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To take our minds off the election, a feature called Puffs and Pans has been created. These items have happened and either have a good ending or they are so outrageous they deserve some recognition.
Pans - A CPA who created his own nonprofit foundation to offer marriage counseling specializing in financial problems was found guilty of tax evasion himself. The IRS had previously granted the foundation tax-exempt status when he convinced them that he was offering pre-marital and eventually post marital advice. It seems that he lectured nationally on television on the issue of financial problems being one of the primary causes of divorce.
While he was promoting his theories and advice, he had an active and lucrative accounting practice that was being run simultaneously. All of the income earned in the accounting practice was deposited into the nonprofit marriage consulting business which was considered a charitable entity. As a result, he did not file a personal tax return for over the four years between 1999 through 2002. When he was finally caught he had underreported his income to the extent of $1 million. Not only did he bypass the proper reporting of the income, he also used the money for personal expenses, and purchasing such "toys" as an airplane and an expensive SUV.
When this four-day trial went before the jury, it took them just three hours to convict but will take until March 2013 to sentence him. Should have taken his own advice, don't mess with the "family" money. 3 Puffs for getting caught.
Pans - The IRS is going to be given another task in addition to collecting all the taxes due to the federal government. They will be charged with overseeing various provisions of the health care bill passed two years ago. The Supreme Court has deemed most of the Act as a tax and that would fall under the jurisdiction of the IRS. Within the next two years, taxpayers will have to provide some sort of proof on their personal tax returns that they have health insurance. In the event they don't, the filer can be charged with a penalty of $95 or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater for 2014. The penalty can grow to $695 or 2½ percent of income beginning in 2016 with a maximum of $2,085 per family.
This penalty would normally be considered to be a tax and therefore subject to income tax evasion if you did not pay it. However, the health bill explicitly says the taxpayer would not be subject to criminal charges. It has been suggested that in the event the penalty is not paid, the IRS will not file liens or levies against bank accounts or wages.
One method of collection would be the withholding of tax refunds. That would require the insurance companies that are writing the policies to submit forms both to the taxpayer and the government. Copies of this form similar to a Form 1099 would be sent in with the tax return for verification by the IRS. As in everything else, there could be a delay in the refunds and create a problem for those who rely on these funds to purchase big-ticket items. There can be exemptions because of financial hardships or religious beliefs. But with the current government spending problems, is the funding for this collection program actually going to be of prime importance during the fiscal cliff discussions? Five Pans for this action.
Observation: There are some people who stand behind our president that should get around so he can watch them.
Edward J. Loughrey, CFE, EA, LPA can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or at 843-705-7258.


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New Wines From Toro
Tue 13 Jul 2004
We have just taken delivery of the new rosado from Bodegas Farina. Deep crimson in colour, Colegiata Rosado 2003 is a full flavoured rosé made from 100% Tempranillo, which gives this wine a wonderful full flavour and long finish.
Also a newcomer to our wine list from the same Bodega is Gran Colegiata Roble Francés Crianza 1999, which has been aged in French oak barrels for eleven months.

subset: commoncrawl


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Plans to expand California Institution for Men in Chino are scrapped
Decision was made to eliminate CIM as a possible location based on the level of engineering analysis needed to complete the project within the time frame allowed
By Canan Tasci
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
CHINO — City officials have recently learned the California Institution for Men is not being considered for the placement of additional housing facilities for prisoners.
CIM was one of several locations being reviewed by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for construction of up to three, 792-bed Level II correctional housing facilities and related support buildings.
Based on notification received from the CDCR, the decision was made to eliminate CIM as a possible location based on the level of engineering analysis needed to complete the project within the time frame allowed, according to a Chino news release.
"As the draft (environmental report) was being completed, we realized that we don't have enough information on what it would take to increase the water supply, water treatment and waste water treatment at CIM while still maintaining our schedule," said Dana Simas, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
"There is just too much information that would be needed and it would take too much time for us to look into it."
The corrections department has sought to improve conditions at the state's prisons and to reduce costs. Earlier this year the state said it planned to build a new Level II facility in the state, one of them being CIM.
Other sites under consideration are state prisons at Sacramento, Folsom, Solano, Vacaville, Ione and San
Prison officials said most likely sites to be selected are the R.J. Donovan Prison in San Diego and Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, southeast of Sacramento.
All of the prisons house Level II inmates, who are considered lower-level offenders who have committed white collar or financial crimes or were involved in drugs or property offenses.
"Although CIM has been a part of our growing community for many years, the council and I cannot support the placement of new facilities that would house additional prisoners at CIM until the population and on-going and deferred maintenance issues have been properly addressed," said Mayor Dennis Yates in a news release.
"We are pleased to have received this news and thankful for our many community partners, who supported our position on this project."
Prison officials are in the process of scheduling public meetings which will allow residents to comment on the draft environmental report that has been completed for the expansion.
A final decision likely won't come down until late this year, Simas said.
- Tags
- Corrections


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- Chronospace - Breitling Watch Chronospace Automatic (BTL-332)
Official Authorised Dealer
Seen it at a lower price? View our Price Promise
Breitling Watch Chronospace Automatic. With its highly original bezel and its resolutely technical appearance, the Breitling watches Chronospace Automatic is distinguished by an exceptional design, combined with all the qualities of an authentic pilots instrument. Thanks to its star shaped cut out that makes it easy to use when wearing gloves, the bidirectional rotating bezel ensures simple and accurate handling of the aviation slide rule. Its sophisticated rack and pinion system guarantees water resistance to 200 meters (600 ft), an exceptional achievement for this type of instrument. The large 12 o clock numeral, square hour markers and oversized hands, all accentuated by a luminescent coating, ensure maximum readability and visibility, even in poor lighting conditions. The extreme precision of the time display and of short-time measurements is ensured by a selfwinding chronograph movement chronometer certified by the COSC. The understated, powerful lines of the rugged steel case are matched by various dial colors and several different wristbands, including a sturdy and comfortable satin-brushed steel mesh bracelet. An effective means of combining performance and appearance.
Buy your new watch from C W Sellors - Jura Watches.
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The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos pulled off the upset of the No. 1 ranked Stanford Cardinal in thrilling, five set fashion (25-13, 21-25, 12-25, 25-23, 15-12). The victory, fueled by the electric atmosphere generated by the nearly 500 fans at Rob Gym, is the first time since 2011 the Gauchos have dethroned a top-ranked team. UCSB previously defeated No. 1 USC in the NCAA tournament to reach the finals against Ohio State. UCSB improves to 3-0 on the season, 2-0 in conference play.
The passion was evident early for the Gauchos. The team gained a comfortable 8-2 lead, assisted by a Ryan Hardy service ace. After the Cardinal scratched back to get the score to 15-10, UCSB answered with a 10-3 point run to win the first set. Instrumental to the late set strength were three service aces from Jonah Seif and an additional service ace from Matt Hanley to clinch the set. Weston Nielson after the game highlighted the key to the Gauchos' success, "We executed our entire game plan. We went out and ripped our serve." He also noted that the service game allowed for the other aspects of UCSB's play flourish and ultimately secure the win. However, he added that their strong service game was hampered when playing from behind in a set.
UCSB struggled through the second and third sets. The second set saw six Gaucho service errors and the team trying to fight back from behind early. At the net, Stanford also blocked six of the Gauchos' swings. The third set saw the Cardinal rack up another six blocks at the net while hitting a combined .609 clip. Stanford's attack was led by Steven Irvin's 16 kills and Brian Cook's 17 kills in the overall match.
The fourth set witnessed the Gauchos break the tie at three points each, the first of seven tie scores in the set, and not give up the lead for the rest of the set. UCSB rediscovered their net presence from the first set and blocked five more Cardinal attempts. Junior outside hitter Austin Kingi slammed six of his total 15 kills to lead the Gaucho attack, none better than the final two kills to win the set and rally the UCSB faithful. Further, Evan Licht tacked on four of his own kills, for a total of 12 kills in the match.
UCSB carried their momentum and top-notch play into the decisive fifth set. Weston Nielson and Ryan Hardy teamed up for the first block, which was also the first point, in the set. Again, the Gauchos' net presence stymied the Cardinal attack, blocking six swings and forcing six attacking errors. UCSB capitalized on their defensive prowess, with Ryan Thompson and Jonah Seif teaming up to win the final two points, and the match, with blocks. Thompson finished witha total six blocks, including a solo put back, while Seif had a part in four additional stuffs. Hardy, Licht, and Nielson each assisted in two blocks.
Coach Rick McLaughlin noted that the comeback made by the Gauchos after the second and third sets was a huge step to overcome. He recognized, in particular, the clutch efficiency of Ryan Thompson on the night, hitting 11 kills on 15 swings, as well as Kingi's dominant strikes. McLaughlin was quoted as calling Kingi "as steady as they come." He downplayed the significance of the upset, however, adding, "In our league, everybody could be number one. We just go out and play. We have a good unit, they play together and they play hard but we can always keep improving.
The UCSB Gauchos travel to Los Angeles on Tuesday for a heavyweight matchup against No. 6 UCLA before returning to Rob Gym next Saturday to face UC Irvine. UCSB will face a significant challenge from the Bruin squad responsible for handing Stanford their first loss of the season in five sets. UCLA and UCSB are both 3-0 overall and 2-0 in MPSF play.


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Contemporary, yet elegant hands that appear to be precariously balanced rotate around the dial. Crossover is a modern watch with tapered white, black and red hands.
Modeled after the game of pick-up-stix, Crossover has thin hands that are slightly askew to the center giving this timepiece elegant stature. You will be staring at time all day but assuredly not wasting it.
Crossover is a unisex watch measuring 40mm (1.57″) in diameter and 7.6mm (0.30″) high. It is made of a gold IP stainless steel with hidden lugs that connect the band seamlessly.
Watch designer Denis Guidone, as student of architecture, design, and visual communication studied urban planning and architecture in Milan, Italy and Oporto, Portugal.
His project process was born under the concept of subtraction, an ideology that follows the unification of opposites through a constant approach on the edge of architecture and visual communication, and at the same time mediated by an expressive intensity that addresses work on the basis of subtraction.
Fascinated by the passing of time, Guidone carries out this intense didactic work for several universities and design schools, in Italy and abroad. His many awards and honorable mentions include: Ida international design award in Los Angeles, IDOT Best Italian Design Product, and The Bruno Munari international award.
Diameter: 40mm (1.57")
Height: 7.6mm (0.30″)
Case Material: Gold IP Stainless Steel
Colors: Gold
Band Size: 20mm
Band Material: Leather
Band Color: Brown


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The Lakes Country Club is located in a very interesting geographical area. The golf course provides a glimpse of plant & wildlife, which can virtually only be found in Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina. The Lakes is the oldest golf course in Brunswick County. The 18 Hole Par 72 course offers four sets of tees. The Lakes is a course where every skill level can be challenged without humiliating a golfers "off day" or their wallet.
Boiling Spring Lakes residents and visitors alike enjoy great golf at The Lakes Country Club. Other area activities include swimming, boating, water skiing, picnicking, tennis, and some of the best fresh water fishing in the area. Whether on vacation or looking for a fantastic community to retire, we invite you to explore the many benefits of membership at The Lakes. Our facility is located only 20 minutes from Wilmington, NC using highway 133 or 87.


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What the Democrats now need more than anything else is a Falstaff working for them. Election 2012 looks scary, what with President Obama's low approval rating and the economy unable to figure out which way is north.
A Sir John, or "Jack," as his fictitious friends called this character in Shakespeare, might lift their spirits – and serve a strategic purpose.
Falstaff is a boor, true, but he also points to the obvious and makes people laugh at humanity's absurdities. For that reason, he's loved by Shakespeare's characters and the playwright's audiences.
Democrats have become so intimidated by the thunder on the right that they have totally forgotten what an effective tool laughter and lampooning the actions and behaviors of others can be in politics.
The comic is certainly not missing in the GOP today. Here we have Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the leading presidential candidate among the Republicans, who once speculated that his state just might secede from the Union. But now Mr. Perry's decided he wants to be president of the same Union he's so fed up with.
Conservative columnist David Brooks of The New York Times recently called Perry a "loudmouth" on NPR. And never mind that Karl Rove, the former political adviser to President George W. Bush, has written off Perry as "unpresidential." This Bible-thumping swaggerer from Texas has quickly become the Republican front-runner, a darling among evangelical Christians.
The GOP favorite had previously been former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. He's working to convince voters he's an average guy like the rest of us. To prove it, Mr. Romney is demolishing his $12 million Pacific beachfront home in La Jolla, Calif., to replace it with something nearly four times as large. (He has since said he is only doubling the living space; the garage and basement apparently don't count.)
I can really empathize with that, as can millions of other Americans who saw their homes disappear recently in the recession.
But what has tickled me silly among the Republicans is Michele Bachmann's energy plan. She says unlocking America's natural resources – more of that wonderful coal and oh-so-accessible shale oil and offshore petroleum – will bring down gas prices at the pump to $2 a gallon.
I really want to believe her. But then I heard the thunderous laughter coming from behind the closed doors of the boardroom at ExxonMobil as they contemplated gas at such a discount.
Every comedy show – and that is the way the Democrats should be portraying the competition – needs a magic act, and the GOP is not to be found wanting there. In the tradition of Harry Houdini, Republican congressional leaders have persuaded the American public that taxing the rich is bad for the economy and granting generous tax breaks to obscenely wealthy oil companies is sound economics.
That sleight of hand is right up there with sawing a body in half on stage. Republicans in Congress have convinced a whole raft of middle-class voters to accept a tax policy that favors the rich and runs contrary to the interests of middle-income tax-payers. And the public laps it up under the impression that any taxes kill jobs. If that's true, what about the billions in cash that corporations are hoarding even as they still don't hire?
But I have to come back to the Texas governor if I'm thinking of best carnival barker. He's persuaded an impressive number of Americans he is truly a conservative who wants to preserve the past while surreptitiously running on a frighteningly radical platform.
Check it out! He wants to repeal the 16th Amendment of the Constitution abolishing the federal income tax (though he seems to be backing away from that now). He wants to scrap the 17th Amendment and return the power to elect US senators to state legislatures. He wants a new constitutional amendment giving our so highly esteemed and competent Congress the power to overturn US Supreme Court decisions by a two-thirds vote.
Perry's radical list goes on, including one giving the federal government power to control a woman's body, outlawing abortions by constitutional amendment.
Falstaff never encountered the Internet, but if he had, he might have also come across this popular tweet, exposing a big weakness of Democrats:
"There was just a 5.8 earthquake in Washington. Obama wanted it to be 3.4, but the Republicans wanted 5.8, so he compromised." That kind of introspective gibing could keep many Democratic voters at home next year.
If there is one certainty in politics, it is that politicians can survive just about anything but being joked about. Recall President Jimmy Carter – attacked by a "killer rabbit" while fishing.
The winner of the 2012 election may well be the candidate who succeeds in getting voters to laugh loudest at his or her opponent.
But that person will also have to watch to make sure the joke is not reversed. Falstaff, after all, bemused Prince Hal until this prince became a king and abandoned his vain, if humorous, companion.
Walter Rodgers, a former senior international correspondent for CNN, writes a biweekly column.


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Lady Gaga Insists Her Bisexuality Is 'Not a Lie'
Unlike Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, who claimed bisexuality then recanted, Lady Gaga has been consistently bi for her whole career. She's never waived on the subject and really, it's not one that famous people should be wishy-washy about, given their sphere of influence on fans and how fans look to our pop stars as a support network.
Gaga also reminded us of her interest in women when she sat down with Andy Cohen on his talk show. Even though she is happily loved up with actor Taylor Kinney, Ma Monster felt the need to re-affirm her orientation, since everyone is a critic of everything she does. (Give a girl a break, people!)
While engaged in a Q+A session at Berghain in Berlin, Germany, Gaga took a second while promoting 'ARTPOP' to further discuss her sexual preferences.
"You know what? It's not a lie that I am bisexual and I like women, and anyone that wants to twist this into 'She says she's bisexual for marketing,' this is a f--king lie," Ma Monster declared. "This is who I am and who I have always been."
Amen to that sister!
One thing we can never question –- besides her bisexuality, since we believe her -- is Gaga's lurve for her gays. She is completely devoted to that faction of her monsterly fanbase.
Rejoice and love yourself today!


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Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Butterscotch Chip Cookies Recipe
eggs, +cocoa powder, +baking soda, +brown sugar, +butterscotch chips, +flour, +milk chocolate, +salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +sugar, +vanilla extract
Chewy Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies
As soon as these cookies come out of the oven, pour a glass of ice-cold milk, and give yourself permission to eat a couple. The anti-oxidants in the double...
eggs, +baking soda, +brown sugar, +butter, +semisweet chocolate chips, +cocoa powder, +flour, +salt, +sugar, +vanilla extract
Chocolate Chipless Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are basic chocolate chip cookies with out the chocolate. Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate, but sometimes I just want the cookie.
eggs, +baking soda, +bread flour, +brown sugar, +egg yolks, +kosher salt, +milk, +sugar, +butter, +vanilla extract
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Cashew Cookies (with Raisins)
I was having a massive chocolate attack last weekend, so I came up with this. I am normally not crazy about raisins in my cookies but I like them when...
eggs, +baking soda, +brown sugar, +butter, +chocolate, +flour, +margarine, +milk chocolate chips, +raisins, +salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +sugar, +cocoa powder, +vanilla extract, +white chocolate chips
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake Cookies
"Soft, chewy, chocolaty chocolate chip cookies that are positively childishly yummy! These are a finals pick-me-up for our college student daughter."
eggs, +baking soda, +cocoa powder, +flour, +kosher salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +butter, +vanilla extract, +walnut, +sugar
allrecipes.com - Similiar recipes
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
A chocolate lover's dream!! These double chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and perfect with a glass of milk right out of the oven!!
eggs, +baking soda, +semisweet chocolate chips, +cocoa powder, +flour, +margarine, +salt, +sugar, +vanilla extract
Banana Chip Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Wholesome banana chocolate chip cookies. Prep:10m
eggs, +baking powder, +baking soda, +banana chips, +semisweet chocolate chips, +brown sugar, +sea salt, +walnut, +butter, +vanilla extract, +flour
Thin Mocha Chocolate-chocolate Chip Cookies With Mocha Cream Filling Recipe
Cold chocolate chocolate chip mocha cookies with a filling to die for. This is an adapted recipe that I found on Epicurious. Prep:40m
eggs, +flour, +baking soda, +cocoa powder, +cookies, +cream, +instant coffee, +milk chocolate, +powdered sugar, +salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +butter, +sugar, +vanilla extract, +water, +heavy cream
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies I
"These cookies are great...you get a double dose of chocolate! My kids love them."
eggs, +baking soda, +butter, +cocoa powder, +flour, +salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +vanilla extract, +walnut, +sugar
allrecipes.com - Similiar recipes
Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you like chewy chocolate cookies, this one is for you. This recipe is from the site southernfood.com.
eggs, +baking powder, +butter, +flour, +sugar, +brown sugar, +milk, +salt, +semisweet chocolate chips, +vanilla extract
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January 2013
All Trials Registered | All Results Reported
"Thousands of clinical trials have not reported their results; some have not even been registered." All trials registered | All results reported
This is a problem.
A petition was launched today that calls on governments, regulators, and research bodies to put measures in place to register and report the methods and results of clinical trials. This initiative, led by Bad Science, Sense About Science, BMJ, James Lind Initiative and CEBM is important. This issue effects all of us: patients, researchers, clinicians, politicians, scientists, and industry.
The petition was followed with a rip roaring editorial by Iain Chalmers, Paul Glasziou and Fiona Godlee in the BMJ that calls for all trials to be registered and their results published. This excellent piece details the consequences of our collective abstention from action and provides advice to patients whom are invited to participate in clinical trials; name:
"Agree to participate in a clinical trial only if: (1) the study protocol has been registered and made publicly available; (2) the protocol refers to systematic reviews of existing evidence showing that the trial is justified; and (3) you receive a written assurance that the full study results will be published and sent to all participants who indicate that they wish to receive them."
Don't wait, sign the petition now.
After signing you can automatically share the message "I've just signed the #AllTrials petition for all trials registered and all results reported" on Twitter or Facebook.
Be proud you are taking a step for transparency and improving patient care. I know I am.
- Peter Gill's blog
- Login to post comments


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Earlier this week PIMCO's Bill Gross said that college is a waste of time. Then NPR dug up these statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Center for Education, which show the amazing discrepancy between college and high school educated adults when it comes to pay and unemployment rates.
In 2010, the unemployment rate for college grads between ages 25-34 was 4.9%, compared to 13.7% for those with a GED.
And as for pay? In 2009, college grads made $50,000 on average, whereas those with only a high school education made $30,000.
Gross says that if you do invest in college, screw your history and psychology classes, and instead focus on science or math, because a "skill-based education is a must."


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It's What's Inside That Counts
Executive Summary
As the WardsAuto Interiors Conference gets under way today, various sectors of the industry strive to deliver the newest technology, the cleanest fit-and-finish, the most advanced human-machine interface and the most comfortable seats at the best price.
DEARBORN, MI – The 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference kicks off this morning, and two keynote speakers, 24 presenters, top-notch design students and more than 500 attendees represent the supporting cast.
And even though the subject matter may differ from one speaker to another, the overriding message at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, MI, ultimately is the same: Vehicle interiors are a battleground in today's market, and various sectors of the industry are striving to deliver the newest technology, the cleanest fit-and-finish, the most advanced human-machine interface and the most comfortable seats at the best price.
For the past several years, J.D. Power and Associates research has identified interior comfort as the second-most important factor for consumers shopping for a new vehicle.
Reliability/durability remains the No.1 purchase consideration, but it actually has slipped over the past five years, says Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director-global automotive at J.D. Power.
He says the data suggests consumers expect every auto maker to deliver on reliability, which makes it less of a differentiating factor. Interior comfort, however, can vary greatly among brands based on feature content and available technology, so VanNieuwkuyk expects interior comfort to remain a prominent aspect among shoppers well into the future.
Across every vehicle segment, from subcompacts and high-volume midsize cars to luxury coupes and pickup trucks, auto makers are expanding their offerings within the passenger compartment, he says.
"We see better execution, better materials and more focus on comfort and convenience," says VanNieuwkuyk, who will speak on a panel session dedicated to connectivity.
"The lower end of the market has some of the best technologies and also far better materials than in the past. It's about better use of lighting and electronics," he says. "These features used to show up first on Cadillacs, and you'd hope to see them on a Chevrolet. Now, these features are rolling out at Chevrolet. That's a benefit to the consumer."
Consider the purchase factors that rank lower than interior comfort: exterior styling, fuel economy and quality of workmanship, among others.
"The interior is gaining in importance, and the reason for that is clear: We spend so much time in the vehicle and we want that time to be more valuable," VanNieuwkuyk says. "People are so used to being entertained and connected, they can't understand why the vehicle wouldn't be an extension of that."
Improving a vehicle interior generally is easier and quicker for an auto maker than re-engineering a chassis, engine or suspension.
For instance, the Honda Civic was all-new less than two years ago and recently was refreshed, primarily in the interior. The powertrain offerings were unchanged, and exterior styling changes were minimal.
Ever since the Ward's 10 Best Engines template was applied to the Ward's 10 Best Interiors competition three years ago, the number of vehicles with eligible interiors has outnumbered vehicles evaluated for the engine competition by a healthy margin.
Why? Because designing a world-class engine requires massive capital outlay, vast engineering resources and significant time to retool a plant to manufacture it.
Interior upgrades, on the other hand, in many cases can be folded in to assembly as a running change, and interior suppliers are more likely to shoulder development and production costs than in the powertrain realm.
This heightened awareness of the importance of interiors will be explored by the morning keynote speaker, Amko Leenarts, Ford's director-global interior design strategy, and the afternoon keynote presenter, Johann Jungwirth, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, based in Silicon Valley.
In addition, trophies will be presented to auto makers winning this year's Ward's 10 Best Interiors competition, and students from the College for Creative Studies will be recognized for their interior concepts intended to meet the needs of a growing young family on the go.


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2002 :: Midlands Champs, Eastridge ...
Midlands Champs Racing | Most of the pictures are from the bottom field - due to the hectic racing, cool atmosphere and the fact I couldn't be bothered walking higher! Check out the 36 foot double and 20 foot 'chicken' line! | All pics by Phil | ©[stunts.org.uk] | Race Report on-line here.
You are viewing the thumbnail index - click a pic to enlarge.
All images in this gallery are © [ gravity-slaves ] and may not be reproduced without permission.


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Mouse Troubleshooting in Windows 8
What do you do when your mouse just doesn't work right in Windows 8 or when you think you're double-clicking, but your mouse thinks you're single-clicking?
Your mouse just doesn't work right
Sometimes, the mouse doesn't work at all; other times, the mouse pointer hops across the screen like a flea. Here are a few fixes to try:
If no mouse arrow is on the screen after you start Windows, make sure that the mouse's tail is plugged snugly into the computer's USB port. (If you have an older mouse with a round PS/2 port instead of a rectangular USB port, you need to restart your PC to bring the newly plugged-in mouse back to life.)
To restart your PC when the mouse doesn't work, press these keys from either the Start screen or the desktop: Press the Windows key and I key simultaneously to fetch the Charms bar's Settings menu. Then press your keyboard's arrow keys to highlight the Power button near the bottom of the Settings pane. Press Enter to fetch the Power menu, then tap your Up Arrow key to highlight Restart. Press the Enter key to restart your computer.
If you own a cordless mouse, the little guy probably needs new batteries.
A mouse pointer can jump around onscreen erratically when the mouse's innards become dirty. Clean the mouse's under parts with a moist rag, making sure to remove any debris.
If the mouse was working fine but the buttons seem to be reversed, you've probably changed the right- or left-handed button configuration setting in the Control Panel. Open the desktop Control Panel's Mouse settings area and take a look at the setting for Switch Primary and Secondary Buttons. Lefties want it turned on; righties don't.
Your double-clicks are now single clicks
In an effort to make things easier, Windows lets people choose whether a single click or a double-click should open a file or folder.
But if you're not satisfied with the click method Windows currently uses, here's how to change it:
Open any folder from the desktop.
Click the View tab on the folder's Ribbon menu and then click the Options button.
The Folder Options window appears.
In the Click Items As Follows section, choose your click preference: single click or double-click.
Click OK to save your preferences.
Don't like to follow steps? In Step 2, just click the Restore Defaults button in the Folder Options window, and Windows brings back double-clicking and other standard folder behaviors.
For more information about Windows 8 and its features, explore Windows 8 For Dummies, available online.


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Top Kensington Courts Homes for Sale
An Elkton MD Community
As of November 7, 2012
Here are all listings available in the Elkton MD Community of Kensington Courts. As you can see there are only 3 are available as of this post. If you are considering Selling in Kensington Courts please request a Free Market Analysis or Call me directly ar 443-553-6726. If you are a Buyer please feel free to contact me regarding any home listed in Kensington Courts. Situated just South of the historic town of Elkton on the Elk River, Kensington Courts is convienient to I95, Aberdeen, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
See all All Kensington Courts Homes for Sale
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NSA defender Feinstein bows to growing pressure, says she'll offer bill to limit surveillance programs
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a longtime defender of the National Security Agency, unveiled plans Thursday for legislation designed to rein in some aspects of the NSA's controversial domestic surveillance programs.
At a rare open hearing of the intelligence panel, Feinstein said her legislation would limit the NSA's access to the so-called metadata it collects on Americans' cell phone usage and would seek to codify the legal standard under which such data could be searched by NSA workers.
The legislation also would require the NSA to reveal more details about its use of the information it collects under two U.S. laws, the USA Patriot Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including making annual reports to Congress on how many times NSA searches its database of cell phone information.
Feinstein's championing of legislation to put new restrictions on the way the NSA operates was something of a surprise and signals that Obama administration efforts to contain congressional complaints about the programs have failed for now. She announced her initiative at a hearing where Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and the NSA chief, Army Gen. Keith Alexander, appeared.
Both Clapper and Alexander, as they have in previous hearings, defended the broad collection of data, saying that steps had been taken to ensure the privacy of innocent Americans was protected. Clapper insisted that the public discussion of the programs in recent months had hurt the effectiveness of the programs.
But Feinstein's acknowledgement that some kind of change was needed was an indication of how much credibility the intelligence chiefs had lost in the months since former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed secret court orders that authorized the daily collection of cellphone records from hundreds of millions of Americans, something Clapper had denied in congressional hearings.
Previously, Feinstein had insisted that the agency's programs were constitutional and had warned against any changes that might jeopardize their use in terrorism investigations. But she acknowledged that growing public scrutiny in the wake of the Snowden leaks showed the need for changes – though she put the onus for that not on the programs themselves but on the news media's reporting of them.
"The leaks of classified programs and the way that those leaks have been portrayed in the media . . . has led to an unfortunate but very real amount of public skepticism and distrust of the intelligence community," she said.
She also drew attention to a presidential order, Executive Order 12333, which was last amended in 2008, that she said authorizes the collection of intelligence information outside the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "I have also initiated a review of all intelligence programs – beyond FISA – that have the potential of capturing information about American citizens and other people inside the United States," Feinstein said.
Whether Feinstein's proposals would satisfy complaints about the programs was uncertain. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the intelligence committee, said he would continue to press legislation that he and three other senators are backing to put more restrictions on the NSA.
Feinstein said her bill would "expressly prohibit collection of the content of phone calls" – something the NSA says it does not do now anyway – and "codify" the standard of "reasonable and articulable suspicion" needed to access phone records – a legal standard that critics of the NSA program said has been misused by administration attorneys.
Feinstein's bill marks the third piece of major FISA legislation unveiled in a week. The renewed focus suggests that, despite pressing budget issues, legislators are unhappy with the status quo in the nation's intelligence practices.
A House Intelligence Committee member, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., announced a bill Friday that would make substantial changes in the operations of the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which interprets the laws that allow for the NSA's sweeping data collection programs. Schiff's bill would add a constitutional advocate to the court's proceedings to represent public interest when making decisions on the NSA's programs.
Wyden's bill, which he is sponsoring with a fellow intelligence committee member, Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., as well as Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., also would establish a constitutional advocate to appear before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which currently hears only from government attorneys in its arguments.
Members of Congress said Thursday that some change in the way the NSA operates is inevitable, even if it is limited only to revising what information the agency must divulge to Congress.
Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine and a member of the intelligence panel, predicted that bills would also emerge from the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said that changes in the way the intelligence community collects data and reports on it are necessary.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said that legislation might be announced at a hearing of his committee next week, where Clapper and Alexander are expected to testify again.
Correction: This updated version of the story corrects the number of the referenced executive order. It is 12333.


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How to view stereograms
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About This Event
In this small workshop of about 60 participants, we will discuss the topic of mass-loss return to galaxies and the resulting dust and metal enrichment process. The workshop will be about 2.5 days and involve talks and audience wide discussions. We have plenty of room for contributed talks and posters. As the title suggests, the focus of our workshop is four areas:
- The parameterizations of mass-loss rates and their basis on facts for both massive stars and intermediate mass stars.
- The variations in mass loss due to quiescent/smooth, eruptive/episodic, or explosive processes and to the effects of binary companions.
- How these parameterizations affect both theoretical modeling of stellar evolution and estimates for mass-loss return to galaxies from stellar populations.
- The composition in dust, metals and total gas of the ejecta and how these are incorporated into dust and chemical evolution of galaxies.
Conference Fees
|Early Registration (before Feb 3):
|Regular Registration:
Registration Dates
|Registration Ends:
|March 16, 2012
|Abstract Submittal Ends:
|February 3, 2012
STScI has reserved a block of rooms at the Doubletree in at the Colonnade, a hotel within walking distance from the institute. For a special conference rate at the Colonnade register online or call them and say you are registering for the Mass Loss Return Workshop (Group Code MLR.)
If you have any questions, please contact the workshop coordinator, Samantha Pryce. Her phone number is 410-338-4970.
Confirmed invited speakers:
- Mike Barlow
- William Blair
- Stephane Charlot
- Eli Dwek
- Jay Gallagher
- Susanne Hoefner
- Ciska Kemper
- Gillian Knapp
- Jacco van Loon
- Paola Marigo
- Phil Massey
- Maryam Modjaz
- Nathan Smith
- Rosie Wyse
Science Organizing Committee
- Martha Boyer
- Alex Fullerton
- Jason Kalirai
- Claus Leitherer
- Margaret Meixner, chair
- Nino Panagia
- Ben Sargent


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Arduino AC Remote
My house does not have central air but instead has a couple of window AC units. The main cooling for the central part of the house is controlled with a single window AC unit made by Friedrich. It has an IR remote and is programmable, but it's still fairly limited. There's no way to turn it on remotely should I come home early, or vice versa and waste power cooling the house when I come home later than usual. This project is an Arduino RF based IR extender which also allows PC control of the AC unit. I can ssh into a box on my home network and issue commands to control the AC from there.
Initial build with an Arduino, SparkFun ProtoShield, Radio Shack IR receiver, IR emitter, and a cheap KLP style RF receiver (434MHz). The IR receiver was used to catch and decode signals from the remote using the IRemote library for Arduino. I was a little afraid of this process but the library made this the easiest part of the project. It automatically decodes several IR protocols and has a great set of example programs which did all the heavy lifting. Now all I have to do is go back and look at the library closer because I'd like to know how it works. But I'll settle for having a working project first ;-). I also use a library called RFDriver for the RF bits. Place the IR emitter somewhere in front of the AC unit and tape it down.
IR Commands
The Friedrich IR remote uses RC-5 IR protocol and sends these commands out:
- 40 - power (toggle)
- 41 - cooler
- 42 - warmer
- 43 - set hr/clock (press twice to initialize-then increment)
- 44 - AC start hour increment (press twice to initialize-then increment)
- 45 - AC stop hour increment "
- 46 - timer on/off (toggle)
- 47 - cool button - unknown function?
- 48 - MoneySaver (toggle)
- 49 - fan only (toggle?)
- 4A - fan speed
You should note that some buttons when pressed put the 2 digit display on the AC unit into the mode for that button first just to display the current value (like the clock) and you have to press the button a second time to increment the value (like the AC start or stop times). This is important should you attempt to issue commands like setting the AC start or stop hour remotely. However I don't intend to use these functions as there is no feedback to tell what the initial setting is and could easily get out of sync from your remote end. I will most likely be using cron from the system the TX arduino is connected to and manually running the power on/off command.
If you are decoding the protocol for your own Friedrich AC remote, note that each time a remote button is pressed it alternates between "40" and "840" at each press of the same button. My understanding of RC-5 IR protocol is that it adds a toggle each time a button is pressed so the receiving device can distinguish between holding a button down and separate button presses. The IRemote library seems to handle this properly and the Record sketch seems to automatically add this toggle effect in for you when transmitting.
- My code: File:FriedrichACremote.pde
Libraries I used:
- IRemote http://www.arcfn.com/2009/08/multi-protocol-infrared-remote-library.html
- RFDriver http://www.glacialwanderer.com/hobbyrobotics
Usage Notes
It is important to note that commands like power are a toggle and there is no feedback in this system. So if you accidentally issue a command twice you could end up with nothing happening, or if you don't know the initial state you may be doing the opposite of what you want. One simple way to get some feedback is a remote temp sensor. That is part of another project I intend to build out into the house, better environmental monitoring. However for now, just being able to turn the AC on an hour before I get home (after having been gone for a few days) is all I need.
RF Notes
One thing I've noticed with these KLP boards is that it's a good idea to issue RF commands multiple times to get a better chance of the transmission being picked up. Even in a small environment like a single room RF commands can be eaten by static and noise from the microcontroller. I need to add a simple retry system into the RF stack with the ability to guarantee that multiple commands are not issue by the receiver. TBD.
I've been using the RFDriver library for a while and am very comfortable using it, however at some point I intend to work with VirtualWire and switch to that for my low-baud rate data needs. Currently RFDriver has limitations such as only supporting numerics (which could probably be fixed with some small tweaking) but I'm lazy. Also, you will note that I run the KLP RF module at 1200baud rather than the 2400 or 4800 which some models support. Running them at lower baud rates increases your range and for single digit transmissions like this is not at all noticeable. If I need more range I'd be tempted to try 300 baud.


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Reap the Most Rewards Out of Loyalty Programs
If your key chain is full of little plastic cards, Key Ring is the app for you. You can download it to your smartphone for free and access barcodes and other memberships info, as well as digital coupons and the latest information on sales with just a few clicks.
The app also backs up all of your loyalty information onto a cloud server, so if you unfortunately lose your phone, you'll have everything saved for quick updating later.
Those of you who travel a lot will like the mileBlaster app, which keeps track of frequent flyer miles and hotel points. You can also get alerts to special miles and bonus offers from airlines, hotels and car rental companies you're connected to. The app lets you add multiple accounts, so you can track points and miles for your whole family, too.
With just a few downloads, you can toss any physical cards and still rake in the rewards -- without spending a dime.
See Gallery


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An international group of experts on cognitive science has asserted that animals, including many that are much different from humans, experience the same degree of consciousness as humans. Per the article:
An international group of prominent scientists has signed The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in which they are proclaiming their support for the idea that animals are conscious and aware to the degree that humans are ....What's also very interesting about the declaration is the group's acknowledgement that consciousness can emerge in those animals that are very much unlike humans.... "Consequently, say the signatories, the scientific evidence is increasingly indicating that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness....The declaration was signed in the presence of Stephen Hawking .... (bold added).
Views: 1440
oh you don't say...... LOL - finally someone realised - what a moment that must have been!
I'm not usually sarcastic - but I've been waiting for this for ages - and I'm sick of very annoying people going on about how humans are in some way special or different to the rest of animal life on earth - despite the fact that the love Dawkins and know all about evolution and consider themselves highly intelligent individuals......
Yeah, I know several Christians who still think that way ... even those who otherwise accept evolution. Apparently that point in evolution in which God stuck our souls into our species broke us off from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Have you actually encountered that many atheists who think that way, though? Hell, there are at least a couple dozen species that come vaguely close to our level of cognition. Beyond that, it's kind of a fugly, confusing scale, when you start thinking about species that are drastically different from our own.
I just think this conversation went a bit awry when people began trying to apply self-awareness to insects. They're so far off on another branch of the tree of life. The branch that led to mammals developed higher brain functions, somewhere waaaaaaaay back, but most other branches seem a bit hit and miss.
What other species can you think of besides octopuses, which are so far from us on the tree? I'm just coming up with a bunch of mammals.
Never mind them, they're stupid and cannot feel a thing.
Said by slaveowners about blacks, still said by some men about women, said by farmers about their animals and said by anglers about fish. The fact that you said something similar about the chicken you ate rang a bell: it's convenient to you that a chicken should be stupid because you like the taste of dead chickens.
I know it's nice to act as if you're very intelligent, but you're biassed. Try to be impartial first.
You really just compared black people and women to insects? Seriously?
I think I'm just going to leave the discussion right where you put it. ^.^
Which animals have a sense of self and which do not has not been completely determined yet in terms of scientific analyses by credible experts. Without such analyses it is just as premature to say that a species does not have a sense of self as it is to say that one does. However, there is a difference. It is that jumping to the conclusion that a species does have a sense of self tends to demonstrate a humane adjudication of living things while jumping to the conclusion that a species does not have a sense of self tends to demonstrate an inhumane adjudication of living things. For this reason it is my opinion that the latter is more detestable. Incidentally, I did not say in an absolute sense that insects have senses of selves. I said that I thought there was strong evidence that they have senses of selves. By contrast you stated in unequivocal terms that chickens did not have senses of selves.
No, I said that insects don't have a sense of self, or at least that the vast majority do not. I haven't studied every insect out there, of course, but every one that comes to mind is insignificantly low on the scale of neural function.
I said that chickens are stupid, and that it's questionable, in their case. They're low enough on the scale of brain capacity that I don't feel bad about eating them. I haven't eaten a mammal in over a decade, though.
... and I really don't give a damn about a fish.
I really don't know - I tend to just stick with applying my morality to that which I come into contact with - because I'm not about to claim that I know what is morally right for anyone beyond that..... we are animals - and I'm not going to expect myself to act any differently than any other animal......
Yeah, certainly, I try to minimize unnecessary suffering in most of my activities. I'm against pointless animal testing, although I'm all for animal testing for medical reasons. It sucks for the lab animal, sure, but their suffering is likely to reduce the suffering of humans ... and I care more about humans.
Lab rats are going to die in the millions (billions?), and I'm fine with that, as long as they're being used for useful research. When we get to the tests to see how the bodily tissue of puppies responds to repeated impacts from baseball bats? Yeah, I'm going to have a little problem there. Duh.
I tend to buy free-range chickens, when it's financially viable, but I have no problem eating those. I just have issue with the absolute adjective you used at the end there.
Any other animal. When you get far enough down on the scale of neural function, I don't think animals are capable of actual suffering. Any ant or roach that comes into my house is going to die, if I succeed in my attempts to kill it.
Yeah, pack animals are often pretty high up there, particularly mammals. I like the way that we can co-opt their social instincts to more or less make them part of our pack, too.
They can problem solve and for some they can even tell when you are going to have a seizure or a heart attack! Now ask a human if they can do that without modern medicine :)
[citation needed]
The most I've heard about this is vague, anecdotal stories. Dogs certainly sense distress in their human pack members, though, as they do in each other. This makes them agitated, in turn, and sometimes makes them go "warn" other people.
"No, no, stop paying attention to him! I'm distressed! Come comfort me!" *wag wag, slobber slobber* ^.^
My sister, the vet tech, is very skeptical about these sorts of stories. We're generally applying intention to their behavior, after the fact, after picking out rare incidents in which something like that seemed to happen. People also suck at remembering sequences of events, particularly in situations of high stress. Until I see a scientific study of a mechanism that allows dogs to detect impending heart attacks, before they happen, I don't buy it.
Oh, and welcome to the group. :-D
These sorts of discussions happen all the time.
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Range Accelerates Outputs, Paves the Way for Greener PET Bottles
Sidel's SBO Universal 2 range accelerates industrial blow molder outputs by 10% while also decreasing energy consumption by 10% in the ovens. The result is the possibility of blowing bottles from recycled PET.
With this new record speed of 2,000 bottles per hour per mold, Sidel is widening its portfolio of solutions for the still and sparkling beverage markets. This output rate is the result of a long, rigorous qualification process that has already been tested and validated during industrial production at several customer facilities.
This speed, which is ideal, reliable and safe for intensive industrial operation, applies to all machines in the SBO Universal 2 range, up to SBO 24 XS. Also available in Combi configuration, the SBO Universal 2 range reaches record productivity levels as well, without any compromise in terms of robustness or production reliability. Unplanned machine downtime is reduced to less than 3% due to the use of more robust components and a fewer number of spare parts. It also ensures flawless productivity with guaranteed yields of 97% and optimized production costs.
In addition, the new SBO Universal 2 machines benefit from the same heating reserve that is already available with SBO Universal equipment. The oven configuration with 50 mm pitch (distance between two spindles) ensures a sufficient heating time for an output rate of 2,000 bottles per hour per mold. New lamps and oven adaptations enable a decrease in energy consumption of up to 10%.
Reaching this new performance level for blow molding represents a new step forward in reducing the environmental impact of each PET bottle during its production.


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Eat to Live: 10 Things to Know About Breast Cancer and Nutrition
Without taking a deep dive into molecular biology, antioxidants help prevent your body's cells from being damaged. Damaged cells often grow out of control, which can lead to cancer. Therefore, consuming antioxidants can help prevent cancer. Some of the best sources for antioxidants are: berries (blueberries), fruits (apples), vegetables (spinach), beans, nuts and herbs.
Research seems to go back and forth on the supposed benefits of soy. Some research studies find that soy promotes tumor growth while others find the opposite. The most recent research says that the plant estrogen (phytoestrogens) in soy may play a modest role in breast cancer prevention, especially if a woman has naturally high levels of estrogen. Foods with soy: tofu, soybeans, soy milk.
Phytochemicals are naturally occurring chemicals found in vegetables and are thought to play a role in breast cancer prevention. They prevent the formation of carcinogens; keep carcinogens from attacking your cells and help cells rid themselves of cancer-like changes. Foods with phytochemicals: broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, kale, Brussels sprouts.
Good fat
We all need some fat in our diet; what we don't need are saturated animal fats. These fats are found primarily in meat and butter. Monounsaturated vegetables fats, on the other hand, are good. Replace the animal fats with the healthy fats derived from vegetables. Foods with "good fat": avocado, olive oil, canola oil.
Cut "bad fats"
"Bad fats", such as saturated fats and trans-fats, should be avoided as much as possible. In a seven-year study involving 2,500 breast cancer survivors, the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) - showed that women on a lower fat diet (33 g of fat per day) reduced their risk of a cancer recurrence by 24 percent. Try substituting olive oil in place of butter, or a veggie burger instead of a cheeseburger.
Avoid Alcohol, or at least in moderation. The evidence is pretty strong that consuming more than 3 or 4 drinks per week will increase your breast cancer risk. Specifically, studies show that women who consume 2 to 5 drinks per day have a 41 percent higher risk of getting breast cancer than women who don't drink at all. Alcohol Serving Sizes: 1 serving = 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of hard liquor.
A recent study showed that the linoleic acid found in mushrooms seems to inhibit aromatase, an enzyme that helps your body make estrogen, which can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Button mushrooms are the most effective, followed by their larger cousins, stuffing mushrooms; then portobello, crimini, shiitake and baby button mushrooms.
Fiber binds itself to estrogen, preventing it from feeding tumor cells and making it very effective in preventing cancer. And fiber can be tasty, seriously. Sources of fiber: whole wheat pita or wraps, oatmeal, whole grain breads, fiber cereals or bars (try them, you'll like them).
Eat real food
As opposed to trying to get all your phytochemicals, antioxidants, soy isoflavones, etc. in pill or supplement form, try adding heaping servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Many cancer fighting nutrients are found in abundance and naturally in healthy foods that you can eat every day. A good multivitamin and a well-balanced, natural diet is just what the doctor ordered.
Don't eat too much
Calories in (eating), calories out (physical activity)...remember, the two have to be in balance, or weight a bit towards "more out than in". Fat produces estrogen and breast cancer is linked to high levels of estrogen in your body. The more fat you carry, the greater your lifetime risk of breast cancer. Keep your weight down, stay active and eat a well-balanced diet. You'll thank yourself.


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Sony Xperia Z
Read help info
You should charge the battery regularly to ensure that your phone is always ready for use. The battery can be charged even if it's not completely flat. You can use your phone while the battery is charging. Follow these instructions to charge the battery.
1. Connect the charger to your phone
2. End charging
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2011 Nissan Quest
Nissan has released new images. Compared to the new Odyssey and the current Sienna, what do you think?
http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1046909_2011-nissan-quest-new-images-- l-a-show-debut-confirmed
http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1046909_2011-nissan-quest-new-images-- l-a-show-debut-confirmed
gwrace1 Posts: 24Personally I think the 2011 Sienna is a better looking minivan. The Quest looks more boxy and squared off from the back and they still have the sliding door track down farther on the body panel.
Chrysler pioneered the hidden door track and the two sliding doors in their 1996 minivan redesign. We are still driving one of those 15 years later. I can't understand why minivan designers today don't duplicate that design. It looks so much nicer.
The design of the 2011 Honda Oddysey is another example of ugly. IMHO.0
dtownfb Posts: 2,918I think I need to see it in person. The back half reminds me of the Ford Flex.
The Odyssey looks good until the back third of the van. I agree if they use they "hide" the tracks, it would look better.
Unfortunately, the Quest could be the best looking minivan around and it won't sell because Nissan totally messed up the current generation Quest. No one is going to run out and buy one of these minivans with so many consumer complaints about the current model.0
gosaints Posts: 18The new Sienna and new Odyssey look decent. The Quest...not so much. Actually, the Sienna, to me, doesn't look as good in person as it does in photos. I can't quite put my finger on it. The Odyssey's lightning bolt styling disturbed me when I first saw the photos, but now it's starting to grow on me. But I'll reserve judgment until I see it in person.0
nissmazlover Posts: 162Personally, I think that the Quest is BY FAR the best looking minivan. It does remind me of the Flex, and that's a good thing. The taillights remind me of a CX-9, which is also a good thing. I think the design is GREAT, and I don't mind that the rear tracks/rails aren't hidden - they're not nearly as egregious as they are on the upcoming Odyssey.
And, I agree with what was said about the Sienna: in pictures it looks REALLY good. But, in person, the design does NOT come off well, at all. Ditto for the interior. Overall, it's just homely and awkward-looking.
I showed the pics of the new Quest to my professed "minivan-hater" wife, and she had to admit that the new Quest looks "hot." HOT! I couldn't believe my ears! A woman who loves Audi and Maseratti styling and who HATES minivans actually called the Quest "hot"? I think this might bode well for Nissan.0
aa0526 Posts: 29The front looks very mainstream for the new generation of minivans - comparable to the new Sienna.
The rear looks very edgy --- nice looking. It is un-minivan like.
I still drive my MPV - and like the Dodge Caravan, the tracks are hidden.
But this is not a deal breaker for me.
I am more concerned about the quality.
My MPV has some issues ... but nothing like the current generation of the Nissan Quest.
Any news on engine displacement, EPA estimates, etc.
How about more interior pics?
2011 is just about the right time for us to trade in our old van. The Quest and Sienna are tops on the list.0
vardashan Posts: 2Does anyone know if the new Quest will have the updated CVT transmission that is slated to come out in 2011? The only vehicle I have read about which is slated to have it is the Murano. We are in the market for a minivan and were leaning towards the 2011 Ody but the high prices and increasingly questionable quality (looked at one on the dealer lot just yesterday) have us considering other options.0
desna78 Posts: 21If you want to see 2010 Nissan Quest (Japan version 2010 Nissan Elgrand) go here:
very nice looking mini-van! go Nissan!0
vrm Posts: 309The 2011 Odyssey is grossly overpriced.
Even the $40,000+ Touring Elite model comes without factory installed roof rails.
After paying $30,000 for the EX, you have to pay an additional $300 to get the roof rails installed. This is adding insult to injury.
The 2011 Odyssey has been priced to maximize Honda's profit.0
sellmorehondas Posts: 62Better fuel economy and less wind noise without the rails. Most people did not take advantage of their 150 pound load capacity.
Every vehicle sold in the world is priced to maximize the manufacturers profit. Simple economics.
Priced to sell. If they were not priced right, how do you explain the fact that most are sold before they arrive(preorder)?
Show me the competition and explain their value proposition. Odyssey hands down is the winner.0
nismofreak Posts: 120No offense but thank God Nissan change the styling of the minivan for US consumption. The JPN spec is WAY TOO blinged out for my taste and probably for others as well.
I do love that they make the rear lights to look like the current gen Maxima. If anything, the 3/4 profile makes the van look really tall compared to its competitors and suggests that the interior is spacious. I really hope that the interior dimensions match that suggestion.
Can't wait to do my comparison of the three Japanese minivans.
Finally, we get a Quest that's made in Japan!!! The first generation was a joint venture between Nissan and Ford with mixed success. The last generation, Tennessee-made model was disappointingly nothing like the 'Quest Concept' Nissan teased us with--and it generated mediocre reliability ratings from Consumer Reports. This one is gorgeous, as it follows along the same styling lines as the current and previous JDM Nissan ElGrand. I love it! I think Nissan's Japan-made models fare much better in quality & reliability than the US and Mexican-made models--although the current Altima, Pathfinder and Frontier have been doing extremely well in recent reliability ratings (check last month's Consumer Reports). I love/have loved all my Japan-made Nissan/Infinitis all along (2001 Pathfinder, 1999 Infiniti G20, 1993 Infiniti J30, 1995 Maxima, 1994 Maxima) all of which had nary a hiccup. Like Infiniti's all-new, Japan-made QX56 (based on the vastly popular Nissan Patrol), I think Nissan has smartly decided to keep manufacturing quality paramount on its' list of priorities for the new Quest-- which is alright with me!0
stever Posts: 52,462My Ohio made '99 Quest is still puttering along nicely at 150,000 miles. The new ones have gotten so big I'm not sure I want one (or a Sienna or Odyssey). At least the newest ones are a few inches shorter than the third generation ones.
btw, the last generation ones were made in Canton Mississippi.
Steve, visiting host0
Has anyone heard when dealerships might actually be getting these in? Nissan has been bugging me to come in since my Pathfinder lease is due up in about 4 months...but I've been waiting on the release of the Quest since I'm pretty sure we're going to a minivan. Do you think I would get a better deal setting up some sort of pre-order sale (contingent on a positive test drive)?0
mrobie64 Posts: 4Nissan reps at the L.A. Auto Show said that the Quest would be available on January 28. I contacted Nissan North America Consumer Affairs and they wouldn't give me a release date. I also called several Nissan dealers in the Los Angeles area and they all told me the same thing - the first Quest will arrive sometime in February and more will be on the way towards the end of March. I sat in the Quest at the L.A. Auto Show and absolutely loved it. The interior is beautiful and would look right at home in an Infiniti. I've driven the new Odyssey and didn't care for the styling. The Quest is smaller which I really liked. The Sienna, in my opinion, is ugly.0
usaokokok Posts: 3Car Man,
What is the current buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 2011 nissan quest on a 36 month and 48 month lease with 12k/yr of miles?
thank you.. :shades:0
bbsusieq Posts: 1My husband and I drove the new Quest (SV) last weekend. We were stunned by the silence inside the cab, the tasteful interior, the quiet, smooth power. It is the only minivan with permanent storage which I need. Simply can't stand stuff rolling and shifting. It makes a flat bed without removing seats: we need the seats when we get to our destination. We haven't driven the Dodge/Chrysler for 2011, but we will; however, we are smitten by this new Nissan Quest. Bummer, though, how the double moonroof is ONLY available with the optional entertainment and sound packages (you HAVE to buy all three to get any one). That stinks!0
phil108 Posts: 1It all depends on what you like. If you like things in the same way people did in the 1930's then you dont mind that every body drives cars that look the same and the selection of color is limited to black and black. What im saying is their value doesnt always apeal to every buyer. If you like horse power and easy merging on the interstate with great comfort and styling buy a Nissan. But if you want an appliance that is kind of boring to drive, but will be dependable buy a Toyota. If you listen to what the critics say is the best value and you would rather a consumer report pick out your your van like your momy picked out your shoes when you were ten years old buy a Honda. Its all what your used to; buy what YOU like.0
My wife and I have owned (leased) the 2011 Quest SL for about 4 weeks now. The SL is the middle tier package and we did not opt for the DVD package, although that is what we test drove.
The DVD package does make a difference however in more ways than the obvious (which were not known by our salesman until the one we bought arrived): the DVD package also adds a much nicer 7" screen and control wheel to the dash (similar to an Volvo, or upscale Murano). It also adds a 12v plug that is supposed to work in connection with the AV plugs in the rear of the center console for game systems.
I was a little disappointed because our 08 Pathfinder had a nice 7" screen without any entertainment package, so this was the only real downgrade we made. It still has the back-up camera and everything, but it's not quite as nice and all the controls and info, like tire pressure and trip info is now located in the gauge area. It also takes away the nice control wheel, although it still has the USB port and you can fully control your iPod from the dash or steering wheel; including selecting playlists, etc.
I ended up taking a couple 2GB thumb drives, dumping kids music on one, my wife's music on another, labeling them and just leaving them in the car. Now, instead of worrying about her phone, all she's gotta do it pop in a thumb drive and it starts playing whatever is on it...pretty much like a 21st century CD. I'm a technology guy, and Nissan always seems to have the latest stuff (without the premium package).
The car it self is awesome. It drives wonderfully and is very quiet. We had been used to our truck-framed Pathfinder which road like a truck (rigid and bulky). This drives like a dream and the steering assist at lower speeds works very nicely. The ride in the back is smooth as well, as opposed to the 3rd row of a Pathfinder which would really throw you around.
The SL comes with leather standard and the seats are very plush and comfortable. I'm fairly big at 6'2"/215 and the driver's chair is very comfortable and cozy for the longer rides. Obviously, the perks of the keyless key are very convenient. The push-to-lock/unlock and push-to-start mean you pretty much never take the key out of your pocket or purse, although for me it's easily accessible enough to use it to open doors and the back hatch (in a purse it's probably not worth it).
The cargo area seems very roomy. I haven't folded down the center seats yet but the 3rd row folds down with the push of a button and isn't hard to pull back up manually. The "trunk"/well compartment is very spacious, enough to fit an umbrella stroller or a cart of groceries. My biggest grip is the covers over the storage compartment. I wouldn't say they're cheap or flimsy, they'll hold as much weight as you would probably put on them, but the design is unthoughtful. They're attached with little straps that snap on, and there's no real system to keep them in the "up" position, so as you load grocery bags with on hand, you're lifting the lid with another. There is a clip on the under side that maybe might be used to slide the rear seatbelt through to hold them up, but it barely works because the hinge area is basically held together by a single 3inch strap. It's hard to explain, but if you see one, you'll know what I'm saying. I think a sturdier hinge combined with some sort of strap or even velcro could make the lids a non-issue for minimal cost. I see this being something that is fixed in later models.
The backs seats are also roomy as opposed to the Pathfinder where the fron passenger seat had to be almost completely forward to fit a baby carrier. I've had people sit behind me with my seat 90% back and have gotten no complaints. The 3rd row is almost roomier than the 2nd, although not quite as comfortable, as expected.
Overall we love it. It took about 3 weeks to get our floor mats because they were on back order but they're nice as well...they fit in the car like a puzzle. They're designed to tuck under the molding, with a velcro like bottom to keep them in place and cover the majority of the floor space. There are tons of cup holders (there are actually 8 within reaching distance of the front seats). Storage is good too: the center row has it's own console and storage, and the lack of the DVD system adds an extra drawer to the bottom of the front console.
Overall we are very pleased. I don't mind being a "van-dad", I could really care less. Most cross-overs look like old station wagons nowadays anyway, but mine has much more convenient sliding doors and it's the window design is similar to a Ford Flex. Most people don't realize it's a van at first, until they see the doors slide.0
mseb Posts: 2Is there a way to find out when the 2011 Quest will be tested by the NHTSA?0
Wow! I visited the Honolulu Auto Show this past weekend. The new 100% Japan-made Quest and Toyota Sienna were directly across the aisle from eachother, so comparing the two was very easy. I learned that there are glaring differences in quality.
The quality of the Quest's interior materials & design felt and looked far superior to the Sienna's. The $43,800 Sienna's leather seat stitching (below the front seat headrests in the rear) were crooked and wavy--very visible to rear seat occupants. Not very good quality control there....The front seats on the Quest were almost LaZBoy-like in comfort compared to the hard, shallow uncomfortable front seats in the Sienna. The front door elbow rests on the Sienna had a thin layer of cushioning on cheapish vinyl, while the Quest's had much more padding and a thicker, plusher feel to it--very Infiniti-ish. The soft pad dash on the Quest contrasted greatly to the Sienna's hard plastic dash pieces, which sounded cheap when tapped with the fingernail.
The Sienna's electronic auto-folding rear seats--although appearing novel--partially crushed a cardboard oil change box I put in the rear bay where the seats fold into. Although the mechanism stopped, it didn't reverse like auto windows do to avoid pinching fingers. What if that was a baby stuck down there? I really like the fact that the Quest's permanent storage coves in back don't require you to move stuff out of the way to fold the seats down. Even the tall roof sills allowed for easier ingress/egress than both the Sienna and Odyssey. Lastly, the one-touch open/close sliding doors were fantastic!!!! The Sienna requires you tug and pull the handle for the door to auto-slide.
I was not a fan of previous-generation US-made Quests. But now with this new generation Quest--the first to be manufactured in Japan (Fukuoka)--the quality difference is so obvious. The design & materials felt and looked better than even Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi--especially the lower-end models.
Other car show observations: Even the Hyundai Sonata's interior was much nicer in design and quality than the C & E-Class Benz and BMW 3 series. The Canadian-made VW Routan exuded Chrysler Caravan cheap everywhere. The hard plastic non-variable-adjustable rear armrests were hard and pathetic. There were even stickers on the driver's door and in the engine bay prominently displaying 'Chrysler Group'. Very cheap and not very comfortable inside too...and overpriced. The Honda Odyssey appeared to be better in quality than the Sienna, but fell short in design, in my own perspective. Great job Nissan!0
autowrite Posts: 226How well will the CVT in this 2011 Quest standup against other Japanese/Koren/European/American historic ATs?0
ourhouse Posts: 4Sorry, but that is what this thing looks like. BTW...at first I didn't care so much for the exterior of the Odyssey, but it sure grows on you. We still haven't made our decision yet, but we are leaning to the Honda.0
Nissan has a long history of engineering and manufacturing Constant Variable Transmissions (CVT) for their vehicles. I believe the early to mid '90s is when they first started using them in their vehicles outside of the US. It appears every single US-market Nissan model (except US-made trucks and SUVs) comes solely with, or has an option for, a CVT transmission. Durability-wise, I think the CVT has proven itself in the Murano, Maxima, Altima, Sentra, Versa, Cube and Rogue (and now Juke). It has been the only transmission available in the Murano and Rogue since their introductions to the US in 2003 and 2008, respectively. Later, CVTs became the sole transmission available in the Maxima and Altimas. The majority of Sentras have it, as well as many of the Cubes, Versas and Jukes. In fact, in Japan, the V35 Nissan Skyline (aka Infiniti G35) came equipped with an 8-speed CVT back in the mid-2000s. I have heretofore not heard of any glaring, recurring massive problems with Nissan's CVTs. And I'm sure Nissan would take care any engineering or durability problems expeditiously.
Nissan was even considering installing a 9-speed CVT in the mighty GT-R in its early engineering stages. I guess that's how much Nissan believes in this type of transmission.
Nissan seems to be the company with the highest degree of dedication to the CVT and its apparent benefits in efficiency.0
coupedncal Posts: 252How can there be a CVT with a specific gear count (8/9 speed in your example)? That looks like a marketing gimmick to me as CVT has infinite gears. Why not then have a CVT with 100 gears? That will surely be better than 8 or 9 speed.
I do agree with your general thought on Nissan's investment in CVT.0
Yes, I understand your point. However, Nissan has been dabbling in the "variable speed" CVTs for sometime now. I remember reading a US car magazine road test a couple of years ago, wherein the author praised Nissan's ability to create the appearance of shifting gears via the steering wheel shift paddles on a CVT-equipped model. I forget whether it was the Maxima, Sentra or Rogue. Whatever the case may be, he was delighted at the ultra-smooth transitions.
Check out these links about the Nissan's Extroid CVTs and the JDM V35 Nissan Skyline 350 GT-8 (aka Infiniti G35), which was equipped with Nissan's 8-speed Extroid CVT, back in 2002:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/19462/nissan_skyline_gt8.htm- l
Hope this helps!0
modu Posts: 1Is there any information on the constant humming of this vans engine? I just got this MINIVAN YESTERDAY and this humming is odd, constant and a little loud, it also has a weird almost burnt smell every time I start it....
Any clues? Should I take it back to the dealer? There is no cooling off period as I bought it in California....0
frankarthur Posts: 2:confuse: Okay, this is a long one:
I have a 2006 Nissan Quest 3.5 SE that was purchased new in Jan. of 06. The original Nissan battery gave out this month (March 2011) and I purchased a new 800cc battery (Exide brand) from Strauss Auto here in New York City. The battery was installed, but the indicator light was still coming on, so the mechanics tested the electrical system and found I needed a new alternator. So that was installed along with the new battery. This was last week.
Even with the new battery and alternator though, the battery indicator light was still coming on (and the brake light too). This would happen after starting the van up in the morning. About 20 to 30 minutes later those lights would go out. I figured maybe something was going on with the indicators being off. Then last Friday (3/23) about 30 minutes into driving in the morning, I had lost acceleration. The battery and brake indicators were still on, but the engine was still running – I just had no acceleration.
After pulling over (using the van's inertia) I let the engine stay on. After about 15 minutes the battery and brake lights went off and I had acceleration again. I went to a nearby garage where they tested the NEW battery, and they said it was a weak charge – basically saying this supposedly "new" battery was bad.
After putting in their own battery, the charge was stronger. I took the Strauss battery back to the store where they tested it (out of the vehicle) and claimed it was a good battery. I put the Strauss/Exide battery back in and again; this time no battery or brake light comes on.
Only after sitting for a few hours or overnight do those lights come on again. I then took it to another Strauss store – this one with a garage (the first Strauss store had none) – where they tested the battery and claimed it was good. So now I'm wondering what's going on? Is it the battery or something else?
Fast forward to today where on my way home, the van stalls again; engine still running, but no acceleration. I keep the engine on. I call my insurance for roadside assistance. While waiting I try to accelerate – the engine would rev-up, but no acceleration. When the tow truck arrived, the mechanic had me put it in reverse. THEN it decides to accelerate. The difference is though that the "Service Engine Soon" light now comes on. The mechanic told me that it's either the battery, or there could be an electrical short somewhere that's draining the battery while everything is supposedly "off" (I do make sure everything is indeed off – lights, heat, radio – EVERYTHING)
I'm going to take the vehicle to the Nissan dealership and have them look at it (at more expense because the dealership in Manhattan is VERY expensive for service), but I want to get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, if anyone here has any idea as to what's going on with my van, let me know. Is it the battery that's defective, or is there a power short somewhere in the electrical system? Or is it something else?0
rockmobile Posts: 115This is the 2011 Nissan Quest thread. You may get a better response if you start a new thread.0
plashenick Posts: 165I just bought the 2011 LE (Black Amythest) - no moon roof for 37,700 (incl destination). What are people paying in NJ/ NY0
hp2009 Posts: 65news reporter driven 2011 nissan quest....no body got mpg better than 12-15 so people need to be careful about mpg rating since not tested by goverment yet....
but we can hear from recent purchase....
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2011-02-03-test-drive-nissan-- quest_N.htm
second test was done in arizona republic news paper...same trouble...cannot go more than 13-15mpg in city and highway


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News Release
Today, the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU), American Urological Association (AUA) and LUGPA applauded the Physician's Caucus of the United States Senate who joined their physician colleagues in the United States House of Representatives in demonstrating their commitment to preserving patient access to independent, integrated medical services.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) expressed their support for the in-office ancillary services exception (IOASE) to federal self-referral regulations (the "Stark" law), which permits physician practices to provide critical services including radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, pathology and physical therapy in an integrated and coordinated fashion within their respective practices.
"Providing comprehensive services to patients through the integration of ancillary services at the point of service improves communications between physicians of different specialties, facilitates the development of coordinated clinical pathways and enhances the development of disease specific clinical expertise, all of which lead to improved quality at reduced cost," said Dr. Juan A. Reyna of San Antonio, Texas, President of LUGPA.
The IOASE is considered the cornerstone by which physicians in private practice provide an alternative to less convenient and more expensive sites of service. The letter affirmed that the utilization of certain ancillary services has actually decreased in recent years.
"It's important to note that the letter stated that the volume of advanced imaging services has slowed significantly, from 13.4 percent growth in 2006 to 5.4 percent in 2007," said Dr. David Penson, Health Policy Council Chair for the AUA and Professor of Urology at Vanderbilt University. "Research shows that the utilization of intensity modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, to treat prostate cancer from 2007 to 2011 increased by only 2.2 percent, notwithstanding the approximately 160 percent increase in the number of urologists in practices with ownership of IMRT."
The leadership of physician members of Congress on this issue is particularly timely as both parties work toward modification of the deeply flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. Repeal of the IOASE provision for radiation, advanced imaging and physical therapy would make it illegal for physician practices to integrate these ancillary services into their practices and ultimately force more patients to receive these services in a hospital setting, thereby reducing access and increasing costs. In the letter, the Senators point out that hospitals typically mandate that employed physicians use the more expensive hospital services – a trend that is increasing as more physicians are becoming hospital employees. The Senators also note that those advocating for repeal of the IOASE stand to gain financially from such a change.
"Shifting patients to less convenient, more expensive sites of service is not a solution," said Dr. Richard Pelman of Belleville, Washington, President of the AACU. "We need to focus on delivering high quality, cost effect care – not on where that care is delivered."
Dec. 3, 2013, Senate Physician Caucus to Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell re: IOASE
About LUGPA
LUGPA represents 121 large urology group practices in the United States, with more than 2,000 physicians who make up more than 20 percent of the nation's practicing urologists. LUGPA and its member practices are committed to best practices, research, data collection and benchmarking to promote quality clinical outcomes. For more information, visit lugpa.org.
About AUA
Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association (AUA) is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 18,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it fosters the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and formulation of health policy.
About AACU
The American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU) is the only national organization to serve urology with the sole purpose of promoting and preserving the professional autonomy and financial viability of each of its members. AACU's resources are dedicated to inform members of the issues affecting their practice and profession, and then to work directly to influence the resolutions of these issues. Forty-five percent of all urologists nationwide are members of the AACU.


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Loyola at a Glance
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Loyola hosts real estate forecasting conference
September 30, 2011
The Loyola University New Orleans College of Business, in conjunction with the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors, will host the 1st Annual "Real Estate and Forecast Seminar" in Roussel Hall in the Communications/Music Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 18, beginning at 8 a.m.
Conference speakers will offer insight and forecasts on the future of the market and the role the housing market plays in our local and national economy.
"The success or struggle of the housing market is a pretty good indicator of which way the economy is headed. We've invited all of the organizations from the greater New Orleans development community," said economics professor John Levendis, Ph.D. "National and local experts that know the ins and outs of the local real estate market will be sharing their forecasts."
The morning session will feature national, regional and local economists and a panel of award-winning commercial and residential real estate agents and brokers. The event is open to the public and tickets for the morning session are available for $40 in advance and $50 at the door on the day of the event. Tickets for the afternoon session, which includes lunch, are $45 in advance and $55 at the door.
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Editor's note: Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, served in the Army for more than 37 years and spent more than three years in Iraq. He is a CNN military analyst. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN) -- Having had to request and frequently justify force requirements for combat and noncombat missions, I know that terms like "mission creep" and "boots on the ground" in connection with America's intervention in Iraq are frustratingly ill-defined and usually improperly used by those who have likely never had to plan or execute a military operation.
As neither of these terms come from military doctrine, as a former commander I'd like to try to clarify what I think they mean ... and what they don't mean.
Commanders are given missions. In the most recent situation in Iraq, a team of 300-plus military members -- of all ranks, and likely of many specialties -- were sent to Baghdad and Irbil to "assess" the situation facing the Iraqi Security Forces' ability to blunt ISIS. As part of that mission, the commanders on the ground -- Gen. Lloyd Austin at Central Command and Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, who was sent from his posting in Kuwait to oversee operations -- conducted further analysis of the mission. They then likely assigned small teams to various Iraqi and Peshmerga units in the fight and the Operational Command Headquarters in Baghdad and Irbil to see just how bad things were.
Opinion: What the U.S. can realistically do in Iraq
As part of the assessments, these teams were asked to evaluate the state of the Iraqi Security Forces and the Peshmerga, and determine what they would need to put up a fight against an increasingly powerful, and horrific, enemy.
That mission changed slightly when the President saw threats against the operation centers in the two cities, and he was made aware of an emerging humanitarian crisis in Ninewa Province, near the town of Sinjar.
'Heroic' mission rescues desperate Yazidis from ISIS
The new humanitarian missions -- as well as an expansion of the requirement to "conduct an assessment" -- required different skill sets, and more people: intelligence analysts to track the enemy and help coordinate air strikes; logisticians to look at potential requirements needed to transport refugees; operators and fire supporters (artilleryman) who understand battlefield maneuver and fires; medical specialists to potentially treat refugees; aviation specialists who might need to coordinate ground maneuver with fast-moving jets and slower-moving helicopters delivering aid; communication specialists who can expand the satellite communication to Air, Navy, Marine, Army and Special Forces assets; and reconnaissance experts who would need to contribute to a better understanding of what was happening on the ground in the crisis areas.
Were there 40,000 Yazidis -- as initially reported -- or were there 500? What were their conditions? What is the ground like for the potential of large fleets of arriving air or ground transport? What does the enemy look like near the location?
Who are the Yazidis, and why does ISIS want to kill them?
All of these questions were part of the commander's assessment -- the military calls them Priority Intelligence Requirements, or PIR (another one of those pesky military acronyms). The special operators who were pulled off Mount Sinjar Wednesday night were doing those kinds of missions.
I can't predict with certainly what may happen next. But because I've been a part of these kinds of missions, I'm optimistic. I do know U.S. military forces are protecting the operation centers in Irbil and Baghdad; we now have a better assessment of the fighting capabilities of the ISF and Peshmerga than we had 30 days ago, and we now know a lot more about the situation on Mount Sinjar.
Why does the U.S. intervene militarily in Iraq but not in Syria?
Is this "mission creep?" I don't think so. It is what we in the military call situational assessments and a troop-to-task analysis, as the mission evolves.
Are there more "boots on the ground?" Absolutely, even though many who wear the uniform flinch at this term (most would prefer to be called military professionals rather than be referred to as part of a uniform; this term was initially coined to help determine how long a soldier had been in theater -- "I have 450 days boots on the ground in Iraq" -- so we would know how much time at home we needed to provide them to recover).
Now, as a private citizen and a former soldier, I'd prefer the various analysts discuss what the mission is, and how we are accomplishing it. The arbitrary use of the two confusing and ill-defined terms of "mission creep" and "boots on the ground" are not helpful in getting to the meat of the strategic issues against a determined enemy.
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