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R2P: Statement by Ambassador Herman Schaper at Carnegie Foundation New Leaders progra
Statement by H.E. Herman Schaper
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations
for Carnegie Foundation New Leaders Program
on The Responsibility to Protect: a New International Norm
New York, 5 March 2012
Nearly exactly a year ago, on March 17 2011, the Security Council of the UN took one of the most important decisions of its 66 years existence. In resolution 1973 it affirmed, clearly and unequivocally the international community's determination to fulfill its responsibility to protect the civilian population in Libya from the violence against them by their own government. It also authorized the use of all necessary means, including military measures, in order to prevent further casualties and loss of innocent lives.
So, here we had the SC authorizing the use of military force not against a country which had attacked another country or had committed some other act of aggression, but against a government which was attacking its own population. And in doing so, it invoked the international community's responsibility to protect civilians in such a case, a norm which was recognized at the 2005 Summit of HOSG which took place on the occasion of the UN's 60 year existence. The direct reasons for the development of this new norm were the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, and the mass slaughter of Bosnian civilians in Srebrenica in the same year (and it is no co-incidence that the two co-chairs of the so-called Group of Friends of R2P in the General Assembly, are Rwanda and the Netherlands). This had led to an international discussion about what was then called humanitarian interventions. This was not an esoteric debate about theoretical concepts; in 1999 the failure of the Security Council to authorize strong measures to halt the Serbian government's violence against the Albanian population of Kosovo, at that time still part of Serbia, led to the decision of NATO to start a military air campaign, even without a SC mandate.
This deeply divided the international community, pitting those who denounced the intervention as illegal against others who argued that legality mattered less than the moral imperative to save lives. To overcome this deadlock, the Canadian government established the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, which came up with the principle of Responsibility to Protect, which was as adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005 as part of the so-called World Summit Outcome Document.
The focus of R2P, as defined in this document, is on four specific types of mass atrocities: genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This focus on the four crimes is often called "narrow", but "deep". Narrow because it applies only to the extreme circumstances of these four mass atrocities, and not to any humanitarian emergency.
Why deep? The document makes clear that the responsibility to protect populations against these four mass atrocities lies first of all which each individual state itself, and it calls upon the international community to encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility. But the document also recognizes the responsibility of the international community, through the United Nations, to help protect populations, should national authorities manifestly fail to protect their own populations against the four crimes. And it adds this can mean taking collective action, in a timely and decisive manner, through the Security Council, on the basis of Chapter VII of the Charter, which includes military action.
So this is what happened in Libya, which was the first time that a military intervention was approved based on the principle of Responsibility to Protect since its adoption in 2005. The decision, and the speed with which it was taken, surprised many, including myself I must say, because until then the implementation of the 2005 decision of the HOSG had been rather slow and not always easy.
The first time the GA had a real debate on R2P was only in 2009, four years after the decisions of 2005. It was based on a report by the Secretary-General entitled " Implementing the Responsibility to Protect" , and let me underline the important role of SG Ban-Ki-moon in the whole debate about R2P in the last three or four years. He himself has spoken out many times clearly and convincingly on the importance of this new norm and the necessity to support it, and his staff has provided the essential conceptual base for its implementation.
The SG's 2009 Report introduced a three pillar strategy for R2P implementation;
- Pillar 1: The responsibility of the state to protect its own population
- Pillar 2: International assistance and capacity building to enable states to exercise this responsibility
- Pillar 3: The responsibility of the international community to take timely and decisive measures, if a state fails to exercise this responsibility.
Such action can take many forms – fact finding, suspension from international organizations, arms embargoes, targeted sanctions, but also military action. This was of course an extremely sensitive matter –the UN taking military measures against one of its own members because of the way the government treated its own population- and the general feeling, shared by nearly everybody, was that the best way to build support for the practical implementation of R2P was to focus first of all on the first two pillars and to reserve for later the debate on the third pillar.
And then suddenly, in March 2011 there was the decision of the Security Council to authorize military action against the government of Libya. What were the reasons of this unexpected development? I'd like to mention five.
- Many countries did share the assessment that it was a RtoP-situation, as the risk of mass atrocities in places like Benghazi and Misrata was real. Khadaffi had announced that "any Libyan who takes arms against Libya will be executed", and had called the rebels "cockroaches", exactly the same term which was used in Rwanda during the genocide. It was felt that inaction by the international community would most likely result in a bloodbath.
- The regional organisation of the Arab countries, the League of Arab States had appealed for international action. This reflected that Khadaffi had made many enemies in the more than 40 years he had ruled over Libya; he had hardly any friends left and none among his fellow Arabs.
- The resolution which the Security Council had adopted three weeks earlier, implementing the third pillar of R2P through measures like an asset freeze, travel bans, an arms embargo and a referral to the ICC, had not had any effect. As Khadaffi's troops were nearing Benghazi, the stronghold of the rebels, 'decisive and timely action' as the 2005 decision on R2P called it, was necessary.
- China and Russia, the two permanent members of the Security Council that consistently invoke the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention did not veto, but abstained. Why they did so, I would'nt be able to say with certainty. Maybe because they did not want to be on the wrong side of history, and expected that the conflict would be over in days. Maybe, they did not want to alienate the Arab states. Or may be, they also feared in this case a mass slaughter of the Libyan population if Khadaffi would not be stopped.
- A final reason, which could also have played a role in influencing the Russian and Chines vote, was that the Libyan ambassador to the United Nations, an old friend of Khadaffi who had defended him in the previous months, had end of February openly declared in the Security Council that he had come to the conclusion that Khadaffi's actions were inexcusable and that action should be taken by the Security Council.
Soon after the adoption of Resolution 1973 on Libya, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1975 on Cote d'Ivoire which used similar language on R2P. The UN-mission with support of the French Licorne troops attacked the defeated president Gbagbo and arrested him in the presidential palace. As a result, R2P was back in the international spotlights and became a hotly debated subject in the media, in domestic political discussions and at the UN.
In the second half of my introduction tonight I would like to focus on some of the main themes in this debate. These can be divided in two categories: objections to the notion of R2P as such, and criticisms which specifically relate to the way R2P was implemented in the case of Libya.
One recurring theme in the arguments of those who oppose R2P as such, is that it is in breach of the principle of sovereignty of states. Now, R2P undoubtedly constitutes an important shift in the doctrine of sovereignty, which for a long term governed the relations between states in Europa. But even in the past sovereignty has rarely been regarded as entirely unqualified. R2P reflects the growing acceptance of the doctrine which places the state at the service of the individual— "sovereignty as responsibility," in the term coined by scholars and practitioners Francis Deng and Roberta Cohen. Just like the doctrine of the sovereignty of states, this other doctrine of sovereignty as responsibility, has a long history. The Act of Abjuration, which was signed in The Hague in 1581, and which was a kind of Declaration of Independence in the revolt of the Netherlands against the King of Spain, states: … that God did not create the subjects for the benefit of the Prince … but rather the Prince for the sake of the subjects, without whom he would not be a Prince, to govern them justly and wisely, to support and love them as a father does his children and a shepherd his flock, and even to protect them at the risk of his own life and limb."
Four hundred years later UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan defended this idea in a speech, in which he pointed out that the old orthodoxy of state sovereignty was never absolute. ´After all", he said, "the Charter was issued in the name of the peoples, not the governments, of the United Nations. Its aim is not only to preserve international peace – vitally important though that is – but also to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. The Charter protects the sovereignty of peoples. It was never meant as a license for governments to trample on human rights and human dignity. Sovereignty implies responsibility, not just power."
R2P is therefore not really new. The core underlying idea that states have an obligation to protect men and women from the worst atrocities is well established. Basic human rights principles were adopted in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and there is by now a substantial body of international human rights law. The United Nations adopted the Convention on Genocide already in 1948. And the protection of civilians during armed conflict is well established in international humanitarian law.
What happened with the advent of R2P, was that the international community accepted for the first time its collective responsibility to take action, and if necessary even military action, should states fail to protect citizens from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. R2P thus imposes two obligations—the first upon each state individually, the second on the international community of states collectively. With the embrace of the responsibility to protect, a long and unresolved debate over whether to act became, instead, a discussion about how and when to act.
A second fundamental objection against R2P is that it is just a cover for large countries and great powers to intervene in the domestic affairs of smaller and less powerful countries. We need to take these concerns seriously, especially as they are not entirely wrong, historically speaking. History gives us numerous examples of humanitarian arguments being used as cover for interventions with an entirely different objective.
It is exactly for these reasons, however, that R2P, as it was defined in 2005, had a specific focus on the four crimes which lead to mass atyrocities. Secondly, it was stressed that the use of force could only take place as a last resort. Thirdly, and most importantly, it was agreed that a Security Council mandate is a precondition for any military action under R2P.
In fact, the opponents of R2P are steadily losing ground, as becomes clear from the voting pattern in the General Assembly on successive proposals which aimed at strengthening the Secretariat's capacity to handle effectively R2Pissues.
In the most recent vote last December the number of countries which voted against such proposals or abstained saw a significant decrease. Voting against went down from 17 to 10, while abstentions went down to 42 from 51. The roll call of the countries voting against includes Iran, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Maybe that record is telling enough.
The second group of criticisms of R2P focus not so much on the principle itself, but on the way it was implemented in Libya. The feeling that Libya was mishandled by the intervening powers, i.e. NATO, is voiced first of all by the countries who abstained on the vote mandating military action – Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa- and by a number of African countries, who complained that the African Union was sidelined in its efforts to broker a truce to get a process of political consultations between Khadaffi and the rebels going.
One of the most outspoken criticasters has been India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Hardeep Puri, who stated recently in his usual direct manner that, "Libya has given R2 a bad name", and who criticized "over-enthusiastic" members of the international community for misusing Resolution 1973". Their only interest was in his view the "use of all necessary means to bomb the hell out of Libya" in the pursuit of regime change.
Ambassador Puri's criticism touch on two important points which also the proponents of the R2P must address. The first is the nature and the wording of the mandate the Security Council gives for military action. And second that NATO had a secret agenda: regime change.
As far as the first point is concerned, the SC's mandate was overall rather vague. It did include the imposition of a no-fly-zone and forbade troops on the ground, but it also allowed for the use of "all necessary means" in the execution of the mandate. The problem was that there was no thorough military advice underlying the Councils decisions. This is to my mind one of the crucial weaknesses in the process of decision-making in the Council on military matters. Such decision-making would benefit from enhanced military advice on complex operations as the one in Libya, also to ensure that afterwards no disagreements will surface on the exact meaning of the language in a mandate. DPKO could play this advisory role with support from military experts from member states. For R2P-situations specifically, it would be useful to articulate more clearly how R2P will impact military doctrine and strategic concepts.
As far as the accusation that regime change was NATO's real agenda, in my view the relationship between R2P and regime change was not that the real objective was regime change, and that this led to invoking R2P to provide cover for this secret agenda, but that exactly the opposite happened: implementing the responsibility to protect led to the conclusion that to reach an acceptable outcome, with no risks that one or more of the four crimes would again be committed, demanded a change in the regime. Take the government inspired genocide in Rwanda for example: would anybody seriously consider that this regime would stay in power after a military intervention from abroad to stop the genocide?
A third complaint one often hears from some of the countries that abstained on the Council's decision to give a mandate for military action against Libya, was that the Council was not able to play its monitoring role in the implementation of resolution 1973 because there was not enough feedback from NATO. A clearer military mandate would help in this respect, but one also needs to be realistic. If you source out implementation of SC-mandates to other organizations or coalitions of the willing, for example NATO in case of Libya, the expectations of monitoring should also be limited. I must add that in general I find it somewhat peculiar that countries which have shown the willingness to implement a mandate of the Security Council, and to execute a very complex military operation, are being criticized by countries who decided not to contribute to the implementation of this mandate, and are demanding a rigorous monitoring regime.
Anyway, micro management from the Council, in particular by countries who did not support the decision to provide a mandate for military action, will undoubtedly result in a decreased appetite to implement SC-mandates. After the lessons learned in Bosnia in the early 1990's, it I now a firm rule for all Western military: no double key, meaning no UN-veto on the day-to- day management of a military operation run by another organisation or a group of countries.
The Brazilian government has recently made a constructive contribution to the debate by introducing the notion of 'responsibility while protecting' (RwP) to reassess the manner in which a military response is implemented to protect civilians. The concept has attracted considerable international interest, and was discussed for the first time at the UN two weeks ago. While further discussions on many of the suggestions made by Brazil will be necessary, its paper is a welcome contribution because it can perhaps steer the debate on R2P, which has become rather polarized on Libya, in a more consensual direction.
This is also important in relation to the current debate on Syria, where one of the main arguments of Russia and China for their vetoes in the SC of resolutions on the crisis in Syria, is that any reference to the responsibility of the Syrian government to protect its civilian population would mean opening the door for military action against Syria. I'm not in a position to judge whether this truly is the main reason for these vetoes, but the only way to find out is to face the issue head- on and to engage with Russia and China on the further implementation of the principle of R2P.
So I'm sure that tonight's discussion will not be the last one I will participate in, and I would like to thank the Carnegie Foundation for having given me the opportunity to present my thoughts to this august audience.


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By NEMS Daily Journal
Ellen Sugg
WEST POINT – Ellen Frances Duke Sugg died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation with interment following at Greenwood Cemetery. Robinson Funeral Home is in charge or arrangements.
She is survived by daughters, Ellen Sugg Ward and Elizabeth "Betty" Sugg Person (Mike); son, William Ralph Sugg Jr. (Shurley); six grandchildren; one great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Ralph Sugg; sister, Suzanne Duke Calvert; and one grandson, William Thomas Person.
Pallbearers are Thomas Ward, Kate Bronson, Jon Michael Person, Bill Sugg III, Gregory Sugg, Anne Peyton Sugg and Beth Calvert.
The family will receive visitors from 3 to 5 p.m. today at her home at 744 E. Main St.
Memorials may be sent to the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation 103 W Broad St. West Point, MS 39773, the Historical and Genealogical Society at the Bryan Memorial Library PO Box 675 West point, MS 39773, or to the charity of your choice.
Friends may leave an online condolence at robinsonfh.net.
Calvin Barnes
ABERDEEN – Calvin Ruble Barnes, 82, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus. He was born March 15, 1930, in Aberdeen, to Kager Barnes and Mary Smitherman Barnes. He lived in Winthrop Harbor, Ill., and worked at the V.A. Medical Center as an operations foreman in north Chicago, retiring after 35 years. He had lived in Aberdeen for the last 28 years. He was in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a Deacon and Elder of the Aberdeen First Presbyterian Church. He loved spending time with his family, enjoyed fishing and playing lead guitar.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Tisdale-Lann Memorial Chapel in Aberdeen with the Rev. Wayne Bruchey and the Rev. Sandra Sisson officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne Esp Barnes of Aberdeen; two daughters, Rhonda Dale Barnes (Mike) Roberts of Paddock Lake, Wis., and Kimberly Anne Williams (Jeffery) of Belle Chasse, La.; three sons, Jeffrey Wade Barnes (Joanne) of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., Christopher Calvin Barnes (Laura) of Milan, Tenn., and Matthew Victor Barnes (Katharine) of Huntsville, Ala.; four sisters, Elsie Griffin of Round Rock, Texas, Edna Long of Okolona, Delores Moore (Jimmy) of Okolona and Mary Gillentine (Roger) of Aberdeen; two brothers, Ernest Barnes (Brenda) of Baldwyn and Kenneth Barnes (Rachel) of Aberdeen; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Dennis Ray Barnes; two brothers, Johnnie Barnes and Douglas Barnes; and one sister, Anna Jean Hodnett.
Pallbearers will be family.
Visitation is 3 to 5 p.m. today at Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Aberdeen.
An online guest registry and condolences may be accessed at www.tisdalelannmemorial.com.
Fred Lantrip
PONTOTOC – Fred Thompson Lantrip, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Tutor Memorial Funeral Home of Pontotoc.
Visitation is Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Grover Lambert
BOONEVILLE – Grover Lambert, 87, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McMillian Funeral Home.
Opal Massey
BRUCE – Opal Etoyle Massey, 87, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Bruce Community Living Center. She was born Dec. 16, 1924, in Banner. She was a homemaker and a seamstress. She was Baptist.
Service is at 2 p.m. today at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Bruce with Bro. Darrell Logan officiating. Interment is at Bruce Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Massey; mother, Verdie Brown Goodwin, father, Hubert Goodwin; two brothers, Clyde and Delmar Goodwin and one sister, Noble McDivitt.
She is survived by her sons, Danny (Elizabeth) Massey of Bruce and Andy (Donna) Massey of Coffeville; daughter, Barbara Bailey of Grenada; one sister, Dorothy Marcy of Houston, Texas; one brother, Claude Goodwin of Banner; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Adam Boyle, Freddy Buchanan, Benny Doler, Max Dorris, Bill Goodwin and Billy Poyner.
Wayne Brumley
BURNSVILLE – Euel Wayne Brumley, 74, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Magnolia Regional Health Center.
Services are at 1 p.m. Monday at Magnolia Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with military honors. Interment is at Harmony Hill Cemetery.
Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. today and 11 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home.
Hansford Farrar
TUPELO – Hansford "Pop" Farrar, 83, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.
Services are at 2 p.m. today at Senter Funeral Home Chapel. Interment is at Itawamba Memorial Gardens.
Visitation is 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.senter funeraldirectors.com.
Tommy Pugh
BALDWYN – Tommy Ray Pugh, 46, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center. He was a self-employed construction worker. His greatest joy was his children and grandchild. He was an avid Alabama fan.
Service will be at 4 p.m. today at Waters Funeral Home with Bro. Lamar Davis officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cedars Grove cemetery in Leeds, Ala.
He is survived by his fiancée, Kathy Oswalt of Baldwyn; children, Dustin Pugh of Alabama, Cody and Tyson Pugh of Baldwyn and Kaley Price of Alabama; stepchildren, Lauren, Katie and Ryder Oswalt of Baldwyn; grandchild, Brody Pugh of Alabama; parents, James and Brenda Pugh of Leeds, Ala.; sisters, Teresa Pugh of Odenville, Ala., and Christy Bailey (Steven) of Springville, Ala.; and niece, Jordan Davis of Springville, Ala.
Visitation is 1 to 4 p.m. today at Waters Funeral Home and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Kilgroe Funeral Home in Leeds, Ala.
Mary Lequia
AMORY – Mary Ann Lequia, 66, died on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Care Center of Aberdeen. She was born on Sept. 22, 1946, in Iron Mountain, Mich., to Catherine Lequia and the late Leo J. Lequia. She attended school and grew up in Michigan. Living most of her life in Amory, she attended Christian Chapel Church of Christ. She was an active participant in the Region III program. She was often described as being a very fun-loving and affectionate person, with a great sense of humor, who loved making new friends. She enjoyed arts and crafts, attending church functions, and singings. She cherished time spent with her family and made great friends with all of those who cared for her in her last years.
A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. David Highland officiating. Burial will follow in Haughton Memorial Park.
She is survived by her daughters, Sue Lynn Johnson and Shirley Gross of Janesville, Wis.; granddaughter, Winter Angel Gross; nieces and nephews, George Johnson (Tanya), John Johnson (Jana), Fran Coleman (Brent), Kenny Johnson (Mary Ann), Denna Abbott (Michial), Scot Hurley (Jill) and Dewayne Hurley (Lori); and a host of great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Toni Kozlowitz and Theresa Hurley.
Pallbearers will be Harold Johnson, Brent Coleman, Scot Hurley, Dewayne Hurley, Josh Hurley, Cayson Coleman and Lee Kozlowitz.
Visitation is 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.
Betti Renshaw
TUPELO – Betti Bristow Renshaw, 73, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at Sanctuary Hospice House. She was born Aug. 21, 1939, in Bruce, to Howard Ray Cozart and Tessie Parker Cozart. She lived most of her life in Tupelo, where she was a communicant of Saint James Catholic Church. She was talented, creative and loved to share her quilting and sewing with friends and family. Her other passions included Mississippi State University sports, St. Louis Cardinals baseball and being a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend to many.
A Funeral Mass will be recited at 1 p.m. Monday at St. James Catholic Church with Father Tom Lalor officiating. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel, is assisting the family.
Survivors include her mother, Tessie Parker Cozart of Tupelo; two sons, Robert Bristow (Missy) of Tupelo and Vance Bristow (Stephanie) of West Point; four daughters, Leigh Puckett of Dorsey, Betsy Walsh (Mark) of Roanoke, Va., Melissa Miley (Morris) of Tupelo and Becky Whitenton (Troy) of Tupelo; two brothers, Darwyn Cozart (Nita) of Verona and Steve Cozart of Tupelo; three sisters, Pat Bristow (Jerry), Sue Teem (Jerry) and Jo Cozart, all of Tupelo; two sisters-in-law, Sara Alice Renshaw and Mitzi Moore; and grandchildren, Taylor Walsh, Parker Walsh, Keely Gault, Sarah Vance Gault, Doty Miley, Wilson Miley, Chance Bristow, Alex Bristow, Anna Evan Bristow, Jeb Bristow, Tucker Whitenton, Bristy Whitenton, Judson Bristow, Julia Bristow and Griffin Bristow.
She was preceded in death by her father, Howard Cozart; her first husband, and father of her children, Robert Vance Bristow who died in 1971; her late husband, George Rod Renshaw, who died in 2000; and a grandchild, Ashley Elizabeth Walsh.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Visitation is 11 a.m. until service time on Monday at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Van Bristow Memorial Scholarship, C/O MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, MS State, MS 39762 or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors @comcast.net.
Alice Sprouse
BLUE SPRINGS – Alice Frances Kelley Sprouse, 97, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at Union County Health and Rehab in New Albany. She was born Sept. 12, 1915, in Furrs, to Benny Kelley and Rebecca Lackey Kelley. She, and her late husband Odis W. Sprouse of 54 years, made their home in the New Harmony community. She was a loving mother and grandmother to each one. She was well-known by neighbors, church members and family for her Sunday dinners, including her specialty fried chicken and coconut cake. She was a member of the New Harmony Baptist Church.
Services will be held at 4:30 p.m. today at the United Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Robert Hogue officiating. Burial will be in the New Harmony Cemetery.
She is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Lusk and Shelby Gullick, both of New Harmony; a son, Jimmy Sprouse (Dianne) of New Harmony; a brother Floyd Todd of Ecru; seven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 28 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Odis W. Sprouse; and a brother, Leroy Kelly.
Visitation is 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
For online condolences, visit unitedfuneralservice.com.
Ed Mattox
AMORY – Edward N. "Ed" Mattox, 82, died on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was born on Jan. 8, 1930, in Fort Madison, Iowa, to Earl and Beatrice Simmons Mattox. He was a graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Fort Madison, Iowa. Living in the Chicago area for 48 years, he was the safety instructor and former driver for Pace Bus. On April 20, 1974, he married Carolyn Thomas. Moving to Amory in April 1993, Mattox worked at River Birch for seven years, retired as a janitor with Hatley Schools in 2005 and went back to River Birch to work. He was of the Catholic faith and was passionate about helping others. Very outgoing and a happy person, he enjoyed fishing, golfing, dancing with his wife, mowing lawns, working in his shop and listening to country and Western music.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn T. Mattox of Amory; sons, Steve of Chicago, Ill., Craig of Las Vegas, Nev., Don of Chicago, Ill., and Rick of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters, Iris, Sandra, Cee Cee and Betty, all of Fort Madison, Iowa; grandchildren, Josh, Eddie, Douglas, Brian and Ricky; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 2 to 5 p.m. today at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home.
At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of choice.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.
Jaqueline Mason
BRUCE – Jaqueline Renee Mason, 47, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was a graduate of Bruce High School, Class of 1983, and a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Bruce.
Service is at 10 a.m. Monday at Parker Memorial Funeral Home with Bro. Will Turner officiating. Interment is at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Bruce.
She is survived by one daughter, Jade Freelon of Bruce; one son, John Freelon Jr. of Bruce; two sisters, Geri Smith of Kenosha, Wis., and Jeanette Hardin of Bruce; six brothers, James Mason of Wesson, Jimmy Grooms of Thaxton, Jeff Grooms, of Thaxton, Stan Rochelle of Hernando, Kenneth Mason of Calhoun City and Mike Mason of Derma; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George Boyce Mason and Lucille Conaway Mason; brothers, Roy Grooms, Bill Grooms, Robbie Grooms, Bobby Mason and Larry Mason; and sister, Patricia Baily.
Pallbearers are Davy Doss, Kenny Hardin, Ryan Hardin, Bubba Patterson, Danny Turner and Junior Turner. Honorary pallbearers are Robert Collins, Gabe Fulgham, Zack Goza and Keith Smithson.
Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. today at Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce.
Memorials can be donated to Calhoun Cares, P.O. Box 396 Bruce, MS 38915.
Online condolences may be made at parkermemorialfuneral homes.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub 4.2 fl oz (125 ml)
• Penetrates to eliminate most blackheads and help prevent new ones.
• Gentle scrub tingles as it exfoliates without overdrying.
Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment
Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating™ Daily Scrub clears blackheads and helps prevent new ones to give you clear, smooth skin. Its powerful combination of blackhead-fighting medicine and micro-beads works together to clean pores and help keep them free of blackheads:
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For external use only.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are using other topical acne medications at the same time or immediately following use of this product. This may increase dryness or irritation of the skin. If this occurs, only one medication should be used unless directed by a doctor.
When using this product avoid contact with eyes. If contact occurs, flush thoroughly with water.
Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (2%) (Acne Treatment)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG 15 Stearyl Ether, Polyethylene, Methyl Gluceth 20, Steareth 21, Steareth 2, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco Glucoside, Linoleamidopropyl PG Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Agar, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Red 30 (CI 73360), Fragrance
Cleanse skin daily. Wet face. Squeeze scrub into hands and work into lather. Massage gently on face, avoiding contact with the delicate eye area. Rinse thoroughly.
Additional Information
|Product Model
|4.2 oz


text:
The Land
Cities & Suburbs
Boom & Bust
Patriotic Duty
At Ease
Theme: At Ease
Artist: Ethel SPOWERS
Birth/Death: 1890–1947
Title: Football
Credit Line: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
In 1936 the Sydney Morning Herald reviewed the work of the modernist printer Ethel Spowers:
'Few Australian exponents of the colour print can equal the gaiety, the forcefulness and the imagination shown by Ethel Spowers.'
Football illustrates the Herald's observations. The suggestion of a frozen movement recalls the high-speed frame technique of sports photography found in newspapers and pictorial magazines of the period.
The printmaker Claude Flight introduced Ethel Spowers to the medium of colour linocut. He believed this printing process was an affordable and democratic art medium, which could introduce modern art to the home of the ordinary person.
The subjects that interested Spowers were often sporting and playground images. Like many women artists of her generation Spowers chose not to have children, but she was never tired of drawing them. She celebrated children's exuberance for life, while ignoring major events such as the Depression and the Second World War.
More details
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text:
I debated about whether I should share a sweet or a savory recipe with you today. And it wasn't an easy decision. Cookies, bars, or burgers? But I felt really strongly about you guys needing these burgers in your lives. Like, pull-that-bacon-and-ground-beef-out-of-the-freezer-before-you-go-to-work strongly. You'll regret not putting them on your tables tonight.
OK, maybe if you're having pizza tonight you won't regret not having these burgers but for the love of all things good, don't let the weekend go by without them. The burgers infused with bits of finely diced bacon and then they're topped with this other-worldly concoction of slow cooked red onions mixed with [yes more] bacon and balsamic vinegar that thickens into a jammy sauce. A nice liberal slice of sharp cheddar finishes everything off and by the end of dinner, you'll wish you had the chance to rewind and start it all over again. Damn that lack of time travel thing.
We served some baked oven fries alongside these babies but frankly, any typical burger side will work here too, as would a heaping mound of grilled veggies or fresh fruit (you know, for the guilt-factor). We've found our new favorite burger and you can assume that if you're coming to our house for dinner any time this summer, these are what we'll be making for you!
- 4 thick slices applewood-smoked bacon, sliced into ½-inch wide pieces
- 1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced (about 1 ½ cups)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 thick slices applewood-smoked bacon, finely diced
- 1 ¼ pounds ground beef (85% or 90% lean)
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, split
- Sliced sharp cheddar cheese, optional
- To make the jam: Heat a large saute pan (that has a cover) over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally until browned but not crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and let it drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Drain off all but 2-3 tablespoons of the bacon grease and then stir in the onions, about 1/4 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cover the pan to cook the onions for 2 minutes. Uncover the pan and in a splash of water, scraping the bits off of the bottom of the pan with a spatula or wooden spoon. Recover the pan and cook the onions for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and lightly browned.
- After the onions have cooked for 10 minutes, stir in the balsamic vinegar, mustard, and water then return the bacon to the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens and is almost completely absorbed, about 2-4 minutes (mine definitely took upwards of 4 minutes). At this point, the jam can be covered and refrigerated (you can make it up to 2 days in advance). If using immediately, set it aside in a bowl until ready to use.
- To make the burgers: Using a fork, lightly mix the finely diced bacon with the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and ground pepper in a medium bowl until the ingredients form a uniform mixture. Shape the burger mixture into four equal-sized patties, about 1-inch thick. Cook the burgers on a grill pre-heated to medium-high, about 4-5 minutes per side. Once you flip the burgers, add the cheese (if the cheese is thinly sliced, give it a minute or two on the second side before adding it). Once cooked to desired doneness, remove the burgers from the grill and set them aside to rest for 5 minutes before adding the topping, placing on the buns, and serving. No ketchup required.
source: adapted from Fine Cooking, July 2011, via Annie's Eats and Cook Like a Champion


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Apart from JJ Watt who had insane production from a 5 tech spot which is unheard of, the top 4 guys were all linebackers.
And it is somewhat different with the way BYU played with moving guys around.
Youll find in the NFL teams dont move their pass rush LBs around as much, just line them up against the same tackle most of the game and let him try to win.
They found ways to get Van Noy opportunities against lesser blockers.
Last edited by slipknottin; 02-01-2013 at 05:29 PM.
Football has been very, very good to us.
Even though 2013-2015 were 3 losing season's, we can console ourselves with this fact-
# of Super Bowl victories since 1985:
1-Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Seattle
2-Washington, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore
3-San Francisco, Dallas, Denver
4-New York Giants!!! & NE
Let's make it 5 in 2016 so we can be on a LINE all by ourselves again!!!
***Stat provided by "Schloss22"***


text:
- What is business intelligence?
- What kind of companies use BI systems?
- Who should lead the way?
- How should I implement a BI system?
- What are some potential problems?
- What are some benefits of business intelligence efforts?
- More tips for getting BI right
What is business intelligence?
Business intelligence, or BI, is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of software applications used to analyze an organization's raw data. BI as a discipline is made up of several related activities, including data mining, online analytical processing, querying and reporting.
Companies use BI to improve decision making, cut costs and identify new business opportunities. BI is more than just corporate reporting and more than a set of tools to coax data out of enterprise systems. CIOs use BI to identify inefficient business processes that are ripe for re-engineering.
With today's BI tools, business folks can jump in and start analyzing data themselves, rather than wait for IT to run complex reports. This democratization of information access helps users back up—with hard numbers—business decisions that would otherwise be based only on gut feelings and anecdotes.
Although BI holds great promise, implementations can be dogged by technical and cultural challenges. Executives have to ensure that the data feeding BI applications is clean and consistent so that users trust it.
What kind of companies use BI systems?
Restaurant chains such as Hardee's, Wendy's, Ruby Tuesday and T.G.I. Friday's are heavy users of BI software. They use BI to make strategic decisions, such as what new products to add to their menus, which dishes to remove and which underperforming stores to close. They also use BI for tactical matters such as renegotiating contracts with food suppliers and identifying opportunities to improve inefficient processes. Because restaurant chains are so operations-driven, and because BI is so central to helping them run their businesses, they are among the elite group of companies across all industries that are actually getting real value from these systems.
One crucial component of BI—business analytics—is quietly essential to the success of companies in a wide range of industries, and more famously essential to the success of professional sports teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's and New England Patriots.
Business Intelligence for the Mid-Market
Business Intelligence Versus Business Analytics Whats the Difference
Business Intelligence: Not Just for Bosses Anymore
The Brain Behind the Big, Bad Burger and Other Tales of Business Intelligence
With an analytical approach, the Patriots managed to win the Super Bowl three times in four years. The team uses data and analytical models extensively, both on and off the field. In-depth analytics help the team select players and stay below the NFL salary cap. Patriots coaches and players are renowned for their extensive study of game film and statistics, and Coach Bill Belichick reads articles by academic economists on statistical probabilities of football outcomes. Off the field, the team uses detailed analytics to assess and improve the "total fan experience." At every home game, for example, 20 to 25 people have specific assignments to make quantitative measurements of the stadium food, parking, personnel, bathroom cleanliness and other factors.
In retail, Wal-Mart uses vast amounts of data and category analysis to dominate the industry. Harrah's has changed the basis of competition in gaming from building megacasinos to analytics around customer loyalty and service. Amazon and Yahoo aren't just e-commerce sites; they are extremely analytical and follow a "test and learn" approach to business changes. Capital One runs more than 30,000 experiments a year to identify desirable customers and price credit card offers.


text:
30-pin iPhone 5 Adapter£5.99 instead of £19.99 (from Planet of Accessories) for a 30-pin to 8-pin charger and sync adapter for iPhone 5, 5s and 5c - save 70% + DELIVERY INCLUDED
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Getting a new phone is great, but it does mean that the likelihood of your friends having the same charger as you falls dramatically (not everyone can be as on trend as you). That's where today's deal comes in!
We're offering you a 30-pin to 8-pin charger and sync adapter for iPhone 5, 5s and 5c for just £5.99, saving you 70% off Planet of Accessories' price of £19.99 (correct as of 17.2.14).
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text:
Publications Tagged: operationurgent fury
- Added May 01, 1996
- The Troubled Path to the Pentagon's Rules on Media Access to the Battlefield: Grenada to Today. Authored by Dr. Pascale Combelles-Siegel.
- Ms. Pascale Combelles-Siegel examines the difficult road traveled by the press and the military since Operation URGENT FURY in 1983. She focuses on the development of the 1992 Joint Doctrine for Public Affairs as a practical tool for reducing tension and providing press access to the battle. Her analysis reflects the duality of the relationship and the efforts of both communities to find a modus vivendi.


text:
A memoir of startling insight, divine comedy, and irreversible, unconscionable stupidity
Fans of Jason Mulgrew's wildly popular blog know that everything really is wrong with him. The product of a raucous, not-just-semi-but-fully-dysfunctional Philadelphia family, Jason has seen it all from Little League games of unspeakable horror to citywide parades ending in stab wounds; from hard-partying longshoremen fathers to feathered-hair, no-nonsense, kindhearted mothers; and from conscience-crippling Catholic dogmas to the equally confounding religion of women. With chapter titles like "My Bird: Inadequacy and Redemption" (no, he is not referring to a parakeet) and "On the Relationship Between Genetics and Hustling," Everything Is Wrong with Me proves that, as Jason puts it, "writing is a fantastical exercise in manic depression" but he never fails to ensure that laughter is part of the routine.
With echoes of Jean Shepherd transplanted to Philly in the eighties and nineties, this book is a must-read for every person who looks back wistfully on his or her childhood and family and wonders, "What were we thinking?
"The somewhat alarming, always interesting world inside Jason's brain has now been strewn across the pages of a book. Godspeed, reader."
-Steve Hely, author of How I Became a Famous Novelist


text:
Education Champions
Programme for local authorities
Stonewall's Education Champions programme provides bespoke support and guidance to local authorities to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in local schools and support LGBT young people in their community.
Programme features
- Exclusive initial needs assessment to assist your local authority in prioritising and embedding work around tackling and preventing homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying
- Assistance with your submission to Stonewall's Education Equality Index
- Stonewall representation at two local events - this can include training for school or local authority staff
- Priority access to new resources
- Free good practice seminars to hear from, and share experiences with, other local authorities
- Regional meetings
- Networking opportunities with colleagues from other local authorities
- Discount on orders of Stonewall's acclaimed education resources
- Regular eBulletins providing information on national policy, events and good practice
- Discounted registration for the annual Stonewall Education for All Conference
- Joint branding and exclusive use of the Stonewall Education Champion logo for internal and external communications
- Two free advertisements on Stonewall's Proud Employers job site
Why Join?
We have a very limited budget. How can I justify the expense?
Joining the Education Champions programme is an extremely cost-effective way to demonstrate your commitment to preventing and tackling bullying in your schools. Not only does membership include the extensive package of benefits listed above, but also we will provide you with the tailored support, guidance and expertise to create measurable outcomes, helping you and your schools to comply with the Equality Act 2010.
Will joining the programme create extra work for us?
The Education Champions programme is designed to go hand in hand with much of the work you are already doing, whether that's around safety, anti-bullying or school improvement. We will work collaboratively with you to draw up an action plan, help you celebrate current good practice and develop the work being done to prevent and tackle bullying in schools.
My local authority is changing. Is the programme still relevant to us?
Local authorities have an important role to play in tackling and preventing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the wider local community. All schools, including academies and free schools, have a duty to cooperate with local authorities to improve children's welfare. Membership of the Education Champions programme provides local authorities with the tools to deliver the strong strategic role laid out by the Department for Education.
Membership of the Education Champions programme is £1,500 (+VAT) per year. If your local authority is already a Stonewall Diversity Champion, membership is at a reduced rate of £,1250 (+VAT) per year.
Join Now
Education Champions registration form
If you would like more information on Stonewall's Education Champions programme please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 020 7593 2821


text:
Carol Weisfeld
Why you're going to love my class
Different viewpoints are expected to be expressed. We listen to all viewpoints respectfully and discuss them openly. But you must be able to back up your comments—not just be silly with the subject. After my class, you will appreciate the differences between males and females at any age.
Great things for you at UDM
You'll work hard but you'll also have support to be successful in completing that work. You'll get a lot of personal attention and mentoring. I evaluate what level of thinking you're at and decide how to take you to the next one.
"We want great things for you" means
You have your own goals and our job is to help you achieve them. We might even help you rethink them. When students focus on how much money they want to make, we help students realize it's important to love what you do and be happy, too.
My favorite part about teaching you is
That look of discovery. Even after 30 years of teaching, it's gratifying when I see the "OOOHH, I get it now!" facial expression.
You might also like to know
I'm working on a cross-cultural study of what makes marriage work. We're compiling data on wife and husband relationships across seven countries now. Everyone around the world should be interested in what we find.
No other professor can say to you
I live in a Mies van der Rohe building in downtown Detroit, and I am the pastry chef for the UDM Women's Softball Team.


text:
Top Definition
An individual cup with ones name labeled on it for drinking, only to be used by that individual. It is used to avoid sharing cups with others during drinking games and avoiding sickness.
Right when Eric got to the party he made his own Mike Cup because there was a nasty virus going around.
by skorn1 March 23, 2011
The Urban Dictionary Mug
One side has the word, one side has the definition. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Lotsa space for your liquids.Buy the mug
The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt
Smooth, soft, slim fit American Apparel shirt. Custom printed. 100% fine jersey cotton, except for heather grey (90% cotton).Buy the t-shirt


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text: Now you don't need a lux price tag to find that eye-catchingly gorgeous bag. Now with every size, style, cut and couloir a girl could want. Oh, and when you find that handbag's in sale – you'll have to be quick, but at least there's no chance of finding none are left in your size. Perfect.


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Skip to comments.Pakistan Taliban say chief Mehsud killed in drone strike
Posted on 11/01/2013 10:54:56 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, has been killed in a drone strike, a high-ranking Taliban official has told the BBC.
Mehsud became leader of the Pakistani Taliban in 2009, aged 30, after his predecessor died in a US drone strike.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
he has had more lives than Morris. Similar reports have proven untrue in the past.
$5 million bounty office for his demise has been around for awhile. Thousands have died under his direction.
Can he apply for workers comp?
And to vote in Philly?
Workplace accident................
Ugly guy, too.
Shame his photo is a Getty image.
Long War Journal
Bill Roggio
US drone strike targets head of Pakistani Taliban
The US targeted the emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan in a drone strike today in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan. The strike is the second in the tribal agency in three days.
The CIA-operated, remotely piloted Predators or the more deadly Reapers fired a pair of missiles at Hakeemullah's vehicle as it left a mosque in the village of Danday Darpa Khel in the Miramshah area of North Waziristan, Dawn reported. The strike killed five "militants."
Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, was the target of today's strike. Hakeemullah's bodyguard, who was identified as Tariq Mehsud, and his driver, Abdullah Mehsud, are said to be among those killed in today's attack.
Pakistani intelligence officials are claiming they have confirmed that Hakeemullah was killed in the strike, but officials would not speak on the record, Reuters reported.
Pakistani Taliban chief killed in drone strike: sources
(Reuters) - The chief of the Pakistani Taliban was killed by a U.S. drone strike on Friday, security sources and a senior Taliban commander said, in a major blow to the country's most feared militant group.
Hakimullah Mehsud was one of Pakistan's most wanted men with a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head. He led an increasingly violent insurgency from a secret hideout in North Waziristan, the Taliban's mountainous stronghold on the Afghan border.
"We confirm with great sorrow that our esteemed leader was martyred in a drone attack," a senior Taliban commander said.
Mehsud's funeral will be held on Saturday in Miranshah, the Taliban commander said - a high-profile event likely to stir tensions further in the already highly volatile region.
Funeral Saturday..
Time. :-]
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looks like a cousin of Father Sarducci of SNL fame.
You're right.
"Pakistan Taliban say chief Mehsud killed in drone strike"
American media outlets sigh and look away, heard mumbling "If this were Romney, we'd have our foot so far up his azz he'd be tasting toe jam".
Obama has turned out to be a legit Muslim-killing Crusader.
makes ya wonder what else he has in his closet. ;-]
Baby nuke!
Let the big dog eat
I'm suspicious of anything hussein does, and wonder if he just blasts islamists he doesn't like. Certainly islamists kill other islamists even more regularly than they kill others. Unless it can be de demonstrated otherwise, soetoro is no exception.
Mehsud became leader of the Pakistani Taliban in 2009, aged 30, after his predecessor died in a US drone strike.Buh-bye.
Now why would they be "sorrowful" ? Don't they believe the dumdass is on his way to be with his herd of virgins? Shouldn't they be carwashing the flying carpets and spiffying up for a grand old going away party? And wouldn't the same party be used to happily welcome up the new target-—er guy? Do they give him the keys to a new Toyota with a bullseye on top? Here ya go muckmood!
If this one is really true, watch closely for yet another Benghazi or USS Cole type attack as payback...aided and abetted by US.
We're headed to China Vietnam and Thailand on a cruise next fall,, I just hope we're there when protests aren't.. And cars blowing up and stuff.
We got lucky in Greece, even in Rome, I hope our journey clicks in Asia.. Took over 5,000 pics and lots of vidayos last one, this one could be even hugher.
I kind of empathize at the early departure, I achieved a lot more as a young fellar too.. It was his chosen line of work tho :-) .
Karma sucks.
He danced the jihadist disco — "dis go this way, dis go that way".
Well he already voted in Philly a few times, but the workman's comp is going to the wrong address.
Most of the time it's a jihadi who is either #2 or going to become #2, if you know what I mean.
Yeah, they're all number two....every last one of them.
"Who does Number 2 work for?"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Voting, foreclosures, mining and more, Howard on The Agenda
The Agenda had our field director Howard Watts III on their show to talk about Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller's visual verification bill, banks pushing back against foreclosure reform, mining taxes and his receipt of the Mario Savio Young Activist Award.
Nevada's top politico Jon Ralston blogged about Howard's appearance and Secretary Miller's new bill, also giving a shout out to our State Director Bob Fulkerson's Reno Gazette Journal OpEd on the issue.
What do you think? Will visual verification lead us down the path to modernization and stronger, safer and more honest elections, or are we headed down the path toward voter ID requirements and voter suppression? Leave us a comment below.


text:
Publications Tagged: German National Security
- Added December 01, 1996
- Force, Statecraft and German Unity: The Struggle to Adapt Institutions and Practices. Edited by Dr. Thomas-Durell Young.
- Concerning Bonn's ongoing attempt to adapt institutions and practices, German policy making is clearly a manifestation of officials largely navigating in a little-known policy milieu. Realpolitik, let alone Machtpolitik (either as mere terms, let alone as concepts) are neither freely used in "polite" political discord in Germany, nor widely contemplated.


text:
The history and heritage of the district is being brought to life in a series of 16 audio trails being produced by North East Derbyshire District Council, thanks to £50,000 worth of funding from the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire (BNED) LEADER Approach.
This project follows these fascinating stories and allows residents to make new discoveries on their doorstep while pulling visitors into our towns and villages.
The trails are brought to life thanks to narration by, and interviews with, local people – guiding listeners along the trail.
They are available to download for free on to an mp3 player, mobile phone or iPhone (details below). Please click on the name of a trail on the right to find out more and download that trail.
See our guide below for details of our full range of trails, or click on the links on the right for more details.
The project builds on the success of two audio trails which have already been produced by the council for Ashover and Holmewood – available to download through the links on the right.
The audio trails are produced by local, Higham-based company Audiotrails.
If you have any queries about our audio trails or the Hidden Gems project, please contact us, our details are below.


text:
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Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
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text:
Robin Brownlee
November 06 2011 09:44PM
Former Edmonton Oiler Georges Laraque doesn't name names, but the retired tough guy says the use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs was not uncommon during his time in the NHL.
In a book to be released by Viking Canada, The Story of the NHL's Unlikeliest Tough Guy, that is bound to send ripples through the NHL, Laraque, who played parts of 13 seasons with the Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, refers to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by NHL players.
What Laraque, 34, who retired after the 2009-10 season and is now deputy leader of the federal Green Party, doesn't divulge in his references to the use of PEDs in his autobiography is who, when and where.
The question now is, will the always quotable Laraque, who filled notepads, hosted a radio show in Edmonton and was a regular off-season guest on Bob Stauffer's popular Total Sports afternoon drive show on TEAM 1260 during his playing days, follow up and provide details?
I'm guessing we'll find out soon enough when Laraque tours in support of his book.
"I have to say here that tough guys weren't the only players using steroids in the NHL," said in the book.
"It was true that quite a lot of them did use this drug, but other, more talented players did too. Most of us knew who they were, but not a single player, not even me, would ever think of raising his hand to break the silence and accuse a fellow player."
Laraque, who played 490 regular season games with the Oilers and still lives in Edmonton, says use of steroids and other drugs wasn't limited to the fraternity of players who earned their keep as tough guys.
"First, you just have to notice how some talented players will experience an efficiency loss as well as a weight loss every four years, those years being the ones the Winter Olympics are held.
"In the following season they make a strong comeback; they manage a mysterious return to form."
In The Story of the NHL's Unlikeliest Tough Guy, a wide-ranging look at Laraque's life and career that mentions use of performance-enhancing drugs by unnamed players but doesn't make the issue a focus in the 300-page book -- he refers to facing opponents jacked up on steroids and other substances.
"Before a game, as I would warm up on the ice, I would always look at the tough guy on the other side," he wrote.
"If his arms were trembling, if his eyes were bulging, I knew for sure he wasn't going to feel any of the punches I would give him."
While testing for performance-enhancing drugs was included in the CBA reached between the NHL and NHLPA in 2005 -- players can be subjected to three no-notice tests from the start of training camp through the end of the regular season -- Laraque claims there initially was reluctance to recognize a problem.
Laraque says he first approached the NHLPA with concerns shortly after he broke into the NHL with the Oilers during the 1997-98 season.
"They wanted to keep drug testing as a card in their negotiations with the league," he wrote. "Plus, since their main goal was to protect the players, to take action against drugs would have harmed some of those players."
While the NHL and NHLPA has yet to respond to Laraque's contentions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs, there's bound to be plenty of fall-out in coming weeks. I've put a call into Laraque to see if he'd like to fill in some of the blanks and name names.
Stay tuned.
Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail has written a column I think is worth reading on Laraque's decision to mention the use of performance-enhancing drugs in his book and some of the reaction directed his way for doing so. Blair's column can be found here www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/jeff-blair/will-georges-laraques-claims-about-hockey-and-steroids-fall-on-deaf-ears/article2227405/.
At the very least, Blair's column lends some context to the Canadian Press report that I and others have referenced or published, to the issues Laraque has raised and the reaction he's received in recent days.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
I wear a helmet 24-7.
The NHL testing policy has so many holes you could drive a semi thru it. As testing is only during the season and it takes three months for steroids to clear the body the players have two months where they can juice up and work out. The only test they use is urine sampling which does not catch hgh. Perhaps if the NHL had proper drug testing there would be less concussion problems as players would be closer to their proper build rather than 15 or more pounds of muscle heavier.
I was a huge Georges Laraque fan when he was woth Edmonton. I was pi$$ed when they traded him out. Now I can't stand to hear the name Georges Laraque!! No wonder they kicked him out of town...who wants this kind of crap getting around. Who gives a rats ass if SOME players do steroids??!! Does anybody walk to the rink going "oooh I'm not going to watch so and so cause he does steroids. It's just a fact of life...some people get it, some people don't!!
November 06 2011, 08:09AM
It would be naive to think it happens in all sports except hockey. I hope he sheds some more light on this eventually and that the league does something about it.
November 06 2011, 08:10AM
You'd have to be pretty ignorant to think that the NHL is the only professional sport in NA without a PED problem. Props to big George for bringing it out and making it known to the public.
November 06 2011, 08:12AM
Umm because steriods kill and Laraque is obviously worried.
Who wants the NHL to turn into the MLB?
He's not worried!! He's just trying to get his name noticed everywhere so when it's time to vote, his name will stand out!!
November 06 2011, 08:17AM
Because no one knows who George is right now...
Let's vote for Laraque cause he promoted testing awarness!! That's a terrible arguement.
I remember Stauff having him on last year and Georges level of desperation to stay relevant was apparent then. Busting Bobs sack for a weekly spot etc. etc.
We have seen it forever, guys (and their wives for that matter) who struggle with life out of the limelight. Its a rather large kick to the junk for some and their ability to cope is variant.
Georges case is even more unique as he was hired for one specific job and decided that he was above that in a failed effort to redefine himself on the ice. End result. A premature trip to the trash heap. ( thanks in certain part to Milan Lucic being the player George wanted to be rather than the player George was) and this grand drama played itself out on the largest stage in hockey (no apologies to T dot O).
I kinda feel for his desperation and the screams to remain relevant but all in all..... in my estimation... theres just something not right with George Laraque. Personally I also walk amongst those who dont give a rats ass about what he has to say on this matter. Simply because I dont know what he pretends to gain from the "revelation" beyond a wee bit of "pub". Is George concerned for the health of the users? Is George trying to clean up the tarnished image of the NHL? Is George trying to level the playing field in the NHL?
~Cmon Man!!!!!!!!!!~
Dear George
U were a great fighter who couldnt skate worth a fcuk cause you was a muscle bound knuckle dragger. Embrace what you were good at and STFU about your conspiracies about why others were better. Its called genetics..... look it up.
ps. thanks for the many hours waiting in line to sign stuff at rexall, my kids still love u... I wont buy them your book
November 06 2011, 08:34AM
Olympic year? laraque being a partial snitch?
blowing the whistle on someone big here. CP?
November 06 2011, 08:35AM
Laraque is a stand-up guy. even when the spotlight is on him he never makes it about himself and always appears humble. But that doesn't make him afraid to speak his mind about issues on and off the ice (whether it be racism, head injuries, or steroids). some may find that irritating or breaking some vow of brotherhood. But I don't see it that way.
The NHL is being lapped by other major sports on head injuries and steriods. It looks bad. The point isn't to nanny state up the NHL, but neither is it to let everything run amuck.
November 06 2011, 08:44AM
Kudos to George for putting a bug in our ear about ped's at least he didn't call anybody inparticular out in the book about drug use like that boob Canseco.
I hope the NHL & NHLPA take note and do more to protect the players before we hear about a player oding next summer.
November 06 2011, 09:04AM
Steroids kill? So do bowling balls. Steroids in large amounts can and do result in negative health consequences, but deaths are rare. It's the current edition of Reefer Madness.
As far as drug use in the NHL - I think we're all aware to some degree but for one reason or another we accept/ignore it. Don't believe me? Ask yourself if you care the next time you see a certain older, reemerging top goaltender (ha-hmm, rhymes with cabbie) do a post game interview with pupils the size if nickles, darting from place to place faster than a cat chasing a laser pointer. Maybe it's from baby aspirin and smelling salts - I'm no expert but it's not normal.
Do you care? Are you happy with the win?
November 06 2011, 09:13AM
Umm because steriods kill and Laraque is obviously worried.
Who wants the NHL to turn into the MLB?
Tell me exactly how steroids kill?
November 06 2011, 09:13AM
Umm because steriods kill and Laraque is obviously worried.
Who wants the NHL to turn into the MLB?
Tell me exactly how steroids kill?
November 06 2011, 09:14AM
Damn double post!
Ya think? There's PED's in every other professional sport on the planet...
Just a coincidence that the Caps were using that steroid doctor? Ever seen Raffi Torres' eyes? I remember Kirk Muller looked like a psycho murder in his last couple of seasons. CRAZY EYES.
Steroids, coke, ephedrine, HGH... No big surprise.
If you're in denial and think Laraques would fabricate this kind of stuff for any reason... get a grip.
November 06 2011, 09:22AM
The more Laraque talks in retirement, the more I wish he'd shut up. (Unless he names names)
It's not like people are naive enough to think the NHL is 100% pure. (Jonathan Cheechoo comes to mind) Other than money, why is Laraque the Chief of morality in the NHL?
I'm not sayingn he's wrong, I'm just saying he needs to go away and move on.
What's next George, NHL players cheat on their wives???
November 06 2011, 09:39AM
As much as you may not agree with Georges' politics or his pursuit of "facetime", few can say his heart is not in the right place. Those remembering Canseco's first book probably remember him being denounced as a media whore for making "outrageous" claims that over 1/2 the league was on PEDs. While he clearly had a ton of issues his claims were proven right.
I don't know George but I think he is cut from a different Jib than Canseco and I may be naiive but I would like to think his main purpose is to help stop the abuse.
Tough to imagine there aren't kids that are tempted to "do whatever it takes" for a better opportunity to make it. Time to bring this issue to light.
Tell me exactly how steroids kill?
Not my post, but to answer that...
There have been steroid-related deaths before (namely about half a dozen or so in wrestling). They have been known to cause an enlarged heart or other heart problems, as well as kidney problems and other health risks.
There are many that have taken them without experiencing these sorts of problems, but to think there aren't any dangers involved in taking them would be a fallacy as well.
Anyways, my belief... I am sure there are players that do take steroids in the NHL, but I'm not so sure that it's widespread at all. I think there won't be much in the way of support from his fellow players on this (and I mean from the non-steroid users). I don't think he'd make anything up either though, just for the sake of making it up... but I just wonder if there is a small handful that he he just has suspicions of and that might be a bit misleading. Still yet, I wouldn't mind it if the new CBA took steroid use more seriously in increasing the amount of random tests they do (for example), because you just never know how widespread it could be. I think in baseball though the use was quite obvious. Guys like MacGuire who were skinny one year then ginormous the next.
November 06 2011, 09:47AM
The NHL testing policy has so many holes you could drive a semi thru it. As testing is only during the season and it takes three months for steroids to clear the body the players have two months where they can juice up and work out. The only test they use is urine sampling which does not catch hgh. Perhaps if the NHL had proper drug testing there would be less concussion problems as players would be closer to their proper build rather than 15 or more pounds of muscle heavier.
I think you make the most valid point in the whole argument. Regardless of how (we) may feel about Laraque, PED's are almost certainly a contributing factor to the increasing level of aggression in the game.
The NHL has their heads buried in the sand on a great many number of issues, including this very important one.
Thanks for bringing it up, George. We'll let Peter Mansbridge take it from here.
November 06 2011, 10:04AM
This should not come as a surprise, I beleive like alot of the other people here, that Big George is doing this to stay in the limelight.What he has really done is basically broken the golden rule in all sports and thats what happens in the dressing room or behind closed doors stays there.He can say what he wants, but I for one do not beleive him ,that he is doing this for the benefit of the NHL, he is doing this for his benefit and thats to bad.
November 06 2011, 10:16AM
What I'm wondering is how many times did laraque insert the penis shrinking needle himself?
November 06 2011, 10:19AM
@Robin Brownlee
Indeed. There are all kinds of pseudo-professionals who linger around big-league locker rooms: trainers, medicinalists, pimps, lawyers, investment guys, even the mob*.
Pro athletes have a lot of money, a lot of celebrity, and a lot of fun, and there's a crowd on the periphery trying to cater to- and be relevant to them.
To your point, Brownlee, the same guy who sells Raffi the coke probably sells him the juice.
*I play hockey with a former St. Louis Blue who has some great stories of these mob guys following the team around trying to get players to help launder money. They would give gifts, hookers, offer up muscle, and even sent the guy's family a bunch of farm equipment to their Saskatchewan ranch.
November 06 2011, 10:21AM
Although it shouldn't downplay the merits of having the debate, it is too bad he's trying to hawk a book right now, isn't it.
I think ped use is a huge issue which has been ignored by the owners and union. The two sports it would have the most effect on would be hockey and football.These are the two sports that have the most concussion problems which is partly related to the size and aggression of the players. Its talked about how the ice is too small because the players are all too big.Well they are not all too big but you can point out a whole bunch usually hitters and 6 minute a game grinders who fit the ped profile. Its not only Laraque who has spoken on this Dave Schultz commented the same way after Boogards death.Schultz was an enforcer at 195 lbs.In todays game he would not qualify.Ever wonder why?
November 06 2011, 11:10AM
Big George is looking to remain in the spotlight...
He clearly didnt want to jeopardize his career while playing and make these comments. ONLY now that he had made his millions and is looking to remain relavent.
Had he made this stand 10 years ago in his prime he would be worthy of a strong stand up guy truly acting on the saftey of his fellow players.
Sorry George... Your barely hanging on, and this is a cheap excuse to keep your name in the headlines!!!
I've been saying this for almost 2 years now. It was about 2 years ago the Washington capitals were caught up in rumors of seeing a Chiropractor who went on record as to saying he sold PED to athletes in all leagues .NHL included, and I think even named the Washington Capitals ... I thought for sure this would blow up .... Nothing , swept under the rug . Ever since then Ovie's and some of the other players lost something ( Ovie hasn't been the same since) there was a time if Ovie couldn't go around a d- man he'd just go over him .He is not the same dominating forward he once was ... Some would even say he's getting fat !! All signs of being off of PED . Now with that said , this is just MY THOUGHTS with no proof . But one thing for sure is he is not the same player I remember .
November 06 2011, 11:25AM
@Wolf Cola
The rake never gained weight man. No chance it was him. 2006 Olympics was also year he carried Oilers to Cup. That doesn't jive with what Laraque wrote as far as having a down year.
November 06 2011, 11:29AM
If Ovi was using, this just goes to show how amazing Crosby really is.
November 06 2011, 11:37AM
If Ovi was using, this just goes to show how amazing Crosby really is.
and if they were both using?
**law and order theme song starts playing**
November 06 2011, 12:05PM
Didn't Iginla lose a whole whack of weight coming out of the lockout (olympic year)?
November 06 2011, 12:28PM
Break the rules and pay the price. I can't feel sorry for those who will do anything to win, legal or not, and eventually get caught.
It was only a matter of time.
November 06 2011, 12:29PM
@Robin Brownlee
Hey, I'm responding to the multitude of comments labeling Laraque's newfound stance as being self-serving.
Personnally I applaud him for shining a light on the issue. By contrast, I also think it's fair for people to criticize the fact he's trying to sell a book and is being opportunistic. Thanks George, but you're no more an authority on the subject than anyone else who's been in an NHL locker room over the past decade.
Altruism and the profit motive seldom intersect.
November 06 2011, 12:39PM
If the other tough guys' arms are trembling, and his eyes are bugged out, could it be because he knows he's going to get POUNDED by GL?
I would argue that most of the steroid use that Georges saw, was because the other guys were trying to keep up with HIM!
November 06 2011, 12:44PM
Not my post, but to answer that...
There have been steroid-related deaths before (namely about half a dozen or so in wrestling). They have been known to cause an enlarged heart or other heart problems, as well as kidney problems and other health risks.
There are many that have taken them without experiencing these sorts of problems, but to think there aren't any dangers involved in taking them would be a fallacy as well.
Anyways, my belief... I am sure there are players that do take steroids in the NHL, but I'm not so sure that it's widespread at all. I think there won't be much in the way of support from his fellow players on this (and I mean from the non-steroid users). I don't think he'd make anything up either though, just for the sake of making it up... but I just wonder if there is a small handful that he he just has suspicions of and that might be a bit misleading. Still yet, I wouldn't mind it if the new CBA took steroid use more seriously in increasing the amount of random tests they do (for example), because you just never know how widespread it could be. I think in baseball though the use was quite obvious. Guys like MacGuire who were skinny one year then ginormous the next.
I never said any side effect's!
There's side effect to taking to much ibuprofen, I'm not questioning the side effects or long term side effect's. I question how exactly does steroids kill from taking them? linking wrestling deaths and steroids is absurd! there maybe a correlation but theres no prof that anyone died directly from taking steroids! More evidence and prof that MLB players abused steroids too! how many have died?
As a medical professional I can tell you that regular use of steroids in controlled manner has about the same effect on your body as prednisone,(which is a steriod) further more some steroids actually allow your body to heal faster.
there's prof that HGH for example used in a controlled manner is actually very good for you.
Having said that, yes like every sport there is steroid use, how players use it depends on what they do.
don't turn laraque into a rat, brownlee.
names is only glory for YOU and the politicians who jump on it like mlb.
you could take a more noble stance and assist the problem moving forward. dragging people through old mud is easy and boring.
November 06 2011, 01:07PM
I had a friend who was a bodybuilder and he explained to me that the half life of many steroids are much shorter than three months, especially the higher quality products that pro athletes/bodybuilders can afford.
Not only traditional testosterone steroids but pain killers and steroids for the purposes of endurance seem more popular for pro athletes. So if they wanted athletes could spend up to four months using Performance Enhancers.
I'm not one of those people that accuses everyone of using because I also used to be a gym rat and in speaking with many people some used some didn't. But with the kind of punishment and abuse that pro athletes put on their bodies it takes a toll so I can see why some people use it.
This accusation by Georges though smacks of Cansecoesque behaviour. I agree with those analysts on SN. If you are going to out this info don't be a coward and do it after your career. Do this while you are playing so you can actually have impact on the subject, don't do it after you've retired just to garner publicity for whatever your doing, in this case a book.
November 06 2011, 01:14PM
@Robin Brownlee
But paid in full after the publisher read it, no? I mean, there's money to be made by selling 'shocking allegations'.
I'm not saying he's doing this for money, and I also applaud him for coming out with this. But to say that he was paid up-front does not disqualify him from doing it for financial gain. How his contract is structured is meaningless.
Georges: "Here's my book." Publisher: "Does it contain any shocking allegation?" Georges: "No." Publisher: "Well, we'll pay you (up front) much more if it does. Add a few more chapters and we'll talk again."
November 06 2011, 01:20PM
I definitely stand in the corner of tougher testing. Blood testing is really the best way to be sure at this juncture of PEDs.
Off season testing should also be impletmented if they really want to stamp out PEDs. Although that seems difficult because the NHL can't follow players around in the off season. They could require players to provide blood testing once a month to a lab and provide the results at the start of camp. The only concern there though is cost and the fact that it's the players time off.
Also to Wes Mantooth. The issue is that medical professionals don't dose and handle the use of steroids, HGH, etc. unless it's actually medically prescribed for a major injury or something related to health issues. It's the players themselves doing this and they are not medical professionals. It's the danger that is posed every time someone OD's or overuses these drugs and does damage to themselves.
The rake never gained weight man. No chance it was him. 2006 Olympics was also year he carried Oilers to Cup. That doesn't jive with what Laraque wrote as far as having a down year.
I always wondered why in 1998, Messier was left off the Olympic roster..
Kudoos to George to stand against the NHL hierarchy and stand up for the players in the league. Anyone who believes PED and HGH are not a problem are fooling themselves. George has way more to loose then to gain with statements he's making. Standing up to the code, and standing against the current will Is not be best for him financially.
I think George has seen the cost of no one speaking up against drug use. There are long overdue attitudes in the NHL about drugs that are not really being addressed, and if what he says stirs the pot, and saves lives, good on him. Drugs destroys the culture of the sport, its credibility, and worse yet the people in it.
November 06 2011, 02:02PM
No surprise here at all. If a kid is willing to do whatever it takes to have a few years of glory then so be it. For some the lure of a life in pro sports far outweighs a neverwas normal one. Every kid who makes this decision does it knowing full well, the bulb that burns twice as bright, burns half as long.
We're all in charge of our own happiness in life, some kids are just willing to do whatever it takes to live closer to what they perceived as happiness.
November 06 2011, 02:40PM
PED use in the NHL - yup. But I'm of the opinion that the steroid use is of little concern - for two reasons.
1) Not widely used. Yes, big solid dmen, enforcers, and some power forward types can benefit from them but for the most part, quick, fast mobile athletes don't. Remember when Gags came to camp 10 pounds bulkier - he plays much better learner (see Rod Brind'amour).
2) As Wes Mantooth has suggested - when used correctly, they are of little danger. In fact the health benefits can easily outweigh the negatives. Especially in an aging individual.
The bigger concern should be with the stimulants. These have a far greater negative impact on health.
But hey, I'm with Moneypuck - We're all consenting adults. The athletes consent to the use, and we consent to the performance:)
Edit: I apologize if I put word's in Moneypuck's mouth - that's how I interpreted his comment.
November 06 2011, 03:18PM
this reminds me of a scene from under siege 2.
We know this. The (pro leagues) know that we know this. We pretend we don't know, and they (the pro leagues) make believe that they believe we don't know. But they know we know. Everybody knows.
show me proof, dont waste my time with general accusations that do nothing more than bring up more speculation.