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About the Author: Gregory L. Garland serves as Media and Outreach Coordinator for the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs.
For two days this month (March 16-17), I participated in meetings of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), comprised of 28 countries. On the first day, I headed the U.S. delegation to the Public Diplomacy Working Group, chaired by Egypt and gathered to coordinate public information efforts. The following day, I joined the broader Plenary Session, which heard reports from all four working groups. (The other three deal with operational coordination, legal questions, and outreach to the shipping industry.)
I'm new to multilateral diplomacy. My career has so far featured press conferences, civil society events, and much public speaking, but this week I started with the basics of multilateral procedure. Take, for example, the seemingly minor act of requesting an intervention (aka, comment). A colleague from the U.S. Coast Guard had to explain to me to turn the country name plate on its side to call the chair's attention.
We were in Cairo because of Egypt's chairing the Public Diplomacy Working Group and as well as being host for the CGPCS. Working from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM on both days, we broke for coffee and lunch, but continued with our own discussions deep into the night. As is the case with such international gatherings, the breaks really served as opportunities to speak directly with members of other delegations. At the end of the long days, even Cairo's famous souvenir stores were closed.
A contact group is generally loosely structured and frequently governed by consensus. This flexibility and procedural informality make it a favored mechanism for crisis response, but it also encourages the very ambiguity and vagueness that produce extended discussions. One of these debates concerned the mandate of the Public Diplomacy Working Group. Some delegations urged the working group to act as a venue to address the "root causes" of Somali piracy – the economic and political conditions in Somalia itself. A number of delegations differed, noting this would go beyond the working group's mandate to coordinate public diplomacy. Furthermore, they pointed out that a separate Contact Group on Somalia already exists to deal with such on-shore issues. In fact, representatives of the UN Political Office for Somalia, based in Nairobi, attended the meeting and helpfully explained their own mandate. By late in the day, the Public Diplomacy Working Group had found compromise language that went into the recommendations presented the next day to the Plenary.
Nonetheless, there was a general appreciation for the contributions of many countries to the naval forces patrolling the seas off Somalia under UN Security Council Resolution 1851. On Tuesday, our own American head of delegation underscored the significant reduction in piracy over the past year. The most direct victim of piracy, the shipping industry, has responded fully on all fronts; several industry representatives actually attended the sessions as observers. The shippers' application of higher standards of security and best practices are long-term solutions that pro-actively hinder piracy
Where was Somalia in all this? The new national unity government was represented by its resident Cairo ambassador, who linked piracy to conditions on land. A Somali civil society activist living in Nairobi was the first speaker on Monday and occupied the Somalia chair for the rest of the day. Yet, overall, it was the 28 different countries of the CGPCS who dominated. At best, this was mostly a gathering of non-Somalis talking about Somalia.
Throughout the discussions, I continued to marvel at this multilateral process as only a newcomer can. One arrangement in particular kept gnawing at me. The UN's standard practice of seating member states in alphabetical order places the U.S. and U.K. side by side. Perhaps in the days of the U.S.S.R., it was less conspicuous, but the spectacle of the two largest delegations (other than the host Egyptians) seated together couldn't help but to draw the attention of the rest of the large room. Americans and Britons easily conversed in their mutual native tongue throughout the proceedings and during breaks. The many delegations directly across the table were thus treated to a constant vision of Anglo-American camaraderie, which others might interpret more negatively. It took extra effort for us to reach out to those who were sitting further away, but we certainly did so, especially during breaks in the meetings.
What has become of the Cairo meeting? Probably most important is the inclusion of an ever-growing number of countries in the coordinating process. With Egypt in the lead, the interests of states in the region became clear, though most have not contributed units to the patrols off the Somali coast that have captured so much of the world's attention. Egypt itself is a major regional power, a leading Muslim nation, and both Arab and African. Moreover, it is a major victim of piracy as Suez Canal revenues decline with the re-routing of shipping around the Cape of Good Hope. The Public Diplomacy Working Group ended up by taking these interests and perspectives into account. With more work, we may agree on a way to speak with one voice. That would be no mean accomplishment either in multilateral politics or in the rough neighborhood where the Middle East meets the Horn of Africa.
Editor's Note: Read more about multilateral diplomacy and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
Matthew M. in Washington, DC writes:
The multilateral effort to subdue piracy at the horn of Africa appears to be a sign of hope for international relations in these uncertain times. However, although a significant threat to maritime trade, piracy is a relatively low risk issue for nations to get involved with in terms of countering the threat through cooperative means. Any marginal success from naval units deployed would be seen as a victory for the countries involved at only the cost of maintaining the deployed fleet. In other words it's a quick way for countries who can afford to send ships to jump on the bandwagon and improve their reputation internationally, while gaining approval domestically. However, as stated in the post, most countries involved with the effort have not sent naval units.
While this is not a negative gesture, it should not be construed as a sign of greater international cooperation in the region. Egyptian efforts, and the efforts of countries most affected by piracy, show their willingness to actively participate, the lack of Somali leadership alludes to the unfortunate reality that local governments are still unable to handle their affairs independently
Joe in Tennessee writes:
I simply do not understand why the shippers do not hire professional armed units from any of the reputable companies as Dyncorp and Blackwater U.S.A. It would be cheaper in the long run, especially in lowering insurance rates per vessel.
Given the nature and history of those attacking the freighters, any small contingent of professionals could easily stop this threat. We don't need to waste Navel vessels and crews for this problem.
John in Greece writes:
Sometimes I have childish ideas. Every ship is equipped with a GPS system. Right? All of which means that we can always trace it! We have the ability to know where it is, anytime we want!
And, pirates, cannot disconnect the GPS system, especially if it's hidden inside a secret/zebra compound of the cargo boat.
So, if they "take control" of a ship ("to take advantage" of the cargo), they obviously "drive" it somewhere! However, the ship is "somewhere" we can (do) know. I mean, we know the "port", the "place", the "people". After all we have the best sats in the world.
Why NATO ships -- they can be in pirates' "places" in an hour -- are not allowed to go "there" -- where pirates are with OUR cargo and ships -- and fetch FREEDOM back? Even if we have to use "weapons"?
After all, it's not our initial choice. Pirates begun it and they keep on stealing us -- I mean West.
I'd really love to hear Donald's in VA opinion on this.
P.S. @ Mr. Garland: I wish you the best Sir. Of course diplomacy is THE vital corridor to make our world better. Great post of yours. Please do not misunderstand my views.
Ron in New York writes:
Rig a few ships to explode after hijack; piracy will end.
John in Greece writes:
I think that Joe in TN brings to table a very important point!
Is it an international effort we have to invest in or a private sector situation "they" (ship-owners) have to deal... using their budgets?
(I don't know guys, that,s why I "debate")
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@ John in Greece -- Hey buddy, long time since I've seen a post from you. I was begining to wonder if you were doing ok or not.
Nothing childish about wondering why pirates arn't taken down at the source (the brains and money enabling their their opps).
Eventually the maritime aspect must include a ground game to score a complete victory over piracy, and there's no way around this as far as I can tell.
What will be interesting is how the ultimate cooperative effort to end piracy will manifest itself as a model for crisis intervention in other areas of the world.
I think the last time Russia, China, and the U.S. were all on the same side as military "allies" was in WW2. NATO added to the mix, along with India, Iran, and others involved now just make things all the more interesting.
The so-called "unintended concequences" could be quite positive I think.
Aarti in U.S.A. writes:
Piracy off the Somali coast has been a threat to international shipping. Many international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the World Food Program, have expressed concern over the rise in acts of piracy.
John in Greece writes:
@ Eric in New Mexico -- Thank you very much my dear friend Eric. Everything is OK (theoretically). Well?, sometimes I do not post, when I do not know the subject.
But I am always here!
Of course, this does not mean that I post "things" when I necessarily know the issue (Chuckle!) I try to read everything and be a part of this great Blog, no matter if I write or not.
I told you the other days, I will never leave the building, unless they kick me out of here.
Thank you very much for your concern Sir. Best Regards. Keep on Bloging!
R.A. in Australia writes:
An important point discussed but nothing constructive has come out of it as of now I reckon. Pirates and piracy is a biggest threat to economy who relies mostly on import/export trades through its sea route and diversion would mean extra cost with relatively less revenue.
Glad to hear that people are actually talking about it, but the point is what can we do about it? or what type of effective steps should betaken to overpower this situation? Cant patrol sea routes 24/7, however even a minimal watch would matter and that's what I think I will be discussing sometime soon over at my webspace.
Lucy in New Jersey writes:
I understand that the U.S. and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding piracy in January 2009. Does anyone know where I might obtain a copy of this? The Treaty Section within the U.S. Dept. of State doesn't seem to make these available.
B.M. in U.S.A. writes:
If you won't be tough with Somali pirates, soon or later you'll find Europeans doing same thing. Till now there are easy money over there.
Escorting each ship is impossible, so arm the ships and hire at least to professional army guys ($4000 month each) and train a dozen of sailors to help them.
Rules of Engagement: No rules of Engagements. Shoot First and after say HALT.
Reporting and Recording Incidents: No Record or Report. Just quietly send them in the bottom of the Sea.
John in Greece writes:
Any news from the ship "Maersk Alabama" and the Americans (crew) on board? What about the Captain? Is everybody Ok?
I'm sure that everybody understands that the situation in Somalia becomes even more "ridiculous" day by day.
Someone -- all of us -- must stop those "guerrillas" and their gangs.
Geoff in the United Kingdom writes:
Basking in self-congratulation, and no doubt in common with other delegates, Gregory L.Garland celebrates the success of negotiations: "Probably most important is the inclusion of an ever-growing number of countries in the coordinating process."
Here's a four-point plan which should see the end of Somali piracy and the end of this useless talking shop. Underlying the plan is a zero-tolerance policy of piracy or for pirates.
1. Ban the payment of ransoms, and if necessary impose secondary sanctions on shipping companies that pay. Sanctions against companies might involve denial of port facilities or a refusal to protect company vessels offshore Somalia. It should be noted that ransom payments are used to finance the civil war in Somalia and listed terrorist organisations, including al-Shabab. Also, pirates are now able to purchase ever more sophisticated weaponry such as MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defence Systems) and RPGs.
2. Police the ports from which pirates operate, inspecting mother vessels and if necessary arresting those aboard before sinking them. It will be necessary to get a renewal of some of the sections in UN resolution 1816 before this is internationally legal.
3. Consideration should be give to denying asylum to pirates tried in western countries.
4. Any vessels captured should be freed using all necessary means with a balanced judgement being made at the time on the possible risks to crew-members' lives.
Craig in U.S.A. writes:
I Think We should stop the pirates and capture them.
John in Greece writes:
I thought like this web suggestion would be interesting as a brief note for those who do not know what simply SEALs mean. They are our top-gun heroes!
There are some idiots worldwide that are attempting to "play" with the name "frogs" vs "SEALs", saying that seals are not frogs in order to make an anti-propaganda.
(actually both are their nicknames)
First and LAST name though: Heroes!
Darn excellent job 6s! (Now, anti-Americans will say that 6 is the Devil's number) God shot!!! I'd say.


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Topic: How to set an objects attribute based on two of its other attributes
I have a Lead object. It has 4 attributes Name, Date, Value and Cost. I am trying to set the cost attribute.
I am able to set the cost based on the value.
before_create :set_cost
def set_cost
if self.value > 30000
self.cost = 10
elsif self.value >= 20000
self.cost = 9
elsif self.value >= 15000
self.cost = 8
elsif self.value <= 14999
self.cost = 7
So thats pretty straight forward. The values are pretty straight forward. So I have a matrix of values and dates that determine cost. How do I cross check the values and dates to set cost...
any ideas?
thanks so much
Seattle Website Development

subset: commoncrawl


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by Anton Shilov
A media report suggests that Taiwan-based vendors will ship Intel Atom "Medfield" powered devices in the third quarter this year. The release timeframe of the code-named Medfield system-on-chip (SoC) seems to be ahead of schedule.
The first products based on Intel Atom "Medfield" SoC will be demonstrated at Computex Taipei 2011 trade-show, according to a news-story at DigiTimes web-site. Actual products based on Medfield system-on-chip, which is specifically designed for ultra low-power devices, will be released already in the third quarter, which is earlier than the market has expected so far. Unfortunately, it is unclear what kind of devices featuring Medfield will be released.
Even though Intel Corp. officially promised last year that premium handsets featuring Atom "Medfield" system-on-chip will be available in the second half of 2011, but Nokia's decision to transit to Windows Phone 7 platform and thus redesign its roadmap fully, the future of Medfield in smartphones became uncertain. The new report does not indicate that there will be x86 smartphones released this year.
"[Medfield] is [designed for] phones to be shipped later in 2011 and 2012. You will see smartphones from premier market vendors with Intel silicon inside in the second half of next year. Getting chips for phone is a hard work, but it is not the main work. The biggest amount of the work has to do with the modem integration, the telephony stack, the protocol stack that you need, network certification and so forth. We are deep into that with our first-generation silicon for smartphones," explained Paul Otellini, chief executive officer of Intel, at an investor conference.
Intel Medfield will have to compete against an array of ARM-based SoCs, including Nvidia Tegra 3, Qualcomm Snapdragon and so on.


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It seems that word is finally out on the redone Chrysler 300, as evidenced by the fact that the model's sales almost doubled last year compared to 2011 (when the distinctive sedan was a little slow out of the gates). One thing that's likely helping the car is a growing number of unique models like the 300S, 300 SRT8 and the new 300C John Varvatos Luxury Edition, and now one more trim has joined the lineup. Initially announced back in September, the 300 Glacier is on sale now with a starting pric
- Most and least efficient car companies
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- Find and compare 2017 Models


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>Runner's World - My Event Ratings>
In short: Such a laugh, the hill at the end was magic!Date of review: February 14, 2011
In full: A very confusing staggered start,going off in 1 min intervals, must have been fun for the timekeepers to decide who came where.There were several water stations, which was great but, they ran out of water very quickly, so that the slower runners would not have got water on the way back.The worst was the fact that there was no water at the finish...anywhere, and on such a hot day with so many new runners it was needed.It was a lovely place to have a race.Date of review: August 23, 2009
In short: Will be back as often as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!Date of review: June 26, 2006
In short: I shall be back in 2007Date of review: February 23, 2006
In short: I loved coming down that steep decentDate of review: December 21, 2004
In short: A little gem!In full: The wild horses charging across the road right in front of me, made this something special.Running free in some fantastic scenery.Date of review: September 23, 2004
In short: Great fun & really enjoyed the dayDate of review: September 11, 2004
In short: It was a great little race & worth doing again, about 1200 runners.Date of review: August 24, 2004
Date of review: August 24, 2004
In short: Loved the cakes & the mud!!!Date of review: August 24, 2004
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ELLE DECOR Editor's Page: September 2011
What's up this month at ELLE DECOR
Many people consider decorating, that intimidating job of pulling a home together, to be a step-by-step process. They tackle it one task at a time until the project is finally complete. But I've always found that with the best rooms, the ones we love to look at and spend time in, the steps never really stop. Change and evolution are as much a part of great design as elegant furnishings and fine fabrics.
The homes in this issue prove the point. Each is the result of adaptations, revisions, and sometimes full-scale renovations. And each change has only made the rooms more unusual, more reflective of the owners. And that—not the placement of a chair or the choice of a window treatment—is what makes design truly fascinating.
Steven Volpe, one of the most refined decorators working today, was quick to embrace loft living a decade ago, only to discover that vast industrial spaces and his classical training made for an unhappy marriage. That set him off on a process of education and a rethinking of what was truly important to him.
Perhaps it wasn't pure serendipity that literary agent Lynn Nesbit was working on a book with renowned decorator Rose Tarlow when she grew dissatisfied with her own apartment. But that connection led her to one of Tarlow's protégés, and to a fresh vision of the way she wanted to live and entertain.
Trevor and Alexis Traina both grew up surrounded by high style, so it's not surprising that their own home is a confluence of ideas from major design talents in both New York and California. Charles de Ganay's château near the Fontainebleau forest reflects not only his family's distinguished history but also his own preoccupations and passions—everything from falconry to trekking through South America. And Gwynn Griffith's startling makeover of a former metalworking shop in San Antonio couldn't be more personal, featuring not only her own paintings and her extensive collections, but also works by her two artist sons.
Change isn't easy, and renovation is invariably a hell of a lot more difficult than you could ever anticipate. But that doesn't mean it's not worth undertaking. What could be better than having a home that shows who you are now as well as where you have been? Design, like life, should never come to a standstill.
Michael Boodro
Editor in Chief


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (66 votes).
In short: This was my first MVP - & it lived up to what I had heard - mud, mud, hills & a bit more mud! Hell of a course, brilliant marshals (+ the v loud girls in pink!), awesome atmosphere, scenery & cake. My legs feel like lead, bit I will be back!In full: This was my first time at this race and i just want to say well done PJC! Somebody with a seriously warped sense of humour designed this course - a series of harsh ups & worse downs, mostly ankle deep in mud which managed to suck your trainers off whilst also sending your feet in every direction but the one you wanted! It may have left my legs like lead flavoured jelly, but the scenery was to die for, the course was brilliantly well marked, the marshals friendly and efficient and the food stations well stocked with cake. Add to this the offer of a jetwash for your shoes at the end and weather that varied from bright sunshine to freezing hail and you have a great day! Well done PJC - more next year please!Date of review: February 27, 2011
In short: Hills, mud and rainIn full: Did this in 2007 but had blotted it from my memory, so couldn't remember a thing about it. I did have an uneasy feeling at the mention of Butser Hill though...It's a tough race, especially with so much claggy mud, but the marshalls are absolute stars, as were the gals in pink mentioned previously. Jet washing the feet was a cracking idea too.Excellent cake!Date of review: February 27, 2011
In short: You know its a tough event when you're fed cake and Mars Bars at the water stations and your trainers are jet-washed at the finishIn full: Tough and I'm glad I did it but need to let the pain fade before I comment on whether I'd do it again.Date of review: February 27, 2011
In short: MUD! with hills from hell, but its a rite of passage type run, with great marshells, tea an cakeDate of review: February 27, 2011
In short: A course that can make grown men cry - but having done it you can only smile!In full: Thank you Portsmouth Joggers! It is an amazing course in testing conditions - but what a rite of passage type race it is! Well done.Date of review: February 27, 2011
In short: Mud. Lots and lots and sticky mudIn full: My 5th time running this event and whilst the conditions are no where near the worst in terms of weather and water on the course, the mud seemed to be the perfect consistency for sliding sideways and sticking to your shoe. There was one stretch what went on for about 4 miles nearly having me in tears. The new Hill at mile 15 was hideous; I had to use the fence to drag myself up.Having said all that, its still my favourite race. I didn't enjoy this outing but I will be back next year. I huge thanks to everyone involved. And a big thanks to the girls in pink at mile 7. You made a lot of people smile. I could still hear you echoing across the valley at mile 9.Date of review: February 27, 2011
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Wispy Blonde Cut with Choppy Fringe
The look is chic and hot. A medium length layered haircut such as this is very stylish. The bangs are styled long at the front which have been swept over on the forehead.The cut is different lengths with long bangs that sweep over one side of the face.The hair is coloured blonde.


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25 Sewing Crafts from Bloggers
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Apple 's iPhone Subsidy 'iPain' May Be Over for Verizon, AT&T
Updated to reflect Gimmie Credit comments starting in 14th paragraph.
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Heading into first quarter earnings, investors appear to be worried Apple(AAPL) is losing its ability to sell premium priced iPhones amid competition from cheaper Google(GOOG) -Android powered devices and new product launches from Microsoft(MSFT) and Research In Motion (RIMM) .
Fundamentals are also in question as Apple faces its first potential quarterly profit drop in a decade and a sharp slowdown from the near 25% growth rate the world's largest tech giant posted at this time last year.
But the real story to Apple's earnings may hinge on a potential change to the company's relationship with wireless carriers Verizon(VZ) and AT&T(T) in 2013 and less with its battle against Google's Android ecosystem.
The key for investors to consider is whether a long standing relationship between Apple and wireless carriers is about to turn from an earnings windfall for the iPhone maker to a growth drag starting in the New Year.
Already, some expect fourth quarter earnings to be a turning point.
As seen in Verizon's(VZ) weaker than expected earnings - which were cut multiple times into the report - Apple's iPhone 5 launch and millions of subsidized quarterly handset sales by the carrier proved to be a significant profit and margin drain.
But some, notably Evercore Partners telecoms analyst Jonathan Schildkraut, expected earnings to be light and recommended buying Verizon's shares were they to fall on the weak report. After falling over 2% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, Verizon shares recovered and closed up on the day, validating Schildkraut's analysis.
So what gives?
Schildkraut and other analysts forecast a surge in fourth quarter subscriber additions and handset upgrades for Verizon and AT&T, which would hit margins because of subsidy costs. In the wake of the weak reports, those analysts also expect subscriber growth and rising revenue per user to again be at the forefront of investor focus, as it was through the first nine months of 2012.
In an analyst call following Verizon's earnings - which showed over 2 million customer additions and revenue per account rising 6% to $146.80 a month - the company forecast its wireless margins could be as high as 50% in 2013, representing strong year-over-year growth. "
Schildkraut expects a fairly similar dynamic to play out in AT&T's fourth quarter earnings, which are due on Jan. 24.
The real question now is whether the fourth quarter iPhone 5 earnings hit to carriers represents a peak of subsidies in an increasingly competitive and commoditized smartphone market. The carriers have a lot to prove -- iPhones are projected to represent between 75% and 80% of new handset activations in the quarter, according to Evercore.


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Click HERE to check out some photos of A Rocket To The Moon at the Puyallup Fair in Washington where they played DoorMatt's Not So Private Performance alongside Never Shout Never, The Downtown Fiction and The Maine.
News - a rocket to the moon
|October 04, 2011
|October 03, 2011
Nick from A Rocket To The Moon talks about his top 5 favorite albums from the first 15 years of Fueled By Ramen - or maybe just his favorite bands with names that start with P. Visit FBR15.com for more videos like this one!
What are your favorite bands that start with P?
|September 30, 2011
Here is a video of A Rocket To The Moon stopping at the Puyallup Fair on the Time Travel Tour with Never Shout Never. Find out what Nick Santino thinks chocolate covered bacon tastes like.
|September 29, 2011
Click HERE to view a gallery of photos of A Rocket To The Moon on The Time Travel Tour.
|September 28, 2011
Click HERE to see photos of A Rocket To The Moon from the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.
|September 26, 2011
Click HERE to see some photos from A Rocket To The Moon on The Time Travel Tour with Never Shout Never!
|September 22, 2011
Click HERE to read Andrew from A Rocket To The Moon's interview with Marvel about the band, his love for Marvel movies, Gambit, X-Force and more!
"Actually I love the new X-Men movie, "First Class." I would say that's probably my favorite of the four. Let's see, "Spider-Man 2" I think was pretty exceptional. I really enjoyed the "Captain America" movie; "Iron Man" also was awesome."
|September 21, 2011
A Rocket To The Moon begins The Time Travel Tour tomorrow with Never Shout Never, Plain White T's, Fake Problems and Carter Hulsey. Stop by the A Rocket To The Moon merch table at one of the shows to pick up any of the items featured HERE.
|September 17, 2011
What's up guys, just out to eat with the guys. Practiced today and yesterday for the time travel tour, this is gonna be fun. Added some songs to the set that are new for us and an awesome cover that everyone will love. Come to a show and sing along with me! We leave sunday night for Denver. Jumpin on the bus and working out way out. Gonna be an awesome trip and we can't wait. Hope y'all are well. See you soon. Nick
|September 07, 2011
Click HERE to read what Eric Halvorsen of A Rocket To The Moon has been up to since his last update.


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bearsbearsbears wrote:hop_goblin wrote:I believe I read in the AofT that you want to keep boiling to a min since releases the oxygen in it. Oxygen is said to enhance the flavor. I will see if I can locate where I found it.
MarshalN posted an interesting look at Ming dynasty texts on water for tea & boiling:
Angela Justice wrote:Be aware, but don't obsess would be my suggestion.
LMAO I don't see anyone obsessing. Tea is just THAT BIG A DEAL! Paying it any less attention would simply be denial ... like what everybody else is into.Bubba_tea wrote: Wha?????!!!! Isn't that what this website is all about???


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Small fire at Lake Placid Lodge
LAKE PLACID – A fire in the laundry building at the Lake Placid Lodge caused minor damage over the weekend.
The Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department initially responded to what was reported as a structure fire at the lodge's laundry building at 18 Marina Way. Five trucks and 26 members responded to the scene at about 9:27 a.m. Sunday.
Upon arrival, firefighters were told that a fire had started in the laundry building, but lodge staff were able to knock it down. Firefighters proceeded to use a small amount of water to extinguish the rest of the blaze. Then a smoke ejector was used to clear smoke from the building.
Firefighters said the fire was contained to the laundry press. The building sustained smoke damage. No injuries were reported.
The fire department said in a press release that built-up lint in the press machine caused the fire.
The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene with one truck. The Wilmington and Keene volunteer fire departments were also called, but they were turned back prior to arrival.
Lake Placid firefighters were back in service by 10:51 a.m.


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Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
- Everyday Italian
"I love my Artichoke and Tomato Panzanella," says Giada. "It is a great go-to recipe because I always have the ingredients in my pantry[. All the colors and flavors of the tomatoes, artichokes, basil and olives make this a tasty and vibrant dish."]
- 3 cups 1 1/2-inch-cubed whole-wheat bread
- One 10-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed (about 2 cups)
- 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
- 3 large red tomatoes, cut into wedges (about 2 pounds)
- 1 cup pitted black olives, halved
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (about 1 bunch)
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
DirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.
Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the bread and artichoke hearts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the bread and artichokes until golden brown at the edges, about 6 minutes total, turning every 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bread and artichokes from the grill and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the tomatoes, olives and basil to the bowl and toss to combine. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Toss to combine and serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Heirloom Tomato and Grilled Corn Panzanella with Salmon
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay
Tomato and Artichoke Tart
Recipe courtesy of Sandra Lee
Halibut in Artichoke and Tomato Broth
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis


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For this look, Kirsten Dunst has her hair long with a slight curl to it. The hair comes down long onto the front and back in soft waves. On the forehead, a fringe is styled to either side.Kirsten's hair is cut long.Her hair is coloured a light blonde.
Pictures provided by Retna


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About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote's Managing Editor.
While I was completing errands this morning, I ran into one of DipNote's founders outside a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Our unexpected meeting seemed fitting, as DipNote turns three today. As we spoke briefly, I had an opportunity to bring him up to speed on DipNote's latest developments and reflect on what we have achieved.
This past year ushered in a blog redesign and expanded coverage of a range of foreign policy topics, particularly Secretary Clinton's overseas travel, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, and global women's issues.
Almost 30 million total page views after its launch, DipNote embraces the practices of 21st Century Statecraft: to educate, listen, learn and engage in this increasingly interconnected world.
One of the things that I have been most pleased to see is a dedicated and informed community developing around the blog. I have been encouraged to watch individual readers all around the world -- separated by geography, language, culture, and religion -- join together in conversation.
I'd like to take this moment to thank all of our readers for their support and feedback. The DipNote community has helped us apply lessons learned when branching out to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, iTunes, and other platforms. I invite DipNote readers to join these communities, and also check out DipNote for the iPhone and Blackberry.
We continue to learn from our community and take readers' input into account when introducing new features. Recently, we launched a "Photo of the Week" feature. Tomorrow, we'll introduce weekly synopses of DipNote's content. We hope these entries will make it easier for readers to stay up to date on all the many issues on which the State Department engages.
DipNote could not have achieved what it has to date without the ongoing commitment of our State Department colleagues. I am always grateful to our State Department co-workers who share their observations with DipNote's readers.
On behalf of the combined technical and editorial team at DipNote -- Daniel Schaub, Tamika Johnson, Eric Jones, Jeff Jackson, Sarah Goldfarb, and Ruth Bennett -- thank you, and we look forward to another year!
Hilal K. in Turkey writes:
Thank you all and happy 3th years. I'm really looking forward to see and read new posts...Its very good that your posts are not too long and boring.. Thanks for the objectivity you kept all the time and being informative....
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ Hilal K. -- Thank you for your well wishes and feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoy reading DipNote!
Ron in New York writes:
Happy 3rd to Dip-Noters....
3rd year has been much more....
More topics...some really fluffy; like the fish-art piece.
More pre-packaged...like the feel-good visits with smiling children.
More difficult to square with the realities pressing the world's poor.
Dip-Note 4th?....More interactive....More responsive....more blogs....more substance.
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ Ron in New York -- Thank you for being a thoughtful and loyal contributor to the DipNote community. We appreciate your feedback, and are working to make DipNote's fourth year its best yet. Keep reading!
Eric in New Mexico writes:
Hi Luke,
Happy b-day to the blog!
3 years? Feels like ten, been hanging out so long I'm begining to feel like part of the furniture. (chuckle).
You know after all this time, I'm still wondering who really reads these comments.
30 million page views eh?
I figure that establishes the blog's reason for existance, but it's less than 10% of the US population and a small fraction of the world's.
Fact is no one in my city has ever heard of Dipnote before I'd mentioned its existance to them in conversation, so the key to greater outreach is in creating public awareness that yes indeed the US government is interactive.
It would stand to reason that evey senator and congressman who welcomes comments from their constituents would be happy to include a link to Dipnote on their official sites, and that in order to promote interactive government via greater public awareness of this portal to foreign affairs, it might be possible to create a PSA (public service announcement), to be aired on popular media.
Interviews by the press, and I guess you'll have to envision this for yourself, but I could very well see you fielding a question from Jay Leno about the content of some of the public comments you get that can't be published on this blog.
But seriously, if this is a "public service" in creating a real-time interactive government, then let's not be be shy in telling the world about it.
The other thing that will guarrantee public interaction is proof that our interaction with the US gov. and State Dept has in fact made a difference in policy review processes, and inspired thinking among policy makers.
Like the former US Ambassador to Cambodia who asked us what the US should do with the debt they owed the US from long ago, who then thanked me for my creative resolution to it, by restructuring the debt, investing the principal again, doubling down as it were in their rice production capability (which the Cambodians were keenly wanting to do), and letting them pay off the total investment and debt, in rice supplied to NGO's that we already supply food aid to for distribution, since we are going to be spending money on that anyway.
This allows the Cambodian government not to have to view the payment of their former government's debt to us as a political issue of contention because they don't make payment to the US directly, but help us help feed the world in the process of paying their debt.
And if it did indeed as the Ambassador said, "get everyone thinking" where has that idea gone today?
What has that thinking morphed into as I have noted a greater emphasis on sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives globally, "Feed the future" included.
Most of us go about our lives just trying to change our immediate circumstance and better the local environment we call home, let alone try and change circumstances for billions of people.
Fact is Luke, most of the people I know (even if they arn't thinking I'm crazy for even trying to make a difference), think I have about as much of a chance as a snowball in hell...on a fool's errand as it were.
You would be one to know if this blog had made that kind of difference or not from the archives of public discourse.
It would be nice to see tangible proof of the results of inspiring people to think.
If that's the job description of being a well informed citizen is, it's only natural to want to get some kind of detailed performance evaluation on occasion...(chuckle).
I've had folks commenting on this blog tell me I'm wasting my time here thinking this opportunity to make a difference doesn't exist, that no one really cares what the public thinks, and that this is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Ok then, let's give the sceptics something to consider, shall we?
It's not about me, it's about the credibility of this blog and it's value to society as a whole, not just to the US government.
Put "Conversations with America" on VOA and see where it leads.
You may get a hundred million page views by your next b-day party.
Especially if folks know they can make a difference, not just voice an opinion.
"The future's uncertain and the end is always near." as the song goes, and this may very well be one of the last posts I am able by circumstance to post here.
That is unfortunate, but I'd like to think my time spent here wasn't wasted as some have claimed it to be.
Good luck, and best wishes to everyone I've gotten to know, John in Greece, OC, Flavius, Zharkov, Donald in Virginia, and all the many folks from around the world that I've had the pleasure to debate issues with in good will and good humor on this blog.
Take care,
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ Eric in New Mexico -- Thanks for your well wishes! The world can always use one more person trying to make a difference, and I sense that the DipNote community would agree that participating in discussion on civic matters is an important part of that process. One of the DipNote teams' key goals is to provide a space for thoughtful discourse on foreign policy issues.
We have valued your feedback and all of our readers' input over the last few years. As we move forward this year, we will be looking at ways to highlight readers' contributions more often. I thank you for your dedication to DipNote.
Ron in New York writes:
Dear Luke Dip-Walker:
You are welcome...as a big dipper; I enjoy the opportunity to keep current on the doings at state and my brain gets good excercize in coming up with policy and program ideas and responses.
Donald M. in Virginia writes:
Congratulations to the entire staff at the State Department, we can appreciate a voice, offer ideas, and yes battle it out but do it tactfully without starting world war 3. I'm very much pleased how this site turned out over the years. God knows we have had some really cool ideas, shared our thoughts and yes battled our wits, Conquer and divide but in the end were all one happy contributor, a well done to all the Authors and messages that we do comment on. I never think to include the work they do, and today after 3 years, "BRAVO ZULU" to the State Department Staff for making this all happen. I know some of my own comments can rattle some snakes up a tree, but thats life. I think were all one big family on here. Including all the BLOGGERS!!! I still think the State Department should come out with a coffee or mugs so we can show them off to our friends. It might add future Bloggers. Maybe a catch phrase, enjoy the State Department Blog and enjoy a fresh cup of Java! Having the Java logo on the header.
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ Donald M. in Virginia -- Thanks for your birthday wishes and kind words. We are glad you are a part of the DipNote community, and appreciate your suggestions!
O.C. in the U.S.A. writes:
Happy Birthday Dipnote. We need to get more bloggers to come to your party! Let's go party crash the BBC.
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ O.C. -- Thanks for the birthday wishes! We appreciate you being a part of the conversation on DipNote!
Adam in Israel writes:
It makes me really proud to see the State Department taking an active role in blogging. I continually find this site useful & informative!
Thank you for all you do!
DipNote Blogger Luke Forgerson writes:
@ Adam in Israel -- Thanks for your kind message and feedback! We appreciate you being a part of the DipNote community.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
I appreciate your response and the focus of the staff, but it didn't really answer my questions.
See, I figure my government knows whether it's taken ideas off this blog and put them into practical application or not, adapted as policy dictates.
In general terms I think folks on staff have a pretty good idea who reads these comments, and I'm not asking for anyone to name names, (to protect the guilty..chuckle). I was just trying to get a general idea of the blog's outreach across the international political spectrum.
It would be nice to be enlightened as to what effect if any beyond simply being a collective pool of public opinion, has the blog had on the thinking of policy makers, and what specific areas it has effect upon.
It's really simple, you've made an investment in the opportunity afforded the public and the public has invested its time to further this great social experiment, and I think everyone here contributing would very much like to know if our effort is producing results?
If it wasn't, I don't think the US government would be continuing the experiment and creating an institution out of it.
Locical, Que no?
As a member of the public, I do think I have a pretty good idea what will motivate expanded public participation on this blog, and I want this to be a "game changing" blog, for the good of humanity.
Luke, seriously... if you folks at State ever need a fresh face on a citizen's advisory committee on public diplomacy, I hope folks will call me in for an interview.
If by some anticipated miracle I can keep online, I'll try to keep keeping on making a difference...right about now I could probably stand to apply for non-profit NGO status, but I'm just a "think tank of one" if a former senator was accurate in his assesment, and I haven't ever heard of a one man NGO before, so I doubt if I would qualify for a grant to keep this up.
But stranger things have happened.
Here's an optimistic assesment to grow on...There's over 7 billion on this planet...someone out there has a better idea to contribute, so let 'em know you're soliciting imput and anticipate solutions to problems getting posted.
May not be the answer one might expect, want, nor find workable, but if even one idea helps solve a cronic problem in the world, then the investment made here will be worth it millions of times over.
It's Ok to need all the good help you can get, there's a lot of work to be done.
Do I hear a second from the audience?
Susan C. in Florida writes:
Luke and DipNote staff...thank you for the last three years. You all are obviously very hardworking, and I have found DipNote quite informative and extremely interesting. I appreciate your dedication and hope DipNote is around for many years to come. Happy third birthday.
John P. in Greece writes:
Happy 3rd birthday for sure!!!
However, we should not forget Sean.
It's him who made this great project start.
Keep up the good work everybody!


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From Sea to Summit - Page 3
After perhaps four miles, the grass gives way to a fern-floored forest of redwood trees. Impossibly tall and close growing, they create complete shade and natural air conditioning on this warm, humid day. Though the thick canopy makes it difficult to discern, I am certain that the trail has changed its orientation, turning away from the ocean and into a canyon.
We are breathing heavily with the climbing and thick air, so we stop for a moment of standstill quiet. Silence reigns, save for a trickle of water from something, somewhere. We both break into smiles over discovering this wild place just an hour up the trail.
Where the Wild Stuff Is
Ultrarunner Whit Rambach, 44, of Carmel, grew up exploring the Big Sur backcountry and still enjoys long runs there. "It has awe-inspiring views, fresh coastal air, an incredible variety of flora and fauna, few humans and unforgiving terrain," he says. "It is true wilderness."
Perhaps the icing on Big Sur's cake, though, is its biodiversity. Land-lubbing trail runners fast recognize terra firma as a place where the wild stuff is. That Big Sur hosts an annual monarch butterfly migration, possesses resplendent hillsides of spring wildflowers, provides one of the California condor's few homes and sports a dense mountain-lion population are just a few examples of the region's land-based biotic abundance.
The Pacific Ocean is as much a wilderness as Big Sur's mountains and canyons. Blubbery elephant seals lounge awkwardly on rocky points. Three whale species either migrate through or call the waters of Big Sur their home. Tidal pools reveal smaller sea creatures, including spindly sea urchins and snappy clams.
Fold this land and ocean-based biodiversity together with Big Sur's rugged landscape and robust trail system and it becomes clear that this is also a place where trail runners should be. "Running in Big Sur is absolutely wild. Even experienced trail runners can sometimes feel overmatched," says Donald Buraglio, a long-time Carmel-area resident, ultrarunner and blogger. "I always have a heightened sense of awareness out there, which makes the trail-running experience more profound."


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New Life in Net/Net Stocks
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- There's some new life in a small subset of the deep value investing world: stocks trading below their net current asset value. Such stocks are often referred to as "net/nets."
This is one of my favorite places to look for downtrodden companies, and one I write about when I find potential opportunities. Unfortunately, the cupboard has been quite bare in recent months, and new additions have been few and far between.
But with the recent postelection, pre-fiscal cliff volatility we've seen in the markets, the market tree has shaken out a couple of new or returning names.
Telecom networking products name Tellabs (TLAB) is now again a net/net, returning after a hiatus of a couple of years. It is trading at 0.96 of its net current asset value.
Companies often fall below their NCAV because their shares decline in price while the companies' balance sheets remain relatively unchanged.
In Tellabs' case, shares have fallen 28% in the past two months. Part of that decline is due to the company's third-quarter results released last month.
Tellabs missed the consensus estimate on revenue ($264.4 million vs. $276.5 million) but beat the EPS estimate (2 cents vs. 1 cent). In terms of balance sheet quality, Tellabs is loaded with cash and short-term investments to the tune of $1.14 billion, or $3.11 per share. If you back out debt of $201.6 billion, net cash and short-term investments per share are still $2.56. Tellabs closed at $2.72 yesterday.
Tellabs is also among the larger net/nets you are likely to see in terms of market cap, which hovering around $1 billion. Interestingly, Third Avenue Management , a deep value pioneer founded by legendary value investor Marty Whitman, has built a 9.6% stake in this company, according to recent 13F filings. That certainly has my attention.
Although the economy is still rather weak and the future is uncertain, Tellabs appears to have the dry powder -- cash and short-term investments -- to see it through.
It could certainly be a bumpy road, though, and the stock could be under pressure because of Tellabs' reliance on two companies, Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) , for about one-third of its revenue.
Also returning to the place that no company would go by choice is Richardson Electronics (RELL) , which is currently trading at 0.95 of its NCAV. Shares have fallen about 12% the past two months. Richardson also has a strong balance sheet, ending the latest quarter with $140 million, or $8.92 per share, in cash and short-term investments.


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This 'forever' style can be worn right through pregnancy, nursing & beyond.


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-T / T / +T | Comment(s)
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
BAE Systems Names DeMuro New CEO
BAE Systems has appointed Gerard DeMuro, formerly of General Dynamics, as the new chief executive of its U.S. operations, the U.K.-based aerospace and defense manufacturer said Tuesday, Jan. 7.
DeMuro will take over the position on Feb. 1, succeeding Linda Hudson, the first woman to lead a major U.S. aerospace and defense contractor. The new CEO will take over during a challenging period for BAE, as the company seeks to grow its commercial avionics product offerings in a reduced defense-spending environment.
Hudson will remain with BAE in an advisory role for the company through the end of May.
The U.S. unit of BAE Systems is referred to within BAE as "Inc." to differentiate between its London-based parent company BAE Systems PLC.
According to BAE, DeMuro's past experience with General Dynamics and tenure as a Pentagon acquisition official make him the perfect replacement for Hudson.
"His experience successfully running complex businesses known for developing cutting-edge technology for diverse international, commercial and government customers will greatly benefit BAE Systems, Inc. as it evolves its strategic focus toward expanding international and commercial business opportunities," said Ian King, chief executive of BAE Systems PLC.


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Debates of March 5th, 1997
House of Commons Hansard #138 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.
- The Environment
- Cost Recovery Programs
- Toronto
- City Of Châteauguay
- Don McKinnon
- Women's Institute
- Customs Officers
- Agricultural Producers
- Liberal Party
- Canada Pension Plan
- International Women's Day
- Women's Health
- Tobacco
- Dangerous Offenders
- Seal Hunting
- Iran
- Tobacco
- Health Care
- U.S. Helms-Burton Law
- Health Care
- Regional Development
- National Defence
- Food Inspection
- Housing
- Citizenship And Immigration
- Crab Fishing
- Health Care
- Prescription Drugs
- Vehicle Emissions
- Presence In The Gallery
- Point Of Order
- Privilege
- Government Response To Petitions
- Committees Of The House
- Report Of Commissioner Of Environment And Sustainable Development
- Immigration Act
- Criminal Code
- Louis Riel Commemoration Act
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Supply
- Underground Economy
2 p.m.
The Speaker
Every Wednesday we sing our national anthem. We will be led today by the hon. member for Wetaskiwin.
The Environment
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Jim Hart Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the constituents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt who have concerns about the Liberals' proposed endangered species protection act. The Canadian Cattleman's Association oppose this bill because their land will be devalued without providing necessary compensation.
The government plans to bring down its own despotic recovery agenda instead of listening to the individual stakeholders. A Reform government would have created this legislation from the ground up by consulting with the individual stakeholders. We would have spelled out the recovery plan process and provided a greater understanding of what is expected of the individual landowner. We would have addressed the issue of compensation for land devaluation before introducing legislation. A private and government operated fund would have been set up.
In all areas Canadians need a fresh start, including a meaningful process in the area of environmental protection. The Liberals have failed us again and it is Liberal cabinet ministers who will be added to the endangered species list following the next election.
Cost Recovery Programs
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Len Taylor The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK
Mr. Speaker, delegates who attended the recent Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting had one important message on cost recovery to make very clear. From potato growers in Prince Edward Island through wheat growers on the prairies to apple growers in British Columbia, the message was the same. The government has this issue all wrong.
Farmers from coast to coast will have a smaller net income this year because of other government policy decisions. On top of lower incomes and higher input costs, the government is heaping additional increased costs on everything from inspection fees to marine steerage fees on to the backs of farmers. It seems like this very unsympathetic Liberal government has decided to turn user fees into a source of revenue for the government.
It is time to re-evaluate the cumulative effect of what has been done, and in consultation with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and other farm groups, revisit the whole issue of cost recovery programming.
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Bill Graham Rosedale, ON
Mr. Speaker, Monday the citizens of six Toronto area municipalities rejected the Ontario government's proposal for megacity amalgamation. One understands the results of this vote when one considers the substance of these proposals and the fundamentally undemocratic process that accompanied them.
Toronto voters have said no to a proposal which, while purporting to address problems of governance in the Toronto area, ignores the best advice of all municipal government experts. They have said no to a proposal which creates a mega monster, unable to respond to the real needs of the region and too far removed from its citizens for local accountability. They have said no to a fundamentally ill-conceived proposal to finance welfare and housing from the municipal tax base.
Mike Harris and his government should heed the message. The best interests of the Toronto region, which represents 25 per cent of the GDP of this country, is at stake. Now is the time to abandon political partisanship and to work together to find practical solutions to this very important issue.
City Of Châteauguay
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Maurice Godin Châteauguay, QC
Mr. Speaker, last year, in January 1996, the City of Châteauguay suffered severe flooding because the Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft was not available to clear the mouth of the river, as it was being repaired.
This absurd situation prompted me to ask on several occasions that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans make sure to change the maintenance schedule of this craft so that, in future, it would be available, if needed, during the months of January, February and March.
This year, when we had this spell of milder weather on February 21, the hovercraft was able to respond. As Bruno Dufour, the hovercraft captain, indicated, this year, they did not want to take any chances, and the craft was overhauled in November in order to be ready to respond to any emergency come January.
I am very happy that the citizens of Châteauguay did not have to contend with more flooding this year.
Don McKinnon
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Joe Comuzzi Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Don McKinnon from northwestern Ontario recently became a member of the Order of Canada. Mr. McKinnon received this very high honour because he identified, staked and promoted Hemlo, one of the largest gold deposits in the world. Hemlo is in northwestern Ontario, about 25 miles east of Marathon. The Hemlo discovery has led to the Williams, David Bell and Golden Giant gold mines.
From 1985 to the present, those operations have produced in excess of $4.5 billion in wealth for the area. This discovery has led to great economic development in northwestern Ontario. I can attest to that. When I was a lawyer for the firm of Weiler, Maloney, Nelson of Thunder Bay, I helped to open the first law office in Marathon and I saw first hand what a development like this means to an area.
I guess I could tell other stories, but not today, about the opening of that law office. As the MP for this area all citizens I am sure join with-
Don McKinnon
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Lincoln.
Women's Institute
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Tony Valeri Lincoln, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Women's Institute, a world-wide organization, which was founded in Stoney Creek, is celebrating its centennial year in 1997.
As the first organization of its kind in rural Ontario, the institute provided a social and educational forum for rural women at a time when they had few opportunities to learn about the world that existed beyond their daily routines.
The institute created opportunities for women to learn about medicine, architecture and the legislative process, just to name a few.
One hundred years later the Women's Institute organization is represented world wide with a membership of over six million women in more than 80 countries. Dedicating themselves to community service and leadership, institute members have generously donated their time to a wide variety of projects and causes.
Stoney Creek, a community with strong historical roots, has benefited immensely because of the work of institute members who acted as volunteers, fund raisers and supporters of Battlefield House, Erland Lee Home and the Westfield Heritage Centre.
Along with countless other Canadians, I pay tribute to the-
Women's Institute
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Erie.
Customs Officers
Statements By Members
March 5th, 1997 / 2:05 p.m.
John Maloney Erie, ON
Mr. Speaker, in 1996 Canada's customs officers seized almost $700 million worth of drugs, contraband, alcohol and tobacco, as well as more than 2,000 firearms.
Revenue Canada currently employs approximately 3,200 customs officers at border points and ports of entry across our vast country. These capable and competent public servants do everything from collecting duties, to enforcing health regulations, to investigating drug smuggling.
In our war against smuggling and all its adverse ramifications, Canada's customs officers represent very much the first line of defence. Working in co-operation with the RCMP and other domestic and international law enforcement agencies, the men and women of Revenue Canada's customs operation have contributed greatly to keeping our communities, our streets and our houses safe and secure.
I salute these dedicated workers across Canada and especially those in my riding who work at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie. Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, on a job very well done.
Agricultural Producers
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Michel Guimond Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC
Mr. Speaker, I wish to salute the agricultural producers of the riding of Beauport-Montmorency-Orléans, who, through their work, help feed the people of Quebec and Canada.
Like many other workers, agricultural producers of eastern Canada have seen their working conditions deteriorate and their income go into a serious dive these past few years.
To maintain their level of production, they have no choice but to go into debt and work ever harder. Their hard work and perseverance mean plentiful supplies in our grocery stores. From our ancestors, these men and women inherited a taste for hard work and success.
This Liberal government must take the necessary steps to promote agricultural production, a sector essential to our economy and population.
We, in the Bloc, want to commend agricultural producers for their perseverance, hard work and quality products.
Liberal Party
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Randy White Fraser Valley West, BC
Mr. Speaker, I had a hair-raising experience the other day. Yes, indeed, I hear the Liberals want to win the next election and the Conservatives even think they have a hope of coming back.
Mr. Speaker, I am here to tell you that just because the upper echelon of who's who in this country thinks that, I do not believe the average hard working Canadian, or student or senior citizen can hear them.
Now hear me out. I am hearing that these old parties are out of touch. They no longer represent the average Canadian. This could be just hearsay, but I clearly suspect the truth of the matter is that these Liberals will be here today and gone tomorrow.
Liberal Party
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
The Speaker
I would remind you, my colleagues, that we do not allow props in the House. I did not know whether or not this was going to be a permanent addition to the member's head so I permitted it this time.
Canada Pension Plan
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Bonnie Brown Oakville—Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, in February when the federal and provincial finance ministers reached an agreement to modify the Canada pension plan they solved a problem that should have been tackled 10 years ago.
They responded to the priorities expressed by Canadians during the consultations and as a result all retired CPP pensioners and those over 65 as of December 31, 1997 are not affected by any of the changes. Those currently receiving disability benefits, survivor benefits or combined benefits also are not affected. All benefits under the CPP will remain fully indexed to inflation and the age of retirement remains the same.
Canadians have had their confidence in the CPP restored. Now all Canadians can count on the CPP to be part of their retirement income in future. This is another example of a successful federation at work.
International Women's Day
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Mary Clancy Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, as we approach International Women's Day I look around and see many women who are practising as physicians when in the past many said that women could not do that.
I see women who are legislators when in the past many said that women should not vote. I see women who have become engineers when the world said that only men were allowed to build bridges. Indeed, the minister of public works is building the biggest bridge in the world. I am proud of these women for taking the challenge, for following their dreams and listening to their hearts.
More than 40 per cent of Canada's small businesses are operated by women and the number of women entrepreneurs is growing at a rate far greater than any forecaster had ever dreamed. Women have raised their voices because of the serious lack of research on women's health issues and they have been heard. The government established five centres of excellence for women's health, one in Halifax at Dalhousie, to address the lack of research on women's health in Canada.


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Safety first at Parade of Lights
To the editor:
Everybody connected with the Parade of Lights parade should give a big THANK YOU to whomever it was, who, at the last minute, did not put the horse and trailer in the parade.
I could see that the horse was nervous and ready to bolt. I did mention my concern to the people involved, but was told that the horse would calm down if they would walk it a few blocks. I could see that the horse and wagon showed that the owner had spent a lot of time preparing them both for the parade, so it was a hard thing for them to cancel. We will never know if the horse would have bolted in the middle of the street, so crowded with children and adults, but if it had, what a catastrophic event it would have been!
Mike Gag
Driver for the
Wanda Gag Association


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quote:Originally posted by maccastheman
Tell that to a professional musician who's tyring to put food on his table but can't sell any records.
I agree with you in theory, but music IS a business as well. If nobody buys good music, then record labels won't release good music. I know there are other outlets, but I hate to see all of the major labels giving up on promoting quality artists.
Good points.


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Jon Stewart on school lunch protests: "News flash! Extry extry! School lunches suck!" And students are still hungry after they eat it. "So you hate the food and you want more of it." (That's an old Borscht Belt joke.)
Under the new rules, designed to fight childhood obesity, students can get seconds of fruits and vegetables, but they won't even eat the first (mandatory) helping. Cafeteria garbage cans are twice as full. "Hmm, now I am obviously not an nutritionist or an educator," Stewart says, "but I think if these kids are hungry, I guess my solution would be…eat your motherf**kin lunch!"


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In a "Yahoo Answers" topic a guy asked the question why cheap green tea get´s always so bitter that easy. The answer he got was that cheap tea almost always contains plant material that doesn´t belong into the tea at all like lower and full grown tea leaves.
Recently I had a longjing that suprised me by beeing so cheap (I thought how can a longjing be that cheap at all) and I got my reward when I first brewed it: No flavour at all and gruesome bitterness at ANY temperature.
So my questions: Is it right that cheap tea is stuffed with things that don´t belong in it and is this the reason why it gets so bitter at any temp? or is it just that it´s to old?


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Calling All Flavored Tea Lovers:
Signature Blends are what brought me to Adagio, because my tea-drinking roots were with flavored teas. I still really enjoy creating new blends, and trying blends created by others. Over the last few months, I've repeatedly heard TeaChatters wish for the opportunity to try some Signature Blends without committing to purchasing a full-sized tin. So, following in the footsteps of some very successful Box Passes here at TeaChat, I'd like to announce the first-ever Signature Blends Box Pass.
This box is made up of a collective of different people's teas, passing through a list of participants, and therefore is not arriving to you directly from Adagio. Therefore, Adagio, TeaChat or its representatives do not accept any liability for its contents, or the loss there of. By signing up and agreeing to participate, you are in agreement and understand this disclaimer.
How it works:
-Sign up here and PM me your address if you want to be on the list to receive the box.
-After receiving a LARGE variety of samples from various TeaChat members and our generous host, Adagio, I will start the box pass and send to the first person on the list.
-When you receive the box, you will have an opportunity to try the teas that interest you, or take out samples for later use, and then mail to the next person on the list.
-You may add your own Signature Blends to the box when you receive it if you'd like, but you are not obligated to add any teas. Those who have no blends to add are still invited and encouraged to participate in the Pass.
-Please be fair and considerate of others. Please don't take all of one tea, unless there is only enough left for a single brew. We want each participant to have the opportunity to try as many teas as possible.
-After all who sign up have had their chance to sample from the box, the box will be circulated through the generous individuals contributed to the seeding of the box so they can sample some new teas too. The last person will send back to me. At that time we may begin another pass, or have a contest for the remaining tea.
-Details are still pending, but I *THINK* Adagio is going to provide all participants with a gift certificate or discount toward a future purchase... when I know more, I will update this posting.
Rules and Guidelines:
Who Can Participate:
-For purposes of shipping expense and turn-around time, the pass will be limited to USA residents only please.
-For security purposes, the Pass will be limited to established TeaChat members only... sorry to the newbies.
The box will go out to its first participant on April 6th, but I may continue to add to the list after that point depending on the number of sign-ups.
-Please be sure you can afford to ship the box to its next participant before agreeing to sign up. When the box is ready to go out, I will post the weight of the box and the cost of the shipping when I send it out.
-You may use any shipping method you prefer, but please use a tracking number if possible.
-Please PM the person you are shipping to and let them know the package is on the way.
-Please try to get the box out to the next participant within 7-10 days of the time you receive it. If you can't try all the teas you want during this time, please take out some samples and send the box onward. Circumstances happen that we can't control, but please try to be prompt in sending the box forward.
-Please handle the tea carefully.
-Teas that are scented or flavored should be double bagged... I will enclose extra zip-locks for this purpose.
-Please secure sample-size tin tops with tape or a rubber band to avoid spillage.
-If you add a new blend, please make sure to carefully label it.
-Include brewing instructions if you wish... in the box, or even better, post here in the forum if you have specific advice about how to get the most out of a blend.
I will post a final list of what will be included in the box as soon as I get know what is being sent. At this time, I anticipate at least 30 to 40 different blends will be included when the box launches.
Current list of teas (not counting what Adagio will contribute):
Wedding Cake
Mint Chocolate
Silk Road
The Fourth Doctor
The Eighth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor
Tequila Sunrise
Party in My Pants
A Bite of Peach Pie Chai
Sweet CranCherry
Southern Peach Cobbler
A #1 Freakin Twilight Fan
Twilight-Edward's Thirst
Twilight-Bella's Lullabye
Twilight-Jacob's Tears
Twilight-Alices's Vision
Twilight-Carlisles Compassion
A Pale Pink Monkey
A Minty-Fresh Monkey
A Green Chiller
An Appetite Suppressant
De Lime in De Coconut
A Hard Smack on the Fanny
Lifes a Peach
A.M. Wake-Up Call
A Field of Strawberries
A Cylon Ceylon Blend
A Little Bit of Love
Lemon Meringue Pie
...and more to come!
Please PM me with questions... and please PM your address to me if you want to sign up.
Thanks to Chip and Xine for helping me put this together.


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The mission of the Santa Rosa High School Foundation is to serve as a charitable organization to unite Santa Rosa High School alumni, parents, faculty, staff and interested community members in order to provide financial support for SRHS programs and students, and to preserve and document the history and traditions of SRHS.
By attending the Polenta Feed, Golf Tournament (Auction and Dinner) or other Foundation events you are helping fund the needs of the students and faculty. Thanks to all the members and attendees who come to these events year after year and make these events so successful! Please check out our Ways of Giving page for other ways you may contribute to the success of SRHS. Please notice that we have a special campaign to build our endowment called One Thousand Panthers. See who has already joined!
The winners for 2015 have been awarded.
Please visit the link below to see the awardees.
The SRHSF Annual Golf Tournament held on September 9, 2016 was a huge success.


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blairswhitaker wrote:looking at my E-mail they actually posted on the 14th (time flies). I was in the process of picking out a different pot to exchange for one that was slightly smaller than listed, and lamenting that I was not finding anything in the exact size I wanted, and thats when I noticed these beauties, so it was fated for me as well.
David R. wrote:AdamMY wrote:Not that I need another one!
I didn't ! Nevertheless, it may be my first but maybe not my last kyusu from Yamada So... This one is giving me so much pleasure. It has a great "traditional japanese feel" and an incredible craftmanship. It is too early to talk about the quality of the clay, but so far, no unpleasant surprises in this area.
I really thank lionel for making me discover this artist and showing me some of his kyusu first-hand.
David R. wrote:I don't know his exact age but I saw a picture of him recently, and he is young indeed ! He has a great future before him for sure. Having a national living treasure as a grand father must help of course, his father is rather gifted too...
Nice Shigaraki teapot. I don't know if Akira is going to have more soon, so it may be quite a catch. I have tried this kind and it is a great pot.
Lionel wrote:It is an everyday magic to live with such a kyusu...
Alex wrote:There's that 240ml one still left on the site. Anyway after buying such an incredible Kyusu you should be banned from purchasing for at least a month! :p
How's that pot going BTW?
Alex wrote:Where did you get yours from?
Chip wrote:Garch, please show us your Petr-Yaki!
When a new clay piece arrives, I will give it a smell/taste test with hot water. After I pour the water out I smell the water and the pot. Then I taste the water.
If I am picking up "clay," then I give it either a short soaking or repeated rinsing with hot water.
If this does not work, then a longer soaking may be in order.
I follow the same process with clay cups.
David R. wrote:Yes, 1979, see here.Alex wrote:Where did you get yours from?
This is not from regular shop I am afraid. But AN has a lot of his works.


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Buttermints with Custom Wrappers - 500 ct.
Item #: 662892 | Model #: CUST |
Top Rated
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- $ 79 98 79.98
Non-members pay 10% surchargeJoin now!
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Delivery estimates, taxes, and fees are based on ZIP Code. Club Pickup orders are based on your club's current price and item availability on the day of payment.
About this itemEach mint is individually wrapped and can be customized for your business.
Click Here to view more about successful catering, including shopping lists and menu planner forms.
Mints are a great way to say thank you to customers and business associates.
Hospitality Mints creamy, rich buttermints are individually wrapped for a shelf life of four months. The print on each wrapper can be customized to your needs. For more information on printing your business' logo on the wrappers, call 1-800-334-5181.
- Creamy and rich
- Individually wrapped
- 4-month shelf life
- The print on each wrapper can be customized for your needs
- A great way to say thank you to customers and business associates
Custom orders cannot be processed until artwork is received. When sending artwork via e-mail, be sure to include your name, phone number, Sam's Order Number, Purchase Order Number, and ink color so that Hospitality Mints can match your order with your artwork.
Send artwork to art@hospitalitymintscom. Acceptable formats are: ai, cdr, eps, and tif (300dpi) minimum.
All custom orders will have a white wrapper with a one-color imprint. Please select your ink color from the following: Gold, Silver, Black, Blue, Red or Purple.
If you have questions, call Hospitality Mint's Customer Service Department at 800-334-5181.
Express and Premium shipping are available; however, your item will not be shipped until after your artwork has been received by the supplier.
Ingredients: Sugar, Invert Sugar, Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogentated Cottonseed Oil, Sorbitol, Dairy Butter (pasteurized cream and natural flavorings), Salt, Peppermint Oil, Natural and Artificial Butter Flavor, Soy Lecithin TBHQ and Sodium Bensoate (to preserve freshness)
ALLERGEN INFORMATION: Contains Soy and Dairy
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Zoot Men's Fuzion Sleeveless WetZoot Wetsuit
Product Description
Zoot has consistently put out products that are among the best available to all levels of Triathletes, and the Zoot Fuzion Wetsuit is no exception. Yamamoto #39 neoprene makes the Zoot Fuzion Wetsuit among the most buoyant and flexible on the market, and the Yamamoto SCS coating will have you slicing through the water faster than you can imagine. The Zoot Fuzion Wetsuit also features updated neck and cuff designs to increase comfort, eliminate chafing, and speed up transition times. If you are a beginner or intermediate triathlete looking for great value in a wetsuit you need not look any farther than the Fuzion.
- Yamamoto #39 cell neoprene is the world's most lightweight and low-density rubber, making the suit flexible, buoyant, and druable. Low density = maximum buoyancy = more SPEED
- Yamamoto SCS finish is one of the most hydrodynamic wetsuit coatings available, reducing the suit's coefficient of friction in the water to .032 (compared to traditional neoprene CoF of 4.0)
- 3mm thigh and calf panels ensure advanced mobility and easy on and off for fast transitions
- Tapered collar lined with SCS smoothskin, features a new lower front to eliminate neck constriction and minimize chafing
- 5mm torso/thighs, 3mm and 4mm legs
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Get Cooking Channel on your TV.