text:
Share the Road plateSupporting the Iowa Bicycle Coalition
|Eligible vehicles
Multipurpose vehicles
Sport utility vehicles
Motor homes
Trailers and travel trailers
|Numbered plates
Plates (including personalized plates) may be purchased as a gift. Gift certificates will be mailed to the purchaser.
Numbered plates must be ordered through your county treasurer's office.
|Personalized plates
Personalized license plates may consist of up to five characters and numbers. All personalized plate choices must have at least two characters.
|How to apply
Order online (You will need an Iowa Driver's license or ID and a credit card to complete the transaction.)
Completed applications may be returned to your county treasurer's office or the following address.
Office of Vehicle & Motor Carrier Services
Telephone: 515-237-3110
Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.


text:
United States >
Our Company >
Company Information >
Corporate Responsibility
About Us
Corporate responsibility is now high on national and international agendas. Yet 3M has long held the belief that reputation depends not solely on our financial performance but also on the way we run our business. In 1975, 3M was one of the first major manufacturing companies actively to address environmental issues and, as with our drive for innovation, we involved employees through our benchmark program Pollution Prevention Pays.
We believe we have a sound record of achievement in corporate responsibility but continually strive to improve our performance and address the ongoing challenges and opportunities. We are committed to sustainable development through a proactive approach to environmental protection, social responsibility and strong economic progress.
3M's commitment is to actively contribute to sustainable development through environmental protection, social responsibility and economic progress. To us, that means meeting the needs of society today, while respecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Everything we do is underpinned by our corporate values and our day-to-day actions are guided by our Business Conduct Policies.
3M's strategies for sustainability encompass the pursuit of customer satisfaction and commercial success within a framework of environmental, social and economic values.
For more detailed information about 3M Sustainability, please visit our Sustainability at 3M website (US, English).
3M Science. Applied to Life.
(English, PDF 800KB)
© 3M 2017. All Rights Reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text: I am curious. For those of you that hate the unions, what has caused that hatred? I have explained my hatred for "rich" people. Not so much the people themselves, just their actions. Someone recently asked me if I actually hated the rich people or just their actions. Some of those rich people I do personally hate for reasons that make sense to me.


text: I almost always add a label. I never thought about adding my signature. Neat idea. I do add my name and date. When I make postcards and gift cards by machine I sometimes write on them with a Frixion pen, then machine stitch over it. I then iron it and the pen disappears.. I guess the machine stitchers(like me) could do it this way.


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Herpo the Foul's basilisk
14,836pages onAdd New Page
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this wiki
|"Are you a wizard or not?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title.
Herpo the Foul's basilisk was the first recorded basilisk in history. It was bred by Herpo the Foul, a Greek Dark Wizard, who discovered after much experimentation that a chicken egg hatched beneath a toad would produce this gigantic serpent. Herpo was able to control the basilisk as he was able to speak Parseltongue. It is said that this particular basilisk lived to be about 900 years old.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card) (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
- Wizard of the Month (Herpo the Foul) (Mentioned only)


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Google Updates Gmail, Now with Full Screen Composition
It's a welcome change. Currently, you must write your email messages in a window down off to the side of the screen, which doesn't really make a lot of sense. With this update, the compose window will be centered, and you can expand it to be as large as your screen can handle. Google also says that the formatting toolbar is now on by default.
If you wish to make the full screen compose option automatic, you can do so by clicking the arrow (technically, the "More" menu) at the bottom right of the window by the trash can icon and selecting "Default to full-screen".
Google is rolling the change out to users over the next couple of days.


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There's a new book out on PM press edited by the fabulous Vikki Law and China Martens and I have a chapter in it entitled "Parental Caregiving and Loss: Ideas for Caregivers and their Allies," co-written with my good friend and loss collaborator Cynthia Schemmer. The anthology, "Don't Leave Your Friends Behind: Concrete Ways to Support Families in Social Justice Movements & Communities," is the long-awaited book version of the zine that Vikki and China have been putting out for the past 6 years. While not focusing exclusively on loss outside of Cynthia and I's chapter, the book is chalk full of helpful tips, concrete suggestions, personal narratives, mistakes, and successes around how to support parents, families, and children in activist communities. You can pick up a copy here.
From the Preface:
"There are many books on parenting, but few on being a good
community member and a good ally to parents, caregivers, and children as
we collectively build a strong all-ages culture of resistance. Any
group of parents will tell you how hard their struggles are and how they
are left out, but no book focuses on how allies can address issues of
caretakers' and children's oppression. Isolated by age within an
individualistic, capitalist culture, many well-intentioned childless
activists don't interact with young people on a regular basis and don't
know how. Don't Leave Your Friends Behind provides them with the
resources and support to get started." (p. 4)
From Our Chapter on Parental Loss:
loss stirs up fears in all of us. Every one's parents are going to
die, but we live in a culture that rarely acknowledges this reality. We
usually have great difficulty finding the words to say to someone who
has lost a parent, both because we rarely learn how to speak
authentically about loss, and also because the words we might say are so
easily drowned out by the crashing sounds of our own reactions in our
heads. The first thing for you to do when supporting someone throughout
this is check in with yourself about your fears, experiences, feelings
and barriers so you can be present with them. Acknowledging these
things helps you to be in touch with them instead of pushing them away.
If you are in touch with these fears, you may even be able to use them
to help support the person by allowing yourself to empathize with how
they might be feeling."
Check Vikki and China's blog for updates on appearances in various cities to publicize the book!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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text:
Explore open countryside at your own pace on a self-guided walking holiday with Contours. From our tried and tested itineraries to bespoke trips, we provide trusted accommodation, luggage transfers, maps and guidebooks, and emergency support.
Mulberry Travel is a brand new, energetic and recent travel agent, ambitious by exceptionally high standards for customer care. Our experienced team capable of giving the best possible deals saving you time and money.
A luxury 7 day chauffeured tour visiting Englands' wonderful Gardens and splendid Country Houses
Goyo Travel has extensive experience of over 20 years in providing bespoke Mongolia travel. They make your Mongolia tour adventurous with exciting horse riding and trekking trips.
Exclusive accommodation with personal service in a super guest house - in Broadway the Jewel of the Cotswolds. Windrush House is known for great hospitality, super accommodation and scrumptious breakfasts. Come and stay at a wonderful home from home.
Self drive narrowboats on the canals of Central England
This friendly guest house has a convenient location not far from the centre of Norwich and offers spacious, comfortable accommodation at great-value rates on a bed and breakfast basis.
1. The Ebenezer Chapel, Milford - A 1830's converted stone Chapel for 22 Guests, on the riverside in the old mill village of Milford. 8 bedrooms, some en-suite, and four lovely bathrooms. There's a huge lounge, with the original pulpit! - and lots
Modern, friendly three star hotel in the heart of the English motorway network and the Natioanl Forest. Ideal touring base,Stratford, Warwick & Nottingham in 60 mins.
Oakthwaite House is a Victorian town house only a five-minute walk from Keswick town centre. We provide a high quality service and offer you a comfortable, relaxing, refreshing and enjoyable stay.
Market Harboroug, United Kingdom visitors guide to accommodations, adventure travel, unique tours and rentals. Check out top Market Harboroug, United Kingdom getaways & destinations. Market Harboroug, United Kingdom vacations, packages & travel spots. Visit Market Harboroug, United Kingdom !.


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Take a listen to selections from Heilmann's iPod, played before and during her Seminar.
Since its inception in the late 1960s, Seminars with Artists has provided a forum for intimate engagements with the most notable artists working in America. Taking its cue from the exhibition Gordon Matta-Clark: You Are the Measure, this season's speakers explore art practices born from critical intersections with New York City.


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Toggle: English / Spanish
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system problem that causes you to feel an unstoppable urge to get up and pace or walk. You feel uncomfortable unless you move your legs. Moving stops the unpleasant feeling for a short time.
Nocturnal myoclonus; RLS; Akathisia
No one knows exactly what causes RLS. It may be due to a problem with the way brain cells use dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical that helps with muscle movement.
RLS may be linked to some other conditions. It may occur more often in people with:
RLS may also occur in people who:
RLS occurs most often in middle-aged and older adults.
RLS is commonly passed down in families. This may be a factor when symptoms start at a younger age.
RLS leads to unpleasant feelings in your lower legs. These feelings cause an unstoppable urge to move your legs. You may feel:
These sensations:
Symptoms can make it difficult to sit during air or car travel, or through classes or meetings.
Stress or emotional upset can make symptoms worse.
Most people with RLS have rhythmic leg movements when they sleep. This condition is called periodic limb movement disorder.
All of these symptoms make it hard to sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to:
There is no specific test for restless legs syndrome. Your health care provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam. You may have blood tests and other exams to rule out conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
Usually, your provider will determine whether you have RLS based on your symptoms.
Restless legs syndrome can't be cured. However, treatment can help relieve symptoms.
Certain lifestyle changes may help you cope with the condition and ease symptoms.
Your health care provider may prescribe medicines to treat RLS.
Some medicines help control symptoms:
Other medicines can help you sleep:
Medicines to help you sleep may cause daytime sleepiness.
Treating conditions with similar symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy or iron deficiency can also help relieve symptoms.
RLS is not dangerous. However, it can be uncomfortable, make it hard to sleep, and affect your quality of life.
You may not be able to sleep very well (insomnia).
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
There is no way to prevent RLS.
Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Bista SR, et al. The treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in adults-an update for 2012: practice parameters with an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analyses: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. Sleep. 2012;35:1039-1062.
Borkan JM. Restless Legs Syndrome. In: Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor. 1st ed. Philadephia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2014:section 1.
Chokroverty S, Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, eds. In: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 68.
Mahowald MW. Disorders of sleep. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 412.
Schurks M, Bussfeld P. Multiple sclerosis and restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Neurol. 2013;20:605-615.
Wilt TJ, MacDonald R, Ouellette J, et al. Pharmacologic therapy for primary restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Med. 2013;173:496-505.
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Unintentionally funny DVR episode synopses #243
"Property Virgins. 'A Woman Who Survived a Lightning Strike Is Shocked by Real Estate Prices' Home prices shock a lightning-strike survivor."
Unintentionally funny DVR episode synopses #243
"Property Virgins. 'A Woman Who Survived a Lightning Strike Is Shocked by Real Estate Prices' Home prices shock a lightning-strike survivor."
random thought
Hardware is just software you can't change.
how to slice a sandwich
What's your preferred sandwich slicing angle? Vertical (shortest cut), Diagonal (longest cut), or Horizontal (medium cut)?
I have always been a diagonal cut man, myself. That's how mom did it. I don't like the way vertical cut sandwiches taste. But currently, I'm more interested in whether *anyone* does the horizontal cut... I don't think I've ever seen that outside of the laboratory.
Perhaps geometry is at work here. Diagonal ...cut sandwiches represent right triangles, which are pretty cool -- arguably more important than parallelograms, since parallelograms can be made from triangles. And of course, 3 is the magic number.
But also, notice that the golden ratio of 1:1.62 appears in vertical cut sandwiches, but does not appear in horizontal cut sandwiches. In our experiments here at Tastytronic Labs, our sample bread measures about 5.25 by 4.25 inches (the units of the United States of America!).
A vertical cut sandwich is roughly 2.63 x 4.25 inches, while a horizontal cut (known as "the devil's cut" in medieval times) results in a sandwich that is ~2.13 x 3.44. By applying the golden ratio (1:1.62) to 2.63 (vertical cut sandwich width), we get 4.26 -- almost exactly the vertical cut length. However, applying it to 2.13 (horizontal cut sandwich slice width) we only get 3.45 -- considerably less than the horizontal cut slice length.
And thus we find a possible explanation for why the "horizontal cut" is so rare. It's at least safe to say that Aristotle's mom did not cut sandwiches horizontally.
libconfig problems in Debian and Ubuntu
Are you still using Hardy Heron? Have you had issues using libconfig -- a configuration parsing library by Mark Lindner -- in Debian or Ubuntu? Here's why. Turns out this has been solved in later releases.
getopts -- another one for posterity
Just a little addition to posterity about getopts. 'getopts' is a handy bash builtin that parses parameter strings. It exists so parameters can be processed in a consistent way, and so you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you want to use command line switches. It's part of POSIX, is really pretty easy to use, and many languages have libraries which work in a similar way. Anyway, there are many tutorials online, but the one at bash-hackers.org is the best I've seen for bash.
I was inspired to write this post because I've been wrestling with a problem. I used getopts inside a function that I was using for logging. It just wasn't working right and the behavior was strange. The answer, which perhaps should have been obvious in retrospect, is that getopts uses a variable, OPTIND, to index into the parameter list. You can use OPTIND to "shift off" the options you found with getopts, leaving the remainder.
This works great if you run getopts once, at the beginning of a script. But because of bash's scoping, if you use getopts inside a function, the value of OPTIND remains where it was left at the end of the previous getopts execution. So, if you're going to use getopts inside a function, you should reset OPTIND when finished or, to be safe, at the beginning of the function before running getopts.
I'm so glad I spent a few hours chasing that one down.
mairix rocks
If you're like me, and if you're reading this there's at least a possibility you are, you don't keep your email at Gmail or in Thunderbird of Mail.app or wherever -- you keep it the way Ray Tomlinson intended -- on a server where you read it in plain text format. I use mutt with mboxes, but there are a lot of other possibilities. Anyway, after 10 or 20 (or more!) years of archiving your mail, it sometimes gets hard to find what you're looking for. Well, mairix is just the tool for you -- it incrementally indexes messages, and returns search results as a folder of messages for you to look it. It's free software, it's fast, and available in Ubuntu.
ah, time for my yearly smattering of blog posts
Annnnnnnnnnd we're back.
Today's hot tip:
@filearray = <FILE>;
...is a bad idea if <FILE> is rilly large!
Thank you good night.
(No Perl jokes, please.)
disabling the caches in Linux
Sometimes you'd like to disable the file (and other caches) in Linux for performance testing reasons. Well, now you can. Simply:
To drop pagecache only, enter: echo 1 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches
2 is dentries and inodes only, and 3 is pagecache, dentries, and inodes. You can easily whip together a little script to drop caches regularly enough to simulate running with no caches.
(This information is also under "drop_caches" in linux/Documentation/filesystems/proc.txt.)
"You wouldn't like me when I'm angry..." OR "Dr. Jekyll and Jiminy Cricket"
I'm a collector of odd facts. I remember hearing this one some time ago, about how grasshoppers morph into brutal locusts under certain conditions but I find that often the "facts" you hear word of mouth aren't always factual. (Unfortunately, a lot of facts in those 1001 Fascinating Fact books are often wrong too... I've thought of writing a 1001 Fascinating Falsehoods [you thought were facts!], but I'll just have to add that to my to do list.)
Anyway, it's true!. I guess grasshoppers are the poster-insect for serotonin induced mania.
remote administration in the post-onboard-serial era
Please Don't Take Away My Serial Port!:
I've been dismayed lately at the lack of serial ports on COTS desktop PCs. I understand eliminating things like parallel ports, game ports, even audio line in... but serial ports are special... and expansion devices are not as good as on-board hardware.
If you ever end up using the PC as a server that you have to administer remotely, you may need a serial console so you can see what's going on at boot time, or to manually select a kernel in the bootloader -- say if your testing kernel fails. When most people need a serial port on a serial-less machine (e.g., to access the serial port on a router from a laptop) they get a serial expansion card or a USB serial dongle. It seems like this should work. But don't count on it.
grub and expansion devices:
Expansion serial ports are barely passable as a solution for Linux/grub users -- and in my opinion are not acceptable for real production systems. In particular, the bootloader and kernel will not be able to send output to expansion devices until after the hardware has been properly recognized and the bootloader or kernel is prepared to handle it. During the time prior to initialization of each system (early in the bootloader and early in the kernel startup sequence), you'll be flying blind.
However, grub does not understand USB *anyway*, so unless you are lucky enough to have a BIOS which supports USB serial ports as native devices (like it does for keyboards and mice), your USB dongle will not allow you to control your bootloader. Period. This is because making a USB serial port work requires a functional USB subsystem, which is more than a bootloader is supposed to handle. As of now, it's not clear if or when grub will support USB. So laptops are screwed.
But a desktop machine can us a PCI card, right? You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, grub only knows the standard IO ports (memory addresses and IRQs) for COM 1-4 (units 0-3 in grub parlance) -- which means if your PCI serial card appears at a different address, grub will not be able to use it. There is code in the pipe for PCI expansion serial ports in grub, but I'm not sure of its status. It doesn't work in my Hardy Heron Ubuntu, although I'm hopeful that this will work reliably in the future. (If so, then PCI cards could be a good solution for "desktop" PCs.)
The Linux Kernel and Expansion Devices:
OK, so grub support is thin. How about the kernel?
The outlook is better here, inasmuch as there is some hope. The kernel has driver software for using these devices, but again, until your device is initialized, you won't see anything. Getting it initialized early enough to use as a console may require you to use a ramdisk to boot. While most distros already do this, there are valid reasons for wanting to avoid using a ramdisk. Too bad.
If you don't mind using a ramdisk, it may work if you're using a stock kernel and your devices are common enough. If they're uncommon, you may be required to compile alternative drivers into a custom ramdisk, including extra USB stuff. Building custom ramdisks for your hardware is never as simple as it should be, and is a ticking time bomb for maintenance. At some point, the update path will change, you'll get a new kernel but the ramdisk won't be properly modified, you reboot, and suddenly you don't have a console anymore.
But let's say you go this way (out of necessity or because you feel a need for more stress in your life) and you get the ramdisk set up with appropriate drivers for your devices. Now that the kernel can see your hardware, you need to create the appropriate devices. In the old days, that meant creating a physical device and setting permissions on it. But nowadays, devices are created automagically. This is a good thing in general, but it can also be a pain when you only have to fiddle with it every two years.
Anyway, you'll have to monkey around to get your event system (e.g., udev or the older hotplug or what have you) to set up the devices for you properly, including proper permissions. You'll also have to add inittab or event.d rules to start a getty process on the new port if you want a terminal on the console and add rules in securetty if you want to log in as root. Many HOWTOs covering this information are online.
Short version: Expansion COM ports are flaky PITAs. If your computer just had a single built in COM port, it would be easy-peasy, stable and un-cheesy. (Hey HW guys, if you're listening, a serial device could just be an on-board device with bare pins and we can add a ribbon cable if we need it! Everybody wins!)
eXtreme Bootloading!!1!:
There is some good news, however. If you can get grub installed, you can make temporary kernel selections before reboot -- without modifying your menu.lst file. The basic idea is that you set up a "fallback" priority for the kernels and then temporarily select your testing kernel as a "one time boot" using the command grub-set-default. Ok -- things are looking brighter. But what if your kernel panics? Now it's hung. Ah, but you can make Linux reboot upon panic by adding the line "kernel.panic = 15" to /etc/sysctl.conf. (Before it panics!)
... But You Still Want That Smart Power Strip:
Of course, if your kernel deadlocks, you're screwed. The kernel's so hung it can't even reboot itself. Time to use that Linux-friendly IP-enabled power strip you've been meaning to buy for a while. I found the above device being sold under a different label on eBay. The interface isn't the best, but it works, it doesn't require any special software, it has four independent outlets, and it's relatively cheap.
Now, if your machine goes dark when you're remotely testing that bleeding edge kernel, just reboot it! If the disk isn't scrogged, it will happily fall back to the known good kernel and you're golden!
New HTML Parser: The long-awaited libxml2 based HTML parser code is live. It needs further work but already handles most markup better than the original parser.
Keep up with the latest Advogato features by reading the Advogato status blog.
If you're a C programmer with some spare time, take a look at the mod_virgule project page and help us with one of the tasks on the ToDo list!


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Surprise! Treasures of candies are hidden in these fun chocolate cupcakes.
Having a birthday party? Complete the theme by having eye patches and red kerchiefs for the kids to wear.
If you have only one pan and a recipe calls for more cupcakes than your pan will make, cover and refrigerate the rest of the batter while baking the first batch. Cool the pan about 15 minutes, then bake the rest of the batter, adding 1 to 2 minutes to the bake time.
© 2017 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved


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As you know, or may not know… much of our camping experiences seem to hover around when the next meal is.
We set camp… have a Cracker Barrel.
We wake up… Breakfast.
We do an activity until… lunch.
We resume activity until it's time to prepare dinner.
And then we clean up the mess so we can get ready for dessert.
Planning and preparation of meals, especially while backpacking requires thought and a little work. But the pay off is easy to prepare, light weight, easy to clean up meals that keep you on the trail and having fun.
Recently one of the Assistant Scoutmasters in our troop prepared a sample weekend meal plan to help teach the newer Scouts, refresh the memories of older Scouts and keep them all within their budgets.
Take a look at this, it may be something you want to try with your unit. This meal plan is for buddy teams, but can be modified to meet the needs of bigger groups.
Oatmeal 4 pks. $0.60
Soup mix 1 cup $1.14
Tortellini 1/2 lb $2.17
Salmon 1 pouch $1.83
Noodles 1 pouch $0.98
Oatmeal 4 pks. $0.60
Drink mix 4 pks. $0.49
Trail mix 1 lb. $1.95
Total cost $9.76
Menu #2
Eggs 6 $0.56
Sausage 1/2 stick $2.49
Triscuits 1 box $1.78
Summer Sausage 1/2 stick $2.49
Chicken 1 can $1.44
Noodles 1 pouch $0.85
Oatmeal 4 pks. $0.60
Drink Mix 4 pks. $0.49
Granola Bars 8 bars $1.78
Total Cost $12.48
At $6.00 a head, which is what our Scouts budget per camp out, these two menus stay within the framework of the budget, planning considerations, weight, nutrition, and taste.
Both of these menus break down and fit in a single 1 gallon zip lock bag. That same zip lock bag becomes your trash bag for the weekend.
I think it is worth a try. Our Scouts use this model.. substituting items and staying within the guide. Both of these menus recently were used by patrols in our Troop at Camporee.
Have a Great Scouting Day!


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In Sri Lanka, justice for Eknelygoda is a waiting game
Three years ago, on January 24, 2010, columnist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknelygoda vanished on his way to work to cover the final campaigning in Sri Lanka's bitterly contested presidential election. He has not been heard from since. The pro-opposition website he worked for, Lanka eNews, has been repeatedly attacked, its offices hit with arson, its staff arrested and harassed, its editor driven into exile in England.


text: Rome's largest, most spectacular fountain, the Trevi Fountain is a baroque extravaganza, its ancient sea gods and gushing water dominating a tiny piazza. Immortalised in Fellini's film, 'La Dolce Vita', this is the place to toss your coins to ensure your return to the Eternal City. The three streets radiating from the piazza lead to the historical centre and sights of the Quirinale – one of the original seven hills.


text:
80% Coolmax, 8% nylon, 8% spandex, 4% rubber
Multiple Zones of Compression
Extra padding in soles of feet
Moisture-wicking Coolmax fibers
Quite possibly the most comfortable socks you'll ever wear, these 9" Socks are designed to accompany all of the boots of the 5.11 Tactical Series family. Long days on your feet can be very wearing on not only your feet but also your entire body.
The extreme elastic nature of these socks gives your feet the feeling of being cradled and protected throughout long work shifts, sports and work-outs. The combination of Coolmax, nylon, spandex and rubber, provide your feet with increased blood circulation, heat reduction and moisture wicking. The tops of the socks are thinner, helping to cool your feet. The bottoms of the socks at the heels and balls of your feet have extra padding for support and protection, and the rubber in these socks prevent them from sagging even under the most rigorous activities.
These 9" socks are an integral part of 5.11's footwear Shock Mitigation System. In combination with any 5.11 boot, the 9" Socks round out a system to protect your feet and give them a protective platform to reduce fatigue and promote comfort and stability. Your feet will stay dry and comfortable and allow you to move quickly and easily in any situation. Imported.


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The West was not so wild for Janie Fitzhugh. Living with her rancher husband, Abe Lawson, in rural Wyoming nearly broke her spirit, so she left. But eight years later, she returns to Muddy Gap to take a job at a new resort. When an unexpected danger arises, Abe seizes the chance to protect Janie and prove he's a changed man.
Janie's employer at the Split Rock Ranch and Resort, Renner Jackson, has gotten himself tangled up in a devil's bargain trying to finish the construction. His new partner's daughter, Tierney Pratt, is a spoiled daddy's girl and off-limits-no matter how drop-dead gorgeous she is. But Tierney's got her own secret reasons for keeping the rough-and-tumble cowboy at a distance.
When things get down and dirty at the resort, Abe and Renner must saddle up and fight to rope in the women they can't imagine living without.
©2011 Lorelei James (P)2012 Tantor
"James mixes erotica with a great storyline. The characters are endearing and honest and you'll want to root for them." (Romantic Times)
"The Good Stuff"
Yes because the narrator, really brought all the charcaters to life.
This book was pretty hot and steamy, just without all the extra kink! Which was a nice suprise because this author usually takes it all the way there. I love Lorilie James writing, i'm just not into all the erotic play.... mwm, mm,dom-sub ya know All That! However if you're into that she's your girl!
The narrator was dead on. This story has very strong male characters and I usually prefer a male voice in reads like this however I don't think a man could have handled this read. Nice job.
Nice and Nasty!
Two! You get two hot stories in one! This is a great book and the stories are well woven together and resolve several of the loose ends that had been brought up in the previous stories. The common theme between the stories is that where there is love there is a way. It doesn't matter if you have been divorced for eight years or a two time loser up the aisle- when it's right you just have to put it out there and convince her to say yes. Fortunately, the cowboys in LJ's world are such prime examples of masculine goodliness that any woman would say 'Hell Yes!'. I think I'm going to Wyoming next year on holiday and pray I meet someone like the men in her books.
Scarlet does a great job of narrating and I liked the little 'bite' to her voice when she speaks in Tierney's voice- nailed it!
I've always been a avid reader so now I'm a avid listener. I prefer the paranormal genre but I do like to switch things up. It's boring if you don't have variety. Of course I do love the romance and the hotter the better. Also, you can't beat a good thriller filled with suspense and a ending you can't even guess at until the very end.
"Two stories in one"
I don't know. If I do it will be awhile. I liked the book in one way but then in another I didn't. I would of enjoyed it more if it was just a book for Abe and Janie or Renner and Tierney. It was hard at times to keep up with both relationships.
She just does the male voices so well.
I do love this series and I'm looking foward to book 4. This one is my least favorite, but it's not bad.
"Double the pleasure, double the fun"
In this book we meet two handsome,hot, sexy men and the women who love them. Abe Lawson has always loved Janie, even though they divorced after a short marriage. Abe was an ass, but with Janie's love and patience he can change and become the man of Janie's dreams. They both have grown up over the years since their divorce and through trials and tribulation they make it back to each other.
Renner Jackson has a dream. A dream to own his grandparent's land and build a hunting resort. He's got part of it, the land, but he's run out of money. To get that money, he unknowingly sold his soul to the devil. Then the devil sends his daughter Tierney to "spy" on him, he resents it and her. He soon wants her and she him, but she has never been with a man, she is very hot for him but doesn't know what to do once she has him.
These stories intermingle with each other making this a great listen. Another great Blacktop Cowboys book.
Great Books Don't Promote Violence
"Book 3: Abe & Janie - Renner & Tierney"
This book focuses on 2 couples in Muddy Gap: Abe & Janie and Renner & Tierney. I didn't find any of these characters particularly interesting, especially Abe who believed that inflicting pain was a sign of love. Janie, his ex-wife, supposedly grew a backbone after the divorce but instantly becomes a doormat when they started sleeping together again. Tierney, whose rich father is a complete waste of humanity, was a 26 year old bright but shy virgin. She allowed herself to become sexually involved with Renner, who borrowed money from her father to open a hunting resort. I found their sexual antics in the workplace were more stupid than erotic. The basic plot had potential, the writing was mostly good, but to me the men were too self-absorbed and the women needed more self-respect.
No spoilers! Love HOT, sexy books w/a plot. No vampires, paranormal, teens 4 me. I also review in exchange for books-lots of fun surprises!
"Love, Love, Love This Series!"
Yes, if they are into 'trashy' romances...(I use the term trashy with affection!)
That is tough, I admire the strong men as they 'take care' of their women. However, Tierany's character-getting to know her and watching her evolution.
She is a great narrator and been fantastic throughout the series
The whole series is hot and there are actually great stories to go along with the passionate scenes.
NOTE: Strong language and sexual themes
"Hooked on this series"
I liked Renner and Tierney and how their relationship evolved
Please more stories from Lorelei James!!!
Make no mistake between my personality and my attitude. My personality is who I am, my attitude depends on who you are.........
"Love this series......!!!"
This series with so fun and enjoyable. But I will say that the narrator has made the books even more so......
"Worth a Listen"
Can listen while working/house work, but I bet you dont put the book down
Ending of the story line
Great Performance
You will never forget your first Cowboy Love, or will you?
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is my go to for fun. Harry Potter - just because. Loved the Magic of Tidying Up and Shakespeare
"Mumbled and Jumbled - try a paperback"
Yes - the style of narration is mumbled. The "acting" is not what I am used to from other writers. I have read many of Lorelei James books and enjoyed them but this is so garbled it's hard to follow.
Nothing Really
The narrator should consider emphasizing consonant sounds even when using western dialect. A story is no good is the reader only "hears" half of it.
Understanding what was said and much better character development. I really didn't care if any of these characters lived or died. I didn't "know" any of them.
Save your credits for something else. This needs a rewrite and a re-record
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Here is a link to the MN DNR's proposal to consolidate the existing 77 zones into 9 larger areas in which you could hunt. I think this is a GREAT idea and it should be adopted by the MNDNR. After hunting in WI last spring and seeing how the WI DNR split the state into 7-10 zones made me very jealous. The only bad part about hunting in WI is that you are int he land of the Packers
What say you Viking land turkey hunters?
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/inp ... index.html


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Picked up a Sasee in clone gear. It was the last figure I needed.
Picked up a Sasee in clone gear. It was the last figure I needed.
Don't recall any vintage Clone figures. What's a Saesee?
(this is a section for the Kenner figures from 1978-1985, BTW)
I predict that the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi film will include the word "and." Multiple times.
In the middle of a purchase - Bespin Guard (white), Rebel Commando, Snowtrooper (with original skirt), TIE Fighter Pilot, AT-ST Driver. All are loose and missing their weapons, however they do all look c8 to c9.
the at-st driver gun is the only one that is kinda tough to come by.
Peeps who have hooked me up: General Grievous Dark Marble jjreason Ramy GrandMoffLouie Josephe vader121 Val Da Car
Finally scored a vintage die-cast TIE Bomber, in pretty good shape too. That finishes off my vintage die-cast set, only took 20 odd years.
Here's some happy snaps.
[FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT]
In a bit of a surprise score today I wound up with really, really nice versions of General Lando and Imperial Gunner. With any luck I'll have Amanaman and Paploo from the same seller within the next few weeks.
EDITED: In sour news, I found out these figures came with the wrong coloured pistols. If the seller can't make good on this, I'm likely not going to fork out for the originals. **insert swear-word here**
Just bought one of two figures needed to complete my main collection today. I took a hit in the pocket book on a Last 17 R2 with the pop-up lightsaber. Now I have to convince the wife about a nice blue snaggletooth and start on the vintage die-cast collection!!
Yeah, I paied a preaty peny for my R2 with pop up saber too. 55 dollars. He didn't have the saber, and his sticker was somewhat yellowed. But other than tha, paint and plastic were perfectly collored, and the sticker had almost no wear aside for discoloration from old age. This figure was my all time favorite when I was a kid, but I decided to never spend that much for a loose figure ever again. Just too expensive, says I.
Man!...55 bucks! I got hit for 100. But he is SWEET! I have been looking for one like this for a long time in this condition. Our house burnt two years ago and I lost evrey piece that I had. Its been a slow road to recovery but I am finally down to one figure needed. "Thats what I tell the wife anyhow." Little does she know that I just won two more Tie Pilots on ebay this evening...shhhhh!
Attachment 18212
but this is the figure I eventually received (after many excuses and fobbing off from the seller), with worn paint and floppy limbs.
Attachment 18213Attachment 18214
Unfortunately I had to pay by cheque, so I couldn't claim my money back through Paypal. I reported it to ebay anyway, not expecting any comeback, but a month later I received a phone call out of the blue from ebay Trust & Safety, telling me that as I'm such a valued customer, they'd decided to award me a full refund of £123!! However, 4 months later, and I still haven't received it. But I've phoned them several times, and have been assured I will definitely get it. So when I do, my Snags (who I have since repainted, and now looks pretty spiffy!) will have only cost me the £5 postage!
Big thanks to DarkJedi5, TheRealDubya, obi-dad, morpheus282, Tycho and Kidhuman for great deals/trades.


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Finally a good emailto be sent out
Shirley & Marcy
A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school.
He didn't want his mother to walk with him.
She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet knowthat he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it.
She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings,staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
The neighbour said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, itwould be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behindTimmy as he walked to school with another neighbour girl he knew.
She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy 's little friendnoticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day allweek.
Finally she said to Timmy,
'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest ,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy ...'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm withmy prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest (surely goodness) and Marcy(mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have toget used to it!'
May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always
Shirly Goodnest And Marcy
Started by Belle, Feb 09 2012 05:51 AM
4 replies to this topic
Posted 09 February 2012 - 05:51 AM
Posted 09 February 2012 - 06:00 AM
Funny, but soooo precious at the same time, Belle!
Thanks for the smile this morning!
Thanks for the smile this morning!
Posted 09 February 2012 - 06:52 AM
That's adorable!!!!
Posted 09 February 2012 - 07:25 AM
I've heard this one before, but it's still funny.
Posted 09 February 2012 - 06:42 PM
Funny, but also very sweet!
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0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


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Set your sights on the long anticipated eFX Collectibles Imperial TIE Fighter model. eFX went above and beyond to ensure this model would be the most accurate replica of this iconic starship. You can pick one up today over at Brian's Toys.
Also new in this week's Brian's Toys newsletter are new Star Wars Angry Birds toys, Gentle Giant Jumbo Cantina Playset, and a bunch of new Vintage AFA graded figures. The Jumbo Cantina Playset does not come with figures, but you can still pick up the Blue Snaggletooth and Greedo which are still in stock.
Tons of great stuff is in the Vintage section this week, specifically the Loose AFA


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Comment Re:It is a MakerBot after all (Score 3, Interesting) 185
It's interesting that the author uses a time killing game as a yard stick for the waiting period - as if the time spent while printing was 'dead' and couldn't possibly be used for anything productive.
That's his point - for the purposes of using the makerbot, it is dead time. You can't iterate before you have something, and you can't have something for 5 hours with a 33% chance that hardware failure was the problem and not the design.
What we're really seeing here is the impatience of the Now Generation. What? You have to wait -thirty minutes- for something to be produced?? OMG!
That's basically the same as having to wait 5 hours, right?
Have these people any idea how long it takes to produce something through conventional CNC, let alone hand fabrication?
How many amateurs are willing to burn virtually all of their free time for a day to do those things? Very few. Comparing your professional abilities and patience to his amateur abilities and patience is unfair (to put it very kindly).


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Part No.: AOFN012
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Mavs/Heat tonight...GO HEAT!
Here's the picture I took with Ray Allen (the black out is my son, not a fan of putting his pictures on the net)
Here's the Ray Allen autograph
And here's a Christmas gift I got..I collect these McFarlane figures and got me a LBJ one!
Another OT win...man, I don't like these slow starts this team is getting used too.
Heat beat Wizards 99-71....The Wizards didn't score in the last 7 minutes. Six game road trip coming up. Let's go HEAT!!
This road trip coming up is not going to be an easy one at all. I think 3-3 will be a successful trip. @ Indiana, @ Portland, @ Sacramento, @ Utah, @ Golden State and @ the Lakers including the final 2 games on back to back nights. Not easy.
Heat at Pacers tonight..road trip begins. Let's go HEAT!!
And thats why Indiana is a house of horrors.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/C...186221011.html"If we think we're going to win a playoff series in the first round, second round, third round, we're kidding ourselves," Bosh told The Miami Herald.
He's right...our rebounding is terrible. It's starting to scare me
The Heat played with a certain intensity last year that helped negate the rebounding issues they were having last year . . . . they have not played with that same intensity this year as of yet. Good thing is, it's early, and if there is a player in the league that can step up his intensity level and in turn force the entire team to step theirs up . . . it's Lebron James. He is the one that is going to hear about it more than anything else.
I'm still not worried though. We have the best team in the East and I'm sure their will be moments just like last season (down 3-1 Celtics) where people may give up on the team . . . but I fully expect this team to be in the NBA Finals . . . and from there, anything goes.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...am-completely/It seems the reports that Greg Oden is working on an NBA comeback from the people who know Oden, while the man himself is more accepting that it may well not happen.


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Web Stories
French government honors André Maman
Posted September 3, 2003; 05:13 p.m.
Princeton professor emeritus André Maman has been chosen to receive one of the highest distinctions the French government can bestow.
In recognition of Maman's exemplary service to France, the president of the French Senate conferred upon him the title of Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur at a Sept. 3 ceremony in Paris.
Maman joined the faculty in Princeton's Department of Romance Languages and Literatures in 1958. He taught French language and civilization courses that students considered rites of passage in their discovery of France. While a faculty member, Maman also served as a representative of French citizens living abroad. He was later elected a French senator and retired from Princeton in 1993. He continued to contribute to the University as a member of the Advisory Council in French and Italian, as an adviser to the Princeton in France Program and as a friend and counselor to the countless alumni of his courses.
Maman, who has completed his term as senator, remains active in promoting French culture throughout the world. He divides his time between Princeton and Paris.
Contact: Lauren Robinson-Brown (609) 258-3601


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Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
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ACE Fit Share
Lamb and eggplant are combined in dishes throughout the Mediterranean. Together they deliver a complex, hearty, earthy flavor that's truly satisfying. In this dish, toasted pine nuts and tangy feta cheese are excellent accents.
Nutrition Profile:
Heart Healthy
High Fiber
High Potassium
Low Cholesterol
Low Sat Fat
Low Sodium
Serves 2
Prep Time 25 min
Total Time 25 min.
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
Step 2
Meanwhile, cook lamb (or beef), garlic and fennel seed in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat with the back of a spoon, until the lamb (or beef) is browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggplant and oil; cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant browns, about 4 minutes. Add tomato sauce and wine; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Step 3
Drain the pasta; serve topped with the sauce and sprinkled with pine nuts and feta, if using.
Featured Workouts
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Flatten your stomach and build strength in the muscles that provide stability and mobility for the spine, pelvis, ribs and hips.
Focus on pulling, rotating and building strength with workouts created alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes.
This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


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The Church Undivided
Pope Benedict XVI made reaching out to other faiths and promoting Christian unity hallmarks of his tenure. Pope Francis will continue this work, not only because he has a history of facilitating religious dialogue, but also because global Catholicism requires it.
See more in Vatican City; Religion


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G-Star Attac straight medium aged
G-Star Women's Jeans
Art.No.: 60583-4664-071
Details on G-Star Attacc straight medium aged
These feminine Attacc straight jeans by G-Star have a straight leg and feature a figure-hugging and comfortable fit due to the percentage of stretch fabric. Details such as a zipper pocket on the back and a casual wash lend these jeans their identity and make them a real eye-catcher.
History of G-Star Jeans
G-Star stands for up-to-date fashion, combined with high quality. There's a particularly high demand for G-Star jeans among the fashion-conscious. The brand was founded in the Netherlands and Belgium in 1989 when it was first called Gapstar. However, already in 1993 the name was changed to G-Star. The company is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and has been owned by Jos van Tilburg since 2003. G-Star's philosophy has always been "Just the Product". The brand became particularly famous for its G-Star jeans.
Above all, G-Star jeans are made from high-quality denim. And G-Star turns those high-quality jeans into roadworthy clothing. Those jeans can be worn casually for shopping or may just as well form a stylish and laid-back part of an evening outfit. The company pays special attention to a unique jeans design that goes along with high quality. The denim's beauty is moved to the focus with extraordinary washes and special treatment. The washes offered are highly versatile. You can choose from almost raw, untreated denim to strongly bleached models. This is why each pair of G-Star jeans is almost unique and has its very individual features. Apart from high-quality manufacture, G-Star also emphasizes ecological processes. So G-Star tries to reduce the use of conventional cotton and opts for the reduction of pesticides and fertilisers in the cultivation of this raw material. G-Star employs a lot of famous designers. In 1991, Pierre Morisset was recruited.
The Frenchman contributed significantly to the success of the G-Star Elwood. Besides, G-Star always wins exceptional models for the presentation of its products. In 2010, the new collection was presented by Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlesen, while in 2013 Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno was chosen to present the fashion company's campaign. Apart from G-Star jeans, the brand also offers other high-quality products which feature exclusive designs. Among other things, G-Star produces shoes, jackets, T-shirts, caps, sweaters and coats. G-Star and especially G-Star jeans stand for up-to-date and high-quality clothing that you may wear on almost any occasion. Just in line with G-Star's philosophy: Just the Product.
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Spectacular crags, deep valleys and forest as far as the eye can see! That is the essence of the Palatinate Forest Trail.
Take a walk along the Palatinate Forest Trail to experience un-spoilt woodland, the tranquillity of nature and sweeping views across the largest unbroken expanse of forest in Germany. In the extensive woodland paths you can absorb the energy from the peacefulness and beauty of undisturbed countryside. The Sustainability House at Johanniskreuz presents everything you need to know about the fascinating subject of 'man and nature'. A staggering view from Luitpold tower at the top of Weißenberg hill will certainly leave an impression; on a fine day you can see more than 300 peaks. If your walking shoes have given up the ghost, you won't have to look far to find a new pair in the shoe-shopping paradise of Hauenstein. The Dahner Felsenland leads past bizarre rock formations through a wild and romantic landscape to the Drachenfels ruins, with their staircases carved into the rock , and the Berwartstein Castle - the epitome of romantic castles. The trail ends at the German Wine Gate in Schweigen.
Tip: Berwartstein Castle, Erlenbach
The only remaining inhabited castle in the Palatinate region. The castle is open all year round and offers a restaurant, accommodation, tours, medieval banquets and various events.
At a glance:
Start: Kaiserslautern
Destination: Schweigen-Rechtenbach
Distance: 143 km
Number of stages: 9
Height: Ascent approx. 4,500 m, descent approx. 4,500 m
Trail surface: 63% unmade, 13% asphalt, 24% other e.g. gravel
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January 20, 2013
Nicholas Richeda skis Saturday in a Steamboat Cup event at Steamboat Ski Area.
Stories this photo appears in:
Optimism reigns at Steamboat Cup slalom race
The day was about ski racing, but a lighthearted atmosphere defined the season's second Steamboat Cup event at Steamboat Ski Area on Saturday far more than slalom gates or run times.
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Hey Doc, I had some light itches on the tip
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From Bo Diddley to The Beatles to U2, Gretsch Guitars Have Been a Key Part of Rock and Roll's Explosion
From the GW Archive: This story originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Guitar World.
From Bo Diddley to the Beatles to U2, Gretsch Guitars have been a key part of rock and roll's big explosion. Guitar World celebrates more than 125 years of the company's universal magic.
The infinite cool of Gretsch guitars operates on many levels. First there's the look of the things: stylish, graceful, a little bit over the top in the ornamentation department but generally more proud than pimped. Bristling with gleaming, chunky control knobs and mysterious switches, a well-appointed Gretsch is a grown-up guitar.
Classic Gretsch models, like the elegant White Falcon, the venerable Country Gentleman and the racy Silver Jet, are icons of American design. To use a word no longer in use, but very much current at the time these instruments were conceived, these are "snazzy" guitars.
Then there's the tone—warm and round, but also edgy and commanding. Gretsches twang like nothing else on earth. They also purr seductively when you back off on the master volume control.
The Gretsch sound had a lot to do with launching rock and roll. These guitars were the choice of original Fifties hellcats like Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran and Duane Eddy. Gretsch's popularity went ballistic in the Sixties when the Beatles' George Harrison wielded a Country Gent and Tennessean on the group's records and live shows. Gretsch guitars became standard equipment for British Invasion hit makers and their American counterparts.
Gretsch has been an essential part of rock history ever since, heard on landmark recordings by the Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and AC/DC, among others. Today you'll find Gretsch guitars in the hands of new-traditionalists like Jack White, Bono, the Edge, Brian Setzer, the Jayhawks, Fountains of Wayne, Rancid's Tim Armstrong and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. These sleek instruments that never seem to go out of style have also been a vital part of country, jazz and other genres.
That's a lot of music history for one company, but then Gretsch has been around for 126 years now. Although the company is presently part of the vast Fender empire, there's still a Gretsch at the helm. Fred Gretsch III is the great grandson of the company's founder, Friedrich Gretsch. In running Gretsch's daily operations he is assisted by his wife of many years, Dinah.
Fred says, "There's a very strong thread of family running throughout Gretsch history, from Grandpa, my dad, my uncle, and me and Dinah. We have a daughter who works in the office here with us as well, and grandchildren in college now who are also interested in working in the business. Growing up, I had a chance to work with the guys who developed the Gretsch guitar recipes of the Thirties, Forties and Fifties that turned out to be real hits. We're being faithful to those recipes, which are now more than 50 years old."
From Germany to Brooklyn
The origins of Gretsch are an archetypal New York story. Friedrich Gretsch arrived in the city from Mannheim, Germany, in 1873. He worked briefly for a drum and banjo manufacturer, but by 1883, he'd Americanized his first name to Fred, started the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company in Brooklyn and began to build a product line that included drums, banjos, tambourines and toy instruments.
When Friedrich Gretsch died suddenly in 1895, leadership passed on to Friedrich's eldest son, Fred—known as Fred Sr.—who was only 15 at the time. Fred III says, "Even though my grandfather was only 15 in 1895, my great grandmother brought him into the business, rather than closing it down. My great grandmother must have been a heck of a businesswoman: the mother of seven children and helping a 15-year-old son to run the company. Together they brought the business forward."
Mandolins were added to the line in 1900, and in 1916 the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. built new headquarters for itself, a 10-story building at 60 Broadway in Brooklyn. Like most other early 20th century manufacturers of string instruments, Gretsch became increasingly involved in guitar making during the Twenties and Thirties as guitars eclipsed banjos as the instrument of choice for dance band rhythm sections. During the Twenties, these Gretsch-made guitars were marketed under the Rex and 20th Century brand names. But in 1933, the first guitars bearing the Gretsch name hit the marketplace: the American Orchestra Series of archtops and a line of flattops that included the Broadkaster.


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Family: Phrynosomatidae, Earless and Horned Lizards view all from this family
Description Dorsal scales are strongly keeled and pointed on its body and tail. It has a wide purple mid-dorsal stripe. The males of the species have yellow-green and blue centered scales on body; juveniles and females have distinct yellow-tan transverse bands on their body and tail.
Dimensions 19-26.9cm. (7 1/2-10 5/8")
Breeding Breeds in April. One clutch per year laid in May/July. 11 eggs in a clutch. Hatch July-September.
Habitat Boulders in granite cliffs among vegetation.
Range California to Baja peninsular.
Discussion Diurnal. Very wary, difficult to approach. Suns itself late afternoon. Hides in rocky crevices. Juveniles active till later in the day.


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Community Services announces customer service options
The Income Maintenance Division of Crow Wing County Community Services has announced several enhancements to its customer service process.
"It is part of a multi-step approach to serving the public in a more efficient and timely manner," said Joan Hasskamp, financial assistance supervisor. "We want to let the public know that there are several ways they can communicate with us that don't involve phone calls or trips to the county building."
Communication options include:
• Applicants can apply online at https://applymn.dhs.mn.gov for Health Care, SNAP (food support), child care assistance, cash assistance, emergency help, breast and cervical cancer and family planning programs.
When applying online, applicants are given the option to electronically attach verifications to the application before they submit. The online application is then electronically sent to a state, county or tribal worker to review.
A county worker will contact the applicant if additional verifications are needed. Determination of eligibility may take between 30-45 days.
• Crow Wing County offers phone interviews for many types of applications and reviews. Food Support, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Assistance and Group Residential Housing programs require an interview; however, there is no requirement that the interview be held in the office. They can all be done over the phone.
• Health Care applications require no interview at all. Once an application is received in the office, a county worker will contact the applicant if additional verifications are needed.
• Phones are answered by financial workers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions concerning long-term care programs, call 218-824-1357. For Health Care only questions, call 218-824-1349, and for all other programs, including Cash and Food Support, call 218-824-1250.
• Information regarding county assistance programs along with answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found at www.co.crow-wing.mn.us.
• An online eligibility screening tool is available at mn.bridgetobenefits.org and at www.co.crow-wing.mn.us. This tool is designed to help families and individuals determine if they may be eligible for public assistance programs and tax credits.
• Paperwork can be dropped off or picked up at the customer service desk located on the first floor of Community Services. Applications and most forms can be picked up at this window as well.
• There is a drop box for paperwork located in front of Community Services by the parking lot.
Hasskamp encourages the public to use the alternative methods of communication with Income Maintenance.
"We average around 2000 desk inquiries per month. We realize that it's a hardship for many county residents to visit our office in person and often there is a wait time. For that reason the county will continue to try to identify ways to simplify the process and provide communication options," Hasskamp said.


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- Pro Sports Blogging - http://www.prosportsblogging.com -
USA vs. Finland Live Game Blog Beginning at 3pm East.
Posted By William Brouillette On Feb 26 2010 @ 5:50 pm In United States | 3 Comments
Eve of the Day – USA trying to secure at least a Silver medal
You can admit it. We're all friends here.
I know you've been going over a single thought at 45rpm since Canada stomped Russia (nice no show red army).
Team USA already beat Canada once, on home soil, in a result that almost caused a national emergency. Schools shut down. Kids wept. Adults cursed. Beer was funneled. The Quebec Province was almost invited back. The ?citizens almost welcomed Global Warming to melt the ice.
To quote Bill Murray from Ghostbusters, "Cats and dogs are living together. It's mass hysteria!"
All of this reaction was due to a qualification loss where Canada dominated play for large chunks of the game where if the USA goalie with the crazy mask (Uncle Sam apparently enjoys HGH these days and oh, nice tat) was not named Miller Canada would surely have won.
So, you hit fast forward on the mental DVR and arrive at this divine notion : what if Team USA were to beat Canada, again, in the Gold Medal game on Sunday? What would happen to our northern Brothers and Sisters? A mass exodus to Greenland and Iceland?
As incredible a victory as that would be, whoa there. Slow your roll.
Team USA has a very difficult task just to get to the gold medal game.
Finland is on pushover, and moreover, they are an extremely talented team with a superb goalie (when on his game the equal of anybody ?gate keeping the net in the tournament) who are playing with a singular goal : win the Gold for Teemu Selanne, who is playing his final Olympics.
The Finnish Flash has been a sensation since his rookie season when he scored a mind bending 76 goals (ah, the old days).
So how will the game go? How will each team approach the game?
Finland will stick to their defensive system (almost all Euro teams play a form of the 1-4 trap), rely on Miikka Kiprusoff to make big saves, and hope to dent the twine when they get an odd man rush or 4 sent their way by Team USA's pinching D.
As for Team USA, their game plan will remain the same. Pitch and punish.
Dump the puck into corners, come flying in at full speed with 2, and sometimes 3 men, and plaster the Finnish D face first into the boards until they ?whimper and cry Uncle Sam.
For the majority of you at work, I am going to update this blog after each period, so keep this page up, and refresh every 10 minutes or so, and you will get detailed updates. It will almost be like you are watching it.
2:42pm No pre-game coverage available on NBC, MSNBC, or CNBC. Excellent job. We do, however, get to enjoy Dr. Oz on the east coast. How wonderful.
3:03pm They are on the ice and Ryan Miller is sporting the playoff beard in full effect.
1st Period :
17:56 GOAL USA!What a gigantic gaffe by Finland goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. USA chips the puck out of the zone after being hemmed in for the first 2 minutes of the game. Phil Kessel rockets up the ice to try and sneak a breakaway. Miikka comes out to play the puck and attempts a soft pass to his D man. Ryan Malone picks it off, fires it in, and 1-0 USA.
Great pressure by Phil, but WOW, what were you thinking Miikka?!
USA almost goes up 2-0 after a give-and-go with Kane and Rafalski turns into a point shot that gets through with a massive screen in front of Kiprusoff. The rebound is available, but USA cannot get to it.
13:29 2-0 USA!A dumb penalty taken by the Finnish D attempting to full nelson Dustin Brown on the forecheck leads to a power play, where the pop fly by a deflected pass lands near the stick of Paul Stastny. He makes no mistake, sending a perfect cross crease pass to Zach Parise, who buries his 3rd goal of the Olympics up high top corner.
USA is controlling play with their agression, hitting, and ill willed forecheck.
Finland needs to badly compose themselves.
Buffalo Sabres fans sure know the affinity Finland D man Toni Lydman has for taking stupid penalties, they just don't expect that penalty to be taken until the end of the game! Boarding on Dustin Brown. Mindless penalty. Back to the PP for Team USA.
11:24 3-0 USA! Yet ANOTHER terrible play by Kiprusoff. Very uncharacteristic of him. He nearly falls down on the wraparound attempt, and is prone on the ice for USA D man Eric Johnson to wire the puck over his left shoulder. PP goal Erick Johnson.
The Finns just called their timeout. They are going to need an exorcist to reverse the trend of this game!
9:52 4-0 USA! This is getting ugly FAST. Turnover at the USA blueine, a sin for any player, but especially for a professional, leads to a USA Patrick Kane rush the other way. Dustin Brown drives the net. Patrick Kane shows the hands of a surgeon, waits, waits, fires a shot with Brown partially sceening Kiprusoff. Miikka has rebounds coming off him like he is a rubber wall, and Kane says thank you and deposits the loose change into the net.
Anyone seen Team Finland? They are certainly not in the arena today!
7:30 5-0 USA!What an unbelievable all world pass by USA D man Brian Rafalski, who throws almost a no look pass around his back while skating towards his own end, hitting Patrick Kane perfectly on the fly. Kane and Dustin Brown are in on a 2-on-1 break. ane decoys Brown, fires it low blocker and beats the backup goaltender Nicklas Backstrom who replaced Kiprusoff.
Finland could use a Sumo wrestler in pads in goal and it wouldn't matter.
This is a tidal wave by Team USA.
7:15 6-0 USA!That is not a typo. The Finns should be ashamed of their play. Zach Parise punishes the doughy soft pass by the Finland D, passes out of the corner to Jamie Langenbrunner, who sends a touch pass right to the tape of Paul Stastny. Goal! Backstrom must be getting some of the sunburn from the red light that Kiprusoff experienced earlier.
The 1st period is, mercifully, over for the Finns. The USA unleashed the fury and dropped a deluge of 6 goals on Finland. They have yet to kick the extra point.
From top to bottom, this has been a dystopian nightmare for every Finn player, and especially Miikka Kiprusoff.
It was an embarrassing 'performance' by Miikka.
Ryan Miller, on the other hand, could have played the first 16 minutes in a tuxedo and not had a button out of place.
This just in, boarding passes being accepted for all Team Finland players to their destination of choice out of Vancouver.
2nd Period : Nothing of note other than the Finns deciding the way to make their mark in the game would be to play dirty. First you had the first class clown Jarko Ruutu 'accidentally' fall on Ryan Miller, not once, but twice while Ryan was holding the puck for a stoppage. On top of that, when Ruutu got up, he was sure to put his knee directly into Miller's back to support himself.
You also had Ollie Jokinen, who might as well be the invisible man with how he disappears in big games, spear the foot of Patrick Kane while the Ruutu scrum was going on.
Both Finns only did this because they knew there is no fighting allowed in the Olympics.
If fighting was allowed, both would have received several gloves to the face to mull over their gutless, idiotic acts.
3rd Period : Much of the same from the 2nd period. Clear the zone, move the puck up the ice, dump it in, a light forecheck, repeat, and rinse. Finland did score on the Power Play after USA removed Miller for pure preservation to avoid any injury after watching the uber chippy Finns start getting dirty. Good to see Tim Thomas get his first action this Olympics. Also funny to watch all the fans with maple leafs on their jerseys chear loudly when Finland got their solo tally. Applauding the Finns for finally getting off the snide or more anti-USA applause? Fear thy deadliest enemy? I think so.
Team USA overwhelmed the Finns early and were aided greatly by some shoddy, swiss cheese resembling, brain fart goaltending by Miikka Kiprusoff, but let's be clear : Team USA was winning this game regardless with the way they played. The only question was margin of victory.
So now one half of the dream final is set. Time for the vaunted Maple Leaf to hold up their end of the bargain tonight at 9:30 east.
That game could easily end up a blowout like this game did, but don't sleep on the Slovaks, and Halak.
Enjoy the Gold Medal game Team USA, Sunday at 3pm on NBC in the states.
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The week of dueling speeches by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu was great political drama, but a key character was missing from the scene: Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. While Abbas was absent, it was in fact his creation on April 27 of a unity government with the terrorist group Hamas that provided the backdrop for what we saw in Washington. So an analysis of what happened last week must begin not with Bibi's calculations or Obama's, but those of Abbas.
Mahmoud Abbas is 76 years old and will retire from politics next year, having announced that he will not seek reelection. His tenure as chairman of both the Fatah movement and the PLO (which began when Arafat died in late 2004) has been disastrous, for he lost first the 2006 elections and then control of Gaza to Hamas. A man without charisma or great political courage, he was never a serious candidate to make the difficult compromises that a peace deal with Israel would require and then defend himself against charges of treason and betrayal. To the generous peace offer made by Ehud Olmert in 2008, Abbas responded with silence. It is true that life on the West Bank has improved considerably during his tenure as Palestinian Authority president, but he never cared much about wearing that third hat; he left such mundane matters to PA prime minister Salam Fayyad while he jetted around the world seeking support for the Great Cause.
Abbas thought his ship had come in when Barack Obama became president: Surely this man, so diffident about Israel, would deliver the Israeli diplomatic collapse the PLO needed. And sure enough, Obama's tenure began with the hiring of George Mitchell (on Obama's second day in office) and the demand for a total construction freeze by Israel—not only in the settlements but even in Jerusalem. Now, two years later, Mitchell is gone and Abbas has given up on Obama. In a remarkably bitter interview with Newsweek, Abbas vented his disillusionment: "It was Obama who suggested a full settlement freeze. I said okay, I accept. We both went up the tree. After that, he came down with a ladder and he removed the ladder and said to me, jump. Three times he did it."
Unwilling to make far-reaching compromises himself, and now convinced Obama would not force deep concessions on the Israelis, Abbas decided to secure his legacy a different way: through a façade of national unity. Sure, he lost the elections to Hamas and they have Gaza, but with this unity deal there would be new elections next year and—on paper, anyway—the split would be over and the Palestinian family together again. And he would deliver more: United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state through a vote to admit it to membership. So Abbas would leave office with honor. To be sure, he would always be a transitional figure between Arafat and whatever came next, and neither peace nor real statehood would be any closer. But in the realm of symbolism and rhetoric where Palestinian political life has always been lived, he could say he had never yielded an inch to the Zionists.
These developments left both Netanyahu and Obama high and dry. For Netanyahu, the Hamas deal not only meant that no negotiations were possible but also endangered the existing cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. The West Bank economy had (with some Israeli help) improved steadily in the last few years, and the new American-trained PA police worked closely with Israel against terrorism—and especially against Hamas. It was possible to see some ways forward: handing control of more West Bank territory to the PA, strengthening PA security forces, watching a Palestinian state develop on the ground under Fayyad's pragmatic leadership. Now that approach was gone.
And so was Obama's push for a negotiation. The incoherence of U.S. policy is summed up in this passage from Obama's AIPAC speech: "We know that peace demands a partner—which is why I said that Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with Palestinians who do not recognize its right to exist. . . . But the march to isolate Israel internationally—and the impulse of the Palestinians to abandon negotiations—will continue to gain momentum in the absence of a credible peace process and alternative." So Israel cannot be expected to negotiate and it must start negotiating.
That is where the president stands after two years of involvement in Middle East peacemaking, and his problems are largely of his own making. Israel and the Palestinians had been at the table together for decades until the Obama/Mitchell/Rahm Emanuel decision to demand a total end to Israeli construction froze not the settlements but the diplomacy. Previous presidents—both Clinton and George W. Bush—had managed to gain the confidence of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, while Obama is now mistrusted on all sides.
We would not be where we are had all three men—Abbas, Netanyahu, Obama—not given up on each other, a striking failure in American diplomacy. The president's inability to get it right was visible this past week. The pair of speeches must have been the products of intense effort at the White House, yet the errors made in his Thursday speech at the State Department required quick fixes on Sunday at AIPAC. He forgot on Thursday to mention the three "Quartet Principles" that are the preconditions for Hamas participation in government and in negotiations: abandon violence, acknowledge Israel's right to exist, respect all previous Israel-PLO agreements. So those were added to the Sunday speech. His Thursday formulation suggested that the "1967 lines" would be Israel's new border with some swaps agreed to by the Palestinians. Owing to protests, he had to add in his Sunday AIPAC speech that the parties "will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967"—while complaining that he had been deliberately misunderstood.
Meanwhile his mistreatment of the visiting Netanyahu can only have deepened the latter's belief that Obama was irretrievably hostile. While the diplomatic niceties were observed this time (Netanyahu got to stay in Blair House, and there were plenty of photos and a TV session in the Oval Office), the fact remains that Obama gave a major Middle East speech the day before Netanyahu arrived. The message was clear: I have no interest in what you are saying and will make my views plain even before we exchange one word. Worse yet was the lack of any advance notice. The Israelis had been told days before that the Obama speech would cover the Arab Spring and say little about them, and were given only a couple of hours' notice that, on the contrary, the president would make a significant policy statement that contradicted Israeli views. They felt—and they were—blindsided. In the Clinton and Bush administrations such major policy statements were preceded by weeks of consultations, and when a president breaks that pattern it is a deliberate and powerful message. This is the explanation for the brief tutorial in Israeli security concerns that Netanyahu held Friday in the Oval Office: The gloves were off, but it was Obama who took them off first.
The president jetted off to Europe after his AIPAC speech, and after his own speech to Congress Netanyahu went home. Washington is celebrating Memorial Day weekend, entering the summer, and watching the Republicans begin to figure out who will be their candidate in 2012. But now what? After the four dueling speeches, is there an American policy? What remains of the "peace process"?
For Abbas, the path forward seems clear. Get the U.N. vote in September; hold local elections this fall; hold parliamentary and presidential elections next year; and then retire. This requires holding the Hamas-Fatah deal together, no easy task: The last such deal, in 2007, failed in a few months and led to the Hamas coup in Gaza. But this one may last longer because it is less ambitious. It is an agreement to have an election next year, while Hamas keeps Gaza and Fatah keeps the West Bank for the interim. Fatah and Hamas hate each other no less today than they did yesterday. Their leaders have decided that the right formula for the coming year is patriotic speeches plus a U.N. vote plus an election, and in part this is their reaction to the "Arab Spring." They need to have elections because every Arab state seems to be doing so now, and they need to keep public dissatisfaction focused on Israel lest people decide that their own rulers are the problem.
But Abbas is in fact creating a very dangerous situation with these maneuvers. As noted, they bring into question the growing security cooperation in the West Bank. Will a PA leadership now doing deals with Hamas be willing to continue acting against it on the ground? What is to become of the American-trained police forces when Prime Minister Fayyad, who has provided leadership to them, leaves office this summer in accordance with the Hamas-Fatah agreement?
Moreover, the deal with Hamas will allow it to enter next year's internal elections in the PLO, the body responsible for negotiating with Israel, while it also enters the PA parliamentary and presidential elections. Hamas victories would mean permanent confrontation with Israel. Once again—as with the emergence of Haj Amin al-Husseini in the 1920s and Yasser Arafat in the 1960s—Palestinians would be led by extremists and any hope of peace would be gone. Hamas and Fatah, moreover, are likely to agree on the immediate tactic of "nonviolent demonstrations" on Israel's borders after the U.N. vote, and these could deteriorate quickly into violent confrontations. Abbas will retire happily to Amman or Doha (where he keeps homes) next year, but his true legacy to his people may be disaster.
As for President Obama, his two speeches leave one wondering about his true intentions this year and next. Perhaps the speeches were meant to set up a certain distance from Israel and enable easier negotiations with the Europeans over the coming U.N. vote. Perhaps the president has concluded that nothing good will happen in the coming year, so he meant to say his piece, stake out what he no doubt viewed as a balanced, middle-of-the-road position, and park the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for a year and a half until he can get himself reelected. Surely the president knows that at least until after the Palestinian elections no negotiations are possible, but perhaps he hopes that by 2013 Hamas might have been defeated—or Netanyahu might have been ousted in Israel's elections. Obama's brief experiment in laying out an American position—"The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps"—brought him immediate trouble and necessitated a partial retraction, but may nevertheless be a foretaste of what is to come after reelection. He may lay out an American plan and push the parties to accept it or at least negotiate from it. If the Israelis refuse, the bitterness in today's relations between the White House and the prime minister's office will only deepen in an Obama second term.
All of this makes life harder for Israel and in a way easier for Prime Minister Netanyahu. When a deeply sympathetic American president asks for concessions and compromises and appears able to cajole some from the Palestinians, which was the Clinton/Rabin and Bush/Sharon combination, Israel must respond. When a president most Israelis regard as hostile pushes them while the PLO leadership turns to Hamas, most Israelis will back Netanyahu's tough response. "The Palestinian Authority must choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas. There is no possibility for peace with both," Netanyahu said after the Hamas-Fatah deal was announced. Few Israelis will disagree. Netanyahu's plans for the coming year and a half may include an early election, to capitalize on popular support for his tough defense of Israeli security in his Washington speeches. With the future of Egypt and Syria uncertain, rumblings in Jordan, and Hamas entering the PA and PLO elections next year, a policy of hanging tough may be Bibi's best bet—and Israel's as well. In addition to the considerable danger that Palestinian demonstrations after the September U.N. vote will turn violent, that vote may also bring further energy to the "boycott, divestment, and sanctions" movement in Europe—perhaps even a greater danger to an Israel dependent on its export economy.
What strengthens Bibi's hand is not that the prospects Israel faces are good, but that no alternatives appear real to most Israelis. Negotiations are out for now, and unilateral concessions in the West Bank cannot be made when the future roles of Hamas and the PA security forces are unknown. Anyway, Israelis will think, who knows what the future will bring? Maybe Obama will not be reelected. Maybe Hamas will lose the election, or the unity deal will collapse. Maybe Syria's Assad will fall. Maybe events in Egypt or Jordan will change the American outlook. Israel faced worse situations in 1948 and '56 and '67 and '73, and it survived. On May 19, while Netanyahu visited Washington, Jews there and throughout the world read the Torah portion completing the book of Leviticus and, according to tradition, stood and chanted the words from the book of Joshua: "Be strong and of good courage." That may sum up Israeli policy for 2011 and 2012.
If there was a symbolic moment that epitomized the events of this past week and the months that preceded it, it was not the president's partial retractions before AIPAC. Nor was it Netanyahu's superb speech to and rapturous reception by a joint session of Congress while the president was absent from the city. It was instead in Austin, Texas, where Salam Fayyad attended his son's graduation from the University of Texas. While there, Fayyad suffered a mild heart attack. Well might his heart fail as he watched the direction of Palestinian politics and the continuing policy failures in Washington. Fayyad served as finance minister for the PA after 2002 and has served as prime minister since 2007, but will now be leaving office. Whether the institutions he helped build and the practices he imposed—from police forces fighting terror to public finances free of corruption—will survive is much in doubt. It is not hard to picture him in a hospital room in Texas, wondering if the effort to build a decent Palestinian state from the ground up was now to be wasted.
Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, was a deputy national security adviser in the George W. Bush administration.
This article appears in full on CFR.org by permission of its original publisher. It was originally available here.


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Web Stories
Forrester looks at fate of Freud, March 28
Posted March 23, 2001; 02:01 p.m.
John Forrester, a noted Freud scholar, will lecture at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, in McCormick 101. Following his lecture, entitled "Talk.com: The Fate of Freud in the 21st Century?," Elaine Showalter will comment.
Forrester, a professor of history and philosophy of the sciences at the University of Cambridge and the Whitney Oates Short-term Fellow in the Humanities Council, writes widely in the history and philosophy of the human sciences and psychoanalysis. He is the author of a number of books on Freud, including "The Seductions of Psychoanalysis, Freud's Women" (co-written with Lisa Appignanesi) and the prize-winning "Dispatches from the Freud Wars."
Forrester will address the fate of psychoanalysis, one of the most influential of the new talk technologies of the 20th century, in our own era.
Showalter, a professor of English and the Avalon Foundation Professor of the Humanities at Princeton, is a well-known feminist critic and the author, most recently, of "Inventing Herself,"a book on feminist intellectuals.
Forrester's lecture is sponsored by the Department of History and the Humanities Council.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601