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Politics is Killing the Big Cats
We need a new approach to save them, says preeminent field biologist George B. Schaller.
When I began to study the great cats nearly half a century ago, their sheer magnificence enthralled me: Tigers striding on velvet paws through the forests of India's Kanha National Park, secure in their power, dignity, and flaming beauty; prides of Serengeti lions sprawling in the shade of acacias, poured like honey over the golden grass; snow leopards flowing as mere cloud shadows along Himalayan crags; and jaguars roaming mysteriously alone in the great swamps of Brazil's Pantanal. Yet today I behold these icons of wildness and wilderness with concern, knowing that their fates rest solely with humankind.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, we did basic, and some would now say old-fashioned, natural history. There was no satellite imagery available to us to delineate suitable habitat. Radiotelemetry was primitive, though we did collar jaguars and trace their movements. We had no automatic infrared cameras to photograph any passing creature. To recognize a tiger with certainty, I looked closely at the stripe pattern of its face. I picked apart scats to determine what cats had eaten, followed their tracks in dust or snow to plot the extent of their travels, and examined each kill to find out its age and sex. Conservation depends on such information.
At the time I did not think that wilderness would so quickly become exhaustible. The human population has more than doubled since then, forests have given way to fields, and livestock herds have replaced wildlife on rangelands.
Lions, once so abundant, are vanishing outside of reserves. Shot, poisoned, and snared by pastoralists and farmers, partly because they kill cattle and occasionally a person, lions may ultimately survive only in protected reserves. Tigers now occupy roughly 7 percent of their former range. Fewer than 4,000 may be left in the wild, whereas, by sad contrast, China and the United States are thought to have some 5,000 each in captivity.
Tigers and leopards in Asia are threatened by networks of poachers that supply the East, particularly China, with skins, as well as bones and other body parts with supposed medicinal value. No wonder two of India's reserves, Sariska and Panna, lost all their tigers under the eyes of a complacent and unmotivated guard force.
I once followed the lone track of a rare Asiatic cheetah across its last home in the desert of central Iran. How can the world stand idly by while natural treasures such as this vanish, country by country?
When I began fieldwork, it was with the aim not only of studying a species but also of promoting its safety within a protected area. Both such efforts remain essential. But I have had to change my mind-set. Most countries now lack the space to set aside large new areas to support a population of, let us say, 200 snow leopards or tigers. Most existing reserves are small, able to sustain only a few of the great cats—and these may become extinct due to inbreeding, disease, or some accidental event. And as ecosystems shift with climate change, animals will have to adapt, migrate, or die.
Instead of focusing just on discrete, isolated protected areas, conservation has enlarged its vision to manage whole landscapes. The goal is to create a mosaic of core areas without people or development where a leopard or jaguar can breed in peace and security. Such core areas are connected by corridors of viable habitat to enable a cat to travel from one safety zone to another. The remaining area of a landscape is designated for human use. This approach integrates ecological, economic, and cultural aspects. I am involved in such a landscape plan for snow leopards on the Tibetan Plateau in China. We map the distribution of the cat; census prey, such as blue sheep; train local people to monitor wildlife; and work with communities and monasteries to promote good land and livestock management. This work is coordinated by the Shan Shui Conservation Center at Peking University.
It's easy enough to outline landscape plans, pinpoint potential sites on satellite maps, and create a mental idyll of great cats and people living together in harmony. Many conferences have been held to define problems and set priorities— but rhetoric has far outstripped implementation. All great cats continue to fade in number. Most countries have simply lacked the political will and public pressure to save their wildlife. Even protection of reserves tends to be feeble, with poaching of animals and timber rampant and mining and other illegal activities common. Needed by each country are an elite guard force supported by police and even the army, rigorous regional cooperation to stop illegal trade of skins and bones, swift court action against offenders, and other deterrents. In the final analysis, conservation is politics—and politics is killing the big cats.
Humans and predators have for millennia confronted each other with fear and respect. Such conflict will continue. I have examined horses killed by snow leopards in Mongolia, cattle by jaguars in Brazil, and a family's sole milk buffalo by a tiger in India. All great cats kill livestock, especially if their natural prey has been decimated. Finding at least a partial solution to such killing is a critical conservation issue. Much predation is, however, the result of lax herding practices, as when cattle in India simply graze untended in forests.
Should governments or conservation organizations compensate households for such losses? The idea is seductive, but attempts in various countries have had little success. Aside from the fact that continued funding is never assured, there are fraudulent claims, difficulties in verification, delays in payment, and other problems. A community could establish an insurance program in which households pay a fee and later are compensated for losses. Tourism can benefit an economy greatly, as seen in Africa, where visitors eagerly crowd around lions and cheetahs. However, most communities near wildlife reserves derive few benefits because governments and tour operators fail to share profits.
I wonder if a positive approach might be more effective: Pay communities to maintain healthy great cat populations. After all, it is painfully clear that good science and good laws do not necessarily result in effective conservation. Communities must be directly involved as full partners in conservation by contributing their knowledge, insights, and skills. Aware of this, I have in recent years focused less on detailed science, something I enjoy most, and more on conservation. I have tried to become a combination of educator, diplomat, social anthropologist, and naturalist—an ecological missionary, balancing knowledge and action.
But yes, I still collect snow leopard droppings for analysis. Much remains to be learned. We know only how to protect lions and tigers, not how to manage them in a human-dominated landscape. The density of a jaguar or other cat population in a given area is limited by the amount of prey. It is difficult to count prey animals, especially in forests, and little is known of how many a habitat can support. Indeed, we still lack solid data on the status and distribution of most cats, with estimates of numbers sometimes based on little more than intuition. Jaguars in the Amazon Basin and snow leopards in various ranges of Central Asia have never been censused.
Our greatest challenge is to instill national commitments to save the great cats. It's everyone's task. Communities need incentives to share their land with such predators. Benefits need to be based on moral values as well as on economic ones. The jaguar is a representative of the sun, the protector of all that lives among indigenous societies of Latin America; the tiger in China was an emissary of heaven and in Hindu India a force for good; and Buddhism stresses respect, love, and compassion for all living beings. Conservation is based on moral values, not scientific ones, on beauty, ethics, and religion, without which it cannot sustain itself.
The great cats represent the ultimate test of our willingness to share this planet with other species. We must act now to offer them a bright and secure future, if for no other reason than they are among the most wonderful expressions of life on Earth.
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They say all good things must come to an end and that sad truth befell Madison County's Lady Red Raiders at the region tournament Madison County faced Flowery Branch in the region quarterfinals.
The Lady Falcons entered the game 8-18 overall, but in a 10 point upset, knocked the defending region champions out of the tournament.
The loss of the region tournament means that for the first time in half a decade, Madison County's girls will not be making an appearance in the AAAA state tourney.
Madison County coach Dan Lampe said that the Lady Red Raiders had a good season and it was disappointing to have it end like it did.
Flowery Branch defeated the girls, 51-41, advancing to defeat Loganville, 44-41 and taking runner-up in the region after falling to Clarke Central, 73-37.
Kayla Freeman led the Lady Red Raiders with 12 points, followed by Areil Sorrells with 10. Madison County ends the season 21-5 overall.
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Campaign helps reveal secrets of upper atmosphere
The first flight of an instrument on a high-altitude aircraft has shown that it can provide insight into the complexities of the upper atmosphere. This is crucial for the development of a candidate ESA mission aiming to provide vital clues on how atmospheric chemistry and climate are linked.
Scientists and engineers involved in the development of one of the candidates for ESA's seventh Earth Explorer mission called PREMIER, short for Process Exploration through Measurement of Infrared and millimetre-wave Emitted Radiation, are very pleased with the results from the maiden flight of an upgraded instrument that has been developed to test the PREMIER mission concept.
If selected, the PREMIER mission would advance our understanding of the processes that link trace gases, radiation and chemistry in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The radiative effects of water and clouds are at a maximum in this region. It is also a region characterised by small-scale processes that have not been studied by previous missions.
In support of the development of the mission concept, two innovative limb sounding instruments that operate in the infrared and microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum have been built, one of which is an instrument called Marschals developed by Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK. It is the Marschals instrument, short for (Millimetre-wave Airborne Receivers for Spectroscopic Characterisation in Atmospheric Limb Sounding) that has just been taken for its maiden voyage high up in the atmosphere.
The airborne campaign was designed to test the instrument and simulate how this kind of limb sounding would work from space. The instrument was flown on an M-55 Geophysica aircraft – one of the very few aircrafts that can fly up to 21 km above the surface of Earth, which is twice the height of a commercial plane.
The flight took place over Kiruna in Sweden and clearly demonstrated that the sophisticated Marschals instrument can offer a different way of characterising trace gases, thin cirrus clouds and temperature in the mid to upper troposphere.
Brian Moyna from Rutherford Appleton Laboratory said, "Marschals is the first limb sounder to be explicitly designed and built for the purpose of sounding the composition of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. A particular attribute of millimetre-wave measurements is their comparative insensitivity to ice clouds."
The campaign is very important for the development of the PREMIER mission, which is currently undergoing feasibility study. If selected, it would quantify the processes that control the composition of the mid to upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, which equates to 5–25 km above the surface of Earth.
This region is particularly important for climate because the greenhouse effect, due to clouds and gases, is amplified at these altitudes. Recent research has revealed that the stratosphere has cooled and the troposphere has become warmer over the last few decades. The likely cause is the depletion of stratospheric ozone and increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the troposphere. Through the processes of absorption, emission and scattering, greenhouse gases and aerosols interact with electromagnetic radiation and, hence, influence weather and climate.
However, the abundance and distribution of trace gases and aerosols is controlled by complex chemical reactions and dynamic processes that are currently not well understood. One of the main challenges in climate research, which the PREMIER mission aims to address, is to improve our understanding of these atmospheric processes and how they are linked to climate.
The PREMIER mission concept would observe thermal emissions from the limb, or edge, of Earth's atmosphere. Limb sounders look horizontally through the atmosphere towards space so that information on temperature trace gases and water vapour at different altitudes can be gathered.
The first test flight of the improved Marschals instrument has shown how this concept could reveal the complex make up of the upper atmosphere. For example, a full scan yielded a high but flat signal from the dense humid lower layers of the atmosphere, and at higher altitudes the spectral lines of gases such as ozone start to emerge from the lower water vapour background. From the amplitudes and shapes of these features scientists are able to determine the amount and the distribution of the respective gases in the atmosphere.
PREMIER is one of three missions concepts, one of which will eventually be selected for implementation and thus lead to the launch of ESA's seventh Earth Explorer mission around 2016.


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Most devices up to 3/4" thick, including cover or case, will fit in the stand. Smartphones can be supported in portrait or landscape orientation, while tablets are best held in landscape orientation; the viewing angle can be adjusted by a few degrees.
When you don't need it, the stand folds to only 1/8" thick and about the size of a credit card for storage. A versatile stand, made of aluminum and polypropylene.


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Health dept says NH flu deaths increase to 35, including 1st child
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) � State health officials say the number of flu-related deaths in New Hampshire has increased to 35 � and the first child death among them.
The department says the total is highest number of flu-related deaths in a single season the state has recorded since 1997.
The department says the child who died was under 5 years old. No further information was available on the death.
The state saw a total of 19 deaths reported in 2012.


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AMERICUS - The Georgia Southwestern women's soccer team had no answers for the North Georgia offensive attack on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Saints defeated GSW, 8-0, behind six first half scores.
The Lady Hurricanes have now lost their last four contests and fall to 2-8-1 overall and 0-6 in the PBC. North Georgia improves to 10-2, 3-2 PBC.
It took NGCSU less than five minutes to post its first score - a header off of a corner kick - and the game-winning goal. NGCSU put five more balls into the back of the net over the opening 45 minutes with two of those scores coming off corner kicks.
It marked the first time GSW allowed six goals in a half in almost four years. Columbus State scored six times in the first half against GSW on Oct. 29, 2008.
The second half remained quiet until the 82nd minute when NGCSU stretched its lead to 7-0. The Saints proceeded to add one final score in the 87th minute.
North Georgia held a substantial lead in shots on goal (16-1) and corner kicks (14-1).
Amber Bahri saved four shots during her half of action at goalkeeper for GSW. Jordyn Birchett stopped four over the final 45 minutes.
North Georgia also switched goalies at the halftime break. Mallory Sayre started the match and Amanda Lopez finished things recording the only NGCSU save.
Southwestern looks to right the ship on Wednesday at Montevallo. Start time is set for 6 p.m.


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Jupiter Broadband and Exede Internet in NE
Jupiter Broadband brings wireless Internet service and satellite Internet to Nebraska. Rural communities have been left behind by the big names in Internet service providers. However, companies like Jupiter Broadband are changing all that by ensuring that small towns throughout Nebraska have fast Internet choices. As an Internet service provider that offers two exceptional rural Internet options, we are proud to be able to meet your online needs, whatever they are.
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Our Internet service provides you with two different options in connectivity for your home: satellite Internet and wireless Internet service. However, that means you need to decide which one is better for you. Your priorities in how you use your Internet service will determine which service is best for you.
For NE residents who are looking for an Internet service that will give them the responsiveness needed to play online video games, wireless Internet service is a perfect fit. If having no data cap and unfettered access to the Internet is important to you, wireless Internet is also just right.
Satellite Internet is an exceptional choice if you are in the market for a less expensive option that still delivers speed. Jupiter Broadband sells Exede satellite Internet, an award-winning product that gives you better speeds and a lower monthly bill. Understand the differences of each before you choose.
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When you have fast Internet service in your part of Nebraska, things change for you. Going online is no longer a chore and an exercise in patience. Instead you can find what you want quickly and easily with a high speed connection that is always on. Some of the exciting things you can do online with Jupiter Broadband in Nebraska include the following.
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Enhanced broker clusters, which share a JDBC-based data store, require more configuration than do conventional broker clusters. In addition to the properties listed in Cluster Connection Service Properties, the following categories of properties are used to configure an enhanced cluster:
imq.cluster.ha is a boolean value that specifies if the cluster is an enhanced cluster (true) or a conventional broker (false). The default value is false.
If set to true, mechanisms for failure detection and takeover of a failed broker are enabled. Enhanced clusters are self-configuring: any broker configured to use the cluster's shared data store is automatically registered as part of the cluster, without further action on your part. If the conventional cluster property, imq.cluster.brokerlist, is specified for a high–availability broker, the property is ignored and a warning message is logged at broker startup.
imq.persist.store specifies the model for a broker's persistent data store. This property must be set to the value jdbc for every broker in an enhanced cluster.
imq.cluster.clusterid specifies the cluster identifier, which will be appended to the names of all database tables in the cluster's shared persistent store. The value of this property must be the same for all brokers in a given cluster, but must be unique for each cluster: no two running clusters may have the same cluster identifier.
imq.brokerid is a broker identifier that must be unique for each broker in the cluster. Hence, this property must be set in each broker's instance configuration file rather than in a cluster configuration file.
The persistent data store for an enhanced cluster is maintained on a highly-available JDBC database.
The highly-availabile database may be MySQL Cluster Edition, High Availability Session Store (HADB), or Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC), or it may be an open-source or third-party product. As described in JDBC-Based Persistence Properties, the imq.persist.jdbc.dbVendor broker property specifies the name of the database vendor, and all of the remaining JDBC-related properties are qualified with this vendor name.
The JDBC-related properties are discussed under JDBC-Based Persistence Properties and summarized in Table 17–7. See the example configurations for MySQL and HADB in Example 8–1 and Example 8–2, respectively.
In setting JDBC-related properties for an enhanced cluster, note the following vendor-specific issues:
MySQL Cluster Edition
When using MySQL Cluster Edition as a highly-available database, you must specify the NDB Storage Engine rather than the InnoDB Storage Engine set by Message Queue by default. To specify the NDB Storage Engine, set the following broker property for all brokers in the cluster:
When using HADB in a GlassFish Server environment, if the integration between Message Queue and GlassFish Server is local (that is, there is a one-to-one relationship between GlassFish Server instances and Message Queue brokers), GlassFish Server will automatically propagate HADB-related properties to each broker in the cluster. However, if the integration is remote (a single GlassFish Server instance using an externally configured broker cluster), then it is your responsibility to configure the needed HADB properties explicitly.
The following configuration properties (listed in Table 17–12) specify the parameters for the exchange of heartbeat and status information within an enhanced cluster:
imq.cluster.heartbeat.hostname specifies the host name (or IP address) for the heartbeat connection service.
imq.cluster.heartbeat.port specifies the port number for the heartbeat connection service.
imq.cluster.heartbeat.interval specifies the interval, in seconds, at which heartbeat packets are transmitted.
imq.cluster.heartbeat.threshold specifies the number of missed heartbeat intervals after which a broker is considered suspect of failure.
imq.cluster.monitor.interval specifies the interval, in seconds, at which to monitor a suspect broker's state information to determine whether it has failed.
imq.cluster.monitor.threshold specifies the number of elapsed monitor intervals after which a suspect broker is considered to have failed.
Smaller values for these heartbeat and monitoring intervals will result in quicker reaction to broker failure, but at the cost of reduced performance and increased likelihood of false suspicions and erroneous failure detection.


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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A French Bench
Well I am happy to say I have found the first piece for my bedroom redesign – a perfectly imperfect French bench!
I discovered this beauty on Craig's list and jumped at the chance to exchange the mission style bench which previously occupied the space at the end of the bed for this one with much more character and patina.
The biggest changes to this room, of course, are still to come - replacing the carpet with hardwood flooring, purchasing a new bed, etc. Until then, however, I will enjoy this first step towards creating the look I have envisioned for this space.
22 comments:
- Katie said...
The bench is gorgeous!
- August 17, 2011 at 4:10 PM
- Christina said...
Love the bench!
- August 17, 2011 at 4:14 PM
- Carolyn@SweetChaos said...
Great find! I love the bench, and I can't wait to see how you transform the room :)
- August 17, 2011 at 4:20 PM
- Elizabeth said...
Wow, that is such a great find! I love it and think it looks beautiful.
Did it come with the burlap cover?
Have a great day!
- August 17, 2011 at 4:28 PM
- Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...
What a great piece, Stacy! I love the detailing on it!
- August 17, 2011 at 5:47 PM
- awal.ny said...
I just love, love, love your new bench. I was wondering if you did the seat yourself?
- August 17, 2011 at 6:19 PM
- Low Tide High Style said...
Your new bench is beautiful and will be the perfect jumping off point for your remodel!
Kat :)
- August 17, 2011 at 6:30 PM
- Stacy Curran said...
The bench is gorgeous and I can't wait to see what bed you choose!
- August 18, 2011 at 6:15 AM
Love that bench! If you're looking for a way to transform the look of your existing bed, I have a very inexpensive way to do it! It'll work until you can find the headboard/foot board of your dreams. Too long to explain here, but if you're interested, contact me through my website. www.cndesigns.biz
- August 18, 2011 at 6:25 AM
- Andrea said...
Fabulous bench! I recently moved, and it's been my excuse to totally re-do the matchy matchy bedroom I previously had. Our old set is looking lovely in the guest room, and all we have in our new mstr bedroom is our bed, with no headboard yet, an antique armoire, and that's it. No night stands, and books and lamps are on the floor=) Starting from stratch! I did find some wonderful bedding yesterday, so it's a start =)
- August 18, 2011 at 9:12 AM
- Upscale Downhome said...
I love your new bench. Did you have to recover it or was it just like that? I love the collected look, too, but it is a process. I plan on redoing my master bedroom this fall. Can't wait!
- August 18, 2011 at 11:34 AM
- firstname.lastname@example.com said...
Okay. I have official bench envy! It kills me what people find on Craig's list. I guess I just don't look enough, but I never see any great stuff. And I'm a DIYer and not afraid to do transformations, so it's not like I look for perfection! Anyway, good for you to have found this. I look forward to seeing how the room changes. I admire your patience -- you wait and find the right thing. That's a skill all its own!
- August 18, 2011 at 5:29 PM
- Jane, Naples, Florida said...
An amazing find! I have a bench in my master bedroom which I love! Yours is perfect!
Flora Doora
- August 19, 2011 at 12:08 AM
- Julie said...
That IS a cute bench! Can't wait to see how your room unfolds!
- August 19, 2011 at 5:34 AM
- outjunking said...
I think I'm in love with a bench. Gorgeous.
- August 19, 2011 at 5:55 AM
- Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...
I love your bench and love it with the burlap showing- perfect!!
- August 19, 2011 at 9:11 AM
- Stephanie said...
That bench is so unbelievably unique and perfect! I can not believe you found that on Craig's list! I too was wondering if you got it like that or did you add the cushion? Such a great starting point, this is going to be a fun transformation.
- August 19, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I love it! The shape is gorgeous!
- August 19, 2011 at 10:50 AM
- Red Door Home said...
Thanks for the great questins. I found the bench exactly as pictured - with the burlap cover. I was thrilled to find such a treasure!
- August 19, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- for the love of a house said...
love the bench Stacy!! it's gorgeous!
- August 20, 2011 at 9:01 AM
- {hooked on hickory} said...
don't you wish you could just twinkle your nose and it could all be done? the bench is amazing! can't wait to see what you do!
- August 20, 2011 at 1:29 PM
- Jean said...
Slowly but surely you'll get it all done. Nice beginning.
- August 20, 2011 at 3:53 PM


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By M. Scott Morris/NEMS Daily Journal
The mid-life blues get to James Bond in "Skyfall." Our ruggedly handsome hero (Daniel Craig) is a step slower than he once was, and his aim isn't what it used to be.
Higher-ups in the British government aren't sure he's up to the job of protecting the Crown's interests at home and around the world.
Someone has stolen a hard drive that lists all the secret agents who have infiltrated terrorists networks across the globe. Bond's already failed to recover the hard drive once, and was very nearly killed for his trouble.
M (Judi Dench) has been told her days in charge of the spy agency will be ending soon, but she doesn't want to leave until the matter of the hard drive and the threat it poses are settled.
Ralph Fiennes plays Gareth Mallory, a government functionary who tells M and Bond that the future of spycraft probably won't involve them. But he's willing to give the pair one last chance.
Once Bond is free of office politics and on the hunt, it's old-fashioned 007 fun. When he's not beating up low-level bad guys, he's bedding a woman with an exotic name, Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe).
He's also tracking down a super villain. As Silva, Javier Bardem is menacing and cringe-inducing. He's the kind of guy who always has a plan in the works.
The best thing to say about "Skyfall" is it feels like a Bond movie. That's also a limitation, since formula can lead to predictability.
The film takes us a bit further into the relationship between M and Bond, but that famous British reserve never truly breaks down, which is probably for the best.
"Skyfall" is packed with fights, chases and explosions. We also meet a new, younger Q (Ben Whishaw).
The least said about other new arrivals the better because crucial plot points are involved. Let's just say there are clever turns that will affect Bond's world going forward into new films.
But I don't think it will give anything away to say Bond's mid-life crisis is safely behind him by the time the credits roll.
I give "Skyfall" a B plus.
It's showing at Malcos in Tupelo, Oxford, Corinth and Columbus, as well as Hollywood Premier Cinemas in Starkville and Movie Reel 4 in New Albany.
Look for movie reviews in Scene on Thursdays, and listen each Tuesday morning on Wizard 106.7 between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.
Roadkill Bill Wizard 106.7 FM - He gives "Skyfall" a B plus.
'It's slightly predictable, but a whole lot of fun.'


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Correction Appended: May 16, 2013
All right. everyone take a deep breath. Now exhale. The rush of Obama "scandals" in recent weeks has been, well, breathtaking, and so has the rush to extrapolate, to discern a larger pattern of failure and incompetence in the Obama Administration--indeed, to make a cosmic argument about the inability of government to "organize a two-car funeral," as Bill Clinton used to say. I have a certain amount of sympathy for that last extrapolation. We may have reached a point where the federal government is so sclerotic and archaic that it needs a total overhaul. But putting Benghazi, the IRS's Tea Party targeting and the Justice Department's leak-hunting seizure of Associated Press phone records in the same basket is like comparing a mirage to a dishwasher to a diamond. There is no common thread.
Benghazi is a scam, not a scandal. It began as a political ploy during the 2012 presidential campaign. Republicans tried to pin a cover-up on the President. He'd been saying that al-Qaeda had been largely dismantled on his watch; the attack on the Benghazi consulate and CIA station by a local wannabe militia proved al-Qaeda was still a threat--and the Administration wanted to hide that fact. Except it didn't, really. The President called the Benghazi tragedy an "act of terror" the day after it happened. Al-Qaeda involvement was acknowledged three days after U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice read her famous, cautious, massaged talking points on the Sunday interview shows. As the President said, "Who executes some sort of cover-up ... for three days?" The scuffle between the CIA and State over the talking points was unseemly, but bureaucratic knife fights are as old as the Republic. The hyperbolic Republican assessments of the situation--comparing it to Watergate, calling for impeachment--just seem loony.
The Justice Department's secret seizure of AP phone records is more a policy dispute than a scandal. The AP was given a great story by someone in the government: The CIA had foiled another undie bomber about to blow up a plane. But that story, one surmises, put one or more covert operatives at risk of exposure. That is a very serious crime, and the Justice Department got a secret subpoena to seize the phone records of the AP journalists reporting the story. The tension between freedom and security has been debated vigorously since Sept. 11, 2001. My prejudice--and the prejudice of the Republican Party--has been toward security. The First Amendment isn't absolute; the government has a top-tier responsibility to protect Americans from terrorist attacks. The Justice Department's leak hunting may have been excessive, or not. We just don't know yet. But it's likely that nothing illegal happened here. Justice was working within the parameters of the law. That's not a scandal. It's a dispute over a gray line.


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"A survivor was found 10 miles out at sea."
Would you please R-K this sentence?
Thank you SO much.
Well gang . . .
Idioms or figures of speech are combinations of words whose meaning cannot be determined by examination of the meanings of the words that make it up
So I am going to suggest that "found at sea" is an idiom and the words, "10 miles out" are all adverbs telling "where"
"A survivor was found 10 miles out at sea."
Maybe this is too simple, but I would say that "was found" is passive voice, "at sea" answers "where" about found, "out" answers where about "at sea", "miles" answers how much about "out", "10" answers how many about "miles".
I am suggesting that found at sea is an idiom that functions as the entire phrasal verb.
He / was found at sea
out - adverb
miles - adj.
ten - adj for miles
(lost at sea is also be an idiom)
see: http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdic...ictionary/lose
That works.


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Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
other sections
Home > Ultima Worlds > Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds > Main
Ultima Underworld II is the follow-up after Ultima Underworld I, after which, Looking Glass stopped making the series. As you notice from the screen shot above, it features more realistic portraits and a bigger viewable screen. It's more fun to play, with many worlds to explore and riddles to solve.
NEWS just in! Ultima Underworld I: The Stygian Abyss & Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of worlds are now available for download @ GOG!
All your Base Are Belong To Us! Don't know what this is? After checking that link, check this out: An Ultima Underworld II - All Your Base Are Belong to Us humor!! Posted in the Wayward Avatar Forums.
Run Ultima Underworld I/II in Windows XP / Vista / 7
What's New
4 Feb 2015: Ultima Underworld Ascendant - Kickstarter
3rd June 2008 2130 GMT+8
8th May 2008 0330 GMT+8
3rd Jan 2008 2200 GMT+8
22nd Feb 2005 2230 GMT+8
7th November 2004 2255 GMT+8
17th November 2002 2235 GMT+8


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Hey Advertisers! Stop Believing The NFL's Lies About Trademark Law And Call The Super Bowl The Super Bowl
from the suck-it-up,-weenies deptFor years now, we've mocked how the NFL insists that no one can use the term "Super Bowl" in an advertisement unless they're an official sponsor of the event. That's why it's become so typical to see advertisers using "the big game" instead -- though, five years ago, the NFL even sought the trademark on "The Big Game" because so many advertisers were using it. However, Paul Levy rightly takes advertisers to task for being "weenies" and not standing up to the NFL on this. As he says:
Of course, the NFL's position is nonsense -- this is a nominative use that is just as permissible as, for example, referring to the "Chicago Bulls" instead of "the two-time world champions" or "the professional basketball team from Chicago" (Judge Kozinski's example from a different era, when the Bulls mattered).Basically, the game is called the Super Bowl, and calling it that isn't trademark infringement, so long as you don't imply that you're an official sponsor or otherwise officially associated with the game. Of course, where it gets even more ridiculous is when news organizations heed the NFL's warnings over this -- such as the email Levy received from the Boston Globe (pdf) about the Super Bowl, where the term doesn't appear at all. Levy points out that it's simply ridiculous that a news organization (and a big one with plenty of lawyers who get this) would still not use "Super Bowl." Levy suggests we start calling such ridiculousness out:
Instead of praising retailers who skate close to the edge, we should take a page from David Bollier's excellent Brand Name Bullies and call them Brand Name Weenies. Indeed, it is disappointing that a major metropolitan newspaper that belongs to an 800 pound gorilla like the New York Times Company is unwilling to defy the NFL by using the term in in its advertising. The Times and the Globe certainly advertise their coverage of the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, also trademarked names. If big players like the Times don't have the cojones to stand up for bullying from the NFL, they make it harder for everybody else.It's the Super Bowl. Call it the Super Bowl. Just... uh... don't have too many friends over to watch it on a big screen. Because that's copyright infringement.
In their recent book Reclaiming Fair Use, Pat Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi warn that when we refrain from exercising our fair use rights, and act as if those rights do not exist, we help create a culture in which fair use loses ground to overly aggressive copyright enforcement. The same is true in the trademark realm. We can only hope that when the next Superbowl rolls around, the Times and its brethren, and even the HDTV sellers, will have shed their timidity.
Filed Under: big game, super bowl, trademark
Companies: nfl


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Welcome to Diane Ondine
by Francine
When we woke up on Friday June 11th, a hummingbird stayed behind our window during long seconds, staring at us and announcing the wonderful day to come…
We had a homebirth 2 years before with Maria as our midwife who delivered our daughter Elia and we had explained to her about the birth for a couple of months : the water-tub, the groaning/screaming sounds mama will make, the baby who will come out of mama's belly…
It was the same schedule as 2 years ago : an appointment with Maria in the morning, non-stress screening at UCSF at noon, and the contractions began there… I was on my own and drove back home feeling happy, very grounded and "in charge", looking at the clock in the car and mentally writing down how far apart the contractions were coming, at that time they were ten minutes apart.
It had turned into the sunniest day we had had all year in San Francisco. I came back home, cooked some Miso soup, got a snack ready for Elia, swept the floor and pushed the table and chairs away from the center of the room so we would have room for the birth tub.
I called Maria to let her know the baby was on his/her way, called my husband Bryce for him to pick up our daughter at the nannies' and come home. I then called our friend Kristin who was the one who would be looking after Elia during the birth.
Everybody arrived in between 5.30pm and 6pm, right when I entered in real labor with stronger and closer contractions. Elia asked me to put some butter on her cracker and I had to stop at some point to let the contraction pass, she imitated me bending over, moving her hips and groaning and said "no that mama, I want butter cracker!"
That was so nice and sweet to have her around: she was holding my hand when I was in the water and later she wanted me to hear her belly with Maria's stethoscope.
The ambiance was very sweet, warm and intimate. We lit candles and once again the midwives team was discreet, I loved that. I can feel Maria's presence, I knew her focus and strength was all there but she did not step into my/our intimacy at all.
My water-bag never broke and our baby was born in the water and the sack (caul) at 10.03pm. Elia was falling asleep in the bedroom with our friend Kristin and as soon as she heard the baby crying, she came to us. She was a little bit concerned with the crying and the baby suddenly there and the rest of the activity. Bryce put her back to bed after a little while and she fell asleep.
I think I asked at least 2 times if it was a girl or a boy and nobody answered me! Now I realize that Maria's job was to check if the baby was healthy and breathing correctly and the gender was not the priority of the first minutes!
And she was a girl : 7.2lb and 21inches long, with dark hair and long fingers. Our little Diane Ondine.
We had her first name picked up but wanted to be sure it was the right one so she was called "baby sister" for the first 48 hours of her life - guess who chose this name?!
And then we picked up her middle name related to the way she was born : in French, Ondine means 'Spirit of the water", or water fairy.
We are so impressed by Elia, how she handled this big event and welcomed her sister, that was a great experience for her and she still talks about it : "baby cried, Maria Babies (that the nickname she gave to our midwife) with the light, mama in the water…"
Elia's first words when she saw Diane in the morning after the birth were "pretty, pretty!"
I can only wish every woman have a so nice and happy birth as we did…


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Writing PostgreSQL Functions with PL/pgSQLby David E. Wheeler
One of the most powerful features of PostgreSQL is its support for user-defined functions written in various programming languages, including pure SQL, C, Perl, Python, and PHP. Perhaps the most common programming language for PostgreSQL functions, however, is PL/pgSQL (don't ask me to pronounce it), because it comes with PostgreSQL and is easy to set up.
PL/pgSQL is a procedural language similar to Oracle's PL/SQL. It's much more powerful than pure SQL in that it supports variables, conditional expressions, looping constructs, exceptions, and the like. Because it natively supports all of PostgreSQL's SQL syntax, you can consider it a superset of PostgreSQL SQL. It also respects all data types and their associated functions and operators, and is completely safe for use inside of the server. Get all of the details in the PL/pgSQL documentation.
Installing PL/pgSQL
To get started with PL/pgSQL, first make sure it's installed in your PostgreSQL database. If it was a part of the
template1 database when your database was created, it will already be installed. To see whether you have it, run the following in the
psql client:
SELECT true FROM pg_catalog.pg_language WHERE lanname = 'plpgsql';
If the result row has the value
true, PL/pgSQL is already installed in your database. If not, quit
psql and execute the command:
$ createlang plpgsql database_name
To add a language, you must have superuser access to the database. If you've just installed PostgreSQL, then you can likely use the default
postgres user by passing
-U postgres to
createlang. From this point, you should be able to follow along by pasting the sample functions into
A First Function
To write your first PL/pgSQL function, start with something simple: a function to return the Fibonacci number for a position in the Fibonacci sequence. I know, I know; everyone uses a Fibonacci calculator to demonstrate code. Why can't I be original? Because a couple iterations of such a function will show off some of the more useful features of PL/pgSQL. It's purely pedagogical. A simple implementation is:
1 CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION fib (
2 fib_for integer
3 ) RETURNS integer AS $$
5 IF fib_for < 2 THEN
6 RETURN fib_for;
8 RETURN fib(fib_for - 2) + fib(fib_for - 1);
10 $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
Using the function is easy:
try=% select fib(8);
(1 row)
The first line uses PostgreSQL's
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION statement to create the function. The name of the function is
fib. The
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION statement is more useful in practice than the simple
CREATE FUNCTION statement, because it will drop an existing function with the same name and argument signature before creating the new one. This is very convenient while you're developing and testing a new function.
The second line declares the integer variable
fib_for as the sole argument to the function, and thus constitutes its entire argument signature. The argument signature must come after the name of the function, inside parentheses. In this respect, it's not much different than function or method declarations in most programming languages. Arguments can be of any type supported by PostgreSQL, including user-created types and domains, as well as composite data types such as table row types. This article's examples will use only simple data types, but see the PL/pgSQL Declarations documentation for details.
Note that named arguments were added to PL/pgSQL in PostgreSQL 8.0. In earlier versions of PostgreSQL, you must either use the default, numbered variable names for the arguments, or declare aliases in a
DECLARE block:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION fib ( integer ) RETURNS integer AS $$
fib_for ALIAS FOR $1;
-- ...
Unless you have an older version of PostgreSQL, use named arguments. They're more convenient.
The third line closes the argument signature and specifies the function return value (
integer). As with arguments, the return value of a function can be any PostgreSQL data type, including a composite type or even a cursor. The end of line three has the odd string
$$. This is PostgreSQL dollar-quoting. When used in place of the usual single-quotation mark quoting (
'), you don't have to escape single quotation marks within the body of the function. This makes them much easier to read.
Line four's
BEGIN statement marks the start of the function body, while lines 5-8 are the function body, implenting the standard recursive algorithm for determining a Fibonacci number. Lines 5-7 use the PL/pgSQL
IF-THEN conditional statement to return the sequence number itself if it is less than two. As with all blocks in PL/pgSQL, the
IF-THEN conditional ends with a final
END statement. Conditional expressions in PL/pgSQL can be any SQL expression that you might use in the
WHERE clause of a typical
SELECT statement. The nice thing here, however, is that you can use a variable (in this case,
fib_for) in the expression.
Line five demonstrates the ability of PL/pgSQL to not only execute other PL/pgSQL functions, but to do so recursively. In this case, the
fib() function calls itself twice in order to properly determine and return the Fibonacci number. Note that you can use the PL/pgSQL
RETURN keyword anywhere in a PL/pgSQL function to terminate the execution of the function and return a value.
Line nine's
END statement signals the end of the function body, while line ten closes the dollar quoting and identifies the function implementation language.
A Note on Statement Termination
At first glance, the placement of semicolons to terminate statements in the example function might appear to be somewhat ad hoc. I assure you that it is not. In PL/pgSQL, all blocks must terminate in a semicolon, as must all statements within that block. The expression that initiates the block, however, such as
BEGIN on line 4 or
IF fib_for <> on line five, does not end with semicolons. Line six, as a complete statement within the
IF ... THEN block, ends with a semicolon, as does the statement on line eight.
Perhaps the simplest way to remember this rule is to think of statements as requiring semicolons, and block initiation expressions as not being complete statements. That is, blocks only become complete statements when they


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|Index of all railway and model railway related websites in the UK and Ireland...
|The Royal Albert Bridge alextrack.co.uk Alextrackmodeller.co.uk railfind.co.uk Alex Seal MySpace railway register, rail index, rail links, british, bachmann, carriages, club, coaches, dapol, diesel, electric, em, engines, engineer, engineering, freight, garden, good, gwr, history, historical, ho, hobby, hobbies, hornby, information, irail, late, lms, lner, locos, locomotives, manufacturer, mainline, microsoft, model, modelling, modeling, modeller, modeler, modelmaker, n, national, network, o, oo, passenger, peco, photo, photograph, preservation, privatisation, railroad, pway, rail, railtrack, railway, railroad, research, reservation, resources, retailer, search, shop, signal, simulator, society, southern, sra, station, steam, timetables, times, track, traction, train, transportation, travel, triang, uk, wagon, wrenn, Model Railways, Railway, Models, Enthusiast, Trains, Hornby, Tri-ang, Triang, Dublo, Wrenn, Farish, Graham, Track, 00, 0, N, Gauge, Scale, Tinplate, Tin, Plate
|model railways like hornby and hmrs or historical model railway society, also lots of links to thomas the tank engine in our model railways or railway web directory search engine
irail.co.uk - link-rail.com - modeller.co.uk - railfind.co.uk - railfreightonline.co.uk - therailwaystation.com - ukrailtours.co.uk
Copyright © 2009 Alex Seal. All Rights Reserved.
UK cPanel Web Hosting provided by Krystal Hosting.
Last Modified: 20:17 Monday 18 January 2010 number one for model railways and thomas the tank engine


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I'm not a good soup photographer, so you don't get a picture of this. I got the recipe from this blog and she is a good soup photographer. She's even got some pictures of mushrooms on there, just in case you don't know what mushrooms look like. However, don't follow her recipe. There's way too much of some things and not enough of other things. I've improved upon it, after making it once, being disappointed and trying to fix it.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
2-3 cups roughly chopped mushrooms
1/2 a medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter
1/2 tsp. thyme
2 cups chicken stock (or two chicken bullion cubes with 2 cups of water)
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. black pepper (or a little more to taste, I'm not a huge fan of pepper)
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. flour
3 T. water
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan. Add the onion, mushrooms and garlic and saute about 5 minutes. Add the thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Simmer about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, dissolve the flour in the water. Stir into soup until it thickens. Add the milk and cream. Stir for a few minutes to blend and thicken. We've made this with the chicken meatballs below and it's a nice combination.


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Melissa O'Dell (301) 734-5222
Marci Hilt (202) 720-4623
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2008--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a federal order, effective immediately, requiring heat treatment for shipments of all firewood made of hardwood species entering the United States from Canada.
To ensure that pests such as the Asian longhorned beetle or emerald ash borer do not enter the United States through the movement of firewood from Canada, APHIS is requiring all firewood made from any hardwood species be heat treated to a minimum temperature of 71.1° Centigrade for 75 minutes. Commercial shipments of firewood must also be accompanied by a treatment certificate issued by the treatment facility. Noncommercial shipments must be accompanied by either a treatment certificate issued by the treatment facility or an attached treatment label.
This action is necessary to prevent the introduction or spread of wood pests through the movement of firewood made from hardwood species from Canada into the United States.
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at /newsroom. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to firstname.lastname@example.com and leave the subject blank. In the message, type
subscribe press_releases.


text:
Cased Drill SetsEach set comes racked in a metal case for easy selection. The 13-piece set is 1/16" to 1/4" by 64ths. The 15-piece set is 1/16" to 1/2" by 32nds. The 29-piece set is 1/16" to 1/2" by 64ths. Number sets are also available. Bits up to 3/8" are shanked to size; larger bits have 3/8" shanks.
Individual Replacement Drill BitsThese high-speed steel bits are the same quality as our twist drill sets. Shanked to size.


text:
Improve all of your colored pencil drawings! Learn easy, empowering techniques for color mixing, application and more.
Start drawing confidently and beautifully in colored pencil with lessons from artist and instructor Susan Rubin. Get set up for success as you learn to choose the perfect materials for your skill level, budget and preferred subject matter. Put pencil to paper as Susan simplifies color mixing with luminous color "recipes" you can recreate again and again. Then, enhance your drawings with methods for blending colored pencils and using everyday items to add amazing textures and details. Move on to drawing a still life of cherries using techniques for underpainting, drawing shadows, creating an atmospheric background and more. You'll even get step-by-step guidance for drawing a bright and beautiful flower using a new layering method and tips for achieving true-to-life shading.
If you're not delighted with your Bluprint experience, we'll make it right or give you a full refund.


text:
Since I did a blog about the return of Matt Dawson (scroll down), it's only fair to mention Tim Dwyer, the other new graduate assistant coach. Tim comes to us from Northeastern where he played for Coach Brown.
Dwyer won Northeastern's team dedication award as well as the Iron Man award two years in a row.
The UMass Football Fanzone would like to welcome Tim aboard and wish him well on starting his coaching career.


text:
CannaTixx.com provides secure online ordering to SOLD OUT sporting events, concerts, performing arts, theater, Broadway tickets, and more. Primarilarly "We Cater To The Cannabis Crowd." ™
There is currently no online inventory available for this event.
Please contact GexaEnergyPavilionDallas.com at (866)459-9233 or email@example.com or fill out and submit the form below to check availability for this event.
[gmap a="Portland, OR 97209″ w="600″ h="480″ z="1″, i="near"]


text:
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to cake: CCLE
the residuum after extraction of oil from oil seeds, used extensively as a protein supplement to diets of all housed animal species.
cake poisoning
varies with the seed, linseed cake may cause cyanide poisoning, cottonseed cake may cause gossypol poisoning.
Patient discussion about cake
Q. Anybody know any special cakes for diabetes patients? not just sugarless... something that was specially designed maybe...? any recipes??
A. Thank you diabetes community!!! you are good people... I invite you to try the cakes once they're ready...More discussions about cake


text:
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Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Are American Cars Coming Back In Favor?
"WASHINGTON -- America's love affair with the automobile has a new spark -- a renewed affection for U.S.-made cars after a long dalliance with foreign automakers.
Slightly more Americans now say the U.S. makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38% saying U.S. cars are best and 33% naming autos made by Asian countries, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll.
The survey suggests those numbers are largely fueled by a plunge in Toyota's reputation and an upsurge in Ford's. The poll was conducted in March, as Toyota was being roiled by nightmarish publicity over its recall of more than 8 million vehicles around the globe and allegations that it responded sluggishly to safety concerns..."
I happy to see that Ford, GM and, to a lesser extent, at least for now, Chrysler, are showing solid signs of turning around. I'd also strongly consider an American brand for my next car purchase, because I think the domestics are competitive now.
How do you feel about it? Would you buy domestic brand?
Absolutely, I would! American cars have never fell out of favor with me. I'd buy another Cadillac or Buick in a New York second! :shades:0
Not yet I wouldn't buy one because no one has proven their long term reliability yet, except for maybe the Ford Fusion which is approaching the 4-5 year mark now. So other than maybe that, which so far has proven to be really reliable and quality vehicle. All the rest have time to prove themselves to me at least.0
If you all exactly looked closely at the specific tables of information from that poll you would see that there was not exactly that much of an increase from the American automaker preference in Dec 06 and then again last month when they asked again.
If you look at CAR3a table you'll see that the ACTUAL car makers people reported being in their garage at that time actually went down for domestic automakers (60% down to 56%) between Dec 06 and Mar 10 while foreign automakers remained the same (37%). Ford had no increase or decrease between 2006 and 2010, while GM had a drop of 7 from 2006 to 2010, while Chrysler had a drop of 4 from 2006 to 2010. This is the most telling graph in the poll since it counts THE ACTUAL vehicles people had in their garages when polled! What I don't understand is, AP used the one poll that went by COUNTRY, not by automakers, to say that people perfer cars from the US over Asia, yet this table of actual automakers in the garage of consumers would prove otherwise? Nothing change from 2006 to 2010 except the fact that their was a total drop in domestic automakers in people's garage from 2006 to 2010 while foreign automakers had no change.
In table CAR9, between Dec 06 and Mar 10 the people who would prefer to buy American cars rose 1 point (WOW) from 39 to 40, while foreign makers dropped a few points. Though it interesting that a good majority answered that it didn't matter (45) which automakers they had so those people could have put foreign past domestic possibly, or it could have work the other way. Even if you discount the large number of it doesn't matter folks, saying that American car preference rose by 1 lousy point in almost 4 years is really insignificant. If it rose by maybe 6-8 pts I might be more willing to say that means something but I don't think so with just a 1 point change.
Then in table CAR14, when they asked which car company produces the best quality vehicles, foreign automakers were almost 9 points higher than domestic with GM actually having a drop from 06 to 10 of 3 with Ford being the only one who remained the same from 06 to 10.
So my whole point is, there were several parts of the poll that showed foreign automakers leading the domestics in certain areas or that there was no change from 2006 of foreign automakers in people's garage. AP picked and choose the specific information they wanted to post that showed that domestic automakers had passed foreign automakers but if you actually take the time to look at all the tables you'll see that in actuality, that is not the case. It did show that their was a drop across all poll questions in some confidence in foreign automakers from 2006 to 2010, which is understandable considering the events of Toyota in the last few months. I find it interesting that they chose to do this poll right in the middle of all this pomp and circumstance right now, with the media blasting Toyota every other day and is fresh in people's mind. They had to know, that the unusual events with Toyota of the last several months would bias the normal avg joe away from saying that foreign makes were better. I think the results would have been substantially different had it been repolled in Jan 2009 or June 2009 when there was a much different situation in this country in the automotive industry.
What AP should have done, is waited to Dec 2010, when it would have been exactly 4 years since the first poll, and that way, this stuff with Toyota and paying for their mistakes would have been over by then, and every one would have been on a unbias playing field when polled. It would have been interesting to see if many months after this stuff with Toyota ended if indeed the American public was affected by it back toward American automakers rather than doing it right in the middle of the Toyota pomp and circumstance.
bumpy Posts: 4,435Would you buy domestic brand?
Nope. They don't offer anything I want.0
garv214 Posts: 162Yes, I would definitely consider purchasing an American car again. I have owned primarily Japanese cars over the past 25 years, but am getting seriously interested in Ford's offerings. I value the sporty nature, fuel efficiency, and reliability of the Japanese cars that I have owned. However, recently, the Japanese models that I would consider to replace my current car have adopted...er...interesting... styles (Acura TSX and the Mazda3).
I recently saw some articles on the Ford Focus (which I would have bought back in 2001 but the 4 door hatchback had not made it to the US then...), which got me excited about Ford. I will likely continue driving my Protege5 for another couple of years, so I have some time before the big day arrives.0
andre1969 Posts: 23,552American cars never really fell out of favor with me, since I tend to go for bigger cars, something that was traditionally a strong suit of the domestics.
However, I have found that as the Japanese cars got bigger and finally started offering what I'd call "true" midsized cars, I started considering them more and more. The first one that really caught my eye was the 2002 Nissan Altima.
One thing that I've found kind of odd is that, traditionally I liked the domestics because they were larger. But in midsized cars, these days, the Camry, Accord, and Altima feel to me like they're larger cars than the Fusion, Malibu, and Sebring!
Still, among the domestics I'd consider a Fusion, although I do like the Altima. If I wanted to go a bit bigger, I'd consider a Charger or 300, a Lucerne, or even a throwback like a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis. The new LaCrosse is nice too, but I think I'd just prefer the extra room in the Lucerne, if I was gonna go the Buick route.
I find that, in my old age, I'm turning into a bit of a tightwad, so it's probably going to be used cars from here on out, unless I hit the lottery.0
I do have to say, of all the domestic auto mobiles I looked at and sat in at the auto show, the only one that peaked my interest and felt had comfortable seats was the Ford Fusion.
If its reliability keeps going the way it does, I might be considering it in a few years when I'm ready for another car! I can tell you if I was going to buy a hybrid sedan, the Fusion probably be it! I could not believe how much trunk room you got in the Fusion Hybrid. Usually you lose the trunk on hybrids and that is something you have to sacrifice but I didn't find that with the fusion.
I personally like the Fusion, Altima, and Sonata!0
nippononly SF Bay AreaPosts: 12,726from AP:
AP-GfK Poll: Americans shifting to US cars
Buy American? That's suddenly a good idea again to more car buyers. Toyota's safety problems and a buffed-up lineup of offerings from Detroit's Big 3 are rubbing the tarnish off car buyers' perceptions of U.S. models. An Associated Press-GfK Poll shows that 38 percent favor U.S. vehicles while 33 percent prefer Asian brands, a significant improvement for U.S. automakers compared to four years ago.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/04/21/national/w000531D81.- - DTL&type=autos
But then I noticed that everyone they quoted in the article was from the midwest! Kinda seemed like a sample designed to make it appear that domestics were on their way back.
As for me, I have noticed that we have pretty much reached the point where the Japanese are making only boring cars that are no more interesting or reliable than the domestics, for the most part. But would I buy one? Well, GM and Chrysler are out for life because of the bailouts.
But I just got signed up to be notified when my local Ford dealer gets Fiestas this summer, and I think in general Ford is so hot it's on fire. I am hoping against hope that the Fiesta and next-gen Focus are as good as they are supposed to be, and that they can eventually replace the Ranger with a proper compact truck. And maybe introduce a sport coupe more Miata-like than the Mustang....
I have a coworker that switched from Honda to Ford in '05 with an Escape purchase, and has just bought a new Fusion which she loves. She's certainly not looking back, and I think others will join her this year if the domestics really strike while the iron is hot.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)0
"... GM and Chrysler are out for life because of the bailouts."
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you in favor of the bailouts, at least somewhat?0
nippononly SF Bay AreaPosts: 12,726I was always vehemently opposed to the bailouts. Both GM and Chrysler were companies that deserved to meet their maker. Today their build and materials quality is either low (Chrysler) or inconsistent (GM), and they will never be in contention for my fleet.
Having said that, I do wish GM well with the Volt because I think it is an important technological step forward, just as the Leaf is for Nissan, even though I haven't owned their products since they were Datsun and probably never will again. And if Fiat ever starts to sell the Abarth 500 here, I may have to check it out even if I DO have to visit a Chrysler dealership to do so!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)1
Ah, okay. Thanks for clarifying.0
iluvmysephia1 Alamogordo, NMPosts: 7,615I am getting closer and closer to considering a Ford product for later on. Mitsubishi and Suzuki have me firmly by my shorthairs right now...but ya never know. Ford has always been my automobile of choice.
Until the 1999 Kia Sephia became a daily part of my life. Then everything changed forever. Foa tha betta, brudders.
The key, though, ta enjoying my '99 Kia Sephia was getting the 70,000 mile Yokohama radial tires and those Konig Diva wheels. This was early in 2001. I bought the car in May of 1999. Made a huge difference in true driving enjoyment. The '99 Kia Sephia cost me a whopping $7,995 after a $2,000 manufacturers rebate.
2011 Kia Soul Sport 5-speed0
Judging from sales and gains in market share in 2011, the domestic brands are being considered and purchased by an increasing number of buyers.0
How many of those are fleet sales though.'16 Audi TTS quattro 2.0T, '15 Audi A4 quattro 2.0T, '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion AWD0
berri Posts: 10,142The Tsunami also affected Toyota and Honda more than some other makes. I guess a few years down the road will tell whether these conversion sales back to D3 are retained. I'm hoping Detroit will have been able to capitalize, but my money wouldn't go against Japan.0
Good question, to which I don't have the answer. I did read, though, that the Detroit 3 have dialed back on fleet sales, and that a greater percentage of their production is for retail sales than before GM and Chrysler got bailed out. I don't know whether fleet sales are a greater percentage of total sales for the Detroit 3 than for the import brands, however.0
cannon3 Posts: 296Toyota was bailed out by its government, but for some this is ok??? Nissan was bailed out by Renault/French government.. but his is ok for some once again??
Yes, I believe there is a re-surgance in the American auto industry. In the 70/80's and part of the 90s Ford/GM/Dodge were not building vehicles to compete. It took a sledge hammer to wake the slumbering giants. Ford with its Mustang, Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, Taurus, Explorer lineup can go head to head with any manufacturer. GM with its Malibu, Cruze, and soon to be released Sonic. Not to forget the re-birth of Buick and Cadillac. Yes, Americans are taking notice that Americans can compete, Americans can build world class vehicles. This is just the beginning folks, the best is yet to come from AMERICAN auto manufacturers. The giants have awaken.0
Just got a mailer from Cadillac for the upcoming XTS! Aaargh! Why did they send that to me? I just paid off my DTS Performance last year! I don't want a new car payment!0
Hay! How much you want for that DTS? :blush:2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.0
I'm going to resist the XTS siren song for a bit and hold onto my DTS for a while longer. The DTS is still in like new condition. You'd be virtually getting a new car. It never sees rain or snow. I haven't driven it much this month due to this August being the wettest in Philadelphia history.0
What's the matter, those Caddies can't handle a little rain and hurricane like Irene? :P
I think driving through bad weather conditions builds character for the car.'16 Audi TTS quattro 2.0T, '15 Audi A4 quattro 2.0T, '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion AWD0
No, the car is black and it's a ferocious PITA to detail it back to my satisfaction. It looks beautiful for all of ten minutes until the dust hits it. Add a little rain and it's Spot City.0
I'd have to drive it back your way every week for proper care......2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.0
I go through a lot of Meguire's Quik Detailer!0
motorcity6 Posts: 427What model yr, mileage, and sunroof?? My black 2006 Grand Prix GT is somewhat of a pain to keep clean for I get to the beach daily, lots of rain, and my monthly wash job is okay for it is garaged if not in use..Bought the wife 3 Caddys, all white with sunroofs, 91, 96 and 99..not too bad on reliability, but lose value quickly..
Mileages dumped 60k,95k, and 25k..
The B2+Chrysler are iffy and the Govt will set the path to recovery, and if the EPA gets real strict on their "mileage stds" then any turn around will be short-lived..In any effort to boost mileage, the industry will flood us with junk and hype..
The "good old days" are history unless the the "bozos in Washington are flushed..0
2007 Cadillac DTS Performance, 11,948 miles, sunroof. The color is the only thing I hate about it.0
While American cars have a long way to go before they recapture over 50% of the North American car market (excluding trucks), they're making gains. For example, the Chevy Cruze is the #1 selling compact for through August 2011, and the Ford Fusion is #3 in the midsize category, where the Malibu has also been a strong seller. Of course, now that Japan is recovering from the earthquake and tsunami, and is quickly restocking inventories, competition will intensify. Still, the important thing is product, and GM and Ford finally have strong entries, so they should continue to do well. At a minimum, they're back in the race, and can once again be taken seriously.
Chrysler remains a question mark. Their midsize cars, even after an extensive refresh, are still below best-in-class, and the Caliber hasn't been a popular compact. We'll have to wait until the 2012-2014 timeframe to assess whether the next generation Fiat-based Dodges and Chryslers can recapture significant market share. I think they'll have one shot at it. If they're well designed, attractively styled and have good quality they'll make it. If not, they're finished, in my opinion. I'm confident Sergio Marchionne understands this. The big question mark is whether he'll be able to execute on this challenge. My guess is that he will.
In the meantime, Toyota and Honda have demonstated that they're not infallible. Toyota had quality problems in '09 and '10, and Honda's reputation as a design leader has slipped significantly.
As always, the race for market share among the volume brands will be interesting to watch. Among the luxury brands, the Germans are reasserting their leadership. BMW is on track to take the #1 position from Lexus, and Audi is gaining market share. Acura seems to have lost its way, while Infiniti is holding its own, and gaining a little. Mercedes remains #3, after Lexus, but it's a tight race for the #2 spot.
Worldwide, GM will recapture the title of the world's largest automaker from Toyota in 2011.0
Consumers Reports was impressed by the improvements made to these two Chrysler cars, and moved them from bottom to mid-pact in the rankings for their respective class. Maybe this will help these once popular models to get a second win in 2012.0
stever Posts: 52,462
Here's the latest ranking of cars that are the most "American" ("American" limited to the US in this case) from the Kogod School of Business in DC. The F-150 leads the way, followed by the Corvette.0
uplanderguy Kent, OHPosts: 11,278
Camry-lovers will contest that list.0


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More than 10 weeks after Superstorm Sandy hit, the House approved $50.5 billion in emergency relief for the victims. The vote came Tuesday night, as Republican leaders struggled to close out an episode that exposed painful party divisions inside Congress and out.
The vote was 241-180, and officials said the Senate was likely to accept the measure early next week and send it to President Barack Obama for his signature. Democrats supported the aid in large numbers, while Republicans opposed it by a lopsided margin.
"We are not crying wolf here," said Rep. Chris Smith (R) of New Jersey, one of a group of Northeastern lawmakers from both parties working for House passage of legislation roughly in line with what the Obama administration and governors of the affected states have sought.
Democrats were more politically pointed as they brushed back Southern conservatives who sought either to reduce the measure or offset part of its cost through spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.
"I just plead with my colleagues not to have a double standard," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. "Not to vote tornado relief to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Mississippi, Missouri, to — with Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Rita — but when it comes to the Northeast, with the second worst storm in the history of our country, to delay, delay, delay."
One key vote: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) of New Jersey moved to add $33.5 billion to an original allotment of $17 billion in aid. That roll call was 228-192 and Democrats broke 190-2 in favor, while Republicans opposed it overwhelmingly, 190-38.
Similarly, on final passage, 192 Democrats joined 49 Republicans in support. Opposed were 179 Republicans and one Democrat.
Earlier, conservatives failed in an attempt to offset a part of the bill's cost with across-the-board federal budget cuts. The vote was 258-162.
Rep. Mark Mulvaney (R) of South Carolina argued for the budget cuts, saying that he wasn't trying to torpedo the aid package, only to pay for it. "Are there no savings, are there no reductions we can put in place this year so these folks can get their money?" he asked plaintively.
Critics said the proposed cuts would crimp Pentagon spending as well as domestic accounts and said the aid should be approved without reductions elsewhere. "There are times when a disaster simply goes beyond our ability to budget. Hurricane Sandy is one of those times," said Rep. Hal Rogers (R) of Kentucky, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Sandy roared through several states in late October and has been blamed for 140 deaths and billions of dollars in residential and business property damage, much of it in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It led to power outages and interruptions to public transportation that made life miserable for millions, and the clamor for federal relief began almost immediately.
The emerging House measure includes about $16 billion to repair transit systems in New York and New Jersey and a similar amount for housing and other needs in the affected area. An additional $5.4 billion would go to the Federal Emergency and Management Agency for disaster relief, and $2 billion is ticketed for restoration of highways damaged or destroyed in the storm.
The governors of the three states most directly affected praised the congressional action.
"We are grateful to those members of Congress who today pulled together in a unified, bipartisan coalition to assist millions of their fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut at their greatest time of need," said a joint statement issued by Governors Andrew M. Cuomo (D) of New York, Chris Christie (R) of New Jersey, and Dannel P. Malloy (D) of Connecticut. "The tradition of Congress being there and providing support for Americans during times of crisis, no matter where they live across this great country, lives on in today's vote in the House of Representatives."
The governors said they "anticipate smooth passage when this package moves back to the Senate for final approval and for this long-awaited relief to finally make its way to our residents."
The Senate approved a $60 billion measure in the final days of the Congress that expired on Jan. 3, and a House vote had been expected quickly.
It is highly unusual for a majority party to bring legislation to a vote that its own rank and file opposes, but in this case, Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio, and the leadership had little or no choice.
Rep. Boehner unexpectedly postponed the vote in the final hours of the expiring Congress as he struggled to calm conservatives who were unhappy that the House had just approved a separate measure raising tax rates on the wealthy.
The delay drew a torrent of criticism, much of it from other Republicans.
"There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims, the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner," Gov. Christie said on the day after the delay was announced. Rep. Pete King (R) of New York added that campaign donors in the Northeast who give to Republicans "should have their head examined."
Less than two weeks later, the leadership brought legislation to the floor under ground rules designed to satisfy as many Republicans as possible while retaining support from Democrats eager to approve as much in disaster aid as possible.
Across the capitol, majority Democrats indicated they would probably not seek changes.
"While the House bill is not quite as good as the Senate bill, it is certainly close enough," Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said. "We will be urging the Senate to speedily pass the House bill and send it to the president's desk."
Congress has already approved a $9.7 billion increase in a fund to pay federal flood insurance claims, much of it expected to benefit Sandy's victims.
The political veered into the personal at times during hours of debate.
In remarks on the House floor, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D) of N.J., said one South Carolina lawmaker who has criticized the measure "personally took a small business" disaster loan in the past. While he didn't mention any names, Rep. Mulvaney has said he received such a loan.
Mulvaney later told reporters the comparison was a poor one. He said that unlike funds in the Sandy legislation, the loan he received was approved within the budget, and not as an add-on that increased the deficit.
In the weeks since the storm hit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has spent about $3.1 billion to construct shelters, restore of power, and meet other immediate needs after Sandy pounded the Atlantic Coast with hurricane-force winds and coastal flooding.
Officials say Sandy is the most costly natural disaster since hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm damaged or destroyed 305,000 housing units in New York, and disrupted more than 265,000 businesses, officials have said. In New Jersey, more than 346,000 households were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 families still live outside of their homes, according to officials.


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A Scottish Widows report has found that people find it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance in the face of long working days and significant commutes.
A Scottish Widows report has found that people find it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance in the face of long working days and significant commutes.
53% of younger workers aged 18-24 year olds feel that their lives are currently skewed towards work.
Working hours appear to be a contributing factor as the report suggests that employees spend more than 10 hours each day at work (or getting to and from it) while spending less than 3 hours a day with their loved ones.
Parents of children under the age of 18 are especially concerned about their failure to achieve a healthy balance between work and family.
Some of their concerns were:
51% of parents feel they are missing out on seeing their children grow up
41% say that work commitments force them to let their family down on planned activities
48% state they don't have time to prepare or eat meals with their family.
Employees are looking to their employers to do more to help them achieve a better work/life balance.
60% of workers want to see their employers offer flexible working hours, while 47% want the flexibility to work from home.
The report also found:
21% of employees would accept lower pay if they were able to work fewer hours
58% of employers would offer employees the same level of support, regardless of family circumstances
26% of employees said that their employer offers them the level of support.
There is a growing understanding among businesses that technology and flexible working patterns can help achieve greater productivity and efficiencies in the workplace while also allowing employees to achieve a better balance between work and their personal life.
With this in mind, the business standards company (BSI) has announced a The Smart Working Code of Practice which aims to create modern workplaces that support more flexibility and collaboration to give employees a better work/life balance.
The code of practice is intended for use by organisations of all sizes and in all sectors.
Nigel Holland from Holland & Co Chartered Accountants said:
" The above report is very interesting and it is important that people maintain a healthy work/ life balance. I often expected to find that younger workers are more work oriented and the report confirms this. It is encouraging that many Employers are helping their staff achieve the correct balance. This on many occasions will not only help their employees but could result in the business being rewarded in the form of goodwill from their staff.
This problem and its solution applies to all sectors of the economy."


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HURTS SO GOOD, A NEW PLAY BY NEIL SIMON and More Set for WSU Studio Theatre's Heck-Rabi Play Festival, 2/28-3/9
Since 2000, the Studio Theatre has hosted the Louise Heck-Rabi Dramatic Playwriting One Act Festival, encouraging young playwrights to submit their original works. Each year, 6-7 semi-finalists are chosen out of all submissions. The plays are then read at a Workshop, where they are critiqued by judges. Three finalists win a scholarship as well as the opportunity to produce their play in front of a live audience. Each winning playwright has a chance to work with a student director and student performers to realize their productions on the stage.Running February 28 through March 9, 2013 audience members can see this year's selected student plays: Hurts So Good by Carollette Phillips and Edmund Alyn Jones, A New Play by Neil Simon by Dave Toomey, and Chiseled by Laura Heikkinen. Tickets are $5 and are available by calling the Hilberry Theatre Box Office at (313) 577-2972, online at wsustudio.com, or by visiting the box office at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Hancock.
Hurts So Good is a story about two people who are bonded to each other through a shared love and past. It is about self-sacrifice, lingering hopes, and the kind of regrets that always leaves one asking "What if?" Hurts So Good is a drama that explores the struggle called love in the context of modern complications.
A New Play by Neil Simon chronicles Lou, a theatre veteran and director, and his best friend Sandy who decide to put on a new play by renowned playwright Neil Simon. The play investigates demonic repossession and, during rehearsals, becomes too real as disembodied voices and shadows haunt the theatre.
Chiseled is a piece that questions where "we" went wrong utilizing the snapshots of our memories. In Chiseled, the actors live and reflect in and out of the realistic world, and the confines of what we "think" happened in our minds to find the answers.
Louise Heck-Rabi was a dedicated writer and an active member in the Detroit literary scene. She created the playwriting scholarship to ensure that young playwrights of Detroit would carry on her passion years after her passing. The competition serves as a memorial and tribute to her dedication to the arts and to education.
The cast includes (in alphabetical order):
Hurts So Good: James Jordan (Southfield, MI) as Him, Alexis Mabry (Detroit, MI) as Her.
A New Play by Neil Simon: Zyle Cook (Marcellus, MI) as Sandy, Gaia Klotz (Midland, MI) as Lorraine, Dan Miller (Harper Woods, MI) as Felix, Joe Sfair (Eastpointe, MI) as Lou.
Chiseled: Hannah Butcher (Taylor, MI) as Model, Denzel Clark (Detroit, MI) as Dan, Kristen Dawn-Dumas (Southwest Detroit, MI) as Cee, Tayler Jones (Detroit, MI) as Em/Guest 1, Bryauna Perkins (Chesterfield, MI) as Elle, Laith Salim (Dearborn, MI) as Jay, Brad Smith (Waterford, MI) as Guest 2.
The production team includes: Zee Bricker (Director, Hurts So Good), Sharayah Kay Johnson (Director, A New Play by Neil Simon), Sara Kline (Director, Chiseled), Jamie Spinelli (Production Stage Manager), Michael Hallberg (Stage Manager, Hurts So Good), Shannon Hurst (Stage Manager, A New Play by Neil Simon), Amanda Mahoney (Stage Manager, Chiseled), Lisa Berg (Scenic Designer), Cameron Gottschall (Assistant Scenic Designer), Mike Gingerella, Kendall Talbot (Costume Designer), Tyler Ezell (Lighting & Sound Designer), and Felix Li (Publicist).
The Studio Theatre is an intimate, 110-seat, open-stage theatre in the lower level of the Hilberry Theatre on Wayne State University's campus that is often used for experimental, student, and classroom productions. Annual programming includes the PhD Directors' Series, the Student Stage and the Louise Heck-Rabi Dramatic Writing Competition. For nearly fifty years the Studio Theatre has presented great theatre featuring WSU undergraduate students. With generous support from patrons and donors, the Studio Theatre recently underwent renovation. For box office hours and information on performances, tickets, and group discounts, please call the box office at (313) 577-2972 or visit the theatre's website at www.wsustudio.com.
Pictured: Zyle Cook as Sandy, Joe Sfair as Lou, Dan Miller as Felix in A New Play by Neil Simon.


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Apple tumbled to its lowest level in over a year, as investors continued to dump shares of the tech company amid worries over second-quarter iPad mini shipments.
The once-darling tech giant of Wall Street shed nearly 6 percent Wednesday, briefly breaking below $400 a share for the first time since December 2011, following a report from DigiTimes that iPad mini shipments could fall 20 percent to 30 percent quarter-over-quarter, to 10 million to 12 million in the June quarter, because of "lacking demand in the market."
"We continue to see risks to [Apple's] consensus estimates, primarily with respect to the June quarter," wrote Edward Parker of Lazard Capital Markets. "June should be the trough quarter ahead of multiple new product introductions into this summer and into fall."


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ESPN is reporting Dolphins QB Chad Pennington is out for the season with a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder.
The injury happened after a hit in the third quarter of Sunday's 23-13 loss to San Diego. Pennington will seek a second opinion, the ESPN report said. Pennington will seek the advice of renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who has already operated on the shoulder twice.
The Dolphins have not confirmed the report, but all signs point to the end for Pennington and maybe the Dolphins' season.
Maybe Dr. Andrews offers a buy-two-get-one-free, and Old Chad comes ba -- oh, who are we kidding? We just weren't ready to let him go quite yet. All signs -- and an expiring two-year contract on a papier machéd shoulder socket -- point to the end of the Pennington Era in Miami Gardens.
That means the Fins will get their Henne on, a little sooner than expected. Mortensen said the Dolphins are "firmly committed" to upgraded backup Chad Henne (second round out of Michigan last year) and have "NO interest" in bringing in a competitive starter. Pat White will fill in at no. 2, and ESPN says the Fins are shopping for a third stringer (you knew it would happen: Mike Barardino has already suggested 45-year-old Vinny Testaverde).
"Chad [Pennington] is our leader," receiver Greg Camarillo told ESPN. "Any injury to him is an injury to our offense. But it's also an opportunity for Henne to step up. We've got faith in his quarterbacking abilities. It's time for him to show it off."
Judging from how shaky Henne looked in a quarter and a half on Sunday, we're going with the "or not" part of "ready or not."
It's not fair, of course, to judge Henne based on a quarter and a half of play when he had yet to see the field this year. His performance in the pre-season wasn't stellar, however, and he never pushed Pennington in training camp.
But he takes the reins Sunday against the Bills anyway, and fortunately for him, a three-game homestand is a far more comfortable place to truly begin an NFL career than, say, New England.
Unfortunately for him, he'll be dealt the same roster Pennington was.
According to fans, this is either the best thing to happen to the Dolphins all season because the ability to throw deep will magically cure Ted Ginn Jr. of having stones for hands, or another reason to join a Sunday afternoon knitting group (next week: adorable nubby arm slings for the man who won us an AFC East title with 870 lil' 5-yard passes).
Assuming leadership of an ailing 0-3 team will either take the pressure off or ruin Henne's confidence forever, but hey, at least now morbid curiosity gives us a reason to watch the hot fishy mess again.
As for Pennington, this could be the end of his Dolphins career. He was in the final year of a two-year deal that saw the veteran take the Phins from league doormat to AFC East division champs in one year.
He has twice won comeback player of the year after returning from severe arm injuries, most recently last year.
But with his arm strength already in question, it will be difficult to ask Pennington to three-peat.