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An Iraqi national living in Canada was indicted in New York on Friday on charges that he helped run a secret network that sent potential suicide bombers from Tunisia to Iraq to target US military forces.
Faruq Khalil Muhammad Isa was charged with aiding in the murder of five American soldiers who died in an April 2009 truck bomb attack near Mosul, Iraq.
The seven-count indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn, also charges him with conspiring to kill Americans abroad and providing material support to a terror conspiracy.
Mr. Isa, 38, has dual Iraqi and Canadian citizenship. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
He has been in custody in Canada since January and is awaiting extradition to the US to stand trial. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
The case offers a glimpse into the murky world of Iraqi resistance fighters who allegedly trolled Arab countries for young, impressionable Muslims willing to give their lives for a promise of Islamic martyrdom.
It also offers insight into the extensive reach of US and allied intelligence and law enforcement officials in the global war on terror. According to court documents, the investigation began in 2009 and included US, Canadian, and Tunisian investigators.
Officials in Canada installed court-approved wiretaps and monitored Isa's telephone, computer, Internet, and e-mail accounts. What they discovered was a group of would-be holy warriors who allegedly encouraged others to travel to Iraq to kill American soldiers.
In October 2008, four prospective suicide bombers left Tunisia and traveled to Libya. They were smuggled to Syria, where they later crossed the border into Iraq, according to court documents.
On March 31, 2009, two of the four Tunisians allegedly carried out a suicide truck bomb attack at an Iraqi police station in Mosul. Seven individuals died and 17 were wounded, documents say.
Two days later, the brother of one of the suicide bombers received a phone call in Tunisia. The caller said the brother had been "martyred in combat with the Americans in Mosul." The caller reportedly repeated the statement three times and then said: "May God witness what I say. God is great. You will not be receiving any more calls."
The attack on US forces came less than two weeks later on April 10, 2009. It happened at a US outpost near Mosul as a five-vehicle military convoy was leaving the base.
A large dump truck accelerated toward the gate, drawing gunfire from Iraqi guards. The dump truck continued through the checkpoint, passing four of the US military vehicles, but then detonated next to the fifth vehicle.
The blast left a crater 60 feet deep, documents say.
Killed in the attack were: Staff Sgt. Gary Woods, 24, of Lebanon Junction, Ky.; Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hall, 32, of Elk Grove , Calif.; Sgt. Edward Forrest Jr., 25, of St. Louis; Cpl. Jason Pautsch, 20, of Davenport, Iowa; and Pfc. Bryce Gaultier, 22, of Cyprus, Calif.
A day after the attack, Isa, in Canada, had an electronic conversation with a member of the network in Iraq, according to court documents.
Isa: "Did you hear about the huge incident yesterday? Is it known?"
Network member: "Yes."
Isa: "He was one of the Tunisian brothers."
Network member: "Praise God. May God acknowledge him."
The suicide bomber's father in Tunisia told authorities that his son had left Tunisia in October 2008. He said on April 3, 2009 – a week before the bomb attack – he received a text message stating that his son was in Iraq.
Shortly after the attack, the father said he received a telephone call from someone with an Iraqi accent. "Your son … is dead," the caller said.
The fourth member of the Tunisia contingent of would-be suicide bombers was arrested in Mosul before he carried out any attack.
In March 2009, the network arranged for four more Tunisians to travel to Iraq.
During preparation to leave, one of the would-be fighters asked Isa what he should tell his family. "Should I leave a will with them," he asked.
"No, I don't recommend this," Isa said, according to court documents. "This will cause them to suffer after you."
Isa told the young man that he should delete everything from his computer. "Don't leave one character of information or anything behind. Don't leave any of your belongings in the house. Don't leave any trace."
The recruit asked: "What else?"
"Do not forget to keep reading [the] Koran and repeat the famous prayers on the way until you meet with God."
The recruit still had worries. "The family is the main problem, particularly my mother," he reportedly told Isa. "I am so concerned about … the shock."
Isa told him that what they were about to do was a duty that they faced.
The recruit responded: "May God give you 74 to marry. We want the virgins of paradise, not the ones here."
Isa responded: "You come short, brother. God is more generous than that. It's supposed to be 76 instead."
Investigators say the network used the terms "marriage" and "marriage to 70 virgins" as code for suicide operations. A Muslim who dies a martyr defending Islam is believed to be rewarded in heaven with a large number of virgin wives.
Court documents say the group also used the term "farming" as code for terrorist attacks.
At one point, Isa reportedly revealed his interest in traveling to Iraq to personally join the fight against the US.
In one monitored conversation Isa reportedly used code to convey his interest in obtaining a sniper rifle with telescope and silencer to use against US troops. He referred to it as a "mute bride with a crown."
Isa: "Listen can't you find me a bride."
Network member: "Yes. How do you want her? To be a talker or a mute?"
Isa: "I want her to be mute, and to have a lot of children, I want a lot of children."
Network member: "There are plenty available over here."
Isa allegedly pledged his loyalty to Iraqi insurgents and asked that he be allowed to travel to Iraq to engage in operations against US forces.
At one point, Isa advises an Iraq-based associate to avoid using the names of network members. "Try to avoid using names," he said, according to court documents. "They monitor your IP address, and know when you enter the brothers' website, and especially in your country."
He added: "For example when I want to name the brothers, I say the farmers … because they plant metal and harvest metal and flesh."


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Samsung Leans on Suppliers to Fix Labor Issues
Nov 26, 2012 11:39 AM PT
Samsung Electronics will implement new measures to keep its Chinese suppliers compliant with labor laws after it completed a round of audits that found notable problems relating to labor policies, the company announced Monday. These included problems with overtime, but Samsung is also looking to ensure that its suppliers adopt hiring procedures to screen out underage workers.
The company came under scrutiny in August when a labor watchdog group reported that its suppliers in China had hired seven workers under the age of 16. As a result, Samsung conducted on-site inspections at 105 of its suppliers in China, covering more than 65,000 employees.
While it found no underage workers in this recent audit, the company did report what it described as "instances of inadequate practices at the facilities," which included overtime hours in excess of Chinese labor regulations.
"We are now designing, researching, and/or implementing corrective actions to address every violation that was identified. Corrective actions include new hiring policies and work hours and overtime practices, among other steps, to protect the health and welfare of employees," Samsung said.
"This is the problem companies have when doing business in various countries across the globe," said telecommunications analyst Jeff Kagan. "There are different rules and laws in different countries."
Samsung did not respond to our request for further details.
Global Business Practices
Samsung had been accused by China Labor Watch of countenancing illegal and even inhumane conditions at its factories in China, and the group noted that the workers' overtime at the facilities could reach or often times exceed 100 hours a month. Under current Chinese law, overtime is limited to 36 hours a month.
Samsung is hardly alone when it comes to having suppliers that skirt labor rules, but it has attempted to resolve these problems quickly. Apple also has come under fire for the practices of its suppliers.
"As companies become increasingly global and leverage manufacturers around the world, it behooves them to make sure they know what those supply chain partners are doing, ensure they are complying with local laws and regulations and treating their employees humanely," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "Why they should do this is because even as the supply chain stretches beyond the direct, day-to-day control of the primary vendor, any evil that happens there can leave an indelible stain."
"Foxconn's actions toward its workers and the well-reported suicides at their factories will follow Apple around for years to come, no matter whether or how quickly the abuses were corrected," King told the E-Commerce Times. "Samsung should be commended for responding so quickly to the September report by China Labor Watch that detailed abuses. The company clearly understands that bad actors, even if they are located thousands of miles away from company headquarters, cast very long shadows."
Quick Response
The fact that the China Labor Watch report was only released in September, and Samsung quickly moved to address the problem also further suggests that Samsung is taking this very seriously.
"Given the heat that Apple has received and Samsung working to be the anti-Apple, Samsung is stepping out to make sure factories building their components aren't mistreating workers," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. "They saw Apple get pilloried, and they have no desire to share that experience."
Samsung also looked beyond what China Labor Watch reported.
"It sounds like Samsung wants to ensure that workers aren't going beyond the legal limits of hours worked, while also ensuring that there aren't underage workers," Enderle told the E-Commerce Times.
It may be that this is as much as a face-saving gesture as much as one of real concern for the workers. It allows the company to fend off public embarrassment and get ahead of a problem that hurt Apple, Enderle noted.
"No one wants to explain to their board, spouse or children why they are mistreating people -- even by proxy," Enderle stressed.
Cleaning Up China
Given that China doesn't have its own William Jennings Bryan to address workers' rights, it will likely fall to companies such as Samsung to ensure that labor practices are maintained and enforced as well. It is also sadly an issue that is hardly limited to China.
"Illegal labor practices like long hours and inhumane conditions occur in many countries around the world," Kagan told the E-Commerce Times. "This is like what the United States' workers dealt with 100 years ago."
However, while Bryan may have seen the giant companies in America as being a plague on its workers' rights, Samsung's size gives it the power to enforce how suppliers in places like China may operate.
"It's been many years and the problem still is not solved. Samsung is a global company, so every other company they do business with, in every other country, must rise to the top or it will cost them," said Kagan. "Samsung isn't the first company wrestling with this problem, and they won't be the last. We hear countless stories like this every year in industry after industry."
While Samsung can try to crack down, and even inspire other companies such as Apple to respond in kind, this is likely something that won't be solved quickly.
"The bottom line is we have little power in other countries," admitted Kagan.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Fitness Blog
Why You May NOT Be Losing Weight
Many of us enter into our fitness routines with a main goal of losing weight. However, we may soon find ourselves further and further away from that goal. We work out regularly, we try to eat healthier by watching and tracking what we eat and seem to put in all the extra effort to achieve our weight loss goal, but it seems to be all for naught. So, what are we doing wrong? There are many factors at play here that can affect your weight loss goals, so the answer may not be that simple. Here are a few ways that you may be unknowingly sabotaging your weight loss goals.
Consuming more than you are burning
Many of us have this idea that if we workout, then we can eat whatever we want. This could not be more untrue. The main way you lose weight with your exercise routine is by burning more than you eat. This means that you have to eat properly to fuel your workout, recover from your workout and still ensure that your caloric intake is under what you are burning. This also means that it is important to know how many calories you are truly burning. If you overestimate the number of calories you are burning, then you are bound to consume more calories than you want, which can cause you to gain weight or plateau even when you are working so hard to reach your goals.
Relying only on your new workout to lose weight
Most of us believe that by working out we should automatically lose weight. However, the cold hard truth is that exercise alone will not get you to where you want to be. It is a good starting point that will give your body multiple benefits, but as weight loss routines go, exercise will not cut it alone. I am sure you have all heard the saying that you cannot out exercise a bad diet. This saying is true. You can burn roughly 500 calories working out at 9Round for thirty minutes but ruin it all by going out to eat afterward. Many fast food or casual dining restaurant meals can be in the thousands when it comes to calories. This means that all the hard work you just put into your workout was for nothing.
Your diet may not be as healthy as you think
If you think that by watching your calories alone means that you are eating healthier, you could not be more wrong. It is important to know your caloric intake, but you also need a well rounded diet that consists of certain vitamins and nutrients to achieve a truly healthy diet. It can be extremely difficult for us to keep track of what we eat and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are truly getting everything we need out of our diets. That is why so many celebrities and professionals hire nutritionists. These people know how to supplement our diets to get the results that we want, which is why many gyms, like 9Round, are giving their members the added benefit of meal planning and nutritional help. It is important to know our diets are working for us and to never assume that we are eating healthy solely because our caloric intake is down.
Your fitness routine is not complete
Many of us walk into the gym without knowing what to do, so we mindlessly jump onto machines that we assume will do all the work. Some of us hit the treadmill, elliptical or the bike and stay their until our workouts are over. Others may find themselves at the weight machines lifting to their hearts content. However, this type of routine may not be giving you the results that you want. You need to incorporate different types of exercise into your routine to get the best results. Try a routine that includes a combination of interval training, cardio, strength training and stretching to get the best results. Remember to have fun and regularly mix it up to keep you coming back for more.
Stay consistent
You can not expect to start a new workout routine and see results in a week. You have to stick with it. You should always allow yourself some down time to rest but do not let yourself go too far. After a day or two of downtime, make yourself get back into the gym. And, always keep an eye on what you are eating. You do not want to get too carried away with your cheat days, or you may notice those pounds creeping back up on you. The best thing to remember is that if you do find yourself going off track, correct the situation immediately but do not be too hard on yourself. Everyone experiences these little hiccups on their weight loss journey. You just have to dust yourself off and keep moving forward.
You focus on the scale too much
Most of us are solely focusing on that number on the scale. Why are we so concerned with what it has to say? If we could get away from the pull of the scale, we may begin to see the numerous other benefits we are achieving. Remember there is more out there than that number. Exercise has many benefits, such as improving our coordination, speed, endurance and flexibility. We may be achieving a better night's sleep, feeling better about ourselves or having that little extra pep in our step. It is also important to note that you may be losing inches and dropping dress sizes without seeing the scale move, so pick your head up and try to see more than that little number.
I know that it can be hard trying to lose weight and frustrating when you are putting in all this time and effort and not seeing the results that you want. However, you have to be sure that everything you are doing is working for you and not against you. It is easy for us to sabotage our workouts and not even know it, so before you throw it all away and give up, do some research or ask for help. You could find yourself back on track in no time.


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Two Big farm shows fall within two weeks of each other — the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, and Commodity Classic held in Nashville, TN. The mood at both shows seemed upbeat as farmers were clearly feeling more freedom to shop for new equipment, seed and chemicals. What was the talk buzzing around the show floors?
Sold out
Trying to buy tractors, combines or field equipment for this season is tough. Some product lines are sold out until 2009. Others post a three- to nine-month wait.
Equipment prices higher
China's demand for steel has created a competitive market, and prices are headed north, possibly more than last year's 25% price increase. One manufacturer reported its steel source jumped prices 7% in just one month.
Seed traits up
The cost of seed, particularly seed with stacked traits, will continue to climb. Seed prices already have doubled in the last five years. One company suggested that a bag of corn seed with traits that costs $250 today could cost $500 in 2012. This bag of seed will include a complete protection package, though, including seed treatments.
Tenuous markets
Several developments, such as the huge global demand for grain, have converged to create the rich commodity market. A failure of one or two of these, such as a recession in Asia, could send the market into a tailspin.
Livestock cutback
Corn for livestock and poultry is the first use for corn to be reduced. The country's largest pork producer, Smithfield, will cut 4 to 5% of its herd, which amounts to about one million hogs. Other livestock producers are expected to follow suit.


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You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'toronto sun' tag.
A firestorm of criticism has erupted in response to an ad that recently appeared in the National Post and Toronto Sun. Placed by Charles McVety's so-called Institute for Canadian Values (ICV), the ad features a wide-eyed young girl accompanied by the phrase "Please! Don't confuse me", followed by, "I'm a girl. Don't teach me to question if I'm a boy, transexual [sic.], transgendered, intersexed or two spirited [sic.]" (The original version misspelled "transsexual" and "two-spirited").
The ad attacks a new Toronto District School Board (TDSB) resource guide that provides teachers with an age-appropriate approach to sex education that incorporates both sexual and gender diversity.
For example, in an activity outline called "'Pink versus Blue' – Challenging Gender Stereotypes," students are asked to divide a group of toys into "girl toys," "boy toys," or those that are gender-neutral. Students are asked to question why they associate gender with certain toys. They are further asked how a child might be singled out if they do not conform with traditional gender norms, such as a boy who likes to skip rope or a girl who plays sports better than the boys, and how that might hurt the child's feelings. The lesson is clearly aimed to prevent bullying. It is not designed to convince a young girl she should consider becoming a boy, or vice-versa.
That being said, there is the possibility that someone in the class might have some such inclination— I did. Growing up in rural North Carolina, I knew from around age six I was somehow different. I knew that while my body was 'boy' and others viewed me that way, I felt more like one of the girls. I didn't completely understand it or know what it meant (I first heard the word 'transgender' around the age of twenty), but I was a smart kid and I knew that if I shared my feelings I could expose myself to isolation and violence. So I hid myself and, though it wasn't intentional, I gradually internalized that fear as deep shame.
It took about twenty years before I could seriously begin the process of unlearning that shame, overcome (ironically) self-imposed isolation, and begin living as myself. That process was not always fun but I survived it, which is an immense source of pride for me today.
The ICV ad is meant to tell my story, only with the opposite conclusion: trans children, intersex children, anyone who does not conform should learn silence. Silence is often taught through bullying.
Consider the case of an intersex child, who has no choice whatsoever about the fact that their body may not conform to either female or male. There is no shortage of horror stories about surgeries performed on such children, combined with attempts to force conformity to either normative gender category— only to have them reject such assigned roles later in life, often resulting in great misery or even suicide. This is why an intersex child must be afforded safe space to work out their own gender, which will not happen in school without strong classroom guidance.
The ICV ad attempts to undo that, calling on provincial party leadership to "stop confusing" the little girl in the picture. This effectively acts to silence intersex and trans children into shame and self-erasure, possibly even reinstating bullying as a means to accomplish that.
As a result of the backlash against the ad, the National Post was at least compelled to issue a ham-fisted apology (the apology itself confuses gender identity with sexuality).
Unfortunately, some responses even from LGBTI organizations have been less than stellar, with many describing the ad as "homophobic" or "anti-gay". The ad certainly does contain (mostly implied) homophobia, which must be condemned. However, the ad aggressively targets trans and intersex individuals. Make no mistake, this is intentional— the religious right believes that by attacking more marginalized members of the LGBTI community they will eventually create an opening to attack the entire community. The appropriate response is not for mainstream gay organizations to avoid discussing trans issues, but rather to stand up forcefully in order to disarm such an attack.
What's worse, avoiding the issue acts as yet another erasure of trans identities and trans and intersex bodies— ironic, considering that is the intent of the ad itself.
On October 2, the heat was turned up further when it was reported that Progressive Conservative candidates in recent provincial elections were distributing flyers projecting a similar message, claiming the TDSB manual promotes "cross-dressing for six-year olds." Such bizarre claims obviously represent an intense fear of trans and intersex acceptance that must be countered with a forceful response. We must call on both the Toronto Sun and the PC provincial party for a public apology, and for mainstream LGBTI organizations to stand unwavering in the face of anti-trans hate speech.
A version of this article appeared in the University of Toronto's
the Varsity paper, as well as on Bilerico.


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The FedEx Meal Plan
Should everyone eat only locally grown foods? Sure. Can everyone afford to travel like we used to, dining on the exotic cuisines of foreign lands? No, sadly, we cannot. Is there another solution? Yes, there is. Unfortunately, it involves a lot of overnight shipping. Behold, one man's insane experiment
one should never underestimate the value of having friends whose first reaction, when you tell them you need two In-N-Out burgers FedEd from Los Angeles to New York by the next morning, is to ask, "Regular or Double-Double?" These are the kind of people with whom you'd be happy to share either a foxhole or a beer, the kind you know would be willing to follow you into any drunkenly conceived, willfully contrary, possibly wrongheaded, and certainly obnoxious scheme you'd manage to dream up. I happen to have such friends (their names are Oliver and Sarah), and I happened to have had such a scheme. It was this: To get as many foods as possible, from all over the world, sent overnight via FedEx to my home in Brooklyn.
The idea came to me in the midst of one of those morose funks that occur after coming home from a long trip. In this case, I had just returned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was moping about the house, dreaming of days spent stuffing myself with a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay delicacies unavailable anywhere else in the world.
Or were they? I suddenly thought, snapping awake. Unavailable? What did that even mean in these modern times? After all, there is a network of couriers crisscrossing the globe twenty-four hours a day and promising that anything can be anywhere within a matter of hours. So if I craved a bowl of pork noodles of the sort sold on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, why would I need to do something as old-fashioned as actually visiting Kuala Lumpur? International shipping may be pricey, but as a way to stay connected to the tastes of the planet during lean times, it seems downright affordable.
But hold on, I hear you say, doesn't this fly in the face of every single thing going on in the food world? Aren't all right-minded eaters supposed to be eating locally, seasonally, and sustainably, with exquisite sensitivity to each ingredient's provenance, genetic heritage, and carbon footprint?
Well, yes. And the truth is that this made the prospect all the sweeter. It's not that I don't believe in local and seasonal eating. Clearly, the food revolution of the past two decades has made eating in America a better experience for mouth, belly, and conscience alike. The thing is, the revolutionaries have won. Ask any young chef for his or her culinary philosophy and you'll hear localandseasonal rattled off so fast the actual words lose all meaning. Even behemoths like McDonald's and Walmart have made concessions to the values of Alice Waters and Michael Pollan.
Obviously, the local eating orthodoxy can produce some astonishing food. At Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Dan Barber's restaurant-cum-farm in Westchester County, New York, I had a midwinter dinner that, as far as I could tell, eschewed even such alien ingredients as lemon and black pepper. The meal was very beige and utterly transcendent. But like any other true belief that morphs into a tired buzzword, it's worth taking a step back to note how, in the hands of lesser talents, this one may be abused: by the restaurateurs who believe that having a chalkboard menu crammed with farm names is more important than such incidentals as serving well-prepared, delicious food. By the chefs who equate the word local with a chance to up a dish's price by $10. By those who would deny us the joy of acknowledging that we live in a gastronomic Age of Miracles. (Tomatoes in January? In biblical times, you could get five or six apostles for less.) And by the just plain silly; it was about the time that my local bar started listing Blue Diamond Almonds on its snack menu with the added parenthetical "(Sacramento)" that it became clear that local, seasonal, and their attendant food pieties had jumped the line-caught, fair-trade, National Marine Fisheries Service-approved mako shark.
And the fact remains that, at Blue Hill, I had paid hundreds of dollars for the privilege of enacting a massive historical reversal. For the rest of human existence, as Felipe Fernández-Armesto points out in Near a Thousand Tables: A History of Food, one mark of a great empire has been the diversity of its ingredients and the distances they traveled to get to the elite. The Greeks and Romans filled their tables with spices, fruits, and fish from the farthest reaches of their dominions. Peter the Great had oysters brought to then landlocked Russia from thousands of miles away, packed in sawdust and hay. The British once cooled their gin-and-tonics in Calcutta with ice cut from Massachusetts ponds.
Moreover, the movement of food across vast distances is literally the story of civilization: Science, mathematics, religion, language—all were carried around the world in ships' holds filled with breadfruit, amid camel caravans carrying spices, even (or especially) in shipping containers crammed with frozen McDonald's beef. Locavore may have been the 2007 New Oord American Dictionary Word of the Year, but there's already been a word for those whose diets are restricted to seasonal items grown in their immediate area: That word is peasant.
Which, anyway, is what I told myself at 8:30 A.M. when the doorbell rang and I signed for a miraculous purple-white-and-orange package containing two slightly wilted but—or was it my imagination?—still warm In-N-Out Double-Doubles.
here were my criteria: I would only order foods that were distinctly of their place. They would have to be meals—prepared dishes that, in the past, I would have been obliged to travel to distant lands to taste, or taste again. My dream list included bollito misto from Ristorante Diana in Bologna, Italy—dripping cuts of meat boiled together in a rich stock and served with spicy fruit mustards; muffuletta sandwiches from New Orleans's Central Grocery Co.; Allen & Son Barbeque's North Carolina pulled pork; parsley-and-marrow salad from St. John Restaurant in London; tonkatsu from Tokyo; the Malaysian noodles.
I suppose I expected the food purveyors of the world to hear my plan, join hands, sing a round of "It's a Small World," and make haste for the nearest FedEx drop box. This may have been a touch naive. For one thing, I do not know the words for "obnoxious scheme" in Italian or Japanese. Even in English, the mission proved a hard sell. "That is not something we could possibly do," the general manager of St. John politely told me. A Bolognese friend living in Brazil burned up his Skype account trying to find a willing partner for me in Italy. "How to FedEx a bollito misto…this is a very difficult thing to explain," he reported sorrowfully. My contact in Toulouse, France, from whom I'd hoped to procure some cassoulet, had only this to say: "Clearly you are not familiar with the French."
Old Europe, though, was nothing compared with the legal issues here at home. The great traders of old dealt with sandstorms and tsunamis; they crossed mountain ranges and dodged pirates. My challenge was to navigate something called the Animal Product Manual, a publication of the United States Department of Agriculture. I would have rather had pirates.
At 931 pages, filled with more acronyms than a Tom Clancy novel and more appendis than a hospital Dumpster, the APM suggests a national strategy of protectionism through sheer confusion. The regulations on receiving gifts of food from foreign countries are buried somewhere among categories like "Powdered Bird Guano That Lacks Certification" and "Commercial Importations of Cooked Meat or Meat Products of Poultry and Fowl from a Country or Region of Origin Known to Be Free from HPAI (H5N1) but Affected with END." What little I could decipher was not promising: Malaysia, it seemed, was, by USDA standards, a veritable pit of disease, home to "Classical Swine Fever, Exotic Newcastle Disease, Foot and Mouth Disease, Highly Contagious Avian Influenza and Swine Vesicular Disease." It was amazing I'd even gotten out alive. Sweden was hardly better. That meant that, even for those dishes allowed into the United States, each ingredient would need to be accompanied by reams of paperwork. When I got USDA senior staff veterinarian Christopher Robinson on the phone to assess my plan, he cut handily through the bureaucrat-speak: "I'd say it was pretty much impossible," he said.
Indeed, while I can't vouch for dirty bombs, bales of heroin, or hordes of illegal aliens, I can report that our nation is perfectly safe from rogue shipments of suckling pig. That's what I had coming in from the restaurant Ibu Oka in Ubud, Bali, where the pigs are stuffed to bursting with shallots, garlic, lemongrass, and chilies, bathed in coconut oil, and then hand-turned before a blazing pyre of coffee branches. The beauty of that description left customs agents at JFK unmoved: The shipment was destroyed. Likewise the noodles from KL. And a shipment of cotechino and tortellini from Italy. I began picturing my house as one of those little bases in Missile Command: Packages of delicious food came arcing toward my door from around the world, only to get zapped at the last moment by authorities at various ports of entry.
clearly, another approach was needed. But while I plotted, I contented myself with domestic goodies.
I am convinced that we are evolutionarily equipped with a gene that makes us forget the taste of North Carolina barbecue, just so we continue to eat lesser foods in between pulled-pork sandwiches. The tub of Allen & Son pulled pork that showed up at my door was every bit as good in Brooklyn as it had been the last time I'd gorged on it at the restaurant's vinyl-covered tables in Chapel Hill. In college my friends and I had stonedly fantasized about being able to be fad a pizza. This wasn't quite that level of instant gratification, but it was damned close. Even the hush puppies worked well when reheated, though owner and eponymous "Son" Keith Allen had categorically refused to send coleslaw, saying it wouldn't survive the trip in a condition up to Allen & Son standards. "Sometimes I worry about you northern boys," he told me.
From New Orleans came the muffuletta, a stacked sheaf of sliced Italian meats and sharp provolone stuck between enormous rounds of bread and topped with olive relish. Central Grocery would only send frozen batches of three, but they arrived in surprisingly perfect shape. From New Mexico came a Tupperware container of green-chili enchiladas from a legendary shack of a diner called El Farolito; from Kansas City, Missouri, an order of Arthur Bryant's "burnt ends," the most grizzled, succulent parts of a smoked brisket.
When a friend said, "You're pretty much obliged to get something from Chez Panisse," a shiver went up my spine. Alice Waters's Berkeley restaurant is considered the very cradle of the localandseasonal movement. When I asked them to FedEx me a dinner, I was told, with just a hint of Northern California frost, "We don't do takeout." Undeterred, I dragooned a friend who happened to be visiting the Bay Area into visiting for dinner, ordering an extra entrée, and then shipping me the doggie bag. The short ribs with polenta were delicious but unmistakably tinged with guilt. I felt like I had just peed on Jacques Pépin.
Meanwhile I thought I'd solved my international-shipping issues. It occurred to me that the USDA doesn't police fish, so I switched to an all-seafood menu, carefully avoiding any knowledge of ingredients like chicken stock and butter to preserve deniability when it came to customs forms. From Stockholm's great fish emporium, Melanders Fisk, I ordered fatty Baltic herring—strömming—pickled, and then breaded and fried. Then I breathlessly watched the FedEx tracking page. Sure enough, after a short delay at JFK, the package was released. Emboldened, my Malaysian contact and I switched to a noodle dish that seemed to pass the USDA test—prawn mee, a deeply spicy, complex seafood soup. I watched as it was picked up in KL, cleared Malaysian customs, and took wing across the Pacific. The next morning, it reached Anchorage and then…stopped, held for inspection.
The herring, on the other hand, had arrived accompanied by tiny plastic containers of dill-laced mashed potatoes, lingonberry preserves, and drawn butter. (Oops.) It was delicious, but standing and eating in my kitchen, once the FedEx man had departed, I felt my vague misgivings begin to solidify. Was the strömming really as good as when I'd had it as a picnic on an island just north of Stockholm, drenched in sunshine and surrounded by happy, pink vacationing families? By the same token, the muffuletta had been a fantastic sandwich, but did it really measure up to the one I'd had in New Orleans years before—the time I'd snuck out of the hotel while my girlfriend napped to greedily down a sandwich between the second of two lunches and a dinner at Galatoire's? Cervantes may have said that hunger was the best sauce, but context runs a close second.
I was even more conflicted about the dishes from places I hadn't been. For years I'd planned on making the trip to Kansas City to visit Arthur Bryant's. Now, why would I ever go to Kansas City? Or to the lonely high-desert crossroads where El Farolito sits? Even the massive carbon footprint of the sourdough loaf I'd had sent from San Francisco wasn't quite enough to assuage my melancholy at having never been to San Francisco. I wondered if Peter the Great dreamt of standing knee-deep in the Atlantic, gathering his own oysters.
This, I realized, is the dark side of the miracle of everything, everywhere, all the time—something we experience in realms well beyond food. Once upon a time, I would wait for the chance to hear Bessie Banks's original version of "Go Now." Banks's version would come on the radio about once every two years. Each time I happened to catch it, I would all but have to pull the car over to let her stirring, wounded vocal wash over me. Now, of course, I own a digital copy of the song, but I have to keep it off my iTunes playlist for fear of it popping up on shuffle too often and losing all meaning.
For that matter, there's the rush of emotion that occurs every time a long-lost friend suddenly pops up on Facebook, which is so frequently that I've been forced to either stop caring or lose whole days in a paralysis of nostalgic reverie. For all its legitimate political, environmental, and gastronomic rationales, it may be that the localandseasonal movement is more about this, ultimately conservative, impulse than anything else—a self-protective retrenchment in the face of too much available data.
i had one more free-floating bit of data out there, one more missile aimed at my front door. Day after day, I tracked the status of my prawn mee, greeted each time by the dread message: clearance delay. By the time it arrived, it had been a week since it was packed, some 10,000 miles away.
Unwilling to give up the dream, I called the Customs and Border Protection office in Anchorage. Had the package been refrigerated? I asked the woman who picked up the phone. No, she said, it had probably just sat in a fenced-in portion of the warehouse.
Hmm. What temperature would she say it was?
"Um, this is Alaska. It's pretty cold," she said. "I sometimes wear a sweater in there."
Dear reader, is it weird that I still thought long and hard about eating the soup? Even though the package was starting to smell downright funky? Well, consider this: The last time I'd smelled prawn mee had been at a sidewalk market filled with all kinds of smells—cooking meat, fermented fish paste, ripe-to-bursting melons, tropical flowers. Maybe the funky aroma had been just one perfectly healthy note in the symphony? More to the point, isn't that where it belonged?
I'd like to think that it was this, rather than fear of salmonella, that brought my experiment to an end. I took a deep breath and dumped the soup down the sink. I took care to bale up the FedEx box for recycling. Then I went out for a slice of pizza.
brett martin is a GQ correspondent.


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AAA Four-Diamond Vegas Resort with Casino and IMAX Theatre
At Aliante Casino + Hotel, it's possible to court Lady Luck at the 24-hour casino, watch a giant-sized IMAX movie, salsa at a Latin dance party, and catch a live concert—all in the same night. The multimillion-dollar casino hotel would fit right in on the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, the resort is tucked away in a tranquil neighborhood of North Las Vegas. Recreational parks and picturesque trails provide a refreshing dose of peace and quiet in an area where peace and quiet are in short supply. Still, the resort is only about a half-hour drive from Sin City's raucous casinos and nightclubs.
The hotel's exterior is sleek and modern, with reflective glass panes that sparkle in the relentless Nevada sunshine. Up in the guest rooms, a contemporary design scheme incorporates mocha accents and floor-to- ceiling windows. There's a flat-screen plasma TV for in-room entertainment.
In the casino, you can take your chances at thousands of slot machines. The bingo room has space for up to 200 players, and the onsite Race + Sports Book boasts three large screens and 170 seats. To refuel, you can visit one of the many onsite dining options. MRKT Sea & Land complements 1855 premium steaks and nightly live atmospheric entertainment with selections from an epic wine room. Bottles serve a more decorative purpose at Salted Lime, the hotel's upscale Mexican restaurant. A handcrafted chandelier made from more than 2,000 tequila bottles hangs overhead.
North Las Vegas: Family-Friendly Adventures Away from the Strip
Roughly a half-hour drive from Sin City, North Las Vegas rests in the Mohave Desert, bordered on the north by the Las Vegas Mountain Range. Throughout the city's residential communities, you'll find many trails and recreational parks, including the 20-acre Aliante Nature Discovery Park. The Aliante Golf Club lies just across the street from the hotel, and the Valley of Fire State Park is only about an hour away. Here, adults can gaze into a manmade lake as kids roll up their sleeves at the Dino Dig sandbox to unearth replicas of dinosaur fossils and Fred Flintstone's baby pictures.
North Las Vegas is situated close enough to the Vegas Strip to sample its iconic stage shows, casinos, and clubs. It's also worth the drive to check out classic Vegas sights downtown. Vintage neon signs tout casinos from the 1950s along Fremont Street—once the center of Sin City's nightlife. In the evening, the casinos go dim as 12.5 million lights illuminate an outdoor canopy for a free light-and-sound show called _Viva Vision_.


text: Please understand the truth about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. Please do not believe the Chinese Communist Party's lies. Falun Dafa is Good. Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) teaches 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance', it teaches us to be a GOOD person, and makes us HEALTHY. And it is embraced in 114 nations! 请了解法轮功和中共残酷迫害法轮功的真相。法轮大法(法轮功)好,114个国家都热爱她,请不要被中共的谎言欺骗。(http://falundafa.org)


text: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ninja-eye/id531086387?ls=1&mt=8 This is a well-made but easy to get started ninja game. With its unique style of play and dynamic rhythm, it only takes one minute to learn to play the game, and anyone can certainly enjoy it! The game will be a test of your eyesight. The crafty enemy would perform divination, making illusions, to confuse your eyes. In order to track the enemy and then defeat him, you need to focus your attention, using your eyesight. Besides, there are some other awards and techniques to help you defeat more enemies! By playing this game, you will not only have fun, but also energize your brain and hone your eyesight. Have you ever imagined how wonderful Sasuke and Narutos fight on Iphone is? Have you ever thought about which is more powerful, Sharingan or Kagebunsin? Then this game will satisfy your imagination!


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Freaking white people.
I feel like maybe I need to watch an episode or something because I don't get the love.
Quote from: pseudonym on January 26, 2013, 05:39:15 PMFreaking white people.I saw a lone black dude in the trailer.
Heck, I wish I was them. At least one thing in life would give me blissful pleasure.Not that I don't enjoy anything... but clearly not as much as they do.
Quote from: Akanbe- on January 28, 2013, 06:44:04 PMI feel like maybe I need to watch an episode or something because I don't get the love.Well yeah, it's hard to judge something if you haven't even seen it...I watched a few episodes a couple years ago to see what all the fuss is about. I don't know...it's definitely above-average for a kid's show, but it's still a kids show. It's well made, I like the visual style, and there are some catchy songs, but it's not exactly life-changing or anything. I don't quite understand how people can take it to such an extreme.But hey, who am I to judge. If it makes them happy, what does it matter?
Catchy and relevant:Meet some bronies


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Web Content Display
A. In Croatan and Roanoke, Albemarle and Currituck sounds, north and west of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge and the Washington Baum Bridge described below:1. Croatan Sound — beginning at a point 35° 53.1720' N — 75° 45.6160'W on the mainland shore; running easterly along the south side of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge to a point at 35° 53.1630'N — 75° 40.1640'W on Roanoke Island.B. The area between the lines referenced in I.A.1. and 2. and the southern boundary of the Albemarle Sound Management Area described as a line beginning at a point 35° 48.3693'N — 75°43.7232'W on Roanoke Marshes Point, running southeasterly to a point 35° 44.1710'N — 75° 31.0520'W on the north point of Eagle Nest Bay.
A. Albemarle Sound (areas described in I.A.1. and 2):1. Gill nets with a mesh length less than 3 ¼ inches shall not be used.


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Tom and Derrick team up with their Hip Hop Maestro, Kelen 'B Hyphen' Conley as they discuss one of Brooklyn's favorite filmmaking sons, Spike Lee! Join the trio as they discuss a quintet of Spike's films, from the seminal dramedy Do The Right Thing to the utterly savage satire Bamboozled and the controversial relationship dramas She's Gotta Have It and Jungle Fever. Plus Tom and Kelen commiserate over the present fate of the Oakland Raiders, Derrick recognizes his co-host as The Blue-Eyed White Devil and Kelen tries to explain how he wouldn't make out with Sasha Grey! It's time to wake up, so get to clicking
Better In The Dark – Episode 60: Fight The Power! A Celebration of Spike Lee


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
For the first time ever, the series' avid fans get to vote on a storyline, set to air in season eight
Cast makes triumphant return to San Diego with an exclusive midnight screening of "Psych: The Musical" and Comic-Con panel discussion moderated by Cary Elwes
USA Network, the No. 1 cable network, is giving Psych-Os what they want: more "Psych" episodes! Due to the extraordinary popularity of the show, the network has ordered two additional episodes for the eighth season, and, for the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to vote for one they want to see appear on air.
The results will be announced when "Psych" makes its fifth annual return to San Diego's Comic Con on July 18. Fans can visit www.usanetwork.com/content/psych-episode-vote and cast their vote for one of the following storylines:
•"Telethon" - In a classic "whodunit?" case with a "Psych" twist, Shawn and Gus investigate a murder that Shawn is convinced was committed by the beloved host of Santa Barbara's annual Children's Hospital Telethon. There's only one problem - the host was seen by hundreds of thousands of people on live television during the exact time the murder occurred elsewhere. Can Shawn steal the show, poke a hole in this rock-solid alibi, and prove the host did it? Or will Shawn fail in front of his biggest audience yet?
•"Dream Therapy" - From acclaimed director James Roday ("Mr. Yin Presents...", "Heeeeere's Lassie"), comes a new vision in terror: "Nightmare on State Street!" In the episode, an exhausted Gus enters dream therapy to understand the cause of his recent night terrors. But after this, nothing is ever again what it seems. He soon realizes that in dreams, no one can hear you scream!
•"Food Truck" - When the well-known owner of a beloved Santa Barbara food truck is mysteriously murdered, Shawn and Gus, fans of delicious flavor, are determined to solve the crime as only they can. They go undercover as proprietors of the "Psych" Naptime Food Truck, and soon discover that the high-profit world of Santa Barbara's mobile food business is cutthroat, insular and a place of many secrets - many of them worth killing for.
The results of the fan vote will be announced in San Diego where "Psych" kicks off two days of delicious flavor starting on July 17 with an exclusive midnight screening of the highly anticipated "Psych: The Musical," a two-hour special episode airing this winter on USA. The following day, the network will host a characteristically hilarious "Psych" panel during Comic-Con with the winning storyline revealed by the cast.
Hosted at the Reading Cinema in the Gaslamp district, the advance screening festivities will begin the afternoon of Wednesday, July 17, and will continue with a not-to-be-missed late-night party. Fans at the event will have an exclusive opportunity to download a track from the musical, made available as part of a partnership with Shazam. The event will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. "Psych" fans can register here to attend: http://www.usanetwork.com/content/psych-the-musical.
On Thursday, July 18, the Comic-Con panel will be moderated by cult hero Cary Elwes ("The Princess Bride"), who will be guest starring in "Psych," once again, as Despereaux this coming season. Panelists include Roday, Dulé Hill, Corbin Bernsen, Maggie Lawson, Timothy Omundson and Kirsten Nelson. Also joining the panel are creator and executive producer Steve Franks, and executive producers Chris Henze and Kelly Kulchak. The panel is open to all registered Comic-Con guests.


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This is James with his FREE shawl. As a 6 year survivor, I donate my newly knit prayer shawls, fleece shawls and prayer cloths to cancer patients and use all donations from handmade items to purchase yarn and blizzard fleece and to help with shipping costs to send prayer shawls across the USA. . Thank you for supporting my mission. May God richly bless you. *PLEASE FILL OUT THE CONTACT FORM LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS PAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE SHAWL OR PRAYER CLOTH*
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Posted by GENEROSITIES OF THE HEART at 1:05 PM
Labels: Shawls
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Five Climatic Disaster Movies to Prepare You for Hurricane Irene
If you're on the east coast of the United States, this week has been something out of a Roland Emmerich movie. Not only were you hit with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia that was felt all the way up to Canada, but now you're preparing to face the wrath of Hurricane Irene – a mighty storm that's primed to make landfall in North Carolina and wreak havoc along the entire eastern seaboard. People are already scrambling to load up on food, batteries, gas, and all manner of post-apocalyptic goods. The grocery store looks like a scene from The Mist.
It looks like you may have another day or so to prepare, so we thought we'd put together a short list of climate-related disaster movies that may help. Break out the following DVDs and make it a marathon viewing tonight. Grab a pen and take some notes. Note: we can't guarantee that any of these films would ever help you survive a disaster. Seriously.
Speaking of Roland Emmerich, we start off the list with his 2009 disaster epic 2012. Starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet, the film takes just about every possible natural disaster and lumps them into a two-and-a-half hour apocalyptic ride. You get earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis all crashing down around the globe. If you're looking for a disaster flick that has it all, this is the one. Well, as long as you're looking for something serious. This is popcorn, folks.
John Ford's 1937 classic The Hurricane ends with a special effects hurricane that was well ahead of its time. Nominated for three Academy Awards, the film may have captivated moviegoers with its effects, but its three stars (Dorothy Lamour, Jon Hall, and Mary Astor) are what originally brought in audiences. If you're looking for a natural disaster throwback, you can't go wrong with Ford's film.
Produced by the legendary Irwin Allen, The Poseidon Adventure (remade in 2006 as Poseidon) still stands as one of the greatest disaster films of all time. When the SS Poseidon is overturned by a tsunami caused by an underwater earthquake, passengers and crew trapped inside must scramble to survive before the enormous ocean liner becomes their underwater tomb. Amazing practical effects and standout performances from Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine make The Poseidon Adventure just as fun today as it was in 1972.
Morgan Freeman for President of the United States? Yes please! In 1998, he took office as President Tom Beck in the sci-fi disaster film Deep Impact and tried his best to lead a country terrified that a comet hurdling toward earth would pretty much wipe out all existence. The film not only contains an impressive megatsunami, but it also boasts an amazing cast of Elijah Wood, Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jon Favreau, among others. While it may not be the best film of the batch presented here, Deep Impact is a great ride with some fun effects. Oh, and did we mention Morgan Freeman as President?
George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg's second stint acting alongside each other brought us The Perfect Storm in 2000. Based on Sebastian Junger's non-fiction book of the same name, the film details the harrowing adventure of the crew of a sword-fishing boat -- the Andrea Gail -- that got caught in between two powerful weather fronts and a hurricane. Directed by Wolfgang Peterson, The Perfect Storm not only made audiences around the country seasick, but it also brought in a boatload of money at the box office and thrilled critics, garnering two Oscar nominations. It's a realistic, dramatic, and terrifying film that truly shows the power of inclement weather and a wildly raging sea.
While five films get top billing here, we'd be remiss if we didn't include a few honorable mentions: Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow is another climatic disaster film that boasts big budgets and big chills. Ang Lee's The Ice Storm is a modern classic that proves that natural disasters don't always have to be enormous events. Sometimes a small ice storm can have a huge impact on the people who live through it. Dante's Peak is volcanic eruption galore and a lot of Pierce Brosnan running around saving people. And Jan de Bont's Twister stirs things up in the most thrilling of ways.
Hurricane Irene may come this weekend, or it may drift out to sea. Only time will tell. But prepare yourself now with the above films. Sit back, surrounded by cases of bottled water, batteries, and your backup generator, relax and enjoy the best in climatic disasters that cinema has to offer. (And be safe!)
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2019 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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The Etobicoke Event Calendar lists all the major events taking place in our great city. If you want your event listed in our calendar and promoted to thousands of Etobicoke residents that visit 365Etobicoke every day please send us your event details and we'll add your event right away!
February 8, 2018All Day
January 26 to February 8 (Reservations begin January 11th)
Toronto's winter culinary celebration offers the perfect opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 200 restaurants and experience unique culinary events. Take this opportunity to try out that specific restaurant in Etobicoke you've been meaning to try and support our local businesses!
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Intima 23 Litre Automatic Sanitary Bin in Bright Chrome
Dimensions (mm):
Width at base: 460
Width at base including pedal: 540
Width at lid: 510
Height with lid: 550
Depth at lid: 160
Depth at base: 122
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Feature Value Brand Intima Material Plastic Bin Type Sanitary Waste Finish/Colour Chrome Volume 23 litres Dimensions (L) x (W) x (H) 540 x 550 x 160 mm Pack Size Single Manufacturer Kennedy Hygiene Manufacturer Reference Number LADBINITMAUTCHR/S
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This year for Mother's Day I gave myself a gift. I made the decision to pull Jackson out of daycare and spend as much time with him as I could before he goes to Kindergarten (he'll go not this fall but the next.)
The decision to do this started when I would randomly let Jackson stay at home with me instead of going to daycare. It was just a day or two, here and there. He loved it. I loved it. It was wonderful and we both dreaded the next day when he would have to go back. It would break my heart when I had to take him the next day and he would cry.
I made a comment to Mike that I wished I could keep Jackson at home with me. Jackson is such an easy child to take care off. He's is sweet, happy, appreciative of every little thing, he's very self reliant, rarely throws fits...just all around easy. (If I had a guarantee that they all would turn out like Jackson, I would have 20 more kids!) I could see myself being able to work with ease while having him at home with me.
Mike stated the fact that I really didn't have much time before Jackson was in Kindergarten and having him at home with me would no longer be an option. I then realized that Jackson didn't get to spend the time at home with me like Drew did. Drew and I have such a wonderful closeness and I really feel like a big part of that is due to spending the time we did together when he was little.
It made me so sad to realize I hadn't yet taken that time with Jackson. I felt like I had taken the easy route because I had gotten into such a routine with work. I felt bad because I've got this wonderful freedom with my job and I wasn't taking advantage of it the way that I should have been.
All too often I say that I can't believe how quickly the boys are growing up or how fast the time seems to fly by. I say it but I often forget to savor the moments I'm currently in and surrounded by. I spend my time going, going, going and forgetting to just stop and enjoy things as they are. Jackson is at such a fun age and I feel like we have such an amazing and special bond. I want to enjoy that as much as possible right now.
As someone I know said, "There might be times that are tough or frustrating but believe me, when they are 15 or 20 you will never regret having spent extra time with them when they were little." I couldn't agree more. I'm looking forward to reclaiming my stay at home/work at home mom status!


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Previous work in this genre Next work in this genre Poems Genre index About this register Links Search
"Menneskelivet (For den vilde syndflods vande)" [Danish title] is number 1768 in the Hans Christian Andersen Center's register of Andersen's literary works, i.e. no. 268 in the category poems (the range 1501 - 2900).
"Menneskelivet (For den vilde syndflods vande)" [Danish title] was first published 18 December 1832.
The work was published as a part of Marts (Mægtigt vårens pulse banke) [Danish title]. (Number 1766. BFN 202. Category/genre: Poems).
Show this work in its context: all new Andersen publications from 1832.
In modern Danish on p. 220 in Johan de Mylius (editor): H.C. Andersen. Samlede digte ('Collected poems', Copenhagen, 2000).


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The early part of July has resulted in favorable growing conditions in much of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, with adequate moisture and above-normal temperatures. Corn and soybean development has extended at a rapid pace since June 25, as a result of the warm temperatures, and rapid accumulation of growing degree units (GDUs) during that period. The total GDU accumulation since May 1 is running near normal at most locations in the region; however, GDU accumulation and crop development is still well behind normal in many areas of central Minnesota. GDU accumulation since May 1, 2011, at the U of M Southern Research Center at Waseca was 1035 as of July 8, which is right on normal for that date. GDU accumulation had been running slightly behind normal through May and June.
Some portions of the region have been impacted from crop loss due to hail, wind and excessive rainfall resulting from numerous severe storms in late June and early July. The excessive rainfall and very moist soil conditions have lead to some yellowing of corn and soybeans, especially in low areas of fields; however, that condition has improved somewhat in the past week or so. There are many areas in southern Minnesota and much of central Minnesota with very uneven corn due to late planting and very wet soil conditions during most of June.
Much of the corn in southern Minnesota is now 5-6 ft. tall, and will likely be in the tasseling and pollination stage during the next two weeks, which is a very critical time for corn development. Many areas received some beneficial rainfall this past weekend, which is very timely for crop development. There is virtually no moisture stress on the corn in most areas, and temperatures have been fairly moderate thus far, which should bode well for enhancing the yield potential of the 2011 corn crop in these areas. Producers are also finishing postemergence herbicide applications in soybeans for weed control, after significant delays due to wet field conditions. Some producers are also sidedressing some additional nitrogen to their corn crop to supplement lost nitrogen in areas of heavy rainfall.
Editor's note: Kent Thiesse is a former University of Minnesota Extension educator and now is Vice President of MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, MN. You can contact him at 507-726-2137 or via e-mail at email@example.com.


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James Vincent Marcolivio
James Vincent Marcolivio, 89, of Hermitage Hills Blvd., Hermitage, died peacefully at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 in Nugent Convalescent Home, Hermitage, with his family at his side.Mr. Marcolivio was born July 6, 1921, in Ridgway, the son of the late Giuseppe and Michalina Lemongelli Marcolivio. He was a standout athlete at Ridgeway High School and was the captain of his senior high baseball, basketball and football teams. He also attended Kiski School, an all-boys college preparatory boarding school in Saltsburg, where he was also a three-sport letterman. He earned his bachelor of science degree in education from Lock Haven University in 1949. He also earned his master's degree in education from Westminster College.Mr. Marcolivio worked in the West Middlesex Area School District for 32 years, where he taught health science, physical education and general science, and held the position as guidance counselor for 13 years. While teaching at West Middlesex, he coached several sports teams, including the 1953-54 Big Red basketball team that is still the only West Middlesex team to win a state title. He coached his team to a 74-58 victory against Mount Joy in the state title tilt and brought the first state championship trophy home to West Middlesex High School. He also assisted Kennedy Catholic's Golden Eagles football team in 1985 as a defensive back coach.In 1982, Mr. Marcolivio was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame for all of his great sports achievements. After retirement, he simply enjoyed spending time with his family and he also was a well-known face at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage, where he worked as a starter. He was an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, West Middlesex, where in past years he belonged to their men's club and was one of the founding members of the parish. Some of his former memberships included the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the National Education Association, the Italian Home and its Wednesday night men's golf league, and the Italian American War Veterans (ITAM). He also was a volunteer for a number of years at what was then the F.H. Buhl Club, Sharon.A decorated war veteran, he served with the United States Navy Air Corps in both the European and African theaters and was honorably discharged with several medals and commendations.He is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Louise McRoberts; a daughter, Kathleen L. Lewis of Volant; a sister, Molly Zimmerman of Medway, Mass.; a brother, Anthony J. Marcolivio and his wife Joyce of North Carolina; three grandchildren, Meredith A. Eaton and her husband Rocky, Susan L. Sippola and her husband Jason, and Donald G. Lewis; and five great-grandchildren, Isabella and Brooklyn Eaton, Hannah and Zachary Sippola, and Braden Lewis.Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, James and Vincent; a brother, Nicholas Marcolivio; and four sisters, Lena and Anna DeCarlois, Genevieve Stenta and Victoria Cole.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday for James Vincent Marcolivio. In lieu of flowers, Jim's family suggests that memorial contributions be made out to the Good Shepherd Education Fund and sent to Church of the Good Shepherd, 3613 Sharon Rd., West Middlesex, PA 16159.


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When Morning Comes
Acrylic on Canvas
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filomena booth, abstract painting, abstract painting workshops, modern art paintings, seascape, coastal, floral, interior design, home decor art, art for interior designer, buy art online


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CesarG. necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 210 diseños de 58 diseñadores freelance.
Cesar Gamez
Cesar Gamez, M.A., is a licensed associate counselor and a Doctoral student at Arizona State University. He earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the founder and director of Family Insights™ and is a sought-after speaker and workshop trainer. Prior to joining myBalancedLife Counseling, he was a Primary Therapist at Remuda Ranch, one of the foremost in-patient treatment facilities in the country for women suffering from anxiety and eating disorders.
My blog is http://www.FamilyInsights.net
Go check out my blog to get a feel for what I do and who I am.
Also, a web designer is working on a website for me
Right now, it's still too much of the template/shell but you'll get a sense for where I'm going with it.
Male & Female American Adults ages 20-50
This population will include:
- Young adults looking to get married
- Adults struggling in their marriage
- Parents of children & teens
- Women struggling with eating disorders
I like http://michaelhyatt.com 's look and feel.
I need something simple, Zen-like and clean.
It's gotta look professional but fresh.
Think about the feeling after you brush your teeth - it's fresh, it's clean and it leaves you feeling healthier. That's what I want the logo to convey.
Stay away from cartoons but be contemporary.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Back View
Left-Back View
Top View
Front Left View
Front Right View
Left-Side View
Left-Side View
Front Right View
Right-Side View
Right-Side View
Back View
Top Right View
Bottom View
EF-X8 Flash Unit
Show MoreLess
Now Viewing:
Product Highlights
Style: Body OnlyBody Only With 18-55mm Lens
Configuration: BaseBase Basic Kit Deluxe Kit
The Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera features a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor and an EXR Processor II to produce high-resolution imagery with an expandable sensitivity range from ISO 100-51200 as well as a top continuous shooting rate of 8 fps. Fujifilm's proprietary X-Trans sensor uses a unique randomized pixel array in order to avoid the use of a resolution-reducing optical low-pass filter, therefore providing images with the utmost sharpness and clarity. This imaging system is benefitted by the Intelligent Hybrid AF system, which uses both contrast- and phase-detection methods to acquire focus quickly and accurately. Enhanced manual focusing capabilities are also a result of these technologies; Digital Split Image and Focus Highlight Peaking are two methods for quickly and precisely determining focus using intelligent focusing aids for improved control and optimized efficiency.
For image monitoring, review, and menu navigation, both a 2,360k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a 3.0" 1,040k-dot tilting LCD screen are available. The body design extends this versatility through the implementation of manual, physical control dials on the top plate of the camera as well as customizable buttons and a Q Menu button for expedited access to some of the most useful settings. This control scheme further enables an intuitive built-in Wi-Fi system for direct sharing of imagery to an Android or iOS mobile device for instant sharing online.
Full HD 1080p movie recording in multiple frame rates is possible and a 2.5mm microphone input permits the use of an optional external microphone for improved audio quality with recordings. Full-time continuous focusing is supported while taking video, also, as well as the use of Film Simulation modes. Film Simulation modes make use of Fujifilm's history of producing both negative and slide films, and allow you to apply those films' characteristics to your digital imagery to better suit your intended look.
|Lens Mount
|Fujifilm X Mount
|Camera Format
|APS-C (1.5x Crop Factor)
Actual: 16.7 Megapixel
Effective: 16.3 Megapixel
|Max Resolution
|4896 x 3264
|Sensor Type / Size
|CMOS, 23.6 x 15.6 mm
|File Formats
Still Images: JPEG, RAW
Movies: AVC/H.264, MOV
Audio: Linear PCM (Stereo)
|Dust Reduction System
|Memory Card Type
|AV Recording
|Video Recording
|Aspect Ratio
|Video Clip Length
|Up to 27 Minutes
|Audio Recording
Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo)
Optional External Mic: With Video
|Focus Control
|Focus Type
|Auto & Manual Focus
|Focus Mode
|Continuous-Servo AF (C), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)
|Autofocus Points
|Contrast Detection: 49
|Viewfinder Type
|Viewfinder Size
|Viewfinder Pixel Count
|Viewfinder Eye Point
|23.00 mm
|Viewfinder Coverage
|Viewfinder Magnification
|Approx. 0.77x
|Diopter Adjustment
|-4 to +2 m
|Display Screen
|3" Rear Screen Tilting LCD (1,040,000)
|Screen Coverage
|Exposure Control
|ISO Sensitivity
|Auto, 200 to 6400 (Extended Mode:100 to 51200)
Type: Electronic & Mechanical
Speed: 30 to 1/4000 Seconds
Type: Electronic & Mechanical
Speed: 1/4 to 1/4000 Seconds in Program Mode
Type: Electronic & Mechanical
Speed: 60 to 0 Minute in Bulb Mode
Type: Electronic & Mechanical
Speed: 30 to 1/2 Second in Time Mode
|Remote Control
|RR-90 (Optional)
|Metering Method
|Average Metering, Multi-Zone Metering, Spot Metering
|Exposure Modes
Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter Priority
Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps)
|White Balance Modes
|Automatic Scene Recognition, Color Temperature, Custom, Fine, Fluorescent (Cool White), Fluorescent (Daylight), Fluorescent (Warm White), Incandescent, Shade, Underwater
|Buffer/Continuous Shooting
|Up to 8 fps at 16.3 MP for up to 47 Frames in JPEG Format
|Flash Modes
Auto/Red-Eye Reduction
Commander/Red-Eye Reduction
Forced On
Forced On/Red-Eye Reduction
Rear Curtain Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Rear Sync
Slow Sync
Slow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Suppressed Flash
|Max Sync Speed
|1 / 180 Second
|Dedicated Flash System
|External Flash Connection
|Hot Shoe, PC Terminal
|Start-Up Time
|0.5 seconds
|Shutter Lag
|0.05 seconds
|Self Timer
|10 Seconds
|Interval Recording
|2.5mm Sub-mini (2-Ring), HDMI C (Mini), USB 2.0, X-Sync Socket
|Wi-Fi Capable
|Software System Requirements
Windows: XP, Vista, 7, 8
Mac: OS X 10.7, 10.8
|1 x NP-W126 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1260 mAh
|Dimensions (W x H x D)
|5.1 x 3.5 x 1.8" / 129.5 x 88.9 x 45.7 mm Minimum depth: 1.3" / 33.4 mm
|15.52 oz / 439.99 g with battery and memory card
|Packaging Info
|Package Weight
|2.7 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|8.9 x 7.9 x 4.1"


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Yes the Citadel must be getting advise from the Pope. It reminds me of the Catholics hiding sex abuse protecting pedophiles. Way to go Gregg Myers.
nobody likes bmxers their to big and all the do is snake people and if your in their way they don't stop takes up way to much space makes me paranoid when i try to skate ive been hit by them to many times
The fact that this is still an issue in people eyes is ridiculous. I don't understand where they get this "skateboarders MUST hate bikers" mentality. WE ARE ALL DOING WHAT WE LOVE. Why does one have to get punished for it? Get your minds out of the prehistoric ages and start thinking about NOW. Times have changed, we aren't all little kids now, we know what skatepark etiquette is and we know how to use it. So please, I'm pretty sure I say this for all BMX riders: LET US RIDE THE PARK!
A properly built park will withstand any peg abuse - just don't include pool coping (because skate trucks damage it just as much as pegs do, and I have proof) and use the proper concrete mix.
Mixed sessions work at parks all over the country, but they would work much better if skateparks & local shops taught younger uses the nuances of park etiquette. It's the younger kids who drop in on each other/older riders, don't look both ways and hurt themselves.
Personally, I have been discriminated against by skateboarders numerous times over the years, both with fundraising efforts & in sharing common spaces like parks & pools. Not everyone is like this, but its an unnecessary stigma for 2 similar groups who have existed for the same amount of time. Facilities like this cost a lot of money, and it's almost unheard of for cities to build 2 separate parks to keep the groups from mingling. It's time to grow up.
i mean im a skateboarder but I like bmxers bc I used to be one for about 3 years but now im skating for accompany called odyssey board shop and I get along with bmxers great and soo what if they might mess it up just skate around it its not like its a 3 foot wide dent or something just give them a break we all want a skatepark there so we have to share it to all kind bmx skate scooter and even rollerblades ok
Problem is that it is right there at the College of Charleston, which just built a refined piece of architecture with their athletic center, and not too far from their library which is acceptable also. This is an horrendous mistake, about like the C of C building across from the C of C Library. In a word, Ycch!
designated peg times like 1-5 but no pegs anytime. because we all take the risk of getting hurt in these sports no matter what. but i do believe pegs and skateboarders dont mix.
I rode the north Charleston skate park yesterday. Skaters, bikers, roller blades, scotters and even a kid on oldschool roller skates rode In one relatively small skatepark. There is no controversy between people using the park because there is no controversy between the park and the people that want to use it. If were put together, we ride together. Segregate us and we will stay segregated. As far as damage to the surfaces go... plastic pegs, pedals and bar ends. Skateboard trucks are metal.Boom.
Skaters should be called haters... when you take into consideration the ignoring and belittling skaters do to the riders, you wonder why we don't get along.. .think of how much better people would get along when they can share their sports and stories. ..I believe whole heartedly that those of you who don't
want to allow bmx at this park are just another reason
for kids that don't skate to stay on the streets and in traffic.
I was at that meeting and not a whole lot of love from the skaters. I think we should and can get along. BMX racing is an Olympic and a family sport of all ages. Another thing don't the X Games have skaters and BMXers using the same courses at the same event at the same time? Just saying!!!
come on what is wrong with bmx nothing let us in i mean we do not destroy ramps at all.skate park of Charleston lets bmx and it works out fine and if you agree vote yes always
im an avid bmxer and face some discrimination from time to time about being an extreme sports minority. and i believe that the reason for the so called lack of bmxers being involved is because no skater wants a bmxer at their park because of the issue of sharing the park. whenever i go to a park, if u do happen to bump into each other, or get in one another way, usually the skater just gets pissed and says something like "this is a SKATE park." We need equality at this park, and a little friendship wouldnt hurt either.
I cannot believe how many people have answered no. The Louisville Extreme park allows bikes 24/7 and it works out perfectly.
On any given year more injuries come from the skateboarder and roller bladers that bikers.
Lastly, by allowing bikes kids are encouraged to "get up" and engage in a more active lifestyle. COME ON CHARLESTON!
How sad....... BMX in the Charleston area has produced numerous National Champions and a UCI World Champion but the area continues to ignore the new Olympic sport.
BMX is a family sport for all ages, get with the program Lowcountry.
Wow, I'm suprised by the no way jose votes.
poor Paul, afraid to break with your old boss Cathy? I will not lie for Publix as you are defending the indefesible cHIK FILTHY A.... this bigot chicken store is WORSE THAN MAURICE BESSINGER BBQ.... in the million$ that harm innocent gays & lesbians... and boycotts do work historically when alleged liberals raise one voice against South Africa divesting of apartheid or pushing Glenn Beck off the tv or Rush Limboss to lose sponsors we oppose.... Publix is so greedy that they refuse one more penny per pound for the Imolakee Tribe stooping to deliver us our tomatoes.... telling lies for the boss tacitly or implicitly is just as bad as portraying Fellowship of Xian Athletes as unbigoted.... if you had said you were gay in 2007 how long would you have kept your job at low wages? boycott the ENEMIES OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY. period
Good research, Paul. Your political caveats read like acquiescence to the paper's editorial staff and owners.
I don't shop at WalMart, I try like Hell to not buy made in China crap (in many industries it's unavoidable, like bicycles), and I don't buy Chick-fil-A. I will miss the waffle fries, but my local grocery store has them in frozen foods so I won't miss them for long.
I can't afford Chick-fil-A anyway. I am more concerned about art disappearing from South Carolina.
The decision to never patronize this place again was made for me months ago, when I saw their banners and booths plastered all over the Creation Museum. Every day I'm kind of ticked off that they're on the same grounds as the hospital.


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One of the best takeaways from the trip to Vancouver to blog the Olympics was all the artists we met. Hanging out with KK+, we discussed the street art I've been seeing in Seattle, including the work of No Touching Ground and Addison Art Project.
@indindindigo told me about C215 (AKA Christian Guémy). I've been following him on Flickr ever since and today spotted a photo of a bike stencil
There's a face in the stem, as well as the motion, colors and all. Also see the Lyon series, and more.
Uploaded by MarShooteuse | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.


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I am so happy the week is officially over!
I officially hate rain.. It's been raining for at least one week in a row and the only time it wasn't raining was about an hour or two.. And good news? It will be even worse! My umbrella is my best friend. These two weeks I have a lot of Uni stuff going on, phase tests, presentations and hand-ins so I'll do my best to post at least on Tuesday and Friday. I know from your comments that a lot of you still have exams, good luck with your exams if you still have any:)
I've been searching for a midi pencil skirt for a while now, but all the ones I liked were too big for me. And when I actually stopped searching, I found this one. I love everything about it, I love the neutral floral print, beige and black for me is such a chic colour combination. But of course the thing I like most about the skirt is the lace detailing, such a nice touch and it makes the skirt so unique! Oh, and the best thing? The skirt is on sale for just £4.99! I wanted to dress the skirt a little down and that's why I paired it with a leather jacket and added a scarf to both keep warm and make it more casual/chic!
I am wearing:
Jacket - Zara
Top - Primark
Scarf - Primark
Skirt - Bershka
Heels - New Look
Bag - Primark
Bracelet - Guess
Rings - Warren James & Primark


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Tunersunlimited2007 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 165 diseños de 31 diseñadores freelance.
Tuners Unlimited
We are in the business of selling automotive performance/styling parts and accessories. Whether you're looking to make your car faster or turn it into a show car. We're the "go-to" guys. We deal mostly with imports(4-cylinder and v-6 vehicles) but also sell some musclecar parts. With over 500 companies with wholesale accounts we have a HUGE selection.
Generally a youger crowd. However, we have customers of all ages. It's an existing market so we're always trying to attract new customers. These customers like to use their cars to create their own style. Generally our biggest sales come from 18-28 year olds. Generally males.
We are looking for a well thought out logo with both personality and class. Needs to be professional.
No clip art or cartoons prefered.
We ask for your imagination.
Would like to see something like a tachometer and speedometer into redline in background or at least something to do with our business(performance cars).
This logo will be the new "face" of our business. Mainly our website we're in the process of building.
Possibly like to see a phrase like "There are no limits" in a small font for a more proffessional logo. Depending on if it compliments the logo or not.
Would like to be able to move just the logo around not have a "box" around it
Would like several different types of files for this logo for different applications. (If possible)
Would also like a black and white version of logo. (If possible)
If you are reading this we would like to thank you for being a part of something great. Thanks and have a great day/night.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Today, we're very excited to announce BlackBerry® Balance™ technology!
We've built BlackBerry Balance with everyone in your company in mind. Employees will be happy knowing they can carry the BlackBerry® smartphone that best suits their needs and personality; your Chief Risk Officer and IT admins will be relieved knowing that they can now secure business information on personal devices; and everyone will be more connected knowing that one device lets you access both personal and corporate data.
BlackBerry Balance is part of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3 release and also BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express, and we see it as a major step forward for today's IT managers who are responsible for BlackBerry smartphone deployments.


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Dan Vradenburg, executive vice president of the Wilbur-Ellis, the nation's third largest retailer with 130 locations nationwide, said the industry would survive the biggest changes it has experienced in decades because farmers and ranchers need the services they provide.
Some contend the ag retailer will fall by the wayside in the wake of manufacturing consolidation and eventual direct marketing to farmers.
Vradenburg told the annual California Agricultural Production Consultants Association conference he disagrees. The ag retailer will continue to have a sustainable role in American agriculture because of the hundreds of millions of dollars already invested in plants, people and equipment, the need for highly trained people to transfer information and to service producers, and the role of managing risks in product performance.
Nevertheless, there will be changes ahead, including more formal business relationships between the retailer and its farmer customers. "Friendships will only go so far," said Vradenburg.
"Growers will only pay for tangible results" in the future, said Vradenburg.
And, ag retailers and distributors will ally with fewer suppliers.
Explain technology
As technology becomes even more complex, Vradenburg said the role of the ag retailer and its sales force will become increasingly important in understanding and delivering that technology to customers. "This will be the real key in going forward," he emphasized.
This will be even more critical as food becomes increasingly important in health care. He said there is great potential for higher value from what is produced from what the ag retailer's customers produce.
"What we do in production agriculture is vitally important in feeding the world," he said. That will be even more challenging with an ever diminishing farmland base.
Vradenburg said this increasing pressure to produce more per acre is the main reason production agriculture will continue to rely on farm chemicals.
However, there will be fewer total product sales. The U.S. crop protection product market was worth $6.1 billion in 2001. He forecast that that will shrink to $4.5 billion by 2005, about half what it was a decade ago.
Industry shrinkage
That downturn means the industry must shrink still more. "The industry is overweight. Most businesses in the industry could service 20 to 30 percent more people without adding any new people or equipment," he said.
The reality of that is that 25 percent of those in ag retailing today will have to change industries or careers.
This downturn is being driven by falling prices on expired-patent products as well as a much more informed buyer working to obtain low-cost farming inputs. Intense competition and low commodity prices as well as advances in seed technology also are contributing to the slide in crop protection product sales.
"We have seen more change in the past three years than we have in the previous 20 years," said Vradenburg.
Those who survive will have a strong financial backing and good risk management skills willing to offer a total "crop solutions" approach to their customers, he said.
It will take dedicated, passionate, committed, highly trained people to survive in ag retailing, he said.
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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High Visibility Shirts | HiVis Work Shirts | ANSI Safety Shirts
High visibility work shirts are perfect for a wide variety of weather conditions and work environments. Select from hi vis Lime or Orange in a variety of materials, including: moisture-wicking polyester micro mesh, birds eye knit and oxford jersey. The reflective stripes are also available in a number of styles; such as 3M Scotchlite silver tape, high contrast performance tape/stripes, and highly breathable tape. Our hi vis work shirts are offered in non-ANSI, ANSI Class 2 and ANSI Class 3 compliance.
Radians SJ03 Class 3 Ripstop Quilted Wind ShirtMSRP: $61.99 $61.99 $55.99
HiVis Safety Shirts
At HiVisSupply.com we offer a huge selection of high visibility shirts. Our Hi-Vis shirts provide a variety of options when it comes to different work environments and conditions. Most of them come in orange and/or lime and have tons of features that will not only have you looking good but also protect you from various hazards when you're on the job and in hazardous work environments.


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RIO DE JANEIRO — With its superstars aging and its loyal coach slow to blend in young talent, Spain's glorious reign as the superpower of world football was bound to end.
The Spanish weren't favored to repeat as World Cup champions. But few expected the utter collapse that ended Wednesday with a 2-0 loss to Chile, knocking Spain from contention and ending the run of the greatest team of the century.
Chile's pace and skill produced a dominating win similar to so many Spanish victories over the past six years. Spain was outplayed, outrun and outfought.
The 5-1 beating by the Netherlands on Friday was shocking and foretold where coach Vicente del Bosque's team was heading: home.
"If you think about everything accomplished, and you told me we would be eliminated in group stage, I wouldn't believe you," del Bosque said.
"We have no excuses. It's a sad day for all of the players."
Six of Spain's squad have played at least 100 national team games while winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
"Success is not eternal," said Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, whose hyperactive energy around the dugout was shared by his team. "This generation could not continue with that success and you can understand it."
"It's very special the fact we were able to play today against the World Cup champions the way we did," Sampaoli said, and "eliminate them with courage, intensity and attack."
Del Bosque acknowledged that his players were "too slow, timid from the start."
Chile twice came close to scoring in the first 90 seconds, and led in the 20th minute when Eduardo Vargas finished a slick move of incisive passing that was truly Spanish in its execution.
The second followed in the 43rd when Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas punched a free kick to the feet of Charles Aranguiz, who fired a rising shot right back past the veteran captain, who took much of the blame for the loss to the Netherlands.
"I only ask fans for forgiveness," Casillas said. "We did everything we could." The 33-year-old came to the World Cup after a second straight season as second-choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid and a glaring error in its Champions League final win last month.
Spain came to Brazil with a very similar — but older — team to the 2010 squad. It added Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, but he failed to score and was substituted in both matches.
Spain's "tiki-taka" style of play — keeping the ball for long stretches with short passes, and only shooting when you had a clear opening — had not been working as well in recent years.
Spain became the third straight European defending World Cup champion to flop in the group stage. France in 2002 and Italy four years ago also failed to advance, or even win a match.
Spain has a consolation game Monday against Australia. Chile and the Netherlands will play to decide the Group B winner. "We didn't do anything different to what we did in South Africa or the two Euros," said forward Fernando Torres. "We came with the same mentality, approaching the games the same way."
Sergio Busquets of Spain reacts after a missed chance against Chile. Spain fell to Chile 2-0 Wednesday.
Roundup: Netherlands
makes next round. PAGE 6


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Tonpeyaki (豚平焼き) is stuffed rolled omelet with pork and bean sprouts, simplest explanation. There are options for extra stuffing such as mochi and cheese. It is usually served hot on teppan (hot plate) so that it remained hot, soft mochi or melted cheese, to the last bite. So so so.... yummy!
When you visit Japan, must try this one if dining in a teppanyaki or an okonomiyaki restaurant. All of us in the family love this one so much it is a must order item whenever we patronize the okonomiyaki restaurant nearby. Actually it is easy to cook at home too, I cooked it a few times at home and got the taste I like. Perhaps, you can try the home version first.
Ingredients (2 rolls):
- 50 g sliced pork belly (add more if desired)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 handful bean sprouts
- 4 no. large eggs
- 4 tbsp water + 1 tsp dashi stock granule (or chicken stock)
- 1 block Japanese mochi, slice into 8 pieces lengthwise
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- Garnish:
- Japanese mayonnaise
- Okonomiyaki sauce
- Bonito flakes
- Chopped spring onion
- Season pork with salt and pepper, pan-fry until well cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Use the same pan, stir-fry bean sprout for 1 to 2 minutes then transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, dissolve dashi stock in water. Add in eggs and beat till egg whites and egg yolks well combined.
- Preheat pan, add in 1 tbsp of oil then pour in half amount of egg mixture. Stir rapidly, stop when the omelet starts to harden.
- Arrange half amount of bean sprout, pork, and mochi in the middle of the omelet, roll it up and seal side down. Cook with low heat for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Transfer to serving plate, garnish, and serve warm.
- Repeat steps 4 to 6 for another roll.
This recipe is featured in Y3K Recipes issue no. 75 (Nov/Dec 13), along with three other egg recipes. Enjoy!