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Ajani Husbands just recently became a Foreign Service Officer and plans to share his experiences as a new FSO here on Dipnote.I, Ajani Husbands, do solemnly swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. On November 2, 2007, I completed my A-100 class, the class that serves as an introduction to diplomacy and is required for all incoming Foreign Service Officers, the United States' front lines of diplomacy in international affairs. During the seven weeks of training, I asked myself, "What does it mean to take the oath?" Does it mean that I am bound to protect and defend U.S. foreign policy, even if I stalwartly disagree with it? Does it mean that my priorities lie with protecting and defending the interests of the particular Presidential Administration for which I work, even though Administrations will change as many as six times during the average duration of a diplomatic career? The answer is a staunch yes and valiant no.
The oath requires me to defend the Constitution and the principles of the United States. For me, those principles entail defending the promise of democracy, which guarantees an equal voice for all citizens. We continuously strive toward that goal.
In terms of international relations, this oath means that I will defend the interests of America while helping to promote a more stable, prosperous, and equal world for all. This does not mean that I necessarily agree with all policies in place. At the same time, it does mean that I believe it is our job to promote these universal principles and to seek the right policies to advance our agenda. .
Quite simply, I do not believe I will always agree with U.S. foreign policy. What I am starting to see, however, is the delicate balance between policy and activism that spurs change across the globe.
One of my favorite examples of this is the issue of divestiture from the South African Apartheid regime in the 1980's and early 1990's. Across the United States, student groups, activists, grassroots organizations, and several politicians all demanded that the United States immediately divest from South Africa in order to show its disapproval of Apartheid. During a visit to South Africa, I went to the famed Apartheid Museum (perhaps the most uplifting museum in the world for those who have not visited). As part of the museum, there is an exhibit that requires you to walk through a hallway of barbed wire and discarded weapons on your right and on the left, television monitors loop footage of anti-Apartheid activists being brutalized. At the end of the hallway, you have the option to curve around into another hallway behind the barbed wire and discarded weapons. This particular hallway consists of large windows that allow you to look out at the entirety of the previous hallway, the barbed wire and the television-monitors, all at once. Inside the hallway itself are documents depicting negotiations between the Apartheid regime and leaders of the anti-Apartheid movement (Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many more). The secondary hallway serves to ask the question "What role would you have played during the movement?" Some chose to be amongst the barbed wire, others chose to be at the negotiations table, yet both sides were infinitely crucial to the eventual overturn of the Apartheid regime.
Until recently, I considered only the "on the ground", physical resistance aspects of fighting Apartheid. At a recent luncheon, an Ambassador mentioned that the State Department consciously chose to stay in South Africa so as to have leverage against the Apartheid regime. This decision came despite the firestorm of public outcry to divest from South Africa. I firmly believe that the reason Apartheid fell is not solely because of the State Department's role in negotiations with the Apartheid government. Nor is it solely due to the activists worldwide who brought attention to this issue. Apartheid fell because of the existence of both aspects of the struggle, each side wanting to secure a better existence for South Africa's citizens.
If I had faced the brutal repression of the Apartheid regime, I cannot say in which hallway or path I would have chosen, physical, activist-style resistance or negotiations. Nonetheless, I am convinced that both can be useful to achieve the desired goal. There are many foreign policy issues that are the focus of numerous civic groups, student groups, nongovernmental organizations, and many more. These activists rally, march, and resist in order to raise public awareness about their issue of concern. At the same time, unless there is movement addressing these issues on a policy level as well, the ability to enact meaningful legislation is minimal. That is why I chose to be a Foreign Service Officer.
Miklos in Kentucky writes:
Your comments about the apartheid movement are both insightful and thought provoking. Thank you for sharing. However I wonder what your thoughts are in regard to the current international climate. It seems that the current U.S. administration is in some ways disregarding the power of "negotiations" as seen in the unilateral insistence on occupying Iraq and the same pervading school of thought seems to be at work regarding the current relationship we as a nation have with Iran. Do you feel that the proper respect is being given toward the power of diplomacy? And if you don't feel there is enough respect, how do you as a new diplomat think you can restore that respect both within the administration and the American populace?
Mohamed in Michigan writes:
I am interested on more information on being a Foreign Service Officer. Like what training do one need, etc. and what is their salary?
Alan writes:
Hey that's great, welcome to the Department. Why not hop on the visa line and see how you feel 2-4 years from now about the impact you have on the planet and the democracy movement. I am sure the Department will put your skills and enthusiasm to work immediately as an assembly line worker. If you are lucky, maybe you will get to write one cable every year. As for defending the Constitution and principles of the United States, that probably won't come up. Better to focus on the INA.
Bert in Illinois writes:
As a military officer and DoD civil servant I have no respect for the employees of the State Department. While others of us sign mobility agreements to ensure the goals of the U.S. Government are carried out I find it absurd that state dept employees consider an assignment to a combat zone a "Death Sentence". Good luck with your career and I hope you can change the stigma now attached to state dept employees as whining cowards only looking out for their own personal gain. Since your leadership also hired Blackwater, you have a long way to go.
Tyna in Washington, DC writes:
This article was very well written. I like the comparison made between the apartheid exhibit and awareness and policy. However, though I know it is not the point of the article, my only problem is that this article makes it seem like the U.S. played a "huge" center role in the anti-apartheid movement, which I do not completely agree with.
Sheila in Ohio writes:
You make several good points. All Americans should want to defend The Constitution of The United States of America. It is sad this has not happened in our country for several years. Thank you for your efforts.
D in Maryland writes:
Ajani, by choosing to become a Foreign Service Officer, I believe you are going to have enriching experiences in the various postings you will go through.
However, I am intrinsically skeptical about how much you can change the world by wishing well for it. Or how much you can do by taking on a role in a civil rights movement. A quick review of world history suggests that it is economic forces of globalization (very ancient forces, incidentally), and not hot or composed passions, that have truly impacted civil liberties for better AND for worse. Thus during the transatlantic slave trade, or the relocation of capital and populations from Europe to Johannesburg, following the discovery of gold, and the apartheid that followed, no protestation, activism or negotiations ever redressed these violations of civil liberties.
Rather, it was the further evolution of the global markets, away from the agricultural sector to industrial manufacturing in the case of trans-Atlantic slavery, and from a limiting local South African consumer market to a Pan-African, even global, market place in the case of Apartheid, that prompted the "apparent" reversal of these reviled humanitarian events of our worlds history. The economic consequence of both are apparent: England, a key player in slave trade and later in the industrial revolution, had a booming economy in the first half of the 20th century following abolition; more recently, South African corporations like MTN and Standard Bank have become Africa's largest multinational cellular and financial institutions respectively following the end of Apartheid.
Meanwhile, the people that had protested against these truly economic "forces", such as William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, emerge as successful activists today. I think this is mistaken and even opportunistic. The danger, to me, lies in trying to replicate their methods when we are faced with today's civil rights violations. This, I fear, is the oft-trodden path that you seem to be taking.
Ajani, I strongly believe that an appreciation of the "inevitability†of the economic forces that have driven our world history will help us to understand the forces the are destined to drive the world today and in the future. And it is therein that lay your opportunities to achieve "civil rights" or "humanitarian rights" as a Foreign Service Officer. Of course you might not achieve anything grand on you own. Instead, it is a genuine philosophical re-orientation of the Foreign Service that should offer any hope.
I believe the "oppressed" people in the world will always be those "uninformed" about how the world works. Uninformed about global markets. The federal government hardly bothers with civil rights or humanitarian issues around the world when they are not of any strategic interest; when they don't affect the American economy. This should be apparent to any one; in any case, this was a candid confession made by a former president in his autobiography. Therefore, any attempt to guarantee an equal voice for all citizens is to have all citizens educated and competitive enough to become true players in today's global economy. Any other approach misses this most basic point.
Drew in Washington writes:
I have met dissatisfied government employees in many fields. After working in a U.S. Embassy, I can tell you that very, very few FSO's dislike their work. I chose another path but I frequently think back to my time at the Embassy and how utterly satisfied the average State employee was.
Tyna in Washington, DC writes:
I have to agree that I too have little respect for employees of the State Department. I have met too many of them and the pattern seems to be the same with majority. They all start with this grand idea of saving the world but get caught up in the complacency of fancy cars, lavish houses and servants that they are given on arrival to their postings. They segregate themselves and fail to get involved with the indigenous people. What happens to the valiant fervor for defending the constitution? What happens to the want of a more stable, prosperous and equal world for all? How can you analyze policy if you don't know the people? And by knowing the people I do not mean a seven week theory course or hand outs you are given on country profiles. Way to go on saving the world!
Joe in Tennessee writes:
America is Democracy. The Constitution and Bill of Rights is representative of it and all policy "spins" off it by the delegation of State as represented at the time.
Democracy is Hope in any form and that is what is represented by every American who is overseas. It is often forgotten by our homeostasis of daily life and freedoms we take for granted. A heritage so long in development and fought for, both internally and externally. We are a spoiled people and under identify through separation of specialization all too often. It's a shame part of the course is not part of senior year development in High Schools. As an American, we are all Diplomats.
You should be honored to represent the Greatest Nation on earth that has done so much to aid the development of all those and even feed their enemy's poor.
May you make a difference in any corner of the world you are exposed to.
"Any voice that is raised in Peace, Freedom and Equality is as valuable a bullet and any action taken which evolves to support a free and Democratic system of representation for its people should be acceptable."
Katherine in New York writes:
Welcome to the Foreign Service. It is a fascinating and challenging lifestyle. Don't let Alan's comments bring down your enthusiasm. It is true that many Junior Officers didn't become FSOs to work in Consular, but please know that Consular work can be incredibly rewarding. Although work in Consular doesn't have the same impact on diplomatic policy that work in Political might, the efforts of Consular officers matter to every man and woman who has worked hard for years to fulfill a lifelong dream of studying in the U.S. My work mattered to the father back in the U.S. who was sobbing to me over the phone that his 5-year-old daughter had been hit by a car and needed multiple surgeries in Beijing. Every time Consular officers go to work at a disaster site (be it the Bali bombings, the areas affected by the tsunami, or a plane crash) to help look for and identify the remains of Americans, their work matters to the families left waiting and wondering in the U.S.
Consular officers are the face of America to every person who comes in for a visa, and they have a unique opportunity to foster goodwill for our nation amongst hundreds of people everyday through simply respect and courtesy. Those working in American Citizens Services offer support to Americans who have no where else to turn in times of tragedy and hardship.
If you find yourself assigned to one or two Consular tours, enjoy the chance to make a real difference not on the policy level but on the human level.
Nathaniel in U.S. writes:
My question is this: Does "protect and defend" mean on protect and defend on pain of death?
As a Marines Officer, the answer is unequivocally "yes."
I wonder if some in the State department who recently whined and moaned about "directed service" have the same interpretation. My guess is that the answer is no.
The oath isn't a matter of convenience. The oath is a life-or-death decision to always act honorably with respect to the United States Constitution, and with that, support the policies that are in place. That does not mean we must always agree with those policies. But it does mean that we exercise our right to disagree in the proper forum, or resign.
I have seen disagreements play out in the public sphere, where they don't belong. And I have seen remarkably few resignations. It seems that many FSOs are more interested in their posh lifestyles in more comfortably assignments, and some FSOs are a bit too comfortable with the attention the spotlight brings.
Semper Fidelis.
Phloo in Washington, DC writes:
Without the enthusiasm and idealism of new employees like Ajani, the cynicism and frustration of the old would be paralyzing. Matching energy with experience is a vital part of success.
As for the military folks who keep disparaging State at every opportunity they get, please remember that the jobs are different. We respect what you do very much but we are not you.
N in California writes:
After graduating from college I flew to Washington, DC to take the Foreign Service Exam in 1979. It was my dream to serve as a diplomat overseas. I never heard back so I just figured that I did not pass the exam. Thirteen years later I received a letter asking if I would join a class action suit. The U.S. State Department did not consider the applications of any and all women who applied and took the exam from 1978 to 1983. Five years of sexual discrimination had almost gone by unnoticed. The case became known as Hartman v. Duffey, C.A. No. 77-2019 CRR. The plaintiffs won and those women who had passed the exam were invited to take the oral FSE in 1994. In my case, this was 15 years after I had applied and taken the written FSE. I had already carved out a career and had returned to grad school. I took the oral exam on 1/24/94. It consisted largely of role-playing and took place at the Los Angeles Federal Building in Westwood. I was told at the exit interview (after 12 hours of examination) that I had not passed. I was also told that I could not ask any questions as to why. I received a letter in the mail some months later and I had missed the mark of acceptance by one point. The examination was completely objective. Maybe they didn't like the color of my eyes?
Years later after finishing graduate school in public health and moving to Egypt to work in public health and development -- I landed a job on the health sector reform project -- financed by USAID. A USAID contractor hired me. On this $90 million project I witnessed embezzlement of funds and extortion by Americans employed by USAID and its contractors, not to mention the horrible way that some Americans treated their Egyptian colleagues. When I reported the embezzlement and extortion to my superiors I was treated severely, intensely harassed by my immediate American supervisor and was eventually fired. I filed a discrimination suit with the EEOC under Title 7. After three years and all my savings were gone -- I gave up the case. The African American Magistrate who presided over a court ordered settlement meeting took me on the side and told me, "I can see that you have been greatly wronged. I know what prejudice and discrimination are. All I can tell you is that there is a big difference between reality and legality. You have to be willing to live with this case for another 5-7 years and it will cost at least $60,000 for discovery. I would suggest you put this behind you and go on with your life. I can see this is too difficult for you."
This is not to say that there are not some very good Foreign Servicemen and women out there. To them I take my hat off. Do all that you can to change the system for the better! If you are contemplating the Foreign Service -- think long and hard -- the U.S. is no longer the bastion of democracy, accountability and transparency that we were brought up to believe in. You may have to stand up for and defend things that will personally repulse you.
Your mileage may vary.
Peace is patriotic.
Peter writes:
Welcome and congratulations on your new career in the Foreign Service. It is a wonderful opportunity to serve your country and do good. I wish you the best.
To Nathaniel and Bert: Did you happen to catch the Washington Post article yesterday indicating that the Army's desertion rate was up 80 percent since 2003? That a total of 4,698 soldiers deserted in fiscal year 2007? Does that mean all soldiers are deserters and cowards? Of course not!! But then again, if we used your methods of deductive analysis…
I am an active-duty FSO who has already completed a tour of duty in Iraq. I am also a retired military officer. Please do not confuse the statements of one or two individuals at an internal Department meeting for the sentiments of the entire Foreign Service. My Foreign Service colleagues are exceptionally dedicated patriots who are as brave as our military colleagues and are willing to go anywhere in world including Iraq ...in fact, we serve in many more places and in much direr circumstances than a majority of postings for my colleagues in the military.
P.S. By the way, did you also see the Washington Post article yesterday indicating all the Foreign Service positions in Iraq had been filled with volunteers? Must be that posh lifestyle in Iraq that won them over?
Dipnote Blogger Ajani Husbands writes:
Thank you all for your comments and queries.
In my view, diplomacy is a tool that is constantly being refined for the situation at hand. For instance, the U.S. role in resolving the conflicts in Burma has been to facilitate and encourage multilateral dialogues as well as to press for political freedoms. In Darfur, we have placed targeted sanctions while continuing humanitarian aid. In short, not every engagement is a military operation.
If you are interested in the State Department, there is a wealth of information located at www.careers.state.gov. There, you can find out information regarding the Written and Oral Exams, both standard tests for those wishing to enter the Foreign Service.
I believe Katherine's post states it best: "If you find yourself assigned to one or two Consular tours, enjoy the chance to make a real difference not on the policy level but on the human level." I enjoy the diversity of occupation associated with being a Foreign Service Officer and I truly believe that each assignment is an opportunity to effect change on some level.
While I appreciate your enthusiasm for our colleagues in DoD, I would encourage you to investigate State Department opinions regarding Iraq a bit further. In the past 5 years, more than 2,000 Foreign Service Officers have volunteered for service in Iraq; the Embassy in Baghdad (setting up to be the largest U.S. Embassy) has a lower vacancy rate than any of our other Embassies; additionally, more than 80% of the positions for summer 2008 have already been filled with volunteers. The directed assignments in question concerned approximately 20 unfilled positions, all of which have recently been filled with volunteers.
I would say that while many decades ago the life of a diplomat may have been marked by lavish lifestyles and generations of wealth, the average incoming Foreign Service Officer today is from a working class family. As for myself, I paid for my college degree through student loans and scholarships and have yet to own a car.
I agree with you in saying that the U.S. did not serve as the central force behind the fall of Apartheid. Nonetheless, the example serves to point out the importance diplomacy plays in working alongside on-the-ground activism. Successful political movements worldwide seem to have a healthy blend of dedicated activists and forward thinking policy makers.
Nathanel in U.S. writes:
To Peter:
I never implied that "lifestyle" issues were a factor in the recent scandal regarding "directed assignments".
No, I was not aware that desertion rates in the army are up 80% over the last 5 years. That happens when institutions go to war. Desertion is defined by the UCMJ as any unauthorized absence that exceeds 30 days, and is a crime.
Seeing that desertion is a crime, however, the accused have rights to due process.
At the same time, I DO impugn those soldiers for not upholding their oaths to the Constitution when they desert. Desertion is a crime for a reason.
I do not mean to impugn the FSOs who willingly go into harm's way to conduct the business of America. Indeed, American FSOs have shown themselves to be far superior to diplomats of other countries and organizations (especially the UN). I saw this first hand when deployed to Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan in 2004. I never worked with FSOs when I was in Iraq, however.
At the same time, it his HIGHLY unprofessional of FSOs who publicly air their dirty laundry for the entire national security apparatus and the public to see. It is also HIGHLY unprofessional to claim that "directed assignments" are "tantamount to a death warrant." Were that so, the military would be serving their own death warrants every day...yet there is no audible complaint from them.
It seems the complaints against many FSOs have to do with ethos. The public and the military detect a lack of willingness to deploy in support of policy. The military (and no doubt many FSOs) engage in directed assignments as a matter of daily life. FSOs seem to want to be treated a bit differently, rightly or wrongly.
Luckily, the scandal of "directed assignments" has been rendered moot by the scrounging of volunteers at the last possible moment. Let me submit that such a scandal should never have happened in the first place for two reasons.
1) Such disagreements should have been left behind closed doors, unless so egregious that public resignations were in order. (There were no such resignations.)
2) Directed assignments are a part of daily life for many in government. The FSOs should have upheld their oaths and conducted their business happily. That's what they're paid for.
Semper Fidelis
Ember in New Zealand writes:
Congratulations on your recruitment and thanks for sharing this. When I was living in Asia about 8 years ago and was only 20 I wrote to the State Department in Washington, DC because I wanted more information on how they recruit people and operate. To my surprise, they sent me the same enrollment guide and material in mail that they send to every American citizen who requests it!
But the world has changed. All info is available on the internet and State Department's website is priceless! And now I found State Department's blog and I thought well why not!? It had to be done as otherwise you would be missing the train of new media.
I take passionate interest in American foreign policy and Freedom (though the word's meaning can be very subjective) and lately on my blog http://emberglow.wordpress.com I have been trying to write about American foreign policy which- if I can- I also intend to study at Masters level (As part of American Studies program)
And Guess what? I think I would be a regular visitor to this blog. Congratulations again. :-)


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For the most part, God's hand of providence remains hidden, and we do not know how things will turn out for us before they actually occur. At times we must trust the Lord and do the right thing even if ...Read More
Most of us would likely be considered ordinary people who will never make the history books. From a human perspective, we may not seem all that "great." Yet from God's perspective, ordinary is what we want to be. He brings ...Read More
The Holy City
The New Testament makes it clear that we are living in the period of restoration when God is calling His children back to Himself. Jews and Gentiles alike are hearing the gospel and running to Him in faith. Each of ...Read More
Apportioning the Restored Land
By faith we "are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Eph. 2:19). In the kingdom, one Christian is not "more of a citizen" than another Christian. There is not one class of believers that ...Read More
The Lord Returns to His Temple
The various elements of Ezekiel's vision in today's passage are not meant to be taken in an absolutely literal sense, so we are not surprised that there is no record of the glory cloud returning to the post-exilic temple. But ...Read More
Ezekiel Sees a New Temple
God's revelation is progressive. He revealed Himself slowly over time, disclosing only those truths that His people needed in each generation, saving a fuller revelation of His plan for the future when His people were ready to receive it. This ...Read More
Egypt Falls to Babylon
Idolatrous pride led to Egypt's attempt to thwart God's will in raising up Nebuchadnezzar to discipline Judah, and our own pride can lead to us making decisions that are against the Lord's revealed will. When this happens, we show that ...Read More
The Judgment of Tyre
Bible critics read Scripture superficially and find "errors" that do not reflect a fair reading of all the evidence. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Old Tyre, and it remains uninhabited. Moreover, the island city-fortress of Tyre has never been the same since Alexander's ...Read More
The Death of Ezekiel's Wife
Today's passage illustrates that God is working for the ultimate good of His people even in tragedy (Rom. 8:28). Sometimes, achieving those ultimate goods means suffering in the short term, but one day we will see that the suffering was ...Read More
Grace for God's Adulterous Bride
Many people think that God's answer to sin is to keep people from committing it. On the contrary, His answer is often to give people over to it. When Israel wanted to commit spiritual adultery with other gods, God gave ...Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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University of Vermont
UVM Study Abroad Pre-Departure Guidebook
Section 2 Cross Cultural Issues
Cultural Sensitivity and Norms:
- Communicating, Dressing and Relationships
- LGBTQ Students
- Students of Color
- Students with Disabilities
Culture Shock and the Process of Cultural Adjustment
- What is it?
- How can I avoid it?
- What are the stages of Culture Shock and Cultural Adjustment?
- Suggestions on how to make your adjustment as smooth as possible
Last modified April 26 2012 10:36 AM


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USA Canoe/Kayak announces Silvan Poberaj and Rafal Smolen as 2012 U.S. Olympic Slalom Team Coaches, pending final approval by U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun. Together, Smolen (pictured above) and Poberaj have coached seven Olympic Games and, in 2012, they will oversee five athletes - the maximum number of slalom paddlers by one country.
USA Canoe/Kayak National Teams Director William Irving has been named Team Leader for the U.S. in London. He will oversee all seven Olympic athletes, including sprint kayakers Carrie Johnson and Tim Hornsby.
Poberaj is the longest tenured national team coach that USA Canoe/Kayak has ever had, signing on with Team USA in 1994. London 2012 will be his fifth Olympics as coach of the United States. Born in Slovenia, he coached the Slovenian Olympic Team in 1992, adding a sixth Games to his resume.
Smolen joined USA Canoe/Kayak in 2011 as its Slalom National Development and Coaching Manager. In that capacity, he worked with Poberaj to coordinate training camps, selection procedures and adherence to the high performance plan, all with an eye toward success at the international level. The Polish-born coach previously coached the Nantahala Racing Club in Western North Carolina. He coached numerous U.S. Senior and Junior National Teams, including the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team at the Sydney Games. He coached the Canadian National Slalom Team in 2005 and the Chilean National Team at the 2008 Olympics. His 18-year-old son, Michal, is currently competing for the U.S. at the World Cup No. 2 in Pau, France.
Casey Eichfeld, 2012 Olympic Nominee in Men's Canoe: "Rafal and Silvan have been coaching me for a number of years now. In 2007, I started to make my transition to the Charlotte area so that I could train with Rafal fulltime. In my years training with Rafal, he has seen me in just about every phase I could have. He made my transition back to the C-1 from the C-2 in 2009 as smooth as it could have been. He would tell me that I am the reason that I made the Olympic C-1, but it is his daily coaching and playful sarcasm that has helped me get this far and makes me feel better every time it hurts."
Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: "Our Slalom Olympic Team is extremely fortunate to be led by William and coached by Silvan and Rafal. We have a great mix of experience and bold leadership within this group. They're confident in the team but willing to push to the edge, too. It's a good balance for us heading into London."
William Irving, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Leader: "Silvan is widely respected around the international community and we have been fortunate to have him lead our US team over the course of the last 18 years. Rafal, although a recent addition to our National Team Staff, is no stranger to the U.S. National Team members and the Olympic Games, serving in different U.S. roles since 2000. Rafal has done an excellent job in taking many athletes from the Junior ranks to top final performances internationally at the World Cups and Worlds [Championships]. These top international coaches give our athletes the best chance for medal success in 2012 and each are excited to get into the final preparations as we enter the Olympic Games."
Q&A with Rafal Smolen
On which 2012 Olympic nominee has shown the most progress in the last year:
"I think both of our canoe boats have progressed significantly. Casey Eichfeld, after paddling just C2 before the Beijing Olympics, returned to C1 in 2009 and has been making steady progress in the class. Last year at the World Cups and World Championships, he was very close to the top results. Only penalties kept him out of the finals at World Cup No. 1 in Slovenia and Worlds [Championships] in Slovakia. The C2 [of Eric Hurd and Jeff Larimer] started paddling together two years ago and progressed very quickly. Jeff is an experienced C1 and C2 stern man and Eric is one of the top K1 paddlers in the U.S. with years of experience as well. That helped them adjusting to the C2 boat. They raced very well in every high-pressure race this year, winning every part of the US Olympic qualification. Making the final in Cardiff was a culmination of this process."
On three-time Olympic kayaker Scott Parsons:
"Scotty is the most experienced on the team with many Top 10 performances in World Cups and Championships over the years. He definitely will be one of the medal contenders."
On 20-year-old Olympic kayaker Caroline Queen:
"This is first Olympics for Caroline and it will be great experience for the future. The Women's K-1 class is a bit unpredictable and Caroline is very capable to surprise in the Olympic race."
On what the team must work on between now and the Opening Ceremony:
"There is only roughly over two weeks of total training time on the course in London. The most important will be to utilize that time on the course to the maximum and cover as many complex gate combinations as possible, especially on the critical, hardest parts of the course."
On if his son will travel to London as a spectator:
"Michal will not go to London. Knowing how competitive he is, I think it would be extremely hard for him to just sit on the stands watching. I'm sure he will keep his fingers crossed and cheer at home for his teammates competing in London."
USA Canoe/Kayak is a non-profit membership organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, promoting canoe and kayak racing in the United States. A member of the United States Olympic Committee, USA Canoe/Kayak is the national governing body for the Olympic sports of Flatwater Sprint and Whitewater Slalom and the official U.S. federation of the International Canoe Federation. Other paddling sports sanctioned by USACanoe/Kayak include Marathon, Freestyle, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddleboard, Canoe Polo, Canoe Sailing, Outrigger, and Dragon Boat. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org, on Twitter at @usacanoekayak and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/USACanoeKayak.


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Since the original topic is a month from being 3 years old, it is likely time to start a new "Official" Tea Blog topic. We should likely have a new edition per year since often blogs go dormant or cease to exist altogether with the passage of time.
So, even if you have previously posted your blog in the original topic, please post here as well.
I will list all tea/teaware blogs posted in this topic in the first post!
I will also eventually lock the old blog topic.


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BEIJING (AP) While Lee Ok-sung got his glove fixed with 35 seconds left, Rau'shee Warren turned in his neutral corner and searched for a clear voice in the cacophony of shouted advice.
Warren swore he heard somebody in the stands yelling "Move! Move!", meaning the world champion flyweight had the lead and should simply avoid getting punched to win. His coaches were screaming the opposite message from their ringside seats, because Warren actually trailed 9-8 and needed to attack.
In a painfully perfect illustration of what might be the U.S. boxing team's biggest problem, Warren listened to what he thought his friends, family or teammates were telling him. It cost him a chance at the medal he waited four years to hang around his mother's neck.
Warren spent the final moments of his second Olympics with his gloves at his waist Tuesday night, dancing in a pointless circle around the South Korean former world champion.
The stunning loss - and the head-scratching way it ended - crushed the first two-time American boxing Olympian in 30 years.
"It doesn't feel real," Warren said, pulling up his red tank top to dry his tears. "I didn't feel like I lost the fight, because I was fighting hard, doing everything the coaches were telling me. To get this far and then lose, I don't even know what happened."
After losing his first fight in Athens as a raw 17-year-old light flyweight, Warren declined pro boxing's riches and stuck around the amateur game solely for a trip to Beijing and his desire to present gold to his mother, Paulette. Instead, he got eight minutes of action capped by 35 seconds of awful confusion.
Warren didn't even know he had lost until he heard the news from U.S. coach Dan Campbell. He threw his headgear in disgust before the tears rolled, though he later apologized for being "unsportsmanlike."
"There was so much going on in the crowd," Warren said. "When I just stood there at the end, I thought I was up. To wait this long, and then to lose after one fight ..."
Warren broke into sobs again.
"I was confused about why he stopped (punching)," Campbell said. "He said he heard somebody saying to him to move (and avoid Lee). He was looking up in the stands. I don't know what he thought they were saying."
Earlier at Workers' Gymnasium, Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic upset two-time Olympic medalist Jerome Thomas of France. A few hours later, China sent its fifth fighter through to the next round with bantamweight Gu Yu's win over Joe Murray of Britain, who angrily blamed it on a judging bias toward the hometown fighters.
Russian bantamweight Sergey Vodopyanov also advanced - but Warren, a fellow world champion, won't be joining him.
Warren was a medal favorite for the tumultuous American team, along with welterweight Demetrius Andrade, another world champion who barely won his debut fight Sunday in Beijing.
USA Boxing instituted a strict training program and revolutionary coaching methods in an attempt to return to prominence, but Campbell's staff has been battered by complaints from the fighters' parents and local coaches. Most of the boxers thought the residency program in Colorado Springs, Colo., was onerous, and some discounted Campbell's coaching abilities.
The results of all that dissension might be showing up in Beijing: Warren's loss follows bantamweight contender Gary Russell Jr.'s failure to make weight, along with early losses by Sadam Ali and Javier Molina. Just five U.S. boxers remain in the Olympic field, and Campbell described himself as "close to speechless."
"For him to lose could be disheartening for some of our other guys," Campbell said. "That's going to be our biggest fear. ... I think they're most definitely going to be psyched out. We have a psychologist around, and we're going to make sure that she talks to this team, because I'm sure all of them are going to be psyched out by this."
Warren, a Cincinnati native, was the youngest boxer at the Athens Games and the youngest male athlete on the entire U.S. Olympic contingent in Greece.
No American fighter had been on two straight Olympic teams since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and 1976. Although Cuba, Russia and other nations send their best amateur fighters to multiple Olympics, most Americans don't wait.
"He did what we would like to hope that other young boxers do," Campbell said. "He stayed around for four more years, and ... he worked so hard in our program."


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The hottest fashion look on the Mississippi College campus this summer might be the hard hat. Temporary construction workers sometimes seem to outnumber MC students and staff as they work to complete a new parking garage, bookstore, and state-of-the-art science building.
A three-level, 557-spot parking garage is under construction just east of the A.E. Wood Coliseum and south of Robinson-Hale Football Stadium. Equipped with security cameras, lighting, and emergency telephones, the garage will be open 24/7. Construction should be finished in mid-August, just in time to accommodate students, staff, and visitors arriving on campus for the fall 2012 semester.
Work on a new bookstore, café, and residential lofts for graduate students near Olde Towne Clinton is also expected to be complete in the fall, while the new science building and laboratory should open in the spring of 2013.
"All of the construction underway is the result of increased enrollment and activity at MC," says MC President Dr. Lee Royce. "Dodging the construction can be a little inconvenient while it's going on, but when you see those hard hats, just think of them as a positive sign of all the growth and progress we're experiencing right now at Mississippi College."


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Sugar high? A recent study found that Oreos and other sugary, fatty foods might be as addictive as illicit drugs such as cocaine and morphine.
Can�t put down the box of Oreos? As it turns out, that �sugar high� might actually be a thing. In a groundbreaking study out this week from Connecticut College, researchers discovered that �America�s favorite cookie� might be as addictive as such illicit drugs as cocaine and methamphetamine. The study was designed to examine the effects of high-sugar, high-fat foods on the pleasure centers of the brain. In it, lab rats were exposed to one of three variables: Oreo cookies, rice cakes, or injections of illicit drugs including cocaine and methamphetamine. What the researchers found was that the Oreo cookies lit up the same regions of the brain as addictive substances. Astoundingly, the Oreo cookies activated more neurons in the brain�s pleasure center than the drugs. So does this mean Oreos are the crux of society�s ills? �Of course not,� says Dr. Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, Senior Science Advisor at Elements Behavioral Health and author of The Hunger Fix. �The study isn�t meant to be a condemnation of Oreos. But in certain individuals who are vulnerable to addictive eating behavior, the Oreos can prove to be problematic.� Oreos were chosen because they are a classic example of what Dr. Peeke calls �hyper-palatable foods��foods that contain a potent, irresistible combination of sugar, salt and fat that may trigger an addictive response in certain individuals. �What this study shows is that certain foods are indeed acting like addictive substances in vulnerable brains,� Dr. Peeke says. �These high-fat, high-sugar foods are inducing organic changes in the reward center of the brain, much in the same way that a drug like cocaine would.� Interestingly, the rats in the study were particularly enticed by the sugar-and-fat-dense filling of the Oreo, which might explain why children tend to pry apart their Oreos and lick off the frosting. Dr. Peeke says the study should act as a wake-up call for parents everywhere. �When we look at the issue of obesity and disordered eating in our society, there�s a mountain of evidence indicating a strong association between food and addiction,� Dr. Peeke says. �We need to ask ourselves, �What are we weaning kids on?� Are we weaning children on hyper-palatable foods that may be conditioning their brains toward the over-ingestion of sugary, fatty, salty foods? Or are we feeding them whole foods?� RELATED: 5 Ways to Survive a Sugar Detox Are some individuals more vulnerable to become �sugar junkies� than others? �As it turns out, there�s a huge crossover between food addictions and other addictions,� Dr. Peeke says. �It�s what we call a transfer addiction.� In other words, the same individuals who are prone to patterns of binge eating and overeating may also be predisposed toward a drug or substance addiction. Because of this, Dr. Peeke believes that food addiction cannot be resolved by diet alone and that it must be treated in a manner similar to substance addiction: �There are people who are seriously addicted to certain foods. These individuals need more of the addiction model, meaning that detox and lifelong recovery is the answer. A low-calorie diet alone won�t cut it.� But for people who may be hooked on high-fat, high-sugar foods, there is hope for recovery, Dr. Peeke says. Slowly, by gradually eliminating the problematic foods and replacing them with healthier alternatives (for example, a yogurt with berries in lieu of a Twinkie), individuals can begin to overcome their food addictions and reclaim their lives. Brought to you by: Spry Living


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In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collections; but every day they worked, as before, down the mine. Examining the lives of a group of ordinary men that do extraordinary things, The Pitmen Painters is a humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics.


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Though skeptical not long ago, the industry is increasingly confident about the size of reserves in Europe.crazy, why are you moving to Poland?' to 'Oh, that is the hottest play in Europe,'" says John Buggenhagen, head of exploration at Dublin-based San Leon Energy, which has several concessions in Poland.
The French Ministry of Ecology has called a halt to shale gas drilling throughout the country.aquifers in the history of U.S. shale gas extraction." However, recent comments by some EPA officials and scientists indicate that they are coming to the conclusion that contaminants found in wells in Wyoming, where fracking is widespread, are related to unconventional gas drilling. "It starts to finger-point stronger and stronger to the source somehow being related to the gas development," Nathan Wiser, an EPA expert on hydraulic fracturing, told ProPublica.
'It may have been a transition fuel 20 years ago, but we simply don't have the space for it to be a transition fuel now,' says one expert.— both low rates by international standards. Also, concession contracts are for longer periods of time than in other countries and cover larger geographical areas.
MORE FROM YALE e360
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Great idea, I'm on it.Thanks
Yes we are! From what I am lead to believe Keith is the guy you want working on your flour. I hope I am not going to offend anyone that might read this, but apparently he is the real mastermind behind the quality of the flour that has helped to put his family flour milling business on the map, and also happens to be one of the best bakers in the world. He has split from his family to continue his work on his own with central milling.
I'm just trying to find the "00" flour to start out with... is this type of flour widely available, or should i look in specialty stores/gourmet grocers.
Does anyone know if any flour mill in North America makes a 00 High Gluten flour?I am trying to find something that mimics the Italian 00 Manitoba flour with a protein content of around 14% and W of 360-390.All I'm seeing from US flour makers is high gluten, but none that I can find seems to make a 00 variety.Also, is there a way of formulating the W since US flour makers do not use that measurement?Thanks for the help


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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Sophomore forward Damien Dwaine stood outside the locker room door waiting.
It was symbolic of the entire Buccaneers men's basketball team these days. All they've been doing is waiting. It's been 18 days since Barry has played a game.
That waiting game ends 7:30 p.m. Friday when the Bucs (3-2) host NAIA No. 18 nationally-ranked St. Thomas (8-2) at Health & Sports Center.
"Very anxious to get playing again," Dwaine said. "We can't wait to play 'em. We can't wait to get on the floor and show what we've been working on."
Barry lost to St. Thomas in the first meeting, 53-51, in Miami Gardens Nov. 13. The Bucs made a season-low 15 field goals and scored the fewest points they've produced all season. Barry also shot 54.5 percent from the free throw line, going 18 of 33.
"Anytime you're on the road playing against a team like St. Thomas, you can't miss free throws," Bucs assistant coach Ryan Saunders said.
The Buccaneers are shooting 71.5 percent from the free throw line this year. Dwaine has hit 88.9 percent of his shots, which ranks 44th in NCAA Division II. Senior swingman Bryan Van Cott and senior forward Aaron Martin are also shooting 80 percent or better from the stripe.
Barry turned the ball over 13 times in the first meeting with the Bobcats – a modest amount considering the Bucs gave away 24 possessions versus Stillman. But the Buccaneers were 3 of 18 from three-point range for a season-low 16.7 percent against St. Thomas.
"I thought our defense was pretty good in that game, and it's going to have to be good again," Saunders said. "We didn't shoot the ball particularly well the first game. To their credit, they play physical. They out-tough their opponents."
St. Thomas ranks 18th nationally in the NAIA in scoring defense (63.2). Barry ranks 36th in NCAA Division II (61.2). The Buccaneers are seventh in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.0).
"It's a big part of our team," Dwaine said. "We know that defense is going to win us games. I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg to how well we can play defensively."
St. Thomas' Demonte Simpson, a 6-10 junior center who did not play against Barry in the first game, is averaging 14.9 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 62.7 percent from the field. Junior guard Kevin Hincapie is averaging 13 points and 3.0 assists. Junior guard Floyd Battle (12.6 ppg), John Nunnally (10.9 ppg, 6.3 reb) and Dylan O'Sullivan (10.6 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.
Barry has four players averaging in double figures. Van Cott leads the Bucs in scoring at 14 ppg. Senior point guard Justin McCoy is averaging 11.8 ppg and 4.2 assists. Martin and senior guard Chad Renfro are both scoring 11 points per game.
"The shots are there. We're taking the right shots," Saunders said. "Guys just got to start knocking them down. You've got to have players that are man enough to go out there and make plays.
"I just don't think we've had a game yet where everybody that's going into the game has been on. On both ends of the floor, I don't think we've had a complete game. We haven't played a full 40 minutes of Barry basketball. We're waiting for that."
Saunders likened the layoff to a second preseason.
"Guys have gotten a feel for what it's like, what the rotation is like," he said. "The shots are starting to fall. Justin has to continue to run the team, take control of the team and get everyone involved."
Barry shot 50.8 percent against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in its best performance of the season. That's the only game the Buccaneers have shot 50 percent this year.
"I see this break is what we need to get back to a higher shooting percentage," Dwaine said. "Guys aren't going to have classes to worry about for awhile, so that's going to help us shoot the ball better."
Watch the game on the Bucs Broadcast Network. Will Sanchez will handle the call.


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Specific mating behaviors for this animal was not found, although it is thought to be monogamous like red brocket deer. (Huffman, 2004)
Mating System: Monogamous
Reproduction appears to be year round, as spotted fawns have been found throughout the year. In some juvenile females, the ovaries were detected to have developing follicles indicating an early onset of reproduction. The age classes used were the same used for whitetail deer, placing these females around a one-year age class.
Does were found to be simultaneously pregnant and lactating. In captivity, the gestation period is around eight months. Usually a single young is born with twins being rare. The young are camoflaged in grass, very similar to whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus). (Stallings, 1986; Thomas, 1975)
The antler conditions of bucks also supports the notion that there is year round reproduction. Males with polished antlers were observed throughout the year. Bucks have been found in velvet in January, May and June and with polished antlers by May through November. The males of this species apparently shed their antlers every 18 months to two years but with great individual variability. (Stallings, 1986; Thomas, 1975)
Key Reproductive Features: Iteroparous; Year-round breeding; Gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); Sexual; Fertilization; Viviparous
It is likely that the females breed once annually.>p
Breeding is not restricted to a season in this species.>p
The doe provides care to the fawn until weaned. The female feeds the fawn, but until it becomes older, the fawn stays hidden. The time to weaning or the duration of dependence on the doe is unknown. In red brocket deer (M. americana) weaning occurs at about 6 months. Male parental care has not been reported. (Huffman, 2004; Thomas, 1975)
Parental Investment: Precocial; Pre-fertilization; Pre-fertilization :: Protecting; Pre-fertilization :: Protecting :: Female; Pre-hatching/birth; Pre-hatching/birth :: Provisioning; Pre-hatching/birth :: Provisioning :: Female; Pre-hatching/birth :: Protecting; Pre-hatching/birth :: Protecting :: Female; Pre-weaning/fledging; Pre-weaning/fledging :: Provisioning; Pre-weaning/fledging :: Provisioning :: Female; Pre-weaning/fledging :: Protecting; Pre-weaning/fledging :: Protecting :: Female; Pre-independence; Pre-independence :: Protecting; Pre-independence :: Protecting :: Female


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From the Manufacturer's Label:
World Organic Mega Chlorophyll Capsules are derived exclusively from high quality alfalfa leaves. Chlorophyll is essential to the process of photosynthesis…often called the "building block of life." Without chlorophyll there is no life. Chlorophyll is a natural fat soluble nutrient which World Organic makes water dispersible for premier results.


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Logging Congress starts Friday
ESCANABA – The 68th Annual Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association's Lake States Logging Congress & Equipment Expo kicks off Friday in Escanaba.
The event, held at the U.P. State Fairgrounds and Ruth Butler Building, brings vendors and exhibitors showcasing their best in log splitters, portable sawmills, compact tractors and logging equipment, implements, chainsaw carving, wood and pellet stove dealers and more.
The biggest change to the event this year is it now will take place over a two-day period and includes extended hours Saturday afternoon, according to GLTPA event coordinator Aaron Nieman.
"Typically we did a three-day event, but this year we're doing an all-day Friday and an all-day Saturday," he said.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The cost for the event is $10 and is good for both days of the event.
The main reason for the change is feedback from the vendors and exhibitors who noted a Friday and Saturday event is better for their schedules, and also is more economical for visitors and travelers coming to the area for the event.
According to Nieman, Logging Congress typically sees about 200 vendors utilizing 350 booths and covers approximately 875,000 square feet.
"Usually we average about 3,000 or 4,000 attendees per day," he said. "So 6,000 to 8,000 for the two-day event."
The first Logging Congress took play in Houghton on Nov. 1 and 2, 1945, but in 1948, the event began changing locations to encourage greater exposure and participation. The event typically alternates between Wisconsin and Michigan, and was last held in Escanaba in 2011.
"There's a huge history of logging in the Upper Peninsula," said Nieman. "It's a major source of revenue and income for people in that area."
This year, the GLTPA received proposals to host the event from Marquette, Ironwood, Sault Ste. Marie, and St. Ignace, in addition to Escanaba, but Nieman said the U.P. State Fairgrounds and Ruth Butler Building had the best proposal for putting the entire event together – a large enough indoor and outdoor facility, plenty of parking space and lodging opportunities, to name a few factors that came into play.
On Thursday, before Logging Congress officially begins, the GLTPA will host a President's Kick Off social event in the Miracle of Life Pavilion at the fairgrounds for $15 per person. Nieman said approximately 500 people attend the President's Kick Off, and many featured Delta Chamber of Commerce restaurants will provide food for the event, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
In addition to the vendors and exhibits on display, the Original Prentice Loader Championship will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There will also be a Great Lakes Forwarder Challenge from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and National Forwarder Operator Challenge Semi-Finals from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The National Forwarder Operator Challenge Finals take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Also on Friday at 11 a.m. there will be a ladies bowling pin throw contest, judging on an Industry Loads Competition at noon, and a Tug-O-War contest between Michigan and Wisconsin at 4 p.m.
Truck rides will be available at the back registration area Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, and Smokey Bear will be visiting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"It's an historic event," said Nieman. "We love coming to Escanaba and we encourage the local community to come out and support it."
For more information on the Logging Congress, visit the GLTPA website at www.timberpa.com.
Thursday, Sept. 5
6-9 p.m. President's Kickoff Event
Friday, Sept. 6
8 a.m. 5 p.m. Logging Congress registration and exhibits open
8 a.m. 5 p.m. The Original Prentice Loader Championship
8 a.m. 5 p.m. Great Lakes Forwarder Challenge GLTPA/ Komatsu Forest/ Roland Machinery
11 a.m. – Ladies Bowling Pin Throw
Noon Judging on Industry Loads Competition
4 p.m. Tug-O-War: Michigan vs. Wisconsin
5 p.m. Logging Congress Closes
Saturday, Sept. 7
8 a.m. 4 p.m. Logging Congress Registration and Exhibits Open
8 a.m. 4 p.m. The Original Prentice Loader Championship
8 a.m. Noon National Forwarder Operator Challenge Semi-Finals GLTPA/ Komatsu Forest/ Roland Machinery
9 a.m. Noon Truck Rides (Available at Back Registration area)
9 a.m. 1 p.m. Meet Smokey Bear
12:30 p.m. National Forwarder Operator Challenge Finals GLTPA/ Komatsu Forest/ Roland Machinery
4 p.m. Logging Congress Closes


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Raymond "Pat" Wendell, 69, of Fort Dodge, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at his home.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday February 4th at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home with Rev. Phil Somsen, Chaplain at Trinity Regional Medical Center, officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy of Fort Dodge; sons, Todd Wendell and his wife Mary Jane of Ogden; Dean Wendell and his wife Lisa of Fort Dodge; step-daughter, Jennifer Matuszak and her husband Glenn of Loveland, CO; step-son, Brian Nottger of Somers; five grandchildren; brothers, Dan (Roxie) Wendell of Badger; Tim (Janet) Wendell of Fort Dodge; and a sister, Lori (Mike) Dutcher of Fort Dodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Mary Jane (Bockert) Wendell.
Raymond Patrick Wendell was born on March 17, 1943 in Fort Dodge. He attended schools here and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School. Following his education Pat worked for the Rail Road and later Hormel's for 13 years. For over 30 years Pat also owned operated Wendell Construction. On December 17, 1993 he was united in marriage to Kathy Gebhardt and the couple made their home in Fort Dodge. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed riding his motorcycle, and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.


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Regarding the USPS decision Wednesday to stop Saturday mail delivery, Ron Nixon at the New York Times writes,
The post office said a five-day mail delivery schedule would begin in August and shave about $2 billion a year from its losses, which were $15.9 billion last year. The Postal Service would continue to deliver packages six days a week, and post offices would still be open on Saturdays. Reducing Saturday delivery is in line with mail services in several other industrialized countries like Australia, Canada and Sweden, which deliver five days a week.
This move has not come without opposition, however. Nixon continues,
Whether it will succeed is difficult to predict. Many lawmakers view the Postal Service as the quintessential government service that touches constituents almost every day, and rigidly oppose any changes. Also, postal worker unions hold sway over some lawmakers who are influential in writing legislation that governs the agency.
Again, he reports,
Most Americans support ending Saturday mail delivery. A New York Times/CBS News poll last year found that about 7 in 10 Americans said they would favor the change as a way to help the post office deal with billions of dollars in debt. The Obama administration also supports a five-day mail delivery schedule.
But three postal unions and some businesses on Wednesday called the move to five-day delivery misguided.
He goes on to note, "Many companies said ending Saturday delivery would have a devastating effect on their businesses."
This sounds like a dire situation. Faced with "a requirement that it pay nearly $5.5 billion a year for health benefits to future retirees" and a 37% decline in first class mail since 2007, the postal service has ceased to be profitable as it stands, despite consistent yearly increases in the price of stamps. Small businesses may be threatened; Nixon reports that Ricardo Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, has additionally claimed that stopping Saturday mail "would be be particularly harmful" to "rural communities, the elderly, the disabled and others"; shouldn't something be done to fix this problem? (more…)


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Hi - Thanks for visiting me here today!
If you're looking for my blog, I've moved over to ClickMillionaires.com HERE.
Please come visit the ClickMillionaires.com Lifestyle Entrepreneur Coaching Forum today.
Visit and you'll get a lot more than just my blog posts, too.
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You can read my latest blog posts there, catch my latest podcasts, plus join our friendly, helpful, and FREE lifestyle business coaching community, too.
We're open to help you 24/7/365 with friendly members from all over the world. Come get involved and we can help you on your way to becoming a "Click Millionaire", too.
For the latest from Scott Fox visit Click Millionaires here.
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Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Poly Weekly Book Club last night! We ended up with about a dozen folks, all heatedly discussing Ravenscroft's book. Some had read the book in its entirety; some still had it on order; some (like me) had read about half. One guy even drove in from Green Bay just for the event! (But we all think he's crazy)
We talked about the poly community (whether there was one), the significance of labels like primary/secondary and why we treat people the way we do; converting to poly being as all-encompassing as converting to a new religion; why the print in the book is so damn tiny; and why there are no good resources for secondaries out there.
After three hours, the group felt there was still more to discuss, so we're going to finish the book and continue discussing it next month. So, for next month:
Wednesday, February 27th, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Poly Weekly Book Club
Anthony Ravenscroft's Polyamory: Roadmaps for the Clueless and the Hopeful, Redux
The Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted
2nd floor, on the white sofas
We dont' have a meeting room, so look for us on the second floor on the white sofas.


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The best way to get to Oriole Park at Camden Yards is to plan ahead and consider all the transportation options available to you. Here are some tips to help you pick the best route to Oriole Park.
If you are taking mass transit, the Maryland Transit Administration has set up a special page to assist you.
If you are driving, here are some tips to help you pick the best route to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
There are a variety of options located within an easy walking distance of Oriole Park to accommodate all of your parking needs.
Print out a fan-friendly map to help you locate all the amenities at Oriole Park.
"Fly over" Baltimore, Oriole Park and the surrounding Camden Yards community to see how fun and convenient a day or night at the Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball can be!


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NOTE: You will need to have subscribed to Western Identity Manager or have activated your account after December 3rd, 2009. If you have not, please click here to find out more about subscribing to Western Identity Manager.
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Once you have answered your questions you may review your answers at any time by logging in to Western Identity Manager and selecting the Change Challenge Response subtab, from the Profile tab.
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Artist Collection: (363 of 413)< Previous | Next >
Tags: gray langur monkeys, langur monkey, gray langur, hanuman langurs, semnopithecus, ranthambhore, ranthambhore fort, nature, primates, ap
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langur monkey in tree ranthamboreby serenityphotography
- Medium
- Photography
- Artist Notes
- A grey langur monkey rests pensively in a tree; behind him another sits thoughtfully on a rock. What goes through the minds of these beautiful creatures? Taken at Ranthambore National Park. Ranthambhore in Rajasthan is one of the largest national parks in northern India. Ii was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973, and became a national park in 1980. See more at www.SerenityPhotography.co.uk
- Contact Artist Send Artist an Email
More about serenityphotography
- Location
- kent, england
- Artist Biography
- Born in Dover, England, I became disillusioned with the rat race and began travelling in 1997. On my first round the world trip I discovered a passion for travel, photography and scuba diving. Since then I have spent a total of five years on the road, become a diving instructor and semi-prof ...


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Has anybody else had any experience with this tea? I got a sample of it a while ago, and it smelled bodacious, but I think I never learned to brew it right, since the flavours were always very muted and bland. I tried everything from hotter water to more leaf to switching to a gaiwan from a glass oolong pot... But alas, the same featureless results, aside from some sweetness on the back of my teeth.
I'd like to know what experiences you guys have had, if any, to see if I should get this tea again.


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iHerb Customer Reviews
Savings of: $8.40 (30% off)
good product,pity it was discontinued
Posted by PracticalReviews on Oct 26, 2013
seems to be a good Multivitamin,unfortunately the company discontinued it,there are some points to improve like choosing better forms of zinc,copper and B12 but in general its been helpful even when taken low doses for a senior that have deficiencies in essential substances ...you are welcome to rate & read my other reviews
Posted by 4754463832274866741 on Aug 24, 2012
Best multi-vitami I have every taken... Highly recommend it. MDR
Posted by CrystalFormaion on Jan 21, 2013
It was good, shall have more.
Good vitamin
Posted by 4683000223110533003 on Dec 11, 2012
These are kind of large and I do prefer taking only one multi-vitamin a day as opposed to taking three, but I would purchase these again as I like this company brand.
Posted by Reviewer2570968 on Nov 15, 2011
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Highway 169 work proceeds
BLUE EARTH – Progress is being made on the roundabout near Blue Earth Area High School, but it could be another month before the Highway 169 intersection is open to the public.
Andy Erichson of Ulland Bros. Construction, general contractor on the job, discussed the project Wednesday during an informational meeting. The Minnesota Department of Transportation hosts the meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Public Safety Building in Blue Earth.
Erichson said crews will pour concrete next week but it will be "at least three or four weeks" before traffic will be able to cross Highway 169 at County Road 44.
"Everyone gets excited when the concrete goes down," but it's got to cure before it can handle traffic, said Susan Museus, project supervisor for the Department of Transportation, which is overseeing construction.
When it does open, the roundabout will only be open east to west, just like the Seventh Street roundabout, Erichson said. Highway 169 as a whole will remain closed until the project is complete.
"We're not going to be opening it in pieces," Erichson said. "The whole road will be open at one time."
Some people have questioned why the pipes laid out in the County Road 44 intersection are still exposed above the ground. Erichson said the pipes are where they are supposed to be.
"The whole road's [going to be] higher," Erichson said.
Seventh Street used to be a flat road; now the street angles up to the roundabout, which has a small hill in the center.
Museus said drivers should remember to always go right in a roundabout, even if it seems the long way around. She has seen people turn left because it was shorter to get where they wanted to go, but that heads them straight into oncoming traffic and is dangerous.
"It's just a new thought process for people driving," she said.
Another ongoing problem is the detours and trying to cut through areas that are not open to public traffic.
"People just don't seem to want to follow the detour signs," said Greg Young, a Faribault County commissioner.
Detour routes have been mapped out to get drivers to their destinations as quickly as possible on the streets best able to handle the heavier traffic. Not all streets in Blue Earth go through, some dead-end at the Blue Earth River or the railroad tracks. Other streets are not designed to handle heavier truck traffic or accommodate the turning needs of semis.


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- Home
- About
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NOAO pioneered the development of robust, versatile astronomical software, leading to the development of IRAF, the Image Reduction and Analysis Facility in the 1980s. IRAF is still widely used and is updated and maintained by NOAO. The new era of data mining and the virtual observatory has motivated an extension of NOAO's software efforts to include automatic data reduction pipelines as well as online access to archived raw and reduced data and uniform datasets from our survey program.
Last updated or reviewed February 8, 2016.


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Delaware State University recently signed an agreement with the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) in France that will open the door for student and faculty exchanges between the two institutions.
DSU President Harry L. Williams signed the agreement in France with Jean-Luc Vayssière, president of the UVSQ on June 28.
Dr. Noureddine Melikechi, vice president of Research, Innovation & Economic Development, and dean of the DSU College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology, was instrumental in negotiating the agreement with the UVSQ. He said that the French university is at the forefront of the global pursuit of new knowledge development and it has created innovative multidisciplinary programs that are well connected with the economic fabric of its region.
"We, at DSU, are working toward a similar goal," Dr. Melikechi said. "This partnership will offer DSU faculty, students and staff a new perspective filled with excellent opportunities while our UVSQ counterparts will have, in DSU, a new solid academic partner in the USA."
Founded in 1991, the University of Versailles-Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines is a French public university that is located in several cities in the country's departments (provinces) of Yvelines and Hauts-de-Seine. The university's major academic focuses are the (natural) sciences, social sciences and humanities, law and political science, as well as medicine. It has an enrollment of 19,000.


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Palo Alto University campus visits
Wed Feb 26, 2014
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Meet with a Palo Alto University representative to learn about transfer requirements and admissions information from College of San Mateo to Palo Alto University. An information table will be set-up in the Bayview Dining Room on the second floor of College Center Building 10.
CSM College Center Building 10, Bayview Dining Room1700 W. Hillsdale Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94402 US
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Your emergency needs can be met right here at our hospital.
VCA Alpine Animal Hospital provides 24 hour emergency veterinary care, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Emergency veterinarians, veterinary technicians and/or veterinary assistants are on staff 24 hours a day.
Please call us at 425-392-8888. We are located at 888 NW Sammamish Road. Issaquah, WA 98027.
We provide the highest standard in veterinary emergency and critical care services. We are trained and equipped to perform a variety of emergency surgeries and procedures. We provide the highest standards of pain management. Emergency internal medicine consultations, including full diagnostics, are available.
Please call or come in immediately if you feel your pet is having an emergency or needs after-hours care.
As part of the VCA family, we have over 83 specialty hospitals across the US and Canada which provide referral specialty care, so there may be one near you. Enter ZIP to find VCA specialty care hospitals near you.


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New York City, New York 10022
United States
|Areas of Practice
|1) Tax
|Admitted Year
|Most recent firm
|Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
|Relevant Jobs
National Firm seeks Partners in New York City with AmLaw 200 Background (8+ yrs)
USA-NY-New York City
Culhane Meadows PLLC, one of the largest national non-traditional law firms in America, seeks experienced partner-level attorneys in the NYC area. We are actively recruiting new partners who are alig...
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Tax Counsel - Audits
USA-NY-New York City
Tax Counsel – Audits Duties: Work on the Company's internal restructuring projects, planning and other projects. Communicating with federal government, including meetings, emails etc. Advising th...
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Assistant General Counsel
USA-NY-New York City
Assistant General Counsel The candidate will be responsible for providing legal services to the Corporation and is organized by practice groups that generally align with the Corporation's lines of ...
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|+ View more jobs
Barton W.S. Bassett is the leader of Morgan Lewis's Tax Practice. Mr. Bassett's practice focuses on international tax planning for both the outbound operations of U.S. multinationals and the inbound operations of foreign multinationals.
Celia Roady is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Tax Practice.Ms. Roady has published extensively in various journals on exempt organizations.


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If you�ve ditched the cigarettes (good for you!), try these tips for dropping unwanted pounds after you quit smoking.
Spry editor Lisa Delaney is one of the rare souls who know what it�s like to be an �after.� This journalist and author of Secrets of a Former Fat Girl�shed 70 pounds�and six dress sizes--and has kept it off for 20 years. She answers your questions here each week.
DEAR FORMER FAT GIRL: After I quit smoking 10 years ago after 45 years of lighting up, I gained 55 pounds. I am now almost 70 and Type II diabetic or pre-diabetic (there seems to be a disagreement on that). I want to exercise�I used to walk all the time�but I have a balance problem, and am afraid of falling. I want to be healthy and lose weight. Help!�Alisa
DEAR ALISA: I can almost feel your desperation, Alisa. But I want to make sure that you first and foremost give yourself a major pat on the back EVERY DAY for quitting smoking, especially after all those years. Despite the fact that you still have health challenges, staying off the cigarettes is a real accomplishment, and you deserve to feel powerful and triumphant because of this. I don�t know this for a fact, as I was never a smoker, but I believe that as hard as it is to lose weight, stopping smoking is harder. The addictive powers of nicotine are so strong and all-consuming�I have seen them at work in my own family. My father was diagnosed with cancer and COPD, and still refused to (or simply could not) give up his smokes, and I have heard many, many similar tales.
So, here�s the thing: You have it in you to get healthy�age and diabetes (or pre-diabetes) and sketchy balance bedamned. If you could quit, and continue to resist the lure of smoking for this long, you are one pretty strong woman. Remember that, every day, and draw on that strength.
Now, to the big question: how? How do you get your weight in check after you quit smoking? How can you exercise with your balance issues? I would start by shifting your focus away from your weight (hear me out for a minute) and to a more positive approach of adopting behaviors you know will be good for your health. As far as your diet goes (and make sure you run this by your doctor for good measure), I would focus on getting as many servings of green vegetables as you can per day, sticking to only lean proteins and low-fat dairy, avoiding fried foods and any pre-sweetened beverages, and eating only whole-grain breads and pastas (within the limits suggested by your doc). You could also set a goal of drinking a certain number of glasses of water per day. Write down those goals or behaviors so you�re clear on what you want to accomplish, and keep a food diary of what you eat every day, so you can see how closely you�re sticking to your plan.
When it comes to diet, focusing on the positive�the �I can!� foods�instead of the negative no-no-no foods can help you start seeing your diet plan as a challenge that you can rise to and work toward, rather than a chore that you want to avoid at all costs.
Now, to your issues with exercise. It sounds like you don�t feel confident enough about your balance to walk like you used to. That�s OK�there are other alternatives. First, think about investing in at least three months of personal training sessions with someone who specifically works with older populations who may have chronic health concerns. Because of your fear of falling, you need the extra confidence and security of having a professional design and guide you through your workouts. He or she can help you build your balance so you can get back to walking. But walking�s not the only way to stay active. You can try stationary cycling, or something called cranking, which involves a machine that looks like a stationary bike with �pedals� at chest level that you turn using your arms and shoulders. Cranking will get your heart rate (and calorie-burning furnace) up in a hurry.
I also think water exercise is perfect for people who may not be able to handle (at least for now) impact or have balance issues. You may scoff at the idea of cavorting around in a swimsuit when your body confidence isn�t exactly at its peak. But if you don�t hold your breath and dive in (so to speak), you�re choosing to stay where you are�and I don�t think you want to do that. I�m not talking just about swimming�there are all kinds of creative ways to move in the water to build muscle and burn calories. Check out group exercise classes at community centers, YMCAs, etc. Or go freestyle and try some of the moves we show here.
Again, YOU CAN DO THIS. Reminding yourself of your own strength will help you stay focused, and starting to make healthy changes will make you feel better about moving forward, so you�ll want to keep going. Good luck!
Lisa Delaney is editor of Spry magazine and Spryliving.com. Ask her your question here.
Brought to you by: Spry Living


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Active shooter: What to do when the unthinkable happens
MARSHALL – It's in the news and it's every parent's nightmare: school shootings.
Recent incidents in Connecticut, California and Texas have set off a nationwide debate on multiple issues and has raised concerns everywhere.
The good news, if there is any such thing as good news in the context of tragedy, is that school shootings are still considered quite rare.
"You have a greater chance of being hit by lightning," said Matthew Loeslie, law enforcement coordinator at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
Another hopeful point, according to Loeslie, is that a suicidal shooter – roughly eight out of 10 active shooter incidents end with the shooter's suicide – usually stops when confronted by anyone armed, a policeman or a civilian with a concealed carry permit.
Another is that even moderate preparation increases the chance of survival in the event of an active shooter situation.
To this end, Loeslie offers a course though Minnesota West on how to respond to an active shooter for teachers and school officials in southwest Minnesota.
Loeslie gave the course in Canby last week, with teleconference connections to nine other locations. The course lasts only an hour and 15 minutes.
"We're doing this as a resource for local schools," Loeslie said. "If they wait until something happens, people will panic and freeze if they haven't thought through what to do. If they have thought it through, survival chances increase."
The course is based on the five identifiable phases of an active shooting and three simple strategies to respond.
The five phases are: fantasy phase, planning phase, preparation phase, approach phase and implementation phase.
"It's rare that somebody gets up in the morning and decides to do this," Loeslie said.
The three response strategies are: get out, hide out, take out.
If there is a clear escape route, everybody at the scene of an active shooting should get out and immediately call 911 with as much information as you have, Loeslie said. Help others get out if possible but go regardless of whether other people follow, don't try to take belongings and warn other people from entering the danger zone.
And show your hands and be aware that the police responding to the call don't know who the shooter is – and they don't know it isn't you.
"Remember, this is not a typical police call-out," Loeslie said. "If you're jacked up, their adrenaline is through the roof."
If people can't get out, they should hide – find a place the shooter can't see you and be aware of the difference between concealment and cover. It's better to hide behind something that stops bullets. Don't hide in a place that traps you in if at all possible and check if it's possible to lock or blockade the room you're in.
As a last resort when your life is in imminent danger, try to take out the shooter. Act aggressively as possible, throw things, find improvised weapons, yell, and above all, commit to your actions.
"At Virginia Tech, the shooter walked into a classroom and just went down a row of people sitting in their seats shooting," Loeslie said. "What if all 30 people had ganged up on him and started throwing staplers, books, anything at him?"
The goal of the course is to give school faculty and staff knowledge of active shooter incidents and how to best respond to them.
Loeslie started working on the course four years ago but cautions it is always a work in progress, as trends change and new evidence comes to light.
"Use common sense," Loeslie said.
During the course, participants study the Columbine incident, which though not typical because it involved two shooters, is to date the most thoroughly examined incident of its kind and resulted in a radical change of doctrine for active shooter incidents.
"Before Columbine, the doctrine was to seal the perimeter and treat it like a hostage situation," Loeslie said. "Now they try to determine, is this a hostage situation or is this person trying to kill as many as possible?"
But, Loeslie said, doctrine now used in a number of places is not satisfactory, and he is urging another look at it.
"After Columbine it was changed to assemble four officers and enter in a SWAT formation," Loeslie said. "But there has never been a documented case of a shooting stopped by this tactic."
What Loeslie recommends is that the first officer on the scene enters immediately if he is confident of his abilities, or wait for one other officer to arrive.
"It's such a time sensitive thing," Loeslie said.
Loeslie also said in his opinion a good approach would be for schools to encourage some teachers get concealed carry permits, though he acknowledges it could be a long time before public opinion is comfortable with this.
Loeslie teaches a concealed carry course through Minnesota West but said a course for teachers should be on a higher level than the six- to eight-hour course required by law for a carry permit and include regular psychiatric evaluation and refresher courses.
"It's a perishable skill," Loeslie said.
Loeslie pointed out that anyone who wants to die and take innocent victims with him will go to soft targets, places were there are large groups of helpless people and schools are at present the most attractive option for a potential shooter.
Uniformed armed guards are another option, but at best, they would simply motivate a potential shooter to go where there weren't any. The advantage of trained teachers would be that a potential shooter would never be certain if a school was a soft target or not.
"Columbine had a security guard," Loeslie said, "but his job was to catch smokers in the parking lot. And when the shooting happened he wasn't supposed to go in."
The course is available through Minnesota West and costs $200, but Loeslie said if a school positively can't afford it, he'll find a way to work with them.


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What is it exactly that makes everyone so impressed with Grande Cheese? And why is there so many pizza shop operators that dislike Grande so much? some will go into a tirade when the Grande name is even Mentioned, Why??
NormaWho do you buy your supplies from?
Thanks. Maybe I should ask what it looks like when cheese DOESN'T reheat well. Then I'd know what people are trying to avoid.
are you considering fresh mozzarella?
I also grew up in the area where Grande Cheese company was located, along with other dairy facilities.


text: The number of patent applications for computer-related technologies filed worldwide in 2012 increased by 18.6 percent—from 11,974 to 14,205—over 2011, according to an analysis by Sweet and Maxwell, a publisher of legal information. The firm found that many of the filings involved technologies used by smartphones and tablets. Sweet and Maxwell said many also involved graphene, a substance made of carbon that is the focus of considerable research because of its useful electronic, optical, and other properties. In 2012, the European Patent Office received 258,000 patent applications—many from Japan, Chinese, and Korean organizations—a new record that was 5.7 percent more than in 2011. (BBC)(The Telegraph)(European Patent Office)(Sweet & Maxwell)


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Built as a homage to my... dog (who's still alive but so awesome she deserves one in life).
Parts description (top to bottom & front to back):
- Empire 2k2 feedneck
- WGP Kaner barrel " .682" " bore (bores out at .680")
- Scenario dreams blue laser eyes with spacers
- ANS venturi bolt with bored out air passage to the same diameter as body air transfer hole
- Blast hole mod
- Gen3 LPR
- Gen3 mini volly
- Evil front block, drilled for alias set screw and tapped for 10/32 barbs
- 3/32" ID barb on front block to 'noid port
- Empire poppet with gen5 cup seal, mechanical dwell shortened to 2.7mm
- Alias ram sleeve, barb ports tapped for 10-32 barbs
- Belsales swivel QEV on front barb port
- Lurker eigenram/spring
- CP gen3 adjustable ramcap
- 3/32" ID barb on rear port
- Crankwalk m3 barbs on 'noid
- Mac43 'noid
- Azodin rock steady reg (mostly for aesthetics)
- 2k5 frame
- Alias trigger guard
- Modded gen 4 trigger
- UTB with 2200uF capacitor and original 2k2 board on/off switch
- Olive Invert .45 grips
- Empire mini rail
- Dye airport non on/off ASA
- Pure energy tank with LP shim-stack, output @ 300 PSI
I'll dial the regs in as soon as I have some paint, but in the end I expect it to work at about 200/65 PSI, get almost a case off a 68/4500 with a decent underbore, the .682" kaner (which is actually .680") should help with this, and be as smooth as my FEP quest.
Special thanks to:
- Juit @ IOG
- Lurker @ IOG
- The Incubus @ IOG
- Damon @ scenario dreams
And any and all who contributed parts for this project
Edited by timekeeper, 26 May 2013 - 10:12 PM.


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Our site (friv.5ire.com) provider free to player have age 13+. We are daily updated with Top new hot games have multiplayer to votes, including: funny games, girl, barbie, school, action, adventure, for kids, racing, car, motorbike, board, puzzle... And more at here!
All graphics, sprites, games are copyrighted to their respective owners and authors. This site contains external links, we are not responsible about the content on those sites."Free Friv Games: Friv.5ire". Your zone to play old Friv Games Online. Copyright © Friv Kids - friv.5ire.com. All rights reserved.


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