text: There used to be an established order to the world. A structure to things. You couldn't print a gun like a term paper. It was impossible to wreck a nuclear production plant with a few lines of code. Flying robots didn't descend on you in the dead of night and kill you in your home. But that order has been upended. Cheap videos in California help spark riots in Cairo. Lynchpins of the Middle East now rant about 'Planet of the Apes' in public, and Iranian generals trash-talk David Petraeus over SMS. The world has gone a little haywire — sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Here are our choices for the 15 people most responsible for making it that way. Who did we miss? What did we get wrong? Sound off in the comments, or find us on Facebook or Twitter (we'll retweet the best suggestions). — Noah Shachtman Above: 15: Paula Broadwell One day you're pitching a biography of a top general. The next you've brought down a CIA director, stalled the career of another top general and ensnared numerous federal agencies — and yourself — in a sprawling investigation-cum-media circus. Paula Broadwell didn't mean to wreck any careers, but she accomplished something that no U.S. adversary could: remove David Petraeus from the U.S. government. Broadwell, a former Army intelligence officer, developed an unhealthy attraction to Petraeus. What started out as spinning for Petraeus' Afghanistan strategy and a florid book became a full-blown affair once Petraeus became director of the CIA. All that would have stayed between the two lovers — had Broadwell not used an anonymous e-mail account to berate Jill Kelley, a Tampa socialite whom Broadwell considered unduly flirtatious with the military brass. Kelley turned to an FBI agent she knew, Frederick W. Humphries II, to open a cyber-stalking investigation. The feds don't usually pursue cyber-stalking cases. And this one ended without any charges filed against Broadwell — but not before uncovering poor data hygiene from Broadwell's famous paramour. Petraeus and Broadwell shared a password on an e-mail account and would pass messages to each other by saving e-mails as drafts. What's more, Broadwell got into the habit of talking openly about sensitive CIA operations, like its response to the September attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. It's unclear whether there will be any charges filed against either Broadwell or Petraeus over classified material discovered on Broadwell's computer. Petraeus, the most celebrated general of his generation, resigned in humiliation. The FBI inquiry also turned up what the Pentagon called "flirtatious" e-mails between Gen. John Allen, the outgoing Afghanistan war commander, and Kelley, which has now blocked Allen's promotion to NATO commander. What's more, the coming reshuffle in President Obama's national security team has reopened a debate into whether the CIA should back away from Petraeus' torrid pace of drone strikes. Petraeus, and not Broadwell, is ultimately responsible for his own poor decision-making. But the next time a cabinet official sleeps around, he'd better make sure his mistress keeps the affair offline. — Spencer Ackerman Photo: AP/Nell Redmond14: Cody Wilson Cody Wilson, a 24-year-old law student at the University of Texas, didn't invent the concept of printable, downloadable guns. He's only created the first platform devoted to sharing the blueprints online for free to anyone who wants one, anywhere in the world, at any time. Wilson and his group of amateur gunsmiths, known as Defense Distributed, are also currently working on producing what may become the world's first fully 3-D printed gun, which they call the "Wiki Weapon." If it's successful, and on a long enough timeline, it could change the way we look at guns — and make them. But realizing this hasn't been easy. After leasing a 3-D printer from additive manufacturing firm Stratasys in late September, the company got wind of Wilson's plans and revoked its lease, then quickly dispatched a team to Wilson's apartment to seize the machine. "They came for it straight up," Wilson told Danger Room after it happened. "I didn't even have it out of the box." He's been questioned by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms over concerns he may violate federal law. Wilson has since sought a firearms manufacturers license from the ATF, which has yet to be approved, and has secured access to printers from a sympathetic company in the Austin area, plus a range in San Antonio where the group tested its first prototype. That prototype only lasted six shots, but the possibilities being introduced are huge. What happens to gun control when anyone can download and print a gun with their computer? Wilson and the Wiki Weapon project have also become something of a test case for how far a group can push those legal limits. "It is just a matter of time before these three-dimensional printers will be able to replicate an entire gun," Rep. Steve Israel (D-New York) said in December while urging for a renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act, which outlaws guns that can defeat airport metal detectors. Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, wrote: "The Wiki Weapon project is not the work of a dispassionate techie seeking to push the outer limits of modern technology. Instead it is a blatant, undisguised attempt to radically alter our system of government." That may actually be true. "How do governments behave if they must one day operate on the assumption that any and every citizen has near instant access to a firearm through the Internet?" Defense Distributed asks on its website. The answer may only be a matter of time. — Robert Beckhusen Photo: courtesy of Marisa Vasquez13 and 12: Matthew Dooley and Mark Basseley Yousef Two successive White Houses have been at pains to emphasize that the U.S. is not at war with Islam. In 2012, two little-known individuals did their best to undermine that goal. Mark Basseley Yousef is a man of many names (Kritbag Difrat, P.J. Tobacco, Nikoula Basseley Nakoula) and one dubious accomplishment: producing a film, "The Innocence of Muslims," that went viral and prompted riots around the Middle East for its disrespectful portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad. (For a while, the Obama administration blamed the video for the attack on the Benghazi consulate, but later abandoned that narrative.) As much as Yousef sought to cast Islam in a negative light — something repudiated by his movie's cast and crew — Yousef's own criminal antics quickly overshadowed his creation. He's been jailed for charges related to manufacturing PCP and using false names for fraudulent checks. After he used the name "Sam Bacile" to help produce "The Innocence of Muslims," a judge ruled Yousef violated the terms of his probation and sent him back to jail in September. Army Lt. Col. Matthew Dooley didn't do nearly as much damage to U.S. foreign policy. But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs didn't take any chances after learning in March that Dooley taught a course for senior military officers that mused about a "total war" on Islam — including "Hiroshima" tactics against Islam's holiest cities. Gen. Martin Dempsey suspended the elective course at the Joint Forces Staff College, calling it "totally objectionable," and ordered a comprehensive review of military education to weed out similar material. Dooley, a formerly well-regarded officer, got an administrative reprimand and was shipped out to a bureaucratic backwater of the Army. His defenders have threatened to sue Dempsey and portray Dooley as a free-speech martyr, but so far their threats have been about as substantial as Yousef's multiple identities. Still, Dooley and Yousef showed that random Islam haters can leave a huge impact. — Spencer Ackerman Photo: AP/CBS2-KCAL911 and 10: The Stealth Jet Whistleblowers The F-22 Raptor is supposed to be the future of the U.S. Air Force — stealthy, lethal, and generations ahead of any dogfighter on the planet. But that future was called into question in 2010, when one of the stealth fighters crashed under mysterious circumstances in Alaska, killing pilot Capt. Jeffrey Haney. Citing problems with the planes' oxygen systems that were choking the pilots, the following May the Air Force temporarily grounded all 180-plus Raptors, depriving the U.S. of nearly half of its front-line air-defense force. In a hurry to get its most high-tech plane back in the air, the flying branch blamed "contaminants" and hastily installed an extra charcoal filter in the F-22s. The $400 million Raptors went back into action. That's when Maj. Jeremy Gordon and Capt. Josh Wilson, both experienced Raptor fliers with the Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing, blew the whistle. With the support of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois), himself an Air Force pilot, Gordon and Wilson told 60 Minutes that the F-22's problems had not been solved. Pilots were still choking, Gordon and Wilson insisted. "In a room full of F-22 pilots, the vast majority will be coughing a lot of the times," Gordon said. He went on to describe black phlegm from charcoal apparently shed by the new filters plus chronic "dizziness, tumbling, vertigo kind of stuff." It was damning testimony. In prematurely declaring the F-22's problems solved, the Air Force appeared to value its reputation over the lives of its pilots and the actual combat effectiveness of its top-of-the-line planes. Gordon and Wilson revealed the flying branch for the dangerously self-serving organization it can sometimes be. In the wake of the pilots' 60 Minutes interview, the Air Force promptly ordered the Raptors' charcoal filters removed, limited F-22 flights and doubled down on its investigation of the Raptor's faults, even calling in Navy divers experienced in oxygen deprivation. Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of U.S.-based fighters, took the unusual step of training on the F-22 so he could run the same risks as his pilots. By this fall the Air Force believed it had figured out how to minimize the choking risk, by tweaking a valve in the pilots' vests and installing a backup oxygen generator. They may have been proved right, but Gordon and Wilson still faced Air Force reprisal for speaking out. Gordon's career was almost over anyways, but the younger Wilson should have had years of flying ahead of him. A reprimand letter threatened to cut short his time in the cockpit, so Wilson sought whistleblower protection under federal law. The man who helped save the F-22 wasn't done fighting. — David Axe9: Ahmed Abu Khattala Ahmed Abu Khattala may not have played any role in the September attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. But he represents its enduring message: He mocked the impotence it projected about the United States. The U.S. still doesn't know exactly who's responsible for the hours-long Benghazi assault. That's partially the problem: Despite numerous precursor attacks during the summer of 2012, the U.S. intelligence presence in Benghazi wasn't focused on jihadism. The Obama administration has sworn to bring the perpetrators to justice, but the hunt appears … less than substantial. That's where Ahmed Abu Khattala comes in. Although ostensibly wanted for questioning in the attacks, the Libyan militant laughed at the feebleness of the U.S. manhunt during a leisurely chat with a New York Times reporter at a Benghazi hotel. Over a strawberry frappe. Not to make too much of one interview, but, like the Benghazi attack itself, Abu Khattala went a long way toward undercutting the perception of competence that Obama projected in world affairs after killing Osama bin Laden. It's spooked Obama's administration: His advisers stopped talking about being thisclose to ending al-Qaida; and it stopped him from appointing Susan Rice as secretary of state after her account of Benghazi sparked a political scandal. Now the Libyan government has stalled in its aid to the Benghazi investigation. Abu Khattala can probably order another frappe. — Spencer Ackerman Photo: AP/Mohammad Hannon8: Eugene Kaspersky Not long ago, the U.S. had a widespread online campaign to spy on and destroy the work of Iran's atomic scientists. Then along came a group of cybersecurity researchers who systematically identified each of Washington's malware projects — and in so doing, rendered the Stuxnet, Flame, and Duqu espionage programs useless. A great many of those researchers now work for Eugene Kaspersky, the Russian cybersecurity mogul who runs one of the planet's largest and most sophisticated malware-fighting firms. And if all he did in the last year was intercede in America's efforts to short-circuit Iran's nuclear ambitions — definitively unmasking a cyber weapon for the first time — Kaspersky would've earned himself a spot on our list of the most dangerous people in the world. But there's more to Kaspersky. A longtime ally of Russia's secret security services, Kaspersky supplies technical expertise to the FSB, the successor to the KGB. His researchers train their agents in computer forensics. And when Kaspersky's son was kidnapped, FSB agents came to his rescue. Not long after that, Kaspersky complained publicly that there was "too much freedom" online and pushed for additional government controls over social networks, which he blamed in part for his son's abduction. A few months later, Moscow passed a new bill banning wide categories of websites and introducing new surveillance techniques to Russian telecom firms. All of which now has Western intelligence services scratching their heads. Did Kaspersky's researchers operate on their own when they outed all that anti-Iran malware? Or did they pull it off with some Kremlin help? — Noah Shachtman Photo: Stephen Voss7: The Men Behind the China Aviation Industry Corporation The U.S. used to be the undisputed warplane king. But that dominance may be starting to erode, if only just a bit, thanks to an unexpected player. The state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation (CAIC) is fast growing into one of the world's leading makers of military aircraft. And the implications to the international order of that growth are enormous. Testing ramped up for CAIC's first stealth fighter prototype, the Chengdu J-20. Another stealthy prototype, the Shenyang J-31, flew for the first time in October. And in November the Shenyang J-15 took off and landed for the first time from Liaoning, China's refurbished aircraft carrier, opening a new era in naval warfare. These accomplishments were overseen by a small and publicity-shy cabal of world-class engineers and managers. Yang Wei, at 49 regarded as China's leading fighter-designer, directed the continued development of the J-20's radar-evading features. Luo Yang, 51, managed the J-15's high-stakes carrier flights. Both men answered to Lin Zuoming, a 55-year-old legend of Chinese industry who heads CAIC. But the relentless pace of CAIC's work took its toll. While watching the J-15's first carrier launches and landings aboard Liaoning, Luo suffered a fatal heart attack "by overworking," state media revealed. The Chinese cabinet posthumously awarded the engineer the title "Heroic Model in the Aviation Industry." — David Axe6: Sheikh Ahmed Madobe America mostly relies on allied nations, mercenaries, militias and other proxies to wage its secretive African shadow wars. Things can get confusing when the proxies have proxies of their own. None of these front men is more powerful, and potentially dangerous, than Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, commander of the Somali Ras Kamboni Brigade militia. In late September, U.S.-backed Kenyan forces assaulted the southern Somali port city of Kismayo, the last stronghold of the al-Qaida-affiliated terror group Al Shabab. The air- and sea-based Kenyan attack was a triumph for the new American way of war, which provides cash and technical support but relies on proxy forces to do the main fighting and dying. But there's a catch. For the hardest fighting on Kismayo's outskirts, the Kenyans had hired their own proxies: the local Ras Kamboni militia and its avuncular, red-bearded commander Madobe, described by the Kenyan press as "the smiling warlord." A former Al Shabab gunman, Madobe had split from the militants as the tide of war turned against them. The 39-year-old Madobe seemed to relish his new role as the Kenyans' dog of war. "We will deal with them robustly, I assure you," he said of his former Islamist colleagues. But in the war's aftermath, Madobe has threatened to do what soldiers-for-hire often do. He's gone rogue. Having helped wrest Kismayo from the Islamists, Madobe is now refusing to leave town. His rebellion illustrates the dark side of proxy warfare, and could thwart U.S. and regional efforts to finally stabilize war-torn, terror-ridden Somalia. — David Axe Photo: AP/African Union-United Nations Information Support Team, Stuart Price5: Mohamed Morsi In the span of a few weeks, Egypt's new president stopped a war on his borders, gave himself nearly dictatorial powers, and then relinquished them. Egypt is supposed to be the bedrock of stability in the Mideast, a predictable and sober force against chaos and bellicosity stretching from Gaza to Israel to Syria to Iran. But if you can predict Mohamed Morsi's behavior, please clue us in. Washington has held its breath to see if Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, would move Egypt away from the pro-U.S. tilt of deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak. He hasn't, and Morsi's role brokering a ceasefire in November's war between Israel and Hamas caused many in D.C. to exhale. But that doesn't mean Morsi's behavior is predictable. In the wake of the war, he declared that his decisions were beyond the scope of Egypt's judges and then reversed himself after weeks of sometimes violent street protests. Morsi didn't do himself any favors with a bizarre Time interview in which he viewed Planet of the Apes as a prism for global affairs; said his self-declared new powers showed "the Egyptians are free"; and seemingly compared himself to Abraham Lincoln. Egypt may still be a linchpin in the Middle East, but many wonder if Morsi's come unhinged. — Spencer Ackerman Photo: AP/Khalil Hamra4: John Brennan This is the deadliest man in the U.S. government. John Brennan doesn't command any armies. But as President Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, he's arguably more powerful than the generals who do. Brennan runs the shadow wars against al-Qaida, a global campaign of lethal drone strikes and command raids. Brennan's war shifted in 2012. There have been only 43 drones strikes in Pakistan, way down from its 2010 high of 2012. But it moved into high gear in Yemen, which by June saw more drone strikes than Pakistan did, not to mention new U.S.-funded spy planes for its Yemeni allies. (Brennan doubles as shadow ambassador to Yemen, too.) And with U.S. forces set up at a Djibouti base to confront al-Qaida's operations in Africa, one of the next undeclared battlefields may be Mali, where U.S.-supported African forces are preparing to take the country's north back from an al-Qaida offshoot. There are rumors that Brennan is in contention to succeed David Petraeus as CIA chief, which would put Brennan formally at the head of one of the main agencies implementing his war — and would finally make him accountable to Congressional oversight. Maybe then he can explain how his shadow wars actually end. — Spencer Ackerman Photo: AP/Carolyn Kaster3: Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Mexico's Ciudad Juarez — the formerly so-called "Murder Capital of the World" — saw its murder rate plummet in 2012. Local authorities say that's because they've clamped down on crime. But another theory is that there are now fewer people left for Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to kill. But it wasn't just brutality that made El Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel kingpin and CEO, emerge as the most powerful drug trafficker in the world. He's a keen businessman who has turned a criminal organization into a global, vertically integrated corporation. El Chapo's empire is the Costco of cocaine. The Mexican government considers him to be the most wanted man in Mexico. The Sinaloa Cartel's yearly earnings in drug money, at an estimated $3 billion, isn't that much lower than the annual revenue of social media colossus Facebook. But a combination of bribes and violence ensures public officials stay out of his way, and El Chapo's enemies can find themselves besieged by his own private army. And if a company like Amazon.com has sought to diversify its products and control its distribution — like a customer buying an e-book and downloading it to their Kindle — the Sinaloa Cartel has sought to cut out their own middlemen as well. Instead of negotiating with Colombian drug cartels from access to South America's coca fields, El Chapo has sought to bypass them and gain access directly while diversifying his product lines into methamphetamine. Those are several reasons why Guzman is believed to be directly responsible for anywhere between 40 and 60 percent of the number of illegal drugs smuggled into the U.S. each year. He's also reportedly an obsessive micromanager — a trait shared by some of the most successful corporate executives — and is believed to base his operations out of the mountains of western Mexico. He may have even surpassed the infamous deceased Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in wealth, if not brutality. El Chapo's main rival, the notorious Zetas, also fell into disarray this year after leader Heriberto Lazcano was killed in a shootout with Mexican marines. That may ensure El Chapo will be able to maintain dominance over his share of Mexico's drug trade. The next question is how far El Chapo will go to push back against the Zetas and take even more turf for himself. — Robert Beckhusen Photo: AP/Damian Dovarganes2: Bashar Assad There was a brief period of national optimism in the summer of 2000 when Bashar Assad, then 34, took over Syria following the death of his father, longtime president Hafez Assad in June. The junior Assad, a member of Syria's minority Alawite clan, signaled a willingness to embrace democratic reforms. Civil society groups sprang up, dissidents spoke out and the country's intelligentsia penned a document demanding multiple political parties and limits on the police and military. But the so-called "Damascus Spring" was short-lived. Assad soon conformed to his father's repressive ways, cracking down on opposition groups and concentrating wealth and power among his own family and fellow Alawites. The winter that followed the Damascus Spring was a long one. But the revolutionary fervor of the Arab Spring finally reached Syria early this year. Since last summer Assad's regime has been under relentless assault by the rebel Free Syrian Army, testing just how far the president is willing to go to stay in power. As the rebellion has grown so has Assad's desperation. He sent tanks into rebel strongholds, fired artillery into densely populated towns and, this summer, unleashed the full might of his air force. When the rebels learned to shoot down Assad's jets and helicopters, the president upped the ante. He fired Scud rockets and, according to U.S. government sources, began prepping lethal sarin gas. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the use of those weapons represented "a red line," the crossing of which would prompt a U.S. response. Turkey, which borders Syria, and other NATO nations are equally alarmed and have rushed troops and missiles to the Syrian border. More than a year after the rebellion began, Assad still clings to power, in no small part owing to support from Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Syrian rebels in turn have been aided by Shi'ite militias in Iraq. Assad is running out of options. If he resorts to chemical weapons, the U.S. and its allies could be forced to intervene, and the conflict's ties to foreign extremists could cause the fighting to expand beyond Syria's borders. In that way the Syrian civil war could become a regional war — and the first conflict to involve Weapons of Mass Destruction since Iraq's suppression of the Kurds in the 1980s. Twelve years ago in the euphoria of the Damascus Spring it would have been hard to imagine Syria's new leader falling so far. — David Axe Photo: AP/SANA1: Qassem Suleimani As the country most likely to spark a world war, Iran has to be considered the most dangerous country on the planet. And if you were looking for the most dangerous man in that most dangerous country, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone as ruthless and mysterious as Gen. Qassem Suleimani. Since Suleimani's promotion in the late 1990s to head the Quds Force — the combination special forces and CIA-styled group within the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps — he's unleashed terror against U.S. forces in Iraq; and in 2012, expanded Tehran's military aid to Assad while becoming the focus of rumors over who will become Iran's next leader. Suleimani many not be the general in charge of assisting the North Koreans with their missile program. Nor does he run the Iranian nuclear effort. But if Barack Obama or Bibi Netanyahu were to strike Iran's nuclear program, it'll be Suleimani and the Quds Force in charge of taking Iran's counterattacks beyond its borders, as Iran launches waves of commando and terrorist strikes against the U.S. and its allies across the region and the world. In 2008, while waging a guerrilla war by proxy against the United States in Iraq, Suleimani even texted Gen. David Petraeus, boasting about being in charge of "the policy for Iran with respect to Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Afghanistan." That was an exaggeration — Iranian policy is set by the Supreme National Security Council which includes Suleimani along with 19 other members — but not entirely false, either. His influential position may also serve as the launching pad for higher political aspirations. In 2012, Suleimani emerged as the center of media attention in Iran just in time for upcoming presidential elections in June. And as a prominent war veteran, he could be a unifying and formidable president during a period of heightened tensions with the United States. Suleimani shows a history of "bold moves and military successes leading to overconfidence, miscalculations and sometimes risk-prone behavior which make him an aggressive and dangerous commander," Ali Alfoneh, who studies the Iranian military for the American Enterprise Institute, tells Danger Room. Born in 1957 to impoverished peasants, the general's military career was born during the Iran-Iraq War after becoming commander of the 41st Tharallah Division, where he was known as a charismatic leader who bade individual soldiers farewell while weeping, personally carrying out reconnaissance missions, and where he experienced the loss of "family members and most of his closest friends," Alfoneh says. That's not the kind of Iranian spy and terror chief you want to underestimate. — Robert Beckhusen Photo: IRNA


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Ray LaHood, the US Secretary of Transportation, is on a personal crusade to rid the country of distracted driving. It would be important for him to know what distracted driving actually is, but a new interview with Washington DC's WTOP radio station shows he has no idea what he's doing.
LaHood declared,
I drive around on the weekends in Washington…What I've been doing is kind of honking at somebody if I see him on a cellphone.
LaHood says he is "taking personal responsibility," but laying on the horn at other drivers is just adding distraction to already distracted drivers. Not to mention, LaHood should be staring at the road and not other drivers. It appears we have a crazy person in charge of regulating how you drive. (Hat tip to Reason/Mike Riggs!)
Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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Philippines urges clan to leave Malaysia village
President Benigno Aquino III asked a royal Muslim clan leader in the southern Philippines to order his followers to withdraw as soon as possible from Malaysian land they claim as their own, warning Tuesday of legal action against them and potential trouble.
Speaking on national television, Aquino told Sultan Jamalul Kiram III that his group of 180 followers led by his younger brother and including up to 30 armed men was risking a violent end to a two-week standoff by insisting on holding out. Kiram's sultanate has been claiming the land in a coastal village in Lahad Datu district in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state for nearly a century.
"We have not yet reached the point of no return, but we are fast approaching that point," Aquino said, calling the action by Kiram's followers a "foolhardy act" that was bound to fail.
Aquino's remarks elevated the Sabah territorial issue, which has been a thorn in Philippine-Malaysian relations for decades, to a Philippine national security concern. The crisis erupted at a crucial stage of peace negotiations - brokered by Malaysia - between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines.
Kiram's followers secretly traveled by boat early this month to Lahad Datu, where he said many of their Filipino relatives had resettled for years, to fortify his clan's claims on Sabah. It is a resource-rich Malaysian region where many mostly Muslim Filipinos have relocated in search of jobs and opportunities and to escape poverty and the decades-long Muslim rebellion in the southern Philippines.
Malaysian authorities, however, regard them as armed intruders and ordered them to immediately leave or face eviction. Malaysian police have surrounded Kiram's followers in Lahad Datu and gave them until late Tuesday to leave, suggesting they would be forcibly removed.
Aquino said that Kiram and his followers would be investigated, along with possible collaborators, suggesting the incident may have been an act to undermine the Philippine government. He warned Kiram and his followers of possible legal action if they continued to defy orders to withdraw from Lahad Datu.
"If you choose not to cooperate, the full force of the laws of the state will be used to achieve justice for all who have been put in harm's way," Aquino said.
While Philippine and Malaysian top diplomats have agreed to resolve the standoff peacefully, Aquino said that his government braced for any contingencies, adding that navies from both nations took steps to prevent more people from entering Lahad Datu.
The Philippines notified Malaysia over the weekend that it sent a navy ship with social and medical workers off Lahad Datu while talks to persuade the Filipinos to return home continued.
Kiram's younger brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, who is considered a crown prince in their sultanate, said that he and his followers would not leave. The village has been surrounded by Malaysian police and abandoned by long-time Filipino residents, who feared getting caught in a crossfire, he said.
"We're not invading this place because it is ours," Agbimuddin Kiram said by cellphone from Lahad Datu, adding that he and his group were fast running out of food. "Sabah is owned by the sultan of Sulu, so what crime are we violating?"
Sulu, a predominantly Muslim province in the southern Philippines where the Kiram clan is based, is about half a day away by boat from Sabah, across treacherous waters where pirates, smugglers and al-Qaida-linked militants have long been a concern.
"If the Malaysian police come with guns, we have to defend ourselves," Kiram said.
Despite the seemingly futile stunt, the Kirams have succeeded in refocusing attention to the territorial issue that past Philippine presidents have relegated to the backburner in favor of cultivating ties with affluent Malaysia, as the Philippines attended to more pressing concerns such as the Muslim insurgency.
Aquino said he had ordered an extensive study into the Sulu sultanate's claim to Sabah, but warned that the effort could run into a dilemma over the convoluted history of the dispute. He cited at least five clan leaders who claim they were the true descendants of the original Filipino sultan who was supposed to have had control over the vast territory. Documents date to the late 1800s, he said.


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Impasse over tourism funds headed for a showdown
San Diego City Councilman Kevin Faulconer on Thursday asked that a public hearing be held to expose what he says is the damaging fallout from Mayor
At stake, said Faulconer, are thousands of visitor industry jobs that rely on tourists choosing San Diego for their vacations and weekend getaways.
San Diego depends on revenues generated by a hotel room surcharge of 2 percent to finance the city's Tourism Authority and promote such annual events as San Diego Beer Week, the Holiday and Poinsettia bowls and the Rock and Roll Marathon, all of which attract overnight visitors and fill hotel rooms.
Those revenues, however, cannot be released until Filner signs an operating agreement authorizing the hotelier-run Tourism Marketing District to manage and disburse the money. The city no longer budgets funds for tourism promotion, relying instead on the marketing district.
"Every day that goes by San Diego is losing potential tourism tax revenue that we can use to fill potholes and hire more police officers," Faulconer said in an interview. "Shutting off those funds will hurt one of our most important industries and cost us jobs. I want to ensure that all of the council and the public know the cost of the mayor's inaction. There's no excuse for this inaction."
Filner has declined to respond to repeated requests for an interview. He also failed to appear Wednesday night for a scheduled appearance at the San Diego County Hotel-Motel Association's annual awards presentation and was unable to attend Thursday morning's annual tourism meeting where he was to be a speaker.
While acknowledging that the council cannot force Filner to sign the operating agreement, Faulconer said he's hoping that a public hearing will convince the mayor to "release the funds San Diego needs to balance the city budget, create jobs and keep businesses open."
San Diego Council President Todd Gloria said he would be willing, if necessary, to schedule a hearing to "investigate our options to move forward with this beneficial organization."
The marketing district is already the target of two lawsuits challenging the legality of the hotel levy that hoteliers approved last year to finance tourism promotion. Attorney Cory Briggs, who is handling one of the lawsuits on behalf of San Diegans for Open Government, has written a letter to Filner urging him not to sign the agreement.
He argues that if he were to prevail in the lawsuit and the marketing district revenues had already been spent, the city would have to repay the hoteliers out of the general fund.
"By signing the contract now and allowing (the marketing district) to begin spending money before a judge has ruled in the lawsuits is an outrageous gamble with taxpayer resources," Briggs said.
In a letter sent earlier this week to Filner, the marketing district's CEO, Terry Brown, asked that Filner sign the agreement, pointing out that the tourism bureau would be forced to lay off staff if funding is not forthcoming. Brown also cited an opinion by the district's lawyer, who argued that Filner is legally bound to sign the agreement.
Brown asked that Filner respond within a week as to whether he will sign the contract and if he does not, the corporation will go to Superior Court to resolve the dispute.
The district has been in place for the last five years but before it expired at the end of last year, the City Council renewed it for nearly 40 years more and drafted a new operating plan that its lawyers contend make it legally sound.
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Before Mariah Carey joined American Idol for a whopping $17 million, pop princess Britney Spears was hired on the X Factorfor a record-breaking $15 million and earning the title of highest paid judge in reality television. Britney's name alone has pulled in record ratings whenever she appeared on television so Simon Cowell figured it would work out in favor of the struggling reality singing show. Unfortunately, things haven't gone as he expected.
The second season's ratings have dropped and Britney is said to be part of the blame. People claim she isn't a credible judge and that $15 million is too much to pay someone who doesn't technically "have the credentials." However, with the struggling ratings, Simon was able to convince Fox to carry the show for a third season, kicking off next year!
Will Britney Spears join in for the third season?
When she was asked about it on the red carpet last night at a party for the finalists, she had a very clear answer.
"Yes, I definitely will."
-Bryan Carstensen, 92.3 NOW/New York
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Micro Zipped Bayswater Emerald Green Croc Print
Send a hint to share your dream gift.
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I suppose there would be a lot of storytelling, music sharing (at least on my part :p), experimental dining out, random conversations with atypical strangers…all in all I'm sure it would be a total blast! It's been a while since Kis and I have done a joint post so we figured since the latest round of The Boobies Show has just begun we'd show off our lovely Tangos for you.
On me:
Skin: Al Vulo– Alyss Wonderland Fairy Tone (Free! Group Gift)
Hair: Lamb – Betty Jean in Honeycomb Root
Eyes: tSg – Sleepy in Ice Blue
Piercing: Vestigium – Bad Name Sphere (New!)
Necklace: LEO-NT– My Blossom Cross Necklace in Brow w/Color Change Flower (New!)
Top: Cynful – Baubie Hugger Unbuttoned Version in White Gold (New! @ The Boobies Show)
Shorts: T.Whore – Vintage Jeans Medium
Socks: Izzie's – Overknee Socks in White
Boots: Monso – My Western Boots w/Color Change Hud
Pose: Bez – Friends 7 Pose
To see what Kismet is wearing go to Confessions of a Second Life Shopaholic.


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Dan Barber's Pork Belly
Dan Barber Epicurious August 2005
reviews (16)
94%Go to reviews
make it again
- Yield
- Makes 8 servings
- 1/2 pork belly (approximately 6 lbs)
- 2 cups cure mix
- 2 quarts rich chicken stock (water can be substituted)
- Rub the pork belly with the dry cure and refrigerate for 3 days.
- On day 3, rinse the pork belly and place in a casserole pan as close to the size of the belly as possible. Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Cover belly with rich chicken stock and cover pan. Place in oven and cook overnight, about 7 hours.
- Remove belly from braising liquid, drain, and cut into serving pieces. To serve, sear the fat side of the belly until crispy.


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Steven Spielberg's E.T. (1982) was the first movie I saw in a theater...but at the time, I was a little too young to remember everything about it. In the years since, I've really come to appreciate its timeless story and memorable characters, which are almost overshadowed by the film's iconic visuals and classic John Williams score. Case in point: you really don't need a nostalgic connection to appreciate the film's technical merits and lasting impact, even though its particular representation of childhood is one of the main reason E.T. works so well. It's just a simple story told with conviction, free of excessive supporting characters and sub-plots. Modern efforts like Super 8 come awfully close to recapturing the specific vibe that films like E.T. first created, but Spielberg's intensely personal family film is in a class by itself.
The story, written by Melissa Mathison and based on a collaboration with Spielberg, unfolds entirely from a kid's perspective; in fact, adult interactions are few and far between. E.T.'s young hero is ten year-old Elliott (Henry Thomas), who discovers an extraterrestrial being in his family's outdoor shed. Determined to keep him hidden, Elliott fakes an illness to stay home and discover more about his mysterious new friend before introducing "E.T." to siblings Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton). There's an immediate connection between Elliott and his new friend, as evidenced by a psychic link and later, an imbalance of physical health. Either way, one thing's for certain: E.T.'s time on Earth is extremely limited, and it's eventually up to the kids to get him home before outside forces interfere with their plans.
E.T. wasn't intended to be a religious allegory; instead, it's based on Spielberg's creation of an imaginary friend after his parents' divorce during his childhood. As a result, the film's personal perspective gives it a heart that feels 100% genuine, unlike the flood of copycats that surfaced in its wake. It's also the first film in which Spielberg worked almost exclusively with a cast of children, and their natural performances are but one part of its continued legacy. In short, E.T. represents the pinnacle of a genre that's often overlooked: it's a pitch-perfect family film that, with any luck, will be passed down for generations.
Not surprisingly, the infamous 2002 Special Edition of E.T. has not been included as part of this 30th Anniversary release, as Spielberg himself regretted the digital alterations in hindsight. Though several changes were subtle and didn't alter the film's tone, other new scenes and effects (including some rather distracting CGI and, of course, the walkie talkies) didn't fit in quite so well. For obvious reasons, the lone preservation of this original theatrical version is a wonderful thing indeed. Universal's new Blu-Ray takes E.T. to greater heights in every respect, from the stunning technical presentation to a well-rounded and thoughtful collection of extras. Overall, it's about as strong of an effort as fans could've hoped for.
Like Universal's recent release of Jaws (and Paramount's Indiana Jones collection) on Blu-Ray, E.T. has been blessed with a beautiful director-approved transfer that fans should certainly appreciate. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p effort features strong black levels, a wonderful amount of depth, strong textures and a natural layer of film grain. No glaring digital problems could be spotted along the way, and the only other sporadic defects (matte lines, softness) appear to be source material issues and nothing more. It's an excellent visual presentation overall, and one that's head and shoulders above 2002's Limited Edition DVD. Long story short: E.T. won't look better than this for quite some time.
Everything else is recycled from earlier DVD releases. Returning to this release are a collection of Deleted Scenes (4 minutes), a 2002 Production Documentary (39 minutes), a similar "Evolution & Creation of E.T." documentary (51 minutes), a 2002 Reunion Featurette (19 minutes), two enjoyable Music Featurettes with composer John Williams (29 minutes total), a handful of Promotional Galleries, a Special Olympics TV Spot and the film's Theatrical Trailer. Also included, of course, are a truncated DVD and Ultraviolet Digital Copy, if those do anything for you. All of these recycled extras are presented in 480p...save for the deleted scenes, which get a nice bump to 1080p. Optional subtitles are included when applicable.
Missing in action is a feature-length score track originally recorded for a Special Edition screening, as well the theatrical re-release trailer. A short Spielberg intro has also not been included...but these missing items are understandable, since they're all somewhat related to the digitally altered version that's only available on older DVD releases. Even so, what's here is a reference-quality collection of extras for the original film, so everyone who doesn't care about the revised version won't be disappointed at all.
E.T. is a simple story loaded with heart, and everything about Universal's new Blu-Ray should excite and entertain fans of this modern-day classic. The film itself has held up quite well during the last 30 years, from the groundbreaking special effects to John Williams' memorable score. Universal's Anniversary Edition serves up a pitch-perfect technical presentation and a wealth of terrific supplements from the past three decades. It's a lovingly crafted and well-rounded Blu-Ray release in all departments, and one that any film lover should be proud to have in their collection. A DVD Talk Collector Series title, hands down.
Randy Miller III is an affable office monkey from Harrisburg, PA. He also does freelance graphic design projects, teaches art classes and runs a website or two. In his limited free time, Randy also enjoys slacking off, juggling HD DVDs and writing in third person.


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Kobe Bryant has long been one of Tinsletown's biggest celebs, even though he's not a movie star. But now the Lakers' star has literally cemented his claim on being a Hollywood elite.
The All-Star forward became the first non-actor to claim a slab of famous concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, reports E! Online.
Bryant, who has won five NBA titles while playing for the Lake Show, had his hands and feet immortalized on February 19, just a day before he captured his record-tying fourth All-Star game MVP award in front of a raucous home crowd at the Staples Center.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"I feel like I've grown up in this city, and we've had a lot of ups and downs, but here we are—five championships, plenty of more to go, and I just feel extremely honored to be able to do this," Bryant said at the event.
Bryant's wife and two children were there for the ceremony, as well as director Penny Marshall and Lakers' coach Phil Jackson.
Though Bryant said he has no plans to become a thespian any time soon, master of ceremonies Jimmy Kimmel couldn't help but get in a playful dig at the superstar.
"It's fitting that Kobe Bryant would have a place in Grauman's Chinese Theatre because although he's not an actor nor does he have any experience in theatrical arts he is—wait, why is this fitting?" Kimmel asked. "The closest Kobe's come to acting is pretending he's going to pass the ball to Luke Walton."
Selected Reading: E! Online, Huffington Post, FanHouse


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U.S. dedicates weekend to honoring its veterans
Photo: AP
WASHINGTON -- Today marks the first of what will be three days of Veterans Day commemorations across the U.S.
The holiday falls on Sunday, and the federal observance is on Monday. It's the first such day honoring the men and women who served in uniform since the last U.S. troops left Iraq in December 2011.
It's also a chance to thank those who stormed the beaches during World War II -- a population that is rapidly shrinking with most of those former troops now in their 80s and 90s.
In Washington, a steady stream of people visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial today. On Sunday, thousands are expected to line Fifth Avenue for New York City's Veterans Day Parade.
The World War II museum in New Orleans also is honoring veterans.


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Joseph Pedersen wouldn't call Rita Crundwell "the cunning cowgirl crook," as the federal prosecutor isn't prone to giving defendants snazzy names.
"We don't usually put labels like that on people we prosecute," Pedersen said. "It's not something we would do."
But Pedersen, a Malta resident, acknowledges Crundwell's case is the most interesting one of his career – for the complexities of the horse-show world and the challenges of selling off horses kept in more than a dozen states, if nothing else.
Crundwell was convicted of wire fraud for embezzling $53 million from the city of Dixon to fund an American quarter-horse-breeding empire. The city's long-time comptroller, Crundwell was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison in February 2013, and her assets were sold to repay the small town that suffered years of tight budgets.
Pedersen, a former DeKalb County felony prosecutor, remembered Dixon officials talking about how the city's dump trucks had holes in them and how the local public cemetery went unmowed as Crundwell built up a herd of 400 or so horses.
"She spared no expense taking care of them, which was easy to do since it wasn't her money she was using to do it," Pedersen said.
Pedersen will be featured on tonight's episode of CNBC's "American Greed," which airs at 8 p.m. Promotional materials for the episode dub Crundwell "the cunning cowgirl crook" and describe how she was "thrown off her high horse" when her two-decades-old embezzlement scheme was discovered.
By Monday afternoon, Pedersen said he hadn't watched much of the promotional video and was unsure how accurate the episode's portrayal would be. He prosecuted three murder cases in DeKalb County before becoming a federal prosecutor in Rockford in mid-2002, but Crundwell's case was markedly different from most of the big cases in his career.
"One of the things we didn't realize as we were doing the investigation initially is how tight-knit that horse community is," Pedersen said. "We had to be careful with our investigation before she was arrested so she wasn't alerted."
The day Crundwell was arrested, authorities searched her home in Dixon and discovered she had kept records of the embezzlement dating to December 1990 – far longer than the bank involved had, Pedersen said.
"She started out small, taking small amounts from the city and gradually worked her way up to larger amounts," he said.
Crundwell never publicly stated why she did it, but perhaps her purchases speak for themselves. She had, among other things, a nationally renowned herd of 400 quarter horses, a ranch in Dixon, a vacation home in Florida, luxury cars and a motor home, furs, and jewelry.
As the case itself unfolded, Pedersen said, he struggled to believe it had actually happened. Crundwell started working for the city in 1967 as a high-schooler, and city leaders trusted her entirely.
"Everyone, to a person, thought she was great," Pedersen said.
Perhaps Crundwell's legacy, despite flashy TV shows and because of people like Pedersen, will be less cowgirl crook and more community caution. No matter how small the town or how long-standing the leader, public scrutiny of public funds and public decisions is vital.
"As a result of this case," Pedersen said, "I think a lot of these other smaller communities have taken a closer look at their finances."
• Jillian Duchnowski is the Daily Chronicle's news editor. Reach her at 815-756-4841, ext. 2221, email her at email@example.com, and follow her on Twitter @jillianduch.


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The legendary game on your phone. Excellent graphics and nice gameplay.
Memorize the cards and find the same. Play and pump your brain.
A variety of levels, nice graphics and great soundtrack will allow you to plunge into the game world for a long time. Install and join an exciting game.Download Same Sweets for free
Free download Same Sweets : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.watermelon.seven.cards


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Zhenjiang Danyang, Jiangsu 212311
Local Time There
View map of this location
Zhenjiang Danyang, Jiangsu 212311
Local Time There
View map of this location
World Precise Machinery Group was established in 1953, includes World Precise Machinery Co, World Heavy Tools Co, World Numerical Control Co, World Casting Co, World Marketing Co, World Shenyang Co, World Group was listed on Singapore Stock Exchange (stock code B49.SI) in 2006, annual sales arrives 300 million yuan ( $50 million ), World Group has more than 10,000 employee, 700,000 square meters factory workshop, vendor of BMW, Volkswagen, Hyundai, KIA, Samsung, Sony, Haier, TCL, GREE, VATTI, SUPOR etc, less than one hour reach Shanghai by Train, obtain CE certification.
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Here's what clients have to say about Corinne's
you for helping make the Crystal Apple Awards a success. Your
participation and the services you provided made this wonderful
evening more enjoyable. I appreciate your support and I look forward
to working with you in the future."
Mayor of New York City
For over 37 years Corinne's Concepts in Catering has successfully catered all types of special occasions and events. We have handled everything ranging from small in-home casual gatherings, to simple or extravagant weddings, to large corporate events with thousands of guests.
As one of the New York area's most respected full-service, off premise catering companies we offer you complete event planning services. Corinne's personally handles all catering related services including customized gourmet menus, a professional service staff, location selection, rentals, linens, floral arrangements, entertainment, event themes and more.
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Please take the time to explore the many features of this website, build your own menu, or feel free to give us a call at 631.351.6030 to discuss your catering needs.
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Kirks Amazing Spinach Dip
December 28, 2009
2 large sweet onions diced (vidalia or oso)
8 diced garlic cloves
2 cans of diced tomatoes (petite work best)
20 diced serranos (completely optional, if you do use them chop them up very fine in a food processor)
2 blocks of Philadelphia Cream Cheese softened
1 pint of whole cream
4 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
4 cups of shredded monterey jack cheese
4 table spoons of red wine vinegar
1 32oz bag of frozen chopped spinach
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Saute olive oil, onions, garlic & serranos until soft. Add tomatoes and spinach and bring to a boil. Pour over cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Stir and cool before serving.


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Katherine Hughes, while living in Edmonton 100 years ago, took an interest in the Catholic Women's League after travelling through England. Upon her return to Canada, she told Bishop Emile Legal about this benevolent women's organization.
She organized the first meeting of Catholic women Nov. 13, 1912 at St. Joachim's Church. Since then the CWL has grown to more than 100,000 members nationwide.
The CWL started at seven Edmonton parishes. Now the archdiocesan CWL includes 68 parishes with councils organized into nine zones. Their list of accomplishments is long.
A Mass to celebrate the centennial of the archdiocesan CWL, led by Archbishop Richard Smith, was held at St. Joseph's Basilica April 26. That day was chosen because it's the feast of the organization's patron saint, Our Lady of Good Counsel.
"I decided it was time for all of the ladies of the diocese to get together," said Edmonton CWL president Gladys Brown. "To be honest, I am overwhelmed with the number of ladies, their husbands and friends who showed up. I am tickled pink."
In his homily, the archbishop said the Church is immensely blessed and enriched by the service of the CWL and its wide variety of ministries. Like the Church, which is catholic, universal and all-embracing, so too is the all-encompassing outreach of the CWL.
Hughes truly knew what the designation, "Catholic" meant, he said. The early CWL, as with the CWL today, looked beyond its own needs to serve others.
Those first CWL members were ambitious women who established a hostel, volunteered to meet newcomers arriving on trains, visited hospitals and ran a free employment office.
"They began helping young immigrant women coming to Canada, teaching them the language and starting a business school. They started Rosary Hall, which was for girls who came into the country to work in the city or go to school," said Beatrice Salmon, a longtime CWL member.
Wherever they saw a need or were asked for help, those early members leaped in with both feet. Over the years, the majority of CWL work has continued in the social services area and in education. Efforts to support immigrant women continue today.
The league has presented resolutions to the government. In 1927, it asked for the closure of Communist schools in Canada and the deportation of Communist teachers. It also sought to foster the Girl Guides.
"We still help refugees, and we're involved in all kinds of charitable works. We've raised money for Development and Peace. Each council within the archdiocese does different things, charitable things. They pick a project, and that's what they get involved with," said Salmon.
While there has not been a steady influx of younger members, Salmon is optimistic the CWL will still be going strong 100 years from now.
"The members at the parish level are the backbone of the league. They conceive, organize and lead projects that are living demonstrations of faith, their belief and their desire to make the world a better place by offering support to individuals who need it," said Brown.
The variety of spiritual endeavours of the members is broad. In 1962, an increase in lay apostolic work was reported. The CWL prayed for vocations and for lapsed Catholics.
Throughout the years, many resolutions in response to societal needs were brought to the floor of diocesan convention. They supported such causes as northern development, urban sprawl, restrictions on waste of prime farmland and low-cost housing.
They fought against risqué TV programming and pornographic material on magazine shelves. Human rights and supporting vocations were also important to them. CWL members became the mainstay of the volunteers at food banks.
"We have to get new members, younger members, to take the reins because we have a lot of elderly members with us here today. I still honour them for all the work they've done," said Brown.
Lucia Clonfero agreed that a new generation of members is needed. Her daughter is a member, but like so many young people she is busy with her job and other commitments.
Clonfero herself was asked to join the CWL at a young age. "Somebody from the CWL asked me if I could come and help out in the kitchen. I joined and I'm still here 45 years later," said Clonfero.
Having the centennial Mass at the basilica was important for her. She was married in the basilica the day after arriving in Canada from Italy.
Another longtime CWL member is Jean Bara. Her mother, an active member, purchased her first membership when she was 16. She maintained her membership over the years, which kept her involved with other women in both the basilica and out in the community.
"We started out helping the immigrant women," said Bara. "The CWL has changed quite a bit since then. Now it's more helping at the women's shelters and Habitat for Humanity by making meals and we take them over. We can't pound nails, but we can do that."
Father Jim Corrigan, from St. Theresa's Parish, is the CWL's provincial spiritual advisor. He said that by virtue of our Baptism, we are called to be holy. He could not imagine a more apt vehicle for holiness than the CWL.
The organization has a profound ability to effect change in our society, Church and families, Corrigan said. With 100,000 voices strong, Parliament pays attention.
"One thing that has become very clear to me in my relatively short priesthood is that if you want to make something happen in the Church, make sure you have the Catholic Women's League and the Knights of Columbus on board, and things will go very well."
More than 1,000 CWL members from across Canada are expected for the national convention, held in Edmonton this August.


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The Daily Word:Limbaugh's losing more advertisers; Iraqi emo kids are getting stoned; Himalayan viagra
Firesign Theater's Peter Bergman died.
Vintage covers from lesbian pulp novels.
The first Santa Fe spice arrest.
Steven Seagal is being sued.
Another unexplained light phenomenon appeared over Phoenix.
Delicious sounding egg in an onion ring. *[8pm]original site is down because everyone wants to know how to make these delicious eggs.
The stoning of Iraqi emo kids has begun.
Rush Limbaugh and other conservative talk show hosts are losing advertisers faster than fleas jumping off a dead rat.
No cowbells or saxophones allowed under Nazi rules for jazz.
Watch this guy completely lose his shit over a role playing game.
Today is the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011.


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Eye disorder the focus of new clinical trial using highly touted CRISPR technology
Trial for gene-editing medication for Leber congenital amaurosis has potential to transform care.Read more >
Trial for gene-editing medication for Leber congenital amaurosis has potential to transform care.Read more >
August 29, 2019
Starting Jan. 1, 2020, doctors must use new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers instead of Health Insurance Claims Numbers on claims submission and eligibility transactions.Read more >
August 26, 2019
Not only does InfantSEE® set children up for a lifetime of healthy vision, but it also serves as a patient education tool and public health outreach initiative.Read more >
August 26, 2019
Online vision test removed from Visibly website after FDA publishes recall notice.Read more >
August 22, 2019
Beyond the tangible benefits of corrected vision, eye health and convenience, contact lens wearers also can experience greater social empowerment and self-esteem. AOA CLCS members offer up five tips for better communication during fittings.Read more >
August 21, 2019
By 2060, 1 in every 4 Americans will be 65 and older. Eye care is essential in this population and optometry has an opportunity to make a difference. Find resources and education to get involved.Read more >
August 20, 2019
Proposed payment model would have put burden solely on shoulders of doctors of optometryRead Now >>
Optometry diverted 206,000+ during COVID-19's March surgeRead Now >>
AOA, AOSA raise coronavirus, planning concerns as students prepare for boardsRead Now >>


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Restoring the Flugstodir website is underway. Lets begin with some raw material, a LOT of photographs of aviation history of Iceland. They are quite disorganized and lacking descriptive text, but that will improve over time. The website was in the past, used by Isavia, the official controller of airports and aviation in Iceland.
Here's an Icelandair flight I took from Billund Denmark to Iceland. A 757.
The view from back seats in the aircraft.
A lovely diagram of all the routes of IcelandAir.
I was in Billund airport for a few hours, before flying to Copenhagen, then Keflavik airport in Iceland. As you can see, the Billund terminal is not large. I actually missed a connection from Billund to Keflavik. IcelandAir is apparently famous for being on-time, meaning, they do not wait for delayed passengers.
Here's more pictures of the Billund terminal, taken from the taxiway.
So over to Copenhagen we flew, and stayed the night. Here's Copenhagen airport.
We stayed at the Hilton hotel attached to the airport, and from the hotel, there is this view of Terminal 3.
And viewed from a greater distance, you can appreciate the shape of terminal 3 is like a paper airplane shape. Airport architecture is the modern world's best place to show off curves and flight motifs.
This YouTube video of IcelandAir's Boeing 757 is really great.
There's a fun holiday story about how I ended up going through Iceland on my way home. I was in Berlin visiting the Berlin Aviation Museum (Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow) and on the way home, the Amsterdam airport was completely fogged in, and all flights cancelled. There was a crush of people in Berlin who needed to be rebooked.
The agent found a connection: Berlin Tegel airport to Billund, Billund to Keflavik, Keflavik to Edmonton. We were happy at first, actually happy anyway, even after we missed the connection, but the people in Billund were unhappy with KLM who sent people to a small airport with no hope of succeeding in a connection. I was happy because I got to visit Iceland and learn a lot about it's aviation history during the flight, and in the airport.
I first started being interested in flying when I was eight years old. My mom gave me a book about Amelia Earhart and the pages were illustrated with big fluffy clouds as she flew through the sky. Amelia was my childhood heroine, but I think more than that I liked the idea of aviation. I thought that flying would be something like being totally free. The idea of crashing never crossed my mind.
As the years went by, I pretty much forgot about my love of aviation. It was only in my twenties that I remembered that I had even had pretending to be a pilot as an actual hobby! I didn't have a lot going on in my life at the time – I had graduated as an English major two years before and had found exactly zero real jobs in my field. I had managed to find a job at a sandwich shop in my hometown and was toying with the idea of applying to grad school so maybe I could get hired as a teacher at a high school or something, which was already kind of a competitive market. Soon enough, I was in Iceland, and my hobby would save my life.
Bored and with no real prospects in my mid-twenties, I was desperate for something that would be stimulating. At the very least, I hoped it would be entertaining. Watching The Bachelor every week with my roommate was fun (not really), but I craved more. There had to be more than paying off my student loans, making rent, and >biking around town. I was living kind of healthy, kind of not, but was more or less bored of the same old routine. I would wake up in the morning, shower, go to work, come back and make dinner, then go to bed. It was all right, but the repetitive nature of it was starting to get to me.
That day I went to the library to return a few books. In the hallway, I stopped and saw a flier that was advertising private flying lessons. It was a bright pink poster with a photo of a little airplane on it that looked totally manageable. I grabbed one of the detachable chits from the flier and went onto the site to follow up. Everything seemed legit and I had a little bit of extra cash, so I figured why not? I'd let my childhood dreams stretch their wings and soar a little bit. What did I have to lose?
The first lesson was nerve wracking but totally fun. I couldn't believe that I was actually getting to go up in the air, and not just in a standard American Airlines boarding ticket kind of way. This was the real deal! I also started doing Weight Watchers at the same time, as I was a little over a healthy body weight for me and didn't want to hold onto those extra pounds and serious lack of body definition. All of a sudden, my life felt more fun. Getting up in the morning became exciting! Things were looking up.
I had so much confidence from my new adventures and my new physique that I decided to look into job opportunities abroad. I'd always wanted to travel and I wasn't in a relationship – nothing was holding me back. When I saw a full time job teaching English and tutoring in Iceland for six months, I jumped at the chance. Within the next fall, I decided to try out this new surgery for weight reduction, the best thing I have ever done.
With my healthy diet intact and my bags packed, three weeks later I was departing for Iceland airports. I planned to continue my lessons in Iceland, and if I couldn't do that, just read up on local customs and history. My lodgings were very nice, and I made plans to fly a plane for the next day.
The instructor Margie was actually American and very nice. We had a smooth ride, and when we came back down, she mentioned how she had to go to the doctor with her mother after this. "Breast cancer," Margie told me, a sad look on her face. "You have to check yourself, because by the time you get a mammogram, it may already have spread. Just like my mom."
Iceland was a land of beauty and mystery, of elements I had never felt or discovered. That night I checked in the shower. Everything seemed fine. The next day I did it again, thinking of planes and airports. That's when I found the lump.
I made an appointment to see a doctor and didn't sleep for about three days. When I got in, they did their best to reassure me. I kept looking at aircrafts on my phone and reading about Cessnas to stay calm in the waiting room. They said they'd call me with the results.
To make a long story short, me deciding to change my life actually saved it. A chance trip to Iceland, my history with flying, and a chance encounter all led to me checking myself out and getting evaluated as soon as possible. It was breast cancer, and my hobby meant catching it far earlier than I would have normally.
Five years later, I am breast cancer free and still flying. Thanks to Iceland and the people of its airports and flying lessons, I now have a lease on life that might have ran out years ago. I'm here because of my love of aviation as well as the fact that the universe works in mysterious ways. As for me? I'm not complaining.


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Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi-tool, Nylon Sheath
Rugged construction, spring loaded pliers, external locking tools and an extra grippy handle earn this tool its moniker: the Ultimate Multi-tool.
- Open Length: 6.3''
- Closed Length: 4.0''
- Weight: 8.8 oz.
- 12 Stainless Steel, Weather-Resistant Components
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Fine Edge Knife
- Serrated Knife
- Saw
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Small Flat Driver
- Medium Flat Driver
- Lanyard Ring
- Bottle Opener
- Can Opener
- Scissors
- Wire Cutters
- Ergonomic Textured Rubber Grip - Maximizes comfort and reduces slippage
- Spring loaded jaw for simplified single-hand use
- External components for easy access
- Patented Safe.T.Plus System - Enhanced safety by locking components into usage position
- Nylon Sheath - Lightweight, military-grade, mildew resistant
- Includes Land to air rescue instructions
- Priorities of Survival - Pocket guide contains Bear's survival essentials
Reviews Press
A werry goodayli tool in my job
Hi i am a 12 year old boy and for my birth day we had a bear grylls party where we had to camp out in the bush for 5 days and try to survive but i got the compact II and the ultimate survival kit for my bday so it was a breeze.i realy like the kits and the knifes but not so much the multitools
I love this tool, it's very handy in all kinds of situations. I backpakc every summer, in different countries in Europe, mostly in the Scandinavian countries and I use it all the time. A real must-have!
I had this tool during my year of army service. It's quite heavy, but it makes it feel very sturdy and durable; all the tools feel solid and very usable, especially the cutter and pliers are excellent. After a year of use the blade is still sharp, but sometimes I wished it to be a bit longer (4,6cm blade). The locking mechanism for the tools is great and easy to use, and you can flick the knives open just by using your thumb. Also the spring mechanism for the pliers is interesting, as you can see from the picture there is no external springs to open the pliers, instead it's mounted in the axel, which is nice.
The ergonomics for using the pliers is good; for the knives and other tools not so good, the handle widens towards the bladed end. Also the spring of the scissors might slip off, and the "thumb" of the can opener could be a bit sharper at the side of the can for better grip, I actually filed it to be like that.
I have to give a really big bonus for the stainless properties. It just doesn't get rust, it spent 2 weeks in outdoor rainfall conditions and it didn't even dim.
User tip: apply a drop of oil for tool locking springs and axels for smoother experience.
Just added this one to my collection of multi-tools. The features and ergonomics of the Ultimate Multi Tool are useful across a wide range of my daily activities, from work to sporting and leisure pursuits. I like having the ability to wear the pouch laterally along my belt, rather than hanging from it. It doesn't hang up on the car seat or get in the way of the seatbelt when worn that way, and it spans the space from one belt loop to the next just right, so it doesn't slide around. It's a keeper.
Great tool, very handy..this tool always in my pocket..
Am having problems with the scissors, feel the spring could be a bit longer, as it slips past when trying to use scissors, Hope that upgarded would be available. Otherwise I use this tool on a daily basis
The most sturdy, functional and useful multi-tool I have ever held, seen or imagined.
As well as just being extremely high quality in every aspect, there are a few simple things you that separate the tool from the other models:
First, having tools positioned so that they can be used both when the knife is open and closed is brilliant.
Second, the locking system is the best type I have ever seen and will never break.
Third, the pliers are sprung which is just amazing.
I would have payed well over £100!
i use it for everything. All componets work beautifully best tool ever. would recommend use to anyone. buy this tool.
i bought 2 hours ago tried using the scissors to mess with my mom she was just starting to knit something and just pulling out the yarn i was going to cut it with the scissors and they went under the spring witch happens every time i try em now not even letting them close all the way as well as like another guy stated going into the sheath catches the smaller pocket other than that amaxing so far and if they fix these problems i am hoping they may trade me for the fixed reissue model
I carry a multi-tool with me especially when I need it the most. This is the coolist tool that I have ever used. Very helpful and love all the tools on the unit.
Love this tool. Only has the tools that you need, not a bunch of unnecessary stuff. One problem that I found was the scissors slip under the spring so they do not function that well.
Beaiutiful, works so awesome, 5 stars. Can't wait to use it camping
got it just a couple days ago, so far works good. the tools are handy and I have already slit a ducks throat with this knife. the blade is sharp and the sheath is good... the only thing is that some times the pocket for the survival guide catches as you a
mi duda es para cuando tendran esta herramienta en stock me encanta y la estoy buscando por todos lados hace rato
Gerbers are heavy. You know you have it in your hands and they feel as tough as anything in your toolbox. And what converted me a decade or more ago was they seem to think about the user's experience in their design.


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Cricket live on Scoreboard.com - cricket scores, results, livescore, ladders and statistics. Scoreboard.com offers scores service from more than 30 cricket competitions from around the world. We provide Live Centre (detailed match statistics live) from Test series, ODI, T20I and major domestic competitions (e.g. Indian IPL T20, Australian Big Bash League, English NatWest T20 Blast). You'll find here not only live scores, partial results and final match results, but also lineups, player statistics, number of balls bowled, boundary fours, boundary sixes and run rate. Australian cricket competitions on Scoreboard.com: Sheffield Shield, Big Bash T20 League, Marsh One-Day Cup. Top cricket events in the 2019/2020 season: ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Australia 18.10.-15.11.
Help: Cricket score service on FlashScore.com offers cricket live scores from more than 50 domestic and international cricket competitions, providing also live commentary, player scorecards, team statistics, tournament standings and results archive. Our livescore service with cricket scores is real time, you don't need to refresh it. On FlashScore.com you can find live cricket scores from India (e.g. IPL live scores), United Kingdom (with County Championship, Vitality Blast T20 and Royal London One-Day Cup livescores), Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and international series scores.
Big Bash League 2019/2020 live on FlashScore.com.au! 17.12. Brisbane Heat - Sydney Thunder, 18.12. Sydney Sixers - Perth Scorchers, 19.12. Melbourne Renegades - Sydney Thunder, 20.12. Hobart Hurricanes - Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat - Melbourne Stars, 21.12. Sydney Thunder - Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers - Melbourne Renegades, 22.12. Melbourne Stars - Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers - Brisbane Heat, 23.12. Adelaide Strikers - Perth Scorchers, 24.12. Hobart Hurricanes - Melbourne Renegades, 26.12. Perth Scorchers - Sydney Sixers. Follow Big Bash League live scores, results, fixtures and Big Bash League standings.


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A watershed is an area of land that collects, stores and transports all forms of precipitation (rainfall and snow melt). A watershed is comprised of any or all of the following: streams, lakes, reservoirs, aquifers, estuaries, wetlands, or an ocean. The term is not restricted to surface water runoff and includes interactions with subsurface water. Watersheds vary from the largest river basins to just acres or less in size. A watershed's boundaries are typically formed by a geographic barrier or divide, such as areas of higher elevation. The term watershed is thought to derive from the German wasserscheide (wasser, water) and (scheide, boundary). The terms catchments and drainage basins are also used, sometimes interchangeably, with watersheds. A "closed watershed" is the term applied to a watershed whose flow generally remains within the boundaries of a watershed during typical hydrologic conditions. The term "open watershed" is used to indicate a watershed whose flow exits through an outlet of the watershed; for example a river draining to an ocean.
Watershed Ecology is the study of the structural and functional interrelationships among living organisms and the physical environment within a watershed. As water flows over the ground and along stream it can pick up nutrients, sediment, and pollutants. Like the water, these constituents are transported towards the outlet of the basin, and can affect the ecological processes within the flow path, as well as in the receiving water source. For example, modern usage of fertilizers, especially those containing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, may detrimentally affect the ecology of receiving water bodies.
Watershed Management is the active planning for and working toward an environmentally and economically healthy and ecologically sustainable watershed. Watershed Management Plans address issues pertaining to these matter; identifying projects, recommending actions, prioritizing projects, and estimating costs.
For More Information on Watersheds, please see Additional Links below.


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Melworks Beads - A Pioneer
Founded in 1998, Australia Beads is one of the oldest and the original online beads store trading as Melworks Beads. With our vast network of import partners and suppliers, Australia beads has been importing affordable fashion beads, beading & jewellery making accessories from around the world – from Peru to Czech Republic, India, China, Austria, Thailand, Kenya, Greece and Indonesia to name a few.
Keeping up with the latest fashion bead tends and jewellery making seasonal themes, you can source all your inspirational beads and jewellery making supplies here as over 80,000 customers around the globe and Australia can testify to our quality, variety and excellent service.
Low Prices!
Australia Beads has a wide range of beads (over 6000) ranging from handmade to designer beads, meticulously collected from around the globe to fulfil the needs of all the beading enthusiasts and jewelery making artists. The amazing quality of our designer beads is a testament and tribute to the amazing artists. .
Our designer beads include the intricately hand made Kashmiri and Indonesian beads also known as Lac beads. Stunning lampwork beads, artisan choice sterling silver beads with a 0.925 silver purity from Bali Indonesia, stunning array of colours as present in dichroice beads & pendants.
Sterling Silver
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Every Day Discounts
Check out our weekly promotions for amazing beads on hot items.
Huge dscounts offered on discontinuing lines of beads and special prices for in demand and seasonal fashion beads. Also check out our gift vouchers and special discount prices for wholesale purchases.
30-50% off Everyday
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High fashion looks at high street prices.
Tools & Accessories
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Melworks beads is one of the oldest and largest online beads store based in Melbourne, Australia.
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Posts Tagged 'Moby'
SXSW was insane. At my Future 15 presentation, I had the stage between Ben Relles, YouTube's Next New Networks founder, and Evan Spiridellis, Jib Jab Founder, and focused my talk on counting clicks for conversion and capitalizing on the moment of monetization. But I didn't shock the monkey until I called out a prediction that […]
Filed under: Digital Media Events | 1 Comment
Tags: (Greylock, 4chan, @ijustine, Aquent, Autotune The News, Bangles, Barry Diller, Ben Relles, Bob Geldof, Boomtown Rats, Boxer Rebellion, Chikita Violenta, Chris Poole, Comedy Central, Crackle, Creative Circus, Crowdtap, Dave Grohl, DeVotchKa, Dickies, Digg, Diggnation, Dragon Age Redemption, Dreaming In Stereo, Duran Duran, EA, Elvis Costello, Evan Spiridellis, Experimental Aircraft, Facebook, Fantasy Studios, Felicia Day, FM Belfast, Foo Fighters, Groupon, Hotel San Jose, I Heart Radio, In the Key of Awesome, James Blake, Jay Adelson, JetBlue, Jib Jab, Kayne, Lindsay Lohan, LinkedIn, Live Aid, Man Man, Mark Friedlander, Mark Gantt, Michael Cera, Mike Arrington, Mike Eisner, Mike Relm, Mister Heavenly, Moby, MTV, Neon Trees, Next New Netwrks, Obama Girl, OMD, Pandora, Pi Day, Pink Floyd, Power Plant, Pulse, QR, Radiohead, Rainn Wilson, Reflex, Reid Hoffman, Revision3, Rio, SAG New Media, Saul Zaentz, SCVNGR, Sean Parker, SecondMarket, Seth Priebatsch, Shane Dawson, SimpleGeo, Snoop Dogg, Sony, Spin, Spinner, Strokes, Stubbs, SXSW, The Bannen Way, The Bravery, The Guild, The Office, The Wall, Thrillist, Tom Conrad, Twitter, Vibe, Warner, Yo Gabba Gabba, YouTube, Yuck, Zazzle


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ARN Innovation Awards
In Pictures: 20 cars that drive themselves
20 Photos
Given that MIT in the US is now working on a safer prototype for autonomous vehicles, using communications technology to expand the cars' field of vision, these vehicles may make the leap from science fiction to reality sooner than previously thought. Driverless cars have already been legalised in California and Nevada, and Google says we'll see them on the road in five years. Here are the prototypes that have helped the industry get to this point.


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The tyres are all sourced from the local Australian market through our waste collection and sorting process.
We pack loose waste tyres, baled scrap tyres, as well as tyres with one cut.
Please contact us for a quote per ton, as the business tries constantly adjust to changing market prices.
We can quote FOB from the port of Brisbane, or CIF the port of your choice.


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Update: BibleWorks Executable (7.018n)
Date: 03/30/07 at 21:13:12
This patch contains the latest BibleWorks 7.0 program executable. Fixes some more problems caused by the changes made to support Arabic.
This is a NOT a preview version. No access code is needed to download this patch.
If you have problems with this update please post a reply to this message on the BibleWorks Forum in the Program and Database Updates section. If you post a response elsewhere we may not see it. Please do not use this section to post messages about anything but this update.


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The South East Retail email list is comprised of various decision makers in the Retail Industry within South East postcodes. The file details are as follows:
Job Roles include:
- Senior Decision Maker
- IT Management
- HR Management
- Sales Management
- Financial Management
- Marketing Management
- General Management
South East: MK, SG, CM, LU, AL, SS, SL, PO, ME, CT, TN, BN, RH, GU, SO, RG, HP, OX
More information about the South East Retail Email List
Updated: Monthly
Information supplied (where available):
Still have questions?
Call our team on 0843 886 9869 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to discuss your data requirements. If you have any questions about our South East Retail email list you can also check out our FAQ page which has some handy information about the data you can purchase directly from the Countrunner website.
Not quite what you were looking for? Take a look at the other Retail and South East email lists available to purchase on our site:
If you prefer, you have the ability to run your criteria on our entire database anytime. Take a look at our count engine here. Create an account for free and run as many data counts as you like, save them and purchase later. Data is available to download immediately after purchase so you can get your campaign running straight away.


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MONTREAL, June 16 (UPI) -- There's good news for the millions of people suffering from type 2 diabetes: researchers in Canada have recently demonstrated the potential of retinoic acid, a derivative of Vitamin A, in treating the disease and preventing its cardiovascular consequences.
Rates of both type 1 and 2 diabetes have been increasing in the U.S. and elsewhere over the last decade, rising to epidemic-like proportions. Health officials have never been more anxious for medical breakthrough.
Now, researchers at the University of Montreal and CHUM Research Centre may have found one.
"In obese and insulin resistant mice, retinoic acid reduces the risk of cardiac apoptosis, stimulates the expression of cardio-protective genes reduced by the disease, and protects against the accumulation of collagen in the cardiac muscle, thus avoiding the occurrence of fibrosis and possible associated future complications," explained lead researcher Daniel-Constantin Manolescu.
"Blood glucose, insulin resistance, body weight, and adipocyte size were significantly decreased in treated animals," added Manolescu.
"Our research identifies new metabolic effects of retinoids and may lead to anti-obesity and anti-diabetic medicines," confirmed co-author of the new research, Dr. Jean-Louis Chiasson.
Type 2 diabetes, in which the body still makes insulin but is unable to use it properly, is the most common kind of diabetes; it is also the type most directly related to obesity.
The study was published earlier this year in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, and the two researchers presented their findings earlier this month at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Nutrition Society in Saint John's, Newfoundland.


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(Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co said on Friday it expects profit in 2013 to increase by more than Wall Street had been forecasting, primarily due to cost controls and improved productivity.
Lilly, whose shares were up nearly 4 percent on Friday, said 2013 sales will be flat to a bit higher, despite the loss of patent on its $5 billion-a-year antidepressant, Cymbalta, in December.
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker is coming off a particularly difficult 2012 when sales declined sharply because of competition from cheaper generics.
It expects 2013 earnings to increase to $3.75 to $3.90 per share excluding items, from a forecast of $3.30 to $3.40 per share in 2012. In 2011, its adjusted earnings were $4.41 per share.
Analysts on average forecast earnings of $3.71 for 2013 and $3.36 per share for 2012, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
"Overall, it was better than anyone expected," said Barclays Capital analyst Tony Butler. "From an earnings perspective, no one believed that operating expenses would be kept in check."
Morningstar analyst Damien Conover said, "They're cutting costs at a pace that's maybe a little quicker than people were anticipating, and that was one of the reasons for the outperformance in their guidance."
The company said 2013 net profit would benefit from a tax credit that had been pushed into this year because of the late signing of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 - the legislation that prevented the so-called fiscal cliff.
The company said it is not sure yet of the amount of the tax credit, which is related to research and development accounting, and said it would provide more information during its January 29 earnings conference call. Lilly said it excluded the impact from all of its financial guidance.
Similar uncertainty could face other drugmakers, as well as other corporate sectors with extensive research budgets, such as technology and defense. However, "It could be resolved by the time everybody else reports," Butler said of the pharmaceutical industry. "We've got another three weeks before anyone reports."
Lilly said the adjusted earnings forecast also excludes payment and income for revenue sharing with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co's Amylin unit on Byetta, a diabetes drug, and restructuring charges. Lilly severed ties with Amylin when it agreed to collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim on diabetes drug development.
Lilly forecast 2013 revenue of $22.6 billion to $23.4 billion, driven by sales of its drugs for diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, erectile dysfunction and animal health. The company said it also expects significant revenue growth from Japan and emerging markets, such as China.
Analysts are looking for 2013 revenue of $22.82 billion.
While Cymbalta is not expected to start facing generic competition until the end of the year, the company cautioned that sales declines could begin sooner if wholesalers start to reduce inventory supplies prior to the patent expiration.
As a result, it said, the fourth quarter could look significantly different than the first three.
Lilly has already been battered by generic competition for its once top-selling schizophrenia drug, Zyprexa, and will face generic competition for its $1 billion-a-year Evista osteoporosis drug in early 2014.
But help is on the way. Lilly said it now has 13 drugs in late-stage testing, the most at any one time in its history. It could seek approvals this year for drugs for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, gastric cancer and for a type of lymphoma.
Chief Financial Officer Derica Rice told analysts on a conference call that the company was firmly focused on replenishing the developmental pipeline. "This is our future and it's our first priority."
The company also vowed to maintain its dividend payout and complete its share repurchase plan.
"Lilly has financially done a really good job. Obviously, you need the pipeline to come through," said Barclay's Butler, adding that positive late-stage data on ramucirumab in breast cancer could signal an important new product for Lilly. The drug is also in late-stage testing for the smaller gastric cancer market.
Other key events for Lilly in 2013 include the start of a new Phase III trial of solanezumab in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease after an earlier study failed but showed some signs of hope for the memory-robbing condition, and an August trial challenging a method of use patent on the $3 billion-a-year lung cancer drug Alimta.
Should Lilly prevail in court, the company could have patent protection on the medicine into 2022 even though the basic patent lapses in 2016.
Asked if the company would consider settling the case before it comes to trial, Phil Johnson, Lilly's vice president for investor relations, said: "Nothing is off the table, but we have not historically entered into those kinds of agreements."
Eli Lilly shares were up 3.8 percent at $51.60 on Friday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange.
Reporting By Bill Berkrot and Caroline Humer; editing by Grant McCool, Jilian Mincer and Matthew Lewis


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Run To The Coast 2013
Special Coverage For the Guys Who Like Performance
In the past, CLASSIC TRUCKS would probably look at an event such as Run to the Coast as something that was over the top for our readers. But just like anything, I wanted to push the limit of what is considered too far. Anyone who has been following any of my tech stories knows that I'm building a truck that is streetable, but has the ability to have fun on the autocross. The most important thing to me is that the truck is driven on the street, and autocross becomes the second priority.
So in a nutshell it's not a full-on race truck, but it does have stuff that some people would categorize as in between. Big Wilwood brakes and RideTech shocks can also be used on the average street-driven truck, and besides that, they look great. So if you're into performance, like drag racing, autocross, and road racing, this might be an event for you. OK, you may not like to flog your truck around a track, but do you watch NASCAR, Indy, or any other form of racing? Well then, this is very similar in format.
The event is held twice a year at the former El Toro Marine base in Irvine, California, and put on by the boys at American Street Car Series. You may have seen some of these familiar faces on the Speed Channel show called "R U Faster Than a Red Neck." Bill Howell, Yanci D. Johns, and Brian Finch collectively put on a great format for American cars and trucks to test what our creations are capable of. At the beginning of the year, the event is called Run to the Coast, and at the end of the year it is called Return to the Coast.
The format is simple in that you are competing against a clock either for your personal best time or compete to beat your friends. In our case we were competing against a few other trucks, but for the most part I was trying to see how many cars I could be faster than. Trucks don't look like they can handle, but when you stack them up with some really impressive cars they do alright. Unlike a Goodguys event where there is only one track, RTTC has a speed stop challenge, autocross, and a road course where each driver's vehicle will have about two hours to compete per track.
Speed stop challenges work like this: drag race for about 1,000 yards and hard on the brakes for a left-hand 180 into a slalom course, then to stop in a box. Hit a cone and it adds a second to your time; miss the stop box and you are disqualified for that run. Sounds easy right? I can tell you that watching makes it look easy, but miss your first left hander because you didn't brake in time to make the corner and your time will suffer. Hit a cone on the slalom and wonder what you did wrong till the next run.
Autocross is very similar to the Goodguys events except we are on an empty runway so the track is way longer and can be set up to be very challenging in spots. Think you have it down and then end up hitting a cone or going to fast for the next turn and again your time will suffer.
Road course this is where you must have your act together because this is no longer at the average Joe's level of driving. Unlike the autocross or speed stop challenge this is where the speeds can reach 100-plus mph. What is fun for some might be slightly intimidating to others and that includes myself. I'm no professional road race-car driver; I only pretend to be in my head. So if you are not sure about the road course speeds then don't do it until you get more practice on the smaller and safer autocrosses.