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Monday, December 10, 2012
Ben Affleck Addresses "Argo" Casting Controversy Within Latino Community
Guest Blogger: María Nieto
At a recent industry screening of Argo, I asked the film's director and lead actor, Ben Affleck, and screenwriter, Chris Terrio, the following question during the screening's Q&A portion: "As a Latina writer, I've been following some of the issues that have been raised around your playing Tony Mendez and I'm wondering if… in the conversations between yourself and Chris-- and Tony Mendez himself-- was the ethnicity of the character essential to the role?" Affleck candidly responded as follows: "That's a good question. You know, I obviously went to Tony and sought his approval…was the first thing. And Tony does not have, I don't know what you would say, a Latin/Spanish accent, of any kind really, and… you know you wouldn't necessarily select him out of a line of ten people and go 'This guy's Latino.' So I didn't feel as though I was violating some thing, where, here's this guy who's clearly ethnic in some way and it's sort of being whitewashed by Ben Affleck the actor. I felt very comfortable that if Tony was cool with it, I was cool with it." Chris Terrio then added, "He's fourth generation. Which was another interesting thing for me... to say that there are Latinos in this country… who... he was here long before my family was, certainly, being Italian-American and Irish-American. It's funny that, at least in my mind, you hear the name Mendez and you think New American… at least I do living in New York. But, in fact, Tony has American creds that go much deeper into American history than I do."
Affleck further added that "it raises interesting casting points I haven't heard, I don't think, enough [of] but the question is… 'What makes an American?' question, the 'How do you cast people... a guy... who, as you [Terrio] say his family's been in this country for a long long time?' It raises issues of assimilation, and 'What are our goals?', 'What are we shooting for?' and 'What sort of integrity do we have to have with playing parts that are of other ethnicities?' Obviously, there are ways where it's obvious it can be ridiculous, but that's not what we're talking about … but actually I don't think you have to be Croatian to play Croatian. I think the most important thing... the two most important things... about this issue are: 1. We do have to maintain a strong presence of Latino roles, African American roles in our national culture of drama and 2. that those parts don't become... minimized or indeed marginalized... And, I think those stories are interesting and need to be told. And for me I was like, as an actor, Ben Affleck, I just wanted to play the part so much, because it's such a great part." Affleck ended his response on a humorous note adding, "And I was sleeping with the director, so...", which was greeted with a round of laughter. After the screening ended, I had a chance to speak briefly with Affleck and thanked him for addressing the issue that was so important to the Latino community. He replied that he was happy to do so and that, in accusations of whitewashing ethnic characters, he would hate to be accused of something which he is so adamantly against.
Whether you agree with them or not, Affleck and Terrio's responses offer a true insight into the ways that "Latino" is viewed by those outside of our Latino community. For me, the most interesting and unexpected aspect to their conversation was that of Mendez's American nationality and the way in which that seems– at least for them– to be a different and separate issue from his Latino heritage. Affleck's reference to not having to be Croatian to play Croatian seems to make the case for nationality vs. race vs. ethnicity. It is a triple issue that is particularly meaningful for Latinos given that we are not of any one race, but rather of an "ethnic origin" that can– and does– belong to any number of nationalities... including American. Further, given Mendez's long roots in this country it would seem to make him more "American" and, possibly, less truly Latino than some New Americans, in their eyes. What seems to be implied here is that in being such a true American, one with very far-off, distant roots to his Latino heritage, he is able to be played by any other American– so long as he had not retained any particular ethnic accent and/or a specifically "Latino Look." It seems to be understood that if he had retained some aspect of ethnicity either in physical bearing or in a spoken accent, then that would definitely be understood to be a "whitewashing" and would be deemed both ridiculous and contemptible. I am not sure where that distinction of nationality came into the conversation of appropriate casting but it seems one tailor-made for the Latino issue. It can therefore be reasonably deduced that for African Americans, Asian Americans and certain others their "ethnicity" will always hold up under scrutiny– despite their American nationality or the number of generations that their families have been in this country– and thus be respected. The same does not appear to be true for Latinos or, it would seem, Croatians.
And it is here that we come to the sticky part of the question, the question that lays bare the responsibility that we as a community have failed to adequately examine and explain– even amongst ourselves. And that question is "What is a Latino?" How do WE define when and how our ethnicity, race, nationality overlap with our Latino heritage? What is an ethnically "Latino Look?" And, for those light-skinned Latinos with no discernible accent who would not be known as Latinos were it not for their Spanish last names, are those roles "up for grabs?" Further, what is our responsibility– as self-identifying Latinos– to ask, and demand if necessary, that Latino roles preferably be played by Latino actors?
Further, we must also keep in mind that in asking that Latinos be played by Latino actors we wield a double-edged sword. If we are saying that in those instances where a non-Latino could physically bear a similar enough resemblance to play the Latino role but yet should not be cast, then we could also face the inverse of that request. Can then a Caucasian person also ask that only a culturally Caucasian actor play their roles as well?If an actor's job is to embody the spirit of a role, what are we saying about their ability to bring to a life roles outside their own culture or personal experience? Further, if Zoë Saldaña were darker skinned should she still have been denied the role of Nina Simone for the fact that she is a Latina and not culturally African American? These are neither simple nor easy questions to address. But address them we must. The issues and answers are already being discussed and arrived at without our participation and it is my guess, based on past and current experience, that we will not like the outcome.
In this particular instance, I will echo what I first stated on social media when this issue first came up– the moment that Tony Mendez gave his blessing to Ben Affleck to play him in the movie, we as a Latino community were left out of the conversation. I cannot blame Mr. Affleck for walking through a door that Mr. Mendez left wide open. As a savvy director and actor, he would have been a fool not to do so. It seems obvious to me that Mr. Mendez does not self-identify as a Latino or does not do so to the extent that he would have a problem with a non-Latino playing him in a movie. That, coupled with the fact that Mendez has neither an accent nor a typically "Latino Look" made it possible for Ben Affleck to embody the role without any moral qualms.
I believe Affleck's sincerity when he states that he is against the whitewashing of any ethnic character. I also believe that we as a community have not given the entertainment community at large nor the casting community in particular any tangible guidelines on which to base their decisions. We have not answered these questions amongst ourselves and in doing so we have allowed the answers come from outside our community. The time is long overdue for us to ask the sticky questions and to arrive at the desired solutions on our own behalf– whether or not they are agreed upon 100%. And, most importantly, when we do arrive at a consensus, however imperfect, we must then hold the line and refuse to bow down to pressure. If we do not create our reality, it will be created for us, and it is my belief that when they do - we will not recognize ourselves in the mirror.
María Nieto is a Colombian-American writer and multi-platform producer (film-web-television-theater-live event) who is passionate about creating opportunities for Latino entertainment. For more information, click here.
12 comments:
- Unknown said...
This argument is flawed in that if you're a "Latino" actor, you are NEVER cast in a Caucasian role by the Hollywood establishment -- with Extremely rare exception (I can only think of one actor: Andy Garcia)... Then again, Affleck bankrolled his film... If Latinos did the same, they could play whatever they wanted as well.
- December 10, 2012 at 5:32 PM
- Bones Rodriguez said...
Felix said all that needs to be said.
- December 10, 2012 at 7:56 PM
- agehamil said...
In regards to the comment: "This argument is flawed in that if you're a "Latino" actor, you are NEVER cast in a Caucasian role by the Hollywood establishment -- with Extremely rare exception (I can only think of one actor: Andy Garcia)..."
What about Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen? All three are Latino actors who have been playing "white" roles most of their careers. Some Latinos are Caucasians. "White of Hispanic Origin" is how we are often classified. I thought this article was extremely well-written and appreciate the way in which the author expressed her question to Ben Affleck and then respected and tried to truly understand his response. Bottom line - this film was Affleck's "baby" - he made it happen - he wanted the awesome role of playing Mr. Mendez because what Mr. Mendez DID in real life was amazing. Like the author said, as long as Tony Mendez was cool with Affleck playing him, there was no reason for Affleck to look for anyone else to play this role. And he did a fantastic job - it was a fantastic film and because of this film, I and many other movie goers are now aware of Mr. Mendez's courageous deeds and we can be proud of him being a member of the Latino community.
- December 10, 2012 at 9:50 PM
In my opinion, it boils down to flavor. You wouldn't cast an Irish actor to play an Italian mafioso, because they usually lack the flavor of the character.
As far as I've noticed, whenever a character is Eastern-European, such as Croatian, an Eastern-European actor is cast or one who can believably pass for one and has that flavor.
There are Latinos who pass as African-Americans and have that flavor and so play them all the time. Others, like Rosie Perez, will always be Latina.
I don't feel Ben should have played Tony Mendez, not due to a lack a flavor but due to a lack of balance in the casting of people of color.
I see casting more as a scale that needs balancing. Throughout all of history, Caucasians have had nearly ALL the roles and Latinos, African-Americans, Asians and anyone of color have contributed to their success by paying our money to buy movie tickets, memorabilia etc.
It is only in the last few decades that actors of color are being cast in any leading roles. However, the scales are nowhere near balanced.
Consider the hundreds of years of plays, musicals, vaudeville, Shakespeare. Add to that at least a 150 years of movies and nearly 100 years of television. Now subtract a few decades of mostly negative and stereotypical roles. How balanced does this feel to you?
When a role exists based on an ethnicity that suffers from this imbalance, an actor of that ethnicity should be hired. When a Caucasian role is based on a real individual, the best actor for the role should be hired, simply because...well, just think of Woody Allen in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Need I say more?
When the positive leading roles reflect the population, we will be on the right track. I look forward to that day. In order to get there, we all need to speak up when we feel injustice has been done. The best way, is to boycott the film and demand answers from those responsible.
Thank you for writing this article. I feel Ben Affleck was most likely thinking about himself and his desire to play a great role. One that might even garner some awards. However, next time, he might think twice. In which case, we have taken one step in the right direction.
- December 10, 2012 at 11:31 PM
- Unknown said...
Thanks for writing your post regarding Ben Affleck and his decision to cast himself as a Latino in ARGO. Despite what he said at the screening, I would imagine it was a business decision by Warners to go with a A-list star, than not to. I've never expected any corporation to take on social issues, and do the right thing, whatever we as a ever changing culture decide what the right thing is. That's just not what they are designed to do. I did hope Latino's in my own community would support other Latino efforts at broadening the Latino cinematic landscape. Sadly, much work needs to be done in that area. When Lionsgate's "Casa de mi Padre" got a art house theatrical release, the film was panned by NALIP'S Louis Moreno Perego even though he had never seen it. Perego saw that "Casa" was directed by a Caucasian director, and that was enough for him to encourage his followers to NOT see the film. Had Perego seen the film, or at least, done due diligence and see who was behind the film, he would have realized that "Casa" was a breakthrough film in that it marked the first Spanish language film to get a Mexican- American co production and a US distribution deal with a major American star, Will Ferrell. The film was produced entirely by Nala films, a Mexican company. The producers were from Mexico, Puerto Rico, with a cast that included a myriad of Latino artists-- Mexican international stars like Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, and the late great Pedro Aramendiz Jr. Other cast members like myself, Efran Ramirez, El Puma, and Genesis Rodriguez, are Latino, and the film employed many people of color behind the lens too. The success of "Casa" was an important first step in changing the mind sets of major studios who never would have previously thought to co produce a FULLY SPANISH LANGUAGE FILM with a Latino country. And yet Mr. Perego-- having never even seen the film-- did his best to sabotage it. And so the question remains, how can we expect the studios to do the right thing, when some of our own alleged Latino advocates refuse to do the same? -- Adrian Martinez
- December 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM
- carlitomachete said...
Excellent article, Maria. I'm with you on juuuust about everything except:
"...seems obvious to me that Mr. Mendez does not self-identify as a Latino or does not do so to the extent that he would have a problem with a non-Latino playing him in a movie. That, coupled with the fact that Mendez has neither an accent nor a typically "Latino Look" made it possible for Ben Affleck to embody the role without any moral qualms."
All due respect, you've made assumptions about both men that only they and/or their closest confidants might be privy to.
Mendez being okay with Affleck playing him means ONLY that Mendez was okay with it and one can not know how he self-identifies without straight up asking him. And as for Affleck's moral qualms, again, without knowing him beyond a Q&A sesh and his public appearances/persona, we really can't know what may or may not present him w/ a moral problem. According to him, he just wanted to tell a good story about an interesting character he wanted to play, nothing more.
Not arguing semantics.
To the overall point, however, I find your essay about as well thought-out and argued as any I've seen thus far re: our methods for self-identification and how they're affected by media [and vice versa!].
(I commented on a friend's article in HuffPo yesterday about this very same subject.)
Obviously, we've still got a ways to go. But as we see before us every single day, the times, they are a' changing. The slow-but-steady democratization (read: affordability) of film/video production and distribution (especially in the myriad ways "television" can now be consumed) means that more and more of those from marginalized groups can control how said groups are portrayed.
Make no mistake about it: We create our own mythologies, every single day.
Our challenge will be to find the delicate balance between telling a good story for its own sake while adding to the greater story of our people, whoever we deem those people to be.
Y ya tu sabe... Pa'lante, siempre.
- December 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM
- Luis Argueta said...
Ben Affleck's sincerity in his answer is not in question. His insensitivity is.
Moctezuma Esparza, in his article "Ben Affleck's Argo and the White-Washing of the Mexican-American" (http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/Ben_Affleck_s_Argo_and_the_White_Washing_of_the_Mexican_American_10760.html) points out how "In the closing credits, the photos of the real people portrayed are presented side-b- side with the actors' photos showing the very close resemblance and care that was taken in the casting process to cast actors who looked like the real people. Yet, for the key role of Tony Mendez, the director/producer Ben Affleck chose a single long shot of Tony with President Carter where his image was not distinct or recognizable, breaking the pattern he had chosen for all the other real people depicted." What, the production department could'nt find a medium-shot photo of Tony Mendez, or did they realize how "Latino" he looked?
- December 12, 2012 at 1:52 PM
María Nieto,
I'm sorry to say that while you did put an effort to bring this issue directly to the perpetrator, Ben Affleck, you totally dropped the ball.
This is not a well written piece. It may be well meaning but it does not drive the actual point home at all and you actually treat Ben Affleck well as if he did nothing wrong.
The problems start right away with the question you chose to ask, "Was the ethnicity of the character essential to the role?"
That is an insulting question. It assumes that the only reason a Latino American should play a Latino American is if that Latino character is somehow overtly Latino in whatever arbitrary way privileged white people (i.e. Ben Affleck and George Clooney) deem.
Another failure of that question is that it doesn't whatsoever bring up what the issue is and that is that Latino Americans are flat out denied lead roles in major Hollywood movies. Here is one that was not only a real life person but was the main character of a major Hollywood production and it wasn't even considered to give this big opportunity to a Latino American talent.
Read this article from Racebending, which is a very good article and was actually one of the very first to bring this Argo issue up, where it explicitly points out the incredibly low amount of times percentage wise that Hollywood hires Latinos for lead roles:
As the article notes, the number is almost 0.
It is very clear that people of color are marginalized in Hollywood and with Latinos it is no different. This incident here with Argo is that very kind of case. Ben Affleck is a white man and thus benefits from white privilege. He took the role for himself out of selfishness and took advantage of the social privilege that Latinos do not have. Affleck gets far more opportunities than almost every Latino American actor out there and he still felt the need to push aside Latinos to have this one role. Note that when Ben Affleck first directed a movie he casted his own brother as the lead who is not a box office draw of any kind. Yet when this movie came in his direction it never even occurred to him nor George Clooney (he was a producer on Argo) to give this golden opportunity to a Latino American and possibly launch him to the A-list.
You actually write, "I believe Affleck's sincerity when he states that he is against the whitewashing of any ethnic character."
How can you possible even come to such a conclusion when Ben Affleck did actually whitewash by denying the role to a Latino American actor, who hardly ever get these kinds of opportunities, and casting himself?
Do you really think that he was ever going to respond with something sinister when you asked him your misguided question? He is promoting his movie which he is currently receiving, sadly, almost universal praise for and getting prizes to boot. He is going to tell you whatever he needs to in order to not make himself look like the bad guy and to silence controversy. This is classic underhanded salesman tactics and you fell for it.
In fact his very words show his discriminatory mindset when he said, "And Tony does not have, I don't know what you would say, a Latin/Spanish accent, of any kind really, and… you know you wouldn't necessarily select him out of a line of ten people and go 'This guy's Latino."
So "Latinos" are only "Latinos" when they have an accent? How many Latino Americans have foreign accents? None because they are American. Yet this guy is actually talking about Latinos, even if they are American, as if they are foreigners because apparently in his thinking, European = American.
You heard that and it didn't insult you at all?
- December 13, 2012 at 9:46 AM
The man's follow up words are then a straight up lie. He's claiming that Antonio Mendez doesn't look Latino? That is hilarious. As many others who have seen the movie have reported, the movie ends with photos of the real people and the actors who played them. Except that when it gets to the real Antonio Mendez, there is no comparison picture with Ben Affleck. There is only a a photo of the real Antonio Mendez. You see, all of the actors supposedly had a strong resemblance to the real people they played... except for Ben Affleck.
Here is the comparison photo with the real Antonio Mendez that Ben Affleck purposely didn't put up in the movie:
A blind man can tell that those two people look nothing alike.
With all of this in mind you actually thanked Ben Affleck and claimed that he "addressed the issue". Ben Affleck did nothing except evade the issue and you let yourself be fooled. Worse, you allowed Ben Affleck's con to frame questions you posed to Latino readers in this article as if Ben Affleck has some kind of a point. These are patronizing questions that were based on his lies and deception like, ""What is a Latino?" How do WE define when and how our ethnicity, race, nationality overlap with our Latino heritage? What is an ethnically "Latino Look?" And, for those light-skinned Latinos with no discernible accent who would not be known as Latinos were it not for their Spanish last names, are those roles "up for grabs?"
Are you kidding me? You fell for his lies so much he even made you think that Antonio Mendez is light skinned whereas that photo from the same era proves otherwise?
And this isn't the only issue this year. Just a couple of months before Argo Warner Brothers released a big movie in the middle of summer: The Dark Knight Rises.
Why do I mention this movie? Well, because the character of Bane, as played by British actor Tom Hardy, is Latino in the original comic books. Matter of fact, when they make animated versions of Batman and feature Bane he usually is voiced by a Hispanic actor even going as far as having Bane actually speak Spanish. However, it seems that Christopher Nolan felt that no Latino was good enough to play the role of Bane so he decided to change Bane's ethnicity just so he can hire a white man to play him. That's two important roles in the same year in big movies that were of Latino characters and neither were given to Latino American actors to play and get a chance for their careers to rise.
Latino Americans are being robbed blind in Hollywood and it is totally due to ignorance of Latino Americans about Hollywood and its discriminatory practices. Maria Nieto, as I have said that while you certainly meant to do well with this you completely dropped the ball and let Ben Affleck get away with it clean. Not only was this bad because Ben Affleck and George Clooney will sleep fine at night but also because your article only serves to disconcert readers about what the issue is and why this production is shameful.
Here is a far better recent article that strikes right at the issue and does not let Ben Affleck get away with it written by Hollywood producer Moctesuma Esparza. Mr. Esparza is a veteran Hollywood producer that very well understands the discrimination that exists in Hollywood.:
Anyone who has read my post please consider all the facts I brought up and do not let Ben Affleck and George Clooney (and even Christopher Nolan) get away with this despite the acclaim they have been receiving. Not only them but for all future movies that continue to deny Latino Americans great lead roles. Latinos have constantly been getting the short end of the stick in Hollywood and there are no signs of Hollywood stopping. As Mr. Esparza says in his article, "It is time for a change."
- December 13, 2012 at 9:50 AM
- Unknown said...
Andy Garcia and the Estevez/Sheens aren't the only Latinos to have been cast in non-latino roles. There are so many more out there if you just do a little digging. Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke), Benjamin Bratt, Edward James Olmos, Leonor Varela, and even Jennifer Lopez (Wedding Planner) have all played non-latino roles with great success. As long as the actor can pass for the character, physically, and has the talent to portray the character the best, I don't see the big controversy. There was so much controversy surrounding Jennifer Lopez portraying Selena because Jennifer was New-Yorican while Selena was Mexican-American. There was also so much controversy over Philipino actress Lea Salonga portraying the Vietnamese character Kim in Miss Saigon, etc. Where does it all end? Can Whoopi Goldberg play Celia Cruz because she is black but not latina? What no one seems to mention is that FINALLY we are seeing latino characters on the big screen "dat don espeeka eengleesh like-ah dees" and that their stories are being told to the masses. It's refreshing.
- January 5, 2013 at 12:24 PM
- city said...
- February 26, 2013 at 6:29 PM
- MoRivera1234 said...
It doesn't matter if Mendez family fought in the civil war he looks straight up Mexican and when you see him with his giant mustache and dark hair he looks even more Chicano.
Look at Sofia Vegara,she has latina curves but she dyes her hair brown to look more ethnic.Yeah with white hair he looks light skin but he has latino features and a latino should have played this role.
They should have gotten Benicio del Toro or something.
- April 11, 2013 at 6:53 PM


text:
Abkhazia's richest man, Beslan Butba, is an incurable optimist.
Although the tiny breakaway republic of Abkhazia is blockaded by much of the world, its people live under constant threat of war, and it's technically illegal for foreigners to visit, Mr. Butba is investing his personal fortune in restoring the tourist infrastructure that once drew 6 million Soviet holiday makers annually to its sun-soaked beaches and mountain resorts.
If you build hotels, Butba says, people will come: "Sukhumi is a beautiful city, but it's half destroyed."
A bitter war 15 years ago drove out the Georgian Army, along with some 250,000 ethnic Georgian residents, leaving Abkhazia with de facto independence that is unrecognized by any other country, including the rebel statelet's only friend, Russia.
Butba has already restored one luxury hotel on Sukhumi's fabled sea front and he has another hotel under reconstruction. "The way forward is to show the world that we can rebuild this country," he says, "and then they'll have to accept us."
Though laudable, Butba's hard-driving good cheer could be misplaced.
Once a lush, subtropical garden spot, Abkhazia has been ravaged and depopulated by war. The self-declared republic has a president, a flag, a national anthem, and an army. But most of its people carry Russian passports, the only valid currency is the ruble, and Abkhazia's borders are guarded by a hard-faced contingent of Russian "peacekeeping" troops.
Georgia exercises sovereignty over Abkhazia in the eyes of the world community and forbids any planes to land at its Soviet-era airport. The huge Black Sea cruise ships that used to make ports of call at Sukhumi's palm-lined waterfront have stayed away since the USSR's collapse.
"Before the war, it was heaven here, this was a happy place," says Lamara Tsvirzhba, a former scientist who ekes out a living as a small businessman. "Now we live amid ruins. Most people, even many Abkhazians, have left and all we have is the daily struggle to survive."
A few things are changing since Russia, in response to the West's recognition of Kosovo earlier this year, lifted the economic sanctions that had been in place since 1994. Russian tourists are trickling back to their Soviet-era beach haunts at Gagra and Pitsunda, where green-clad mountains plunge into a turquoise sea 30 miles south of the popular Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
"There are a lot of inconveniences to put up with, but it's so much cheaper than going to Sochi," says Natasha Savelyeva, a middle-aged Muscovite who was basking on the beach at Gagra recently. She says she hadn't heard anything about any threat of war, and isn't interested in politics.
Tensions in the region continue to reignite. On Sunday, two bombs exploded in Gagra and two additional bombs exploded in a Sukhumi market on Monday, prompting Abkhazia's President to announce that it would close its border with Georgia on Tuesday. Abkhazian officials said the bombs were Georgian-sponsored terrorism aimed at discouraging tourists; Georgia denies any involvement in the blasts.
Adding to the intrigue, the Moscow daily Kommersant published details last week about what it called a secret agreement between Russia and Georgia to divide Abkhazia into "spheres of influence," in which Russia would get the tourist region of the north – a report all sides denied.
The clashing narratives of the Abkhazians and the Georgians are almost impossible to sort out. The Abkhaz, the indigenous ethnic group, claim a long history separate from Georgia and allege that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin (an ethnic Georgian) redrew the map to make Abkhazia part of Georgia and ordered thousands of Georgian settlers into the region. When Abkhazia tried to declare independence following the USSR's collapse, they say, the Georgian army was sent in to suppress them. With help from thousands of volunteers, including Russian Cossacks and Chechen fighters, the Abkhazians defeated Tbilisi's forces in 1993.
"When Abkhazia was freed from Georgian occupation, the Georgian population left because they were afraid of retaliation for what they had done against us," says Staninslav Lakova, head of Abkhazia's Security Council, a top state body. He says Israel and Kosovo have generated refugees but have not been denied independence.
Still, most of the world continues to recognize Abkhazia as an integral part of Georgia. Even Russia has so far stopped short of recognizing Abkhazia's independence.
"Moscow knows that undermining the principle of territorial integrity would create serious problems," in multi-ethnic Russia, says Tina Gogeliani, an analyst with the Center on Conflict and Negotiation in Tbilisi.
The present-day population of Abkhazia, about 200,000, is barely a third of the prewar numbers. "The majority of Abkhazia's legitimate population are internally displaced persons, and they would have to be consulted" in any independence referendum, Ms. Gogeliani says.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has pinned his country's long-term hopes for reintegration on joining NATO and drawing closer to the European Union. He also raised the military budget by 30 percent to $600 million last year, an action Abkhazians say they fear is aimed at them.
Despite their bleak position, some Abkhazian leaders argue that time is on their side. "We are very much in contact with other countries that are as yet unrecognized, such as Taiwan, Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara, and dozens of others that are on the verge of statehood," says Maxim Gunjia, Abkhazia's deputy foreign minister.
After Kosovo won its independence, he says, the wave of aspiring microstates is going to become unstoppable. "We have noticed an uptick in Western interest in Abkhazia lately, and we think at least some people in Washington and European capitals are starting to reassess our situation. We've been widely misrepresented as a separatist movement that wants to join Russia but we just want what other peoples have, to be free and take our place in the world community."

subset: commoncrawl


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On 23 June, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published its interpretation of the "Special Rule for Model Aircraft," which disgruntled quite of few people with an interest in flying model planes and helicopters. Many of those upset left critical feedback on the FAA's website, but last week three groups went further and formally took legal action.
One of organizations to file suit is the Academy of Model Aeronautics, a not-for-profit group made up of some 170,000 modelers throughout the United States. In a filing made on 22 August, the AMA asserts that the FAA's Special Rule contradicts the intent of Congress when it passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act in 2012, part of which states: "[T]he Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if . . . the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization."
The AMA points out that the FAA's interpretation of the rules, which constrains modelers in many ways, including a prohibition on flying models for purposes that are in any fashion connected with a business, "threatens the very existence of the hobby, as well as AMA as an organization." That's because the FAA doesn't allow manufacturers to fly their models as they develop and test them. Nor would it allow modelers to accept cash payment for winning competitions. Come to think of it, the FAA probably wouldn't allow paid AMA officers to fly models themselves. No wonder they are upset.
A second group to file suit last week was made up of four businesses with a commercial interest in model aircraft: the UAS America Fund, SkyPan International, Peter Sachs (doing business as the Drone Pilots Association), and FPV Manuals (doing business as GetFPV and Lumenier).
The members of this group assert that the FAA's prohibition on their non-hobby activities "is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law, in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, and without observance of procedure required by law." Their filing points out that the current position of the FAA prevents, for example, a retailer of equipment used for flying models from testing the equipment out, which in turn makes it very difficult to decide what gear to sell or which devices will best support customers with technical issues.
The third group to take legal action last week was the Council on Governmental Relations, an association of university researchers. The Council's filing asserts that the FAA's rule "poses a grave threat to science, research, education, and technological innovation across the United States by purporting to regulate, restrict, or even completely prohibit, use of model aircraft technology by universities, colleges, and research institutions, their faculty, and their students." The objection here is basically the same one a group of educators voiced to the FAA last month.
Anthony Decrappeo, president of the Council on Governmental Relations, explains that the organization doesn't typically resort to legal action. "Usually, it's not necessary," he says. "But I have to rely on what the legal counsel is telling me." In this case that would be Brendan Schulman, special counsel with the New York City law firm Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel.
"In part, there is a process issue here," says Schulman, referring to the way the FAA has been issuing rules about model aircraft without first making a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as required for a federal agency by the Administrative Procedure Act. But Schulman also thinks that the FAA needs to base its rules regarding what is and what isn't safe on something other than whether the activity has a commercial component.
Presumably, the FAA will do that when it issues its much-awaited regulations for small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). According to Schulman, the FAA's interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft was meant to tell those who would use models for commercial purposes that "until we have something in place, you shouldn't do anything at all."
About this article
- Date: August 28, 2014
- Publisher: UAS Vision
- Source: IEEE Spectrum
- Author : David Schneider
- Country: USA


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The moon isn't the only thing on the rise in Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom": a pair of stars are ascending as well.
The sweet – and, of course, quirk – romantic film introduces two promising young actors, Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman, who effortlessly steal scenes from established veterans like Bill Murray and Bruce Willis. With the film, which was nominated for the prestigious Palm 'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and shattered indie movie box office records, heads into a wider release, we took the chance to get to know the newest members of Anderson's ensemble players.
How did Wes Anderson discover you for this?
Kara Hayward: Well, it started for me when my dance teacher told me about an open call that was going on near where I lived. I figured that it might be something that I'd try just for fun, so I went and about a week later they called me and asked me if I'd like to meet Wes Anderson. Then about a week after I met him they called and said that I had the job. So it was pretty quick!
Jared Gilman: Not as quick as her, by far, but yeah, I have a manager and I was going on auditions. Then, in September 2010, I went on the first audition for 'Moonrise.' Then about six months and three callbacks later, on March 1st, 2011, I was coming home and my mom picked me up from school – which she never does – and over her Bluetooth my dad told me that I got the part.
Wes had you write letters to one another as Susie and Sam that later played a part in the film.
Gilman: Before filming one of the things that Wes had us do to help us get into our characters and get us to know each other a bit better, he had us email the letters that you see in the movie, the 'Dear, Sam' and 'Dear, Susie' letters. He would have us complete them. We did that and about halfway through Wes kind of realized that it would be better for us to actually mail these to each other, like real snail mail and write them instead of emailing. So we did that, and I think that really helped us also, not only to get to know each other and get into our characters, but get into that 1960s vibe of the movie.
Hayward: We completed them, so, I believe those are the same that were used in the movie…I suppose in a way I wouldn't use a few of the phrases that Susie uses, but it was also the 1960s and so it was just a bit different. I did have to try to learn to make it feel like it was something that I would say.
There are scenes that audiences are unaccustomed to seeing actors your age do – performing together in your underwear for instance. How did you approach those scenes and find a proper comfort level there?
Gilman: I just had the mindset that these are the characters – that it wasn't us. These were the characters and this is what they wanted to do, not what we wanted to do. I just told myself that I really had to become the character and really forget any kind of discomfort or whatever. That's what I did, and it really worked.
Hayward: And as I mentioned earlier, it's just another scene.
Gilman: Just another scene.
How close was the script to your own experiences about love in your life so far?
Hayward: Well, speaking from the point of view of a 13-year-old girl, I wouldn't say that love is as strong as what Susie and Sam had experienced, over the little girl type crushes, but nothing quite that deep.
Gilman: Yeah, again, same thing from a 13-year-old boy perspective: There's the crush, but I don't really think that I've experienced the caliber of what Sam and Susie's love was, because they had a deep love for each other. They really cared for each other.
What kind of relationship did you have to the scouting and camp experience which was much more prevalent then than now?
Gilman: Before the movie I was very indoors-y. I never really thought that I would have to actually camp and stuff, but I guess before the movie I did have to learn some stuff like canoeing and cooking over an open fire – cooking a fish. I guess that kind of helped me, learning that. Now I really have this great appreciation for Scouts and people who actually can survive in the outdoors.
How alien did that era feel to you two, the '60s? Did you need to ask people explain some of that to you?
Hayward: Well, really, once you're on the set and you're in your costume, the sets are so detailed and amazing that you really do feel like, 'Huh, so this is what it's like to live in the 1960s.' It's such a different life.
How familiar were you two with Wes Anderson and had you seen any of his films prior to getting these roles?
Gilman: I had seen 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' in the theater and I had heard of his other movies and I had wanted to see them, but yeah, when I heard that at the audition and the callbacks that really helped me, because I really love 'Fantastic Mr. Fox.' It's fantastic!
Hayward: I had seen 'Darjeeling Limited,' 'The Royal Tenenbaums' and 'Fantastic Mr. Fox.' So it was purely by chance, and this was even before I had done the first open call. So, when I learned I was going to be working with the man who made these films it was an absolutely amazing feeling.
Kara, did you find yourself drawn to his particular style of film, having seen so many of them?
Hayward: I was definitely drawn to it. He creates such a vibrant world for his characters, just such an amazing background. Then the characters – it's like he places them so perfectly and who they are and there are always reasons for everything that happens in his films and I just love to see the stories that come alive like that.
You talked about trying out for fun. Was this indeed fun, or were you surprised at how much work it was?
Hayward: It was SO much fun! It's something that I want to do for the rest of my life, and I couldn't be happier. Even when you leave, that's probably the hardest part about filming: leaving the family that you've come to create with everyone. But then it's also a happy feeling to know that now you're going to get to show everyone what you accomplished and what everyone accomplished there.
Gilman: Yeah, it was great and something that I've kind of found out, now since the movie is coming out, just the amazing payoff that you get when you get to watch the movie in front of an audience and see how they receive it. The payoff of all that work that you did is just amazing. Like, you could say a joke, but it wouldn't really land until the premiere or until people get to see it.
What kind of insight did you get in working with, like Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis and Bill Murray?
Hayward: They were all so sweet and kind and funny and I loved them all. The two who I got to work the closest with were Bill Murray and Frances McDormand because they played my parents. Bill, he's hysterical off-screen, onscreen, wherever he is. He's always making you laugh, and Fran is just such a sweet, down-to-earth person. They were amazing.
Gilman: Everyone on set, they were all really great and I was really excited to work with everyone because I'm a huge movie buff. I was a big fan of everyone, and so it was a pleasure…Bill Murray told me that in the mornings I should hum to really wake up my voice. When we were on set, I told that to Kara, that Bill Murray told me that. Then Bill Murray also taught me how to tie a tie. I was doing a costume fitting for a costume where I had to wear a tie and I didn't know how to tie a tie because I never really had to wear a tie. In fact, the first time I ever saw a tie I screamed and ran around the house yelling, 'No tie! No tie!' Everyone in the room, they were all women and so they didn't know how to do it either, but Bill just happened to be in the room right next to mine. He looked over and he said, 'Jared, come over here. I'll teach you.' I went over and he maneuvered his hand and he showed me how to tie a tie.
Hayward: Bill Murray was full of wisdom.
'Moonrise Kingdom' Adds Two Young Stars To Wes Anderson's Firmament
Newcomers Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman Step Into the Spotlight
The moon isn't the only thing on the rise in Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom": a pair of stars are ascending as well.


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Is it the end of 3G phones? Apple is now requiring iOS developers to submit screenshots 960-by-480 pixels or above so they can been seen clearly on the new iPhone 4S's Retina display. But at least one publication is asking, "Is this the end of 3G?"
Granted, Apple could just be asking developers to submit better photos because they look better, but the Next Web argues that it could also easily mean that the tech company is trying to purge itself of the iPhone 3G to make way for newer models. That does make sense, since the iPhone 4S is already out, the iPhone 5 is likely to make its debut this summer and the rumored iPad 3 will also have Retina display.
But isn't that a big leap to make for just one small change? It's also definitely a first-world viewpoint. The iPhone 3G is still bought and sold (and No. 3) in the United States, but it's also a cheaper alternative for the developing world -- especially since India is only now getting 3G capability. Apple has to keep an inexpensive phone in its stable if it ever hopes to break open that market..


text: I must admit an addiction. I love motorhomes. I think it's the whole self containment thing. All in one package able to survive. But like some fetishes I have on that I have not been able to satisfy. I want one of these in the worst way. These things are just butt ugly enough to be beautiful. You can find real nice ones in the 3k range. I mean is this cute as a bug or what? I nwgs admit that I cruise craigslist daily in search of satisfaction of my motorhome fetish. Am I OK? Just take a look at these little beautys... http://images.google.com/imgres?img...:official&sa=G&um=1&ei=b5oUSpCuIKLaswPNkJGyCQ


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Child Custody: Tips for When Grandparents Seek Custody in Tennessee
Many states have custody laws which allow a court to allocate the custody of an underage child to his or her grandparents, including Tennessee. Since these laws can often infringe on the child's biological parent's basic rights to parent the child, the Tennessee laws have to fit a compelling interest to protect the welfare and safety of the child, as well as comply with federal regulations. These are the grandparents' rights you should be aware of.
A constitutionally acceptable rule, which allows a Tennessee judicial court to award the custody of a child to a grandparent, frequently requires the grandparent to:
- Overcome the presupposition that the biological parents acts in the best interest of the child; and/or
- Demonstrate the likelihood that the child will experience a form of disadvantage if the child's custody is awarded to his or her biological parents.
Facing Disadvantages
During this examination, the child's grandparents are at a disadvantage compared to the child's biological parents. Typically, a Tennessee court will not award custody to the grandparent simply because the grandparent has superior parenting abilities or better means of providing for the child. Often, grandparents will lose custody to a parent, even if the parent has inferior parenting abilities.
During a proceeding, the evidence a grandparents needs to present depends on local Tennessee law. Seeking the custody of a child can be quite challenging for grandparents. Since they face a difficult battle, grandparents should always seek the professional advice of a qualified Tennessee attorney. With the aid and support of an experienced family law attorney versed in Tennessee's specific regulations, grandparents can understand what factors will improve their chances at winning their grandchild's custody. If the grandparents will not be able to win full custody, an attorney can help to facilitate court-ordered child visitation rights.
The Implications of Seeking Child Custody in Tennessee
While seeking a child's custody, grandparents should consider the following tips:
Reflect on the long-term implications brought forth by filing for custody rights.
It is not uncommon for a grandparent to disagree on the decisions a parent makes in regard to a child's upbringing. If the disagreements become extreme, a grandparent can consider filing for that child's custody. It is important to remember that fighting for a child's custody when the relationship is otherwise pleasant can cause irreversible damage. Amicable relationships can quickly disintegrate. More importantly, the grandparent will face the possibility of permanently losing any privileges they might have had with the child.
The possibility of challenging both parents should always be present.
It is always important to remember that while a child can have a single parent, there is always the possibility that the other parent could be contacted in the event that the case goes to Tennessee court. If an address is known for both parents, a notice will need to be presented to both biological parents. There is always a possibility that both parents will be present during a hearing. If this is the case, filing for child custody rights could unintentionally award the child's custody to an absent parent.
Grandparents should be strategic when they begin the filing process.
Grandparents should be ready to take advantage of situations where the child's biological parent is incapable of safely caring for the child. Strategic examples include seeking custody:
- After the parent has been convicted of a crime, according to Tennessee law,
- After a parent has been diagnosed with an impairing illness,
- When a biological parent is suffering from drug abuse,
- Seeking custody when there is evidence that the biological parent is involved with abusive partners.
Any of these situations could suggest that the child will be better off with a grandparent than biological parents.
Always be supportive of the child's relationship with his or her biological parent.
One of the most harmful decisions a grandparent can make is discouraging a relationship between the child and biological parents. A Tennessee court will almost always grant custody and parental rights to a child's biological parents. This is because the parents have a profound influence on a child's development.
If there are no signs of abuse, grandparents should facilitate this relationship between the child and his or her parents. This act could even solidify the relationship between the child and his or her grandparents.


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Salumi, Massapequa: Lunch triumph
A recent lunch at Salumi Tapas & Wine Bar uplifted an afternoon. These days, co-owner Lilly Karanova is also executive chef, and she's clearly doing something right.
From the roster of small plates, a friend and I shared roasted Brussels sprouts, which were deeply flavorful rather than harshly cabbage-y, plated, in harmonious contrast, with chestnut cream lightly sweetened with pepper honey ($7). And, oh, what an empanada ($7). The house-made pastry — flaky, beautifully burnished — was wrapped around a filling of ginger-lime pork. The filling changes daily; guess I came on an excellent day. Another winner: tender pieces of octopus plated with a Mayan style tomatillo salsa ($12).
Salumi Tapas & Wine Bar is at 5600 Merrick Rd., Massapequa, 516-620-0057


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Located in Hampshire, the five-star, privately owned Chewton Glen promises a distinctive luxury experience for travelers to England. Since the late 1960s, this country house hotel and spa has been on many "best" lists, including a spot on Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List this year.
I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful property with a friend last fall. Our vacation started out in traditional English fashion, with rain pouring down on everything in sight. Fortunately, we had booked a limo through Chewton Glen to make the hour and a half drive from Heathrow Airport to the hotel. We were quickly whisked away and, by the time we drove onto the 130-acre grounds, the sun was out and we were ready for our adventure.
The existing 18th-century house was remodeled in the 1890s and abuts the New Forest, which was designated as a hunting area by William the Conqueror in 1079. The country house's rich history is readily apparent, especially in the bar with its dark wood, red drapery and leather arm chairs.
The Treehouses
The newest addition to Chewton Glen is its collection of Treehouse Suites, which opened in 2012. The suites look like structures you'd find on safari in Africa — our treehouse sat high on stilts, completely removed from the hotel proper and overlooking the New Forest. A golf buggy chauffeured us to our suite.
Contemporary in design both inside and out, the treehouse suite had a different feel from the hotel, although the top-of-the-line fabrics came in traditional warm English colors such as tan, green and orange. Natural building materials included oak, stone from the nearby Jurassic Coast, zinc and copper.
The treehouse offered every convenience, including a kitchenette and a hot tub on the deck. There was patio furniture on the deck too, making it a lovely place to sit and enjoy a warm day with a view of the forest. For rainy days, the wood-burning fireplace offers a cozy alternative.
Sitting on 130 acres of countryside in Hampshire, Chewton Glen comprises a main hotel and 12 special Treehouse units. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
The lush grounds around the property provide idyllic scenery for taking long walks on a clear day. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
The spa at Chewton Glen features a Roman-style, ozone-treated pool. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
The Treehouses at Chewton Glen are separate from the rest of the property and include special amenities exclusive to Treehouse guests. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
The Treehouse suites are lifted up on stilts to provide stunning views above the treeline. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
Treehouse suites are outfitted with a variety of luxuries, including a fireplace, a hot tub and breakfast delivery every morning. // © 2014 Chewton Glen
Eat and Drink
While we slept soundly, at 7:30 am breakfast was delivered daily and we awoke to a feast of smoked salmon, assorted breads, muesli and fresh fruit. There was a high-tech coffee maker in the room to make regular coffee or a cappuccino.
In the evening, we summoned the buggy to take us to dinner at the hotel's main restaurant, Vetiver, a popular spot with locals. Vetiver specializes in local foods, and the executive head chef, Luke Matthews, uses game from the New Forest as well as local fruit, vegetables and seafood. Taking advantage of the local offerings, I had grouse for dinner and my companion enjoyed the halibut.
What to Do
Chewton Glen is an ideal retreat for a quiet, relaxing vacation, but the area also offers a variety of low-key activities.
After breakfast, we enjoyed taking the 20-minute walk to the beach and then strolling through the extensive, lush grounds.
For an afternoon indulgence, guests can head to the spa for Linda Meredith facials and a quick lunch in the spa restaurant, which serves organic salads. The Romanesque, ozone-treated indoor swimming pool here is an attraction in itself.
Other possible excursions include walks through the New Forest, a visit to the Jurassic Coast or exploring nearby towns and villages. There are also many activities offered by the hotel, including clay pigeon shooting, tennis, croquet and golf, among others.


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With so many different entertainment options out there for your children, we at PopcornBiz thought we'd take a moment each week to dissect one piece of family entertainment strictly from a parent's perspective, so that you know what parts are appropriate for your loved ones, and which are not. This week's COVER YOUR EYES subject: "WALL*E."
If you're wondering why Disney decided to plunk down a $250 million for the upcoming "John Carter," a movie that's based obscure source material and features no big box office draws, you must look to the man at the helm of it all: Andrew Stanton. Stanton is the man who directed both "Finding Nemo" and "WALL*E," which are generally regarded as two of the best movies Pixar has ever made. It was Disney's faith in Stanton that caused them to make such a risky gamble. With that movie in mind, this is a good time to look back at "WALL*E" and see if Stanton's masterpiece is appropriate for kids. Let's consider a few factors:
The "Will Parents Be Able To Tolerate It?" Factor: Yes. In fact, "WALL*E" is one of those Pixar movies (like "Ratatouille") that practically goes out of its way to not be a kiddie film. In many ways, this is an extremely stark movie, featuring a vision of the future that will cause anyone who sees it to question the end of the world and perhaps the end of humanity as well. I have a six-year-old and the kid asks about death and dying ALL THE TIME. "WALL*E" is not a sound distraction from all that gloominess. Younger kids may even be bored by it.
The Dead Parent Factor: Does Mother Earth count? Because Mother Earth is essentially a corpse at the beginning of this film. The wide shots of the garbage stacks are impossibly depressing, kinda like watching the end of "A.I." Anyway, the Earth is "saved" at the end and all that. But hoo boy, it ain't an easy ride getting there.
The Sexy Sex Sex Factor: WALL*E and Eve dance in the sky and stuff like that. But they never go into the supply closet on the Axiom and, you know, change fluids. Kind of a shame. I bet there's "WALL*E" slash fiction out there that would blow your mind.
The Scare Factor: There are no monsters or scary animal attacks in "WALL*E." Here, there are only "deep scares," a term I'm gonna use for scary IDEAS, things that might disturb a child and cause them to despair. Again, the world dying is kind of a bleak thing.
The Violence Factor: Lots of robot-on-robot damage done here. Who knew robots could be so mean to each other? Also, Eve pulls a gun on WALL*E at the beginning, which is NOT a proper lesson in courtship. There's also the matter of (spoiler alert) WALL*E "dying" at the end of the movie, with Eve bringing him back to life and rebooting his memory after it's been erased. Again, all scary on an existential level.
The Racism Factor: Zero.
Age Range: 5 and up.


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lick (one's) lips(redirected from licks their lips)
lick (one's) lips
To be eager and/or show signs of excitement before or during doing something that one enjoys or that is or will be beneficial to one. A reference to literally licking one's lips in anticipation of eating something delicious. All of the scouts are really licking their lips to get Jones on their roster. You should have seen John at the car show—he was practically licking his lips.
lick one's lips
Fig. to show eagerness or pleasure about a future event. (From the habit of people licking their lips when they are about to enjoy eating something.) The children licked their lips at the sight of the cake. The author's readers were licking their lips in anticipation of her new novel.
lick (or smack) your lips (or chops)look forward to something with eager anticipation.
1997 Guardian Headhunting agencies licked their chops at the prospect of the fat placement fees.


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The time for change is now. At Otago NORML we're working hard to raise awareness of the issue of cannabis law reform on all levels. We want to show our support for equal treatment of alcohol and cannabis for adults, as well as help to dispel some common misconceptions about cannabis and to help people understand why cannabis law reform should be a central issue in our world today. Numerous Commissions have all urged the New Zealand government to change its newonlinepokies.co.nz failed policies and to face the facts of the world we actually live in. We feel prohibition does more to create crime, destroy otherwise normal families, and create prejudice in a time when honest discussion is needed.
Our thrice weekly "4:20" protests are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:20pm on the Union Lawn at Otago University.
And if you like music and politics, check out our radio show, Overgrown - The Otago NORML Radio Show - Fridays 21:00 NZST, newonlinecasinos.nz 91FM Dunedin (Radio One)! - New Zealand's only Cannabis Law Reform radio show!
Contact us for further information
And remember to donate responsibly
Been busted for cannabis? Visit our friends at Bush Lawyer


text: A new Request for Comments is now available in online RFC libraries. RFC 6870 Title: Pseudowire Preferential Forwarding Status Bit Author: P. Muley, Ed., M. Aissaoui, Ed. Status: Standards Track Stream: IETF Date: February 2013 Mailbox: praveen.muley at alcatel-lucent.com, mustapha.aissaoui at alcatel-lucent.com Pages: 35 Characters: 79254 Updates: RFC4447 I-D Tag: draft-ietf-pwe3-redundancy-bit-09.txt URL: http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6870.txt This document describes a mechanism for signaling the active and standby status of redundant Pseudowires (PWs) between their termination points. A set of Redundant PWs is configured between Provider Edge (PE) nodes in single-segment pseudowire (SS-PW) applications or between Terminating Provider Edge (T-PE) nodes in Multi-Segment Pseudowire (MS-PW) applications. In order for the PE/T-PE nodes to indicate the preferred PW to use for forwarding PW packets to one another, a new status bit is defined. This bit indicates a Preferential Forwarding status with a value of active or standby for each PW in a redundant set. In addition, a second status bit is defined to allow peer PE nodes to coordinate a switchover operation of the PW. Finally, this document updates RFC 4447 by adding details to the handling of the PW status code bits in the PW Status TLV. This document is a product of the Pseudowire Emulation Edge to Edge Working Group of the IETF. This is now a Proposed Standard. STANDARDS TRACK: This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the Internet community,and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the Internet Official Protocol Standards (STD 1) for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. This announcement is sent to the IETF-Announce and rfc-dist lists. To subscribe or unsubscribe, see http://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf-announce http://mailman.rfc-editor.org/mailman/listinfo/rfc-dist For searching the RFC series, see http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfcsearch.html. For downloading RFCs, see http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc.html. Requests for special distribution should be addressed to either the author of the RFC in question, or to rfc-editor at rfc-editor.org. Unless specifically noted otherwise on the RFC itself, all RFCs are for unlimited distribution. The RFC Editor Team Association Management Solutions, LLC


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• September 5, 2006 | 11:32 AM ET
OK, this is it, Clicked is officially moving to http://Clicked.MSNBC.MSN.com. This page will no longer update. Please adjust your bookmarks.
The direct RSS feed is http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/rss.aspx but see the new site for other syndication options.
All of the past archives will continue to be stored here .
I'll continue to receive mail at email@example.com.
• August 29, 2006 | 2:06 AM ET
I'm blogging over here today. It's the new home for Clicked that I mentioned on Friday. I'm still getting a feel for the new workflow, so this is a soft launch. I appreciate your feedback on it from a reader perspective. I'll have a bit more on the new features once I get in the swing of it. In the meantime, feel free to reset any bookmarks you have and take note of the RSS feed.
• August 25, 2006 | 4:01 PM ET
Re: Column frequency
Hey Will, it seems as if the frequency of your column has really dropped off. It is one of my personal favorites. What gives?
— Jerry
Will replies: Hi Jerry, sorry to be such a slacker. The answer is that I've been on paternity leave for August so I've just been trying to keep the blog warm so I don't totally lose all my readers while I'm out.
What's more, this week I'm on an actual vacation without regular Internet access (I'm at a Barnes and Noble right now). I thought I'd be able to keep working from the road but that's not worked out as I planned after all, so this week has been a dead fish.
The good news is that I'm not fired or cancelled or anything like that. I'll be back in full force (actually with more time to blog because we re-arranged some of my work responsibilities) after Labor Day.
As further good news (I hope) we're going to migrate Clicked to some more traditional blogware, which means smaller entries, categories, comments, RSS feed, etc. I hope to make that happen as early as next week. I'll be back in regular Internet range on Monday and hopefully I'll put up an entry in a few minutes before my quarter runs out here at the bookstore.
Thanks for your interest,
What I clicked before I entered the naked airless space of Internet disconnectedness:
LaShawn Barber points out that the recent case of plane passengers refusing to fly with Middle Eastern looking men on board is a symptom of a lack of confidence in authorities' abilities to ensure our safety. I think there is also an element of the public being asked to contribute to the effort but not really being trained how to do it. In New York City we have signs on the subway that say, "If you see something, say something." But of course, if you say something you could tie up the city in security alerts that could cascade into a dip in the global economy. It's a fascinating parallel with what news agencies are wrestling with as they try to incorporate public news reports and photos. How to solicit help from the public without jamming the system with junk, and how to separate the useful stuff from the not-useful stuff. Of course, no trains blow up if we publish a bogus cell phone camera photo. With a movement toward participatory media and participatory journalism and participatory security (and participatory justice ), when will we begin to see discussion of Democracy 2.0?
Actually, there already is something called Democracy 2.0. It's an exercise in participatory legislation in wiki form. If the country were starting from scratch, what laws should we have?
10,000 reasons civilization is doomed — As I write this there are only 955. They want you to add your own reasons to the list. As might be expected, the list is a little messy toward the end.
On the implausibility of the Death Star's trash compactor
Slate presents: The 9/11 report: A graphic adaptation — It's done comic book style.
Weapons as women's accessories — very pretty hand grenades.
How much ice would I have to store up in the winter in order to air condition my house all summer? Short answer: a million pounds of ice, or a cube the size of your house.
The Shrinking Value of the Dollar — A chart showing the value of the dollar against its value in 1913. "In 2002, for example, it took $17.89 to buy what $1 bought in 1913."
"The legendary economist Milton Friedman's television show "Free to Choose" is now available on Google Video for free."
All your snakes are belong to us dance remix with video — Hysterical revolutionary war flag parody around 1:50. The Sally Struthers slide at 2:20 is good too. No nudity.
They ridiculous story of the CIA's cyborg spy kitty.
Tracing the fine line in marketing between treating your customers well and being a manipulative lying jerk just out to make a buck. Seeks to answer the question of how to push your stuff without being one of those people/companies who are always pushing their stuff. I found this interesting because I hate being marketed to, but if I had something to sell, how would I do it without marketing?
Speaking of trying to sell you something, 5 ways people waste money — The note on number 4 says, "A rule of thumb: always initiate your own purchases and never let anyone else start the process for you."
Armor of God pajamas. (Yes, they work.)
Even as Tropical Storm Debby shapes up, it's hard to ignore the slow hurricane season we've had so far in contrast with the hyped predictions a couple months ago and last year's record. While the first chart at this link is interesting in showing storm rates, the second graphic map of ocean temperatures is particularly intriguing. Mostly normal water temperatures with a lot of areas cooler than normal, but the northern waters are where the temperatures are higher than normal. I wonder if melting ice at the poles can keep down water temps elsewhere and mitigate some of the forecasted turmoil.
With all the northern manatee spottings I would have expected more red on the water temperature averages map on the East Coast.
Instead of body/mass index, Researchers say waist-to-hip ratio may paint better picture of fitness. "Ratios above 0.8 for women and 0.95 for men are linked to obesity-related complications and diseases." So I've got to make sure my butt is bigger than my gut to pass the test.
" Look At All Of These Passwords! " — This is mostly jibberish to me, but it's the most explicit I've seen in showing what a security weakness looks like. I've seen "watch what I can do" demos, but with these examples, even not understand the computer code you can see parts that make you say, "Oh, that's probably bad."
"With TrackMeNot, actual web searches, lost in a cloud of false leads, are essentially hidden in plain view." Given the filtering and automation performed on search databases, I'm not sure this solves anything.
Giant perplexing nests — Is there anything more exciting than an article that begins with "To the bafflement of insect experts..."
Aggregating peer reviewed research on social networking sites.
Why the dark matter theory is an example of good math. By the way, this is the link everyone is pointing to as a good explanation of dark matter. I'm copying the text out to read later when I'm back in the void of normal non-web space.
• August 21, 2006 | 4:49 AM ET
No sooner did I click this note on Talking Points Memo about progressives getting their heads out of the Lamont Lieberman race and moving on to other states than I clicked this video shot by this blogger of a stump speech by Tim Walz, Democratic challenger in a Minnesota congressional race. After all the talk of candidates blogging and putting campaign ads online, I'm beginning to think the real online campaigning will be done by supporters with little, if any, guidance by the campaign itself.
Speaking of participatory media, Washington Post Launches Blogroll Ad Network — Steve does a good job of explaining it, but basically the Washington Post will act as a go-between, connecting advertisers with appropriate blogs. The twist is that the Post will prominently feature blogs in the network on WashingtonPost.com, giving the whole thing a traffic goose.
I admit I didn't think the zombie flash mob thing would last as long as it has. (I recall a zombie event at a McDonalds last summer and there was a video of zombies fighting medieval recreationists floating around for a while. Most recent is a zombie attack on San Francisco. These are the best photos of one of these I've seen.
" Hikaru dorodango are balls of mud, molded by hand into perfect spheres, dried, and polished to an unbelievable luster."
I'm kind of blown away by the recent ruling that says that tobacco companies can't describe their cigarettes as "light" anymore. What are they going to call the Marlboros in the white box? How will smokers order a "pack of lights?" Talk about the end of an era!
Steve Huff is blogging the Ramsey story and culling a lot of cool Web research. Things like Karr's Google Groups postings and teen Web lure site Powerwurks.
What conservatives see when they look at the NY Times. This being from the Huffington Post, a liberal site, it's probably meant to offend conservatives, but I reckon they'd agree with some of it.
Kelly Clarkson, the guy from Yellowcard and a metal band called Metal Skool screw around on stage and eventually sing Guns N' Roses. Somehow the only one on the stage who can sing ends up without a mic in her hand. This walks the line between cool fun and waste of time depending on your disposition. NOTE: Some coarse language.
Speaking of metal singing, here's proof that it's possible to break a wine glass with the naked human voice.
The Transformers trailer is finally out and it rocks. So good, I'm afraid to see the movie. (I love the lost Mars probe idea. Don't tell me you're not secretly convinced there's more to that story.)
Where are the (liberal) female flacks?
Popsugar is "a blog network, and more recently a social network, targeting young, hip women." I don't know much about female demographic code words, but reading through the site I'm thinking "young hip women" means teenage girls. It sounds like iVillage 2.0.
Traineo hopes you'll use their service to keep track of your diet and fitness. This totally works for some people who like to write things down and keep orderly track of their lives. Personally, I'd log onto the computer, get side tracked and never make it to the gym and eat a bag of nachos while tinkering with my diet chart.
A possible sneak peek at Amazon's new video download service. At the very bottom he explains how he found it. Pretty clever.
If you know where Elvis is but haven't said anything about it, now's the time to speak up.
I've played this acoustic version of Hey Ya four times in a row. Slammin'.
"SOM's tower in Guangzhou, China, aims to generate more energy than it uses." SOM is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill the architecture firm. "The tower will harvest wind, humidity, and solar power from the environment and use it to maximum efficiency through myriad interwoven systems." Click the slide show on the right for more specific examples of what they plan to do. Then imagine a city of these.
At some point, at least once, everyone who has seen "Who wants to be a millionaire" has said, "Can you imagine if someone got the first question wrong?" Yeah.
Remember that note from a reader the other day about guitar tab sites shutting down because of legal threats over copyright? Ultimate Guitar is not afraid.
Dateline's utterly depressing feature on how kids are brainwashed by marketers by the time they can speak. They do a little experiment with three and four year olds to see how they're influenced by marketing icons. At what age do we learn that everyone is a liar trying to sell us something?
In spite of the president's insistence that the country break its oil addiction, the nation's train system is apparently not a considered alternative. One person relays their slow sag from hope to despair on a recent train trip.
A quick tour of the world's more attractive subway stations.
"If aliens landed in your backyard and gave you one minute to describe everything there is to know about human behavior, what would you say?"
Free stream of the best of Stereolab


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Ukiah Daily Journal
The family of a missing 79-year-old Washington man with dementia who may be headed south to Ukiah is asking for help finding him after he went missing from an assisted living facility in late September, according to the Seattle Police Department.
"He had been talking for a couple of months about wanting to move back to his house in Ukiah, which has been sold for a year, year and a half," said SPD detective David Ogard.
Sherman Davis went missing Sept. 25, according to his family, when Ogard said he was "last seen at dinner," then his daughter got a text alert that his account had been used in Cottage Grove, Ore., and in Oakland, Ore.
Davis was last seen at the K&R Drive Inn in Oakland, Ore. at 1 p.m. Sept. 25, according to his family. He was headed south on Interstate 5 toward Mendocino County, driving a 2003 Honda Odyssey minivan with the Washington license plate AEX0052.
Davis is described as a 6-foot tall Caucasian man weighing 185 pounds with gray hair.
His daughters, Beth Lang and Cindy Davis, are traveling from Eugene, Ore. to California trying to retrace their father"s steps, according to a statement from the family.
"Lang and Davis believe their father was trying to go back to his hometown in Ukiah, California," according to the statement. Ogard said Thursday that it is also possible that Sherman Davis strayed from his original course.
Anyone with information about Sherman Davis" whereabouts is urged to call 9-1-1, or to call SPD detective Ogard directly at (206) 684-5007.


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The Dr. Phil House: Man Camp Newlyweds
Although they recently tied the knot, three couples say they skipped the honeymoon period, and they're already talking divorce! The wives say they're sick and tired of being controlled and belittled by their demanding, overbearing and chauvinistic husbands, so they're dragging them to Dr. Phil's Man Camp for a complete overhaul. It's not a one-way street through – the husbands have serious complaints about their better halves.
Jim and Kim got married only six weeks ago, but they're so miserable, they're ready to call it quits. Jim's job takes him away from home, but that doesn't stop this couple from fighting. Kim says her husband's nasty voicemail messages are just another way for him to verbally abuse and control her. Jim says his wife doesn't love him as much as she loves his paycheck.
Jack and Danielle are also only six weeks into their marriage but are already sleeping in separate beds and barely speaking to each other. Danielle says her husband is so controlling, he even tells her how to shower, and she's tired of his always throwing issues from her past in her face. Jack admits he's insecure about her romantic past and can't help bringing it up.
John and Karla have been married nine months but cameras in their home capture a volatile environment. Karla says John tries to control everything she does, including how much makeup she wears and how often she leaves the house. John says he's enraged by his wife's drinking and admits he's afraid of what he might do the next time she gets drunk. Does Karla have good reason to sleep with a knife under her pillow?
Part 1 Summary:
With their spouses watching from behind a two-way mirror, the husbands meet with Dr. Phil, who confronts them about physically and verbally abusing their wives. The men say they're ready to get real and deal with the unhealthy patterns that plague their marriage.
Then it's the wives' turn. When Dr. Phil accuses Karla of being inebriated, she vehemently denies it... even after he pulls a bottle of vodka out of her bag. But the two other women tell their account of what they witnessed earlier that day. Is it enough to force Karla to face the truth?
Extra Content
- JCPenney and
- Albertsons/Sav-on and
- Lowe's
- Hyundai
- L.A. Faux Grass
- C Miller Designs
- Viesso
- Urban Home


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2012 got off to a rousing start for Elin Nordegren. The ex-wife of Tiger Woods and mom of two just totally demolished her $12.2 million mega mansion, which she bought last March right after receiving a whopping $100 million divorce settlement from her philandering ex. TMZ reports that Nordegren thought the 17,178-square-foot North Palm Beach, Florida home wasn't "up to her standards" so she did what any person would do--she bulldozed the place down.
The two-story mansion featured six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and an expansive 4,000 square foot basement. While the gorgeous home is no longer, it appears that Nordegren didn't just raze it for fun. She's building her dream home with a high-priced architect and it's no surprise that every single worker, from the designers to the bulldozers themselves, are required to sign a confidentially agreement.
U.S. & World
Copyright LXTVN - LXTV


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Trending Down
Alan posted a sharp analysis of the Florida Derby over on Left at Gate, noting that the Beyer speed figure of 93 given to Dialed In for the just-there win "is a good 6-8 points lower than one might like to see from him at this point." It is, but the figure is also one that's become quite typical of Derby prospects.
If you look at the Beyer speed figure earned by each Derby starter in their final Kentucky Derby prep (column PR-BSF in the spreadsheet below) from 1998-2010, you'll notice a pretty steady decrease in the number of 100+ BSFs appearing in prep past performances. In 1998, only two starters had not earned a triple digit figure in their final prep or in one of their two prior starts as a 3-year-old (columns 2ND and 3RD below). In 2010, only two came into the Derby with a BSF of 100, and only three — Devil May Care, Sidney's Candy, and Jackson Bend — had even earned a BSF of 100 in their careers.
Listed in order of finish. X = no BSF available.
As a group, the average Beyer speed figure earned by Derby starters in their final Derby prep has declined from 101 in 1998 to the low 90s in recent years:
Average Kentucky Derby field last-out BSFs, 1998-2010.
This year, only six Derby prospects have rated a BSF better than 100 as 3-year-olds, and only The Factor (103, Rebel) and Soldat (103, allowance) have done so at a distance greater than a mile. With the Wood, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby all this weekend, it's likely at least one winner will break through with a solid triple digit figure. Eskendereya did so in 2010, getting a 109 in the Wood, a figure that would have stood out in Derby entries if he hadn't sustained a career-ending injury before he could get to Churchill. It wouldn't have done much for the field average, though, which was a mere 93.


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|Parent Program:
|MSRI: Baker Board Room
The sine-Gordon Y-systems and the reduced sine-Gordon Y-systems were introduced by Roberto Tateo in 90\'s in the study of the integrable deformation of the minimal models in conformal field theory by the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz method.
They are associated to continued fractions, and the periodicity property of these Y-systems was conjectured by Tateo; however, it has been only partially proved so far.
We prove the periodicity in full generality using the surface method of cluster algebras.
It turns out that there is a wonderful interplay among continued fractions, triangulations, cluster algebras, and Y-systems, which I would like to explain in this talk.
This is a joint work with Salvatore Stella.


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Relief Open Toe Chap-20-30 mmHg-Right
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Supporting Documents


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A 72-acre chunk of Panem's District 12, the blighted mining area from "The Hunger Games," is now on sale for $1.4 million.
The property in Hildebran, N.C., was put on the market by Wade Shepherd, 83, who's been bombarded with gawkers since the movie hit the big screen last month.
"I'm getting too many visitors ... Day and night, they're driving through, taking pictures, getting out and walking," he told The Associated Press.
The village is private property and the sheriff's department and private security guards are working to halt the flow of tourists vying fora glimpse of Katniss, Peeta and Gale's "Hunger Games" home.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
While others, including the state's Division of Tourism, which has organized four-day fan tours, have seized the sudden publicity glut, Shepherd decided it would be more profitable to leave it all behind.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Selected Reading:


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Watch out, Blake Shelton, there's another country artist who will be battling for attention among the Christmas CD store displays this year.
Scotty McCreery has announced that he will be releasing a holiday album this fall. Titled Christmas with Scotty McCreery, the album is scheduled hit stores on Oct. 16. (Blake Shelton's album, Cheers It's Christmas, will be in the racks Oct. 2.)
The former American Idol's album will include renditions of holiday classics such as "Holly Jolly Christmas," "The First Noel," "Winter Wonderland," "O Holy Night," and "Let It Snow."
The 11-song Christmas with Scotty McCreery album will also feature two brand new holiday songs, "Christmas in Heaven" and "Christmas Is Coming Around."
Also, if you pre-order the album from Scotty's website, not only are you eligible for special pricing but you also will receive a booklet signed by Scotty, a thank-you video message, a chance at a personal phone call, and a chance to win a trip to see Scotty on tour.
So if yall pre-order my Christmas CD here at scottymccreery.com in the first two days (9/4 & 9/5), I will autograph your CD!
— Scotty McCreery (@ScottyMcCreery) September 4, 2012
– Steve Koscik/US99.5 and Kurt Wolff/CBS Local


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Stereo speakers: Floorstanding or bookshelf
The huge range of home electronics available today can make it very difficult to decide what's right for you. But no matter what differences there are in personal taste or the space one has available, a classic stereo option like floorstanding speakers or bookshelf speakers are always a good choice. At Teufel, we offer a variety of models in various styles at different price points.
For excellent stereo sound, two things are important: getting the right speakers and setting them up properly. Ideally, speakers should be arranged so as to form a triangle between the two speakers and the listener. This will minimize group delay and reduce phase shifting. If the room setup doesn't allow an ideal placement, compromises have to be made. In such cases, smaller speakers are often ideal. Bookshelf speakers, for example, can be easily integrated into just about any interior because they take up very little space, yet a good pair will still create an authentic stereo panorama. Many PC loudspeakers need to fill these same requirements: Take up very little space and yet create an authentic stereo soundstage with distinctly localizable instruments.
Stereo loudspeakers: What are the differences?
Teufel offers the following distinct types of stereo loudspeakers:
- Floorstanding speakers with integrated active subwoofers
- Passive floorstanding speakers
- PC loudspeaker sets with THX certification
- 2.1 PC speakers
- 2.1 all-in-one sets
- Stereo bookshelf speakers
Whether you're a fan of full-fledged floorstanding loudspeakers or small mini satellites, Teufel offers a big selection of stereo products that enhance your home visually as well as acoustically. The product portfolio includes complete stereo sets with different performance levels so that you can choose the one just right for you.
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The AutoTheory Harmonic Engine enables anyone, regardless of musical theory or keyboard training, to easily create professional-sounding melodies and harmonies.
AutoTheory makes it easy to play in harmony. Simply choose a key and a scale and AutoTheory will map all relevant chords and notes to the keys of your keyboard. Connect it to one or more Reason instruments and it will transform the way you play.
Play full chords with just one finger. Experiment by modifying chords with the chord sliders and modifier keys. Adjust individual chord note voicings and transpose or remove any note to create a customised chord. Create your own scales or select one from the many provided. Use what sounds good to you.
AutoTheory automatically remaps notes to match your chords. Now you can easily improvise melodies that sound good. Maintain your hand in the same position while composing melodies over different keys, scales and chord configurations. Optionally lock specific chord tones to fixed white keys. Four mapping modes accommodate different levels of user experience.
All controls in AutoTheory can be automated for easy transitions anywhere in a song. This means you can change the key or scale in the middle of a song without moving your hands.
AutoTheory also provides a Strum effect that can be used to add drama to any chord. Subtle and extreme timing changes are easily applied and fully CV-controllable.
AutoTheory can control multiple instruments at once. One option sends the root note of chords to a dedicated bass instrument. Four chord and four melody channels provide independent control of velocity and octave for each connected instrument. This allows you to create a rich soundscape - all from a single sequencer lane or just your own hands.
CV inputs are provided, which are useful for driving AutoTheory with Arpeggiators and Pattern sequencers.
Check out the included Demo Songs that demonstrate how to use AutoTheory. A set of useful Combinators is also provided.
|Back Panel view
Available for Reason 6.5, 7 and beyond. You can try it for free for 30 days by visiting the Shop page. Also check out the comprehensive User Guide.


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Link Here:
Footwear Trends: Should Sport & Fitness Enthusiasts Embrace the Minimalist Movement?
Danielle (Perkins) Holsomback & Kayla Peak
ABSTRACTClick above link for entire article. It is a great summary of minimalist footwear.
The popularity of the barefoot movement in sports and fitness activities has soared within the past few years as evidenced by a growing community of minimalist
footwear enthusiasts wearing the 'glove' shoes in their sporting endeavors, fitness workouts, and everyday leisure activities. This emergence
of the minimalist shoes, such as the Nike Free© and Vibram FiveFingers®, has created a wave of intrigue for those sport and fitness enthusiasts wanting
a natural running experience without being subjected to the hazards of the road. Whether running barefoot, in shoes or in minimal footwear, the trends in footwear
preference have caused much debate between researchers as to which form causes more injuries and/or best serves to enhance athletic performance. As sport and
fitness professionals, it is important to thoroughly examine the current footwear trends to develop a 'best practices' approach for advising our athletes
and clients.


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Maximize your productivity.
Maximize user productivity and provide an enhanced multimedia experience on Wyse cloud clients with fully featured Wyse TCX software.
- Subtotal $0.00
Enhance your user experience
Dell Wyse TCX removes the traditional limitations of virtual desktop environments and offers a full set of software solutions designed to enhance the user experience:


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Celebrity chef Sandra Lee says she is cancer free.
The 49-year-old Food Network star made the announcement Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," months after she revealed on the morning news show that she was undergoing a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis.
"I was early stage and what the beautiful thing is about early stage cancer … is it gives you every option in the world, and that is what I took," Lee said on the show. "My doctors have said that I am cancer free and that I am ready to go."
The "Semi-Homeade Cooking" star had to undergo additional surgeries this summer due to complications and a fluid buildup.
Lee, who made her first public appearance since the additional surgeries in a pink dress at the Emmys on Sunday, has become an advocate for routine mammograms.
She learned of her diagnosis during the routine procedure, and she has encouraged women to get screened and has become an ambassador for the charity Stand Up To Cancer.
She says she's going to wait until after a trip to Super Bowl 50 to decide whether to undergo reconstructive surgery.
Lee has been dating Gov. Cuomo for several years and the pair share a home in Westchester. The governor was photographed in the hospital with Lee after the procedure and for her follow-up surgeries.