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Once a catcher, Johnson returns to Padres on the hill
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It's easy for Rob Johnson to move through the Padres' Minor League clubhouse without a glance, let alone one of those peculiar, what-is-he-doing-here looks from his new teammates.
This is by no means an indictment on Johnson's Major League catching career, where he played for four teams, catching Felix Hernandez shutouts along the way while earning a reputation as a superior game-caller.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It's easy for Rob Johnson to move through the Padres' Minor League clubhouse without a glance, let alone one of those peculiar, what-is-he-doing-here looks from his new teammates.
This is by no means an indictment on Johnson's Major League catching career, where he played for four teams, catching Felix Hernandez shutouts along the way while earning a reputation as a superior game-caller.
No, this is more a reflection on those other players in this clubhouse, young players who, in many cases, are 10 years his junior and don't have an idea what Johnson's story is all about.
This isn't lost on the 31-year-old Johnson, who has checked his ego -- and service time -- at the front door of the Padres' facility in Peoria every morning he arrives for workouts. He's had no problem embracing his newfound anonymity. He actually seems to enjoy it.
"I went from a big league catcher, a known guy to being a Minor League pitcher," Johnson said, smiling.
That is certainly the hope for Johnson, who is optimistic his new career path can lead him back to the Major Leagues, only this time as a pitcher and not a catcher.
"I'm excited for this journey," Johnson said the other day.
Position changes aren't unusual in the game, at least not in the Minor Leagues. But for Johnson, he's turned his back on catching after 265 games behind the plate with the Mariners, Padres, Mets and, last season, the Cardinals.
But this move certainly rates as atypical in the sense that Johnson -- who had offers from Major League teams to catch -- turned his back on the position that got him to the big leagues for the hope that the strong right arm that served him well as a catcher can get him back to the Major Leagues.
"We put a date on this offseason," Johnson said. "I don't know if people understand, but this isn't a late-ditch resort. I had some offers to catch with some good teams. We wanted to see where each offer was at, the best fit. When that date passed and with no offers we really wanted ... that's when I turned the page."
This position change in the making isn't some flight of fancy for Johnson, some whimsical endeavor. He's been thinking about it for a while. In fact, it was during his one season with the Padres in 2011 when he really started to think about pitching.
That summer, on yet another sun-kissed day in San Diego, Johnson, with pitching coach Darren Balsley and several others, made the trek across the outfield grass at Petco Park for the bullpen area beyond the center field fence after Johnson talked the team into taking a look at him as a pitcher.
Johnson threw a dozen or so pitches that day, not knowing how hard he was throwing, not knowing how he looked. After the session, Balsley put his arm around Johnson and leveled with him.
"He was like, 'Robby' because that's what he calls me, 'you have a chance,'" said Johnson, a career .200 hitter.
If Balsley was the least bit skeptical before, Johnson's ability essentially won him over that afternoon.
"He was curious how hard he could throw," Balsley said. "We got the gun out and he was high 80s, low 90s and his secondary pitchers were actually pretty good. But he threw like a catcher. After, I told him that he may have a chance, but being a backup catcher in the big leagues isn't a bad gig."
Which is why Johnson kept doing it.
Johnson bounced around after leaving San Diego, playing for the Mets in 2012 and for the Cardinals a year ago. He caught and, at least once each season, managed to get on the mound for a game. Last season, he started giving pitching a serious thought, bouncing ideas off Cardinals' pitcher Jason Motte, who was drafted as a catcher, as well as Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, who was his catch partner.
"I would work on some different stuff and try to emulate what they did," Johnson said.
Johnson reached out to Balsley in the offseason for advice. Balsley, in return, gave Johnson a handful of tips to help him make the transition. Better than that, he extended Johnson an offer to fly to see him near his home in Knoxville to gauge if any of those tips had truly taken hold.
"I gave Rob a guideline of how he could, mechanically, start throwing like a pitcher instead of a catcher," Balsley said. "He put a lot of hard work into it. In January, he flew out to see me for three days and he looked great. He looked like a pitcher. He had two different fastballs, his secondary pitches were good."
From there, Balsley recommended to Padres assistant general manager A.J. Hinch that they consider a Minor League deal. The Padres offered, Johnson accepted.
"I really hope he makes it," Balsley said.
Johnson, who has a two-seam and four-seam fastball and can sink and cut it, will find out soon. He'll start facing Minor League hitters on Monday.
At any rate, no matter how this turns out, Johnson knows he'll miss his former life as a catcher -- for a lot of reasons.
"I think there's going to be a lot of things I do miss; the competition, the setting up of hitters, the grind, helping the pitcher through an inning where he's really scuffling, setting up a hitter and fooling him ... and that moment when you convince a pitcher that this is the pitch to throw.
"But I'm not going to miss taking balls off my wrist," Johnson said. "And I won't miss cup shots, either."
But he will miss the memories that catching afforded him, many from his four seasons with the Mariners (2007-2010).
"I remember in Seattle, I caught Felix Hernandez, Jarrod Washburn and Cliff Lee. I caught a Washburn one-hitter ... that was a big deal for me," Johnson said. "I made my debut in Yankee Stadium and [Jorge] Posada was playing. I felt giggly like a school boy. Ken Griffey Jr. took me under his wing in Seattle and placed my locker next to his."
"Going to the World Series last year was amazing," said Johnson, who wasn't on the roster, but went to all the games. "Playing under Mike Matheny was incredible and picking Yadier Molina's brain every day was something I'll never forget."
Johnson is pragmatic enough to know that the odds are against him. The Padres' system is filled with young, talented arms. Roster spots are scant and will generally be filled with players the Padres have invested a lot in, both in time and money.
"My adjustments are going to have to come fast, because I'm a little older and not at development age anymore," Johnson said. But I'm at complete peace with this and I'm excited to be here, excited to learn as much as I can. Ultimately, the hitters are going to tell me if I can do this or not.
Johnson then stops, leans up against the wall and smiles before continuing his thought.
"If I'm throwing my best stuff up there and it's not good enough, then I'm OK with that," he said. "… But the competitor in of me says it's going to be different than that."
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter.


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AUSTIN – Law enforcement officers across the U.S. are gearing up for Operation Dry Water – the nation's boating while intoxicated (BWI) awareness and enforcement campaign. The nationwide event will take place June 27-29.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths in the United States. "Texas Game Wardens as well as our law enforcement partners will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws," said Cody Jones, TPWD Law Enforcement Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement and Texas State Boating Law Administrator.
In 2013, officers from across the country contacted 144,044 recreational boaters and made 290 BWI arrests during the three-day weekend. Thousands of law enforcement officers, along with their boating safety partners, will be on the water during Operation Dry Water educating boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs and alcohol as well as removing from the water those who choose to boat impaired.
"Game Wardens will continue to remind Texans through education and enforcement to always have a designated driver while boating on our lakes and rivers," said LTC Danny Shaw, TPWD Law Enforcement Deputy Director. "Our purpose is to provide everyone an opportunity to safely enjoy themselves on the water and return home at the end of the day. We will have enhanced Game Warden patrols through the remainder of the summer and our officers will be on high alert for those who choose to place themselves and others in danger by drinking and operating vessels on our public waters."
"The mission of Operation Dry Water and the law enforcement officers who participate is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related deaths on the water," says John Fetterman, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Deputy Executive Director. "Boating should be a fun and enjoyable time spent with friends and family; we are asking that boaters make sure their voyage remains enjoyable by boating sober. Too many accidents and deaths are caused by those who choose to boat under the influence."
In addition to having a designated driver, TPWD stresses the following four key points to decrease boating and water related accidents, injuries, and deaths.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you are a victim of domestic violence and
need help now, call the
NYS Domestic and
Sexual Violence Hotline.
The Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is a cost-free State program that allows victims of domestic violence to shield their actual address. Participants are assigned a substitute address which they will use for receipt of all first-class, registered and certified mail. The Secretary of State will also accept service of process on behalf of ACP participants. Participants' mail will then be re-packaged and mailed to their actual or mailing addresses. This program is one facet of an overall safety plan for victims of domestic violence. The ACP program is not a witness protection plan.
Using an ACP substitute address. Upon certification as an ACP participant, the participant will be provided with an ID card which will contain his/her name, unique ID number and the substitute address, which is a Post Office box in Albany, New York. The card will also indicate the expiration date for the program participant. ACP contact information is on the back of the ID card. The participant should use this substitute address in all dealings with state and local agencies, which are required by law to accept this address. Private companies such as utility providers, stores and other companies may not automatically accept the substitute address. Participants should show their ACP ID card to any of these entities when attempting to use the substitute address.
Service of Process. Participants in the ACP have designated the Secretary of State to accept any legal notices (process) on their behalf. The Secretary of State's office will not reveal any identifying information to the process server. We will only verify whether the person being served is an ACP participant. A copy of any process will be mailed to the participant's actual or mailing address via certified mail.
How mail is handled. Any first class, registered or certified mail sent to the substitute address will be re-packaged and forwarded to the participant's actual or mailing address. This is done on a daily basis, Monday through Friday (except holidays). Participants should expect a five to seven day delay in receiving their mail. ACP will not forward packages, periodicals and catalogs, unless clearly identifiable as pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs) or they were sent by a government agency.


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By Warren Strobel and Louis Charbonneau
PARIS/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States, Britain and France warned President Bashar al-Assad on Monday that there would be consequences if he failed to hand over Syria's chemical weapons, and said a U.N. report on the August 21 sarin gas attack left little doubt that Assad's forces were to blame.
As expected, a report by U.N. chemical weapons experts did not say who launched the attack on the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Ghouta, which prompted the threat of Western military action. But it did give details of the type of gas and the munitions used, which some experts said indicated government forces were responsible.
After a meeting of their foreign ministers in Paris, the three Western permanent members of the United Nations Security Council said they would seek a strong U.N. resolution setting binding deadlines for removing Syria's chemical weapons, French President Francois Hollande's office said.
This followed a weekend deal negotiated by Russia and the United States on eliminating the arms.
Russia cautioned against imposing tough penalties on the Syrian leader, who is Moscow's close ally. Russia and Syria say that opposition forces carried out the chemical weapons attack.
In Syria, where rebels fear the U.S.-Russia deal gave Assad license to continue his campaign using conventional weapons, fighting was reported on several fronts. Turkey said its warplanes shot down a Syrian helicopter after it violated Turkish airspace.
The U.S.-Russia deal reached in Geneva put off the immediate threat of U.S. air strikes to punish Assad for the August 21 attack, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed at the time that it did not include any automatic use of force in the event of Syria's failure to comply.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said force remains an option if Assad reneges.
The U.N. report confirmed "unequivocally and objectively" that chemical weapons were used, according to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"This is a war crime," Ban told the Security Council. "The international community has a responsibility to hold the perpetrators accountable and to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare."
Washington says the attack killed more than 1,400 people, including some 400 children
Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said the U.N. report made clear that only the Syrian government could have carried it out. [ID:nL2N0HC0OV] British and French officials echoed her comments.
Russian U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin said there was no scientific proof government forces were responsible for the sarin attack. "We need to not jump to any conclusions," he said.
Syria's U.N. ambassador did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The report confirmed that sarin gas was used. The investigators studied five impact sites and were able to determine the likely trajectory of the projectiles at two sites - Moadamiyah and Ein Tarma.
Eliot Higgins, who blogs under the name of Brown Moses and has been tracking videos of weapons used in the Syria conflict, wrote that he has not seen the opposition using the munitions identified in the report: a variant of the M14 artillery rocket and a 330 mm caliber artillery rocket.
Rebels have seized all kinds of weapons from military depots across the country in the 2 1/2-year civil war.
But Amy Smithson, a chemical weapons expert at the Monterey Institute in California, said the attack bore "so many hallmarks of a military trained in chemical warfare doctrine" and not an untrained force.
"Multiple sites, simultaneously targeted. The early morning hours of the attack are when winds are at their lowest and temperatures at their coolest - the very conditions conducive to having toxic gas stay on the target," she told Reuters.
"The Assad government has been in the business of chemical weapons since the 1970s. They are trained in military doctrine. They also have chemical delivery systems that the rebels don't," she said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told a news conference in Paris that the three powers agreed with Russia that Assad must suffer consequences if he fails to comply with U.N. demands.
"If Assad fails in time to abide by the terms of this framework, make no mistake, we are all agreed - and that includes Russia - that there will be consequences," Kerry said.
The accord offered the Syrian leader "no lifeline" and he had "lost all legitimacy", Kerry added.
After Hollande met Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague and their French counterpart Laurent Fabius, an aide to Hollande said: "The idea is to stick to a firm line".
"They've agreed to seek a strong and robust resolution that sets precise and binding deadlines with a calendar," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Russia accused the Europeans of trying to reinterpret the agreement.
In Moscow, Lavrov said any rush to draw up a resolution threatening to punish Syria in the event of non-compliance showed a "lack of understanding" of the deal.
"Our (European) partners want to again unilaterally review what we've agreed on with the Americans. That's not how you do business, and I'm sure that despite these statements that are coming from European capitals, the Americans will, as proper negotiators, strictly stick to what has been agreed on," he said.
Lavrov said it may be time to consider efforts to force the Syrian opposition to attend an international peace conference instead of just urging them to do so. The rebels have said they will not attend talks if the Syrian president is there.
Syria's government at the weekend hailed as a "victory" the Russian-brokered deal. Rebels who have been fighting Assad's forces since 2011 say it benefited their enemy in the civil war.
Assad briefly dispersed his forces to protect them from strikes threatened by the United States in response to the attack.
Opposition voices say the chemical weapons deal effectively gives Assad permission to carry on with the conventional war, in which more than 100,000 people have died, according to U.N. figures.
Fighting between rebels and government forces ground on from the outskirts of Damascus in the southwest to the central Hama province to Deir al-Zor in the east.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Turkish warplanes shot down a Syrian helicopter after it violated Turkish airspace.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad monitoring group based in Britain, said government warplanes also hit targets in the Sbeneh area south of Damascus and in the eastern Deir al-Zor province.
The Syrian government has told the United Nations it will adhere to a treaty banning chemical weapons. The U.S.-Russian framework agreement calls for the United Nations to enforce the removal of existing stockpiles by the middle of next year.
Assad has less than a week to begin complying with the deal by handing over a full account of his chemical arsenal. He must allow U.N.-backed inspectors from the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to complete their initial on-site checks by November.
Experts say the removal of up to 1,000 metric tons of chemical agents will be highly problematic in the middle of Syria's civil war, although they assume that the dozens of chemical weapons sites remain under government control.
"The OPCW just doesn't have the manpower to man such an operation like this, so they would bring in other experts," former OPCW official Dieter Rothbacher told Reuters. He said even in normal circumstances it would take 15 to 20 inspectors several months to make an inventory and verify Syria's stockpile.
The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria said on Monday it was investigating 14 alleged attacks with chemical weapons or chemical agents in Syria over the last two years.
U.N. human rights investigators also said hard-line Syrian rebels and foreign fighters invoking jihad, or holy war, had stepped up killings, executions and other abuses in the north since July.
(Additional reporting by Alexander Dziadosz, Stephanie Nebehay, Elizabeth Pineau, John Irish, Louis Charbonneau, Michelle Nichols, Jonathan Burch and Anthony Deutsch; Writing by Giles Elgood and Claudia Parsons; Editing by David Stamp, David Storey and Jim Loney)


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When I started this food column a few years ago, the idea was to offer simple, tasty recipes that even a novice cook could mimic.
Many people learn to cook by watching and helping a more experienced cook. Today that is enhanced by a myriad of cooking shows–(food even has its own network!), seaching the Internet, buying scores of magazines and occasionally even reading a cookbook.
Have you ever had a craving that you couldn't explain where it came from?
I'm not a breakfast eater–never have been. I suppose the biggest reason is I don't eat eggs–except in cookies, cakes and pies.
There was a time when I thought the old saw, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" was sexist and degrading.
Something happened last Friday that has never happened in all the years Tom and I have been a couple.
As he was readying for work, I asked him what he wanted for dinner that night.
Usually he asks me what his options are, but this time without pause he answered.
"Meatloaf….or sloppy joes."
After I got over the initial shock, I filed the info away, went to work and forgot about it.
But as the time approached for me to leave that afternoon, the thought of cooking dinner came back.
Now, I am not a meatloaf fan.
For all intents and purposes, I am not a breakfast eater in the true sense of the word. I don't eat eggs, gravy or grits and those are pretty much the foundation for breakfast–especially in the South.
I do, however, like to eat sometime before noon and of course, my preferences tend to run on the sweet side of things. A doughnut, a Pop Tart or a bagel with strawberry cream cheese all fit the bill nicely to go with my three cups of morning coffee.
My Grandma Nora made the best biscuits I've ever tasted.
They were light, flaky and had a unique extra something that made them stand apart from other biscuits.
My mother made a good biscuit too–hers were of the cat head variety: big, golden brown and crusty on top and bottom and tender and fluffy on the inside.
It's no wonder that I spent the next four decades trying to emulate the Queens of Biscuit–and each time, coming up sadly short.
Most people would think that I am the size I am because of my incredible sweet tooth. Everyone who knows me understands that I cannot say no to a Reese's Cup, a Key Lime Pie or Paula Deen's Pound Cake.
But the truth is, while I love my sweets, I love bread just as much.
There's nothing more savory than hot bread slathered in a pound of butter. And because I don't discriminate, cold bread with butter, or peanut butter, is pretty darn good too.
Aside from cheese biscuits, light and fluffy yeast rolls are by far my favorite bread type.
My mother was an excellent cook, as was her mother before her, and probably her mother before her. It's what women did back then–they took care of home and hearth and in the days before restaurants were tres chic, they cooked big, nourishing meals to feed big families.
Copyright © 2019
The Williston Pioneer is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Williston, Fl, and the surrounding area.


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It's no secret that maintaining a nutritious diet requires an awareness of what, when, and how much we eat. But here's the catch: Many of our eating habits are just that -- habits. Whether it's snacking before dinner or eating on the run, we frequently fall into patterns with little thought at all. The potential consequences of habitual eating are anything but nourishing -- it can lead to health problems ranging from poor digestion to weight gain, and an increase in the stress and imbalance in our lives.
Reversing unhealthy eating habits is not about following hard-and-fast diet rules. Instead, it's about cultivating a new, conscious approach, one that starts with listening to your body. "Our systems are designed to know what we need to eat," says Mary Taylor, a trained chef and coauthor of "What Are You Hungry For?: Women, Food, and Spirituality." "We just need to tune in to those internal signals." Taylor likens "conscious eating" to meditation, in which practitioners watch their thoughts come and go without judgment. Rather than giving in to every food craving or ignoring your body's signals, you'll begin simply paying attention.
"Mindfulness is the missing link when it comes to healthy eating," says Ellie Krieger, a New York City-based registered dietitian and host of the Food Network's "Healthy Appetite." For lasting change, don't try to overhaul your approach overnight. Start gradually, focusing on the following common pitfalls; then work on your own weak spots. Throughout, be gentle with yourself. In time, you may see improvements in not only your diet but also your overall sense of well-being. "Practicing consciousness about food does more than help you eat better," says Taylor. "It's a skill that has a way of spilling out into other areas of life."
New Motto: Slow Down and Chew
If there's one time to curb the frenetic pace of your day, it's mealtime. Eating too fast undermines healthy digestion and encourages overeating. Moreover, it precludes enjoyment. "We tend to ignore the sensory aspects of food -- the smell of it, the look of it, the taste -- and just shovel it in without paying attention," says Krieger.
Intentionally engaging your senses can help you slow down. Taylor suggests making a simple "pledge of consciousness": For the first and last bites of every meal for a week, check in and notice the way your food tastes and smells, and how your body feels. "You may only remember to do it 50 percent of the time," she says, "but it's a good starting point."
Of course, paying attention to your food is tough if you're distracted. For slowdown success, try to eat at least some of your meals in peace: no watching TV, no reading email or surfing the Internet, no jumping up to answer every phone call. "Do what you need to do ahead of time so that you can unplug and enjoy your meal," Taylor says, again advocating a gradual approach. "If you can't do it all the time, start by committing to just one distraction-free meal every other day."
New Motto: Less Is More
According to Dr. Lisa Young, author of "The Portion Teller: Smartsize Your Way to Permanent Weight Loss," neither carbs nor fats are to blame for America's obesity problem. The problem, she says, is volume: "When we pay no attention to how much we're eating, we eat too much."
Our supersize culture doesn't help. "Dinner plates are bigger than they used to be, and restaurants serve gargantuan portions," says Taylor. Keeping a few visual guidelines in mind can help: A 4-ounce serving of protein is about the size of your fist, while a cup-size serving of grains or starchy vegetables is the size of your palm. Leafy greens can be eaten with abandon, as long as they're cooked without excess fat.
Being portion-conscious isn't all about weights and measures, however. Tuning in to the aesthetics of food, says Taylor, actually encourages healthy portions. "In Japan, food is delicately arranged so you can see its beauty," she says. "And in Chinese and Thai dishes, ingredients stand out without being overwhelmed by 10 other things." So pay attention to the color, texture, and vibrancy of specific ingredients, she suggests, and when you cook with them, try to do them visual justice. "The goal is to develop a sense of aesthetics and balance," says Taylor. Instead of heaping food on your family's plates, you'll be inspired to present each meal with care. Healthy portions are a natural result.
New Motto: Cultivate the Palate
It's common to crave dessert at the conclusion of every meal, even though loading up on sugar isn't in our body's best interest. "We get habituated to having sweets as a final course," says Taylor. "They also have an addictive quality; you can feel really deprived without them."
Part of the problem, she explains, is that sugary foods can overwhelm your taste buds and dull your senses, making it harder to discern what your body really wants. (And according to traditional Chinese medicine, an overload of any of the five tastes -- sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or pungent -- can lead to an imbalance in the body.) One solution, suggests Krieger, is to wait 20 minutes after eating to decide whether you really need dessert, and then consider whether a few bites might suffice. "It interrupts the automatic aspect of the craving without always depriving yourself," she says.
Another idea is to rethink your definition of dessert. Start by allowing your palate to experience the healthy side of sweet. "One of the best desserts I've ever had was simply sliced apples and pears with a sprinkle of cinnamon," explains Krieger. "It was special enough and topped the meal off with a sweetness that was just right."
New Motto: Be Prepared
Pre-dinner snacking can ruin the best-planned meal, and it's most common cause is simple: We're too hungry to wait. Letting yourself get overly hungry can lower your blood-sugar levels -- a surefire way to overeat. Keep in mind that your body starts to feel hungry from one to four hours after you've eaten even the most balanced meal, so if you haven't had anything since lunch, you're bound to nosh when you walk in the door.
You can prepare for this by eating a healthy late-afternoon snack (for instance, celery and almond butter, or yogurt) and by doing some prep work (chopping vegetables or cooking rice) in the morning so that you're able to eat dinner earlier. But it's also worthwhile to attune yourself to the symptoms of hunger -- along with the familiar burning sensation in the belly, you might feel light-headed or have a dry mouth or a tight throat. These symptoms are similar to those of emotional states like stress and anxiety, says Krieger, and they can lead to supremely unconscious eating.
"The goal is to get out of what I call 'eatwalking,' that type of numbness where you aren't even aware of what you're consuming," says Krieger. "I often have people keep a food diary so that they can become more mindful of what they're doing." Again, success comes from connecting the dots. "If you understand that you don't feel like eating dinner because you've been grazing, for example," says Krieger, "it gives you a new perspective and an opening for a new choice the next time around."
Text by Sharon M. Goldman; photograph by Joseph Scafuro


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The Monetary Policy Committee's search for guidance (II)
The minutes of the July monetary policy meeting confirm that the MPC is indeed focussed on recent events in financial markets - and how they might guide policy going forward.
They also flag up something in my earlier post: That we should not only think about the forward guidance as a way to loosen the Bank of England's policy.
Its biggest value today may simply be to help the Bank stick with the policy it already has - in the face of market headwinds from across the Atlantic which might otherwise throw it off course.
These are the points from the minutes that stood out for me.
First, Mark Carney is encouraging the Bank's policy makers to think about their policy tools in a more holistic way than Sir Mervyn King did.
"Given the already large size of the asset purchase programme [the notes said] there was merit in pursuing a mixed strategy with regards to the different policy instruments at the Committee's disposal."
When the Funding for Lending programme started last year, the then governor was keen to keep it in a separate compartment from quantitative easing and interest rate policy.
The minutes suggest that that is now changing. Under Mark Carney, the MPC will be considering the full sweep of policy options available to affect both the supply of credit in the economy and the level of demand.
That means not just more quantitative easing - which Mark Carney sounded a bit sceptical about in his testimony to the Treasury Select Committee, but also Funding for Lending, forward guidance and - potentially - elements of the Bank's macro-prudential policies regarding the banks.
That is probably also why the "doves" on the committee thought it worth waiting for that broader discussion next month rather than voting again for more QE. For the first time in a while, the vote in favour of no additional action was unanimous.
Interestingly, there does not seem to have been a formal vote on giving that guidance to the markets. I wonder whether that will change - after all, the guidance did represent an effort to loose monetary conditions, even if it was not a formal change in policy.
Second, the governor has not yet persuaded a majority of the committee that UK policy needs to be looser. In fact, it is not even certain, on the basis of these minutes, that Mark Carney himself thinks that the economy needs more stimulus, though I would strongly suspect that he does.
Forward guidance
The minutes say that "most members...think the policy setting is appropriate" but "others" would like to see more stimulus. We don't know whether the number of "doves" has risen or fallen since Mark Carney took his seat at the table, but it's fair to say it is less than five.
However, the minutes also make clear that all of the the MPC would like the economy to grow faster. The implication is that a majority might well come round to more stimulus, if the recovery doesn't pick up momentum in the second half of the year, as the Bank currently expects it will.
Finally, there's the point I highlighted at the start. Even if some in the MPC have doubts about further stimulus (especially of the QE variety), the committee seems united in NOT wanting the Bank to be rushed into premature tightening by the Fed.
The minutes say: "The recent rise in market interest rates, were it to be maintained, would represent such a premature withdrawal, but the proposed statement from the Committee should help to prevent that."
And indeed it did. Give or take. Most of the "action" in the next meeting will surely be about how, exactly, forward guidance can help the MPC any more.


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Okay, things got a little messy over the course of those last few posts, so I've deleted some stuff and swapped some other stuff around. Here is what you need to know: There are updates on my real website, so go have a gander. The Titus Andronicus poster is now being used for the Heaton Games Society, because apparently the gig wasn't confirmed when I drew the poster and the band turned down the offer to play the UK. Here's the second version:
The Mushroom Works Gallery, as part of their upcoming celebration of Illustration 'Quite the Character'. The exhibition will be running between 18th July - 29th Aug and I'll be producing lots of new stuff to show and sell for the occasion. More details will follow when I've been down to meet them on Monday!


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What is FeedBucket?
FeedBucket provides a quick and easy way to view RSS feeds. No need for any fancy software or programming — just enter an address above to view the headlines. Registered users can store several feeds and view each feed individually or all of the recent top headlines at a glance in a "River of News" format. FeedBucket will also generate some JavaScript code so you can easily add automatically updating headlines to your own blog or website.
If you don't know if a website offers RSS, enter the address for the site and FeedBucket will attempt to locate a feed.
What is RSS?
RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication. It is what it claims to be: a quick and easy way to create and use "syndicated content" such as news headlines and announcements. More and more websites and blogs use RSS to deliver articles and article previews to readers who are simply too busy to browse to our site and dig up the content they are interested in. Other sites use RSS to alert customers of new products or upcoming events.
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Moonlight Set - Silver
119.00 $136.00 & Free Domestic Shipping
A jewelry set featuring our universally flattering Moonlight necklace and matching earrings with organically shaped brushed silver rings.
Regular Price: $136 / Set Price: $119
Set Includes:
- 1 Moonlight Necklace - Silver
- 1 Moonlight Earrings - Silver
Shop more colors:
Moonlight Set - Gold
We stand behind our jewelry and guarantee your satisfaction!
If you're not 100% delighted with your Grayling purchase, we offer a full refund within 30 days, provided the jewelry was purchased at full price. We will gladly offer store credit or a replacement for returns made outside 30 days. Clearance items are eligible for exchange only.
We kindly request your items to be in the same brand new condition as the day your item(s) were shipped. Worn/used items are not eligible for a refund, but *may* be eligible for an exchange. In certain instances, we may not allow returns of jewelry with obvious signs of use or that are damaged for reasons not due to our error.
Shop with confidence! Grayling offers a 1-Year Limited Warranty on item(s) purchased at graylingjewelry.com and through our retail store.
Our 1-Year Limited Warranty covers defects from errors in craftsmanship and/or faulty components. It does not cover excessive wear and tear, missing earrings, or broken chains or stones due to blunt or excessive force. However, we will do our best to repair, replace or restore your piece of jewelry whenever possible.
If you purchased your jewelry from an authorized Grayling retailer, please take your piece to your retailer and they will return it to us for inspection. Otherwise, please contact us directly.


text: Seller: dx-england (12.117) 100%, Location: Newcastle upon tyne, Tyne and Wear, Ships to: Europe, Asia, US, CA, AU, Item: 262702947891 Store Home About us Shipping & Discounts Feedback Shop Policies Contact us Home Free UK Shipping& cheap european shipping Returns Accepted14 days return policy Get Discountson bulk orders Free Support24/7 Customer Support Store Categories Please feel free to call us at any time: +44 85 548 9850 CLICK TO SEND A MESSAGE Call: +44 85 548 9850 CLICK TO SEND A MESSAGE Store Pages Store Home About us Shipping & Discounts Feedback Shop Policies Contact us Barber Salon Scissors BASIC EXAMINATION KITS BEAUTY IMPLEMENTS BODY PIERCING CHIROPODY PODIATRY DIAGNOSTIC EXTRACTIVE-EXTRACTING FISHING TOOLS EQUIPMENT FITNESS GEAR HAIRDRESSING SCISSORS Hemostat Forceps IMPLANT DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS MISCELLANEOUS ORTHODONTIC INSTRUMENTS PERIODONTAL Pet Grooming PLIERS ORTHODONTIC RESTORATIVE ROOT ELEVATORS Scalers and Probes STOCK CLEARANCE SURGICAL Other About DX England DX ENGLAND is one of the reputed industry leading British Brand in North East of England imparting its role in supplying high quality Dental, Surgical, Implant and Orthodontic Instruments to the Health Care industry of today's era at an extremely competitive and reasonable bargains. at highly reasonable prices backed by World Class Customer Service where your issues and concerns are taken care of with Immediate Notice and every effort is made to ensure our customer's complete satisfaction to the best of our ability and service standards....read more Product Description Product Name:Stainless Steel Toe Nail Clipper Curved 4'' X1 Pimple Blemish Double Ended X1 BRITISH BRAND -BUY WITH CONFIDENCE - MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - SAVE £ 12 ON THIS DEAL ESTIMATED TIMES - It is kindly requested to please look at the Seller Estimated Delivery Times instead of eBay as eBay's estimated times do not include the transit processing times or processing time taken by the destination Country's Customs Authorities or Time taken by the destination Country's Postal Services before the final delivery. Also please choose Tracked Shipping from the postage options if you want your order to be sent via Tracked Shipping as standard delivery does not offer tracking at international level. Thank you for your cooperation. Product Features British Branded Products Manufactured from High Quality Medical Grade Stainless Steel High Degree of Flexibility with Conducting the Procedures. Full Autoclavable / Reusable Manufactured for Optimum Performance and Longevity High Degree of Aesthetic and Corrosion Resistance Product Conforms to ISO 9001, CE, ISO 13485, and other Quality Standards Open Policy for If not satisfied with the product, please click to send us a message via eBay and let us know. We will request you to simply return the Product to us for a FULL REFUND. No Questions Asked. We will also reimburse your postage costs. Shipping Policy All Orders are normally dispatched the Same Working Day if ordered by 2 pm afternoon, or within 24 hours after the clearance of payment into our PayPal Account.All our product listings are with Royal Mail Standard Postage Charge ( No International Tracking Available) and this is an effort to ensure that we could bring our products in easy reach of international customers by only charging a nominal value of the postage. Customers making multiple purchases, order will be sent via Recorded Delivery if they meet minimum Quantity of the products.Customers who would want us to send their orders via Recorded Delivery or by Courier, please let us know in advance by sending a message via eBay messaging system to arrange a revised invoice with the additional charge for Express Courier Delivery.All deliveries are subject to stock availability and payment confirmation into our PayPal. However, if there are any delays or issues, we will inform you of any such delay in our earliest possible, within 12-24 hours. Estimated Delivery times: Western Europe 9 - 15 Business Days Eastern Europe 12 - 18 Business Days USA, Canada, Asia, Australia 12 - 18 Business Days Return Policy DX ENGLAND has an open policy to accept returns if for any reason, customers are not satisfied with the product supplied. Please simply message us via eBay and we guarantee to reply you within 24 Hours Response Time giving you a Seller Resolution in your best interest. We will either send you a replacement straight away or refund your full money paid for a return of the item. Unlike other sellers, we will also reimburse the postage money straight away If after the Lab Test, it is proved that our instrument had a manufacturing fault. No Questions Asked. Hence, your every penny means to us and is safe with us until you receive your order and is completely happy with that. In case if a customer has changed mind and do not want the item anymore, We are happy to accept the return. Please ensure that the item is in its original packaging, unused and in its new condition.. We will refund the full money paid. Any Problems, Here is a Simple Resolution to this Example, If you have any problems with the delivery , if your order is getting delayed or if you are not happy with the item, please do not panic, and send us a message via eBay about your problem. You can send us a message via ebay and write us about your problem, whether it is about a delay in Delivery or the quality of the product, we guarantee to respond to you as quick as we can between 12-24 Hours and will resolve your issue to ensure your complete satisfaction with us. If you are a Dental Surgery, Dental Professional, Dental Institution, or a Dental Student and would like to speak to us about your proposed order, maximum discounts, etc. Business Inquiry / Contact Us Business Inquiry / Contact Us We also operate a network of Re-Sellers and Distributors around the world, if you want to be a Re-Seller of our Products into your area even if you are new in the Dental Field, we will provide full training, product support and Sales Training For Free to make you a complete Self Employed Dental Professional. Please feel free to contact us:SEND US A MESSAGE DX ENGLAND 75 Hadrian Road NE4 9QH Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom General Statement:MEDENTRA manufactures precision quality Dental and Surgical Instruments those are manufactured only after a careful quality check and passing the set standards of quality framework to ensure a high customer satisfaction and deliver MEDENTRA's word of mouth. We cover a range of items those include Dental Mirror, Dental Probes and Explorer, Dental Excavators, Periodontal Curettes, Tooth Forceps, Surgical Elevators / Coupland / Luxation / Luxating Elevators / Warwick James , Perodontal Probes, Dental Periodontal Pocket Probes, Bone Curettes, Bone Files, Cement Spatulas, Bone Rongeurs, Cotton Tweezers, Lab instruments, Dental Mirrors, Dental Scalers, Dental Student Kits, English Forceps, Filling Instruments for Restorative, Composite Instruments, Surgical Needle Holders, Orthodontic Pliers, Lab Dental Pliers, Root Elevators, Tissue Scissors, Lister Bandage Scissors, Sterilization Cassettes, Rubber Dam Instruments, Probes and Explorers, Surgical Mouth Gag, Dental Retractors for Photography, Dental Impression Trays, Dental Amalgam Carrier, Dental Extracting Forceps, Enamel Instruments, Cutting Instruments, Implant Instruments, Implant Bone compactor, Bone Carrier Spatula, Implant Bone Packer, Implant Prichard Elevator, Sinus Lift Instruments, Implant Periosteal Elevators, Buser Sharp Periosteal, Implant Sinus Instruments, Implant Bone Grafting Instruments, Bone Graft Instruments, Bone Graft Packer, Bone Graft Carrier Titanium Coated, Periodontal Root Canal Instruments, Diagnostic Scalers Dental, Rubber Dam Instruments Kit, Plastic Filling Instruments, Restorative Procedure Kits, Laboratory Pliers for Dental Students, Lab Dental Pliers, Matrix Retainers and Bands, Hemostatic forceps, Haemostatic Forceps, Mosquito Forceps, Tweezers for Crowns, Dental Mosquito Tweezers, Orthodontic Ligature Director, Rubber Dam Clamps and Forceps, Rubber Dam Forceps and Punch, Ivory Clamps, Surgical Scissors, Piercing Tools, Perio Probes, Pet Grooming Tools, New Restorative Tools, Heideman Spatula Restorative, Retractors and Mouth Gags, Dental Examination probes, Bracket Height Gauge Orthodontic, Dental Crown Instruments, Crown Scissors, Suture Training Kits, Suture-Training Tools, Composite Plastic Filling instruments, Instruments for Composite Placement, Waxing Carvers, Wax Carvers, Laboratory Waxing Tools, Lab Sculpting tools, Wax Sculpture Tools, Wax Plaster Spatula, Cement Spatula Double ended, Dental Dam, Dental Probe 4/6, Endodontic Explorer DG16, Tweezers with Lock, Gingival Margin Trimmers, Amalgam Condenser, Dental Pluggers, Dental Burnisher 21B, Dental Discoid-cleoid Carvers, Cavity Liner Placement Instrument, Implant PDL Ligament Elevators, Surgical PDL Elevators, Dental Periotomes, Serrated Periotome made in titanium coating, Bone Spreader Instruments, Implant Osteotomes, Osteotomes Concave, Convex, Pointer Osteotome, Bone Expander Kit Implant, Implant Bone Scraper, Implant Bone Well, Implant Bone Crusher, Implant Bone Mallet, Implant Surgery Kit, Oral Surgery Kit, Microsurgery Tools, Microsurgical Instruments, Micro Spring Scissors, Castroviejo Scissors, Castroviejo Needle Holders, Orthodontic Ligature Wire Cutters, Ligature Distal Cutter, Archwire Distal End Cutter, Implant BONE GRAFT/PACKER SET, Surgical Bone Graft-Packers, Bone Graft Carrier/Spoon, Bone Graft Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Pliers for Distal Wire Cutter, Mini Distal Cutter, Micro Mini Distal Cutter, Lingual Distal End Cutter, Flush Cut Wire Cutter, Short Jaw Ligature Wire Cutter TC, TC Instruments for Wire Cutting, Orthodontic Wire Twister, Dental Anesthetic Syringe, Podiatry Nail Clippers, Podiatrist Nippers, Diamonds Deb Files, Podiatry Nail files, Toenail Clippers for Ingrowing Toenails, Calipers and Gauges, Orthodontic Gauge, Adams Flat on Flat Pliers, Wire Forming Pliers, Arch Bending Pliers, Wire Bending Pliers, Orthodontic Arch forming Pliers, Bird Beak Pliers, Light Wire Bending Pliers, Three Jaw NiTi Pliers, Hollow Chop contouring Pliers, Bracket Remover Pliers, Band Remover pliers, Distal Wire pliers, Crown Remover Forceps, Temporary Crown Remover Gun with Accessories, Nance Loop Pliers, Looping Pliers, Orthodontic Dental Tweed Pliers, Lingual Arch forming Pliers, De La Rosa Pliers, Step Detailing Pliers, Waldish Pliers, Universal Pliers, Loop Forming Pliers, Ligature Wire Cutting Pliers, How Utility Pliers, Hammer-Head NiTi Pliers, NiTi Wire Pliers, Amalgam Filling Instruments, Restorative Composite Instruments Titanium Coated, About DX England DX ENGLAND is one of the reputed industry leading British Brand in North East of England imparting its role in supplying high quality Dental, Surgical, Implant and Orthodontic Instruments to the Health Care industry of today's era at an extremely competitive and reasonable bargains. at highly reasonable prices backed by World Class Customer Service where your issues and concerns are taken care of with Immediate Notice and every effort is made to ensure our customer's complete satisfaction to the best of our ability and service standards....read more Store Home About us Shipping & Discounts Feedback Shop Policies Contact us Barber Salon Scissors, Basic Examination Kits, Beauty Implements, Body Piercing, Chiropody Podiatry, Diagnostic, Extractive-Extracting, Fishing Tools Equipment, Fitness Gear, Hairdressing Scissors, Hemostat Forceps, Implant Dental, Impression Tray, Laboratory Instruments, Miscellaneous, Orthodontic Instruments, Periodontal, Pet Grooming, Pliers Orthodontic, Restorative, Root Elevators, Scalers and Probes, Stock Clearance, Surgical, Other Designed By: TechLinkers Product Categories Toggle navigation Barber Salon Scissors BASIC EXAMINATION KITS BEAUTY IMPLEMENTS BODY PIERCING CHIROPODY PODIATRY DIAGNOSTIC EXTRACTIVE-EXTRACTING FISHING TOOLS EQUIPMENT FITNESS GEAR HAIRDRESSING SCISSORS Hemostat Forceps IMPLANT DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS MISCELLANEOUS ORTHODONTIC INSTRUMENTS PERIODONTAL Pet Grooming PLIERS ORTHODONTIC RESTORATIVE ROOT ELEVATORS Scalers and Probes STOCK CLEARANCE SURGICAL Other Condition: New, Brand: Beauty & Grooming, MPN: Ingrown Toenail Nipper, Nipper for Ingrown Nails: Stainless Steel, Toenail Clippers: Stainless Steel, Podiatry Nippers: Stainless Steel, Chiropody Instruments: Stainless Steel, Cuticle Cutter Trimmer: Stainless Steel, Nail Nippers Podiatry: Stainless Steel, Chiropody Heavy Duty Thick Nails: Stainless Steel, Chiropodist Toenail Clippers: Stainless Steel, Rimozione Della Pelle: Stainless Steel, Zehennagel Cutter für dicke Nägel: Stainless Steel, Comedone Extractor: Stainless Steel, Pimple Remover: Stainless Steel, Gel Nail Art Tool: Stainless Steel, Facial Acne Tools: Stainless Steel, Podiatry Chiropody Instruments: Stainless Steel, Podiatry Nipper: Stainless Steel


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Hi everyone! How is your week going? The weather here is beautiful but is going to turn very cold in a few days! Brrrrrr. I am watching an old Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin movie on Netflix. So funny. :) I am also shopping on Teachers Pay Teachers. I just went crazy in Rachelle's {What the Teacher Wants!} store and bought these . . .
In self defense, I think I should be able to blame part of it on her for having such cute and timely stuff!! Thanks Rachelle! Here is the link to her store if you want to peek for yourself.
I also have my eye on this from Lori Rosenberg's TpT Store . . .
Thanks ladies for all of your amazing work!


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Robert H. Gotkin MD
About the Practice
Practice Philosophy
We realize that looking into your cosmetic alternatives is a personal and emotional time. One that calls for soothing support and professional guidance... and well provide you with just that. Aside from making your beautiful appearance a reality, our number one concern is instilling confidence and optimism in you. Of course safety is paramount and our primary goal is to safely give you the cosmetic result you are desiring. But behind the surgical gowns are caring physicians who understand your needs and respect your vulnerability. We encourage each patient to carefully consider every aspect of the decision they are making towards cosmetic surgery... but were convinced theyll find were their best possible choice.
Practice Specialization
Robert H. Gotkin, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a premier cosmetic surgeon, well known for his expertise in liposculpture and aesthetic facial surgery, including the use of lasers for facial rejuvenation. Dr. Gotkin is a renowned expert in his field having been named "A Top Doctor in the New York Metropolitan Area" in the Guide to the Best Doctors in New York (Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.). Procedures performed include: Abdominoplasty, Blepharoplasty (Eyes), Brachioplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Facelift, Forehead/Brow lift, Liposuction, Liposculpture, Mastopexy (Breast Lift), Rhinoplasty (Nose), Thigh Lift, Post-Mastectomy Reconstruction, Post-Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery Body Contouring, Laser Resurfacing, Botox® Injections, and Fat Injections.
Background & Certification
Board Certification
National Board of Medical Examiners-1981
American Board of Plastic Surgery-1990
American College of Surgeons - 1992
Professional Background
Bachelor of Science: Microbiology
University of Maryland
College Park - 1976
Medical Degree:
Howard University College of Medicine
Washington, DC - 1980
Internship: Internal Medicine
Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC - 1980-81
Residency: General Surgery
State University of NY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY - 1981-85
Chief Residency: General Surgery
State University of NY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY - 1984-85
Fellowship: Burn Care and Research
State University of NY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY - 1985-86
Residency: Plastic Surgery
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington, DC - 1986-88
Chief Residency: Plastic Surgery
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington, DC - 1987-88
Publications and Presentations
Gotkin RH: Management of Burns (Videotape). Audiovisual Library of the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery, 1986.
Sarnoff DS and Gotkin RH. "Peripheral in-continuity tissue examination and Mohs surgery" (Letter to the editor). Plast Reconstr Surg, 84:703-704, 1989.
Teimourian B, Chajchir A, Gotkin RH, and Reisen J. "Semiliquid Autologous Fat Transplantation". Adv Plast Reconstr Surg, Chicago, Yearbook Medical Publishers, 5:57-84, 1989.
Teimourian B and Gotkin RH. "Contouring the Midtrunk in Overweight Patients". Aesth Plast Surg, 13:145-153, 1989.
Gotkin RH. "Liposuction and Body Sculpting: The Tumescent Technique". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition), 10(9):48-52, 1995.
Gotkin RH. "Stopping the Clock: Facelift Techniques and Possibilities for the 21st Century". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition), 11(4):80-84, 1996.
Sarnoff DS and Gotkin RH. "Laser Resurfacing". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition), 11(5):78-82, 1996.
Gotkin RH. "New Body Contouring Options". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition), 12(10):198-208, 1997.
Gotkin RH. "Large Volume Liposuction: A Misunderstood Procedure with Very Real Dangers". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition), 14(5):160-164, 1999.
Sarnoff DS and Gotkin RH. "Suture-Assisted Resurfacing for Miliary Acne Scars". Skin and Aging, 8(5): 74-75, 2000.
Sarnoff DS, Gotkin RH, Swirsky, J. Instant Beauty: Getting Gorgeous on Your Lunch Break, St. Martins Press. May 2002.
Sarnoff DS, Gotkin RH. "Suture Assisted Resurfacing of the Acne Scarred Face", Aesthetic Surg Journal. 22(3): 284-22, 2002.
Gotkin RH. "Wound Healing" (Dermabond). Outpatient Surg, 47-38. October 2002.
Gotkin RH, Coven TR. "The Anatomy of a Burn". Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition) 17(9):156-160, 2002. MEDIA APPEARANCES
Featured Discussant, "TRAM Flap Post-mastectomy Breast Reconstruction," News 12 Long Island, Interview, May 6, 1992.
Featured Discussant, "Treatment of Facial Wrinkles with the UltraPulse CO2 Laser," Channel 11 News at 10, October 25, 1994.
Featured Discussant, "Treatment of Acne Scarring with the UltraPulse CO2 Laser," News 12 Long Island, November 16, 1994.
Featured Discussant, "Treatment of Facial Wrinkles, Vascular and Pigmented Lesions of the Face and Body," News 12 Long Island, November 23, 1994.
Featured Discussant, "Advances in Plastic Surgery," Three-Part Series in Newsday, November 7, 8, and 10, 1994.
Featured Discussant, "Tumescent Liposuction," Home Shoppers Network In Your Interest... segment, Fall, 1995 (multiple viewing times).
Featured Discussant, "The Ladies Who Liposuction," Newsday, December 5, 1995.
Featured Discussant, "Laser Treatment of Tattoos," in Ann Landers syndicated newspaper column, February 1, 1996.
Featured Discussant, "Male Cosmetic Surgery," WCBS - 880AM Radio, August, 1997.
Featured Discussant, "Liposuction and Body Contouring," News 12 Long Island, August, 1997.
Featured Discussant, "Lunchtime Cosmetic Procedures," WCBS - 880 AM Radio, December 10, 2001.
Featured Discussant, "Lunchtime Cosmetic Procedures," News 12 New Jersey, December 12, 2001.
Feature Article Contributor, "New Trends in Cosmetic Surgery" (The Natural Lift), "O" (Oprah Magazine), January 2003.
Awards & Honors
"Top Doctors - NY Metropolitan Area"
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Guide to the Best Doctors in New York, 2nd Edition, 1998
"Top Doctors - NY Metropolitan Area"
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Guide to the Best Doctors in New York, 3rd Edition, 1999
"Top Doctors - NY Metropolitan Area"
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Guide to the Best Doctors in New York, 4th Edition, 2000
"Top Doctors - NY Metropolitan Area"
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Guide to the Best Doctors in New York, 5th Edition, 2001
"Top Doctors - NY Metropolitan Area"
Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Guide to the Best Doctors in New York, 6th Edition, 2002
"Guide To Americas Top Surgeons"
Consumers Research Council of America. Guide to Americas Top Surgeons, 2002-2003
Affiliations & Memberships
Hospital Affiliations
Associate Adjunct Surgeon
Department of Plastic Surgery
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
New York, NY
Assistant Attending
Department of Surgery
Cabrini Medical Center
New York, NY
Clinical Assistant Attending
Department of Surgery
Winthrop University Hospital
Mineola, NY
Assistant Attending
Department of Surgery
Mercy Medical Center
Rockville Centre, NY
Associate Attending
Department of Surgery
North Shore University Hospital at Syosset
Syosset, NY
Department of Surgery
Southampton Hospital
Southampton, NY
Society Memberships
Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation
American Burn Association
American College of Surgeons
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
American Society of Plastic Surgeons / Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation
International Society of Clinical Plastic Surgeons
Medical Council, The Skin Cancer Foundation
Medical Society of the State of New York
Nassau County Medical Society
Nassau Surgical Society
Phi Sigma (Society for the Promotion of Research in the Biological Sciences)
Sigma Alpha Omicron (Microbiological Honorary)
The Botox Cosmetic Physicians Network (Faculty/National Training Center)
Offices Held
Contributing Writer, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (American Edition).
Editorial Board, Progressive Clinical Insights Journal.
Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Aesthetic Wellness and Research.
National and Regional Faculty, Facial Aesthetic Enhancements: Educational Initiative - Teaching other physicians minimally invasive facial aesthetic enhancement techniques
Medical Council, The Skin Cancer Foundation
Consultant, ABBE Cosmetic Group International, Inc., Farmingdale, NY; 1996 - present.
Your Consultation
The consultation fee is $150 and you should expect to spend about an hour with us. During your consultation Dr. Gotkin will address all of your questions and concerns. Together it will be determined which procedure(s) are best suited for you, in order to achieve the desired result(s) that you are seeking. Once all of your medical questions have been answered the additional details of your surgery, including procedural costs and available surgical dates. Reference materials, computer imaging & photographs are all available.
Staff & Facilities
Surgical Facility
Most surgery is performed in the comfort and privacy of our modern, state-of-the-art, ambulatory surgical facility which is exclusively dedicated to high quality cosmetic surgery. We are certified at the highest level by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc.
Special Features: MD Anesthesiologists, RN Staff, State-of-the Art Lasers, Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction
Accreditation: AAAASF
Computer Imaging
Computer imaging available.
Skin Care Products
Skin Care products available. We also offer skin care treatments, post-operative camouflage make-up and spa services by our medical esthetician.
Languages Spoken
Payment Options
VISA, MasterCard & American Express
Robert H. Gotkin MD
31 Northern Blvd, Greenvale, NY,
Request More Information
- View Website
View phone number
Phone: 516-484-9000


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It's one of the most well-rounded, let's-go-anywhere two-seaters. - Automobile Magazine
We're conveniently located just minutes from most Bay Area Cities. We have one of the Bay Area's largest selections of new and pre-owned luxury BMW inventories. BMW Concord is here to serve all your BMW Sales, Service, Parts and Collision needs in the East Bay area. We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence!
New vehicle pricing includes all offers and incentives. Tax, Title and Tags not included in vehicle prices shown and must be paid by the purchaser. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at (888) 707-2860 or by visiting us at the dealership.
**With approved credit. Terms may vary. Monthly payments are only estimates derived from the vehicle price with a month term, % interest and % downpayment.
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(888) 707-2860Call Now
1967 Market Street • Concord, CA 94520Get Directions
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MATERIALS 1. Internal frame, made in injected polyurethane mould, iron and suspensions in seat and back made with steel springs. FR polyurethane (UNE EN1021-2:06 / BS 5852:06) with density of 65kg/m3 covers all the frame. All covered with a foamed silicone fibre protective cover. 2. Seat cushion made with HR 40 kg/m3 foam of soybean oil. Glue used is water based. No solvents from oil products used. 3. Feet in metallic tube epoxy painted and oven dried. Fixed P-98 or swivel base.
Luka is a family of armchairs, sofas and Chaise Longue to settle con- tract spaces, but also to furnish the home. The idea is to create an iconic piece, and it is achieved because of its strong personality. It may show in different versions according to their architectural intention or use, always keeping the character it has. The combination of two heights, both in the back and arm allow armchairs and sofas, low height or reading. "Open space" elements with a privacy feeling. Important: indicate the colour of the decorative stitching thread. Luka is sent in parts to be assembled in site.
Born through the desire of combining design and innovation, Beltá & Frajumar has quickly become an active player for the vanguard furniture field in national and international markets.


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SALEM, Mass. - John Powers (Marshfield, Mass.) picked up four points on three goals and one assist as lacrosse defeated the Vikings of Salem State University by the final of 11-8 Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field in a Little East Conference match-up.
Saturday's win improved the Beacons overall record to 6-4 and 1-0 in the conference win while the Vikings fell to 2-6 and 0-1 in conference.
Powers scored the game's first goal on a pass from Nick Tangherlini (Cohasset, Mass.) that put UMass atop 1-0 with 10:48 remaining. Noah Ellis (Hingham, Mass.) scored twice before the end of the period on assists from Nick Weiss (Westfield, Mass.) and Powers that gave the Beacons a 3-0 lead going into the second period.
Donny Delpha (Walpole, Mass.) added to the Beacons lead 15 seconds into the second. Weiss contributed with another unassisted goal to make it 5-0 UMass.
However, the Vikings went on a 7-0 run in the second period, to put the Vikings in control of what was quickly becoming a wild affair. During Salem State's run, Andy Rice scored twice while Ben Melaugh added two assists and a goal.
Putting an end to the Vikings run was, Dom Fichera (Scituate, Mass.) who set up Tommy Petitti (Quincy, Mass.) for a goal that would cut the deficit to just one before the half as UMass exited the half down 7-6.
Nate Staples was led the Vikings on the face-off as he finished the game 14-for-19 and really was a factor in Salem States' offensive breakout.
Late in the third period Delpha tied the game at 7-7 with a beautiful finish that came from Ryan McGoff (Charlestown, Mass.) with just 41 seconds left.
Dino Flori (Watertown, Mass.) regained the lead for the Beacons with a snipe on a pass from Fichera with 11:13 remaining. Less than a minute later, Powers added to the lead with another unassisted goal.
Salem State cut the deficit to just one with under eight minutes to play. Powers and McGoff capped off the victory with a goal a-piece to give the Beacons their first conference opening win since the 2007 season when they defeated UMass Dartmouth in the conference opener.
Craig Frehill (Norwell, Mass.) made 15 saves to earn the huge conference win for the Beacons, and held the Vikings scoreless in both the first and third quarters. Dylan Svenson stopped 13 shots in the loss. Melaugh finished with four points on three assists and one goal for the Vikings.
Lacrosse returns to action next Saturday when they host Eastern Connecticut State University at 1:00 p.m. at Clark Athletic Center Field.
Information for this release provided by Salem State University Sports Information Department


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Britney Spears' self-styled manager set to testify
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Britney Spears' former self-styled manager is set to take the stand in his lawsuit against the superstar's parents as he goes after a share of her millions in earnings.
Sam Lutfi was expected to testify when court resumes Tuesday in his acrimonious defamation suit against her parents.
A top recording executive who testified as the trial's first witness Monday suggested that Lutfi was never Spears' manager and described him as a "gofer" who helped to get her to the set of a music video on time.
Lutfi says he was a caring person trying to save Spears from her own destructive tendencies during her well-documented meltdown.
Spears' mother has portrayed him in a book as a Svengali-like figure who controlled the singer and gave her drugs.


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Mr. Birol Aygun
GPHC Number :2086400
Dr Ralph Abraham
An experienced physician with a reputation established over 40 years in the private sector in the fields of obesity, diabetes, endocrinology, lipids and heart disease prevention. Sees patients from all over the world and often as a tertiary referral in the fields of advanced or brittle diabetes and heart attack and stroke prevention.
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Hello Mad-ox
I would call post-1945 literature "contemporary", and describe some of the works produced during that period as "post-modernist".
Thus (to my mind) the poems of Larkin are "contemporary"; but the later stories of Borges or Calvino are both "contemporary" and "post-modern".
By the way, you could also add the Edwardian (1901-1910) and Georgian periods (1910-1914).
(Of course, these periods are only for convenience: "Victorian" authors continued to write in a Victorian style into the early years of the 20th century, and Georgian writers continued to Georgianize into the 1920s.)
All the best,
English Teacher


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Danny Biega ranked first or second among defensemen in ECAC goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, power-play goals and shorthanded goals (photo courtesy Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—Sophomore defenseman Danny Biega of the Harvard men's hockey team has been named to the ECAC Hockey all-league second team, the league announced Wednesday.
Biega led ECAC Hockey defensemen in league points (21), goals (nine), game-winning goals (three) and shorthanded goals (one). He ranked second in assists (12), power-play goals (five) and power-play points (11). Only six forwards registered more league points, eight logged more goals and two had more game-winners.
The Montreal native recorded 30 points on 11 goals and 19 assists overall, becoming the first defenseman to lead the Crimson in scoring since Mark Fusco '83 in 1981-82. Biega registered the highest goal total by a Harvard defenseman since Jeremiah McCarthy '98 scored 11 goals in 1998 and the highest point total since Sean McCann '94 notched 39 points on 22 goals and 17 assists in 1993-94.
The third Biega brother to play at Harvard, Danny is also the third to lead Harvard in assists. Alex Biega '10 paced the Crimson with 16 assists in 2009-10, and Michael Biega had a team-high 15 helpers last season. Alex was also the last Harvard defenseman to earn all-league honors from ECAC Hockey, garnering third-team distinction in 2007-08 and '08-09.
Biega is one of just two defensemen in the nation to lead his team in scoring and the only one to lead in scoring and rank among his team's top three in plus/minus. He scored or assisted on 39 percent of Harvard's goals this season, the highest percentage of any defenseman in the country.
Among defensemen with more than 10 ECAC points, Biega owned the league's third-highest plus/minus rating at +3. He also led the league's second-ranked power play, helping Harvard score on 22.7 percent of its man-advantage chances in league play (20 for 88).
2010-11 ECAC Hockey All-League
First Team
Forward - Chase Polacek, Rensselaer
Forward - Brian O'Neill, Yale
Forward - Andrew Miller, Yale
Defenseman - Nick Bailen, Rensselaer
Defenseman - Taylor Fedun, Princeton
Goaltender - Keith Kinkaid, Union
Second Team
Forward - Jack Maclellan, Brown
Forward - Joe Devin, Cornell
Forward - Kelly Zajac, Union
Defenseman - Brock Matheson, Union
Defenseman - Danny Biega, Harvard|
Goaltender - James Mello, Dartmouth
Third Team
Forward - Andrew Calof, Princeton
Forward - Chris Cahill, Yale
Forward - Jeremy Welsh, Union
Defenseman - Mike Devin, Cornell
Defenseman - Joel Stejskal, Dartmouth
Goaltender - Allen York, Rensselaer
All-Rookie Team
Forward - Andrew Calof, Princeton
Forward - Greg Carey, St. Lawrence
Forward - Dan Carr, Union
Defenseman - Mat Bodie, Union
Defenseman - Dennis Robertson, Brown
Goaltender - Andy Iles, Cornell


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Zelda F
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studying religion, is very interesting as a man can worship different gods .tak as I like to draw, so I'm worried if I calm down. I like a sociable open and sincere people
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You and me on the roof of the highest building in the world. Winret plays with our hair, you tender but strongly embrass me and kiss me from neck to lips, head is spinning.
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mmmm a lot) lingerie, i like jeans shorts on boys and girls, when ass shapes great)) handcuffs and collar)yes I am playable as hel) just ask me ;)
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in freetime I like playing guitar, drawing, studing )and i like dance. I can't imagine my life without music.
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Longtime Glendale resident, Viora Grunewald, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2012. Born January 2, 1920, in Forest Hills, New York, to Adolph and Viora B. Grunewald, she and her family moved to Glendale in 1932.
Viora graduated from Glendale High School and continued her education at University of California, Los Angeles, graduating in 1944. At UCLA, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and she continued this affiliation with Glendale alumni chapter, serving many years as a historian.
Viora had a great interest in the out-of-doors, supported charities dedicated to preserving the natural environment, and was a Life Member of the Women's Athletic Club of Glendale, Hikers Division. Not only did she hike most of the hills in the Glendale- Los Angeles area, but she also spent each summer at Lake Arrowhead at the family cabin, walking daily and enjoying the mountains.
After graduation from the University, she worked at Pacific Finance in accounting. She then returned to college to earn her General Secondary teaching credential and began employment with the Los Angeles Unified School District, at John Marshall High School, teaching accounting and business subjects. After 27 years at Marshall, Viora retired, yet she continued her support of education with membership in the Marshall Retired Teachers Association and the California Retired Teachers Association.
A world traveler, Viora had her personal list of wonderful sites that she had visited—one year, the Great Wall of China, the next year, Machu Picchu, and another, the Great Reef in Australia, and on and on. She especially loved the European visits with her German relatives. When they visited her in California, she enjoyed seeing our National Parks with them, tent camping.
Viora is survived by Edith, Ulrike, Cornelia, and Wolfgang, relatives residing in Germany. A private memorial service is planned in April. Any questions or communications may be addressed to Barbara Johnson, email@example.com.


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BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal is asking the state Bond Commission to approve $26.5 million for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection project, and the request is expected to be approved.
BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal is asking the state Bond Commission to approve $26.5 million for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection project, and the request is expected to be approved.
Of that amount, $1.5 million would be an immediate non-cash line of credit, probably used for advancing work on the Little Caillou Floodgate. The remainder is pledged for future years.
Jindal's capital-outlay budget, which contains money for construction projects statewide, has more than $60 million earmarked for Morganza. A cash line of credit totaling $14.7 million was likewise advanced by the administration in July.
Lawmakers must approve a capital-outlay budget each year, and the administration selects which projects go to the Bond Commission for final approval. Not all projects in the budget receive money.
The governor, however, has long championed Morganza, using the resources of his office to protect its state money and making personal appearances in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes to bring attention to the effort.
"Everyone's very pleased," said delegation dean Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma. "This wouldn't have been possible without the governor's support on the project."
As envisioned, Morganza would have a 72-mile footprint of levees, 13 gates and as many tidal-exchange structures. A lock in Houma spanning 800 feet is in the plans, too, and helps push the estimated price tag past $1.6 billion.
While the governor has promoted the safety aspects of Morganza, he said it will — in concert with other capital improvements recommended for money this past week — help improve "our state's colleges and universities, health care services and infrastructure." He said there's an economic factor as well.
"These investments will make Louisiana more attractive to companies that want to expand or invest in our state so we can create more opportunities for our people right here at home," the governor said.
The administration also sent another $5.3 million worth of recommendations to the Bond Commission for projects in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, including $4 million for an Integrated Petroleum Technologies Program and a related lab and classroom building.
The non-cash line of credit would be assigned to Fletcher Technical Community College, which has already received an additional $4 million via a BP grant.
Fletcher officials could get the same kind of deal for a diesel marine, welding and transportation building if the Bond Commission approves another $200,000 recommendation later this month.
Rep. Lenar Whitney, R-Houma, who worked on the project during this year's regular session, said the goal is to promote manufacturing and marine development.
"This will help us to continue producing a skilled-labor force from all of the surrounding communities," she said.
Other non-cash lines of credit recommended by Jindal's administration this past week include:
n $710,000 for port slip dredging and related work in Terrebonne.
n $200,000 for the Upper Bayou Dularge Pump Station, planning and construction.
n $200,000 athletic facilities renovations at Nicholls State University.
Capitol Correspondent Jeremy Alford can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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A hearty thank you to BarStoolSports for posting this video of two men duking it out on the Metra because one of them insisted on taking a phone call on the quiet car.
The fight being on the Metra means it was in Chicago, which makes sense since the guy who made the phone call screamed "I sit on the Board of Trade. I will cut you in half!!!" during the fight.
That was after his opponent screamed "You're a d---. You're a d---."
No, this video is NSFW.
Now, say what you want, but the rules are to be quiet, so we understand why this happened.
It's just amazing that it was caught on video. If you video taped this, e-mail me. Seriously.
Watch below:


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March 2, 2011
The prosecution of naturalized American citizen Xue Feng, which concluded on February 18, is a vivid reminder that China's abuses of criminal justice can reach even those who steer clear of politics and human rights.
Xue, a petroleum expert and businessman with a University of Chicago Ph.D., was detained by China's secret police in November 2007 after assisting his employer, a prominent American oil consulting firm, in purchasing a commercial data base of Chinese oil wells. Although the U.S.-China consular agreement required China to notify the U.S. of his detention within four days, notification only occurred after three weeks of intense American diplomatic pressure. That treaty violation led to another — the failure to permit an American official prompt access to Xue. That meant over a month of incommunicado detention before a consul could advise him. Moreover, their meeting was monitored, and they were not allowed to discuss the case!
Subsequent consular visits revealed that Xue had been tortured when he refused to confess to the crimes of "gathering intelligence" and "unlawfully sending abroad state secrets". Xue displayed cigarette burns on his arms and later recounted an incident when an angry interrogator hit him in the head with a glass ashtray, plain violations of both domestic law and China's commitments under the UN Convention Against Torture. Under physical and psychological pressure, Xue finally signed some false statements.
Chinese officials violated Xue's rights in other ways as well. The secret police illegally extended the length of Xue's detention by not obtaining the prosecution's timely approval of his formal arrest. Post-arrest investigation dragged on endlessly. When the police finally recommended indictment, prosecutors dissatisfied with the evidence twice sent the case back to the police for further investigation, as legally permitted, but then exceeded their own time limit before deciding to indict Xue. The first instance court also delayed its judgment in the case so long that it stopped offering legal justifications.
Because the police claimed that the case involved "state secrets", the Criminal Procedure Law authorized them to deny Xue access to a lawyer until they completed their investigation. Thus, Xue waited over a year after being detained before consulting counsel. Unlike most defendants in China, he was able to retain experienced defense counsel, but even the ablest defense lawyers are monitored and restricted when meeting clients, who are rarely granted pre-trial release. Defense lawyers also are not provided sufficient advance knowledge of the prosecution's case to prepare a proper defense. And many find it difficult and even dangerous to conduct their own investigation, since lawyers who prove too vigorous in finding witnesses may face prosecution for promoting perjury.
Xue's veteran counsel, Tong Wei, confronted all these obstacles before trial and others during Xue's first instance trial and the second instance trial that constitutes an "appeal" under Chinese law. Both trial hearings barred the public. Lawyer Tong was not allowed to introduce any defense witnesses or other evidence into the proceedings. Moreover, as customary in China, no prosecution witnesses appeared in court, so there was no opportunity for cross-examination. Although Chinese law prohibits coerced confessions from being the basis of convictions, Xue's statements were accepted into evidence and his torture went unmentioned in the Beijing High Court's decision affirming his eight-year prison sentence, despite recent rules emphasizing and facilitating the exclusion of illegally-obtained evidence.
The High Court opinion recited at great length the written pre-trial testimony of the government's witnesses, but did not address the defense's main legal arguments. Regarding the contention that the data in question should not be deemed "state secrets" or "intelligence", since such information is routinely traded in international practice, the Court merely attributed to a witness the statement that:"Different countries treat the collection of information differently. In America, statistics about oil wells are public and can be found on the internet. But this is not the case in China, where information and statistics concerning oil are very sensitive".
Xue's best argument was that it was unfair to convict him of illegally obtaining material that the National State Secrets Bureau did not declare protected until several years after he had acquired it and seven weeks after he had been incarcerated. Yet the High Court, which regarded the Bureau's conclusion as unchallengeable, did not respond to this argument. It merely noted the testimony of another witness that it was common knowledge among Xue's friends inside the government agency involved that the material was to be kept secret. The Court made no reference to the universally-recognized prohibition against retroactive criminalization, which China has long acknowledged, or the principle, occasionally practiced in China, that ambiguous criminal laws should be interpreted in favor of the accused.
The High Court, like the lower court, rejected without explanation the American embassy request to send an observer to the court hearing, as the U.S.-China consular agreement and Chinese law seemingly require, even in secret trials. But both courts gave the appearance of a partial bow to legal requirements by allowing an American official — in this case Ambassador Jon Huntsman — to attend pronouncement of the judgment, a much less important proceeding.
Where does this leave Xue? Although Chinese law permits only one appeal, it does authorize applications for post-conviction court review. Lawyer Tong, however, reportedly considers any realistic legal remedies to have been exhausted. Efforts on Xue's behalf have shifted to the possibility of the "immediate humanitarian release" requested by Ambassador Huntsman. Given Xue's uncertain physical and mental health, a good case can be made for medical parole. If his sentence is commuted from eight to six years, he would also be eligible now for the conventional parole available to prisoners who have served half their sentence. Although Xue has never been accused of spying for the U.S. government, and China has shown little interest in those convicted of espionage for China in the U.S., one should not rule out an exchange such as recently occurred between Russia and the U.S.
Whatever Xue's fate and that of his long-suffering family, his case, like last year's conviction of Rio Tinto's Shanghai representative, the Australian Stern Hu, demonstrates that foreign business people ignore China's criminal justice system at their peril.
This article was published with some editing in the South China Morning Post on March 2, 2011, under the title "Legal Pitfalls". It appeared in Chinese in Taiwan's China Times on March 3 , 2011. (繁体中文)(简体中文)
Jerome A. Cohen is professor and co-director of the U.S-Asia Law Institute at NYU School of Law and adjunct senior fellow for Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. See also www.usali.org


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A federal judge ruled in favor of a protester arrested two years ago while demonstrating on the plaza of the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruling on Tuesday also declared unconstitutional a statute banning the display of a flag or banner on the grounds of the court.
Harold Hodge Jr., was arrested on the Supreme Court plaza in January 2011 while wearing a sign that criticized police treatment of blacks and Hispanics.
The Rutherford Institute, which challenged the statute on Hodge's behalf, said the judge's ruling "throws a lifeline to the First Amendment at a time when government officials are doing their best to censor, silence and restrict free speech activities."
The U.S. Attorney's Office is reviewing the decision, a spokesman said.