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It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm David Greene.
And I'm Renee Montagne.
It's been mostly quiet in Egypt today. The military is still looking to arrest more leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood on charges of inciting violence. And the political struggle continues over who will run the country. Much of the public fury that provoked last week's ouster of President Mohamed Morsi was fueled by the country's poor economic conditions. With Morsi out, expectations are high that foreign aid and investment will return; that the economy will turn around and, for average Egyptians, the lights will stay on.
NPR's Leila Fadel sent this report.
LEILA FADEL, BYLINE: As soon as Morsi was overthrown by Egypt's military, the stock market shot up. And the money from wealthy Gulf States started flowing. The United Arab Emirates pledged a $3 billion aid package, Saudi Arabia five billion, and Kuwait followed with four billion to jumpstart the crippled economy.
It was a quick turnaround from the wealthy Gulf nations, especially for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who'd viewed the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Morsi belongs, as a threat to their own undemocratic leadership.
HANY GENENA: Both countries are not really comfortable with a movement that may threaten their own stability, as well. So once the Muslim Brothers were out of the scene, it returns to normal basically. They started to cooperate again with the military-backed government.
FADEL: That's Hany Genena, the chief economist at Pharos Holding, a Cairo-based investment firm. He adds that it's likely that Qatar's aid will now peter out. The island Gulf nation had been a huge backer of the Brotherhood and other Islamists, who'd risen up following the 2011 revolts that swept through the region. But it's been losing ground to its Saudi rival and bet heavily on Morsi.
Genena says that Morsi's ouster is great news for the economy. By all indications, he says, things are picking up.
GENENA: Investors are extremely optimistic.
FADEL: In the streets, that same optimism is rampant among the many Egyptians who opposed Morsi's leadership.
FADEL: At a gas station in central Cairo, Mohsen Fahmy waits to fill up his tank. But today, there is no line stretching for blocks.
MOHSEN FAHMY: (Foreign language spoken)
FADEL: Everything is available now, he says.
Almost overnight, the power cuts and diesel shortages that have plagued Egypt are mysteriously gone. Analysts say it's a sign of just how uncooperative the entrenched anti-Brotherhood bureaucracy was when Morsi was in power. And now that he is out of power, billionaire Egyptian businessmen, like Naguib Sawiris, say they're ready to put money back in Egypt.
Sawiris has long been an outspoken critic of Morsi, and made his fortune under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
NAGUIB SAWIRIS: People like us who have held back for two years will come back now and we will start with ourselves. We won't wait for others to come. Because if the Egyptians don't invest in their own country, who's going to believe in their country?
FADEL: But not everyone is so optimistic. The country is more polarized then it's ever been and people fear more unrest. Morsi's supporters continue mass protests demanding his reinstatement.
At a Cairo vegetable market, Um Ahmed picks out eggplants for dinner.
UM AHMED: (Foreign language spoken)
FADEL: We feel worried. We feel threatened, she says. Every day, we hear people are dead, thousands are wounded. We just want peace and safety.
And the excitement will likely wear off, says Michael Wahid Hanna of the Century Foundation.
MICHAEL WAHID HANNA: There's clearly at the moment a kind of irrational exuberance
FADEL: The underlying economic problems are still here, Hanna says; a wasteful subsidy system that needs to be reformed, rising unemployment and corruption that stifles competitive markets. All of these issues that plagued the Morsi government will also confront whoever comes next.
Leila Fadel, NPR News, Cairo. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

subset: commoncrawl


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Winning the Olympic gold medal, for one.
And winning it with a trick so outrageous, he named it the "Holy Crail."
The 20-year-old American jetted off the first big jump of the slopestyle course Saturday and propelled himself into a helicopter twirl that whirred around for four-and-a-half rotations. While in the air, he grabbed the back of his board and flexed his legs behind his back.
Kotsenburg landed the jump cleanly. The fans in the mostly full stands, knowing they had seen something completely new in a completely new Olympic sport, let out a huge gasp.
On the strength of a trick that will officially go down as a "1620 Japan Air Mute Grab," the kid from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and known as "Second Run Sage" posted a winning score of 93.5 on his first run.
Nobody in the 12-man field of finalists could top him. Kotsenburg put the first gold medal of the Sochi Games into the "USA" column. Soon after, he and the other medalists, Staale Sandbech of Norway and Mark McMorris of Canada, were hugging, body-slamming and turning their sport's "Kiss and Cry" zone into a mosh pit.
"I kind of do random stuff all the time, never make a plan up," Kotsenburg said. "I had no idea I was even going to do a 1620 in my run until three minutes before I dropped. It's kind of what I'm all about."
Kotsenburg's jump was the high point of yet another sunny, windless day at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. Combining all that, along with a bit of half-expected, half-legitimate griping about the judging, made it easy to forget that Shaun White had pulled out of this event before qualifying, complaining about the toughness of the course.
White, one of the most cutting-edge innovators in the game, was practicing on the halfpipe below when Kotsenburg landed a trick nobody had seen in a bona fide contest.
"Never even tried it before," Kotsenburg said. "Never, ever tried it in my life."
Despite the excitement of that trick, there was some head-scratching going on elsewhere.
Sandbech, McMorris and Winter X Games champion Max Parrot were among those who threw the much-ballyhooed triple cork, which is three head-over-heels flips - considered way more dangerous and athletic and presumed to be the must-have trick to win the first Olympic gold in this sport's history.
Kotsenburg never tried one.
There are, of course, seven or eight tricks in every run - boxes to jump on, rails to ride over and even the option to jump over the giant Russian nesting doll near the top of the course. Splashes and bobbles on any of them can cost precious points.
But rider after rider came off the course and concluded that Kotsenburg's win symbolized a shift in the sport; that judges are looking for more technical moves with so-called style rather than a simple gymnastics meet on the snow.
"I think definitely Mark and Staale did some runs that should've scored higher. Sage had some really creative stuff. But whatever," said Canada's Sebastien Toutant, who finished ninth. "They're all homeys. They deserved it. The sport is getting judged by humans and life goes on."
Sandbech celebrated his clean triple cork at the bottom by swan diving into the snow.
The crowd loved it. The judges only gave it a 91.75.
"It was kind of hard from the start to know what the judges were awarding for," he said.
As recently as a month ago, McMorris was considered a favorite to win the gold, whether White showed up at the contest or not.
But he broke a rib after slamming into a rail during the finals of the Winter X Games two weeks ago. There was some thought he'd wear a Kevlar vest to protect himself, but no.
He thought his run might get a higher mark than the 88.75 he received. Didn't happen.
Then, he was sure he'd been knocked off the podium when Parrot, also from Canada, went last and also landed the triple. Parrot finished fifth.
"If you ride the best you can ride, and you're satisfied with that, the rest is up to the judges," McMorris said. "To be honest, that's the least of my worries. I'm just really, really thankful, from where I was two weeks ago, to be on the podium."
Kotsenburg is, too.
When he was a kid, he went to snowboarding camp in Oregon and Mike Jankowski, the coach there and now the coach of the U.S. team, tried to coax kids away from the big features and over to the halfpipe, where the fundamentals are taught.
Wasn't so easy with this kid. He always wanted to do the jumps.
"For Sage, that's what he's about," Jankowski said. "It's keeping snowboarding fun, whether the judges like his run, whether he gets a high score or a low score."
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If the GOP can't figure out how to use this, it is truly pathetic. But what would work better — defining and promoting the conservative brand or signaling moderation? Looking at the last election, I'd say: Be forthrightly conservative. Tell us what it is and stand by it. You only need to win over less than a third of the moderates: Convince us it's better to trust conservatives than liberals. The Obama administration and Congress are giving you so much material to work that theme.
Even divided by gender,"liberal" comes in last:
Oh, but we women do have that urge toward moderation — toward fence-straddling and splitting the difference that makes you men think we lack intellectual development.
Let me call your attention to my old "How McCain Lost Me" post. I analyzed what tipped me toward Obama, and one of my 4 reasons was: "[McCain] never defined himself as a principled conservative." Think about it.


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A new front for gun background checks: the ballot
Proponents of background checks for gun sales are exploring ballot options
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- After struggling to sway both state and federal lawmakers, proponents of expanding background checks for gun sales are now exploring whether they will have more success by taking the issue directly to voters.
While advocates generally prefer that new gun laws be passed through the legislative process, especially at the national level, they are also concerned about how much sway the National Rifle Association has with lawmakers.
Washington Rep. Jamie Pedersen, a Democrat who had sponsored unsuccessful legislation on background checks at the state level, said a winning ballot initiative would make a statement with broad implications.
"It's more powerful if the voters do it — as opposed to our doing it," Pedersen said. "And it would make it easier for the Legislature to do even more."
On Monday, proponents of universal background checks in Washington will announce their plan to launch a statewide initiative campaign that would require the collection of some 300,000 signatures, according to a person involved in the initiative planning who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt the official announcement.
The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility has scheduled a fundraiser in Seattle at the end of next month and hopes to have a campaign budget in the millions of dollars.
Ballot measures may be an option elsewhere, too. Hildy Saizow, president of Arizonans for Gun Safety, said an initiative is one of the things the group will be considering as it reconsiders strategies. An organizer in Oregon was focused on the Legislature for now but wouldn't rule out a ballot measure in the future if lawmakers fail to pass a proposed bill there.
While advocates have had recent success on background checks in places like Connecticut and Colorado, they've been thwarted in some other states and in Congress. The U.S. Senate rejected a plan to expand background checks earlier this month, although lawmakers in the chamber are still working to gather additional votes.
Brian Malte, director of mobilization at the national nonprofit lobbying group Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said passage through Congress is the ideal in order to have a national solution and so that states with strong gun laws aren't undermined by nearby states with weaker standards. He noted that initiative campaigns are costly endeavors that can drain important, limited resources.
Still, Malte said, the ballot measures are an option to consider.
"At some point, certainly decisions need to be made about what the right time is to say we take it to the people," Malte said.
Brian Judy, a lobbyist who represents the NRA in Washington state, did not return calls seeking comment about the new initiative. He has previously said the NRA would likely oppose such an effort, arguing that the recently proposed laws on background checks would largely impact law-abiding citizens instead of the intended targets such as criminals and the mentally ill.
Gun measures have had mixed results at the ballot. More than 70 percent of Washington state voters rejected a 1997 initiative campaign that would have required handgun owners to pass a safety course. After the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, voters in Colorado and Oregon approved ballot measures the next year to require background checks for buying weapons at gun shows.
Following another massacre in Colorado earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a bill to expand background checks to private transactions and online purchases. A similar expansion plan in Oregon is stalled in the state Senate.
Some states don't see initiatives as a viable option right now. In Missouri, state Rep. Stacey Newman has been pushing for background checks with little success. While she spoke positively about the idea of a ballot initiative, she said there's no serious consideration of it because of the cost and coordination required just to get it on the ballot. Instead, the supporters of background checks in the state are simply working to prevent NRA-supported legislation from passing the state's General Assembly.
"We're continually on defense," she said.
Gun buyers currently must undergo a background check when they purchase a weapon from a federally licensed firearms dealer but can avoid checks in most states by using private purchases, such as at gun shows.
Washington state advocates believe polls show the public is sufficiently on the side of expanding background checks further. An independent Elway Poll conducted two months ago found that 79 percent of registered voters in Washington state supported background checks on all gun sales, including private transactions.
That wasn't enough to shepherd the bill through the Legislature. Even in the state House, which is controlled by Democrats, supporters fell short after an NRA campaign put pressure on some lawmakers. Pedersen had offered concessions through the process, including the option of sending the measure out for a public vote and exemptions for people who already have concealed pistol licenses or law enforcement credentials.
Pedersen said he was working with the initiative organizers on language for the proposal, and he said the Legislature would first have another chance to adopt the measure early next year. If it fails among lawmakers again, the proposal would then automatically go to the ballot, where Pedersen said he welcomed a campaign competing against groups like the NRA.
"I'm not afraid of it at all," Pedersen said. "The public is really with us. It's the right policy. I think it can be useful for further progress."
AP Writer Mike Baker can be reached on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/HiPpEV


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If your truck has become damaged or stalled on the road due to a breakdown or collision in Greenwich, you will certainly need professionals to help you sort out a Towing Truck in Greenwich to reach the destination. Jrop is specialized in truck towing and Auto Transport Service in Greenwich and is always ready to assist you in any emergency bus or Coach Recovery Situation in Greenwich. At Jrop our Heavy Winching Equipment and specially designed tow trucks in Greenwich can salvage your vehicle within a reasonable time frame for an affordable price anywhere. Heavy-duty tow trucks are equipped with under-reach and Wheel-Lift Technology, making them proficient at providing high-powered, Damage-Free Towing in Greenwich.
Towing a car can be difficult to attempt on your own if you do not have the right equipment or a powerful enough Towing Vehicle in Greenwich, so do not risk further damage to your car by trying to tow it yourself. The Professional Car Towing Service in Greenwich at Jrop welcomes you to sort out your trouble of towing your car. Jrop is the largest, best-equipped heavy haulage and Tow Truck Company in Greenwich. We are 24/7 available to help with towing a car and Junk Car Removal in Greenwich. Jrop provides a fast, affordable, friendly, and reliable car towing service in Greenwich.
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We ask that you allow up to 30 minutes for the towing service provider to arrive though we typically arrive in under 30 minutes from the request.


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Brewed with our own malt, rice, noble hops and the most appropriate lager yeast, behold: Divine Wind! A dry lager. Only our 5th beer to not be dry hopped!
The colour of pale lager ranges from light bronze to nearly transparent and the alcohol anywhere from 4-6%. Adjunct usage may be quite high, though in some cases the beer is all-malt. Carbonation is typically forced, though not always. One thing that doesnt vary is that neither the malt nor the hops make much of an impression on the palate. These beers are brewed for minimum character, though faint traces of hop or malt may show through. More likely though is that adjuncts like corn will show through, or youll find notes of higher alcohols (fuel notes) due to the use of high-gravity brewing. The body will be thin and watery, and the finish is typically non-existent.


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Meningitis outbreak toll: 338 cases, 25 deaths
An outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled.
Latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Illnesses: 338, including seven joint infections. Deaths: 25.
States: 18; Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.


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The mystery surrounding the death of a rare white buffalo and the claim by some Lakota Sioux in Texas that it had been killed by other Native Americans deepened Tuesday. A local sheriff announced that investigators believe the animal died of a bacterial disease and said the case is now closed.
We first posted about the death of Lightning Medicine Cloud in May. A white bison (the more accurate word to use) is considered sacred by many Native Americans. Arby Little Soldier, the owner/operator of the Lakota Ranch where Lightning Medicine Cloud was being raised, had said the animal was found slaughtered and skinned on April 30. He later went on to claim he had evidence that the animal was killed by members of another Native American tribe.
But as our colleagues at KETR report, Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said Tuesday that "it is our belief that Lightning Medicine Cloud and Buffalo Woman [the mother] died of natural causes. ... Information obtained during the investigation indicated many of the signs and symptoms exhibited by the buffalo are similar to a bacterial disease that we know as blackleg."
According to the station, the sheriff also said "authorities have photographs indicating Lightning was not skinned."
"The photographs depict skin and hair on the remains," Meeks said. "The veterinarian advised there was a lot of skin that was still left on the remains."
KETR adds that, "according to Meeks, the Sheriff's Office responded to the Lakota Ranch concerning the deaths on May 3. He told reporters that Lightning Medicine Cloud was deceased at least six days and buried for three days prior to their notification."
Meeks said the case is now closed. "Should further evidence surface in the future that would indicate that the deaths were not natural we will gladly reopen the case," he added.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Crime Time blog adds that Little Soldier "could not be reached for comment Tuesday." The Little Soldier family has previously posted "facts for all viewers, supporters, friends, mourners, and interested persons." That webpage includes this statement: "There was not an insurance policy on Lightning Medicine Cloud."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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By now, you all know that the Creation "Museum" has plans to build what they think will be a full-size replica of the mythical Noah's Ark, in order to fleece the drooling, uneducated rubes, of whom there are an unlimited supply. Setting aside exactly how he knows this replica will be authentic (hey, maybe the original had racing stripes — were you there?), it occurs to me that this could be a prime opportunity to do some actual science.
The first thing that should be done is that the ship should not have any modern construction methods brought to bear. The whole thing must be assembled by one old man (it's unlikely we'll find a 600-year old, but we'll split the difference and hire a septuagenarian) using nothing but pitch and hand tools. (Gen. 6:14) Next, assemble all the animals as described in Genesis, and tow the monstrosity out into the middle of the Atlantic, where it will be left for ten months without any resupplying while all of the animals are cared for by a crew of four men and four women inhabiting a grand total of three decks. Assuming the ship floats at all, we'll see who's alive at the end of that time. Deal?
Oh, what's that? This isn't a scientific enterprise at all, but a theme attraction? But gosh, isn't the whole sales pitch of Answers in Genesis that science is really on their side? What a fine, fine opportunity to make a real experiment out of all this. Just think of the look on that crusty old fellow Dawkins' face when it's all been proved! He'll be crying into his tea and scones, the blighter! Praise Jesus.
You know, take a minute to think of what $24.5 million would mean to — oh, take your pick. Research in childhood leukemia. Feeding the homeless. Getting people clean and sober and helping them with job training. Christians go on and on about how much more they're about the milk of human kindness and charity than anyone else. I don't see anyone being helped by this at all, except Ken Ham and Ken Ham's checking account. Like so many in the evangelical world, he plays multiple choice with his holy book.


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Thursday, December 23, 2010
Lemon-Mint Snap Peas with Lima Beans or Edamame
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I was asked to bring a salad to a cold buffet last week. Knowing that winter salads won't please everyone, I decided to make one that was fresh and green and to my own liking. I didn't expect all of it to be eaten and had hoped for leftovers to bring home for my own table. As it happened, I was surprised and disappointed. The salad was actually well received and there were no leftovers to bring home. The recipe for it originally appeared in Eating Well magazine and it's one I make several times a year. I love the play of mint against the crunchy texture of the crisp peas and beans. It really does refresh the palate. This is very easy to assemble and if you need another salad for your roster, you might want to give this one a try. Its color is perfect for a holiday table. Here's how it is made.
Lemon-Mint Snap Peas with Lima Beans or Edamame...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Eating Well magazine
1 small shallot, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed
10 ounces frozen baby lima beans or edamame, thawed
Optional: Sea Salt for garnish
1) Whisk shallot, oil, lemon juice, mint, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
2) Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Steam snap peas and lima beans (or edamame) until peas are crisp-tender and beans are heated through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Toss with the vinaigrette. Chill. Serve cold or at room temperature. Sprinkle with sea salt just before serving. Yield: 8 servings.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Edamame-Bean Summer Salad - Roast Duck and a Big Gooey Cake
Potato and Green Bean Salad - Niya's World
Asian Infused String Bean Salad - Are You Hungry?
Two French Green Bean Salads - Sense and Serendipity
White Bean Salad - Easy and Tasty Food
Roasted Corn, Lima Bean and Feta Salad - The Guilty Kitchen
Warm Quinoa Salad with Edamame and Lemon-Tarragon Dressing - One Perfect Bite
Corn Salad with Edamame and Tomatoes - One Perfect Bite
40 comments :
- Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...
ooh wow Mary! simply beautiful! i would love to make this! =)
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons - December 23, 2010 at 12:26 AM
- Kelly said...
That is awesome that you made a salad that was such a runaway hit. And it looks like it is with good reason, the flavors sound delicious and well balanced.
- December 23, 2010 at 12:28 AM
- Unknown said...
The sald looks so inviting and loaded with beautiful flavours...:)
http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/ - December 23, 2010 at 12:36 AM
- Jeannie said...
Love the colours of this salad and I love edamame beans, mixed with lemon mint snap peas I can imagine the taste must be really refreshing and tasty!
- December 23, 2010 at 12:56 AM
- tinyskillet said...
What a perfect dish. I like how you were happy it was well received and yet disappointed that it was gone! I would love this salad, and hey...I have some fresh mint growing in my garden! Perfect!
- December 23, 2010 at 1:01 AM
- Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...
Mary, this look so beautiful and I bet it taste good and healthy too. Wishing a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to you and all at home.
- December 23, 2010 at 1:18 AM
- cocoa and coconut said...
Looks bright and healthy! I love lima beans, but are only able to get the frozen version. Thanks for sharing Mary!
- December 23, 2010 at 1:37 AM
- SKIP TO MALOU said...
i love the way it looks... this salad is refreshing during this party laden season.
merry christmas mary!
malou - December 23, 2010 at 2:02 AM
- Ginny Hartzler said...
I don't think I have ever tasted fresh mint, except in tea. That would be a good crisp, fresh combination. I commented very late on youe last post, hope you saw it.
- December 23, 2010 at 2:08 AM
- ♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...
A very good salad truly!!
Love the vibrant colors and the deliciously delightful dressing!
Happy hols with love! - December 23, 2010 at 3:18 AM
- Red Nomad OZ said...
Sounds more like an Aussie summer salad than a northern winter one!! Perfect for me! Thanx again for your visits to, and encouraging comments on my blog this year, AND ... all the fab recipes, of course!!
Happy travels!! - December 23, 2010 at 3:18 AM
- Katerina said...
Very beautiful salad Mary. It is ideal for a bouffet gathering where you need easy to assemble, well-received dishes.
- December 23, 2010 at 3:39 AM
- Alessandra said...
This looks like the perfect salad for me Mary, and I love edamame :-)
- December 23, 2010 at 3:45 AM
- Priya Suresh said...
Simply yummy..fabulous and catchy salad..
- December 23, 2010 at 5:09 AM
- Big Dude said...
Mary - your dishes are always so creative. I'm going to have to give edamame a try. Have a Merry Christmas.
- December 23, 2010 at 5:32 AM
- Unknown said...
All the beans I love in one bowl. The dressing must be so refreshing. yum. Have a great day. Michael
- December 23, 2010 at 5:38 AM
- Unknown said...
I love the green color..it's a beautiful dish!! I bet it tastes wonderful.
- December 23, 2010 at 7:59 AM
- Cathy said...
This would be beautiful on my buffet table tomorrow. The lemon and mint would really brighten up the veggies.
Happiest holiday wishes to you and your family, Mary. - December 23, 2010 at 8:36 AM
- Jen_from_NJ said...
I would have been disappointed by the lack of leftovers too! I love the combination of lemon and mint. What a great winter salad Mary!
- December 23, 2010 at 9:42 AM
- A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...
Hey Mary! This is a gorgeous and healthy dish!
- December 23, 2010 at 9:54 AM
- Maria said...
Love this side dish! Happy Holidays Mary!
- December 23, 2010 at 10:21 AM
- Pam said...
Very colorful and good Mary! Here's wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
- December 23, 2010 at 10:25 AM
- Sushma Mallya said...
Very healthy and delicious dish, looks fresh...and merry xmas to you and your family mary,take care and enjoy...
- December 23, 2010 at 10:29 AM
- StephenC said...
Another home run, Mary. I've bookmarked this for sometime very soon.
- December 23, 2010 at 10:35 AM
- Pondside said...
My daughter introduced me to edamame beans and we all like them now. This does look like a refreshing salad - love the mint!
- December 23, 2010 at 10:38 AM
- Kathy Walker said...
Yum...looks amazing and totally healthy!
- December 23, 2010 at 11:25 AM
- Torviewtoronto said...
delicious greens looks wonderful
happy holidays - December 23, 2010 at 11:51 AM
- PeggyR said...
Looks like another wonderful recipe! Have a blessed holiday.
- December 23, 2010 at 12:05 PM
- Banana Wonder said...
I love the green-mint-lemony combination you got going on here. If I was at this party, I would no doubt be scooping up huge heaps of this salad. Thanks for the recipe - I will have to make this soon!
- December 23, 2010 at 12:14 PM
- Lyndas recipe box said...
Looks delicious Mary; I can see why there was none left.
I hope you and your family have a very happy and blessed Christmas! - December 23, 2010 at 12:57 PM
- Receitas para a Felicidade said...
Look´s greats this salad, Mary.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and for your family. kisses. - December 23, 2010 at 1:44 PM
- Ushnish Ghosh said...
Dear Mary
Very nice recipe ..but I dont think I will get all the ingredients here in Dehli..
I will be travelling to SundarBan, and will miss many postings..
Merry Christmas and wish you a very Happy New year... - December 23, 2010 at 1:56 PM
- Joanne said...
I bet a fresh flavored salad like this was such a nice palate pleaser among the heavier buffet fare. I always like to see something green on the table!
- December 23, 2010 at 2:45 PM
- hobby baker Kelly said...
Mmmmm, it looks so refreshing and crispy and so wonderfully NOT sweet. I get kind of sweeted out this time of year making tons of goodies for everyone. This salad looks wonderful, I'd probably eat it all on my own for lunch!
- December 23, 2010 at 4:51 PM
- Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...
Wow! This is gorgeous... loving all the green!
Delightful Bitefuls - December 23, 2010 at 5:16 PM
I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.
God Bless You :-)
~Ron - December 23, 2010 at 5:32 PM
- bunny The Paris House said...
Love the color and mostly the healthy ingredients...I actually have been craving healthy food this holiday season and trying to eat food that gives me energy and not too much sugar...this is perfect and I will file it away on my computer and definitely make this.
Have a very Merry Christmas
Bunny - December 23, 2010 at 6:34 PM
- Linda Starr said...
The addition of the lemon and mint sounds delicious, funny how a few ingredients can make a world of difference.
- December 23, 2010 at 7:02 PM
- Eileen said...
Hi Mary,
Just wanted to stop by and wish you a Merry Christmas! Thanks for all your inspiration this year. Hope your holidays are happy. - December 23, 2010 at 11:48 PM
- Lisa Thornbury said...
You had me at edamame. Delish. Will be making this soon! Thanks. :)
- December 26, 2010 at 10:45 PM


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For those of us who love our cars and their unique looks, it can be a nightmare when we are faced with a nasty scratch, scuff or even dent – which is why local car paintwork repair in Ford Forge TD12 4 is all the more sought after.
Many people may be tempted to leave a small or insignificant scratch if it isn't posing any particular problems – but it stands to reason that the longer a cosmetic issue is left for, the more hassle it may provide further along the line.
Scratches, dents and scuffs can get worse over time in some cases, and if you ever need to value or sell your car, even the slightest paintwork problem could put prospective buyers and car experts in Ford Forge off.
Why risk leaving paintwork repairs to the very last minute? The moment a scratch or mark occurs, it's worth contacting your local or nearby experts to get some sound advice on what to do next.
Many of us are confident enough to try and remedy car scarring ourselves – but in the vast majority of cases, the assistance of an expert is absolutely recommended https://www.cardentfix.co.uk/northumberland/ford-forge
Paintwork scratches are extremely annoying, especially when you're particularly proud of your vehicle and the way that it looks! Thankfully, car paintwork repair is not only affordable, but is also easy to undertake.
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It is tempting to head towards bigger body shops and paint services as they may seem to offer the biggest variety and the cheapest deals. However, it is a good idea to keep a look out for local, nearby experts who specialise in a variety of repair and replacement services.
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Plenty of people will be keen to take on paintwork repair themselves – which of course means that many will be taking their car's fate into their own hands! Painting and spraying cars is fairly simple, and while plenty of proud owners regularly spray their vehicles to custom tints and shades across our region and surrounding areas, touching up scratches and minor scuffs is always best left to nearby professionals.
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Your vehicle may not have suffered from scratches and scuffs – it may simply need a new lick of paint. If this is the case, we are only too happy to help. We always ensure that cars are cleaned and prepared for any paint restoration job, and that we work with a wide range of industry leading suppliers to remodel and refashion the vehicles which roll through our doors.
It's important that we keep certain colours and looks to make and model standard, too – this is especially worthwhile paying attention to if you are simply in need of your car respraying to its original glory. Once again, this is something you can undertake yourself – but for the best possible results, let someone in the know take a look for you.
Vehicle paint work scratch repair in Ford Forge TD12 4 isn't as intensive or as destructive as you may think. Our talented experts make sure to carefully look at cosmetic damage and to find the right paint for the job make and model of car involved https://www.cardentfix.co.uk/body/northumberland/ford-forge
With these points kept in mind, you can rest assured that we will always be able to return your vehicle looking as great as it initially did.
The process of removing scratches from car paintwork is perhaps a little more straightforward than you may think. The process will generally involve the following steps:
Cleaning the area of car in need of respraying and retouching
Sanding down any areas to keep the surface level
Applying primer, where required, followed by a short period of drying
Applying paint and/or spray as required
Applying lacquer and polishing to finish
Scratch removal jobs will vary, of course – but this is just a taste of what you may expect.
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Contact us for more information on the paints, services and expertise we have waiting for you. Don't let a paintwork issue get the better of you or your car!
We cover Ford Forge (Northumberland)


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(CNN) — Melanie Servetas lived the American dream. She had a six-figure salary as an executive with Wells Fargo, a Jaguar and a three-bedroom house in sunny Southern California. But then, she fell in love.
She met someone from Brazil on an online dating service. They chatted over the Internet and by phone for five months and decided they wanted to be together.
That's where this simple love story gets very complicated.
Servetas' partner is a woman, Claudia Amaral. If she were a man, the two could get married and Servetas could apply for her spouse to be admitted to the United States and eventually gain permanent residency.
But current immigration law does not allow a U.S. citizen in a same-sex relationship to sponsor his or her spouse or partner. There are nearly 30,000 such couples in America who now find themselves in the crosshairs of two critical national debates: the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, and immigration reform.
Even if Servetas were to marry Amaral in the District of Columbia or one of the 12 states that allow gay marriage, that marriage would be invisible as far as immigration law is concerned. Servetas could not sponsor her wife because of DOMA, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.
So Servetas, 48, gave up her life in the United States and moved to Brazil, where she launched an information technology company. The company is struggling and Servetas misses everything about America. But she cannot imagine a life without Amaral.
"Our life is surrounded by uncertainty. We live in limbo all the time," she said, not knowing if one day her work visa in Brazil might not be extended. She goes to sleep every night worrying that tomorrow, she may be separated from the woman she loves.
The Supreme Court is poised to hand down a decision on DOMA any day. If the justices strike it down, bi-national gay couples will gain the same immigration rights as heterosexual married couples.
At the same time, Patrick Leahy, a Democratic senator from Vermont, has filed an amendment to an immigration reform bill in the Senate that would afford gay couples equality in immigration sponsorship.
Steve Ralls, spokesman for Immigration Equality, an organization that has been working on this issue for two decades, said for the first time, the LGBT community is optimistic that immigration policy will become less discriminatory.
"As of today, we are stuck in a race to see who's going to solve the problem first," Ralls said. "If the Senate bill is about to receive its final vote and either we do not have a court ruling or we have a bad court ruling, then (Leahy's) amendment becomes absolutely critical for binational couples."
The amendment, however, doesn't sit well with conservatives and even with more liberal lawmakers who believe it could potentially derail the entire immigration reform bill. The chances of Leahy's amendment passing, say immigration activists, are slim to none.
In any case, if the Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, the immigration amendment would be moot.
"I can't sleep thinking about all this," Servetas said from her residence in Rio de Janeiro.
A bill to recognize same-sex partners for immigration purposes was first introduced in Congress in 2000. Since then countless couples have been separated or have had to make the same difficult decision as Servetas and leave home.
In Atlanta, Nepal native Satyam Barakoti, 36, has grown resolute in her efforts to establish a normal life, despite the dark immigration cloud that hangs over her.
She and her partner, Tonja Holder, have been together five years and run a nonprofit consulting agency. They bought a house, and Barakoti is halfway through her first pregnancy. (More than 17,000 children in this country are being raised by binational couples.)
Holder and Barakoti have picked out names: Kabir if it's a boy and Annapurna for a girl.
But come February, Barakoti's temporary work visa, known as an H-1B, will expire, and she could very likely have to leave America. Holder cannot sponsor her for permanent residency or what's more commonly called a green card. Barakoti's child will be born a U.S. citizen, but under current law, children cannot sponsor parents until they are 21.
"We're kind of waiting to see what happens in the Supreme Court. Our options are very murky," Barakoti said.
They could move to Nepal, but it will be difficult there for Holder. She's 47, settled in Atlanta and doesn't speak Nepali. The two have discussed moving elsewhere, maybe to immigration-friendly Canada.
Mercer University law professor Scott Titshaw, who practiced immigration law for 12 years, described "love-exiled" cases as one of the few instances in which he has given this advice: Go north.
"Marriage is just so important to U.S. immigration law," Titshaw said.
Canada is the top destination for same-sex binational couples in the United States because of proximity and its immigration system. Canada uses a point system to determine who will be allowed in to live and work. Applicants are awarded points for proficiency in education, job experience and language skills. If one partner qualifies for immigration status in Canada, he or she can sponsor the other.
Shehan Welihindha, 31, of Sri Lanka and his spouse, Ryan Wilson, 29, live in South Carolina, a state that bans same-sex marriage. They were among the first seven couples to get married in Maryland — Wilson grew up in Baltimore — on New Year's Day after that state approved same-sex marriage last fall.
But now, with an expiration date on Welihindha's student visa, they're considering Canada.
Welihindha watched his brother marry an American woman and become a citizen. His younger sister married an American man and within a very short time, she received her green card. But when Welihindha's visa expires, he will either have to find a job with a company that might sponsor him or leave.
"When we think about graduation or starting a family, it takes us back to that root conversation about immigration," said Welihindha from his home in Columbia, South Carolina.
In all, 31 countries recognize same-sex relationships for immigration purposes. Some, like Great Britain, don't have legalized same-sex marriage but still recognize same-sex couples.
That's why Brandon Perlberg, 35, abandoned his law career in New York and moved to London to be with his partner, Benn Storey. Even though the state of New York approved same-sex marriage in 2011, a wedding was not going to help when Storey's temporary work visa ran out.
"You don't get more committed than giving up your country," Perlberg said. "That's the value DOMA was supposed to be protecting. Isn't marriage all about the sanctity of commitment?"
Perlberg is angry — not at his partner but at his country — for having to give up everything he cherished and begin again in a foreign land.
Psychology professor Nadine Nakamura is researching people like Perlberg and the emotional toll of having to live in exile for the sake of preserving a relationship.
"The whole situation of not knowing what the future holds and kind of having to wait with bated breath to see what politicians or the Supreme Court decides creates a great deal of anxiety," said Nakamura, who teaches at the University of La Verne in southern California. "A lot of same-sex binational couples have a hard time trying to figure out what their future looks like."
Barakoti said she has lived with that anxiety since she arrived in the United States in 2001, constantly filing paperwork for visa applications including an employer-based green card sponsorship that was rejected. It became so all-consuming that she decided not to fret about it anymore. She and Holder are bracing for a high court decision that will not be in their favor.
"Whatever they throw at us, we'll manage," Holder said.
They know one thing: No matter what, they will find a way to be together. But no one, they said, should have to choose between love and country.
Follow Moni Basu on Twitter
™ & © 2013 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Marcus Jones is Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson's last hope to get to the second round of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. Can he get past Team Rashad's Mike Wessel, a UFC vet looking to get the clean sweep for his squad?
By Thomas Gerbasi
CAUTION: SPOILERS INCLUDED – Marcus Jones is Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson's last hope to get to the second round of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. Can he get past Team Rashad's Mike Wessel, a UFC vet looking to get the clean sweep for his squad?
As this week's episode opens, Jackson – frustrated over his team's seventh straight loss – takes his anger out on a door in the gym, tearing it to pieces.
"The last thing you want to be on the set of The Ultimate Fighter is a door," laughs UFC President Dana White. "There's no future being a door here."
"Rampage is a clown," said Evans. "Why would you get mad and tear down a door when you haven't shown that much interest in your team anyway?"
Back at the house, Matt Mitrione and Scott Junk are banged up after their two round fight, and Team Rashad's Mitrione, the winner, hits the sack early to rest up, making it the perfect opportunity for Team Rampage's Wes Sims to try and wake him up. But after Mitrione makes it clear that he's in no shape for joking around, Sims leaves him alone.
The next day, Jackson tries to get his last soldier – Jones – ready for battle. Luckily Jones is fighting Wessel and not the scorpion that rattled him while in the house.
Meanwhile, Wessel has his own issues to deal with, as his wife had recently undergone cancer surgery, and he's unsure of how she's doing on a daily basis.
"That's the only person I truly care to see right now," he said. "But this is the price you've got to pay if you want to be great."
Jones, a former NFL player, is amped up for the fight and he's loving every moment of learning new techniques in the gym. Of course, that doesn't make him immune to pranks, and when Brendan Schaub draws a picture of him and puts it on the window in the house, Jones isn't too happy. Schaub admits to drawing the picture, letting Jones know that he didn't write the offensive remarks on the bottom of the picture. Wessel did though, giving Jones even more incentive to win.
At the weigh-in for the fight, Jackson gets into it again with Darrill Schoonover, and the two have to be separated. Next it's time for the real fight, as Wessel (6-0, 260) takes on Jones (6-6, 262).
Referee Josh Rosenthal calls the fighters into action, and Wessel closes the distance and looks to brawl. Seconds later the fight hits the mat, and Jones immediately takes control, locking in an armbar that forces Wessel to verbally submit, giving Team Rampage their first and only win of the opening round of the competition.
White immediately gets the two coaches together and they begin the process of determining the quarterfinal matchups, which gets even more interesting considering that three of the four matchups will pit members of Team Rashad against each other.
Here are the quarterfinal bouts:
Roy Nelson vs Justin Wren
Brendan Schaub vs Jon Madsen
James McSweeney vs Matt Mitrione
Marcus Jones vs Darrill Schoonover
With this week's win, Team Rampage finally got on the board. But the final tally for the opening round is clearly in Team Rashad's favor, 7-1. And in a fitting end to the first round of action, it's Rampage and Rashad jawing at each other again.
Here's how the teams stand as they head into the quarterfinals:
James McSweeney 1-0
Brendan Schaub 1-0
Justin Wren 1-0
Jon Madsen 1-0
Roy Nelson 1-0
Darrill Schoonover 1-0
Matt Mitrione 1-0
Mike Wessel – Eliminated on episode eight by Marcus Jones
Kimbo Slice – Eliminated on episode three by Roy Nelson
Abe Wagner – Eliminated on episode one by Jon Madsen
Demico Rogers – Eliminated on episode four by Brendan Schaub
Wes Sims – Eliminated on episode five by Justin Wren
Scott Junk – Eliminated on episode seven by Matt Mitrione
Wes Shivers – Eliminated on episode two by James McSweeney
Marcus Jones 1-0
Zak Jensen – Eliminated on episode six by Darrill Schoonover
For weekly recaps of The Ultimate Fighter, as well as fighter profiles, stay tuned to UFC.com.


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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Frank Kaminsky scored 19 points and blocked six shots, and Wisconsin romped into the West Regional final with a dominant 69-52 victory over Baylor on Thursday night.
Ben Brust hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points for the second-seeded Badgers (29-7), who jumped to a 14-point lead in the first half and never let up on the overmatched Bears (26-12).
The 7-foot Kaminsky and his disciplined teammates shredded the Baylor zone defense that played so well in the first two games. Wisconsin also methodically shut down Baylor's talented offense while moving into its second regional final in 13 years under Bo Ryan, who has never reached a Final Four in a 700-win coaching career.
Cory Jefferson scored 15 points for the sixth-seeded Bears, who did little with their third Sweet 16 trip in five years.
Isaiah Austin and Kenny Chery scored 12 points apiece for Baylor, which made two of its 15 3-point attempts while trailing for the final 39 minutes. The Bears needed a late rally just to match their lowest-scoring performance of the season in the final seconds.
Wisconsin advanced to face the winner of top-seeded Arizona's meeting with San Diego State in the regional final Saturday at Honda Center.
The Badgers won by countering everything the Bears do well. Wisconsin wrecked Baylor's zone, negated their 3-point shooting acumen with perimeter defense, kept the tempo at the Badgers' preferred speed and even held a 39-33 rebounding edge on Baylor, one of the nation's top rebounding teams.
Kaminsky added another remarkable performance to his junior season with the Badgers, racking up 10 points and four blocked shots while Wisconsin took a 29-16 lead into halftime.
Wisconsin held Baylor to a season-low in first-half points, and the Bears managed just one more point than the lowest-scoring half in coach Scott Drew's career at the school.
Three lower-bowl sections of the Anaheim Ducks' home arena were packed with red-clad Badgers fans, who usually turn out in droves for their school's trips to Southern California, including three straight recent trips to the Rose Bowl. They had little reason to worry while their Badgers quickly sapped all of the drama out of these schools' first meeting, but they let loose with boos when Baylor began intentionally fouling the Badgers in the final four minutes despite a 20-point deficit.
Wisconsin is in its 16th straight NCAA tournament, including all 13 years under Ryan, who took over the program in 2001. The Badgers haven't been to the Final Four since retired coach Dick Bennett got them to Indianapolis in 2000.
Baylor won't get the chance to play in the Final Four in Arlington, Texas, about 100 miles north of its Waco campus.
Baylor's flexible zone defense caused numerous problems for Nebraska and Creighton in the Bears' victories last week. With a few days to prepare, Ryan clearly figured out exactly how to attack it — and the Bears had no answers.
The Badgers got multiple open looks on nearly every possession in the first half, moving the ball around the perimeter for open 3-point attempts or getting it down low to Kaminsky, who scored eight of Wisconsin's first 10 points. Brust hit two 3-pointers in the first half, and only a few open misses prevented Wisconsin from blowing it open early.
On the other end, the Bears had little of the poise they showed in their first two games. Baylor missed 12 of its first 15 shots and finished 5-for-24 in the first half, making just one 3-pointer and falling behind by 14 late in the half.
Baylor finally abandoned the zone early in the second half, but Traevon Jackson hit a 3-pointer for Wisconsin on the next possession. The Bears showed their athleticism and skill with several one-man drives to the hoop in the second half, but the Badgers calmly stuck to their plan in a blowout win.
Wisconsin latest team to send Big 12 team packing, beat Bears


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Michael Hicks, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and professor of economics at Ball State University. He is also an adjunct scholar with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He has held faculty and research positions at the Air Force Institution of Technology, Marshall University and the University of Tennessee, and holds degrees in economics from Virginia Military Institute and the University of Tennessee.
With research focusing on regional economics and public finance he is author of three books, more than forty academic papers and more than a hundred technical reports. His research has been reported in such places as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and has appeared on NPR, CSPAN, CNBC and The Nightly Business Report. He also writes a weekly syndicated business column.
Michael is a retired reserve infantry officer and veteran of combat and peacekeeping service in the Middle East, Africa and Korea. He makes a home with his wife and three children in Muncie, Indiana.


text: Inspired by the allure of the space age, many Americans of the 1960s took great interest in mathematics and science. One of them was the cartoonist, book illustrator, and children's author David Crockett Johnson. From 1965 until his death in 1975 Crockett Johnson painted over 100 works relating to mathematics and mathematical physics. Of these paintings, eighty are found in the collections of the National Museum of American History. We present them here, with related diagrams from the artist's library and papers.


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I read that the 'sponge dough' method would yield a softer bread texture. The crumbs was indeed light and soft, and the bread stayed fresh and soft for 3 days. I didn't even have to toast it before serving. It tasted great with my favourite blueberry jam, and I love the nice fragrance from the wholemeal flour. Even my kids, who don't really fancy any kind of wholemeal grains in their bread, didn't make a single complain :)
Simple Wholemeal Bread
120g wholemeal flour
85g bread flour
4g (1 tsp) instant yeast
130g water
85g bread flour
15g caster sugar
1 teaspoon salt
10g milk powder
50g water
15g unsalted butter
- Mix the dry ingredients in (A) in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add in the water. Mix by hand to form a soft dough. Place dough in a mixing bowl, cover with cling wrap and let it rise for 90mins.
- Place the ingredients in (B) in the pan of the bread machine (according to the sequence as stated in the instruction manual of your bread machine). Add in the soft dough in Step 1.
- Select the Dough function of the bread machine and press start. After about 8mins of kneading, add in the 15g of butter (Ingredient C). Let the machine continue to knead the dough. After the kneading cycle has stopped (20mins), Stop and Restart the machine. Continue to let the machine knead for another 10mins.
- Stop the machine and place dough in mixing bowl, cover with cling wrap and let it rise till double in volume for about 60mins.
- Remove dough and give a few light kneading on a lightly floured work surface. Press out the trapped air as your knead. Divide into 3 equal portions and shape into balls. Cover with cling wrap, let the doughs rest for 15mins.
- Flatten and roll out each dough into an oval shape (20cm by 10cm). Roll up swiss roll style and pinch the seams in place. Place in a pullman tin (size, 7.5"x4"x4", well greased), seams side down. Cover the lid and let dough proof for 60mins or until the dough rise up to 90% of the height of the tin.
- Bake at preheated oven at 190 degC for about 30mins.
- Remove from oven and unmold immediately. Let cool completely before slicing.


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The Obama administration is highly exercised about "inversion," the practice by which an American corporation acquires a foreign company and moves its headquarters out of the United States to benefit from lower tax rates abroad.
Not fair, says Barack Obama. It's taking advantage of an "unpatriotic tax loophole" that hardworking American families have to make up for by the sweat of their brow. His treasury secretary calls such behavior a violation of "economic patriotism."
Nice touch. Democrats used to wax indignant about having one's patriotism questioned. Now they throw around the charge with abandon, tossing it at corporations that refuse to do the economically patriotic thing of paying the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world.
Odder still because Democrats routinely ridicule the very notion of corporations as persons. When Mitt Romney suggested that corporations were people in 2011, Democrats mocked him right through Election Day. In the Hobby Lobby case, they challenged the very idea that corporations can have religious convictions. Now, however, Democrats are demanding that corporations exercise a patriotic conscience. Which is it?
Moreover, corporations have an indisputable fiduciary responsibility to protect their shareholders' interest. Surely Walgreens betrayed this responsibility when it caved to administration pressure and canceled its plans to move its headquarters to Switzerland. The inversion would've saved it billions of dollars. Its cancellation caused an instant 14 percent drop in Walgreens shares.
But the Democrats' problem is deeper. Everyone knows why inversions are happening. America's 35 percent corporate tax rate is absurdly uncompetitive. Companies are doing what they always do: try to legally lower their tax liabilities.
What is maddening is that the problem is so easily solved: tax reform that lowers the accursed corporate rate. Democrats and Republicans agree on this. After the announcement of the latest inversion, Burger King buying Tim Hortons and then moving to Canada, the president himself issued a statement conceding that corporate tax reform lower the rates, eliminate loopholes is the best solution to the inversion problem.
It's also politically doable. Tax reform has unique bipartisan appeal. Conservatives like it because lowering rates stimulates the economy and eliminating loopholes curbs tax-driven economic decisions that grossly misallocate capital.
The appeal to liberals is economic fairness. By eliminating loopholes, tax reform levels the playing field. Today, the more powerful companies can afford the expensive lobbyists who create the loopholes and the expensive lawyers who exploit them. Which is why the nominal corporate tax rate is 35 percent but the effective rate for some of the largest corporations is about 13 percent.
So why not attack the inversion problem with its obvious solution: tax reform?
No time? Where has he been? He does nothing about tax reform for six years (during two of which Democrats fully controlled Congress), then claims now to be too impatient to attempt the real solution. Instead he wants to hurry through a punitive anti-inversion law to counterbalance the effects of our already punitive tax rates.
This is nuts. But amusing, given that a major financier of the inversion-c�l�bre of the day, the Whopper-to-Canada deal, is none other than Warren Buffett, Obama's favorite plutocrat.
Buffett's demand that the rich be required to pay more taxes made him a hero to the president. In 2012, Obama repeatedly held up Buffett as a champion of economic justice. What does Obama say today about his 2012 class-war comrade in arms now become, by Obama's own lights, an economic traitor?
And more such Benedict Arnolds are being minted every week. One of the reasons for the recent acceleration of inversions is that corporations want to move before Obama outlaws it, locking them into America's anti-competitive corporate tax rate.
The Wall Street Journal cited a Buffett confidant as saying he likely wouldn't have backed a deal like Burger King if it were purely for tax reasons. Indeed, there are other considerations that can always be invoked. Which makes some of the contemplated anti-inversion proposals even more absurd: They would outlaw only those mergers done for tax reasons. How do you prove motivation? Lie detectors?
A real political leader would abandon this sideshow and actually address corporate tax reform with a serious revenue-neutral proposal to Congress. There would be hearings, debate, compromises. We might end up with something like the historic bipartisan tax reform of 1986 that helped launch two decades of nearly uninterrupted economic growth.
But for that you need a president.
Comment by clicking here.
Charles Krauthammer is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist, author, political commentator, and physician. His weekly column appears in more than 400 newspapers worldwide.


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ACL reconstruction
ACL reconstruction is surgery to replace the anterior cruciate (KROO-she-ate) ligament (ACL) one of the major ligaments in your knee. ACL injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction; such as basketball, soccer, football and volleyball.A torn ACL can't be successfully sewn back together, so the ligament is replaced with a piece of tendon from another part of your leg or from a deceased donor. This surgery is usually performed through small incisions around your knee joint. A narrow, fiber-optic viewing scope is used to guide the placement of the ACL graft.


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The top story of the day remains the Iverson trade to the Nuggets. The two biggest questions:
(1) Can AI find chemistry with Carmelo (or vice versa)? I'd ask different questions: What will AI's presence do for the development of rising Nuggets SG JR Smith? And will the absence of Andre Miller have an effect?
(2) Did the Sixers get a minimum of value in return? As I wrote last night, I like Miller, but the real value is those two first-round draft picks in the first draft in years (and last draft for years) where a picking in the 20s actually will mean something.
(Last question: What does that mean for AI's All-Star status? He was leading all East guards in fan voting. Do they simply translate his vote totals to the West? How is that fair to anyone? Do they let him play for the East in one last career hurrah?)
Oh WOW: If you read ONE THING about the Iverson trade all day, make it this roundtable of brilliant bloggers from AOL's NBA Fanhouse. Here's the link.NFL Pro Bowlers named: For some reason, this just doesn't have the oomph of the MLB or NBA All-Star teams. (Maybe because the NFL Pro Bowl isn't nearly as compelling as the midseason showcase in the other leagues.)
I always look for a few things: (1) Which team had the most players? (Chargers with 9, and the Bears led the NFC with 7) (2) Who are the first-timers? (Most notable in '07: Frank Gore, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers) And (3) which rookies, if any, made it? (Devin Hester was a lock as a return guy, even if he's not for Rookie of the Year)
NBA: Suns win 15th straight, behind Amare's sick 28 and 10 (in 28 minutes!) They play the Nuggets next, in what could/should be AI's debut. Must-see! (Meanwhile:
College Hoops Parity Watch: No. 23 Syracuse loses at home to Drexel. Meanwhile, No. 3 Ohio State pulled away late to beat
College Bowling: Remember when Garrett Wolfe was the li'l running back from
MLB: Zitopalooza! Eh, I'm bored with this. Mets? Rangers? Mariners suddenly? (Or are they Scott Boras' signature phantom suitor?) If Zito wants to play on a contender, he should go to the Mets. If he wants to have off-field marketing opportunities, he should go to the Mets. If he just wants the most money, he should go to
Michelle Wie to Stanford: Needless to say, I doubt she'll be living in the dorms. Good for her for at least dipping a toe in the college experience. It's not like she'll be playing for the golf team. (And if she did, I would hope she'd try to play for the men's team, because there's little question that she'd be the best men's player in college golf, as a 17-year-old female freshman.)
Sports Business Journal named ESPN honcho George Bodenheimer as its 2006 most influential person in sports business, which is a no-brainer. However: I have a surprise contender who doubles as my DanShanoff.com Sports Person of the Year who didn't even make SBJ's Top 50. (They'll be kicking themselves when they find out who I picked. The big reveal is coming later this week!)


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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Any Silk Screeners In the House?
On the subject of cool prints, commenter Sarah correctly predicted that I would love the designer Peach Berserk. Holy cow, have you readers seen her stuff? She's in the vein of Betsey Johnson, but she makes all her own prints (like the wonderful lobster print above). She also teaches silk screening in Toronto (any Torontoans want to adopt me?) and has written an awesome book on the subject. I love her dress designer feature, which lets you design a one-of-a-kind dress with the click of your mouse. (You can make the model's hair blue if you want!) She even sells yardage of her screen printed fabric online. So you can get your lobsters printed on candy pink dupioni if you want.
Basically, I want to be this woman when I grow up.
I'm reading the silk screening book now, and it's fascinating stuff. I have about a million ideas for fabric prints that I'd love to try, but the process seems so involved. So, my question is: have any of you tried screen printing? Am I right to be intimidated by all the supplies involved? Or is it no big deal? Dish, please!
P.S. If you're a New Yorker who could demonstrate silk screening to me, you should know that I make amazing chocolate-chocolate-espresso-cinnamon cookies and I'm not afraid to bribe you with them.
51 comments:
Oh wow! Silk screening has long held a lot of fascination for me. What gal wouldn't love to design and print her own fabric?! Just imagine the possibilities and combinations... *sigh* I still haven't had the time/space/funds to take a crack at it, but it's one of those things on my "do before I'm 40" list! ;)
♥ Casey | blog- Kate BangayJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:25 AM
I'd rethink the Torontonian adoption plan... it was -27C here yesterday.
Before the windchill :( Its been a while but years back I did a fair amount of silk screening. I had an art teacher who "used" a few of her students for commercial work. It was great learning experience and lots of fun. It is a bit involved. We would cut our own screens. Today I believe most commercial screens are done through the computer. I liked the cutting the best watching the film curl off the screen and become a design. Cleaning the screen, along with the fumes, was the worst but had to be done well to preserve its integrity. It is time and space consuming but great great fun. You would just love it.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:35 AM
I did some silkscreening back in the day - there are a couple of methods to do it, but in it's most basic form you need a screen, the resist material/screen filler, ink and the squeegee thingy.
Basically you're making a stencil on the screen with the resist material and then scraping the ink across the screen with the squeegee, into the open screen parts.
There's a method for using a photocopier or printer high-contrast printout and a special light bulb/resist combo to make the "stencil" that I think is most popular, I always just did it freehand.
Speedball makes a beginning screenprinting kit that I started out with.
You might also want to check out Lotta Jansdotter's book Lotta Prints, for inspiration and other potential printing methods, like linocuts. I have my MFA in printmaking, worked in a screen printing shop, and teach silk screen from time to time with my high school art classes. When things are going right and you pick a simple design, it's fun and not too terribly difficult. But there are SO many things that can go wrong with the process if you are using photo emulsion (BTW... hand cut stencils are low-tech, but million times easier!). I've had really rotten luck with it the last few times I've tried it with my classes. Some of the prints turn out great, and some won't turn out at all... for no real logical reason. And it is a very laborious and messy process to develop, register, print, and then clean your screens - especially if you are doing a small run or don't have a good studio space.
I'm sure there will be some other people who say "silk screen is the funnest thing EVAR!!!11!!!", but personally, it frustrates the hell out of me and I don't often do it anymore. I'm all about Spoonflower for fabric printing now. :)It's not silk-screening, but stenciling t-shirts with spray paint has worked pretty well for me recently. I'm tinkering with incorporating it into my own not-a-t-shirt sewing. It's so sharp, though it would hardly work well for all-over designs (unless I put a LOT of work into it).
ReplyDeleteI have silkscreened. It is a bit involved and takes up a lot of space. I've also burned my own screens. It's not hard, but it takes up a lot of time and space - to do it well at least. I had a lot of fun, but it would have been better if I had a nice long table, and a good space for rinsing the screen.
ReplyDeleteSure. I'm a Torontonian, and I will adopt you. An you are from New York, so i don't think the snow and cold will bother you too much...
Peach Berserk has been around here for such a long time, i sometimes forget all about the store, until I walk by and think, oh yeah, that place is really neat. Some of their designs are over-embellished by my tastes, but I really like the simple designs with the busy silk-screened fabric.Screenprinting doesn't need to be scary. You can make the screen with organza, a sturdy wooden frame and a staple gun. You need to buy the squeegee, and you'll enjoy the process more if your squeegee fits well inside your screen. You can make a simple stencil with 'one side milled litho paper'- that heavy white paper, shiny on one side, loved by preschool teachers for fingerpainting and easy to find. With the shiny side of the paper up, cut your design with a stencil knife and put the clean screen on top. Squeegee the ink back and forth, and the ink will stick the paper to the underside of the screen. Peel away the parts of the design where the ink passes through and start printing. Working fast, you can get 2 or 3 dozen prints before your stencil falls apart or your screen gets clogged with bits of drying ink- easily enough to print the fabric for a dress. Don't stop for anything until you are finished, then wash the screen. Your fabric is a one-off art piece!
ReplyDeleteGo for it Gertie! Silkscreening can be a little messy, but it's pretty fun. I've seen DIY punks make screens almost like the last commenter mentioned, but using acrylic paint to make your design on the screen. Again, it will fall apart eventually but is an easier at home option than photo emulsion.
But why not see if you can get someone to make a screen for you? I'm sure NY is chock-a-block full of silkscreeners who'd make you up a proper photo-emulsion screen that you could use over and over again.
The photo-emulsion process would give you the best results for an intricate design. You just print off your design in black on an acetate, lay it over the screen that has been prepared with a light-sensitive emulsion, and expose the screen to light. The light cures the emulsion so you can't rinse it out of the screen. The areas where the black was on the acetate don't get exposed, so don't get cured, so you can rinse them out after with high pressure water.
It's a very efficient way of doing things if you've got the setup for it. Not so much a home process, but you can get a good quality image without having to have mad exacto skills. (And a long lasting screen). And I'm sure you're charming enough to convince someone to make you a screen for a reasonable fee.I Love silk screening!! I haven't done any since I left college but I've been assured it can easily be done at home similar to how Mae^ described from what I can remember.
It can look daunting but It's really easy. funnily enough one of the teachers in collage wanted to have a ago but was put off thinking it was too complicated he soon changed his mind once he'd tried it lol!
fashbrickroad.blogspot.comIt actually sounds more intimidating than it actually is. You can make the screen from organza and use any sturdy wooden frame. The squeegy has to be bought but there are also ways of improvising this as well and still get excellent results.
I did textiles as my major in teacher's college and I had a lot of fun. One thing to take into consideration: though the books speak of all these lovely supplies the improvisations work just fine especially if you're on a tight budget. ex. using newsprint or regular paper as the stencil instead of the photo emulsion/stay-sharp method. Using paper stencils also allows you to save your screen so that it can be re-used instead of having to make a whole new oneI took a one day class here in Bklyn at the Etsy labs which they no longer offer. However, they've partnered with 3rd Ward and offer classes. http://www.3rdward.com/3rdwardclasses/category/screen-printing
It looks like they're all booked up right now but they should offer more. I purchased a Yudu for this purpose but haven't taken it out of the box. It's currently my cat's petting station.I silk screened on paper in college and found it to be messy and irritating...I can only imagine that fabric would amplify that.
There are so many places online that you can get your own fabric printed that it seems like an unnecessary pain to screen print your own.
Spoonflower, KamaKraft and Fabic on Demand are the three I have bookmarked.
That being said, a secret part of me wants to block print my own fabric. 'Cause you know, that's not time consuming or messy at all.... o_OI purchased supplies a while ago and finally took the time to play around with it. I used the screen painting fluid technique, which is good if you don't have a lot of detail in your design. The photo emulsion technique seemed a little high tech to me at first, but then I found this GREAT tutorial that makes it look a bit less intimidating: http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/2009/12/screen-printing-101-photo-emulsion.html . Hope that helps!
ReplyDeletehey Gertie! I used to silkscreen lots and still have the tools, like screen frames and squeegees. these are nonprofessional, diy quality. I live in queens, and if you want to borrow them I'd be happy to lend as a starter kit before you make the plunge. I've been wanting to get back to printing, so if you want to play around, I'd be happy to help. My high wattage bulb might even still be good, and we could split the cost of emulsion and inks. get back to me if you're interested! e.gin.ee at gmail
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:10 AM
i've never silkscreened - i prefer stencilling (i use the freezer paper method) - but a lot of my friends are in bands and they silk screen their own merch instead of paying someone else to do it. it's pretty easy, just time-consuming & sometimes the materials get pricey. there are even ways of making ~white trash~ stencils (like http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/3674467.html?page=1) if you don't want to drop $100 on supplies just to find out you hate it.
ReplyDelete - RoxanneJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:19 AM
At the college where I work, we have silk screens in the arts department. They are really easy to use if you don't try and add 1000 colors! You can even make your own at-home silk screen using some fabric and a a few easy-to-find supplies. Basically, you draw your design on the fabric and then proceed to make it into a stencil by using Mod Podge. Here is a great tutorial I myself used:http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/3674467.html
You might not want to use it to make a huge amount of printing, but for decorations and such, it's great! I've done a fair amount of silk screening, and even screened my own wedding invites! It's actually pretty easy and cheap to create an at-home set up. I used my bathroom for a darkroom, and a clamp-on shop light with a 500w bulb from a photography shop to burn the screens.
You can DIY pretty much all aspects! I think it just takes some practice and experimentation, since as someone pointed out above, there are a lot of variables when exposing screens, much like printing film.- AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Gosh, I haven't been into Peach Berserk for ages, and I just walked past it over the weekend. It's a very cute little store. Rather visually loud, but that's all part of the charm! I always meant to take one of Kingi Carpenter's silk screening classes but never got around to it. Now I'm no longer a TO resident, just a Torontonian at heart so I guess I won't be taking one any time soon.
I had no idea you could buy yardage from her, I'm going to check that out right now! - atelierflouJanuary 25, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Jen Thompson:
Thanks for bringing me back to my senses. I've thought about silk screening, and I might try a class or two in the future to learn to make simple designs, but I always suspected it would be a lot of messy, time-consuming work, with possibly frustrating results.
I bookmarked Spoonflower last year. I have never done any screen printing but I'm intrigued by the process. I have a book you may find helpful" "Printing by Hand" by Lena Corwin. She presents a number of different printing methods that require fewer supplies (stamping, stencils, etc.) as well as screen printing. You might be able to achieve the result you're looking for with a simpler method. Thanks for sharing your creative process with us!
ReplyDeleteI did do a bit of silkscreening while in undergrad (fine art) and on fabric (silk, rayon, cotton) in grad school (fashion design). I still have all the silkscreen equipment needed to make screens and prints, including textile inks and squeagies. It's a bit of an investment in supplies and it does require some space, but it is a LOT of fun. The trick to screen printing large pieces of fabric (apposed to single motifs) is getting the repeat placed correctly and getting your fabric to lay straight. Also, the larger your repeat the larger your screen needs to be. I used to have 3'x3' screens and printing with them was a bit of a production.
If you have any questions or want to borrow any equipment let me know. I'm in Brooklyn.You do NOT need a lot of supplies to get started! Its really easy. Take a look at my screenprinting setup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlebemle/4701883295/in/set-72157616460721759/
I don't do any of my designs on the computer - I hand paint acetate with waterproof india ink, and it works WONDERFULLY.
You just need a few simple materials, and patience. Hand-cut stencils are super easy, but it isn't too hard to do the photo emulsion method. I very much recommend a book called "Print Liberation: The Screen Printing Primer" as it really focuses on how to print well in a home where you might not have a dedicated space.
I bet you would make the prettiest prints, Gertie!- AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Thanks so much for the mention, Gertie! I knew that Peach Berserk would be right up your alley.
I've screen printed for ages and it's really fun! Photo emulsion is my favourite for creating screens. It's easy and limitless. Go for it! I taught myself how to silk screen last year from Kingi's DVD with the intent of printing my own fabric. I highly recommend getting it because it's really nice to watch someone else do it first if you can't take a class. I also second the people who say it's messy and fussy. But like anything else you will find a groove, and the more you do it the better you'll get.
ReplyDeleteBoth my aunts lived in toronto when I was growing up (in Vancouver), and trips out there always included a trip to Peach Berserk. My high-school grad photo skirt is from there--it's hilarious in that it's floor-length multicoloured patchwork of a bazillion different silkscreen prints. I wore it with doc boots.
ReplyDeleteI've used products from this company before for doing t-shirts: http://ezscreenprint.com/
It's the same idea as silk screening, but they're pre-coated with photo-sensitive emulsion so you just have to put a black and white transparency of your design on top, and then expose it to light (I sat it outside on a sunny day). It's kind of a poor woman's silk screening setup (with less stuff to store afterwards and probably less money if you're only doing a few).
I'd never considered it before, but these would totally work for printing a repeating design on fabric... I may have to give that a go!I love silk screening! I prefer the photo emulsion method, it's a lot more precise and I love that I have multiple designs just laying around, they make for quick gifts!
I totally say go for it Gertie! I have a teeny tiny apartment and I can still manage a half decent set up in my place.
I used to love Peach Berserk, but then I really started to examine the construction of the clothes... Not too impressive is all I'll say I guess. I actually work right across the street from the store, and I have to say that it is very visually stimulating from the outside, even now, when the city is covered in gray slush.PEACH IS THE BEST! I LOVE KINGI AND NICOLE!! They are amazing teachers. I took they're Silkscreening class a couple of Sundays ago. They made me feel so at home and comfortable. It make it really easy to design my print...very relaxed!! I ended up printing 20 tee shirts that day!
Anyways to end this
I love printing and its thanks to these ladies.
P.S. THEY ARE HILARIOUS!! My face hurt at the end of the day from laughing!Excellent - I'm not technically a Torontonian, living just outside its borders but it's close enough that I can hop on GO Transit and get me there. I'd love to take a silk screening course and Gertie, if you wanna be adopted, you're more than welcome any time. With all the chaos that goes on here on a day to day basis, you could probably move in unannounced and it would take me a few days (weeks?) to notice! LOL.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much you can do with silk screening. For Christmas I had 2 wedding photos silk screened on loose woven linen (so it was sort of abstract looking) and sewed them on other pcs of material to make wall hangings. It turned out great! I had a hard time finding someone in the city but found a great person for it where I like in Jersey City. Let me know if you would like his contact. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, man! How I wish I lived in New York! I'm interested in silk-screening too. I was first inspired to decorate t-shirts when I was shopping and could only find ones with really stupid shit on them [I had not yet fully discovered the Interwebs back then]. You can make your own screen-printing frame and it costs way less that the kits. Just Google it; there's lots of info on it. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteSpoonflower is marvellous fun - and a lot less messy and space-consuming than screen printing! I've digitally repro'd several vintage novelty prints and they've come out really well.
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage
my spoonflower profileMy daughter and I have taken the silk screening with Kingi at Peach Berserk. We had a lot of fun and learned alot. My daughter is a Kinesiology student and photocopied some skeletons from her anatomy text book which we silk screened on to an old bed sheet which I then turned in to a slip cover for her desk chair. If you ever get to Toronto Peach Beserk is located on Queen street which is the go to place for fabric, wool and a great day out.


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Welcome to the
Armstrong Circle Theatre
guide at TV Tome. Armstrong Circle Theatre was one of the major dramatic anthology series of television's "Golden Age". ACT featured many original dramas and dealt with such sensitive subjects as mental illness and racial intolerance, occassionally alternating with spoofs and comedies. Many of these dramas were based on real life events, in 1957 ACT alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour. The most common dramas were related to the COLD WAR. (ie. The Vanished, Thunder Over Berlin, Security Risk, The Spy Next Door, Crime Without a Country, Window to the West, Tunnel to Freedom, The Assassin, The Meanest Crime in the World, Sound of Violence, The Juke Box Rackets, Full Disclosure, The Antique Swindle, Smash-Up, The Thief of Charity among others. A highly entertaining series and a must see for fans of this genre. BROADCAST HISTORY June 1950 - June 1955: NBC, Tuesday 9:30 - 10:00 PM
September 1955 - June 1957: NBC, Tues


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Buying Mozzarella: Tips and Tricks
23 Sep 2013
Mozzarella is one of the world's favorite cheeses, but unlike many others, its name has not been adequately protected. Today you can walk into any store and find a very industrial piece of cheese called mozzarella that has nothing to do with its authentic cousin made exclusively from buffalo milk in the region Campania in southern Italy. So how to know if you're choosing the real thing? And what to do with it once you've got it in your hands? The internationally known Obikà Mozzarella Bar has a stand at this year's Cheese, giving visitors tastes of mozzarella paired with Slow Food Presidia products. We asked President and founder, Silvio Ursini, for his expert advice. Here's what he says:
• The first thing you need to do is look for the protected name: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP from Italy. In order to use this name, producers need to be in the Campania region and follow strict procedures, for example, they are not allowed to have any cows on their farm to avoid potential addition of cow milk.
• Stay away from the dry yellowish-colored mozzarella used for grating.
• Fresh mozzarellas made with cow's milk can sometimes be good, but this is a completely different cheese!
• Be careful about "smoked" mozzarella. It is very rare to find one that is smoked naturally with hay. The vast majority are produced with artificial flavor.
• Look for the white round ball that comes in a bag with brine.
• Check the expiration date. This can technically be after 2-3 weeks, but the further you get towards the end, the less likely it is that it will be good. Talk to your grocer about when the mozzarella is coming in and buy it immediately – the same day if you can. Mozzarella that is exported is generally made and shipped within 48 hours.
Once you get it home…
• Keep it out of the fridge for a few hours before eating it to get it to the temperature up to where it tastes best.
• A little trick for consumers outside of Italy: Dip the whole bag in really hot water for a few minutes. This will reactivate all the enzymes in the brine and the mozzarella will recover from the trip. An anti-jet lag!
• On the eye: The mozzarella should be shiny and porcelain white.
• When you cut it you should see little holes that weep droplets of milk.
• On the palate: The texture should be slightly crunchy, not totally soft. The taste should have notes of hazelnuts and slight hint of musk that comes from the buffalos.
• When the mozzarella is very fresh you can eat it by itself without condiments. If abroad (when the cheese will be a few days old) a dash of good extra-virgin olive oil won't hurt. But please people – no garlic! It will kill the taste buds and for all you know you might as well be eating a piece of Camembert. Stay away from oregano and other dry spices that overwhelm.
• If you want to use it on pizza made sure to cut it first and squeeze out the liquid, otherwise it will make your pizza too soggy.
Mozzarella has been at center stage during Cheese over the last few days; the star of workshops, conferences and a live demonstration of its production at the Slow Food Foundation's Biodiversity House (pictured).
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news from Cheese 2013.
Read more about mozzarella and efforts to protect it from fraud.
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Learn how you can restore ecosystems, communities and your own health with our RegenerAction Toolkit.


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Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has resigned, ending a power struggle with President Mahmoud Abbas that rose to new heights in recent months. Fayyad had reportedly tried to quit his job earlier this week; Abbas initially refused it, but he finally accepted the resignation Saturday.
Fayyad, who as the AP reports "enjoys the support of the international community, particularly the United States," had been in the post since 2007. He will remain in the job until Abbas names a replacement, something that could occur within days.
The exit of Fayyad, an economist who is viewed as a moderate, comes as the U.S. government attempts to restart negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Fayyad during his visit to Jerusalem last week.
In an interview with NPR's Guy Raz for Weekend All Things Considered last December, Fayyad said that the process of moving toward a peace accord has been "a story of disappointment."
While the relationship between Fayyad and Abbas was never an easy one, things turned especially sour in March, when Finance Minister Nabil Kassis tried to quit.
"Mr Fayyad accepted Mr Kassis's resignation, but he was subsequently overruled by Mr Abbas," the BBC reports, "effectively challenging the prime minister's authority to hire and fire Cabinet ministers."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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I built the outfit around the shoes and socks (paired because we listened to Abba in the dressing room) (and by "dressing room" I mean nasty school basement with cockroaches) and the Risto Bimbiloski space skirt just kinda had to be matched with the ridiculousness of the Abba situation, but to make it moodier/earthier and less cheesy I added the flannel dress that used to be my mom's and this vintage feather hairpiece. Then I just wanted weird brooches and jewelry that an old lady who lives on the side of the road or in an almost-fallen apart house might collect.
From left: Gara Danielle ring (FTC disclosure: sent to me by the brand), Zak Kitnick brooch from Two Bridges Trading, thrifted sun brooch, flower brooch used to be my grandma's, and Neivz ring.
This bracelet is Ann Taylor Loft -- weird, right? They've been getting less "Modern Mom!" lately. And the bottom is a closeup of the Risto skirt (FTC disclosure: sent to me by Risto.)
I found these socks in our basement and Beso.com asked if I'd review these shoes in exchange for Abba vibes forever.
Brand: D&G
Pros: Look stellar with socks; fulfill my 70's and Lady Miss Kier needs. My feet are surprisingly comfy in them.
Cons: My feet are unsurprisingly uncomfy once I take them off. They also wear pretty easily -- I've worn them twice and scuffing has already gotten the better of parts of the now-dented wood and now-brown straps. If these were delicate glass slippers I would blame myself for clunking around, but you're supposed to be able to dance in these kinds of shoes!
But enough about me and my Abba dancing*! How are you? In other words --
I hesitated in posting that link since this blog is read by about everyone I know from school, as well as my teachers, as well as my parents' friends, as well as everyone I know in real life. But I fully stand by and support 8th grade me's Abba passion. Plus I'm reciting the lyrics to Ciara's "Work" tomorrow for a class talent show and we all know I have no dignity anyways.