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CASA funding cut by New York state
Children in Western New York may have to look elsewhere for help now that the Court Appointed Special Advocates has lost its state funding.
Though no service agency wants to hear that its funding is being cut, for the Chautauqua County CASA, the abrupt timing of the news that state funding for its program was being eliminated carried an extra sting.
"We had no inkling that this was coming," said Kathy Park, program director. "The state funding cuts from the Office of Court Administration were leveled across the board to every CASA program in the state to the tune of $800,000 total. It was like 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.'"
Already numb after the events that unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Dec. 14, the news of the funding cuts was another blow to Park, who strives to provide the best aid that she can to children.
"At first it was really jarring, but now we just have to figure out what to do. It was a few days before I even knew how to begin to tell the 41 volunteers that give their heart and soul to our children that we serve. They were just shocked when I was finally able to tell them. In a tight-knit community like this, they were concerned because they want to be able to help. The volunteers are just incredible people."
When Park asked her volunteers and board what they felt they should do, she says that the answer was simple.
"CASA and the children it serves are worth fighting for and we are willing to fight until the bitter end," Park said.
Last year, CASA provided assistance to 89 children thanks to 25 unpaid volunteers, while at any given time having another 40 to 60 referrals in a file, waiting for advocacy and a voice. CASA's advocacy can be life changing for these children, resulting in adoptions and assistance.
The cost per child averages out to roughly $1,000.
The budget for CASA has taken hits for the last few years but never one as large as this recent slash, which resulted in a $18,851 loss for the program.
"Our budget is small when you consider the number of families impacted," Park said. "Every year, all non-profits prepare for cuts or for the possibility their fundraising efforts may not prove as profitable as budgeted, but when blind-sided by a cut this large it is devastating to a program."
If one thing is certain, CASA and its volunteers know the meaning of hope after helping to provide it each and every day to the children in foster care.
"We will continue to hold onto that hope because one thing is for certain – we have a community with hearts bigger then the state of Texas, agencies that do amazing jobs and stand hand-in-hand, clubs and organizations always their to lend a hand, and last but not least, our foundations and business that are the pillars of this county," Park said.
For more information about CASA, contact Kathy Park by calling 753-4123 or through email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Office of Court Administration can be reached at (212) 661-6787.


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With this year's groanworthy addition of Bruno Mars and The Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Together at last!" said no one, ever), we are counting down the 10 worst Super Bowl halftime shows.
10. Gloria Estefan with Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill (1992)
Gloria Estefan brought her Miami sound to Minneapolis, and Boitano and Hamill brought figure skating to a football field. Yep.
9. Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton (2000)
Not a terrible lineup, but rather than perform their hits, the artists were primarily shilling for Disney (Collins played a tune from the "Tarzan" soundtrack instead of what would have been a rollicking version of "Sussudio"). And the whole thing was narrated by Edward James Olmos. Huh?
8. The University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band (1967)
Sure, the first Super Bowl halftime lacked starpower, but that's no excuse for a lackluster performance of John Philip Sousa's "The Liberty Bell." C'mon.
7. Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and The Judds (1994)
Following Michael Jackson's record-setting performance in 1993, halftime show producers made deliberate efforts to get top performers. This was the first group they came up with?!
6. George Burns, Mickey Rooney, et al. (1987)
Old dudes! No, seriously the highlight of this halftime show was a Southern California drill team … a high school drill team. PS: We still love ya, George.
5. Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock (2004)
Yes, we all remember the "wardrobe malfunction" and endless media fallout over a nipple, but let's not forget that Kid Rock, P. Diddy and Nelly scarred children even more. And the theme was "Rock the Vote," so this halftime show is indirectly responsible for George W. Bush's second term.
4. New Kids on the Block, actual kids (1991)
The boy band performed "This One's For the Children" before a children's choir performed "It's a Small World After All," in another Disney plug. Mercifully, viewers were spared watching this, as ABC cut in for breaking news about Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.
3. The Blues Brothers (1997)
Replacing John Belushi with John Goodman and younger brother Jim Belushi has always been sacrilege, but the worst part of this performance is that there's a good chance some Hollywood producer saw it and thought, "A Blues Brothers sequel? I'll make millions! And call it 'Blues Brothers 2000.' I'm a genius."
2. Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly (2001)
At the time, rock fans were embarrassed that Aerosmith would appear with lowly pop stars, but in retrospect, it's Justin and Britney who should be embarrassed. Also, more Nelly?
1. The Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Slash (2011)
It's too easy to make fun of The Black Eyed Peas. They suck. But Slash, WTF man?! There aren't enough speedballs and Jack Daniels in Keith Richards to justify your presence with these clowns.


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Hotel- Garni Claudia Reviews
Great place and because it's owned by the nearby Hochfilzer you get to use its facilities. Ellmau's great for families and for those new to skiing. have stayed there nine times so we must like it!
Apres Ski: 5/5
John Parfitt
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I have stayed here on many occasions and can't fault it. It's excellent. Good access to all slopes. Ideal for all.
peter lordan
0 of 0 people found this review useful.


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As fans across America tune into the NCAA basketball tournament and March Madness, WNBA stars Tamika Catchings and Ebony Hoffman are bringing their "A" game to the basketball courts of Thailand. Over the course of the last week, Catchings and Hoffman have led clinics and conversations with more than one hundred female athletes.
Ebony Hoffman said, "Well, we work with the girls on a variety of things, defense and offense. Tamika put in some plays and I worked on some one-on-one drills and one-on-one moves.""I mean we've done a lot of things here. The first day we really focused on stations, such as ball handling, my station was actually doing three on one, passing, cutting, just trying to teach the girls about passing and always seeing the ball," said Tamika Catchings.
Ebony Hoffman said, "We pretty much taught them the whole game all the way around and they did extremely well with it.""Yesterday we had a shooting contest. My end was really energetic, really excited about it so of course we won, no, no, I don't want to go there," said Tamika Catchings.
Ebony Hoffman said, "Tamika's team won, yes, I will admit that. But the girls had fun they had big smiles on their faces so I can't complain."
Teaming up with the State Department, Catchings and Hoffman are working to increase the number of women and girls who participate in sports worldwide.
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney said, "In America, we play a lot of sports. You probably can drive down any street and see girls kicking a soccer ball, throwing a basketball around, and that is not so true in the rest of the world. Even very developed countries don't have the emphasis that we do on girl's sports."
According to the United Nations, girls who play sports are more likely to attend school, thereby increasing their earning power by 10 to 15 percent with just one year in the classroom.
Going beyond the basketball court, Tamika Catchings took time out to visit a local orphanage. Not only did she share sports equipment with these young girls to encourage them to get on the basketball court, she also provided support for them to pursue their potential.
Tamika Catchings said, "Having the opportunity to be come here and be a part of this, for a lot these kids they really don't have a lot of opportunities to kind of get out and experience camps and different types like that. So for us to be able to bring our clinic here and for these girls to be a part of it, I mean you can see the smiles on these girl's faces and you could tell that they were having a good time. You know I've talked about this all week long, just about basketball being a universal language. At first, they were looking at us like 'Okay, who are these girls? Who are these ladies out here?' But as time wore on, you could tell that they warmed up to us and that they had a really good time today."
So no matter what the score may be on the court, or in life, using sports as a way to empower women and girls around the world is a win-win for everyone.
Ashim C. in India writes:
How about a festivel of basketball, baseball and soccer by top US national level in five metros in India, other South Asian & South Asian countries? This can be followed up by exchange of University level athletes and youth festivels.
Nic T. in Thailand writes:
Sports offer a lot of benefits for physical and mental outlet. Thailand also has one the highest numbers of CEOs in the world (not to mention a female PM) but more needs to be done to help women escape from poverty and the sex trade that is endemic in this area of the world. Without laws and strict punishment, and more options to earn money the cycle will continue.


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It's officially summer in our Sweet Home Chicago, and we at Garrett Popcorn wanted to share our favorite Summer activities in The Windy City!
Our beautiful hometown of Chicago is blessed with gorgeous parks, relaxing beaches and famous attractions. If you're going to be in Chicago this summer and need plans or you're a Chicago native looking for something new, check out some of our favor summertime activities.
Perhaps the most famous of Chicago's attractions, Navy Pier, is a Chicago staple. Right on beautiful Lake Michigan, Navy Pier has a little something for everyone. Take a spin on the giant ferris wheel for a picturesque view of the Chicago skyline and the lake. After a ride on the ferris wheel, there is loads of shopping and dining to enjoy all along the Pier. And if you have a kiddo, there's nothing better than the Chicago Children's Museum. Oh, and for some fun on the water, definitely check out some of the cruises on Lake Michigan!
Beyond the iconic destination of Navy Pier, the Chicago is home to some amazing parks. Right along Lake Michigan, Grant Park and Millennium Park in the heart of Chicago are the perfect places to soak up the summer sun. Both are the perfect hot spots for taking in the sights of Chicago. Undoubtedly the most famous aspect of Chicago's parks is Cloud Gate, or as it is more commonly known, "The Bean". This tourist hotspot, famed for people taking photos of their reflections, is the focal point of Millennium Park.
A must see attraction has to be Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. The perfect location to admire the Chicago skyline, particularly during dusk as the falling sun illuminates Chicago's magnificence across a twilight blue canvas. The fountain is breathtaking in its own right, capturing everyone's attention with remarkable waterworks and captivating lights. You may also recognize Grant Park from the news last year when over two million people packed into the park to celebrate the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory.
The parks also include a wealth of summer events to partake in, including Taste of Chicago and Movies in the Parks among a host of special events and festivals. Enjoy the beautiful outdoor weather with music and movies and food. After the brutal winter Chicago experienced this summer, we better enjoy the heat while we can!
If you're a sports fanatic, there's always the summer tradition of a ballgame. Both the White Sox and Cubs offer incredible experiences, and for any baseball purists, the iconic Wrigley Field is one of the most historically rich ballparks in America.
And, of course, we have to mention Garrett Popcorn Shops. Getting that sweet, wonderful aroma as you walk up to one of our Shops to soak up the Garrett Popcorn experience of standing in line to get the Handcrafted Happiness from our joyous Team Members. It's A Chicago Tradition, especially in the beautiful summer weather.
Enjoy the experience of Garrett Popcorn Shops this summer, and check out all that our hometown of Chicago has to offer in the summer!
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Secretary Clinton's op-ed, "The New System Offers a Real Missile Defense," appeared in the Financial Times today. Secretary Clinton wrote:
Last Wednesday, President Barack Obama approved the recommendations of his entire national security team to deploy a stronger and more comprehensive missile defense system in Europe. This decision came after a lengthy and in-depth review of our assessment of the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program, and the technology that we have to confront it. And it is a decision that will leave America stronger, and more capable of defending our troops, our interests, and our allies.
With the president's decision, we will deploy missile defense sooner than the previous program, so that we will be able swiftly to counter the threat posed by Iran's short and medium-range ballistic missiles.
We will deploy missile defense that is more comprehensive than the previous program, with more interceptors in more places, and a better capacity to protect all of our friends and allies in the region. We will deploy technology that is actually proven so that we do not waste time or taxpayer money, and we will preserve the flexibility to adjust our approach to the threat as it evolves.
This is a stronger and smarter approach than the previous program. It does what missile defense is actually supposed to do – it defends America and our allies.
We are not "shelving" missile defense. We are enhancing our capacity to protect our interests and our allies. We are not walking away from our allies but are deploying a system that enhances allied security, advances our co-operation with Nato, and actually places more resources in more countries.
Two of those allies are Poland and the Czech Republic, and we deeply appreciate their willingness to host parts of the previously planned system. We will continue to co-operate closely with both nations and both will have the opportunity to be closely involved with missile defense. I want to underscore that we are bound together by our common commitment as Nato allies, and also by deep historical, economic, and cultural ties that will never be broken.
For 60 years, the Nato alliance has been a force for peace, prosperity and security in Europe and around the world because of the commitment to collective security embodied in Article V of its charter: An attack on one ally is an attack on all. An attack on London or Warsaw is an attack on New York or Washington. Nato demonstrated this commitment after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when for the first time, the alliance invoked Article V and Nato sent assets to the U.S. to help protect us from additional terrorist attacks.
Finally, let me reiterate what the president said last Wednesday: This decision was not about Russia; it was about Iran and the threat that its ballistic missile programmes continue to pose. And because of this decision, we will be in a far stronger position to deal with that threat, and to do so with technology that works.
While we pursue this new path, we will make clear our readiness to engage Iran and focus its leaders on a clear choice: whether to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation.
But the security of our allies and our forces cannot wait. That is why we are moving ahead with a new approach for missile defense.
Steven in Missouri writes:
I truly hope that a 1+ Billion Dollar Cut in U.S. Defense will not leave us open to possible invasion.
Suggestion: To bolster Homeland Security; (As the USAFA/CAP was added into Homeland Security by way of the USAF under President Bush; If the Dept of Defense would reactivate all former inlisted's & retired Officers of ALL Branches, from the age of 20 - 65 yrs, by way of developing an e-mail registration along with all names, current land/region address, e-mail address, & phone number; Then, reactivating armories in all Counties, in all States by Region #, then requiring all frmr inlisted & Officers to do an E-mail chk in once bi-monthly, and a physical walk in at their designated County Armory once every six months; then to "sweeten the pot" for all frmr's who sign in as "Neutral Readies"; Each would receive a % write off on their annual taxes as well as a garrantee % discount for themselves & their children on annual educational enrollments at any college or university of their choice. Those frmr Actives, currently [or at any future date] whom become unemployed; Any new employer which hires them, would receive a % corporate/business tax deduction benefit.
BY doing the above, the U.S. Dept of Defense would be able to immediately have at the ready, an additional million+ U.S. Land Based, previously trained, & experienced troop force to immediately locate & draw from, should the main continental U.S & Alaska be threatened with invasion. In addition: By being able to have the above, the U.S. Dept of Defense would also have experienced personnel at the near-ready whom have held various levels of command/lead training, as well as those in ALL areas of training experience, to call up in an invasion danger period. As well; For the sake of budgets, ALL such Personnel, {Near Ready Frmr Actives} could be listed as members of the 50 State's National Guards. Those personnel aged 55 & above could be used as assigned "Ready-Call" Training Readiness Personnel, to be "Mentor's" in their frmr trained experienced areas, to help train younger should there be an immediate threat to National Security by way of threatened invasion, or, homeland terrorist attack/distrubances.
Donald in Virginia writes:
This is to make people think about the what if's...
This new wonderful plan should include fail points. If a country decided to attack the United States, like Iran, Russia, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, there has to be a recourse for the American people. We all know from past history how successful FEMA is when dealing with Hurricanes. Shall we say unsuccesful at being able to evacuate people from towns and cities across our country.
Let me be bold because, if we as a Nation were ever attacked with a Nuclear Device, first responders would get the call. The training or lack of equipment could hinder the ability or even the mobility for Guard units to handle mass casaulties. 60 - 80 miles from the explosion radiation dispensing destroying livestock, people and villages spraying down a bio hazzard of radiation in the millions of degrees, would put our country at risk from a take-over by other countries delivering the device.
Think back to 1945, the United States used a fixed wing aircraft that delivered the Atomic weapons two major cities in Japan. Destroyed the cities, the amount of destruction and hundreds of thousands of lives vanished off the face of the earth.
We all assume in the 21th Century it will be rockets, missiles that would deliver the Atomic weapons, but let's not lose focus on other means a country can attempt to destroy without the use of a missile or a rocket. If you place all your eggs in one basket, and something happens, what do you have? (Example: Terrorists might try using a dirty device)
The bigger point trying to express is, the United States better ensure it has evacuation routes, First Responders with proper MOPP Level Equipment and training to handle Alfa, Beta and Radiological particals. Being able to detect bio weapons. Mustard Gas and other forms of bio weapons that could pose the biggest threat against our people. Knowing how to setup Decontamination stations around the country. Having bunkers and shelters, hospitals and ambulances (EMT's Parametics) serving the public, ensuring they too have the equipment needed to help anyone who is experiencing radiation poisoning, or other forms of deadly chemicals in the air. Law Enforcement having the equipment as well to survive this disaster. Knowing the medication that would be given to victims during this crisis. You think the swine flu is bad? The exposure of skin burns, dealing with lack of oxygen, and other more serious symptoms of vomitting and loss of life. Makes swine flu look like a joke. This is serious and should be taken with caution. How can people in our country the public deal and have a chance at survival? The Federal Communications Commission will no doubt put out a broadcast indicating the emergency on all stations. The people itself should have in mind what they can do, how they can adapt to the environment and gain a better knowlege to protect themselves and their family. Guard members will be deployed but also keep in mind they will have the Mopp equipment, the public will not.
Fire Fighters use two basic types of equipment. Bunker gear to protect them in fires, silver suites are for higher temps. There are Mopp Level trained units in our country but will it be enough to handle mass destruction on a large scale in a city?
Quarantines and the mobile bio teams will arrive setting up perimeters around the infected areas. Which means if your in the area most likely you would be treated directly.
Keep in mind the explosure to skin, covering up the entire skin on the human body is critical. Using gas masks and breathing is also important for people. Knowing the contents of the canisters which use the element of charcoal to filter out all the bad chemicals. This element should be a key ingredient in everyone's household to help them evade and survive a bio hazzard situation. Rain suites, Rubber Suites and Charcoal canisters, some will most likely have to improvise during this type of emergency if they don't have all the proper equipment.
Across our country Governors and policies need to be in place to ensure the plan for evacuating people the public for any type of an emergency including Nuclear, Biological, and Chemicals. People need to be informed of what to do, where to go, how they will survive this type of explosion.
Wind will also play a factor on where the radiation or chemicals dispurse. My suggestion to anyone that might experience this form of gas, chemicals or even Radiation, find out the wind direction before heading straight into the storm. Ensure you have stocked up on water, sealed, canned goods, can openers, basic food, water and a means to depart the area if need be. Those who dismiss the idea that it could never happen, should think again, it could happen, the question will be is, "Are you ready"? do you have a plan?
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
The decision makes sense when one considers that attack missiles can be fired from any submarine, cargo ship, or country, not only from Iran but from other locations as well.
A land-based interceptor missile would have been obsolete by the time it was completed. A mobile interceptor missile system could be quickly reconfigured to handle threats from any direction.
It would be nice if the East European contingent would do some thinking and stop whining about it. Mobile technology is superior to fixed-base technology.
SNP in Syria writes:
The worst decision the U.S. can make now, is to cut the defense spending. There are a lot of crazy rulers out there, the worlds over, not just the Middle East. They may appear to be tame & lame today, but who knows when hey will wake up with a bad hair day and act crazy like Saddam. How many terrorists can you count in the Middle East today, Hamas alone is over 30,000 strong and Hezbollah can muster in upward of 100,000 suicidal with one plea for volunteers speech from a Shia leader. Islamic Iran can raise 20 million volunteers in less than a week, martyrs who will gladly go unto sacrificing their life. Can someone guesstimate how many potential terrorists there maybe in the next 50-250 years?
The U.S. is grossly under spending on defense right now, its stockpile of current weapons and defense systems are literally obsolete, worthless trash. In a real world combat situation, not as the case been for the past 20 years bombing civilian's tent and cave dwellers to shock and awe helplessness, The U.S. could easily face defeat or have to quickly resort to nuclear weapon.
It is imperatives that the U.S. acquires more up-to date defense systems and immediately should increases its spending on defense systems not less that an additional 18 Trillion Dollars annually to quickly fill the deficient gap in its armament. Not only that, it should increase defense cooperation with many countries that surrounds such hostile regimes mentioned here by other commenter's. For example, in the case of aid to Israel, it is almost negligible amount in today's money, it must be increased to that of a reasonable amount, say additional 1 Trillion Dollars annually, at the minimum.
It is absolutely imperative that the U.S. starts developing and deploying effective systems right now, and Secretary Clinton announcement is but a blessing for those that care about good vs. evil, freedom vs. tyranny. What the world will be otherwise, it will fill of corruption and oppression should the U.S. be weakened. God Bless America.
Rosemary in New Jersey writes:
Dear Secretary Clinton,
Thank you for a brilliantly reasoned, clear, succinct explanation of this new plan which makes eminently more sense than the previous one put forth by the Bush Administration.
Love you,
Edite in Canada writes:
The first five paragraphs of this e-mail say the same thing with minor variations. It implies the defensiveness with which the "old" program" was shelved. Another broken promise to strategic and willing allies.
President Obama's words, just before the election, were reiterated exactly the same way in answer to a question about what had been promised to Poland and the Czech Republic regarding an anti-ballistic missile defense program as well as a radar tracking station to be put in place. He underscored that these two promises would be a priority in defense of Central and Eastern Europe and the Eastern seaboard of the USA. Who strong-armed him to change his promised position between then and now?
It now appears that the reason he reduced military spending that involved scratching these promises to Poland and the Czech Republic was to additionally add money to the coffers of his Obamacare program and other radical elements of his administration like his unnessary, unvetted czars of any programs he could come up with. Payback time for services rendered? It would be interesting to note and to publicly release the cost of these czars to the American people. His administration seems to be forgetting that they are elected to serve the people of America, not dictate to them and impose upon them programs they do not want.
Presidents, who make and break promises on a continuum in many fields of endeavour, lose the trust of the people in their spoken or written words. Just like Russia, North Korea or Iran, we cannot believe a word they say and should not.
How many election promises will be broken by President Obama?
It seems that every morning the President comes up with something new the electorate did not ask for or want.
Susan in Florida writes:
All the comments, so far, are very thoughtful. It is certainly wise to be prepared for what may happen one day. However, my concern is that we all are discussing this topic as if nuclear devices are our only defense, and that eventually one will be used. Maybe even sooner than we had originally thought. That is very, very frightening.
Joe in Tennessee writes:
1. Gates considers this plan the most intelligent solution and there are few with a better overview of the last decade than he. We are fortunate he answered his call back to duty; not much more be said that has not already been said by all.
Have we all been lulled into some moronic view that a WMD, which can already transcend any border and in numbers which cannot limit totality, is normal view of defense?
The problem lies in an instable world right now.
In the beginning Poland and the Chec. Republic did not want them on their borders. The finical support mechanisms and new consideration due to the aggressive action of Russia on Georgian borders suddenly altered their view; yet, they are still very much dependent on Russia....Having any number of WMDs will not make any difference because if Russia ran into either country with ground troops, as in Georgia, the only thing they would become is a liability as neither country can defend itself against such an attack and who would authorize a launch that would lead to a International situation we are all trying to avoid?
We have moved forward and not backwards with tactical defenses. The development of new weapons in defense and definition of attack make mobility a more viable solution, but we do need to keep a watch on Europe and their fiscal relation to Russia.
Our best plan for Europe is an economic one, not weapons.
Milan in Virginia writes:
Madam Secretary,
This is excellent plan and it will be very effective...
Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:
The point of the missile shield was supposed to be defense from nuclear attack, not job creation or other consideration.
If a better defense system can be built, then we should build it. If a better location exists, we should go for it. If that creates better relations with Russia, it creates better relations for us also.
The existence of a missile shield would mean that an enemy will try some other method of attack, none of them nice, such as bioweapon introduction into the population using vaccines, infected tourists, or imported food, among other ideas.
The best defense is to have as few enemies as possible and to convert as many enemies into friends as we can.
The way to do that is to return to a true, constitutional government that prides itself on neutrality, impartiality, sovereignty, and fairness, and abandon the idea of a global government controlling the entire population of the world.
Ron in New York writes:
Flip the Photo....
Flip the photo of the missle launch and you see a mushroom cloud. That's the endgame on our nuclear weapons program. Take out the 3 nuclear sites in Iran. Don't wait for the cloud.
Ilia in Puerto Rico writes:
There are good reasons for believing that bullying nations like Iran poses a serious threat. They play havoc with a growing regional instability. United States and the Intenational Community should seek greater transparency about the issue in order to de-escalate any nuclear crisis.
Those friendly nations should intensified sanctions to any country that does not comply with non- proliferation policies. The proliferation of nuclear weapons of those aggressive nations should be stopped. They are dangerous for the world. Definitely, they do not have peaceful intentions. They should be deterred.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
So, here we are eight years on in the war on terror (if you're counting from 9/11), but according to those who have attacked us, the war started long before when they declared it upon us.
In response to the 2001-2 Nuclear Posture Review, I wrote a very long letter to senior officials and senators in the hopes it would lend perspective and inspire solutions.
With every passing year, the things I said then and the heat I took after it was published by the DOE have not only proven their worth, but have proved worth the hassle to utter them.
This brief excerpt from "Isotope Road", being a case in point:
"If there are to be trillions spent on the development of the missile defense system, rather than dealing with the reasons for its need in the first place, then we've missed the point that was so rudely made, that a terrorist will use whatever is conveniently available as a weapon."
The problem as I see it isn't with delivery systems or technology to counter them. Nor even WMD or proliferation, per se.
The problem lies in the intent and actions of those like Iran's leadership, who opperate the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and it is the individuals who pose the risk to many, not the weapons they threaten many folks with.
Best missile defense ever invented assures they never get launched to begin with. It's called "Regime Change".
Until we get our targeting parameters strait, we'll simply be doing a litte dance around the problem without adequately addressing it with a permanent solution to resolve the threats posed by terrorists and their sponsors.
And that leaves populations vulnerable, regardless of how many interceptors are deployed.
The strategies we used in the cold war to isolate the Soviet Union, and an ideology that was based on an economic model of Utopia ( which enslaved people in actuality), do not work with the same results on a militaristic regime with a religious ideology that is not subject to economic realities or normal meathods of persuasion, nor able to shed the failed ideology in favor of greater prosperity and freedom for their people.
( thus creating the conditions whereby sanctions prove themselves in fruitless persuit of "behavior change".)
One may draw loose comparison with the internal unrest in Iran and the Gdansk shipyard strikes which historians are awant to point to as, "the beggining of the end" for the Soviet empire.
"International concerns" being what they are, I'd not wish to play up, or play down the threat posed to international peace and security if division exists between the p-5 in "the how to" aspects of ending the threat, and ending what some experts have called, "a generational struggle" sooner, rather than later. Let me just say that it should be factored into people's thinking at the UNGA.
Nor should any lame-brained military action to "take out" Iran's nuclear facilities be contemplated that leaves the regime intact with a retaliatory capacity.
Again, wrong targeting parameters = undesirable results.
When it comes to it (and unless Iran does backflips to get in folk's good graces, it probably will.), military action on an international cooperative level between the p-5 (and others) standing together to remove the regime from power via force of arms and diplomacy combined is the only viable way to achive an end to the threats posed, and ultimately create conditions of lasting stability in the region and the world at large.
Thing is, like scientific discovery may answer one question, the dicovery often raises many more,; Solving this problem will pose other problems in the process of resolution that will need to be solved as well.
We've done this twice in the last eight years and the U.S. may do "nation building" better than anyone else, but we just weren't geared up to do it properly up to this point, and we're still trying to get it right.
"Third time's the charm" , as the saying goes.
Ron in New York writes:
Missile Defense is Indefensible.....
Given the multitude of current global threats facing us and the complexities and costs of addressing so many of them; it seems indefensible to pay for an anti-missile program, when the removal of missiles is possible right now. The security of us all is an immediate responsibility and within our grasp. Didn't JFK say something about "ashes in our mouths..."?


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Pro Football Weekly just released their annual Draft Preview. The guide is usually excellent and I thought I'd post their evaluations on some guys the Browns are looking at in the draft.
Haloti Ngata (Junior)
(6-4, 338, 5.19) Oregon
Notes: Parade and USA Today All-American and Utah Gatorade Player of the Year. Did not play in the season opener as a true freshman in 2002, but saw action in the next 12 games and cracked the starting by the fifth game, finishing the season with 44 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Suffered a season ending torn ACL injury in his left knee in the '03 season opener vs. Mississippi State and redshirted. Was not fully recovered from the until midway through the '04 season and was slowed by a hamstring injury, tallying 46-8.5-3.5 with two forced fumbles. Started all 12 games in '05, totaling 61-9-3. Added five knockdowns, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Has six career blocked kicks. Lost his father in a car crash in December 2003 and his mother to a sudden heart attack in January 2006.
Positives: Flashes rare agility and range you wouldn't expect to see in such a massive man. Has legit, natural brute strength and a 500-pound bench press. Shows the power to swat aside blockers and reach the backfield. Projects as a two-gap tackle but can fit in either a "30" or "40" front. Feels where pressure is coming from and diagnoses the run quickly. Has show special teams value as the personal protector on the punt team and plays in field-goal and short yardage situations. Size is also a factor on place-kicks with six blocked kicks. Rarely gets knocked backwards and can tie-up and occupy blockers. Good in-line tackler. Gets his hands up to disrupt the quarterback's vision and bat down balls. Has handled adversity well and is motivated to play. Teams said he interviewed well at the Combine and showed a good understanding of football concepts.
Negatives: Stands up out of his stance and plays too tall and loses leverage as a result. Scouts would like to see him play hard every down and not take any plays off. Durability could be a minor issue, with a torn ACL suffered in the first game of the '03 season. Has displayed inconsistent effort. Does not show great lateral quickness and can be slow to change directions.
Summary: Has the girth and base strength to fit as a 3-4 nose tackle and enough size and quickness to be terrorizing in a "40" front. Was babied in college as one of the nation's top recruits and was not coached hard like he needs to be to maximize his potential. Can be downright dominant when he wants to be. Has more physical ability and upside than any 3-4 nose tackle in the draft and should be a top-15 pick.
Brodrick Bunkley
(6-2.75, 306, 4.97) Florida State
Notes: Tore the ACL in his left knee early in high school but recorded 18.5 sacks as a senior. Saw action in eight games as a true freshman in 2002, finishing with 13 tackles and one for loss. Tore the MCL in his left knee in November '02 and missed one game. Was arrested in January '03 for petty theft for stealing a video game from Wal-Mart. Paid a fine and performed 16 hours of community service. Played in all 13 games in '03 with two starts at noseguard, recording 38-8 and 1.5 sacks. Also had two pass breakups and, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Started 7 of 10 games in which he played in '04, finishing with 12-3-1. Suffered a severe right high ankle sprain in October '04 that forced him to miss the Syracuse and Wake Forest games and had surgery to repair a tendon after the season. Sat out spring of '05 to recover. Started all 13 games in '05, finishing with 66-25-9. Added two fumble recoveries.
Positives: Very thickly built with outstanding musculature. Built like a house. Has a very, very strong upper body and can ragdoll blockers. Plays with explosive power. Tremendous anchor strength. Very stout. Can collapse the pocket. Works inside off the snap and makes a habit of living in the opposing backfield. All of his battles take place on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Good power, punch and leg-drive. Shows good balance and can bend. Consistently splits double-teams and dominates when he is head-up. Flashes some nastiness. Excellent weight-room worker. Can take tough coaching. Supertough. Showed he can player hurt vs. Boston College, when he played despite a painful knee injury, and played with an ankle injury for most of his junior year. Bench pressed 225 pounds 44 times at the Combine.
Negatives: Lacks great flexibility and is a little tightly wound. Could do a better job of keeping blockers off his legs and using his hands to prevent and play off cut blocks. Did not have a great Senior Bowl performance and can do a better job of working to get an edge as a pass rusher. Relies too much on a bull-rush move, and hands could be more active. Can play with better leverage. Was not very mature early in his career and has some durability issues.
Summary: Plays like Goliath and can control two gaps and be very disruptive inside. Is stronger than Cardinals 2004 third-round pick Darnell Dockett, although not as quick, and more consistent than Texans 2005 first-round pick Travis Johnson. Played with more heart, desire and effort as a senior than he ever has before. Not a true three-technique but can play there. Strength and athleticism are better-suited for nose tackle.
Bobby Carpenter OLB
(6-2.5, 256, 4.61) Ohio State
Notes: Coach's son. Father, Rob, played at Miami (OH) and in the NFL for the Giants and was Bobby's high school coach. Brother, Jonathan, plays football at Cincinnati. Also a member of the swimming team in high school. Saw action in all 14 games as a true freshman in 2002, collecting 12 tackles. Played in all 13 games (three starts) in '03, registering 37 tackles, 6.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. Started all 12 games in '04, totaling 93-6.5-2 with three interceptions. Started 11 games in '05--missed the Buckeyes bowl game with a broken right leg he suffered on the first series vs. Michigan--and tallied 49-10.5-8 with two pass breakups.
Positives: Very impressive physical specimen with NFL genes. Plays tough and pursues all over the field. Shows pass-rush ability, with 4 of his 8 sacks at OSU coming vs. Michigan State, and can dip his shoulder and rip underneath blockers. Plays with passion and a lot of energy and brings a presence to the field. Can react well to the ball in front of him in zones. Outstanding weight-room strength. Stood out covering kicks since his freshman year and has special teams ability.
Negatives: Too inconsitent and could play more disciplined. Will disappear for stretches during games. See-and-go reactor who can be late to locate the ball. Will get hung up on blocks and can do a better job shedding. Not an explosive hitter. Scouts have concerns about his football intelligence and question why he was used with his hand on the ground to rush in passing situations instead of dropping into coverage as a senior.
Summary: Really looks the part and can fit as a "Sam" linebacker in a 4-3 scheme and is probably best-suited inside in a 3-4. Ability to rush the passer could help his draft stock. Could be overdrafted for his measurables.
Chad Greenway OLB
(6-2.5, 242, 4.78) Iowa
Notes: Grew up on a farm with 4,000 hogs and 100 cattle and went largely unrecruited out of high school, with Iowa being the only Division I program to offer a scholarship. South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and three-time team captain and MVP who played eight man football and led his high school team to a pair of state titles. Played quarterback and free safety, where he totaled 23 interceptions on defense, and also returned punts and kickoffs. Also played baseball and basketball and was a 49-foot triple jumper. Redshirted in 2001. Had major reconstructive knee surgery after tearing his right ACL during the spring before the '02 season. Came on late to play the final nine games and made 15 tackles. Emerged in '03, where he started all 13 games, racking up 132 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. Also broke up six passes and blocked a kick. Started all 12 games in '04, finishing with 113-8-3 and five pass breakups, one blocked kick and one forced fumble. Also had three interception, returning one for touchdown. Named team's captain as a junior. In '05, Greenway started 11 of 12 games in which he played, registering 156-10-2 with eight pass breakups and one interception.
Positives: Good athlete. Very active and can flatten down the line and make plays all over the field. Has fluid hips and natural movement skills. Will line up over slot receivers and run stride for stride and show good awareness to make plays on the ball. As natural in reverse as he is going forward. Will step up and take on the lead. Showed ability to blitz, uses hands to take an edge. Terrific special teams player. Solid character. Great competitor. Intelligent.
Negatives: Not very physical and does not take on the lead with authority. Will get caught on blocks and miss tackles trying to avoid underneath. Will overpursue the ball and get out of position. Needs to become more of a secure tackler. Will let some receivers run crosses past him cleanly instead of re-routing. Will struggle when he is attacked straight-on. Only bench pressed 225 pounds 16 times and needs to spend more time in the weight room and get stronger. Looked very nervous and tight at the Combine and did not show the fluidity and grace that he does on tape.
Summary: Fluid, run-and-hit linebacker with a lot of upside. Looked very tight and stiff in the 40-yeard dash at the Combine but looked very athletic in all the other drills and plays faster than he timed. Solid character and intangibles will still make him very attractive in the middle of the first round.
Abdul Hodge ILB
(6-0.5, 236, 4.81) Iowa
Notes: Born in the Virgin Islands. Younger brother, Elijah, is a freshman linebacker at Wisconsin. Abdul was a three-year captain of his high school team and also lettered in basketball and track as a prep. Redshirted in 2001. Totaled 38 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack while playing in all 13 games in '02. Started all 13 games in '03, collecting 141-10-2 with three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Started all 12 games in '04, finishing with 116-5-3 with four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. In '05, Hodge collected 158-11-1 in 12 starts.
Positives: Good musculature with long arms. Strong for his size. Plays with good leverage and pad level. Instinctive. Keeps his shoulders squared and flows fast to the ball. Will hit gaps when creases show and take a bee-line to the ball. Explosive hitter. Has a good feel for the game. Plays with a lot of energy. Can get a lot of depth in his drops and cover ground.
Negatives: Too short with thin, sprinter's high-cut calves. Not a true thumper. Shows some tightness in his lower body. Not a natural bender and is not fluid changing directions or flipping his hips to drop into coverage. Will get caught on blocks too much. Misses some tackles in the open. Does not have great man-cover skills to single up on some quicker NFL backs and does not quickly react or break on the ball in zone coverage.
Summary: May fit best as a middle linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, where he will not be asked to make as many plays on the perimeter and could use his instincts and awareness to plug the middle. Size is his biggest shortcoming. Solid first-day pick.


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One of the indisputable trumps that Nokia has had throughout its history is exceptional build quality of its handsets. Partly, this was conditioned by manufacturing in well-developed countries, such as Finland, Germany or Mexico. Due to massive losses that the company suffered in 2011 as a result of controversial management decisions, Nokia now has to move all of its productions to Asia to cut down manufacturing costs.
The three factories in Komarom, Hungary, Reynosa, Mexico and Salo, Finland are planned to focus on smartphone product customization, serving customers mainly in Europe and the Americas. Device assembly is expected to be transferred to Nokia factories in Asia, where the majority of component suppliers are based. The measures follow a review of smartphone manufacturing operations that Nokia announced last September and aim to increase the company's competitiveness in the diverse global mobile device market.
"With the planned changes, our factories at Komarom, Reynosa and Salo will continue to play an important role serving our smartphone customers. They give us a unique ability to both provide customization and be more responsive to customer needs," said Niklas Savander, Nokia executive vice president.
As a consequence of the plans, the number of steps in manufacturing and the amount of work carried out at the sites in Komarom, Reynosa and Salo are expected to decrease substantially. The changes are anticipated to impact approximately 4000 employees in total.
"Shifting device assembly to Asia is targeted at improving our time to market. By working more closely with our suppliers, we believe that we will be able to introduce innovations into the market more quickly and ultimately be more competitive. We recognize the planned changes are difficult for our employees and we are committed to supporting our personnel and their local communities during the transition," added Mr. Savander.
Personnel reductions are planned to be phased through the end of 2012. Nokia will offer a comprehensive locally-tailored support program, including financial support and assistance with local re-employment.
Tags: Nokia


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|Babolat Propulse 4 Men's Shoe Scores
|Arch Support
|Foot Support/Stability
|Overall Sole Durability
|Toe Durability
As soon as we got our first glimpse of the new Babolat Propulse 4 we were excited to put them to the test. While the sharp new cosmetic was the first thing we noticed, as soon as we took to the courts we found they had the performance to match. They were comfortable right out of the box, and most of the team needed little to no break-in time. The standout features to us were the vastly improved support and stability, as well as the low to the ground ride, which allowed us to be completely confident while moving on the court. Though it weighed in at over 16 ounces (size 10.5), the shoe played faster and lighter than expected. If you're a fan of stable shoes but don't like feeling weighed down on the court, the new Propulse 4 could be the shoe you're looking for!
Our entire team found their shoes fit true to size. For the most part our playtesters found the Propulse 4 comfortable on court, but there were a couple of criticisms. Andy found the shoes comfortable right out of the box and really enjoyed the plush feel. He said, "Right from the get go the Propulse 4 felt plush and comfortable throughout. It has a roomier fit (but not too roomy), so your foot feels like it has some space to breathe. There is cushioning around the foot, and the midsole felt supportive and cushioned."
Jason also liked the fit, as well as the low to the ground feel. He offered, "This is a very comfortable shoe to wear and to play in from the start. Even though the ride was low-to-the-ground, there was more than enough cushioning. Like the previous model, the uppers on the Propulse 4 are nice and soft. But unlike the Propulse 3s, I didn't experience any discomfort around the ankle collar this time around. The only small negative would be the clasp - if I cinched down too tight I could feel it dig into my foot."
The biggest criticism about the comfort was about the fit around the ankle. Chris had a bit of pinching in that area, as he explained, "It took about four trips to the courts in these shoes before I felt I had them adequately broken in. I would say the uppers are support-oriented rather than aimed at offering all out comfort. I had some issues around the ankle collar of my left shoe. It seemed some of the upper materials were overlapping and the resulting bump formed an uncomfortable pressure point on my ankle. Aside from that the comfort was ok. The forefoot was more comfortable and I liked how the shoes flexed well to allow for comfortable movement. I liked the level of cushioning this shoe offered. It allowed me to feel the court, yet also provided enough cushioning to keep my feet comfortable."
Spencer found this new offering to be more comfortable than the last, but he had the same issue with the fit in the ankle as he did with the Propulse 3. He said, "I thought the fit was improved from the previous version, as I felt more locked in in the forefoot. The fit was snug, but not too tight, offering good hugging support throughout. Though I loved the fit, there was some slight discomfort at the heel collar during the first couple of wears which is the same issue I had with the Propulse 3. I didn't feel there was enough padding in that specific area."
Ventilation was not a standout feature of the Propulse 4, but it never proved to be an issue for our playtest team. Jason said, "I had no issues with the breathability. The uppers had plenty of perforations so the shoe was well ventilated. Even in the dark colorway, overheating was not an issue."
Spencer thought the composition of the upper allowed his foot to breathe just fine. He said, "No problems with breathability here. There was plenty of mesh in the upper to allow plenty of ventilation."
It was neither love nor hate for Chris when it came to the breathability, as he said, "The venting was pretty middle of the road for me. My feet never got overly hot, but I wouldn't necessarily call this a well-ventilated shoe, either. Once I was done playing I was keen to get these shoes off to let my feet breathe."
Andy agreed, saying, "This shoe did tend to run a bit hot. Ventilation was never an issue, but it wasn't a noticeable strength either. There is a lot of rubber around the upper that adds to the stability but takes away from ventilation. I did find my feet got a bit sweaty at times, but it was never a huge issue."
Our playtest team found plenty of support through the arch. Chris' high arches found more than enough support. He said, "My arches felt well supported in this shoe. The midfoot shank offered great stability and the height of the arch support was a good fit. The midsole also molded nicely to the shape of my foot. I felt very confident when sprinting around the court in this shoe, and I did not experience any discomfort in the arch area."
Spencer and his medium arches were comfortable for the entire playtest as well. He said, "I thought the height and feel of the arch support was good for my medium arches. I was happy with the amount of support there."
It took a bit of time for Jason's flatter feet to adjust to the arch support, but after they did he was quite pleased. He explained, "Since I have such flat feet I needed a small break in period before the arch was really comfortable, but after 2-3 hits the shoe broke in nicely."
Andy had no problems with the arch support. He said, "It felt to me like the shoe has slightly lower than average arch support, which fit my foot fine. It's not the most supportive shoe for your arch out there, so if you have a higher arch you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you have a flatter, wider foot this shoe should fit great."
According to our playtesters, support and stability are two of the strengths of the Propulse 4, and they're much improved over the previous version. Jason noticed this difference, and also found the straps helpful in this area. He explained, "I felt like the uppers of the Propulse 3 were too soft, which took away from the stability and support, but I feel like Babolat has addressed this issue with the Propulse 4s. The uppers feel more substantial and supportive. With the Foot Belt system I could really get a nice, snug fit, which let me move with confidence."
Chris also found the straps and the upper of the shoe contributed to the excellent stability. He said, "The level of both support and stability was impressive in this shoe. I thought the support in the forefoot was improved over the previous version, and the shoe felt beefier in that area. Both the midfoot strap and the heel strap do their respective jobs. It doesn't take much effort to get a very secure fit from the straps. With two pairs of socks I found the fit to be supportive and my feet felt locked in inside the shoes. On the stability front, the chassis of this shoe was stiff enough to make it feel very stable. I never had any issues with the shoe twisting too much, and I always felt like I was getting the stability I needed."
"This is where I felt the Propulse 4 excelled," Andy exclaimed. "It feels low to the ground, which always helps you feel more stable when moving around the court. The rubber cage around the upper does a great job holding the foot in place, especially on aggressive lateral cuts. The shoe was a bit wide for me through the heel, which is the only reason I didn't give it a perfect score in this category. All in all, a very supportive and stable shoe."
Rounding out the crew, Spencer felt completely confident making all of his aggressive moves in these shoes. He said, "The straps on both the heel and the top of the shoe offer an extra bit of support that makes a big difference in how the shoe feels on my feet. My foot felt more secure in the forefoot as well. I felt very locked in with this latest version of the Propulse. I didn't have to be concerned about changing directions at full speed."
Most of our team felt the Propulse 4 held up great and showed above average durability throughout the test. He wouldn't put them up against the best shoes in this category, but Chris found the durability to be adequate. He said, "These shoes were decently durable. While they are not as durable as an adidas Barricade, they held up pretty well to hard court play. The outsoles made it through the month-long playtest with a decent amount of tread left on them, and I expect to get a few more weeks of play on them."
Spencer found better results, saying, "I'd say they're comparable to most durability guaranteed shoes at the highest level. I didn't notice any premature wear whatsoever. Granted, I'm not terribly hard on my outsoles compared to several of my playtesting peers."
Jason still had more life left in his pair after the playtest, as he explained, "I found slightly above average durability, which was good considering the low-to-the-ground ride. I've worn my pair for 15 hours and there's still plenty of tread left."
Andy would've liked to have seen his outsoles hold up a bit better. He said, "I was expecting more durability out of these Propulse 4s. There was a good deal of balding under my big toe after a decent amount of use during the playtest, so it didn't excel over many shoes in that aspect. I would probably be utilizing the 6 month durability guarantee if I was playing regularly."
Chris was our lone toe dragging playtester on this test, and he found the shoe held up well in that area. He said, "The toe durability was pretty solid in these shoes. The stitching frayed and gave out on my left shoe at the foremost white stripe on the lateral side of the forefoot, but it did not seem to affect the performance of the shoe. The Cell Shield material proved to be very durable and resisted wear very well."
Traction was good, but there were also some complaints about slipping on hard courts. Andy found the shoe didn't grip as well as the playtest wore on. He said, "The traction was good, giving me grip and give when I needed it. However, I did find that there were a few occasions when I would "spin out" when trying to accelerate quickly. There was just a little slippage under the big toe, but this was also where the outsole was wearing down over time. At the beginning of the test the traction was great, but it got a little more slick over time."
Chris liked the lateral traction, but he found himself slipping at times when starting a sprint. He said, "Traction was decent, but I did have occasions when I slipped. I appreciated the give when I was changing directions, as it helped prevent any sensation of rolling. However, on fast starts, such as sprints to the net, I found myself slipping and losing that much needed drive to chase down a well-timed drop shot. The traction was good when I was moving laterally across the baseline, it was just when sprinting forward that I had some issues."
Jason had a similar experience, but he eventually got used to the court response. He explained, "This was the only area where I was a little disappointed in the Propulse 4. I thought the traction was good for the most part, but I found myself sliding more than I normally do. I slipped sometimes when I tried to move forward for a shot or when I planted my feet going side to side. Luckily, the sliding became predictable, so I could account for it."
Spencer thought the traction was good, but found himself desiring a bit more tack in order to feel more confident in his aggressive cuts. He said, "I'd say the traction was good, not great. I didn't have any issues per se, but I'd have liked them to have a little more tack, as it would have allowed me a little more efficiency in my movement."
The Propulse 4 comes in as one of the heavier performance shoes on the market, but our playtesters thought they felt lighter then they actually are. Spencer liked the feel and how stable his feet felt. He said, "Anything over 16 ounces is considered heavy these days, but usually with that comes great stability and durability. No exception here, though I wouldn't characterize them as "heavy". I think Babolat does a good job distributing the weight in the shoe. It doesn't feel as heavy as its listed weight. I was happy with the combination of weight and stability."
Chris thought they felt heavier than the previous version, but with that added heft came added stability, which he appreciated. He said, "These shoes have a more substantial feel on the foot than the 3s, but I think that is more from the built up stability in the forefoot than any actual difference in weight. For me it was a good thing, as I thought the support was better in this version, while the shoes still felt plenty nimble. Also, it offers a lighter feel than most other durability guaranteed shoes."
Andy never felt weighted down in these shoes, saying, "The Propulse 4 isn't a lightweight shoe, but the shoe is designed so well that the weight is hidden extremely well. You feel fast and low to the ground in these! There was never a time when I felt the bulkiness of the shoe."
Jason agreed, as he said, "I didn't feel like this shoe was extraordinarily lightweight, but the ride made it seem lighter than it really was. I felt fast around the court, even if the shoe does weigh in at over 16 ounces (size 10.5)."
Chris - "I liked the improved support and stability of this fourth version."
Spencer - "The support, stability and performance."
Jason - "Almost everything, from the comfort to the support and stability to the ventilation. It's a well made, high performance tennis shoe!"
Andy - "I loved the low to the ground design, support and stability."
Chris - "The break-in was longer for me, especially around the ankle collar, and I didn't find quite the traction I expected."
Spencer - "The heel collar could have been a little more padded for more comfort."
Jason - "Traction could be slightly improved."
Andy - "I would've liked a little more ventilation and durability."
Chris - "For me, this felt like a more supportive and stable update to the Propulse line. Looking at other brands, this one competes with the likes of the Asics Gel Resolution 5 and Nike Air Max Cage. All of these shoes blend support, durability, court speed and great style."
Spencer - "I felt the locked in feel was more like the Propulse 2, while the performance and look were more like the Propulse 3. A good update for the Propulse line."
Jason - "The ride is very similar to the Propulse 3, but with improved stability and support."
Andy - "To me, this felt like a softer and lower to the ground Barricade. They fit my foot similarly, and I thought they both excelled in their support and stability. After a break-in period I'd probably still go with the Barricade over these, but the Propulse 4 is ready to go right out of the box and definitely feels lighter and faster. A very nice shoe!"
Playtester Foot Types:
Chris - Narrow width / Medium arch
Spencer - Medium width / Medium arch
Jason - Wide width / Low arch
Andy - Medium width / Low arch
Review date: May 2013. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.
All content copyright 2013 Tennis Warehouse.


text: A team of Japanese researchers have created a biologically-inspired algorithm resolving virtual network control fluctuations. Scientists from Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Osaka University, and The University of Electro-Communications say their Yuragi algorithm can help in the rapid recovery of a network service when there are unexpected disasters or network congestion. The technology they developed is able to function autonomously, finding nearly optimal routes that enable it to adapt to changes. The system also can use information from other virtual networks to stabilize multiple networks and can isolate the behavior of a specific virtual network from others, which lets the network resources be used efficiently by distributing the traffic across them. The researchers plan to participate in a demonstration sponsored by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology 5 to 7 February and plan to show how the system handles congestion avoidance using video streaming traffic on the JGN-X, the NICT's national testbed network commonly used for research and development. (PhysOrg)(NTT Group)


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>Runner's World - My Event Ratings>
In short: this is a must In full: wow what a race, we got there sunday and it was high winds and rain , but soon to see the clear skies opened, parking was very muddy so 4x4 is a good idea, the bogs of doom were freezing and were like soup, they dont come till about 6 miles in , the hils are mental more like a crawl not a climb, sand dunes, its all there, busy bottle necks at places and a bit of queing for bogs but if you want a free run go upthe front great organization and a very good goodie bag , medal and tshirt and other bits, great getting out the carpark very organized, the marshalls tell a few white lies how far left but its all in the day i suppose, bring on next year.one slight moan the bacon and sausage rolls were disgusting sorry guys !Date of review: November 28, 2011
In short: good raceIn full: got caught out by the little hills which killed my pb so dont go off fast like i did !!Date of review: September 26, 2011
In short: you must do this race,and for a pb its up for grabsIn full: I drove over 80 miles from east Sussex for this race and it was well worth itDate of review: August 1, 2011
In short: you have to do this raceIn full: awsome race got my pb too , you must do it but enter early to avoid dissapointmentDate of review: July 11, 2011
In short: you have to do this to understand what its really likeIn full: great support, great venue especially the pub afterwards in the village, amazing scenery all about 10 minutes from my home, marshalls, waterand the sponges were great , it was tough and hot and a few tree stumps here and there apart from that this will be a race iwill do every year now to try and get the gold medalDate of review: July 5, 2011
In short: tough , hilly but one to do and a great medalIn full: great views, great marshalling too, the water stations were great, the hills were very tough and i dont think there is a chance of a pb unless your pb is 1h50, that was one of the toughest halfs i have ever done, just glad it wasnt sunny, you must do this race its 85% off road, loads of little styes and gates.nice race hq which was a warm rugby club, bananas and drinks after see you there againDate of review: June 6, 2011
In short: great for first timersDate of review: February 20, 2011
In short: great course and scenery and good medalIn full: this was my first time at this race and it was a shame as the rain ruined the grass for spectators and us really it was a bog mud everywhere, and the cars were in a field so yes my car was stuck but a huge thanks to the marshalls pushing all the cars out.the course was great roads , private roads and grass, and the hills were fun up and down really and back to flat , nice medal, didnt have much in the goodybag just a sweatband and a leaflet, nevermind baggage point was good and quick, if the weather dryer an overall great day out , i got 1h49min, it could of been better but as the roads were narrow it was still congested up to 3 miles so advice for a pb get to the front, thanks to the marshalls aswellDate of review: October 31, 2010
In short: not a bad race but a good eventIn full: great day 1hour 49 min for me but a few moans where was the pace makers ? not enough foils at the start and runners walking away with BOXES of energy bars what about the runners who fininshed very late they needed them more i just thought towards the end it got a bit neglectedDate of review: September 27, 2010
In short: another good event in kentDate of review: September 20, 2010
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Reports: Soccer fans decapitate ref after he stabs player to death
By Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com
July 7, 2013 3:11 pm ET
Soccer fans in northern Brazil stoned a referee to death, quartered his body and put his head on a stake in the middle of the field after the ref fatally stabbed a player during an in-game brawl, the Associated Press and Reuters report.
The melee started when 20-year-old ref Otavio da Silva expelled a 30-year-old player from the June 30 game. The player refused to leave, and Silva pulled out a knife, according to reports. He stabbed the player, who died on his way to the hospital.
The player's friends and relatives immediately "rushed into the field, stoned the referee to death and quartered his body," the police in Maranhao, Brazil said in a statement obtained by the AP.
Police arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of being in the mob that rushed the field. Authorities continue to investigate.
The AP gave the player's name as Josenir Abreu, while Reuters gave it as Josenir dos Santos.


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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
UW-River Falls Administrative Policy
Postal Policy
Campus Postal Services cover the following mail functions:
The UW-River Falls Chancellor issues this policy in accordance with the Administrative Policy process.
The Assistant Chancellor for Business and Finance is responsible for the administration of this policy. Request an exception to this policy by writing to email@example.com.
Failure to adhere to the provisions of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary action as provided under existing procedures applicable to students, faculty, and staff, and/or civil or criminal prosecution.
Pickup and delivery points are assigned to each building or group of buildings. There will be a pickup and delivery service daily each morning. Outgoing mail will also be picked up in the afternoon only in North Hall, South Hall and Kleinpell Fine Arts. Mail may be hand carried to the Mail Room at Central Stores/Postal Services prior to 3:00 p.m. for submission to the U.S. Post Office.
Postal clerks will not meter or affix postage to personal mail. Official campus and off-campus mail will be delivered and picked up daily at each building.
Each University department shall address, presort, and affix accounting codes as applicable prior to submitting to Postal Services for pickup and delivery. The University postal clerk is the official University contact with the U.S. Post Office. Other employees may not take unmetered mail to the post office.
Please direct questions about this policy to email@example.com.


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The Holiday
Writer :
Director :
Cast :
Produce : 2006
Genres : Single Movies-Drama
Movie trailer editor, Amanda of Los Angeles, CA and journalist Iris of Surrey, England live five thousand miles apart and have never met, but are dealing with the same problem: men. Amanda having just broken up with her cheating boyfriend, Ethan and Iris having pined for her ex, Jasper, becoming engaged to the woman he left her for decide to take a vacation during Christmas. They come upon a website called home exchange and swap houses for two weeks both with a goal to forget their troubled love lives. But love ends up finding them anyways. Amanda starts a romance with Iris' older brother, Graham, a book editor and Iris starts a romance with a movie composer named Miles. With new found romance, both their lives change forever.


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Also a distinction between body/head. Whether that qi is weight or moving along body's meridians. Some qi, especially body feel stuff, is sneaky, and builds before you know it.
Qi from young gushu and qi from aged tea are somewhat different. Young gushu tea can fade or increase yoy. Once a tea is 15yo+ it starts more or less increasing according to the original quality of the leaves.


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Noni Supplements
- 7 Products in Noni
Noni is rich in health-promoting phytochemicals, including antioxidants and bioflavonoids.**
Noni contains naturally occurring trace vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and is rich in carbohydrates.
The Noni, also known as the Indian Mulberry, is native to Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, Asia and Australia.
Above Statements not applicable to all products below


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Artistic and Spiky Brown Hairstyle
This is an interesting hairstyle as this woman has her hair styled into small twists on her head with the ends left out and straight. This rockabilly style is fun and funky.The hair is medium in length.The hair colour is a dark brown.
Michael Kostopoulous - MKMODELS3.COM


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DERMEDICS™ offers only effective dermocosmetics with high content of active ingredients (cosmeceuticals) for professional therapies in beauty salons and also at home - all to provide beauty therapies targeted on real results.
Below we present description of DERMEDICS™ cosmetics that are suitable for skin of Asian, Caucasian and Ethnic origin.
CALM SERIES from DERMEDICS™ is a collection of professional dermocosmetics designed to assist in calming the discomfort associated with weak, itchy, highly irritated, overdried or reddened skin linked to inflammation and oxidative stress caused by intense UV radiation.
LIFT SERIES from DERMEDICS™ is an exclusive collection of dermocosmetics with BTX-like effect (alternative to Botulinum Toxin) designed to provide effective lifting and visible reduction of wrinkles – real results.
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HYDRA+ SERIES from DERMEDICS™ is a collection of rich formulated, luxurious dermocosmetics dedicated to prestigious skin therapies targeted on deep oxygenation, hydration, remineralization, regeneration, resilience and renewal.
DERMEDICS™ presents the newest, effective, professional and intelligent approach to slimming therapies, based on 4-dimensional procedure against topical obesity and cellulite reduction targeted on:
- Lipolysis activation
- Elasticity improvement (contouring effect)
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- Anti-inflammation
GEN'X SERIES from DERMEDICS™ is a professional grade, supreme collection of rich formulated, luxurious dermocosmetics dedicated to prestigious skin therapies targeted on global rejuvenation for all biological decades of skin cells.
PEEL SERIES from DERMEDICS™ is an innovative range of multi-functional chemical peels tailored to suit a variety of skin types, aiming to boost skin cells in whitening, rejuvenation, reduction of acne and skin imperfections (post-acne scars and blemishes).


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Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run PreviewFinkel returns to defend women's crown; 2011 runner-up Jones returns to snag his first
photo courtesy of Bryon Powell/irunfar.com
The Hardrock 100 Mile kicks off tomorrow at 6 a.m. in Silverton, Colorado, and Diana Finkel (pictured above) will be looking to continue her dominance of the brutal course through the San Juan Mountains.
"I love the San Juans and I love the Hardrock course," says Finkel, who lives in South Fork, Colorado. Finkel has been the first female across the line for the past four years, and nearly won outright in 2010. Quite humble in her victories, she says, "I have been lucky enough to have some good days out there. As for HR 2012, I hope to have fun, enjoy the trails and feel decent most of the time ... if at all possible."
Finkel, who also set the women's course record in 2009 (27:18:24), notched wins this year at New Mexico's Jemez Mountain 50 Mile and Colorado's Sage Burner 50K in May. She continues, "You never know what the day brings so it's tough to predict, for me at least." It could be a fast year, too, as the course is snow free and unaffected by wildfires.
Race day, Finkel will contend with Boulder, Colorado's Darcy Africa, who placed second behind her at both the 2011 and 2010 edition of Hardrock. Africa most recently won Wyoming's Bighorn 100 Mile in June. Fellow Boulder Resident Krissy Moehl, who finished fourth at the Western States 100 in June and was the last woman to win Hardrock before Finkel, will also toe the line.
"I go into Hardrock with the goal of running my own race," Finkel says. "It's the only way I know how to get through. It's a long day. We all go through lulls and highs and I just try to ride the waves."


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Once a snake, not always a snake… when provoked, this wretched reptile reveals himself to be an entire mass of them! Our fully articulated Dreadful Disguised Leader of the Evil Snake Men™ is armed and ready to strike with his shield of Ka. He also comes with a magic snake staff and interchangeable articulated snake form torso to complete his serpent-like transformation.
Please Note: This King Hssss™ figure does not include the retooled shoulders created for Draegoman. It was produced some time ago and is identical to the first run.
You must be 18 or older to purchase this product.


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Do this research if we don't have a season -- watch how much evil, which we call crime, watch how much crime picks up, if you take away our game," Lewis told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.
That's because, Lewis said, the NFL lockout affects "way more than us" -- the owners and the players.
"There's too many people that live through us, people live through us," he said. "Yeah, walk in the streets, the way I walk the streets, and I'm not talking about the people you see all the time."
When asked why he thought crime would increase if the NFL doesn't play games this year, Lewis said: "There's nothing else to do Sal."


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Nations and Nationalism
Vol 23 (4 Issues in 2017)
Edited by: John Breuilly, John Hutchinson and Eric Kaufmann
Print ISSN: 1354-5078 Online ISSN: 1469-8129
Impact Factor: 0.48
Nationalism is one of the central issues of the modern world. Since the demise of the Soviet Union there has been a proliferation of nationalist and ethnic conflicts. The consequent explosion of interest in ethnicity and nationalism has created an urgent need for systematic study in this field. Nations and Nationalism aims to satisfy this need. As a scholarly, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary journal, it is designed to respond to the rapid growth of research in the study of nationalism and nationalist movements throughout the world.
See More


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Education Secretary Arne Duncan "knocked it out of the park" in a speech at "Bang for the Buck in Schooling," sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute, writes Rick Hess, who hosted the AEI panel.
The New Normal — doing more with less — is "an opportunity to make dramatic improvements," Duncan said. "It's time to stop treating the problem of educational productivity as a grinding, eat-your-broccoli exercise. It's time to start treating it as an opportunity for innovation and accelerating progress."
Duncan urged states and districts to consider raising some class sizes and consolidating schools, but not to try to balance budgets by "reducing the number of days in the school year, slashing instructional time spent on task, eliminating the arts and foreign languages, abandoning promising reforms, and laying off talented, young teachers."
Duncan made clear the financial drag of the status quo, saying, "The factory model of education is the wrong model for the 21st century. Today, our schools must prepare all students for college and careers–and do far more to personalize instruction and employ the smart use of technology. Teachers cannot be interchangeable widgets. Yet the legacy of the factory model of schooling is that tens of billions of dollars are tied up in unproductive use of time and technology, in underused school buildings, in antiquated compensation systems, and in inefficient school finance systems."
And his to-do list was spot on. He said, "Rethinking policies around seat-time requirements, class size, compensating teachers based on their educational credentials, the use of technology in the classroom, inequitable school financing, the over placement of students in special education–almost all of these potentially transformative productivity gains are primarily state and local issues that have to be grappled with."
. . . "Districts currently pay about $8 billion each year to teachers because they have masters' degrees, even though there is little evidence teachers with masters degrees improve student achievement more than other teachers — with the possible exception of teachers who earn masters in math and science."
Small classes improve student learning only in the early grades, Duncan said. Duncan "laudably argued against gutting arts, music, and sports in a mindless effort to protect small classes, and pointed out that schools in South Korea and Japan excel with class sizes much larger than ours," Hess writes.
While Duncan said in the Q and A that unions need to reform, he added that many problems are the fault of "dysfunctional school boards" that lack courage and superintendents who put "political longevity" over "doing the right thing." His own department " in many cases has been a huge part of the problem," Duncan said. "I promise you, we're looking in the mirror every day to say how do we stop being this compliance-driven bureaucracy and how do we support innovation." He also warned that no more federal bail-out money will be flowing to districts.
Duncan can "make it safer for superintendents and state chiefs to talk about productivity and efficiency alongside student learning, Hess writes. The U.S. Department of Education can "scour its regulations to make it easier for states and districts to spend dollars smart. It can reduce paperwork and compliance burdens. It can fund and disseminate research and tools that help state and local officials gauge cost-effective programs and services."
Ed Week's Teaching Now has more on Duncan and his co-panelist, Shawn McCollough, superintendent of the Nogales Unified School District in Arizona, who cut $7 million in the past two years without layoffs. McCollough redeployed central-office staff to positions working directly with students and families.


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Your browser does not support iframes.
Product 27/53
These are summer tires designed cars are all middle class. The tires are a new model from 2012 and be released early in the season in March 2012.
According to tests conducted by Independent testing TÜV SÜD Automotive in 2011 and IDIADA (A *) at a speed of 100 km / h for tires Michelin Primacy three stopping medium dry is shorter by an average of 2.20 m from that of its four main competitors in the European market. The name of this new tire has its own symbolism: Michelin Primacy 3 provides triple safety. Like all other tires Michelin, this also has a long run, while being reduced fuel consumption (up to 70 liters of fuel to save throughout the life of the tire).
To achieve a balance between performance and safety, Michelin has used an innovative design process and integrate the body of knowledge on road accidents which embryo research and development are sabranili.
Why the emphasis on security label? According to a survey conducted by GFK agency in 2010, this is the first quality that consumers expect from a tire. This study was conducted in the following five countries: Germany, Spain, France, Britain and Italy.


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What is rubella?
Rubella is a viral respiratory disease that's relatively mild and somewhat contagious. Because most children in the United States get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, it's now extremely rare here. But before the first rubella vaccine came along in 1969, the disease often spread among preschool and elementary-school children, especially in the late winter and early spring.
A child with rubella typically has a measles-like rash and a low fever, although it's possible for a child to have the virus without showing any symptoms. Rubella is commonly known as German measles or three-day measles, but it's actually not the same disease as measles, which is caused by a different virus.
If it's mild, why is it dangerous?
Rubella isn't dangerous to young children, but it can be devastating to unborn babies during the first trimester. In fact, the vaccine was developed primarily to protect women of childbearing age before they become pregnant.
A woman infected with rubella during her first trimester has an 85 percent chance of having a baby with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and severe birth defects, including deafness, blindness, and heart and brain defects.
Pregnant women who received the vaccine as children are immune to the disease. Those who had the illness as a child may not be.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women who are planning to conceive be tested for immunity to rubella before they become pregnant. If a woman doesn't have immunity, she should receive the MMR vaccine at least one month before pregnancy.
Before the vaccine was introduced, rubella caused birth defects in 20,000 U.S. infants during an epidemic in 1964 and 1965. Today only about three U.S. children a year are born with birth defects caused by rubella.
How do the symptoms develop?
The first sign in children is often an itchy rash, usually starting on the face and neck and later spreading to the rest of the body. The rash may look like pink or light red spots, which may merge to form evenly colored patches. It typically lasts for two or three days.
Other symptoms include a low fever (between 100 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit) that lasts about 24 hours; a stuffy or runny nose; red, inflamed eyes; and enlarged lymph nodes at the base of the skull, behind the ears, and at the back of the neck.
Most children with rubella recover quickly and completely. Adults who contract rubella sometimes suffer complications like arthritis and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).


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Standard Food Boxes
Keep Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, and Seafood Fresh in Food Storage Containers with Lids
Food storage containers with lids are perfect for holding perishable items in your commercial kitchen. Use these standard food boxes to store anything from fruits and vegetables to meats and fish. Choose from standard food boxes of different capacities to find an option that meets your low- or high-volume storage needs. Read more
Our selection of food storage containers with lids includes options that are made from various plastic materials. You'll find solid white options that offer a crisp and clean look as well as translucent containers that allow users to see contents without opening them. Additionally, we carry standard food boxes of different colors, so you can use a color-coded system to prevent cross-contamination.


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Topic: Sport Competition Design
I'm building a webapplication to manage competitions.
Some background info: A competition is divided into poules and teams are assigned to a poule.
During the competition those teams play matches agains each-other.
A match can only be played between 2 different teams from the same poule.
A team is only bound to the poule in a competition.
A year has 2 competitions (indoor and outdoor).
So over the years a team plays many matches in many poules.
When a team scores more goals than the opponent they receive 2 points for that,
a tie results in 1 point and when you loose, well you loose.. (no points ).
The current models:
has_many :poules
belongs_to :competition
has_many :matches
has_and_belongs_to_many :teams
belongs_to :hometeam,
:class_name => "Team",
:foreign_key => "hometeam_id"
belongs_to :awayteam,
:class_name => "Team",
:foreign_key => "awayteam_id"
belongs_to :poule
has_many :matches
belongs_to :club
has_and_belongs_to_many :poules
has_many :teams
Some high level features:
show all the teams in a poule
show all the matches in a poule
show the ranking in a poule
And more, but that's for version 2
The ranking is the most tricky part, I really have no clue how I should implement this.
Should it be a seperate model?
Or should I implement this from the poule model?
I'm fairly new to all of this, so I hope that some of you can provide me with some insight to solve this.


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About the Author: L.J. Krizner serves as an Education Program Specialist at the U.S. Diplomacy Center.
Have you ever cracked 50 dozen eggs at once – and then scrambled them? The State Department Young Professionals have!
Motivated State Department employees from State's Young Professionals Group (YPro) generously offer their time, energy and cooking skills to Miriam's Kitchen, one of the soup kitchens in the District of Columbia.
Each month, YPro volunteers rise extra early to arrive at Miriam's by 6:00 a.m. in time to crack eggs, make biscuits, fill the coffee pots and cereal bowls, and serve up to 250 guests. A dedicated group, YPro volunteers also participate in other service opportunities with Miriam's Kitchen. YPro members collect cereal, clothes and books when needed. This year, YPro also gathered a team to "Walk for the Homeless" and volunteered at Miriam's annual gala event. The State Department's YPro has been privileged to maintain a relationship with Miriam's Kitchen for five years.
Miriam's Kitchen is centered on a breakfast program that provides delicious food and meets the nutritional needs of homeless individuals, particularly those who are the lowest functioning among the homeless population. Food is donated from local groceries, farmers' markets and individuals, and is prepared each morning by volunteers. By providing food and relief from the elements, Miriam's is able to attract a large number of guests. Because Miriam's staff also includes skilled social workers, case managers, and volunteers, Miriam's is able to develop individual relationships with its guest, so longer-term needs can be addressed.
This summer, President Obama is calling on all of us to serve in our communities, and there are many ways to get involved. Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.
SNP in Syria writes:
Trillions of Dollars rubber stamped by Congress for Cyber Wars, Star Wars, War on Terror, Iraq War, Afghan War, The Drug War... and here cometh, Work for Free and Soup Kitchens. Whatever happened to the American Dream. It only exists now in happy ending fictional movies produced by Fox Movie channel.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
I have had an unusual relatonship with a homeless shelter in my hometown for the last decade.
Every time I get a traffic ticket, parking...whatever..I go into court, plead insanity ("I must have been nuts for not wearing my seatbelt, your Honor") and ask the mercy of the court to let me do community service instead of pay fines which I don't have the money to pay.
So for the last ten years, this homeless shelter has gotten professional painting services for free on a semi-annual basis.
It has become a running joke with me and the staff that anytime they need something painted, they can simply call the cops and have them give me a ticket...(chuckle).
Good to see the Dept of State helping the homeless.
@ SNP, I suggest you go do your good deed for the day and find a beggar on the street and take him to lunch. Maybe he'll give you an attitude adjustment in return.
Mark writes:
And we should be serving our communities...if we all give just a little bit, we can do wonders.
John in Greece writes:
@ Eric in New Mexico -- "not wearing your seatbelt"? (LOL) - Let's go downtown! (CHUCKLE)
@ SNP: do you wear YOUR own seatbelts?
You know, it's not a movie...
It's real!
Forget the American Dream (YOU cannot define) and explain us what happened to the "Syrian" Dream?
Is it getting darker and darker? A nightmare?
Dan in Oregon writes:
Thanks for sharing the backlinks to www.Serve.gov so more folks can get involved in serving those whose needs are greater than ours. I volunteer at a second-hand clothing store where the proceeds go to fund a homeless mission for men and single mothers. I can't tell you how much I get out of doing this. From the good feelings of helping others to an increased sense of self-worth, volunteering really resonates with me! I hope everyone that reads this will get involved with www.Serve.gov
SNP in Syria writes:
@ John in Greece. Alive and well, Nothing happened to the Syrian Dream, Every Syrian from Seventh grade share the same dream, get out, immigrate, escape to any place other than Iraq. It has been that way since March 8, 1963. I take it that is the Syrian Dream you are inquiring about, for the fake one you need to email an ex Baathist living in paris.


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I want a cure for Crohn's so bad I can taste it!
I hate Crohn's disease and I wish that it would go away. I know, I know, I should be more positive here but sometimes I really do just hate it and everything about it. I have accepted the fact that I have Crohn's and I have to live with it but still I dream of a day – someday – when it will no longer be such a big issue in my life. I dream of when life will be easier and more enjoyable without so much work to make it enjoyable and without so many constraints that Crohn's disease can bring.
I have been holding out hope that somebody somewhere will get a brilliant idea and run with it and it will lead to understanding of how Crohn's disease works. I just have to keep my colon and keep myself as healthy as I can until then. I yearn to be free…..
Every year the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) sponsors a walk called "Take Steps" in order to raise money for research to find the cure for Crohn's and Colitis. This will be my second year participating and I hope that my team and I can collect a lot of money for someone to find a cure.
I urge all of you to go to the Take Steps website to see if there is a walk in your city. If there is, then you should form a team and start asking everyone that you know for donations. Since the economy is so bad right now we'll have our work cut out for us; but small donations quickly add up so the people you ask do not have to give a lot. If you don't want to form a team or there isn't a walk in your city you can always join my team, "Team Kelster." The Take Steps website also has some great fund raising ideas that may help ignite your team's progress.
Let's get out there and fight for a cure (and it will give us something to do instead of focusing on the misery and pain of our Crohn's disease)!