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A few days ago (the day before my 30th birthday actually), my most recent paper, along with Vasili Hauryliuk and Tanel Tenson, "The RelA/SpoT Homolog (RSH) Superfamily: Distribution and Functional Evolution of ppGpp Synthetases and Hydrolases across the Tree of Life" was published with PloS ONE. Hurrah!
The RSH proteins comprise a superfamily of enzymes that synthesize and/or hydrolyze the alarmone ppGpp. ppGpp is a nucleotide that acts as an alarm signal, activating the "stringent" response in bacteria during starvation conditions and regulating various other aspects of cellular metabolism, often in response to stress. Vasya's blog has a wealth of information about the stringent response and the molecules involved.
Rel, RelA and SpoT are the classical, most well known "long" RSHs. The carry the ppGpp hydrolase, synthetase, TGS and ACT domain architecture. They have been found across diverse bacteria and plant chloroplasts. Additionally, dedicated single domain ppGpp-synthesizing and -hydrolyzing RSHs have also been discovered in disparate bacteria and animals respectively. However, until now there has been considerable confusion in terms of nomenclature, and no comprehensive phylogenetic and sequence analyses have previously been carried out to classify RSHs on a genomic scale.
To remedy the situation, I carried out high-throughput sensitive sequence searching of over 1000 genomes from across the tree of life, in conjunction with phylogenetic analyses, to identify and classify diverse RSHs in different organisms and unify the terminology for the field. We classify RSHs into 30 subgroups comprising three groups: long RSHs, small alarmone synthetases (SASs), and small alarmone hydrolases (SAHs). That's 19 more subgroups than were previously known. Those previously unidentified RSH subgroups, which are mostly found in bacteria, but sometimes in archaea and eukaryotes, can now be studied experimentally.
What I think is possibly the most interesting result came from comparative sequence analysis of long and small RSHs. I found exposed sites limited in conservation to the long RSHs that seem to be involved in transmitting regulatory signals. These signals may be transmitted via inter-domain interactions, or inter-molecular interactions either among individual RSH molecules or among long RSHs and other binding partners such as the ribosome. These sites in RelA can now be directly targeted with mutagenesis in order to text these predictions.
I have to say I'm disappointed with how the figures look in the PDF version of the paper. Lines are really not as crisp as my uploaded figures. Unfortunately the tables also don't look how they're supposed to due to them having being automatically formatted for the PLoS format. I wasn't given the opportunity to check them in a proofing stage either. Oh well, I'm just happy this story is now out there!
Gemma C. Atkinson, Tanel Tenson, & Vasili Hauryliuk (2011). The RelA/SpoT Homolog (RSH) Superfamily: Distribution and Functional Evolution of ppGpp Synthetases and Hydrolases across the Tree of Life PLoS ONE, 6 (8)
Sadly, the Washington Post once again falls for acupuncture pseudoscience
3 weeks ago in Genomics, Medicine, and Pseudoscience

subset: commoncrawl


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MD is in Sturgis, South Dakota for the annual ralley, and to ride the all-new 2014 Indian Chief bikes revealed by the company last evening. The three Chief models, including the Classic, the Vintage and the Chieftain, employ the Thunder Stroke 111 engine, which puts out a stout 119 foot/pounds of torque in final specification. These bikes are superbly finished, with spectacular paint quality and detailing. Yours truly took the photos on this page (although my buddy Tom Riles took the top picture), and I have already ridden both the Classic and the Chieftain.
The flawless fit and finish is not surprising given our experience with the other brand owned by Polaris, Victory, and the fact that Polaris views Indian as the premium brand in the United States.
Although we expect Indian will eventually have a very broad range of motorcycles on offer, it makes sense that this new journey funded by Polaris (a $3 Billion company) begins with a heavyweight cruiser honoring the legendary Chief model.
More details are in the press release below, and the specifications for the Classic model can be found here. Stay tuned for a brief riding impression (Part 1 of my first ride), as well as further reports later this coming week.
STURGIS, SD— August 3, 2013 — Indian Motorcycle®, America's first motorcycle company, today announced the highly anticipated details for the all-new 2014 Indian® Chief® family of motorcycles. Before thousands of motorcycling fans at the site of the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in downtown Sturgis at 9 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, August 3, Indian Motorcycle unveiled the three models that comprise the Indian Chief line up. The reveal ceremony and party signaled an inflection point in motorcycling history with the renewal of America's oldest and most legendary brand.
2014 Indian Chief Classic (starting MSRP: $18,999)
The new Indian Chief Classic is a pure, powerful cruiser forged from key heritage design elements yet wrapped in advanced design, engineering and technology. It features iconic styling like valanced fenders, rich genuine leather saddle, classic tank-mounted instrumentation, tear-drop fuel tank design, and sculpted and lighted front fender war bonnet. The 2014 Indian Chief Classic comes standard with a host of premium features including endless chrome, keyless ignition, ABS, cruise control, throttle-by-wire, true dual exhaust, high quality chrome laced spoke wheels, brake caliper covers, cast aluminum frame with integrated air intake, and much more.
The Indian Chief Classic, like all 2014 Indian Chief models, is powered by the all-new, clean sheet design Thunder Stroke™ 111 engine. Offering 111 cubic inches of pavement pounding power and 119 ft-lbs of torque, this class-leading power plant draws powerful design cues from heritage Indian Motorcycle engines merged with brilliant engineering and advanced technologies. The Thunder Stroke 111 is a 49-degree, air-cooled V-twin with 6-speed overdrive transmission, and features unmatched premium exterior finishes and touches. It offers owners the peace-of-mind that comes from over two million miles of on-road and test-lab verification and Polaris Industries' 60 years of engineering prowess.
2014 Indian Chief Vintage (starting MSRP: $20,999)
The new Indian Chief Vintage is a soft bagger that takes iconic Indian Motorcycle styling to a whole new level with handcrafted detail and a signature heritage aesthetic. The Indian Chief Vintage offers top-quality quick-release soft-sided leather bags, leather fringe, chrome fender tips, vintage chrome badging on the front fender and a quick-release windshield for easy installation or removal. It includes the same premium standard features as the Indian Chief Classic, and sports the same iconic design elements like valanced fenders, laced wheels, whitewall tires, tank-mounted instrument cluster and extensive chrome finishes throughout. It is also powered by the new Thunder Stroke 111 engine.
2014 Indian Chieftain (starting MSRP: $22,999)
The first Indian Motorcycle of its kind, the 2014 Indian Chieftain maintains the legendary Indian Chief styling, while taking this progressive machine to new heights with advanced features and premium comfort. Unlike any Indian Motorcycle ever made, the Chieftain features a fairing with integrated driving lights, and its power windshield is an industry-first for a fork-mounted fairing. Standard features include hard saddlebags featuring remote locks and quick-release anchors, a high-output audio system featuring integrated Bluetooth® smartphone connectivity, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
"When we acquired Indian Motorcycle two and a half years ago we set out to capture the heart, soul and legendary heritage of this iconic American brand and then infuse it with unparalleled design, engineering and state-of-the-art technology," said Scott Wine, CEO of Indian Motorcycle parent company Polaris Industries Inc. "On Saturday night we revealed three stunning new Indian Chief models that represent the results of our journey and the future of this brand. It was a triumphant day for all of us, and I know motorcycling fans around the world proudly join us in celebrating Indian Motorcycle and the realization that choice in American motorcycles is here to stay."
The First 1901
To pay tribute to Indian Motorcycle's past, the first 1901 Indian Chiefs to roll off of Indian's assembly line in Spirit Lake, IA will be identified with a limited-edition badge. Numbered between one and 1901, these rare bikes will reflect the year of Indian's inception by Oscar Hedstrom and George Hendee in Springfield, MA. "We have been very conscientious about honoring Indian Motorcycle's storied history while establishing a foundation for what's yet to come," said Polaris Vice President of Motorcycles, Steve Menneto. "The lucky few who purchase these limited number bikes will truly own a piece of history, concurrently representing Indian's rich past and its limitless future." More information is available at Indian Motorcycle dealers across the country.
Indian Motorcycle is adding dealerships across the US and globally, and is on plan to have 125-140 North American and 70 international dealers by year end. The full line of 2014 Indian Chief models are available for order now and will arrive in dealerships in September, along with an extensive array of apparel, parts and accessories. Indian Motorcycle demo rides will be available at dealer events across the country starting later in August. Visit www.indianmotorcycle.com to check out the Demo Tour schedule or to locate an Indian Motorcycle dealer near you, and to see the full line of apparel, parts and accessories.


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Hege Storhaug, HRS
55 prosent av pakistanere i Storbritannia gifter seg med et søskenbarn. Derfor er det 13 ganger større sjanse for sykdom hos barna enn i befolkningen generelt. Så vidt jeg har registrert har vi aldri fått se konsekvensene "svart på hvitt": ingen reportasjer eller dokumentarer fra innsiden av institusjoner der disse barna befinner seg, ingen kostandsberegninger, ingen utredninger av konsekvenser for samfunnsutviklingen. Det samme gjelder for Norge og andre Europeiske land.
Fra tid til annen settes inngifteproblematikken på dagsorden her på berget, da typisk relatert til tvangsgifte. I hver eneste runde (her ett eksempel) er særlig pakistanske talpersoner på banen med hardnakket forsvar for praksisen – og der de samme hopper uelegant over praksisens konsekvenser. Det gjør ikke dansken, psykologen og forfatteren Nicolai Sennels, som har sendt oss denne artikkelen:
Muslim Inbreeding: Impacts on intelligence, sanity, health and society.
By: Nicolai Sennels
Massive inbreeding within the Muslim culture during the last 1.400 years may have done catastrophic damage to their gene pool. The consequences of intermarriage between first cousins often have serious impact on the offspring's intelligence, sanity, health and on their surroundings.
The most famous example of inbreeding is in ancient Egypt, where several Pharaonic dynasties collapsed after a couple of hundred years. In order to keep wealth and power within the family, the Pharaohs often married their own sister or half-sister and after a handful of generations the offspring were mentally and physically unfit to rule. Another historical example is the royal houses of Europe where royal families often married among each other because tradition did not allow them to marry people of non-royal class. The high amount of mentally retarded and handicapped royalties throughout European history shows the unhealthy consequences of this practice. Luckily, the royal families have now allowed themselves to marry for love and not just for status. The Muslim culture still practices inbreeding and has been doing so for longer than any Egyptian dynasty. This practice also predates the world's oldest monarchy (the Danish) by 300 years.A rough estimate shows that close to half of all Muslims in the world are inbred: In Pakistan, 70 percent of all marriages are between first cousins (so-called «consanguinity») and in Turkey the amount is between 25-30 percent (Jyllands-Posten, 27/2 2009 «More stillbirths among immigrants«). Statistical research on Arabic countries shows that up to 34 percent of all marriages in Algiers are consanguine (blood related), 46 percent in Bahrain, 33 percent in Egypt, 80 percent in Nubia (southern area in Egypt), 60 percent in Iraq, 64 percent in Jordan, 64 percent in Kuwait, 42 percent in Lebanon, 48 percent in Libya, 47 percent in Mauritania, 54 percent in Qatar, 67 percent in Saudi Arabia, 63 percent in Sudan, 40 percent in Syria, 39 percent in Tunisia, 54 percent in the United Arabic Emirates and 45 percent in Yemen (Reproductive Health Journal, 2009 «Consanguinity and reproductive health among Arabs). The amount of blood related marriages is lower among Muslim immigrants living in the West. Among Pakistanis living in Denmark the amount is down to 40 percent and 15 percent among Turkish immigrants (Jyllands-Posten, 27/2 2009 «More stillbirths among immigrants»). More than half of Pakistani immigrants living in Britain are intermarried: "The research, conducted by the BBC and broadcast to a shocked nation on Tuesday, found that at least 55% of the community was married to a first cousin. This is thought to be linked to the probability that a British Pakistani family is at least 13 times more likely than the general population to have children with recessive genetic disorders." (Times of India, 17/11 2005 "Ban UK Pakistanis from marrying cousins" ). The lower percentages might be because it is difficult to get the chosen family member to the country, or because health education is better in the West.
Several studies show that children of consanguineous marriages have lower intelligence than children of non-related parents. Research shows that the IQ is 10-16 points lower in children born from related parents and that abilities related to social behavior develops slower in inbred babies: «Effects of parental consanguinity on the cognitive and social behavior of children have been studied among the Ansari Muslims of Bhalgapur, Bihar. IQ in inbred children (8-12 years old) is found to be lower (69 in rural and 79 in suburban populations) than that of the outbred ones (79 and 95 respectively). The onset of various social profiles like visual fixation, social smile, sound seizures, oral expression and hand-grasping are significantly delayed among the new-born inbred babies.» (Indian National Science Academy, 1983 «Consanguinity Effects on Intelligence Quotient and Neonatal Behaviours of nsari Muslim Children»).
The article «Effects of inbreeding on Raven Matrices» concludes that «Indian Muslim school boys, ages 13 to 15 years, whose parents are first cousins, were compared with classmates whose parents are genetically unrelated on the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices, a nonverbal test of intelligence. The inbred group scored significantly lower and had significantly greater variance than the non-inbred group, both on raw scores and on scores statistically adjusted to control for age and socioeconomic status.» (Behaviour Genetics, 1984).Another study shows that the risk of having an IQ lower than 70 goes up 400 percent from 1.2 percent in children from normal parents to 6.2 percent in inbred children: «The data indicate that the risk for mental retardation in matings of normal parents increases from 0.012 with random matings to 0.062 for first-cousin parentage.» (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 1978 «Effect of inbreeding on IQ and mental retardation«). The study «A study of possible deleterious effects of consanguinity» (Departments of Pediatrics, United Arab Emirates, 1996) concludes, that «The occurrence of malignancies, congenital abnormalities, mental retardation and physical handicap was significantly higher in offspring of consanguineous than non-consanguineous marriages.»Mental and physical diseases and death
The risk of stillbirth doubles when parents are first cousins (Jyllands-Posten, 27/2 2009 «More stillbirths among immigrants»). One study analyzed the risk of perinatal death (the child dies during its own birth), infant death (child dies while still infant) and autosomal recessive disorders (serious and often deadly genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy): «Perinatal mortality in the Pakistani children was 1.5 times higher than that in the Norwegian children, and infant mortality in the Pakistani children was more than double that in the Norwegian children. Deaths due to autosomal recessive disorders were 18 times more common in the Pakistani children. Similarly, deaths due to multiple malformations, which may be part of unrecognized autosomal recessive syndromes, were 10 times more common.» (BMJ, 1994 «Infant death and consanguineous marriage» ).There are also evidence suggesting that inbred people has a higher risk of developing mental disorders: «The clinical observations indicated that depression is very high in some communities where the consanguinity of marriages is also high.» (Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009 «Relationship between consanguinity and depression in a south Indian population»). Another study focused on the relationship between intermarriage and schizophrenia: «The closer the blood relative, the more likely was there to be a schizophrenic illness.» (American Psychiatric Press, 1982 "The role of genetic factors in the ethiology of the schizophrenic disorders"). The increased risk of insanity among children of marriages between cousins might explain why immigrant patients are stressing the psychiatric system and are strongly overrepresented among insane criminals: «In Sct. Hans Hospital, which has the biggest ward for clinically insane criminals in Denmark, more than 40 percent of the patients have an immigrant back ground.» (Kristeligt Dagblad, 26/6 2007 "Ethnic minorities overrepresented among the criminal insane" ).Implications for the Western and the Muslim World
The consequences for offspring of consanguineous marriages are unpleasantly clear: Death, low intelligence or even mental retardation, handicaps and diseases often leading to a slow and painful death. Other consequences are: Limited social skills and understanding, limited ability to manage education and work procedures and painful treatment procedures. The negative cognitive consequences also influence the executive functions. The impairment of concentration and emotional control most often leads to anti-social behavior.The economic costs and consequences for society of inbreeding are of course secondary to the reality of human suffering. However, inbreeding among Muslims has severe implications for both the Western societies and the Muslim world.
Expenses related to mentally and physically handicapped Muslim immigrants drains the budget for other public services: «When cousins have children together, they are twice as likely to have a disabled child – it costs municipal funds dearly. Disabled immigrant children costs Danish municipalities millions. In Copenhagen County alone, the number of disabled children in the overall increase of 100 percent at 10 years. … Meredith Lefelt has contacted 330 families with disabled children in Copenhagen. She estimates that one third of their clients have a foreign cultural background.» (BT, 10/11 2003 «Immigrants inbreeding costing one million» ). On top come the expenses for Muslim immigrants who – because of different consequences of being born from blood related parents – are not able to live up to the challenges of our Western work market: Muslim immigrants and their descendants in Europe have a very high rate of unemployment. The same goes for Muslims in USA, where the Gallup Institute made a study involving 300.000 people concluding "The majority of Muslims in USA have a lower income, are less educated and have worse jobs than the population as a whole" (Berlingske Tidende, d. 3. marts 2009 "Muslims thrive in USA" ).
The cognitive consequences of Muslim inbreeding might explain why non-Western immigrants are more than 300 percent more likely to fail the Danish army's intelligence test than native Danes: «19.3% of non-Western immigrants are not able to pass the Danish army's intelligence test. In comparison, only 4.7% of applicants with Danish background do not pass.» (TV 2 Nyhederne, 13/6 2007 «Immigrants flunk army test»). It probably also explains – at least partly – why two thirds of all immigrant school children with Arabic backgrounds are illiterate after 10 years in the Danish school system: «Those who speak Arabic with their parents have an extreme tendency to lack reading abilities – 64 percent are illiterate. … No matter if it concerns reading abilities, mathematics or science, the pattern is the same: The bilingual immigrants' skills are exceedingly poor compared to their Danish classmates.» (Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, May 2007 "Ethnic students does not make Danish children worse".). The high expenses on special education for slow learners consumes one third of the budget for the Danish schools. "Immigrant children are clearly overrepresentated on Copenhagen's schools for retarded children and children with physical handicaps. … 51 percent of the children on the three schools in Copenhagen for children with physical and mental handicaps har immigrant back ground and on one of the schools the amount is 70 percent. … These amounts are significantly higher than the share of immigrant children in the municipality, which is 33 percent. The many handicapped children are a clear evidence that there are many intermarriaged parents in the immigrant families." (Jydske Vestkysten, 4/4 2009 "Tosprogede i overtal på handicapskoler".)
Our high level of education may also make it harder for inbred students to follow and finish their studies: «Young people with minority backgrounds have a significantly higher dropout rate at secondary schools than youth with a Danish background. For trade school education, the dropout rate among immigrants is 60 percent, twice as high among adolescents with a Danish background….There is great variation in educational outcomes when compared with national origin. For example, dropout among young people with Lebanese or Iranian background is far greater than among people of Vietnamese background.» (Center for Knowledge on Integration in Randers, May 2005 "Youth, education and integration"). "Among immigrant children that are born and raised in Denmark, more than a third has no education. Among native Danes it is less than one fifth that do not get an education. (Danmarks Statistik "Indvandrere i 2007". ).
The negative consequences of inbreeding are also vast for the Muslim world. Inbreeding may thus explain why only nine Muslims ever managed to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize (5 of them won the «Peace Prize» – for peace that turned out not to last for very long)
The limited ability to understand, appreciate and produce knowledge following a limited IQ is probably also partly the reason why Muslim countries produce 1/10 of the World average when it comes to scientific research: «In 2003, the world average for production of articles per million inhabitants was 137, whereas none of the 47 OIC countries for which there were data achieved production above 107 per million inhabitants. The OIC average was just 13.» (Nature 444, s. 26-27, 1. November 2006 "Islam and science: The data gap". ). The lack of interest in science and human development in the Muslim World is also clear in the UN Arab Human Development Reports (AHDR). AHDR concludes that there have been fewer books translated into Arabic in the last thousand years than the amount of books translated within the country of Spain every year: «The Arab world translates about 330 books annually, one fifth of the number that Greece translates. The cumulative total of translated books since the Caliph Maa'moun's [sic] time (the ninth century) is about 100,000, almost the average that Spain translates in one year.» (Eugene Rogan "Arab Books and human development". Index of Censorship, vol. 33, issue 2 April 2004, s. 152-157). «70 percent of the Turkish citizens never read books.»(APA, d. 23. February 2009 "70 percent of Turkish citizens never read book".).Conclusion
There is no doubt that the wide spread tradition of first cousin marriages among Muslims has harmed the gene pool among Muslims. Because Muslims' religious beliefs prohibit marrying non-Muslims and thus prevents them from adding fresh genetic material to their population, the genetic damage done to their gene pool since their prophet allowed first cousin marriages 1,400 years ago are most likely massive. The overwhelming direct and indirect human and societal consequences have been explained above.Compassion for the health of future generations should be enough to ban intermarriage among first cousins. The economic and societal consequences do also count. Such a ban would also lessen Muslim immigration to the West because many Muslim families would like to be able to continue their practice of intermarriage in order to live up to cultural and religious traditions and keep wealth and power inside their family.
A legislative ban on first cousin marriages is a logical and compassionate imperative for both the Muslim world, for EU and our Western national governments.
Other articles by Nicolai Sennels:
Interview to EuropeNews, marts 31st 2009 "Danish psychologist: "Integration of Muslims in Western societies is not possible".
Interview to The German Review of Books, December 2009: The one thing Muslim immigrants fear is being deported
Interview to the Finnish Hommaforum, December 17th 2009: An interview with Nicolai Sennels
Gates of Vienna, April 11th 2010: The Stigmatization Fallacy
Article in New English Review, May 2010: Muslims and Westerners: The psychological differences
Review on Gates of Vienna, May 8th 2010: Islam Means Never Having to say you're sorry
Interview in FrontPageMagazine, May 5th 2010: Among Criminal Muslims
Conference on FrontPageMagazine, June 21st 2010: A psychiatric Conference on Truthful Girl
Article on Europenews.dk (engelsk), 5. februar 2010: Sexual abuse widespread among Muslims
180Grader, europenews.dk, GatesofVienna etc., July 28th 2010: Open letter to David Cameron regarding Turkey


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Notes from day 3 at PopTech:
Chris Anderson talked about, ba ba baba!, not the long tail. Well, not explicitly. Chris charted how the availability of a surplus in transistors (processors are cheap), storage (hard drives are cheap), and surplus in bandwidth (DSL is cheap) has resulted in so much opportunity for innovation and new technology. His thoughts reminded me of how surplus space in Silicon Valley (in the form of garages) allowed startup entrepreneurs to pursue new ideas without having to procure expensive commercial office space.
Quick thought re: the long tail...if the power law arises from scarcity as Matt Webb says, then it would make sense that the surplus that Anderson refers to would be flattening that curve out a bit.
Roger Brent crammed a 60 minute talk into 20 minutes. It was about genetic engineering and completely baffling...almost a series of non sequiturs. "Centripital glue engine" was my favorite phrase of the talk, but I've got no idea what Brent meant by it.
Homaro Cantu gave a puzzling presentation of a typical meal at his Chicago restaurant, Moto. I've seen this presentation twice before and eaten at Moto; all three experiences were clear and focused on the food. This time around, Cantu didn't explain the food as well or why some of the inventions were so cool. His polymer box that cooks on the table is a genuinely fantastic idea, but I got the feeling that the rest of the audience didn't understand what it was. Cantu also reiterated his position on copyrighting and patenting his food and inventions. Meg caught him saying that he was trying to solve the famine problem with his edible paper, which statement revealed two problems: a) famines are generally caused by political issues and therefore not solvable by new kinds of food, printed or otherwise, and b) he could do more good if he open sourced his inventions and let anyone produce food or improve the techniques in those famine cases where food would be useful.
Richard Dawkins gave part of his PopTech talk (the "queerer than we can suppose" part of it) at TED in 2005 (video).
Bob Metcalfe's wrap-up of the conference was a lot less contentious than in past years; hardly any shouting and only one person stormed angrily out of the room. In reference to Hasan Elahi's situation, Bob said that there's a tension present in our privacy desires: "I want my privacy, but I need you to be transparent." Not a bad way of putting it.
Serena Koenig spoke about her work in Haiti with Partners in Health. Koening spoke of a guideline that PIH follows in providing healthcare: act as though each patient is a member of your own family. That sentiment was echoed by Zinhle Thabethe, who talked about her experience as an HIV+ woman living in South Africa, an area with substandard HIV/AIDS-related healthcare. Thabethe's powerful message: we need to treat everyone with HIV/AIDS the same, with great care. Sounds like the beginning of a new Golden Rule of Healthcare.
2.7 billion results for "blog" on Google. Blogs: bigger than Jesus.


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Rick Warren Calls 'The Bible' Series the Best He's Ever Seen
Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California commented on the much-anticipated "The Bible" TV series, which premiers on the History Channel on Sunday, saying it is by far the best Bible movie he has ever seen.
"I have seen probably every film made on the Bible in the last 50 years. This is by far the best one," Warren said, giving top marks to the 10-hour series, which will air each Sunday until Easter, March 30.
The best-selling author has been eagerly promoting the upcoming project, created by TV producers Mark Burnett and his wife, Roma Downey. On Saturday, the California pastor will air a 90-minute simulcast featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the production of "The Bible."
"One way to build a bridge between God's Word and the issues of our day is to tie a sermon series into some cultural event, something that has already caught the attention of many people," Warren stated.
"For instance, when we enter the current economic crisis, I preached a series on God's principles for money management. It taught people that the Bible offers wise and practical advice on how to handle your finances."
The project, which was filmed in Morocco, covers hundreds of years of history, beginning with the story of Isaac's sacrifice in the Old Testament, and ending with the crucifixion of Christ. Other major events that will be covered in the show include Samson destroying the pagan Philistine temple and David's fight with the giant Goliath.
A number of Christian voices who have seen the show already have also given it top marks, with Geoff Tunnicliffe, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General for the World Evangelical Alliance, calling the mini-series not only "not disappointing" but rising to the "wow scale."
"Attempting to take on the whole Bible in 10 hours is pretty much an impossible task for just about anyone, but apparently not for the Burnetts. They really have produced something of epic proportions," Tunnicliffe wrote.
Joel Osteen, one of the biggest magachurch pastors in America, has also called the project "compelling and powerful" Osteen added that he can see it reach believers and nonbelievers alike.


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CSC, Google join forces on LA cloud computing project
Los Angeles is about to get a cloud thanks to a joint venture between Computer Sciences Corp. and Google Inc., which are building a cloud e-mail system to replace the existing Novell GroupWise service for the city's municipal agencies.
Los Angeles, known for sun and smog, is about to get a cloud thanks to a joint venture between Computer Sciences Corp. and Google Inc.
The companies are building a cloud e-mail system to replace the existing Novell GroupWise service for the city's municipal agencies using Google's suite of Web-based productivity tools.
The old system was not easy to use and did not have cutting-edge features, such as being able to work on an iPhone. It also lacked a disaster recovery system, said Randi Levin, chief technology officer and general manager of the Los Angeles Information and Technology Agency.
The city's financial condition was deteriorating, she said, and no money was available for an upgrade. "So you can't put all this on Novell's doorstep."
"We believed that if we had gone to another traditionally in-house hosted environment, it was going to be a huge upfront cost," Levin said. "And we knew there was no way we were going to get that kind of funding in this economic climate."
"To make the move from what you have to a new model typically costs a lot of money, especially if you just do the same kind of thing in-house but do it with bigger, faster, better computers," said Mike Gaffney, president of CSC's North American Public Sector Civil and Health Services Group.
"What L.A. came to realize is that they didn't have to own all the computers and all the software in order to use it as long as it could be reliably delivered by a provider," he said. "There are tremendous economies of scale if you use the cloud."
Although the federal government's interest in cloud computing is growing, cities and states are out in front of the technology because they are driven by the need to reduce costs and still maintain basic services, Gaffney said.
Security Concerns
When Los Angeles city officials issued a request for proposals a year and a half ago, the RFP drew the interest of ubiquitous Silicon Valley search engine Google.
"Our No. 1 criterion was obviously cost," Levin said. "But then we had a lot of others including security, function and features, etc."
"Our group has been downsized significantly," she added. "So part of this [implementation] for us is more of a survival tactic so we can use our resources in other places."
"Google wanted a systems integrator to be the prime contractor because Google provides a service and was not prepared to play the systems integrator role," Gaffney said.
And CSC officials, having successfully collaborated with Google in the past, viewed the RFP as an opportunity to examine how cloud computing could work in a public-sector environment in which concerns about privacy, security and delivery are paramount, he said.
"We agreed that we would bid it together, with us priming and Google being the service provider as a subcontractor," Gaffney said.
The team offered several advantages the city could not ignore. CSC had experience designing and building major e-mail networks for large companies with as many as 50,000 users.
For its part, Google "will spend way more money on security than the city of Los Angeles could hope to spend," Gaffney said.
CSC announced the five-year, $7.2 million contract win in December 2009.
"You can't even compare that to what it would cost us to run another e-mail system in-house," Levin said.
A recent study of cloud computing costs by Darrell West of the Brookings Institution included an analysis by the Los Angeles city administrator of its projected transition to a cloud system and its potential savings.
The analysis found that the five-year costs of running the Google system would be $17.5 million, 23.6 percent less than the $22.9 million for operating the existing system during that same period.
In addition, by transitioning to the cloud, the city would need nine fewer people in its IT department.
Levin said those numbers are accurate.
Under the agreement, the Falls Church, Va., contractor is providing systems integration and user services, including solution architecture and design, integration with the city's identity management system, migration of live and archive e-mail data, and setup.
CSC also will provide tutorials for trainers and administrators and ongoing account and service-level management as an authorized reseller of Google apps.
Among the first tasks, CSC created a pilot group of about 250 users to test the Google system and determine whether any adjustments were needed to the tools that would move data from the existing system to the cloud.
"Then we moved 2,500 [users] a couple of weeks later," Gaffney said. "And [then] the plan was to stand down and really digest that move and make sure we had everything covered."
The pilot program now under way includes some 2,700 users, but the city plans to have everybody online by the end of June, Levin said.
"We've been learning that there are certain pieces of our network that we need to shore up a little bit in terms of performance," she said.
Levin added that she has learned that there is no way to compare every function of the legacy application with what the cloud e-mail system can offer. "But that would be true of any IT project."
"Most people are very comfortable with Internet-based mail systems," Gaffney said, adding that Gmail differs little from the new municipal system, with the exception of higher levels of security needed for some of the city's agencies.
When completed in June, the cloud-based Google e-mail system will cover about 30,000 municipal workers, including social-services agencies, the Los Angeles Police Department and the city's emergency responders.
Because of security needs, the city's public safety agencies and first responders will be administered separately in Google's new secure government cloud, Levin said.
Suite of Tools
In addition to the improved security and cost savings, users gain increased capabilities, including a suite of collaboration tools and videoconferencing, Gaffney said.
Although the value of the Los Angeles contract is small by CSC standards, it could lead to other state and local contracting in the future, Gaffney said, because "the way the city set up the contract, it is available to other entities in the state of California."
Levin said the contract was written purposely to assist other municipalities.
In drawing up the contract, "we realized two things," she said. "One, the amount of time it takes any government agency to get contracts through is large. And No. 2, there are not many software-as-a-service contracts out there."
"Once they see that it works and that the savings are there and that the users are positive, then what we expect — and the city expects — is that there will be some significant activity in terms of other counties and cities wanting to use the contract and the pricing negotiated there in order to add Google without going through the acquisition process that the city had to go through," Gaffney said.
It also will enable California public-sector agencies to realize similar benefits in innovation, productivity and cost avoidance without the need for a lengthy and complex procurement cycle, Levin said.
Some jurisdictions already have expressed interest in using the contract.
"There's nothing like doing it at scale to understand what are the real issues around technology and security that we think are relevant for our other clients around the world," Gaffney said.


text: These oscillating knives for the wheel hoes are purchased separately. For one-pass weeding, choose the size that is 1" less than the space between plants. On the Professional model, two offset knives can be used for wide aisles or two aisles at once, but only with the single-point knives. Use offset knives next to fences and under wires.


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Why You Should Ignore Your Previous Experience With Men
- Being Selective, Dating
Hi, my name is Evan Marc Katz, Reverend of the Universal Life Church. Last year, I officiated the wedding of my little sister, Daryl, in San Francisco.
The event was incredibly meaningful to me for a number of reasons, but the story I want to share with you is how Daryl met her husband, Dave.
Daryl was in her 20's, living and dating in New York City. She's very bright, sarcastic, and intolerant of "games" and B.S. As a result, Daryl had a rough go with the lawyers and bankers available to her in NYC. She decided to branch out.
She dated a cute guy in Minnesota, followed by a charming guy in Chicago, followed by a separated heartbreaker in New York.
All were impressive men. None lasted. Daryl decided to go on "guyatus", as she was burned out on both New York and long-distance love affairs.
It was around that time that I wrote my first book, "I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book: A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating". Before I sent it to an agent, I wanted to get my bookish sister's opinion on things.
The first thing Daryl said to me was, "Why would anybody read a book by YOU?"
The second thing she said to me was, "Online dating is creepy."
I knew I'd found my target audience.
Long story short:
Daryl enjoyed my book — even though she thought she wouldn't.
She started dating online — even though she thought she wouldn't.
After a few years of trial and error — and being thisclose to quitting — Daryl tried a different website I'd recommended, Nerve.com.
On a lark, she replied to a older, bald guy who wrote to her from San Francisco — even though she said she didn't want to do long-distance again.
7 months later, she moved to San Francisco.
3 years later, they're married.
I'm only sharing this with you because my extremely bright sister was WRONG about everything she firmly believed.
The only reason she is happily married and househunting today is because she was open to the possibility that her beliefs weren't 100% foolproof.
Contrast Daryl's story with Amy, a 42-year-old woman who reached out to me for dating coaching last week.
Amy believed — based on her experiences — that there was nothing she could do differently. The real problem is everyone else.
I like Amy. She's successful, family-oriented, looks great for her age, and is an information seeker. After a few minutes of talking on the phone, it was clear that Amy had already read a lot of the books in my relationship book bibliography.
I LOVE clients like this.
Except Amy didn't become a client.
She didn't become a client because Amy believed — based on her experiences — that there was nothing she could do differently. The real problem, she claimed, is everyone else.
"I've used JDate for 10 years. There's nobody on there for me."
"It's guys in Los Angeles. They're Peter Pans who won't settle down and are always looking for someone younger."
"Men out here don't appreciate someone with ethnic looks. They all want California blondes."
"I keep meeting men who are so messed up. They're all out for sex. They don't have any money. I'm not going to support a man."
Can you appreciate Amy's point of view? I sure can. It's built on years and years of failure, frustration and disappointment.
Amy's experience is REAL. As real as the nose on her face. And because it's real, she also believes that it's TRUE.
Then again, my sister truly believed that no one would read a book by me, that online dating was creepy, that long-distance relationships were doomed, and that men were all heartbreakers. That was her experience before meeting Dave.
I could easily refute Amy's point of view — but she would rather hold onto it, believing that she's "right"— than open up to a new way of dating like my sister did.
And it's a shame, because Amy has SO MUCH to give.
Amy's experience is REAL. As real as the nose on her face. And because it's real, she also believes that it's TRUE.
As a result, she loses sight of the fact that I'M a guy who dated on JDate, I'M a guy who prefers older women to younger women, I'M a guy who prefers brunettes to blondes, I'M a guy who looks young for his age. I'M a guy who wants to be a good husband and father.
And if I'M that kind of guy, it only stands to reason that there are thousands of others like me in Southern California.
Amy's just not meeting them. And she will continue not meeting them…
Because her online dating profile and communication need improving.
Because her attitude about men needs adjusting.
Because her radar for "quality men" is really off.
Because she would rather hold onto her glass half-empty worldview and be "right" than try my glass half-full worldview which will create better results.
Instead, Amy is going to keep reading my advice and hope that Mr. Right – an ethnic lover from another state, apparently – comes and fishes her out of her office.
I like Amy, but she's going to be waiting for a while.
You don't have to.
My question for you is whether you're self-aware enough to know what disempowering and false beliefs that you hold to be true.
Have you had any experiences that have made you change your mind for the better about dating, online dating, men or relationships? Or do you have a negative attitude about the opposite sex that pervades your interactions. Don't lie, regular posters. I know which of you are suspicious of men. And I know that you hate it when I point out that your attitude can change a lot more readily than men…


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Information Possibly Outdated
The information presented on this page was originally released on September 23, 2011. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding.
State pecan trees weather the drought
By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications
MISSISSIPPI STATE – The summer drought could have severely affected this year's pecan yields, but thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, growers are optimistic about the crop.
The entire Southeast experienced a dry growing season until Tropical Storm Lee hit in early September.
"The rains were very timely and needed," said David Ingram, plant pathologist with the Mississippi State University Central Research and Extension Center in Raymond.
Orchards received varying amounts of rain, with many getting more than enough and others getting the bare minimum.
"In our part of the state, we got just enough to sustain our crop," said Perry Jenkins, owner of Delta Gold, LLC in Coahoma County. "The rain was needed, but we did lose some of the pecans due to the storm's winds."
Between the drought and the storm, Jenkins thinks he lost about 15 percent of his crop.
"We are still going to have a good crop this year," he said. "Quantity-wise, we are looking great, and so far, the quality is shaping up, but it is still too soon to tell for sure."
Ingram said many orchards are irrigated and made it through the drought without significant losses.
"From a commercial standpoint, we are going to have good yields," Ingram said. "Mississippi averages about 1 million to 1.5 million pounds a year. We won't stray too far from that."
Ingram said one of the benefits of less rain this season was that pecan scab, the most economically damaging disease of pecan production in the Southeastern United States, was not an issue this year.
"Pecan scab becomes a serious problem when there is a lot of rain early in the year," Ingram said. "Because of rain, growers generally have to apply fungicides about eight times a season. This season, fewer than the usual number of sprays were made as a result of the drought, which saved growers money."
U.S. pecans have consistently sold for decent prices, mostly because they are exported to countries such as China, India and Pakistan.
"Prices have been high the last couple of years, and that will be the case this year," Ingram said.
John Michael Riley, agricultural economist with the MSU Extension Service, said many of the U.S. pecans are produced in the Southwest, which is still in the midst of a historical drought.
"This has likely reduced the productivity of the pecan trees and lowered total supply," Riley said. "Price, as a result, has improved due to limited available product."
The 2011 prices have not yet been determined, but growers expect them to be in line with previous years, if not higher.
"Prices are going to be high this year," Jenkins said. "The market for pecans in China is exploding right now. There is a high demand, and many of the shellers do not have a large supply in storage ready to go out, so prices are really moving upward."
Ingram said prices and the trees surviving a tough summer have kept growers' optimism high.
"It is just a good time to be a pecan grower," he said.


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Welcome to the team
Look like a pro, ride like a pro. Tastefully display your love for the Trek-Segafredo team without sacrificing performance with the Trek-Segafredo Replica Women's Jersey. Made of Microsense fabric, it's extremely breathable and ideal for your hardest rides on the hottest days.
Official team apparel made by Santini with the Trek-Segafredo team logo proudly displayed.
Product details
- Made by Santini
- Microfiber polyester materials on front and back wick moisture and dry quickly
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- Fitted cut provides streamlined body fit for enhanced performance
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AmaWaterways wine cruises add a unique epicurean dimension to a variety of itineraries at no additional cost. Join one of these wine cruises with a special wine host and be treated to a menu of exclusive wine and culinary experiences designed to delve deeper into the wonderful flavors and tastes of Europe.
Cruise through the heart of Europe during the most festive time of year and experience the timeless tradition of its magical Christmas Markets. Join us on one of our specially curated Christmas Markets cruises taking place at the height of the season with multiple market visits included. Or select one of our early or late season "Taste of Christmas Markets" departures offering special savings, reduced crowds, and just one or two of Europe's holiday markets open to experience.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Rhône with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Explore the rich history of classical music along the Danube River where famous composers lived, worked and performed. Plus, be treated to a variety of live performances on this melodious journey.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever "Soulful Experience" on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2024.
Join award-winning television host and travel expert, Samantha Brown, Godmother of AmaMagna, as we cruise through four countries along the Danube River. Special events and Travel Talks are included on this exclusive sailing.
Join Chef Joanne Weir, award-winning cookbook author, restaurant owner and host of PBS television series "Plates & Places" as she hosts a special 7-night Flavors of Burgundy river cruise.
We invite you to join our incredible cruise on the Danube with a Latin Touch, featuring bilingual cruise managers, daily tours with Spanish-speaking guides, Latin-inspired music nights and other distinctive elements.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response received from the announcement of our first-ever "Soulful Experience" on the Rhône River in 2023, we are delighted to announce four new opportunities for guests to celebrate their heritage and discover Black history and culture along the rivers with us in 2025
We invite our loyal past guests to join us once again on these special Loyalty Cruises, offering unique experiences in multiple ports, commemorative gifts, and many more surprises and delights.
Imagine if there was a way to combine luxury river cruising on the iconic Danube with the opportunity to indulge your passion and play golf. We have created the perfect package to enable you to do just that with our Exclusive Concierge Golf Program. Discover Europe, complete with award winning cuisine, incredible service and a choice of excursions in every port, as well as up to 5 rounds of golf at some of the leading championship courses on the continent.
AmaWaterways' Exclusive Concierge Golf Program is available on select Romantic Danube and Melodies of the Danube cruises sailing aboard the AmaMagna.
Hello! "I'm Kristin Karst, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways and I'm passionate about river cruising. Each month, I love to share with you my thoughts, personal stories, travel tips and latest news on the people and places that help turn every mile of our guests' river cruise experience into one of their most cherished memories!"
Six million other Jewish people were killed in the Holocaust, six million other stories – and yet it is Anne Frank's story which has remained seared into the world's collective conscious. A young girl all of 15 years old when she was betrayed from her hiding spot in 1944, Anne Frank was separated from her diary and sent to a transit camp, then Auschwitz, and eventually transferred to the Bergen-Belsen camp from which she never returned. Learn more about Anne Frank's legacy in Amsterdam on our Rhine River and Dutch & Belgian Waterways sailings.
Fleeing Germany
Anne was born in Annelies Marie Frank in 1929 Germany to Otto and Edith Frank. She had a cat named Moortje and an older sister Margot who was three years her senior. In Frankfurt, the Franks lived in an assimilated community of Jews and non-Jews up until 1933. This was the year Adolf Hitler was appointed as Reich Chancellor and the Nazi Party officially came into power. Anti-semitic demonstrations, talk and actions were rampant and the Franks became one of 300,000 Germans to flee their homeland before 1939. They settled in Amsterdam, where conditions were much better than Germany.
The Franks in the Netherlands
The Franks had both Jewish and non-Jewish friends and life was able to return to a new kind of normal until 1940 when Germany invaded the Netherlands. The occupation government immediately began persecuting Jews with restrictive laws - confiscating properties, businesses and basic rights. The Franks attempted to immigrate to the United States but were refused in case they might become Nazi spies. Otto soon transferred his shares of his company to non-Jewish employees to keep it from being taken by authorities. A few days before Anne's birthday in 1942, Otto bought her an autograph book which she would use as her diary. Just a few days later, her sister was given a summons to report to a work camp and the family moved into the secret annex in Otto's workplace.
Life in the Annex
The family left their home in disarray, leaving clues that they were en route to Switzerland. They wore several layers of clothing as they walked the few miles from their home (Jews were forbidden from using public transportation) to the annex, unable to be seen carrying suitcases as it would have given them away. This was the last time Anne was able to be outside until her eventual capture. The only connection she had from the outside world now came from the "helpers" – four of Otto's trusted former employees who kept them up to date on news developments and brought in food and other supplies.
The Diary That Touched History
Anne's diary is filled with passages about the two years she spent in the annex. She wrote hopefully about how despite everything, she continued to believe people basically had good hearts. She planned on going back to school after the war, and wished to become a writer with something important to say. After the family was betrayed, she was sent to concentration camps where she died along with her sister and their mother who was separated from them. After their arrest and deportation, Miep Gies returned to the annex and saved the diary for Anne's return. She eventually handed the diary to Otto Frank, the sole survivor of his family and the other Jews who had hidden in the annex. Eventually, Otto was persuaded to read his daughter's diary and it was published.
Preserving Anne's Memory
Today, millions have read Anne's diary, which has been published in over 60 languages. The house that she and her family hid in for two years has been visited by many more millions from all over the globe. In the 50s, it was ordered to be demolished but Otto Frank was able to save it and establish the Anne Frank Foundation there in 1957. It has become a pilgrimage of sorts to pay respects, remember and to learn from Anne's story so that these events may never happen again.
Discover Amsterdam, the city where Anne Frank grew up and hid in the secret annex, on our Rhine River and Dutch & Belgian Waterways sailings.
Please note: Guests wishing to visit Anne Frank House during their free time in Amsterdam must purchase individual timed-entry tickets online approximately 60-90 days in advance; group tours are not available. Optional Jewish heritage experiences in and around Amsterdam can be customized for groups of 20 guests or more. Contact your travel advisor for details.


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For those of you interested in the HDSLR scene, there's a new post over at Tech Tilt covering HDSLR audio setups, along with a discussion of the below video that compares multiple mics and audio sources.
Audio sources covered in the video are listed below.
Canon 7D On-Camera Audio
Rode NTG-3 + PreSonus FireStudio
Audio Technica AT8015 + PreSonus FireStudio
Get the full coverage over at Tech Tilt: HDSLR Audio: Shotgun Mic Shootout


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Green Day Singer Billie Joe Armstrong Leaves Hospital -- 'My Voice is Gone'
Billie Joe Armstrong Leaves Hospital 'My Voice is Gone'
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is out of the hospital and back in L.A. following a medical scare ... and upon his arrival Monday, the singer mouthed to TMZ that his voice is completely gone.
The band was supposed to play a show in Italy this weekend, but the guys were forced to cancel the gig when Billie Joe was "rushed to the hospital due to illness."
The rest of the band released a video statement saying, "We're beyond devastated ... We're as sad as you guys are. Billie's extremely upset about it."
The guys never revealed the nature of Armstrong's illness ... but now it's obvious, it has something to do with his throat.
On his way out of the airport, we asked Billie Joe about some other stuff ... but for some reason, he didn't have much to say.


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Nothing beats the feeling of eating delicious, juicy apples plucked straight from your own apple tree. Home-grown apples are fresher and cheaper than supermarket fruit, and nowadays it can be as easy as it is rewarding.
The Garden Bargains secret to growing apples hassle-free is a special dwarfing rootstock: our apple trees don't grow taller than seven or eight feet, meaning that they are easy to manage and pick from.
We have selected a range of the very best self-pollinating apple tree varieties, so you don't need other plants to get a bumper crop. However, you might find that growing your own fruit soon becomes a passion, and there will be fruit trees and fruit bushes in every corner!
The apple trees for sale here at Garden Bargains are all commercial grade: the same kind used to supply supermarkets. The only difference is that your fruit will be fresher and cost just a few pence per kilogram.
A Braeburn apple tree is our top pick for eating apples. The crisp, pale flesh is perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, and every bite is saturated with succulent juice. Alternatively, Queen Cox is the self-pollinating version of traditional favourite Cox's Orange Pippin.
If baked apples, pies, and crumbles are more your thing, then of course you will prefer Bramleys - the king of cooking apples. These are not self-pollinating, so you will want to plant one of our other varieties alongside it.
For the very smallest spaces, try a Skyrocket Column apple tree. This variety works well in pots: all you need to do is find a sunny spot on your patio or balcony.
Choose your must-have plants online today, and we'll deliver conveniently to your door. We even supply you with an unbeatable Lifetime Guarantee!


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Assault charges have been stayed against an Alberta RCMP officer in connection to an off-duty incident in Whistler earlier this year, Black Press Media has learned.
Const. Vernon Hagen, a member of the federal serious and organized crime unit for Alberta, had been charged with two counts of assault and one count of obstructing a police officer, stemming from an incident on Jan. 28.
The BC Prosecution Service confirmed by email this week that the charges were stayed on Sept. 11 after Hagen completed an "alternative measures" program, for which he was referred in June.
The program allows for a person accused of a crime to address it outside of court. To be eligible, the accused must accept personal responsibility and agree to make amends. Typically, it's available to first-time offenders who are charged with a minor offence.
Examples of measures include financial compensation for loss or damage, an apology, community service and culturally-based practices if the matter involves an Indigenous person.
The Alberta RCMP has not yet responded to a request asking whether Hagen has returned to active duty.
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CE Mark Glasses
CE Marked Beer Glasses | CE Marked Wine Glasses | CE Marked Tumbler Glasses | CE Marked Shot Glasses |
CE Approved Glasses
Our range of cheap CE mark glasses and cheap LCE mark glasses are suitable for use in licensed establishments, such as bars, pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafes. CE marking is a mandatory conformance mark to ensure the product has met EU health, safety and environmental requirements. The letters 'CE' doesn't stand for anything and are used on glassware to ensure it holds an accurate legal measure, whether it's for beer, wine or spirits.
Glasses that carry the CE mark hold a legal measure to the brim, often seen on pint glasses, half pint glasses, 1/3 pint glasses, 2/3 pint glasses (schooner glasses) and shot glasses. LCE stands for lined and CE marked, which means the legal measure is accurate to the line, often seen on wine glasses and beer glasses.
Previously known as government stamped glassware (GS glassware) or crown stamped glassware, CE stamped glassware must be used in licensed establishments when serving certain alcoholic drinks. For beer, lager, ale, cider and similar beverages, the UK government currently offer a CE pint measure, CE half pint measure, CE one third of a pint measure and a CE two thirds of a pint measure. Wine served by the glass should be a 125ml wine measure, 175ml wine measure or 250ml wine measure and a 50ml measure or 70ml measure for fortified wines. We offer professional quality CE glassware delivered direct to your door, with an optional next day UK delivery service.


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OCEAN CITY- The Greene Turtle Girls' Lacrosse Club is looking for a handful of players to round out its 2015 graduating class team.
The club is looking for girls who are interested in playing competitive tournament lacrosse during the upcoming spring season. The club is seeking a handful of players to round out its team of players graduating from high school in 2015. For more information about the team or general information about the club, contact Tommy Dickerson at (410) 213-1500 or (443) 614-1552.


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Roksanda PejovicMusical composition and performance from the eighteenth century to the present
While music played an important role in the Serbian medieval state (from the twelfth to the fifteenth century), official music died out during the period of Turkish enslavement. The Serbs in Vojvodina (within the borders of the Habsburg empire) once again became involved in European musical trends in the eighteenth century, but they did not forget their traditional roots. The patrons of iconostases, portraits and still life paintings also enjoyed music which set itself apart from oriental models. Even so, little is known about ecclesiastical and secular music of that time. Although ecclesiastical eight-part melodies were sung from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, along with some other church songs, those melodies were created after the models of the fifteenth century. There is a likelihood that in the first half of the eighteenth century, church singing was done on the basis of the late Byzantine tradition and on the basis of Serbian folk singing (from 1713 onward, that music was in Church Slavonic). Under the Russian influence, forms of non-liturgical music such as chants appeared in Serbian dramas. In Belgrade, under Austrian rule at the time, a Greek singing school was founded in 1721, and at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, the Karlowitz style of church singing was developed in Sremski Karlovci, the see of the Serbian metropolis. Concert of the Belgrade Philharmonic at Sava Centre in Belgrade The citizenry was becoming musically educated at that time. The centre of folk music was Irig, where gusle players would gather from far and wide. Serbian music developed wherever the Serbs lived in the nineteenth century, in Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian cities where the Serbs had settled, and there were centres in Belgrade and in towns all over Vojvodina. The period itself was earmarked by amateurism, but Serbian music of the Romanticist style began then, based on the folk melodies. Apart from native Serbian musicians, the rise of music was also contributed to by foreigners, especially the Czechs, who were choir leaders in Serbian singing societies, playing in orchestras and teaching in the Serbian schools. The music was mostly in the service of patriotic ideas and of the preservation of the nation, as indicated by the ecclesiastical performances of the time (concerts with mixed programmes -- choral, soloist and orchestra compositions, including dramatic pieces as well) which were put together by church choir societies, the pillars of Serbian musical life. Choral music reached its peak in Pancevo in the 1870s, and did the same in Belgrade, Subotica and Kikinda in the 1880s. Theatre music was fostered in the theatre in Kragujevac as early as the period of Milos Obrenovic, and later in the National Theatre in Novi Sad (founded in 1861) which put on performances for Serbian audiences in towns in Vojvodina and Slavonija, and at the National Theatre in Belgrade (founded in 1868). Most of the arrangements and the music for certain pieces were done by the Slovene Davorin Jenko (1835-1914), who was a director at the National Theatre for thirty years. Starting in the 1880s, both theatres put on performances of operas and operettas. "Opera on the Boulevard" by an opera singer of international reputation, the bass Zarko Savic (1861-1934), did not last very long (1909-1911). Orchestra concerts began in 1842 in Belgrade, and soon after Johann Strauss did a guest performance there with his orchestra, performing his own compositions which had been inspired by the Serbian folk melodies as well, and other foreign artists followed suit. Symphonies were held from the 1890's onward. The pianist and composer Jovanka Stojkovic (1855-1892), who was it seems a student of Franz Liszt, did guest performances in Vienna, Graz, Pest and Paris. Meanwhile, Serbian audiences enjoyed the playing of the great violinists Jan Kubelik and Henri Marteaux, and Serbian violinist Dragomir Krancevic who played in Vienna, in German towns and in Pest. Likewise, the talents of pianist Sidonija Ilic were heard, as were the opera singer Sofija Sedmakov (who achieved a high reputation in the opera houses of Germany), the Belgrade Quartet and others. In 1899, the Serbian School of Music was founded. Musicians and laymen wrote down the melodies of secular and ecclesiastical national music in order to preserve it and use it as an inspiration for composers. Music composition was oriented toward choral pieces, solos and theatre pieces, while the instrumental and vocal-instrumental opuses were less numerous. Fundamentally professional, nationally oriented music was performed by the composer, pianist and director Kornelije Stankovic (1831-1865), who also recorded national music. His followers, in their activities as directors and composers, took his conception of the national style as the only possible interpretation. They elevated Serbian musical composition, and certain individuals even edified it to the point of international recognition. The central character in Serbian music was Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac (1856-1914), who had been raised on the tradition of Serbian church and folk music. He studied in Munich, Rome and Leipzig. As the director of the Belgrade Choral Society, he turned the group into an exceptional performing ensemble, and then did guest performances with them in many towns in Serbia. Later, he took them on tours of Austro- Hungarian towns as well in order to awaken the national feelings of the Serbian population, arousing their need for unification, while maintaining a high level of interpretation at the same time. First they visited Dubrovnik, Kotor and Cetinje, and then Skopje, Salonica and Budapest. They held concerts in Sophia, Plovdiv, and Istanbul, and then in St. Petersburg, Niznij Novgorod, Moscow and Kiev, and finally (in 1899) in Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig. These performances were attended by Serbian ambassadors and representatives of the countries in which the concerts were held, thus they extended a chance to show the artistic results of Serbian composition and performance in foreign countries. Such efforts were also made by other Serbian choir societies. A scene from Petar Konjovic's opera The Marriage of Milos (The Fairy's Veil). The Opera of the National Theatre in Belgrade, 1923 Mokranjac's "Fifteen Song Collections" (1883-1909), an a capella choir composition, based on the folk melodies of Serbia and Old Serbia, and on that of Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia, is one of the greatest achievements of Serbian music. It is enchanting with its exceptional choice of folk melodies and their forms, with its dependence on "a sense for the latent harmonic basis of melody", with its application of modal solutions, with its use of counterpoint, and its "highly developed and flexible structure". The effective and humorous choral piece 'Kozar', based on two folk songs, also shows the composer's originality. Mokranjac's church pieces possess primordial, monumental, powerful, deep and warm themes (Requiem in F-sharp minor, Liturgy and I Praise You O God). This great composer was among the first Serbian authors of ethnomusicological studies. Besides choir pieces, the contemporaries of Stevan Mokranjac composed operas, instrumentals and vocal-instrumental opuses, solos. Josif Marinkovic (1851-1931), who had studied at the Prague Organ School, was a director of the Belgrade Academic Choir Society called "Obilic". As a superb Romanticist, the author of patriotic choir songs (a famous one is The People's Gathering, which begins with the words: "Hey, bugler, from the embattled Drina"), a choir piece under the influence of folk music (The Round-Dance) and solos of exceptional highly developed melody based on the text of Serbian songs (A Prayer and Thunder by Vojislav Ilic). Stanislav Binicki (1872-1942) proved his musical abilities as a director and composer. After graduating from the Munich Conservatorium, he performed symphonies with the Orchestra of the King's Guard, and he did Haydn's The Last Seven Words of Christ and The Creation with this ensemble and the "Stankovic" Choir Society; in 1910 they continued with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which was an exceptional musical event in old Belgrade. He was the first director of the Belgrade Opera and the founder of the "Stankovic" Music School. Among his compositions is also the opera Rising Early, in the style of Italian veristic opera and Serbian urban folklore. The composer Isidor Bajic (1878-1915), a student of the Pest conservatory, proved himself to be a skilled organiser in the musical life of Novi Sad, where he started the "Serbian Music Journal" and a notated edition of the Serbian musical library. He also founded the Music School. He directed, wrote articles and textbooks and did some composing (the opera Prince Ivo of Semberija, songs which the populace gladly accepted, and other works as well). Listening to the renowned Czech choirs such as "Hlahol" and the "Moravian teachers", and world famous interpreters such as Korto Uninski, Rubenstein, Francescatti, Pichoda, Mainardi, Saljapin and Renet-Barton, the people of Belgrade also followed the development of domestic artists. Due to the aid of Russian immigrant singers, Liza Popovaj, Ksenija Rogovskaja, Pavel Kholodkov, Georgiy Yurenyev and Lev Zinovjev, the Belgrade Opera, founded in 1920, led by Stevan Hristic and Lovro Matacic, developed a rich repertoire. Apart from the standard works, the operas of P.I. Tchaikovsky, A.P. Borodin and M.P. Moussorgsky were put on, followed by Wagner's Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, and Tannhauser, Richard Strauss's Salome and others. These pieces were performed by a group of singers, among them Zdenka Zikova, Zivojin Tomic, Vojislav Turinski, Melanija Bugarinovic and Bahrija Nuri-Hadzic, the protagonist at the premiere of Berg's Lulu in Zurich in 1934. The high quality of the ballet was also maintained with the aid of Russian artists, followed by Natasa Boskovic, Milos Ristic and others. Apart from Romanticist ballets, modern ballet was also available to the audiences, such as Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird. The Belgrade Philharmonic was founded in 1923, and it advanced artistically under Stevan Hristic and Lovro Matacic. From 1931 to 1937, symphonic and vocal-instrumental opuses were performed, Honegger's Le Roi David, Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex, Verdi's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. The duo of Marija and Olga Mihailovic (violin and piano) was heard on the concert podium, as were the pianists Ljubica Marzinec and Emil Hajek, the vocal soloist Jelka Stamatovic and the Belgrade Piano Quartet. Music teaching was held in two music schools and at the Academy of Music, founded in 1937. In the period from 1918 to 1941, Serbian composers showed interest in various stylistic trends, from romanticism to quarter-tone music. All the other musicians of the first Yugoslavia worked in the shadows of four powerful personalities, P. Konjovic, M. Milojevic, S. Hristic and J. Slavenski. A scene from the ballet The Legend of Ohrid of Stevan Hristic, the Ballet of the National Theatre in Belgrade Composing, writing about music and organising musical activities were Petar Konjovic's (1883-1970) main areas of interest. He was the director of the Zagreb opera, the manager of the Osijek opera, and one of the founders of the Academy of Music and the Institute of Musicology in Belgrade. He composed operas inspired by folk music, stylistically close to the work of Leos Janacek. His operas, The Prince of Zeta (1929) and Kostana (1931; performed in Brno in 1932 and in Prague in 1935) were done conceptually as musical dramas: in the former the milieus of Montenegro and Venice are set in opposition through the proper musical language, and in the latter the ambient of Vranje is impressively conjured up, and the desire for youth is vividly shown. Konjovic's solos, Romanticist or Romanticist-impressionistic (Chanson), are often close to the folk melody (Under the Windows). Although they are varied in terms of content, his texts about music are related to the themes which he was mostly interested in, and that was music done in national styles. At the Munich Conservatory, in France and in Prague where he took a doctorate in musical scholarship in 1924-25, Miloje Milojevic (1884- 1946) added depth to his knowledge of music. He enriched the Romanticist and national-romanticist tendencies with the stylistic trends of Richard Strauss, with impressionism, and even with elements of expressionism. He was most expressive in his solos (the collection Before Magnificent Nature) and in his piano compositions (Melodies and Rhythms from the Balkans, the suites, Camaieux). He was the leading music critic of Belgrade and the author of valuable musical texts about Serbian and Yugoslav music. Stevan Hristic (1885-1958) received his musical education in Leipzig, Moscow, Rome and Paris. He was the director of the Belgrade Philharmonic and the Belgrade Opera. He showed a special inclination for vocal music, composing technically cultivated works in the neo- romanticist, veristic and romanticist-impressionist style, sometimes hued with the folk melodies. The chamber opera Twilight (1925) faithfully renders old patrician Dubrovnik, and the ballet Legend of Ohrid (1947) owed its popularity to Serbian and Macedonian folklore, to its remarkable melodics, to its temperamental rhythm and sophisticated orchestration. His church music showed a Russian influence (Requiem in F-sharp minor). Josip Slavenski (1896-1955), a Croatian composer, was another of the famous characters in old Belgrade. He expanded his enchantment with Medjumurje folklore to the Balkans (the orchestrated Balkanophonia) and to oriental music (the vocal-instrumental Religiophonia, or the Symphony of the Orient). The representatives of the Romanticist style were, among others, Petar Stojanovic (1877-1957), a violinist who per'formed throughout Europe, composed concerts and sonatas for the violin, viola and other instruments, along with other chamber pieces. Petar Krstic (1877-1957) was an opera and solo composer, as was Kosta Manojlovic (1890-1949), the author of modally hued choir pieces who dealt with music history and ethnomusicology. In their first works, the Serbian students of the Prague generation were interested in impressionism, neo-classicism, expressionism and quarter-tone music. Except for Vojislav Vukovic (1910-1942), their representatives would continue their activities after 1945. This composer and doctor of musicology left expressionism behind and turned to the influences of Soviet composers in orchestrated, vocal- instrumental and other works. After returning to the old models, in the second half of the twentieth century, Serbian music began to keep up with the tendencies of Western Europe. Musical life intensified and many of its representatives achieved acclaim in Europe. The Belgrade Opera was at the forefront on this account, because of its director and conductor, Oskar Danon (b. 1913) and his collaborators: the composer and conductor Kresimir Baranovic (1894-1975), the conductor Dusan Miladinovic (b. 1924), the stage director Mladen Sabljic (b. 1923) and the scenographer Dusan Ristic (b. 1913). The Opera did guest performances from 1955 to 1963, including Wiesbaden, Paris, Lausanne, Venice, Cairo, Florence, Warsaw, Turin, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Alexandria and Edinburgh. Among others, performances were given of Moussorgsky's Boris Godunov and Hovanscina, Aleksandr Borodin's Prince Igor, Massenet's Don Quixote, Leos Janacek's Katja Kabanova, Gounod's Faust, Sergej Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges and The Gambler, Smetana's The Bartered Bride, and Nikola Hercigonja's stage oratory The Mountain Wreath. The ballet corpus had a series of notable performances both at home and abroad, including the Hristic's popular Legend of Ohrid, Baranovic's Cake in the Shape of a Heart and China Story, not to mention Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarine. The ballet's success was contributed to by Dimtrije Parlic (1919-1986) who was the head of the ballet of the opera in Vienna and Rome. The cover page of the musical drama Treasure of Medjuluzje by Momcilo Nastasijevic The Belgrade Philharmonic under K. Baranovic and Zivojin Zdravkovic retained the primacy of the first Belgrade orchestra, apart from the orchestra of Radio-Television Belgrade (directed by Mladen Jagust, b. 1924), and the Artistic Ensemble of the Yugoslav Army. Contributions to the music life and guest performances abroad were made by: the Chamber Ensemble, the Belgrade Piano Trio, the Serbian String Quartet, and the "Dusan Skovran" String Ensemble (under the direction of Aleksandar Pavlovic). Choir groups likewise contributed: the Radio-Choir under the direction of Borivoj Simic (b. 1920), the "Branko Krsmanovic" student choir led by Bogdan Babic (1921-1980), and the women's choir Collegium musicum directed by Darinka Matic-Marovic. Foreign acclaim has been achieved by opera singers Biserka Cvejic and Radmila Bakocevic, violinist Stefan Milenkovic and many others. The same is true of the ballet dancers Jovanka Bjegojevic, Dusanka Sifnios, Milorad Miskovic and Zarko Prebil (now the director of the ballet of the Rome Opera). Novi Sad is also a significant musical centre, the home of the Vojvodina Philharmonic and opera house. Many chamber ensembles have also played there. This city also has a Music Department at the Academy of Arts, and there is an Electronics Centre within that department. The Musical activities of Nis are directed mostly toward Yugoslav choir festivals, where choirs from all over the country and abroad are gathered. The former students of the Prague Conservatorium, along with other composers of the same generation, had a wide variety of stylistic inclinations. Milenko Zivkovic (1901-1964), Svetomir Nastasijevic (1902-1979) and Stanojlo Rajicic (b. 1910) used tradition as a starting point, and Rajicic created a thrilling polytonic harmonic musical language. He composed the opera Simonida, operas for television and cycles for voice and orchestra (In the Linden Forest, Yellow Leaves, and others), symphonies and concerts for various instruments. Jovan Bandur (1899-1956) was inspired in his cantatas by the folk melodies, as was Mihailo Vukdragovic (1900-1984) the author of a cycle of solos entitled The Vocal Lyric. Marko Tajcevic (1900-1984) was the creator of a sophisticated, moderately formed and nationally hued short form, greatly nuanced in a mostly modal harmony. He wrote Seven Balkan Dances for the piano, choir pieces (among which is his Four Spiritual Verses), and solos. From late Romanticism and Strauss's orchestra came the opuses of Mihovil Logar - the ballet The Gold Fish and the opera The Parvenu. The works of Predrag Milosevic (1904-1988) and Milan Ristic (1908-1982) belong to the world of Neo-Classicism; their symphonies indicate a clarity and brevity of form, work with a thematic core and programmatic elements. The orchestra opuses of Dragutin Colic (1907-1987) and Ljubica Maric (b. 1909) owe their musical conceptions to expressionism. Maric creates within the unity of the ancient and the modern, for she is original, inspired, primordial in expression, bound to the land from which she came. Beside the cantatas Songs of Space and Pasquil for orchestra, she composed a cycle based on single voices of the Osmoglasnik which Mokranjac had noted: Oktoih I, The Byzantine Concert for piano and orchestra, the cantata The Threshold of Sleep, and Ostinato super thema octoicha for the harp, piano and strings. Neo-Romanticism is often the inspirational warp for composers of a balanced modern language, composers who graduated from the Belgrade Music Academy. Some of the composers were inclined toward impressionism or neo-classicism, but there were also those who aspired for the new realms of sound. Vasilije Mokranjac (1923-1984) - in dramatic, temperamental, almost eruptive symphonies - used short, concentrated ideas which could include only one chord, thick orchestral fabric and multi-layered harmony in the framework of a broadly conceived tonality. His piano compositions also have impressionistic reflections (Echoes). A balanced modern language characterises the work of Radomir Petrovic (1923-1991), the author of cantatas and choir pieces, as it does the work of Dragutin Gostuski (b. 1923) who got his doctorate at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade and who is known for his violin concert and choir pieces. Kosta Babic (b. 1927) composed his witty choir pieces in the same style, as did Dusan Kostic (b. 1925) in his orchestra and vocal-instrumental opuses, and Vlastimir Pericic (b. 1927) in his orchestra compositions and solos. Traditional but also modern means of expression characterise the symphonies of Aleksandar Obradovic (b. 1927), which have a sharp orchestral intensity. Vitomir Trifunovic (b. 1927), in his synthesis of tradition and avant garde elements, spoke out in a sound of new dimensions in Syntheses 4, Associations, and Concert for the Violin. Constant metamorphoses characterise the works of Rudolf Bruci (b. 1917), inclined toward orchestra and vocal- instrumental forms. His Sinfonia lesta received an international award at a competition in Brussels. The Dusan Skovran String Ensemble, directed by Aleksandar Pavlovic The works of Enriko Josif (b. 1924) have a neo-classicist character, powerfully expressive and polyphonic in conception, in the unity of the ancient and modern. Among them are the stage visions Stefan Decanski, the ballet Bird, Don't Fold Your Wings, and Piano Concert. Dusan Radic (b. 1929) in his List, for voice and piano and his The Tower of Skulls, grew out of the same stylistic source, as did his other works. The same neo-classicist source was used as a constant inspiration by Dejan Despic (b. 1930) in his Triptych for violin and orchestra, his concerts and piano opuses. Among the composers who appeared in after 1956, there were those who studied in Paris, Warsaw, Stuttgart, Cologne, Utrecht and Princeton. They accepted neo-classicism as their starting point, using aleatory music, serials, electro-acoustics and tape music, as well as post- modernist techniques. Liberated from tonality in his works of intensified sound quality, Petar Ozgijan (1932-1979) was the most expressive in his compositions Triptych and Nocturne. The remarkable character of Vladan Radovanovic (b. 1932), the director of the Electronic Studio of Radio Belgrade, is avant garde in the fields of music, painting and literature. Sphaeroon and Sonora are among his musical opuses. Srdjan Hofman (b. 1944) is in constant search for new means of expression, from his vocal-instrumental Cantus de morte to the post-modern technique of Deja vu). Composers reveal the atmosphere of the Serbian past and interpret it with modern means of expression. In the tendency toward a specific colourite, a sophisticated transparent colour is achieved, as are powerful sounds. The archaic patina echoes in the orchestra (Sinfonia - polifonica) and chamber compositions (Incantations) of Mirjana Zivkovic (b. 1934). The presence of the ancient, especially of the distant Serbian past, was brought to life through a language close to that of the Polish school, characterises the musical ideas of R. Maksimovic, S. Atanackovic, Z. Hristic and Z. Eric. Rajko Maksimovic (b. 1935) composed the madrigals Singing from the Gloom done according to medieval records, and The Rebellion against the Dahijas. Slobodan Atanackovic (b. 1937) is interested in the archaic layers of Serbian musical folklore. His oratoriums are Dies gloriae and Akathistos. Zoran Hristic (b. 1938) is inclined to unusual tonic combinations (the choreo-oratorio Step, akin to total theatre, the ballet Darinka's Gift, a vocal- instrumental composition). The works of Zoran Eric (b. 1950) are embued with a complex, tonally transparent structure in his music for piano and orchestra Mirage, in the ballet Banovic Strahinja and in numerous chamber opuses. Vuk Kulenovic (b. 1946) achieves a powerful emotiveness in his Quasar OH 471, Icarus. The expression and recognisability of the style of Milan Mihailovic (b. 1945) rest on the use of specific moduses (the chamber composition Lamentoso), and a transparent colourite (Symphonic Metamorphosis). The modern language of Vlastimir Trajkovic (b. 1947) owes itself to impressionism in his orchestra piece Tempora retenta, in his work Duo for the Piano and Orchestra and in his chamber pieces. The individuality of each modern composer cannot be dealt with in just a few sentences. Undoubtedly, they have their own uniqueness and are worthy of greater presence in the music of Europe and the world. // Projekat Rastko / The history of Serbian culture // |


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After rebuffing the Obama Administration's effort at diplomatic engagement for more than a year, Iran suddenly has seen the advantages of launching its own diplomatic counteroffensive to stave off impending U.N. sanctions. The Washington Post reported that Iran's regime soon will dispatch diplomatic emissaries to every member of the U.N. Security Council (except the United States) to revive stalled talks on a nuclear fuel swap proposal that was brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency last fall. By inflating hopes for a diplomatic resolution of the nuclear standoff, Tehran also seeks to lure the United States into more time-consuming negotiations and drain off support for another round of sanctions at the Security Council.
We have seen this movie before. Last October the Obama Administration thought it had an agreement with Tehran to exchange the bulk of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium for fuel for its research reactor, only to be left in the lurch when Iran suddenly reversed course and rejected the deal. It turned out that the administration had bought into an "agreement in principle" with a regime that had no principles.
Tehran's latest diplomatic gambit is entirely consistent with Iran's past strategy of "cheat, retreat, and delay" on the nuclear issue. When caught cheating on its nuclear safeguards obligations, Tehran repeatedly has promised to cooperate with the IAEA to defuse the situation and to halt the momentum for imposing further sanctions. Then, after the crisis is averted, it reneges on its promises and stonewalls IAEA requests for more information. These delaying tactics consume valuable time, which Iran has used to press ahead with its nuclear weapons research.
Unfortunately, Iran's diplomatic rope-a-dope strategy now is being aided and abetted by Turkey. The Islamist government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which has reoriented Turkish foreign policy and distanced itself from the West since coming to power in 2003, now seeks to give Iran the diplomatic cover it needs. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday announced that Turkey has offered to mediate between Iran and the West on the nuclear issue.
Predictably, the Obama Administration remains eager to revive its failed diplomatic strategy to engage Iran. The State Department has made it clear that the door was still open for more talks: "We're still interested in pursuing that offer if Iran is interested" said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley on Monday. Stay tuned for more diplomatic talks about talks. Meanwhile, Iran's centrifuges whirl away, steadily building Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
For more publications and links, see: Iran


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The NFL looks to be a responsible steward of the environment in all areas of its business -- using resources efficiently and minimizing waste. The focus of the NFL's environmental efforts is on greening NFL events and facilities, and working with NFL teams to help them operate their businesses in sustainable, eco-friendly ways.
Greening of NFL Events
The NFL brings environmental principles and best practices to its events - from our largest one (Super Bowl) to those with a more modest environmental footprint.
Minimizing the environmental impact of events is not new for the NFL. The NFL has had a comprehensive, award-winning Super Bowl environmental program for over 15 years. In each Super Bowl host community, the NFL works with local partners to develop and implement a wide array of sustainability projects.
The Super Bowl environmental program has five main initiatives: solid waste management, material reuse, food recovery, sports equipment and book donations, and greenhouse gas reduction.
» Solid Waste Management/Recycling -- Comprehensive solid waste management is implemented at all major Super Bowl facilities including the stadium, NFL Experience, Media Centers, and area hotels. Effective waste management and recycling efforts significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills.
» Prepared Food Recovery -- Extra prepared food from Super Bowl events is collected for donation. Food recovered through these efforts goes to soup kitchens, shelters and other local organizations that provide meals to people in need.
» Materials Donation -- Decorative materials, building materials, office supplies and other reusable items are recovered and donated to local nonprofit organizations.
» Sports Equipment and Book Donation Project -- The Super Kids-Super Sharing Sports Equipment and Book Donation project asks students to bring usable items to their schools in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. These items are be collected and donated to schools and youth organizations throughout the area. The Super Kids-Super Sharing project transfers tens of thousands of items each year from kids that would likely throw away their book or toy, to a youngster that really needs it.
» Greenhouse Gas Reduction/Renewable Energy - The NFL uses renewable energy credits (REC) to offset all energy used major Super Bowl venues. As part of the NFL's reforestation efforts, several thousand tree seedlings are planted each year in the Super Bowl host community. Through an innovative partnership with US Forest Service/USDA, the NFL tracks annually the environmental benefits of the trees it has planted.
NFL Facilities
The NFL is committed to making its office spaces environmentally responsible places to work. At the NFL's 3 primary office facilities, the league has adopted a number of recent changes to "go green."
Additionally, NFL headquarters will be moving into new office space in Manhattan in 2011 that will be LEED certificated.
NFL Clubs
NFL teams have embraced the sustainability movement. Many NFL clubs are on the cutting edge of eco-friendly operations and management.
One team that is not just green uniform but also in its business practices is the Philadelphia Eagles. The SportsBusiness Journal called the Eagles Go Green initiative "the most comprehensive greening effort of any major sports team." Since launching Go Green in 2003, the Eagles have recycled thousands of tons of waste; greened their entire supply chain; and created Eagles Forest, a 6.5 acre area in Neshaminy State Park, PA where the Eagles have funded the purchase of more than 4,000 trees and shrubs.
In November of 2010 the Eagles announced a groundbreaking plan to power its stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, exclusively from renewable energy (onsite wind, solar, and bio-fuel). This transformative initiative will be the first of its kind among sports facilities worldwide. The project will not only eliminate the use of fossil fuels at Lincoln Financial Field, but it is also projected to save the Eagles $60M in energy costs over the next 20 years. The Eagles have proven that going green is both good for the environment and good business.
Like the Eagles, other NFL teams have impressive environmental credentials. To name just a few examples:
» The New Meadowlands Stadium, home to the N.Y. Giants and N.Y. Jets, was constructed in a unique partnership with the EPA.
» The Arizona Cardinalsoffset 100 percent of energy used on game days at their stadium throughout the season.