Giugiaro confirmed that its Parcour model provided the inspiration for the Nanuck. He added that his company's original concept was particularly welcomed by Audi for its four-wheel drive and mid-engine layout.
The Nanuck's four-wheel-drive steering enables the back wheels to turn in the opposite direction to those at the front when driven at low speed. Another innovation is its three-staged air suspension, which reacts to different driving conditions or can be used to manually turn the car into an off-roader.
Audi insist that there has been no decision to take the concept further at present, and it seems that the main purpose of the surprise unveiling was to provoke a reaction. It remains to be seen whether the concept will ever become a reality for Audi fans.


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Strategic Investment
He has predicted every major economic event of the past three decades.
He's been behind some of the most powerful underground media organizations in the world.
And he's met and convened with some of the most influential financial and political leaders of our time, including George H.W. Bush, Steve Forbes, Margaret Thatcher, Sir Roger Douglas, Boris Yeltsin, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Donald J. Trump.
His name … is James Dale Davidson.
In 1984, James began mailing out a simple 12-page newsletter to a small group of friends and associates.
Overtime, that newsletter, Strategic Investment, has grown into a global network of more than 50,000 readers who look to James as one of the great financial prognosticators of our time.
In 1989, he warned Strategic Investment readers that the Berlin Wall would fall when no one else saw it coming. It fell later that year.
Months later, he predicted a collapse in the Japanese stock market and economy when most feared Japan would overtake the U.S. as the world's dominant superpower.
Japan's economy began crumbling that next year, and has never recovered.
He has made similar predictions that have all come to fruition … like when he warned about the dot-com bust in 1999 … and the sub-prime mortgage crisis of the mid-2000s.
Through all of these events, Strategic Investment readers knew what was coming, how to prepare — and most importantly, how to position their investments accordingly.
And now, he's making his biggest prediction yet — a collapse of the U.S. financial system that could see stocks fall by as much as 80%.
Of course, you'll never hear about any of this in the mainstream media.
Major media outlets are clueless to the changing social and political structures now facing us. This leads to mispriced markets that savvy investors can profit from if they can see through the smoke.
This is why subscribers to Strategic Investment have always had an edge over the average investor…
And it's why James has been able to predict and help his readers profit from events that most claimed were "impossible."
It's no wonder, then, why everyone from members of the World Bank to heads of state … from the titans of yesterday to the titans of today … subscribe to James' advice.
By understanding the fundamental drivers behind the economy and financial markets, you can take back control of your life and your finances. We'll help you do just that in Strategic Investment.
To find out more about James Davidson and how you can start a risk-free subscription to Strategic Investment … click here.


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Vanessa's Favorite Interior
7 comments:
This is in my files as one of my favourite kitchens ever. I love Vanessa's pick!!! I hadn't noticed the sea green stove- how much would I love to own that...gorgeous!!! Great guest post Staci!ReplyDelete
that whiye kitchen really takes it to a new level. anyone can plunk white cabinets an d carerra into their home, but the way she has combined them with the seaglass stove, chocolate framed cbinets and island is unique and the results stunning. Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
Thanks for your kind words and for having me as a guest today. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday at the blogger meet-up!ReplyDelete
Beautiful! I LOVE the dark cabinet doors in the kitchen and the sea glass-coloured stove. And the bathroom is to die for! I want to be soaking in that tub right now!ReplyDelete
Great choice, Vanessa :-)
i love her work too!ReplyDelete
Vanessa, you're absolutely right, this excerise 'choosing a favorite' has been hard for me too! I've now spent way too many hours sourcing a favorite - Staci you'll be getting my homework tonight! :)
that bathroom IS gorgeous. I like Jennifer Wort's simple, clean and chic style. Works for me! And kudos to Vanessa for choosing a great interior - there are so many to pick from, and this is yet another fabulous find.ReplyDelete
*Tania @ Passport2Design.com
I love this kitchen and will hopefully be able to do something similar. I look forward to seeing more of Jennifer's workReplyDelete


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Savannah Pubs & Restaurants
Scottish & Irish Pubs in Savannah
Savannah pub food is the perfect medium between great food and a relaxing environment. Try one of these famous Scottish or Irish Savannah pubs for delicious fare in a unique setting. Whether you're looking for a traditional dish of Bangers & Mash, or want to quench your thirst with a Black & Tan, it's all here for you!
Churchill's Pub
- 13 W. Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401
- Get Directions
- (912) 232.8501
- Visit Website
Come and visit the best pub in Savannah. Great food and fun people. Outdoor dining on our rooftop terrace.


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WELCOME to evoke STRONG
evoke STRONG's mission is to AWAKEN the STRENGTH in YOU
towards the journey of change.
To INSPIRE and EMPOWER
To EVOKE your inner spark towards the journey of transformation to a
STRONG, HEALTHY, and THRIVING YOU.
Ready to take back your health?
Download our free guide to start you off on the right path.
Every page provides simple actionable tips that will positively impact your daily living.
Click button below to access guide!


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We're burning the muthafckin club down this month at Milk Club Bangsar with some proper Holland Hardstyle. Go Hard or Go HOME!
More info here.
We're burning the muthafckin club down this month at Milk Club Bangsar with some proper Holland Hardstyle. Go Hard or Go HOME!
More info here.
Here it is; as promised when we hit 16000
For the first time CODE BLACK will be down in KL. We are excited for this HUGE hardstyle party.
But first we are doing M E G A S O U N D this coming Saturday so see you hard heads on the dancefloor and keep the music alive!
Here we fcking GO! More info here.
BASS IS BACK! With newly fixed and upgraded sound system in the club, the no.1 Hard Dance event in Malaysia is back with a vengeance, with much deserve pounding on the woofers. With our euphoric hard trance resident, Niekon will definitely warm the dance floor to your liking. Performing for the first time at BAXX XTRA HARD is DJ Allen, known for his underground Hardstyle sounds. You dont want to miss this, no kidding.
More info here. RAVE ON.
Finally we are rockin' up Singapore. It's been a while and we are looking forward to it, see you this eve of GOOD Friday!
More info here.
Lento part is abit weird if ya ask me. What do you guys think?
We had blast! Thanks for the support!
Do check out the rest of the album here
Our remix released today on PHD Digital Recordings via Trackitdown.net! Grab it while its hot!
"The boys from Aus go International on this release; Soul-T & Dj eM's PHD Anthem. Massive remixes from Dutch Boys Kevin Kaos & Zero Sanity & on the flipside we have the Malaysian Marvels; The Bass Agents. Either mix will work on any hard dance floor. PHD Anthem comes to life once again…"


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Login/Create Account
Check Out the new Remax App
Ask About This Home
Sunset Cove features home sites exclusive master-planned, gated community. Lge, with waterft bay view, beach view & cul-de-sac lots. Boat docks & immediate access to Galveston Bay. Recreation center, community pool, tennis courts & community parks & walking trails & coastal nature preserve Elegant community gazebo for bird watching, picnics and spectacular sunset viewing. Lushly landscaped, gated entrance. Highly protective deed restrictions


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The city of Makati is still the prime location of properties in the Philippines. Due to the large need for residential spaces in the region, buying one may be incredibly costly for most people. For that reason, whenever the need to relocate into the city comes up, many choose to rent a Makati apartment or condo as an alternative. This could be an extremely sensible choice for a person or family whose primary livelihood revolves in the area. Anyway, the city is not the heart of Manila real estate for no reason. An apartment in Makati will probably be near to shopping malls such as Greenbelt or Glorietta. For health concerns, the Makati Medical Center is just nearby. Without a doubt, the advantages of renting a Makati apartment are countless.
Seeking an apartment for rent in Makati can occasionally be tricky. Despite the many selections you'll come across in numerous property listings, finding one that best meets your needs and budget may be remarkably overwhelming. One can easily be frustrated and get stuck with a long-term deal if these crucial factors are not taken into consideration when searching for a Makati apartment. Consider that renting a residential space in this city is rather costly and you most likely do not need to let a little mistake hurt your finances.
The very first thing you need to consider when searching for an apartment is size. A living place that is too little may be catastrophic for a family of five while a two-bedroom unit requires too much maintenance work for a single young professional. Leasing a Makati apartment that is just correct to suit your needs is what you should go for. For instance, a very popular preference for working professionals in the city is a studio type apartment. These are rather common in Makati and offer just enough living space for single people to sleep, dine, study, and work. On the other hand, renting an apartment with multiple rooms is great for families and young couples. It is also common for a lot of folks to share apartments along with pals or workmates. Either way, be certain that you have adequate room for yourself and your personal property.
It could also be advisable to consider whether or not you'll be intending for a long-term or short-term lease. Each of those have its own advantages, but picking one will really depend on your individual needs. A long-term Makati apartment lease contract generally takes about five years to a decade, but it often entails a restriction or arrangement that prevents leasing increase. This not only enables you to save on monthly bills but also lets better preparing and controlling of individual finances. Still, people who don't know precisely how long they'll be lodging really should stick to short-term renting. The monthly amount is usually the same, and professionals who are at the early stage of their careers normally want that mobility.
There are a lot of apartments for rent in Makati and running out of selections has to be the least of your worries. One should never rush apartment searching. Always contemplate these variables because you don't wish to get stuck in a home that isn't ideal for you or your family. Get some tips from folks you know renting a Makati apartment as they might also give you with helpful information. All that research will probably be worth it in case you can get the perfect apartment for rent in Makati.


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Unipac Kivu Fine Sand 2KG
DescriptionA striking and vibrant mix of sand approx 1mm in size. This sand is to be placed in the base of the aquarium as a bed to house plants and provides a base for rocks, stones and other aquatic ornaments.
Please note: This gravel should be rinsed with cold water several times before use to remove dust before placing in the aquarium.
Customer Notice: We recommend purchasing soils/substrates/gravel before purchasing plants to ensure you have enough prior to planting.
Customer Reviews
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other shoppers!


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Cisco Select Certification
Focus 21 are certified with Cisco Select Certification, which recognises and rewards partners who have a Cisco specialisation and reflects our technological and business expertise in specific Cisco technologies.
Focus 21 has been certified for the Advanced Video Specialization which shows that we have the ability to provide sophisticated, value-added Cisco Advanced Video Collaboration solutions through our in-depth sales capabilities, technology skills and service offerings.
Visit the Cisco website for more information about Cisco Select Certification >


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It feels like almost every week, there is some new marketing tool that local businesses "should" use to get new customers. Assuming that you can't do everything, its helpful to know the 2-3 best ways of getting new customers.
Using Google Surveys, Mike Blumenthal recently ran a survey (the results are available here) looking at how a consumer might choose a specialty lawyer. Although the results are specific to that industry, they point to conclusions that are applicable for many local service businesses.
Maybe the most interesting part of this survey came in response to the question #2: what is most important when searching on the internet? Google reviews? Nope. Yelp reviews? No. Company website? Not that. Facebook endorsements? Guess again. The winner was…
Said another way, Web Presence.
How do you know what your current web presence looks like? Simply type your company name into Google and check out the 10 results on page 1. That is the #1 thing your prospects are looking for. Here is an article on how to build your web presence.
We hope you get the best presence ever! Happy Holidays!


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Customer Reviews
All reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant.
December 20, 2011
November 22, 2011
November 21, 2011
What You'll Get
Back when the snickerdoodle and the Thin Mint were nothing more than dance crazes, sock-hopping teens secretly wished for tiny candied Frisbees to complement their moves. Wishes do come true with today's Groupon: for $6, you get $12 worth of cookies and cupcakes at Grandma's Cookies in St. Charles.
Grandma's Cookies' bakers craft succulent cookies and cupcakes using time-tested recipes originated more than 30 years ago by grandmotherly founder Charlotte Thompson. Dough disks abound in traditional flavors such as chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, or oatmeal raisin or, depending on the season, sugar sprinkle or ginger spice ($0.60 each). Order a cookie a la mode to pair a lucky sugar circle with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, or stock up with a dozen cookies ($6) before attempting for barter with fur traders. Grandma's shrink-rayed cakes come in a triad of mouthwatering, seasonally rotating flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry ($0.95/each, $9.50/dozen). Glasses of freshly brewed iced tea and lemonade wash down sweet treats or fill the moat around a freshly constructed cupcake castle.
Grandma's diner-style eatery is located inside a building constructed in 1816, a former rectory for priests traveling to the West. Black-and-white-checkered tiles evoke both the 1950s and the daydreams of Garry Kasparov, and cushy booth seating affords lovebirds the chance to get cozy while supping on a cookie fresh out of its oven-womb.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Nov 18, 2011. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.


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Color the Fire Truck!
Does your kid love fire trucks? What color would she make her fire truck? This coloring page is great for getting young artists to explore the world of a fireman. Your child will have fun coloring as she practices her hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills.
Click to find similar content by grade or subject.


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Post may contain affiliate links, read Coupon Katie disclosure policy here.
Today only Amazon.com is offering up to 45% off Schwinn bikes, jog strollers and more!
Schwinn 12 inch balance bikes (reg.$79.99) are on sale for $47.99 and ship free. There are also several bikes for big kids and adults on sale!
Schwinn jogging strollers are on sale too. I have this double jogger and love it! The Schwinn Discover Single Swivel Stroller is on sale for $149 (reg $239) and the Schwinn Discover Double Swivel Stroller is on sale for $199 (reg. $329).


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SkylonRoom Only
Based on 2209 reviews
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The Irish capital known to be the home of the finest breweries of the world, a blend of modern lifestyle and medieval villages and the town of hurdled ford, Dublin has always been an engaging city for travellers across the Europe. Fascinating past and dynamic present have transformed this city into a fabulous holiday destination and travellers tend to enjoy going for holidays to Dublin every now and then. The city of contradictions with dynamics stretched from castles to breweries and libraries to medieval architecture, Dublin sure plays the role of a perfect host for travellers going on city breaks to Dublin. Begin your day by visiting some of the finest architectures, go shopping in the noon, have some great food in the evening and spend the night in the Irish pubs, that is how your days will be during Dublin holidays 2016. A perfect holiday destination with the quality of being ace in every trade, Dublin has become one of the finest holiday destinations in the Europe as well as across the world. With many astounding places like zoos, breweries, bridges, architectures, castles, pubs, libraries and museums, the Irish capital makes a perfect destination for all age group, and gives a pleasant experience to voyagers on Dublin breaks. Take holidays to Dublin and explore the everlasting range of surprises, adventure, fun and excitement with ample of marvels scattered all over the city that awaits you to unveil the fascination of such a fantastic culture and admirable lifestyle blended with medieval history and traditions.
The magnificent city of Dublin has been a year-round destination for decades and is offering the most fascinating experience to voyagers going on Dublin breaks. Be it city breaks to Dublin, family holidays or anything else, the Irish capital has greeted everyone with open arms. If you are planning for Dublin holidays in 2016, you must plan your holidays based on the best time. The ideal time to visit Dublin for cultural exploration is during festive season which stretches from November till March end. However, you can always go for holidays in the shoulder season that remains the rest of the year. This time is also ideal to get your hands on the most affordable holiday deals. The average flight time from London to Dublin is of one hour and thirty minutes if you have board direct flights. The Dublin Castle is approximately 13 kilometres away from the airport where most of the hotel accommodations are located and it takes around 30 minutes to reach from the airport to the Dublin Castle.
Dublin is a city with full of adventure and thrill and if you are on city breaks to Dublin, you can find many fabulous places to cherish your holidays to Dublin. Despite the fact that the city is still living on the medieval culture and traditions, tons of fabulous places featured with modern lifestyle and culture can be witnessed. Explore the dynamics and diversity of Dublin by visiting the following sites:
Kilmainham Gaol: The most fascinating place in the city, Kilmainham Gaol is a must visit place. Once the most renowned jail to hold political and military criminals, the vacant gaol from 1924 is a tourist attraction these days. Millions of travellers visiting on holidays to Dublin visit this exhibition to explore the history in this museum. The interesting architecture and audio-visual exhibitions of this place have been the most indulging things for travellers. Hence tons of tourists on city breaks to Dublin enjoy visiting here to understand the colonial era from 17th century till the beginning of 19th century.
Dublin Castle: The most renowned place in entire Dublin and a major landmark in the middle of the city, Dublin Castle is standing in the heart of the Dublin since 12th century. Fascinating tales and exquisite exhibitions about the castle are the most intriguing thing you will come across. Each year, millions of visitors coming on Dublin breaks visit here to learn about the history of this spellbinding place and get delighted by the exhibitions, library, stories, huge Norman architecture and much more alluring voyagers even more.
Guinness Storehouse: The most renowned brewery as well as the most visited site in the city, Guinness Storehouse a beautiful place and open for all age group. Giving the glimpse of making world famous Guinness Beer, Guinness Storehouse is a worth visiting place. Unfold the look of Arthur Guinness' black stuff whilst getting the information of brewing techniques whilst having a taste of the finest black stuff complimentary with the admission fee. The state-of-the-art brewery is a wonderful piece of architecture to enjoy at dusk when you can gaze up on the sparkling skyline of Dublin. Tourists from across the world visiting on holidays to Dublin cherish the golden moments at the brewery of world's largest single-beer company Est 1759.
Christchurch Cathedral: Founded in 1028 by the first bishop of Dublin in the form of Viking church, the Christchurch Cathedral came into limelight in year 1172 is among the most prestigious cathedrals of the Ireland known as the spiritual heart of the city. Visitors on holidays to Dublin visit here frequently to experience the tranquillity and serenity of this holy place that has been a marvellous piece of architecture as well as a centre of spiritual belief of villagers in Dublin of early stage. The church possesses with ample of features including the gigantic architecture, leaning wall of Dublin, mummified cat and mouse in an organ pipe, Patron Saint's heart and number of other relics with unusual tales and features.
National Museum of Ireland: The fascinating museum based out in the city known to be the finest museum in entire Ireland, National Museum of Ireland sure is full of surprises and amazing factors. The fabulous range of artefacts, relics and heirloom exhibited here are the most incredible things about the history and culture of Ireland. Belongs from various eras, these exhibitions have made tons of tourists on their holidays to Dublin to visit here and uncover the unlimited wealth of information about the heritage and traditions followed in Ireland for centuries. From weaponry to furniture, fossils, glassware pieces, costumes and traditional belongings everything here is simply superb and unique, depicting their own stories and tales related with the age old past of the Ireland. This museum is the best way to make your city breaks to Dublin even more exotic and exciting.
Dublin is a compact city, full of places to wander as well as activities to indulge. Each year, millions of travellers visiting on Dublin holidays find countless of attractions that can be explored by going for myriad tours. Following are the most renowned tours you can go to save a lot of time whilst discovering more about Irish capital Dublin:
Trip to Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo: Phoenix Park is a complete package to explore the flora and fauna of the Ireland. A magnificent place to discover the endless beauty of this fascinating country in the Europe. Go for holidays to Dublin with family and explore 707-hectare property, full of natural bliss and freshness. With a preservation program to habitat more than 400 animals and birds, Dublin Zoo comes under the bounds of the Phoenix Park and is an absolute delight to visit and spend all day taking pictures and admiring the wild side of the nature.
Visiting Georgian Dublin: The heritage and architectural hub of Dublin, Georgian Dublin is a term describing two contradicting suburbs of the Dublin. At one side, you will discover number of historical and heritage architectures whereas, the other side have tons of new, refreshing and marvellous modern architecture with handful of skyscrapers. Striking culture and wide boulevards are the primary things you will experience during your visit to this part of the city. Take a tour to the region and get delighted to the maximum during your Dublin holidays 2016.
Nightlife at Irish Pubs: Holidays to Dublin are incomplete if you haven't been to the most renowned pubs in the world. The Irish pubs have the wildest, zealous and tremendous features that makes them a thrilling and amazing place to spend the evenings whilst enjoying your favourite football match on television. Some people might not consider these pubs ideal for family dinner, but these pubs are the most enchanting places that have the pure essence of Dublin and easy to reach. Temple Bar, Long Hall, Mulligan's and many other bars from Dame Street north to the River Liffey in the surroundings of Dublin Castle are the most suitable places to spend the most amazing nights in the Dublin.
Food Jaunting in Dublin: When it comes to food, no one can parallel Irish culinary. The seasonal dishes, traditional delicacies and delightful flavours of the Irish culture have been spellbinding people for decades. Whether you go for holidays to Dublin in summer, winter, autumn or spring, you will always find endless of options served in your platter with a unique taste, different cooking methods and big portions. Delicacies you must try on your Dublin holidays 2016 are Soda Bread, Shellfish, Boxty, Irish Stew, Smoked Salmon, Coddle and Barmbrack which will give you a hint of unbelievable culinary and fantastic delight of Irish culture.
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After completing The Gestalt Man, i thought I'd give myself a break from crime noir novels, and work on my other Sci-Fi Fantasy books before diving back into the world of Michael Jeck and Company. So I worked a little on Confessions to a Ghost but I got distracted by ideas i had for a potential cover for the book, then went back to my sci-fi comedy Timeless for a while so that I can laugh again, and then something happened.
I had a kind of breakthrough on an novel/or series of novels that i had been working on off and on for the past--oh, god, has it been twelve years? It started off as a simple space opera...but then it morphed into something completely unique and incredibly ambitious. I don't even know what to call it...it's like a sword and sorcery fantasy...but set in space. I'm hesitant to post any excerpts because I've been writing and re-writing like mad recently and I keep changing things as I'm going along. I'm on page 250 now and I am realizing that there will need to be multiple books in order to fully tell the story. I'm really liking the universe that I'm working in and the characters that I have to work with. I think this may be the next book that I publish.
Oh, and here's the working title of the first book: The Emperor's Return


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Scott Lamm, ISA Certified Arborist
Years of Service: 24 Years
Hobbies: traveling, gardening, and spending time with family, including my delightful grandson.
How did you get started in this business? When I was still in high school, I started working with my brother at a tree care company and loved it! I worked my way up from pulling hoses to learning how to climb to delivering plant health care. I got tremendous satisfaction from doing something beneficial
Most memorable SavATree moment? Because I was with SavATree from its early beginnings, it has been incredible to watch the company's success and growth over the years. Another highlight was volunteering with the New Jersey Youth Corps, where I introduced urban, disadvantaged kids to the joys of caring for trees and parks. Some of these kids expressed genuine interest and enthusiasm, and I can still remember how their faces lit up. It was unforgettable.
SavATree Honored for Tree Preservation in Fairfax County Fairfax County's Tree Commission recently recognized SavATree for extraordinary efforts to preserve trees on site during construction and expansion at Vinson Hall Retirement Community
Al Irizarry
Chestnut Ridge, NY
Andra Smarek, Horticulturalist
Fishkill, NY
Andrea Kalan
Bryn Mawr, PA
Anthony DeAngelis
Worcester, MA
April and Jim Benson
Ossining, NY
Bob Busser
Philadelphia, PA
Bob Minzesheimer
Ossining, NY
Brandon Schindele
Edina Country Club
Chester County Resident
Christine Schroller
Mortgage Professionals, Inc.
Wyckoff, NJ
Dayami Lopez
Returning Employee
Debbie Durkin
Silver Spring, MD
Doug Fleming
New Rochelle, NY
Gail F. Stern, Director
Historical Society of Princeton
Princeton, NJ
George E. Ryan
Old Lyme, CT
J. Andersen
Danbury, CT
J. Stauber
Purchase, NY
J. Todd Lamm
NJ Tree Expert
Maplewood, NJ
James E. Sorrell
Wethersfield, CT
Jeffrey Beale
Salem, MA
Jeffrey C. Horst, Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jerry and Sue Fink
Enfield, CT
Joan Kleinbard
Rye, NY
Joe Potenza
Pleasantville Country Club Corporation, Inc.
Pleasantville, NY
John Kerwin
Heritage Village
Southbury, CT
Jordan Orwig
4 Years
Judy Bigelow
West Hartford, CT
Julie Fewster
Windsor, CT
Kathleen G. Gallagher, Executive Director
The Charles Ives Center for the Arts
Danbury, CT
Katie Stratis
The Studio
Armonk, NY
Keith Austin
Briarcliff Manor, NY
Kimberly and Bruce Williams
Cape Cod, MA
Kristin Lin Care, CPO
Evergreen Woods North
Branford, CT
Lee Williams
Wayne, PA
Lisa Simms
Lorianne Brunsch
16 years
Martha Stewart
Katonah, NY
Mr. and Mrs Herbert E. Quinley
Pawcatuck, CT
Paul Carbone
16 years
Phyllis Kahn
Hyannis Port, MA
Rich Anda
16 Years
Richard Chan
Dix Hills, NY
Richard Moe
National Trust for Historic Preservation
S. DeVeau
Cortlandt Manor, NY
S. DeVeauCortlandt
Manor, NY
Sam Fink
Great Neck, NY
Sean Devine
Hudson Valley
6 Years
Steve Wirth
Skillman, NJ
Ted Kozlowski
Katonah, NY
Al K.
Oak Park, IL
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Concord Country Club
Concord, MA
Wadell W. Stillman
Historic Hudson Valley, NY
William Toedter
Southampton, NY
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Mark Suhr Receives PIA National Excellence in Social Media Award
SAN FRANCISCO, October 3, 2011 - Mark Suhr, a PIA member from Seward, Nebraska has received the 2011 Excellence in Social Media award from the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). The award was presented September 24, 2011 during a ceremony in San Francisco, California held in conjunction with a national PIA board of directors meeting. The annual PIA National Excellence in Social Media Award, inaugurated in 2010, is given to honor a PIA member insurance for excellence in the use of social media in a business setting.
"Every day, PIA agencies are using social media to build their brand, and attract new customers," said PIA National Image Committee Chairman Stan Logan, who presented the award. "PIA presents the Excellence in Social Media Award to honor one of our members who is on the cutting edge of using this new technology. Social media is really just part of being a friendly neighbor in the community - a neighbor who runs the Main Street insurance agency. Mark Suhr is a successful pioneer in the use of social media to help grow his agency."
Logan noted that Suhr has taken what he calls the "community approach" to social networking. Suhr said when his agency started using Facebook, it was uncharted territory. People in his community - who were older than college-age - were just getting into it. So, his strategy was to help in the development of Facebook pages by people in his area - not just put up his own page and hope everybody joins. He said the goal is to "take care of the community, and they will take care of you."
Mark Suhr of Suhr & Lichty Insurance can be reached on Facebook at www.facebook.com/suhrlichty. His agency website is http://www.suhrlichty.com.
The 2011 PIA National Excellence in Social Media Award was sponsored by the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). NIPR Executive Director Maryellen Waggoner participated in the award ceremony.
Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America SM. PIA's web address is www.pianet.com.


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Three who can beat Lido Palace
PHOENIX - You don't need me to tell you that Lido Palace is going to be very tough to beat in Sunday's San Antonio at Santa Anita.
But there are still doubts if you're thinking about reaching for your wallet. Lido Palace will likely be 4-5 or so, but he hasn't run since Nov. 24.
Sure, trainer Bobby Frankel is among the best at getting horses ready off the bench. But you can rest assured the San Antonio isn't Frankel's ultimate goal for Lido Palace. Undoubtedly he is using this as a launching pad toward the Santa Anita Handicap and/or the Dubai World Cup and beyond. Don't you think Frankel would be delighted just to see his big horse go out and run well, finish up strong, and come back fine?
When last seen, Lido Palace was eighth, beaten 13-plus lengths in the Japan Cup Dirt. We've seen many a runner return from the Far East and never be quite the same.
So, before you put a ring around Lido Palace, know that there are playable options. Here's a quick rundown of three horses who just might be able to spring a surprise.
A Chilean import, he made an immediate good impression in his U.S. debut at Del Mar in September. He won a strong optional claimer at a mile on dirt, and showed his versatility in his next two starts by running third in the Henry P. Russell and winning an allowance race, both on turf. Trainer Ron McAnally wheeled him back in the Jan. 5 San Pasqual here. Seinne ran well to be fourth, beaten less than a length by Wooden Phone, but likely could have done even better. "He bled a little bit last time and I think he'll be better this time," McAnally said. "I think the added distance will help him. He's a mile and a quarter horse." Seinne's last six starts in Chile were at distances from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles. He had two wins, a second, and three fourth-place finishes.
Although he has two wins in four starts in the U.S., Seinne will be seeking his first stakes victory in this country. Seinne has tactical speed, and Chris McCarron knows him well. He is quite playable, probably in the 8-1 range.
He is known primarily as a turf miler, and with good reason. He won the San Francisco Mile last April, then won the Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar in July. He followed that up with a fine third on the boggy Arlington turf in the Arlington Million on a course he surely didn't care for going a distance (10 furlongs) beyond his best.
He didn't show his usual spark in the Oak Tree BC Mile, so trainer Dick Mandella has given him time since. He's been working steadily, you know the quality is there, and the distance is up his alley.
But what about the dirt? Well, he handled it just fine in his native Brazil, and in his one U.S. dirt race was fourth in the Triple Bend going seven furlongs, a distance likely short of his best. Mandella also knows a thing or two about moving South Americans to the dirt, as he did with Gentlemen and Siphon. Mandella could have picked another spot for Redattore's return. He didn't. And so long as dirt isn't an issue - and I don't expect it to be - Redattore is quite attractive at around 6-1 or so.
Straight Flush
It's another Mandella South American import. Straight Flush was the Brazilian Horse of the Year in 2000 but was inactive for a year and a half. He finally surfaced, first time in the U.S., in an allowance race on the turf at Santa Anita Dec. 30. He bulled his way between horses and looked to be on his way to victory. But a Frankel European import with Grade 1 capabilities, Lord Flasheart, blasted by for the win.
But the race proved a number of things: Straight Flush was fine after the long layoff, he still could perform at a high level, and he was OK with racing in America.
Now he moves to dirt, the surface he made his reputation on in South America. He's also going to be much more comfortable with 1 1/8 miles as opposed to the mile of his return race. He's worked steadily and Mandella has given him a full month to recover from a tough return run. It's been demonstrated before that a big shot in South America can be a big shot here. It's easy to make a case for him as a viable alternative at 5-1 or so.
Of the three candidates, Seinne may have the most going for him right now. That doesn't mean either Mandella runner might not end up being better than him on dirt. It just seems that circumstances may play more to Seinne's favor in this spot than they do for the two Mandella horses.
OK, I admit it. I may be reaching some to make a case against Lido Palace. But it's the kind of thinking you need to uncover big-payoff winners.
Lido Palace may well win; he's the best horse. Does he have to win, does he need to win, do you need to bet on him to win? Heck no.