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The Pakistan Taliban
August 7, 2009
Executive Summary
The rise of militant Islam in Pakistan ranks among countless examples of short-term political gain sacrificing long-term stability. In the 70s, the Zia government manipulated religious symbols in order to raise a holy army and shore up its own domestic support. However, after the war against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan ended, militant Islam could not be sealed away. Now in the year 2009, the Pakistani state is fighting for its survival against Islamic militias borne of the Taliban's ideology.
The Rise of General Zia
The Pakistani state has always been tied to Islam. It is, after all, originally a homeland for the Muslims of colonial India. Up until the 1970s, Pakistan's Islamic identity was able to co-exist relatively peacefully with secular politics. However, a coup in 1977 began a process that would eventually change the complexion of Islam in Pakistan, transforming it from a moderate interpretation to the militant version that is now rising to challenge the state.
In 1977, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq seized power in Islamabad, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. After taking power, General Zia, a staunch Islamist and anti-communist, found himself presiding over a government that had no constitutional mandate to rule [2]. Furthermore, large portions of the population continued to support the deposed President Bhutto and his Pakistani People's Party (PPP).To overcome this deficit in popular support, General Zia adopted two strategies that still resonate in present day Pakistani politics: relying on the military to prop up his regime and the manipulation of Islamic symbols for political ends [1, 2].
The Mujahideen in Afghanistan
In 1978, a coup in Afghanistan brought the Soviet-backed People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) into power. To the Zia government, the PDPA represented both an external threat from the Soviet Union as well as the potential for internal subversion from ethnic Balochs, Pashtuns living along the Durand line, and leftist PPP members [1]. In response to these threats, the Zia government began to organize and train disparate Afghan ethnic groups under the inclusive flag of Islam, a strategy that was facilitated by the 'godless' nature of the Soviet-backed PDPA regime. Before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had even occurred, several Mujahideen training camps existed in Pakistan [3]. Most of these camps were located in the Northwest Frontier Provinces (NWFP) and federally administered Tribal Areas (FATA), two regions where the present-day Taliban's hold is strongest [1].
When the Soviets eventually invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) responded by intensifying efforts to organize Afghan partisans in Pakistani training camps [3]. The period from 1979-1989 was marked by the establishment of an intricate indoctrination and training system for Mujahideen fighters in Pakistan, lubricated by U.S. aid, and comprised of a network of madrassas and training camps situated along the Durand line and beyond [1, 2]. In the end, General Zia's strategy of championing Islam to secure his shaky regime was successful, though it came at a cost of blurring the line between civilian and military rule and the creation of a network devoted to the propagation of radical Islam.
Pakistan support for the Taliban in the Afghan civil war
After the unifying symbol of the Soviet army withdrew from Afghanistan, the ethnic and religious groups that made up the Mujahideen began to fracture, eventually plunging Afghanistan into civil war. The Pakistani government's patron of choice during this time came to be the Taliban. Their reasons were as follows:
- The Taliban were Sunni and had educational and training links to Pakistan's Mujahideen infrastructure. They could be used to counter Indian or Iranian influenced ethnic groups such as the Hazara, thus avoiding the persistent danger of Indian encirclement [1, 4].
- The Taliban were rivals to the Jamaat-e-Islami, a faction that Benazir Bhutto believed was complicit in her father's execution [6].
- A sympathetic Taliban government in Kabul was not likely to press Pakistan on the Durand line or pan-Pashtun nationalism [4].
Pakistan's support for the Taliban ended abruptly after September 11th, 2001, a policy reversal that, while precipitated by geopolitical necessity, also had the effect of driving a wedge into Pakistani society by alienating sections of the population who lamented the abandonment of their Islamic brothers in Afghanistan.
The Taliban movement turns on the Pakistani state
From 2001 onwards, militants flooded across the Pakistani border into Afghanistan to launch attacks against coalition forces. By 2007 however, things began to change and the Taliban instead embarked on a violent campaign within Pakistan targeted at state institutions [4]. The reason for their shift in emphasis is likely twofold.
First, when fighting a guerilla war, it is reasonable and expected to fall back across the porous Durand line to re-group far from the reach of coalition troops. The second and far more important reason concerns the Taliban's identity and goals. At some point during the civil war in Afghanistan, the Taliban became detached from Afghan nationalism and adopted the mantle of a wider religious movement [1]. Around this time, Mullah Omar started identifying himself as the 'Commander of the Faithful' [1]. This identity shift resulted in the Taliban starting to look beyond Kabul and set their sights on 'infidels' in the wider Muslim world and beyond.
Thus, the emergence of native Taliban movements in Pakistan should come as no surprise. They are the result of post-Zia 'Islamisation' of Pakistan, the spiritual appeal of the Taliban's brand of Wahabism, anti-American sentiment, and finally popular disillusionment towards a Pakistani government that fails to provide basic services or job opportunities [1, 5, 3].
The 'Pakistan Taliban'
Islamist groups operating in Pakistan are primarily based in the FATA or the NWFP regions, areas where government control is tenuous at best. From 2001 onward, the Pakistani government's strategy to counter 'Talibanisation' has rotated between launching disastrous military campaigns and brokering peace deals that exchange Sharia law and prisoners for a ceasefire [4]. A few of the major groups:
- Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP): An umbrella organization of homegrown Taliban groups in Pakistan, the TTP was at one point said to control seven agencies of the FATA and seven districts of the Malakand Division [6]. The group was headed by Baitullah Mehsud, believed to be behind the Benazir Bhutto assassination and recently reported killed by a US drone strike in the FATA [8].
- Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM): Sufi Muhammad, leader of the TNSM, brokered the abortive 2009 Sharia-for-peace deal in Swat. TNSM goals call for the establishment of Sharia law throughout Pakistan [9].
Terrorist attacks in Pakistan
Terrorist violence is trending upwards in Pakistan. In 2003, terrorism was behind 164 civilian and security forces deaths. By 2008, the number had risen to 2,809 [7]. Attacks are predominantly targeted at state personnel and institutions. For example, after government forces stormed the pro-Taliban LaL Masjid in 2007, local Taliban groups in the NWFP attacked a government office and killed thirteen people [4]. While the attacks are too numerous to list, most of them share the common goal of undermining state authority.
Islamabad's challenge moving forward
Taliban influence continues to fill the vacuum left by weak state institutions in the FATA and NWFP, and if the state remains compromised, 'Talibanisation' could make inroads into the 'settled' areas of Pakistan. Therefore, it follows that the key to reversing encroaching Taliban influence is to strengthen the legitimacy and institutions of the Pakistani state.
This is no easy task, for the Pakistani government remains torn between domestic and international obligations. Support for U.S. foreign policy ventures costs valuable political support at home. Moreover, economic crisis in Pakistan has made it even harder for the government to provide basic services. Apathy is widespread in Pakistan. Citizens are loath to choose between a government perceived to be an American puppet in Islamabad and fundamentalist Taliban groups in the frontier provinces [4].
However, there are signs that the Pakistani government has turned a corner in their fight against Islamic militancy. The breakdown of the 2009 Swat deal and subsequent issuance of an arrest warrant for TNSM leader Sufi Muhammad indicate that, at least for the time being, Islamabad is no longer willing to pursue an appeasement policy.
Zachary Fillingham is a contributor to Geopoliticalmonitor.com
Sources:[1] Hussain, R. Pakistan and the Emergence of Islamic Militancy in Afghanistan. Hampshire, England. Ashgate Publishing Limited. 2005. [2] Ahrari, Ehsan. Jihadi groups, Nuclear Pakistan, and the Great Game. Carlisle, PA. Strategic Studies Institute. 2001. [3] Institute for the Study of War. Themes: Pakistan & Afghanistan. 2009. http://www.understandingwar.org/themenode/pakistan-and-afghanistan. [4] Jalazai, M.K. The Taliban Insurgency in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Lahore, PK. Sang-e-Meel Publications. 2008. [5] BBC World News. The 'Islamisation' of Pakistan. 1998 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/165406.stm. [6] Global Security. Pashtun Taliban Insurgency – Combat Chronology. 2008. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/pakistan2-1.htm [7] Institute for Conflict Management. Pakistan Assessment 2009. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/ [8] BBC World News. Profile: Baitullah Mehsud. 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7163626.stm [9] Dawn. Sharia for other parts of Pakistan also: TNSM. 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/nwfp/sharia-for-other-parts-of-pakistan-also-tnsm–szh


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John Ruskin (February 8, 1819 January 20, 1900) was an English author, poet and artist, although more famous for his work as art critic and social critic. Ruskin's thinking on art and architecture became the thinking of the ... moreAdd to my favourites Get these quotes on a PDF
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I recently heard some rumours about IBM's BladeCenter products that I thought I would share – but FIRST let me be clear: this is purely speculation, I have no definitive information from IBM so this may be false info, but my source is pretty credible, so…
4 Socket Nehalem EX Blade
I posted a few weeks ago my speculation IBM's announcement that they WILL have a 4 socket blade based on the upcoming Intel Nehalem EX processor (http://bladesmadesimple.com/2009/09/ibm-announces-4-socket-intel-blade-server/) – so today I got a bit of an update on this server.
Rumour 1: It appears IBM may call it the HS43 (not HS42 like I first thought.) I'm not sure why IBM would skip the "HS42″ nomenclature, but I guess it doesn't really matter. This is rumoured to be released in March 2010.
Rumour 2: It seems that I was right in that the 4 socket offering will be a double-wide server, however it appears IBM is working with Intel to provide a 2 socket Intel Nehalem EX blade as the foundation of the HS43. This means that you could start with a 2 socket blade, then "snap-on" a second to make it a 4 socket offering – but wait, there's more… It seems that IBM is going to enable these blade servers to grow to up to 8 sockets via snapping on 4 x 2 socket servers together. If my earlier speculations (http://bladesmadesimple.com/2009/09/ibm-announces-4-socket-intel-blade-server/) are accurate and each 2 socket blade module has 12 DIMMs, this means you could have an 8 socket, 64 cores, 96 DIMM, 1.5TB of RAM (using 16GB per DIMM slot) all in a single BladeCenter chassis. This, of course, would take up 4 blade server slots. Now the obvious question around this bit of news is WHY would anyone do this? The current BladeCenter H only holds 14 servers so you would only be able to get 3 of these monster servers into a chassis. Feel free to offer up some comments on what you think about this.
Rumour 3: IBM's BladeCenter S chassis currently uses local drives that are 3.5″. The industry is obviously moving to smaller 2.5″ drives, so it's only natural that the BladeCenter S drive cage will need to be updated to provide 2.5″ drives. Rumour is that this is coming in April 2010 and it will offer up to 24 x 2.5″ SAS or SATA drives.
Rumour 4: What's missing from the BladeCenter S right now that HP currently offers? A tape drive. Rumour has it that IBM will be adding a "TS Family" tape drive offering to the BladeCenter S in upcoming months. This makes total sense and is well-needed. Customers buying the BladeCenter S are typically smaller offices or branch offices, so using a local backup device is a critical component to insuring data protection. I'm not sure if this will be in the form of taking up a blade slot (like HP's model) or it will be a replacement for one of the 2 drive cages. I would imagine it will be the latter since the BladeCenter S architecture allows for all servers to connect to the drive cages, but we'll see.
That's all I have. I'll continue to keep you updated as I hear rumours or news.
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Shae Erisson
It's unlikely you'd be able to put three of these into a single chassis because one of them would cross power domains and that's currently not supported for double wide blades. I doubt it would be supported for anything larger.
Shae – thanks for reading. You bring up a great point, however I believe that only applies in the IBM BladeCenter E. The BladeCenter H doesn't share the same power domain limits. I'm willing to bet the new HX5 blade server will only be supported in the BCH.
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The 2009 White House Holiday Decorations … So Far
We saw the 2009 White House Christmas tree when it was hand-selected from a West Virginian farm. Last week the White House unveiled the decorated tree and the first of this season's White House holiday decor.
The Obamas are reusing ornaments from previous administrations and sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country. The groups were asked to decorate the ornaments by referencing a favorite local landmark and then send them back to be displayed at the White House. Do you like the decorations so far? We can't wait to see what designer Simon Doonan adds to the mix.
• White House Decorations Unveiled: Reflect, Rejoice, Renew from Washington Spaces
• The Obamas' Recycled Holiday Festoons from Earth911
• Martha Stewart and Matthew Morrison of 'Glee' Tour White House Christmas Decorations from Politics Daily
• Click here for more Apartment Therapy coverage of decor in the Obama White House.
Images: Washington Spaces
26 Comments
So far pretty recesionnary.
ya it would have been nice to see something a bit more modern
not as nice as I had expected, quite conservative...maybe the private quarters will be a bit more creative!?
Yeah, they might need a little help. Simon, where are you?
The New York Times Style section ran a piece about how the Obamas are keeping religion out of the holiday decorations to keep it more inclusive. I'm glad to see that in these decorations. The American flag ornament is a bit much, though.
Wow, this is pretty ugly... I agree, they could modernize a bit.
I agree with you all (especially coming from me, who made a door wreath out of barbed wire, broken glass and razor blades) but both the venue and the position have to be considered. This isn't an art gallery, design house or edgy lifestyle retail space. Its the White House. Viewed by everyone, representative of our country.
He is taking his client into consideration. I'd love to see something a little more contemporary, but there is a possibility he might have had instructions to the contrary.
Modernizing would cost money, and if the Obamas spent a mint on up-to-date giftmas decor, there would be howls from the right wing about it. It's an old house, so traditional decorations are entirely appropriate.
I do like the idea of sending out the ornaments to have them decorated with local landmarks. But agree with everyone here that I would like to see something more modern and pulled together.
Boring. It fits the style of the room, which I also think is boring. But I do like the sentiment of sending the decorations out and having them personalized. That's at least less boring.
It totally lacks their personal style (although I'm wondering if they even have one). They kept a lot the same, the Oval Office hasn't changed, and now the Christmas decor lacks luster. I went there during the Christmas season during the Clinton administration and it had so much character!!! So disappointed in the First Lady.
Sorry, but those Christmas trees are ugly. Are those plaster cherubs on top?! On my monitor, the dominant colour seems to be brown; maybe it looks richer in real life, but these displays should be designed with photography in mind. Sheesh.
Umm... Leen?? what does the First Lady have to do with this?? They are decorating the White House, not THEIR house.
This administration also want to remove any trace of religion from Christmas forgetting the Reason for the Season.
The Reason for the Season? You mean Winter Solstice, right? Or did you mean Hanukkah?
Jezebella, it's called CHRISTMAS because of CHRIST. Otherwise it would just be winter solstice or whatever.
Not everybody in America celebrates Christmas, have you heard? It's true. I read it on the internet.
So i've heard, but i'm talking about the reason it's called CHRISTMAS. I know not everyone celebrates it. But it's called Christmas for a Reason.
"But it's called Christmas for a Reason."
You mean because the Catholic Church of Rome in the 4th century wanted to make Saturnalia/Winter Solstice it's own holiday to bring more Pagans into the church?
I think a modern take on the Christmas Tree (there are so many alternatives out there) could have been nice to see? I do look the berries over the fireplace though...
@befsf - great response, so true.
I bet if someone had used a proper camera without a flash, we'd see a lot of beauty here.
Oy, I'd love just ONE Christmas post this (or any) year without "pagan" popping up in the comments.
And I find it just sad that a supposedly visual crowd can't see past a particular style and just find the beauty, joy or inspiration.
I'm no Federalist, but that first shot is gorgeous (albeit not THE best shot), and the brown and gold is an interesting holiday palette, regardless of stylistic leanings.
And as much as I love Simian Doonan, I think he is an odd choice for this gig.
Kinda like appointing Richard Simmons as Chair of the President's Council of Physical Fitness.
@Haunted_Studio, turn off Fox News and back away from the television slowly. No conspiracy here; move along and happy holidays.
Perhaps the intention was to remove evidence of both religion and style. Oh, well. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.


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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A small, church-affiliated school in Ruston has been dropped from Louisiana's voucher program because it charged the state more for tuition than it did parents of non-voucher students, the Department of Education announced Friday.
New Living Word School was cut from the voucher program, based on findings of outside auditors who reviewed the 117 schools in the program, which began statewide for the 2012-13 school year.
Parents of students at the Ruston school will be notified by Monday that the school won't be included in the voucher program in the upcoming school year and will be offered other options for their children. The education department says New Living Word School will have to repay $378,000 in voucher tuition to the state.
The school's principal and the church pastor, Jerry Baldwin, disagreed with the audit and said New Living Word School followed the state guidelines for the voucher program.
"The findings are wrong. They're absurd. They're ridiculous. They're illogical. And we don't agree with them at all," he said in a phone interview.
The education department said only New Living Word School was found to be noncompliant with participation guidelines for the voucher program that uses tax dollars to send students to private schools with state-funded scholarships.
"These findings are evidence that the oversight process is working and that there will be zero tolerance for fiscal mismanagement of taxpayer dollars," Superintendent of Education John White said in a statement.
A closer look at the audits shows that auditors said they couldn't track how 107 of the private schools spent their voucher money to determine if they complied with a requirement that voucher money be spent only on educational purposes.
Meanwhile, a few other schools refused to provide answers to the auditing questionnaire about accounting procedures they used to manage the state funding.
In Ruston, New Living Word School had 93 voucher students in the 2012-13 school year and charged the state $6,300 per student for the year.
During the review period of July 2012 through March, the state paid $4,800 for each voucher student at the school. For its 109 non-voucher students, the school received $550 per student during the same period, according to its audit.
Auditors with Postlethwaite & Netterville said New Living Word's standard tuition rate for non-voucher students is set at $8,500 per year. School officials told auditors they used "in-kind donations" of staff salaries and facilities use to cover much of those tuition costs.
For example, Baldwin said teachers take reduced salaries and donate free tutoring hours to students, and the dollars that otherwise would have been paid for their time are used to cut tuition costs for students. He said the education department knew of the arrangement.
"We see no provision within the program regulations allowing for in-kind services or contributions in determining whether the scholarship tuition charged to the state equals or exceeds tuition charged to non-scholarship students," the auditors wrote.
Baldwin didn't say if he would consider filing a lawsuit to keep from repaying the money or to try to stay in the voucher program.
"We have a right to whatever due process is," he said. "Wherever God leads us, that's what we'll do."
New Living Word School's interest in the voucher program raised some concerns before the statewide program began, with questions about the Ruston school's capability to handle the students with limited facilities and equipment.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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The evidence that Brett Favre will end his retirement to play for the Vikings in 2009 is overwhelming. In fact, the only surprise will be if the quarterback decides his surgically repaired right biceps tendon has not healed sufficiently enough for him to return to the NFL.
There have been reports that Favre already has a contract in place with the Vikings and both Favre and the Vikings have made it clear in public comments that there is great interest on both sides. And then there is this latest nugget: Favre is in the process of attempting to secure a residence in the Twin Cities.
We received a tip last night about Favre settling on a condominium in Edina but that doesn't appear to be a done deal. At least not yet. There were rumors last week that Favre had either bought or rented a house along Bearpath Golf and Country Club in Eden Prairie. (The smart money says he ends up in Edina.)
But where Favre lives doesn't really matter. What does matter is that he's actively looking for a place (or at least someone from the Favre camp is looking), giving a clear indication that he must be encouraged by how his arm is feeling. In the grand scheme of things, this is just the latest piece of evidence that Favre will be playing in Minnesota.
Join Vikings beat writers Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins on a usually informative and often irreverent journey inside the Vikings.
Just like the NFL, Zulgad and Scoggins go at it all year long -- on and off the field.
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After her divorce from Jon Gosselin, Kate has said goodbye to her famous short hairstyle. Read more on Kate Gosselin's makeover and new hair below.
Kate Gosselin was ready for a new start and that included a makeover.
"It's good to have hair again," she said of her new longer hair extensions by celeb stylist Ted Gibson. "I never thought I'd have short hair for as long as I did. I feel like this is a fresh start, a fresh me, a fresh life."
The divorce was tough but Kate is ready to move on, and even considering new love.
"I'm not going to rule it out," she said. "But right now it's not my focus. Being alone at the end of every day, I'm not liking that – it's been a long time, and I feel that loneliness. But I'm not going to go running in the direction of finding someone."
Kate's eight children are her top priority though, "I've got to get my kids back on track, my career back on track and my family back on track," she said.
Kate said the kids are "really struggling" with their father Jon Gosselin being gone.
"They start counseling in the next two weeks," she said. "I'm definitely seeing signs that it's a major need at this point."
Kate is looking forward to a fresh start in 2010.
"Short hair was easy," she tells People, in the issue out Friday. "I could shower in less than three minutes." What wasn't easy was the 20 hours celeb hairstylist Ted Gibson spent giving Gosselin the blond hair extensions. With her new hair comes a new name, she jokes: "It's hyphenated. I am now Kate Clean-Slate."
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Images: wenn.com/People
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It has been a very special Christmas for Elton John and David Furnish.
On December 25, the couple welcomed a son they have named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.
The little boy was born via surrogate in California weighing 7lbs 15 oz.
"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," Elton, 62, and David, 48, said in a joint statement.
"Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."
The pair - married in 2005 after 12 years together - shared the happy news with US magazine.com.
They said that out of respect for the surrogate mother's privacy they would not be releasing further information relating to the surrogacy arrangement.
Elton and David have previously made their desire to become fathers known - last year they failed in an adoption bid to become parents to an orphan in the Ukraine.
Read full story
Tuesday December 28, 2010
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Day 24: Outside
There are two types of people in this world. Brielle's known this since she was young. Which might sound impressive, though it really isn't. Not when the Outsiders come in through invisible doors, with shiny white suits and brightly-lit tablets, with their funny voices and their green lights that scan everyone up and down each month.
In this world, everyone knows there are two types of people.
For you are either inside The Bubble, or Outside.
The Bubblers are normal. They are safe and they are comforting and they make for a clinical, yet loved, Home. There's Bri's mother, with her crinkled eyes and limp auburn hair, the faint scent of flowers that lingers in her dress. Her brother, who smiles too big and too bright for one so old and in such a position. Her brother, the star that shines throughout the Bubble, like light catching a child's soapy spheres.
And then there is Christa.
Wonderful Christa, beautiful Christa, lovely Christa. Christa whose honey-colored hair is like silk beneath Bri's fingers, whose green eyes are like lush forests, far away. Christa is quiet and withdrawn and intelligent, and she has a peculiar, jerky sort of grace to her long limbs. Christa doesn't belong in The Bubble- all the Bubblers can see that. Christa belongs Outside, Outside where there is knowledge matching her own, where there are verdant forests and sparkling streams and brilliant white citadels.
(At least, that's what people say Outside is like)
And though Christa may not belong to the Bubble, she belongs to Bri. Because Christa is everything to Brielle. Everything, and there's nothing in the world - inside The Bubble or Out of it - that could keep Christa from Bri.
Which means the Outsider that took Christa last night really isn't too bright.


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Being told there's something wrong with your new born baby is every parent's nightmare. A local mom, Kaylie Bekkerus, knows that feeling all too well. She says it is even worse to have your child grow up not knowing something is wrong. February is turner syndrome awareness month. 1 out of 2,500 girls are diagnosed with the condition. While it is rare the health complications are serious, and often it goes unnoticed until puberty.
Ellie is 3 and a half, and about to start pre-school. Most people won't be able to notice, but she's been diagnosed with turner syndrome.
"What did I do wrong, what did I eat wrong, what activities shouldn't I have been doing," says Bekkerus, "I Googled it right away, and I was like, why us?"
It's caused by a missing or incomplete sex chromosome resulting in a variety of medical conditions in women.
"We just found out that she has another heart issue that has come on since she was born, they are going to have kidney issues," says Bekkerus, "There are going to have infertility issues, growth problems."
Ellie had a hysterectomy when she was 10 months old, so she will never be able to have children of her own.
"Ellie will have to have heart surgery on her heart someday, but right now we are in clear standings and don't have to do anything yet," says Bekkerus, "The longer we can hold out the better."
Ellie has been fortunate because doctors caught it so early.
"It isn't the end, it's something that at first, what did I do?" says Bekkerus, "But obviously there's nothing that you could have done, nothing to prevent it."
There's no known cure, but it's important to catch it before puberty because doctors worry most about heart complications
"Different signs would be broad shoulders, short stature, wide set neck, tilted back ears," Bekkerus explains, "Some have orthodontic issues, some eye issues, hearing issues, different things that can come about that you need to look for."
While turner syndrome is rare this mom wants you to be aware of the warning signs. There are multiple tests doctors can perform to diagnose turner syndrome. Nearly all girls that have that have it need ongoing medical care, but most can lead relatively healthy independent lives.


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The Sony MEX BT-2500 is a good option for those looking to spend no more than $200 on a Bluetooth-enabled in-car stereo. Its straightforward design and intuitive controls make it easy to use, but its limited calling capabilities and poor outgoing sound quality let it down.
Pricing not available
For the price, the Sony MEX-BT2600 is an impressive all-in-one in-car communication and entertainment device.
The MEX-BT5100 is a good all-in-one option for those thinking of investing in a in a decent stereo and a hands-free speakerphone.
The Sony MEX-BT5000 is packed with useful entertainment and communications features, although it suffers from some fiddly controls. Advanced Bluetooth audio streaming may be its star feature, but its built-in sound optimization for digital audio playback means that it is more than a one-trick pony.
The Sony MEX-GS600BT's App Remote function is not very useful without a dashboard mount for your phone, but everything else about this full-featured car stereo makes it easily recommendable.
The Sony MEX-DV2000 justifies its price premium over other single-disc car stereos with its support for DVD video and its excellent audio output. While its SACD support is nice to have, it is of questionable value when on the road.
Pricing not available
The Philips BT2500's slim design and budget price make it an appealing, travel-friendly mini Bluetooth speaker.
Though far from perfect, the Linksys E2500's ease of use, nice design, and reasonable price make it a very good router for a small home or apartment.
With its ability to stream hundreds of audio and video channels (including Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, and Hulu Plus), the $60 Roku HD would be our top pick for those seeking an ultra-affordable Internet media box -- if not for the fact that it's nearly identical to the slightly cheaper Roku LT.
Unusually gutsy sound for a center speaker.


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The Private Sector is pivotal in wealth creation, employment generation and poverty alleviation.
SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax held an introductory and consultative meeting with Gaborone based media houses.
Wildlife brings benefits to private sector tourism businesses and local people alike.
As the SADC Region industrialises, energy production and distribution will only increase in importance.
On September 17, 2014, a delegation led by Executive Director of the Southern Africa Trust, Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo, paid a courtesy call on SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax to brief her on the preparations of the Drivers of Change Awards where she will be serving as the keynote speaker this year. The ceremony will to take place on October 28, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Read More
On Monday September 08, 2014 SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax received a delegation at SADC Headquarters, from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA ). The delegation is led by Prof. Said Adejumobi.Read More
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr Thembinkosi Mhlongo met a delegation of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Southern Africa on Tuesday September 09, 2014 at SADC Secretariat.Read More
The Regional Economic Integration Support (REIS) Programme, funded by the European Union, has been a catalyst for the rapid development of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) management in the region over the past fifteen months.Read More
The SADC Treaty is the founding document for the establishment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In pursuance of the principles of Towards a Southern African Development Community, a declaration was made by the Heads of State or Government of Southern Africa, at Windhoek, Namibia, in August 1992 affirming their commitment to establish a Development Community in the region.
The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan of SADC is a comprehensive 15–year strategic roadmap, which provides the strategic direction for achieving SADC's long term social and economic goals. It also provides the SADC Secretariat and other SADC institutions with clear guidelines on SADC's approved social and economic priorities and policies and therefore, enhancing their effectiveness in discharging their facilitating and coordinating role. It was approved by SADC Summit in 2003 and its effective implementation began in 2005.
The Revised Edition of the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II) provides a review of the first edition of the Plan. Based on the objectives and common agenda of SADC, the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ, first signed in 2004, provided general guidelines that spelt out specific implementation activities, in accordance with the objectives of the Protocol on Defense, Politics and Security Cooperation, and the strategies for their realisation, covering the Public Security, Political, Defence, and State security sectors.


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Everyone stresses over a sick child, whether it's a long-term illness or a case of the sniffles. … [Read More...]
Every parent wishes that his or her child came with an instruction manual. Each parenting journey begins with thousands of questions, concerns, and … [Read More...]
© Copyright 2014 Moon to Mars . All rights reserved.


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Long waiting times at borders, inappropriate fees, cumbersome formalities, and inadequate or unclear rules and regulations, can all become serious obstacles to trade, and as a consequence adversely affect investment, employment and trade-led development.
UNCTAD assists developing countries in identifying their particular trade and transport facilitation needs and priorities, and helps them program the implementation of specific trade and transport facilitation measures.
UNCTAD organizes workshops and seminars at the regional and national levels, publishes relevant information and training material, and provides technical assistance through numerous projects.9
UNCTAD reaffirms commitment to support all developing countries, in particular African countries and least developed countries.
Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi welcomes new funds from Sweden that will be used to boost UNCTAD's technical assistance to developing countries which are implementing the Bali accord.


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David Dean
Works in Nonprofit/Fundraising
Coat: Paul Smith
Bag: Marimekko
Umbrella: T. S.
Trousers: Brooks Brothers Black Feece
Shoes: Barneys
I had some detailed shots but cannot add to this post retroactively. I may repost this.
Outside Barney's Warehouse Sale
- Everybody, please stay safe during Hurricane Irene this weekend! Stock up on water, snacks, batteries, flashlights, etc, check for flood and evacuation alerts, and stay updated with the news!


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« All Blogs
Captain Kirk Watches Miley Cyrus "Twerk"by Mojo Sideshow
Here's a fresh take on Miley Cyrus' appearance on the VMA's. Everything is a little better with Captain Kirk and the gang.Read More »
As it would turn out those folks in charge of advertisement at LG have an awesome sense of humor...by Bildo
So do you remember last October when LG came out with the 'Falling Elevator' prank to show off their IPS TV monitors. If you didn'...Read More »
On the 8th day God made a dogby Dan Stone
I don't know that this fall under "humor" but I wanted to share with our dog lovin' listeners! ~ DanRead More »
The Pear Dreamby Span
Shop Talk May Cost You!by Joe Cassady
At a party of professionals, a Doctor was having difficulty socializing. Everyone wanted to describe their symptoms, and get an opi...Read More »
350 lb Blue Marlin jumps into boat!by Dan Stone
Deep sea fishing anyone? ~ DanRead More »
Raveby Span
No, you're not crazy...they are actually talking to youby Laura Bradshaw
This is falling under the "crazy" tab... or is it? Colorado DOT is trying to crack down on Drunk Driving, especially on this holida...Read More »


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NCAA Championship Game: #1 Louisville Vs. #4 Michigan
#1 Louisville
#4 Michigan
Bench Depth
The Seahawks don't like to waste time when they go on the road.
The Bengals are undefeated and rested, and they are licking their chops to get a shot at the Patriots when they are not at their best.
It was the kind of performance that demands an immediate reassessment.


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Police are searching for a woman accused of stealing from an elderly woman she was supposed to take care of. Cobb police say Tina Marie Nofie, an employee of Visiting Angels, stole jewelry, morphine, hydrocodone pills, and a dog toy from an elderly homebound woman. Police say Nofie stole the items while the woman was out to dinner two weeks ago. The value of the property stolen is more than $1,500, according to police.
25 FOX DriveDedham, MA 02026
Phone (781) 467-2525


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- Tabor Williams
- Fair Oaks, CA
- United States
This conversation is closed.
Failure should be respected for those trying to accomplish something
Failure tends to lead to some of the greatest discoveries and advancements. Failure now tends to be fail blogs, epic fail, etc. And yet some of the best advancements came from repeated failure. Thomas Edison tried for years before finally perfecting the lightbulb.
When did failure become this huge shameful thing that we want to hide? Even great people like Abraham Lincoln couldn't run a supply store, and yet he became the President of the United States. People don't like to fail because everyone wants to succeed on their first try, but that is seldom the case. Failing teaches us resiliency, and gives us strength.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
Oct 17 2012: It was not until I was free of school and had moved on to making myself a better me that I discovered the value in the portion of a failure that I actually got right. That portion, however small, is a stepping stone towards success. If we never define what we get wrong we never define what we get right. Socially and educationally we need to train our youth to accept and assess both as valuable input. Imagine what we could achieve if no effort was dismissed as wasted!
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Volunteering as a marker for 2014
To register as a new volunteer marker for Round 1, please fill in the form below. If you registered in a previous year, you don't need to register again.
Please note that the crucial week for marking is February 10-16 2014. If you would like to help in principle, but know that you won't be able to give us a few hours during that week, please send us an email telling us that you can't help in 2014 so we know not to assign you any schools.
3 Responses to Volunteering
[...] Volunteering 2012 [...]
I am a PhD student in Linguistics at Northumbria University (UK) and would like to volunteer as a marker for LO 2014.
Many thanks and best wishes,
Svetoslava Antonova-Baumann


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Several new studies have looked at the health of the brain, as well as memory and learning, and it seems inclusion of fish in your diet is an important component.
Studies have looked at fish intake and its impact on memory, learning and even mood. While the extent of research is still limited, studies do show that those who eat fish more often, many studies indicate at least once a week, have greater brain volume.
Researchers suggest that the impact of fish on the brain is related to the Omega-3 fatty acid content of the fish. Omega-3 fatty acids help increase blood flow, fight inflammation and prevent accumulation of plaque associated with Alzheimer's.
It is well documented that fatty fish helps protect the heart and arteries from diseases including elevated blood pressure and triglycerides, cardiac arrhythmia's and stroke and it is this research that is the basis for current diet recommendations.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommended the inclusion of two servings, or eight ounces, of fish per week but unfortunately Americans barely consume 16 pounds of fish per year.
While there is no official Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for omega-3 fatty acids, current scientific studies indicate 250 milligrams per day is the amount needed to provide health benefits. This amount is the basis of the current Dietary Guidelines recommendation of eight ounces of fish each week.
For the sake of your heart, possibly your brain and eyes, make it your goal to add more fish to your eating plan this week.
Fish that provides more Omega-3 include the following:
- Arctic char — 139 mg/3 ounces
- Herring — 181 mg/3 ounces
- Mackerel — 102-157 mg/3 ounces (depends on origin)
- Opah/Moonfish — 135 mg/3 ounces
- Salmon — 110-120 mg/3 ounces (depends on origin)
- Bluefin tuna — 128 mg/3 ounces
If you are concerned about the safety or the sustainability of fish refer to lists of good choices of fish:
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Blue Ocean Institute (they also have an iPhone app)
As you start to add fish to your eating plan remember that canned options can offer economical choices but no matter what you choose, choose to add fish to your weekly eating plan.


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- News
- Core IT
- Business & Money
- Personal Tech
- Blogs
- Answers
All topics
Trending Now:
The eGuide to Data Movement and Governance: Helping Business Professionals Stay Up to Speed
White Paper
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The purpose of this eGuide is to help you grasp the measures that can keep your organization on track to meet objectives and in line with regulations. What's more, it's your choice to become more effective in your job and build the confidence to bring valuable suggestions to your security department. You have a lot to gain!Download Now


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One Shoulder All Over Lace Dress with Ribbon Style A14146
This item is available in stores and online.*
Beautifully elegant and sophisticated, you will look and feel like a million in this breathtaking lace dress!
Used in various widths, lengths and fabrics, ribbons and bows are popular additions to bridal and special occasion fashions.
A smooth fabric often used in bridal gown design because of its exquisite drape.
customers bought with this dress
One Shoulder All Over Lace Dress with Ribbon Style A14146 1 1
Too Big Since this is only available in stores and I live at an APO address, my mom had to order it and ship it to me (ugh, by the way, that should be changed). I had my mom go to her local David's Bridal store with many options in mind of the dresses I liked. Not one of them was available at that store. Then she had to pay $15 to get it from another store across the country. Shameful. It should either be available or free shipping from one store to another. I checked the size chart and according to that, I was a perfect size 4. It arrived and it's way, way too big. Since the zipper is on the side, the tailor can only alter it on the one side and it is still going to be over $75 for the alterations. Since the hem is scalloped, I can't shorten it either. It's a pretty dress, comfy, stretchy, but really a huge pain in the butt. If I lived closer and had time to return it and get another dress for the military ball, I would do it. November 18, 2013
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*Color & Style representation may vary by monitor. Not responsible for typographical or pictorial errors. Product availability varies by store and online. Some in-store purchases require special order and markdown styles cannot be special ordered. Contact your local store for details.


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- Sam Ash Gift Guides
- Hot Deals
- Guitars
- Bass
- Accessories
- Live Sound
- Keyboards
- Microphones & Wireless
- Recording
- DJ & Lighting
- Drums
- Books/DVDs
- Band/Orchestra
To automatically re-order this item before you run out, select the recurring order option during checkout.
Buy Extended Service Plan ( What This? )
What's the one thing that almost all small venue musicians strive for when it comes to amplifiers? Some might say "pure immersive tone", which would undoubtedly be followed by "portability". The Ibanez T-Series Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers deliver exactly that, along with the striking appearance of a hand-crafted boutique amplifier. Whether you're strumming away at the local coffee shop or playing weekly gigs at a religious venue, the sounds of the T-Series will fill the room. Plus, you won't have to break your back getting your amp in and out. The Ibanez T-Series was designed with portability in mind.
Troubadour amps allow you to confidently chart new musical paths and acoustic journeys through any terrain. The highly-portable T80N 80-watt acoustic-electric amplifier features hi-fidelity components and 10" custom speaker with Piezo tweeter for conveying your acoustic sound at any volume. Includes notch filter for preventing feedback, along with phase invert, mute, and master volume controls. Plus separate channels for instrument and microphone, each with its own volume, treble, middle, bass, chorus and reverb controls. The tilt bar is pretty handy, too.
Features:• 80 watts
Tilt bar
|Other Features
|Headphone Out w/ Stereo FX, 6.5" Full Range Speakers, Tilt Bar
T80N Troubadour 80 Watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier
The manufacturer's warranty covers parts for one year and labor for one year from date of purchase. The warranty excludes damage from misuse, abuse, and contains other exclusions.


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Lance draws on three decades of once secret FBI files to tell the definitive story of Greg Scarpa Sr., a.k.a. the "Grim Reaper," a Mafia capo who "stopped counting" after 50 murders, while secretly betraying a crime family as an informant for the FBI.
Phil Jackson's memoir of his successful coaching career.
A succinct history of Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton recounts key events and provides historic paintings, illustrations, and maps.
The cultural critic questions how modern people understand the concept of villainy, describing how his youthful idealism gave way to an adult sympathy with notorious cultural figures to offer insight into the appeal of anti-heroes.
Mac Griswold's The Manor is the biography of a uniquely American place that has endured through wars great and small, through fortunes won and lost, through histories bright and sinister—and of the family that has lived there since its founding as a New England slave plantation three and a half centuries ago.
In 1984, the landscape historian Mac Griswold was rowing along a Long Island creek when she came upon a stately yellow house and a garden guarded by looming boxwoods. She instantly knew that boxwoods that large—twelve feet tall, fifteen feet wide—had to be hundreds of years old. So, as it happened, was the house: Sylvester Manor had been held in the same family for eleven generations.
Formerly encompassing all of Shelter Island, a pearl of 8,000 acres caught between the North and South Forks of Long Island, the manor had dwindled to 243 acres. Still, its hidden vault proved to be full of revelations and treasures, including the 1666 charter for the land, and correspondence from Thomas Jefferson. Most notable was the short and steep flight of steps the family had called the "slave staircase," which would provide clues to the extensive but little-known story of Northern slavery. Alongside a team of archaeologists, Griswold began a dig that would uncover a landscape bursting with stories.
Based on years of archival and field research, as well as voyages to Africa, the West Indies, and Europe, The Manor is at once an investigation into forgotten lives and a sweeping drama that captures our history in all its richness and suffering. It is a monumental achievement.
Bryson examines closely the events and personalities of the summer of 1927 when America's story was one of brawling adventure, reckless optimism and delirious energy.
A stylish, richly illustrated, practical guide for home cooks and preserving enthusiasts, the first cookbook from journalist Kevin West, author of the popular blog Savingtheseason.com. Incorporating classic favorites and new flavors, West gives us more than one hundred recipes, organized by season, for sweet preserves and savory pickles; easy-to-can vegetables and fruits; condiments such as relishes, chutneys, and salsas; and cordials, candies, and cocktails.
Recounts the thrilling life of Jesse James, Frank James, the Younger brothers, and the most famous bank robbery of all time -- the Northfield raid -- which led to a two-week chase ending with the bloody final shootout on the Watonwan River.
From Anchee Min, the author of the internationally bestselling memoir "Red Azalea" -- the eagerly awaited sequel, in which she comes to America to find her way, her voice, and her love.
Award-winning investigative reporter Robert Kolker delivers a haunting and humanizing account of the true-life search for a serial killer still at large on Long Island, in a compelling tale of unsolved murder.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews conducted with the Kennedys' inner circle—from family members and lifelong friends to key advisors and political confidantes—Andersen takes us deeper inside the world of the president and his first lady than ever before. Unsparing yet sympathetic, bigger than life but all too real, These Few Precious Days captures the ups and downs of a marriage, a man, and a woman, the memories of which will continue to fascinate and inspire for generations to come.


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President Obama on Monday weighed in publicly for the first time on a blistering memoir by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, calling his Pentagon chief a "good friend" despite the military leader's damning critique of the White House.
"During his tenure here, Secretary Gates was an outstanding secretary of defense, a good friend of mine, and I'll always be grateful for his service," Obama told reporters in the Oval Office after a meeting with Spainish President Mariano Rajoy Brey.
In his memoir, Gates accused Obama of losing faith in his Afghanistan blueprint and running a more controlling White House than any president since Richard Nixon.
"As I sat there, I thought: The president doesn't trust his commander, can't stand Karzai, doesn't believe in his own strategy and doesn't consider the war to be his," Gates wrote in his new memoir. "For him, it's all about getting out."
Obama acknowledged that the decision-making process on Afghanistan was never easy.
"What's important is that we got the policy right ... this is hard, and it always has been," he said Monday.
"Whenever you've got men and women that you're sending into harm's way, after having already made enormous investments of blood and treasure in another country, then part of your job as commander in chief is to sweat the details on it," Obama added.
Since the public airing of his book, Gates has accused leaders in both parties of using his critiques to score political points. The former Pentagon leader also defended the timing of his memoir, saying he didn't want to wait to go public with concerns merely because it was inconvenient for the Obama administration.


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UPDATE: Just learned that you can control the iPod app while running other apps by hitting the Home button twice to bring up the iPod controls
My First 36 Hours with the iPad
By Eric Freese, Solutions Architect, Aptara
First of all, a disclaimer: While I did own the only Apple ][ in my college dorm—and wish I'd bought Apple stock when it was $40 and my financial adviser didn't think it would go much higher—I am not an Apple fanboy. Only recently did I cash in airline miles for an iPod Touch so I could hone my eReading skills (and of course, score cool points with my kids), so don't expect a gushing "this is going to change the world" review.
My iPad arrived bright and early Saturday morning. I was running errands so it languished in its box for several extra hours after its trip from China. Once home, the unboxing was quite the attraction as my kids crowded around me begging for the opportunity to use it first. Fortunately, Dad wins in these situations, so I went about downloading free apps, books and songs to give it a good test drive. I work for an eBook production company, so I was particularly interested in the device's eReader capabilities (which I'll get to shortly).
For starters, the iPad just feels good in your hands.
At 1.5 pounds, it's light enough to carry, though I wouldn't want to hold it out in front of me for long periods of time. Steve Jobs was spot-on in describing it as "beautiful" in a geeky sort of way; I felt like Captain Picard on the bridge of the Enterprise as I walked about the house. The screen is crisp and clear, and the iPad-specific apps look terrific on the large screen. Most of the iPhone apps look pretty good as well, though some lose their clarity when expanded to fill the larger screen.
I downloaded the iBook app, as well as a set of books my company uses to demo eReader units; they all loaded as expected. The screen brightness automatically adjusts based on ambient light conditions, so the reading experience was fairly good sitting in my living room and downstairs in my office (aka man cave). Output brightness can be adjusted, which is ideal if you have a bed partner who is as sensitive to light at night as mine is. But outdoors was a different story, as predicted.
The glare and reflections from the highly reflective glass made it very difficult to see the screen on a sunny day.
The iPad's book reading experience is very similar to most other eReader devices; ePUB-based files displayed as expected. In portrait mode, you see a single page at a time. In landscape mode, you see two pages in an "open book" layout, though it doesn't equate to twice as much text. The animated page turn is a nice, but unnecessary, feature for a truer book-like experience. The table of contents and book scroller make navigating within an eBook simple.
My most disappointing iPad experience occurred with perhaps its most highly anticipated feature – a component of its enhanced eBook capability. When I clicked on a web link in my eBook, a message popped up asking me if I "want to leave iBooks and open this link?" Well no, I didn't, but apparently I didn't have a choice.
When I clicked the link (to another eBook file) the browser then asked me if I would like to open the file—IN STANZA!!!
Because the iBook app depends on iTunes to manage its content, simple access to other eBooks is not feasible. This clumsy and unexpected user interface is possibly a significant downfall in the iPad's support for interactivity. Web links are frequently mentioned as a class of enhancements; having to acknowledge leaving a book every time a link is selected gets tiresome fast.
In an effort to run the device through all of its eReader paces, I downloaded the New York Times Editors Choice and USA Today apps. Not surprisingly, the iPad's large, high-quality screen provided a very good newspaper reading experience—including ads, which might provide a new revenue stream for the struggling newspaper industry. Whether it's enough to save newspapers is another story.
Next I downloaded Hachette's Twilight graphic novel. (When did they cease being called comic books?) I was impressed with how slick it looked and worked. Many predict that the iPad will increase graphic novel sales; I look forward to following the reality, since as a kid, one of the coolest things about comic books was trading them with my buddies.
I downloaded the Kindle app for the iPad and browsed through some sample books. It felt very similar to reading on a Kindle device, except navigation through the book was done using screen swipes rather than pushing buttons (and doesn't include the page turn animation that is in the iBook app). However, to download previously purchased Kindle books, browse the Kindle store and make purchases, the app opens the browser to the Amazon site. Assuming you have a Kindle account, you can direct the site to download your content to the iPad app.
Next to its screen size and capacity, herein is perhaps the biggest benefit of the iPad as an eReading device − its ability to purchase and download eBooks from any retailer (assuming Barnes and Noble releases their app soon).
This might actually drive prices down since the iPad enables direct head-to-head competition between eBook retailers.
Many suspected that Apple would block apps from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, abiding by their rule of not duplicating core functionality on Apple devices. But when they announced that the iBooks app would not come preinstalled on the iPad, they opened the door to other apps. The device's interoperability with other eReader stores suggests that the iPad could replace the PC, and all other single function eReaders, as the dominant reading platform.
There is a notable difference in presentation between eBooks sold as apps and those sold through the iBookstore as EPUB-formatted books; the former are simply stunning. I downloaded the Grimm's Fairy Tales app from Vook and the Disney Toy Story app. Although I'm not sure what the videos contributed to the stories in the Vook app, it was interesting how video could be included in-line with the text of the story.
In the Disney app, however, I was simply amazed at the graphics and use of different layers within the images to produce an almost 3D effect. My youngest child (8 years old) got the privilege of playing with the book/app; she loved being able to turn off the read-along feature, sing along with the songs from the movies, and color scenes from the book.
Since the iPad was announced, I've been wondering how practical it would be for activities other than reading. Turns out it's very handy for visiting websites or checking email from anywhere. With seven children, our Sunday evening ritual is reviewing the upcoming week's activities calendar against the family's schedule. The iPad's large touch screen made it quick and easy to review the school's website while standing in the kitchen and relaying calendar updates to my wife.
The iPad has been touted as a great media player for music and videos. The music player was indeed as good as the iPod (no surprise). I checked out ABC's app for viewing their TV line-up and the on-screen videos looked great.
I purchased the "Pages" word processing app and am writing this very article on my iPad. While I'm not the world's fastest typist and by no means a touch typist, I'm pleased to report that I had few problems. Landscape mode makes the keyboard roomier and learning the software was quite simple. The only challenge was keeping lazy fingers from accidentally resting on the screen-based keyboard, something I expect repetitive muscle memory to solve.
One of the biggest advance criticisms of the iPad was its inability to multitask. Case in point: the iBook/browser experience. I was able to listen to music while reading a book and typing this, but there was no way to control the player. You must exit the eBook app in order to control the iPod app. It's understandable that the device is more responsive with this sort of restriction, but in this day and age, it's a surprising omission.
I can do it on my Android phone (hint, hint).
UPDATE: Just learned that you can control the iPod app while running other apps by hitting the Home button twice to bring up the iPod controls
Another major criticism of the iPad is its lack of Flash support. As such, many websites have been rebuilt or specially-built to reduce or eliminate the dependence on Flash; eg: NPR set up a site for the iPad that works and looks great on the device. If after this weekend's first wave, iPad sales continue to climb, I expect we'll see many other websites following suit.
My top three iPad takeaways after 36 hours are:
1) Its ability to access any eBook from any vendor who provides an app.
2) The added innovation and excitement to the publishing world that it has ushered in, including stunning new multi-media possibilities.
3) Mine won't be showing up on eBay any time soon.
Am I dumping my desktop machine for it? No (and not just because I need something to run iTunes on).
Will I travel sans laptop with just my Blackberry and iPad? Maybe.
Will it save the publishing industry? Doubtful. Though, I expect it will be a much needed booster shot for the healthy and nimble publishers. But for publishers that aren't already preparing for electronic content distribution, a single device or platform is not going to be a magic bullet.
Is it the new eTextbook? Maybe. I've already heard it reported that some colleges are planning to issue students iPads with eBooks pre-loaded, in place of printed textbooks.
Does the iPad represent the death of the Kindle, Amazon, the Nook, Barnes & Noble or [insert device or retailer here]? I don't think so. At this stage, the market is still taking shape; these devices and retailers still have sandboxes to play in, either as less-expensive alternatives to the iPad, or less-expensive sources of materials for their particular device.
Will the iPad be the "world changer" so many have predicted? It's the first step in a good direction.
Eric Freese is a Solutions Architect with Aptara, which provides digital publishing solutions that deliver significant gains in quality, time-to-market and production costs for eBook publishers.
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37 thoughts on "My First 36 Hours with the iPad"
I took the iPad for a test drive at my local Best Buy, and wasn't really impressed. It seemed like an overgrown iPhone and, as a woman with small hands, I could really feel the weight in my wrists. It wasn't comfortable to hold, and the keyboard slowed me down (I'm a touch typist). I'm generally reluctant to invest in first generation products anyway.
What I *would* like to see is a WebOS tablet device with hardware of Apple's quality. True multitasking would be great!
I'm also really looking forward to seeing what Microsoft's Courier will bring to the e-publishing space. That one looks so promising that it might actually make me change my first generation policy.
There are rumors of multitasking coming to iPhone OS, but nothing official yet. Maybe iPhone 4?
I'm intrigued by the Courier as well, but haven't decided if we'll actually see such a device and if it will be timely enough to compete with Apple.
eric – do you know if ebooks in the adobe digital edition format are readable on the ipad?
I did not see a specific app at the store. thanks, marty monsees
Not in iBooks. However, B&N uses Adobe DRM and provides an iPad reader app as does Kobo. If you have Adobe DRM books on your computer already, I don't know of a way to get them into those reader apps on your iPad however.
I certainly HOPE the iPad is good for something other than eBook Reading. A good designated eBook Reader has about 40 times the battery charge life as an iPad, weighs about 1/6 as much, reads in bright sunlight, does not cause eye strain like backklit devices do, can fit in your suit jacket pocket, and costs less than 1/2. I see the iPad as some form of a Netbook; but a miserable excuse for an eBook Reader. Using an iPad as an eBook Reader is like driving a Winnebaco Motor Home to 7-11 about a block from your home to buy a carton of milk… you can do it, but it is ridiculous overkill in every sense of the word!
I noticed how you said over and over about buying this App or that App…. Apples got you sucker!!! The Ipad is one more step to charging for content… 99 cents now, $5 to $10 in a few years… Remember when cellphones were $3,000, then they figured out they could almost give them away and make a fortune on calls..
I don't care if the Ipad was a world changing device, being tied to Apple and only Apple is a little to Orwellian for me…. Considering their 1984 commercial I find this a little ironic :-))
PS. I bought my Apple shares at $18 :-))
Actually, the only apps I bought were the Vook Grimm's ($.99) and the Pages ($9.99) apps. All the other apps mentioned in the article are free to download. I, too, am not a fan of the closed ecosystem that Apple has adopted, but I do understand why they might have done so. I'm not happy that the main way to do almost anything is through iTunes and the various closed stores. However, the iPad and all the various reader apps are facts of life in my business and therefore something I need to know as much about as possible. Not to defend Apple, but Amazon/Kindle and B&N/Nook have similar models where they try to tie the consumer to a device/service through use of data formats and DRM. At least for the time being consumers have a choice which, if any, eBook service they use on the iPad.
I'm also working with an Android-based device that I hope to write a review on. While the OS is technically more open, Google has some warts in how they've dealt with Android on non-phone devices as well.
And do you still have your Apple shares? If so, you hit a good one.
Thanks for the response!
I like you was advised to sell my Apple shares at $40, so I did. I kicked myself for not listening to my gut, so I bought them back at $44 and still have them… But I'm thinking of selling them due to the Ipad and the chance that they will raise the capitol gains tax next year.
Eric said, "Amazon/Kindle and B&N/Nook have similar models where they try to tie the consumer to a device/service through use of data formats and DRM."
This isn't true in the case of the B&N nook. The nook uses full Adobe Reader Mobile which supports EPUB, PDF, and the Adobe DRM system, and therefore it supports Adobe Digital Editions. It also handles the eReader (PML PDB) format and DRM (a combination usually called 'Secure eReader'), and EPUBs with eReader DRM. That range of capability opens the nook up to just about every e-bookstore except Amazon and Apple, and also opens it to e-books borrowed from public libraries.
The nook is almost wide-open, but the B&N e-bookstore isn't. Their e-books are currently supplied mostly in eReader (PML PDB) format with eReader's 'social+password' DRM. B&N is in the process of changing over to supply e-books in EPUB with eReader DRM. B&N worked with Adobe to have the eReader DRM included as part of Adobe Reader Mobile starting with version 9.1. So in theory, once B&N delivers all of their e-books in EPUB with eReader DRM, any e-reader device using Reader Mobile 9.1 or later will be able to handle B&N e-books. But right now, the only e-reader device that reliably works with B&N e-books is the nook.
The tie-in for nook to the B&N e-bookstore is convenience. The B&N bookstore can be reached wirelessly, either through free AT&T 3G or WiFi, while e-books from anybody else have to be downloaded to your computer and then 'sideloaded' through the USB cable onto the nook. The nook also offers fewer features for browsing the list of sideloaded content than for the list of B&N content: no order by most recently read, no title search, and no graphical 'cover flow'.
"But right now, the only e-reader device that reliably works with B&N e-books is the nook." – which I think was the point I was making. I am happy to learn about the coming change.
I look forward to a day when I can purchase/download an ebook from B&N and read it on another Adobe Reader Mobile enabled device. If you have any input into when that happens, please make it sooner rather than later.
"I look forward to a day when I can purchase/download an ebook from B&N and read it on another Adobe Reader Mobile enabled device. If you have any input into when that happens, please make it sooner rather than later."
I can already do this with EPUBs I buy from Kobo, which allows me to read the books on any 5 devices on which Digital Editions is activated with the same Adobe ID. I discovered this about two months ago and have been buying from Kobo ever since. They have apps for iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre, and Android devices, so shopping from any of them is pretty simple.
I agree with you about getting the (less expensive) WiFi version and tethering a phone if needed. I figure I already have the phone and am paying for 3G service on it; I have stable WiFi at home and at work; and so 3G will only be needed if I cannot locate a WiFi hotspot when I;m traveling.
As to ebook prices, it seems logical to me (book publisher) that publishers will seek to recover their initial costs of creating ebooks, then as the market matures (it is still very, very small), for fiction we will probably see backlist titles dropping to something like 4.99 while frontlist may be around 7.99 to 12.99; non-fiction, with smaller unit sales, may be a bit higher.
Read your review about the 36 hours with iPad with great interest. As a corporate librarian I am interested in potential use for corporate users. For example, can you get delivery of the New York Times or Wall Street journal to your iPAd. If yes, can you view archival issues or just the latest day one?
Thank you
For the New York Times, there appears to only be the Editors Choice app for iPad. You can email the articles for future use, but I didn't find anything about being able to archive them through the app. It is a little weird that in the iPhone app, you can save articles. My guess is that this feature will be coming soon either in an update to the iPhone app to support the iPad or in the iPad app itself..
For the Wall Street Journal, the app is free and you can get a free limited subscription which gives you the current edition, updated throughout the day. You can save articles, but not full sections. You can also create watch lists for specific stocks. If you are a subscriber, you get extra content, a 7 day archive, the ability to save sections and articles for future reading, and a feature called "My Journal" that allows you save and share articles across. WSJ.com and the iPad.
Thanks for the questions!
I wonder if long term you are going to be happy with the WiFi version of the iPad or if the 3G will work better. One of the big reasons I got an iPhone was I loved my iPod Touch, but it was much more useful when it was connected to the net. With my iPhone, I am always connected.
But I was glad to see you did some exploring of the new graphics capability that the iPad has that a Kindle can not support. From the start of the Apple tablet rumors, I wanted to see Apple build a magazine reader and not a book reader. It sounds like that is exactly what they built.
I am able to wirelessly tether the iPad to my mobile phone. So at this point I don't have the need to pay for another 3G plan.
An app I neglected to mention is Zinio, which is a magazine reader. With it you see the pages exactly as they are in the printed magazine. The photos are just as vibrant as they are on the printed page. In portrait, you get a single page; in landscape you get 2. However, in some cases, you might need to zoom in to be able to read the text, forcing you to then manipulate the page around in the viewer area in order to read the entire page. The ads are the same as in the magazine, but may includde other media. For example, in the MacWorld magazine I looked at, I could click a button on the Kia ad to "test drive" a 2011 Sorento, by seeing one of their TV commercials. You can purchase single issues or annual subscriptions through their store. I did find an interesting case where I was previewing a magazine and had the option to look inside a magazine and was presented with a screen telling me I needed Flash 10 – major OOPS!!
Thanks for the comment!!
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Hi there…thanks for writing this post. Very helpful to me…a publishing gal, with a brand new ipad by my side.
What App are you referring to here? the set of books you use to demo ereader units. i'm trying to figure out how i can test epub docs on my ipad!
as well as a set of books my company uses to demo eReader units
If you have the latest version in iTunes (which I assume you do), you can drag and drop any non-DRM epub file onto the iTunes app on your PC/Mac and it will then sync to iBooks on the iPad. To get some epub files you can go to Google Books (books.google.com), Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) or Feedbooks (feedbooks.com). Many of the Google Books are simply OCR'ed text from scans, so there are often errors, depending on the quality of the source material. The Gutenberg and Feedbooks materials seem to have been cleaned up as I tend to encounter fewer errors.
Dear Eric:
As an eBook Seller I can tell you that instead of driving eBook prices down they are driving them up. We largely have the iPad to thank for the Agency Model that the five largest publishers are trying to pull. This model sets the price all etailers can sell eBooks at (PRICE FIXING) and makes it impossible to discount.
Also, the way it was implemented was horrible. One day you have 4,000 eBooks to sell and the next day customers are clicking on eBooks on eBook Websites all over the world and 2,000 titles or so cannot be downloaded. This led to millions of customers infurated with the etailers and NOT with the publishers.
What prompted the Agency Model is was , and is, the iPad. It has been a horror so far. Content Providers are without half of their inventory and the etailers do not even know yet what will download and what will not. We also do not know what the price IS for each title using the Agency Model.
I am not a lawyer, not have I ever played one on TV – but I do know that Apple's use of the agency model and the push by the Big 5 did/has caused quite an uproar in an industry who had become accustomed to operating in one way and suddenly needing to shift. However, any time there is a large change in any flow, be it rivers, or book distribution channels, there will be some churn before a new normal sets in. And unfortunately in the case, the online retailers who are not Apple and Amazon got caught in the middle. At some point online retailers are going to need to come up with some way to differentiate themselves and draw customers. If everyone is selling for exactly the same price, why do we need X online retailers? I think once the dust settles, we will start to see new ways of competing, possibly on price, possibly on something else.
Essentially, online retailers are selling on commission, and sales organizations have developed methods to entice sales people to sell more for larger commissions. I'm going to wait and see what develops. While not exactly the same, I can go to Borders and pay one price and pay a different price at Target. Perhaps a siilar environment will be where we end up.
Dear Eric:
Thank you for a good insight. Our new eBook Store (www.MyEZread.com) launched last Friday. I do agree that with pricing being consistent etailers of eBooks will need to differentate themselves. We have started with a better search system, categories and sub-categories, links to Adobe Digital Editions, every eBook is either PDF or EPUB, and any device utilizing ADE (like the Nook or like our own Astak Pocket PRO or like Sony) can purchase with confidence. We are going after independent authors and publishers and offering them conversion to EPUB. One button brings up all the NY Times Bestsellers, amd one brings up all devices that can download from our site. We offer 200,000 pay titles and the entire Google Free Library and we are deeply involved with Google Editions. Eventually we hope to offer eBooks in numerous languages and be truly global.
Any other ideas? How can we better compete?
Those all sound like good steps for differentiation. If I had some other ideas, I might be tempted to start an eBook shop myself!!
If you need assistance with ePUB conversion, please give Aptara a call.
Thanks for the response!
One shortcut I'd like it the cmd-tab feature of mac-osx: showing the running apps and letting you go between them easily without going to the finder first. Treo had this a while back via a menu.
The one odd mac app that did not make it was Preview. I find that odd, considering how much I use pdf in my iPad. Goodreader is OK, but I'm sure Apple would figure out some slick iPad-ized Preview that would be great.
I'm loving it. I'm taking my time deciding on peripherals. I thought I'd get the keyboard/dock right away, but I'm not so sure now, typing is OK. I too agree that iPad + cell phone may be all I take while traveling. In that situation, the keyboard may be worth hassling with. Maybe a bluetooth folding keyboard?
Great review,
— Owen
Since there really isn't any multitasking, I'm not sure if the cmd-tab would be very useful, some day maybe…
The one peripheral I did get was the VGA adapter. I was a little disappointed to find that it only works with a limited set of Apps including Videos, Photos (slideshow mode only), YouTube, Keynote, and Safari (video content on web pages only). I'm not sure what the limitation is, but it would be great for the Netflix and ABC apps to be able to output to an external monitor/TV.
Thanks for the response!
Great review, and I'm glad you're liking it. Can you comment on whether you had any eye strain when reading at length? Also, how portable is it? Can you carry it around with you outside the house? Thanks!
I spend all day looking at computer screens, so if there is any eye strain on my part, I would have a hard time determining whether the iPad screen caused it. I would imagine, for casual computer users, eye strain might be a possibility based on studies that I've seen and heard about.
As far as portability, it is very portable. It is a little slippery, so you might want to carry it with your fingers supporting it at the bottom, rather than just grasping it on the top edge. Again, reading it outside might be a problem. And depending on the strength/placement of your wireless signal, you may or may not have a internet connection.
Thanks for the response!
"This might actually drive prices down since the iPad enables direct head-to-head competition between eBook retailers."
No doubt this is why the publishers insisted on the Agency model – to prevent price competition.
In my case the iPad does cause eyestrain when reading ebooks. Lowering the brightness level did not seem to help much, but the night mode (white text on black background) that is included in the Kindle, Kobo and Wattpad (not iBooks) apps did help a lot. I also stare at a computer screen a lot but that is different than reading blocks of text unbroken by graphics, etc. as one does when reading a book. I'm sure that this will vary from person to person though.
Something omitted from blogs about iPad/iBookstore: Apple have seen fit to optimise iBookstore titles by using the epub 1.0.5 version. OK, that's sensible… except they have neglected to make it backwards compatible with earlier versions of epub, e.g. v1.0.3.
Now, IDPF released v1.0.5 on 22 March, not even three weeks ago. So this effectively means 99.9% of epub files owned by publishers out there need to be reconverted to the latest version. Good news for the likes of Aptara but not for publishers!
How can Apple be so slack? Why would they neglect to make the iBookstore compatible with ALL versions of epub? Will this mean Apple (or other new entrants in future) will keep placing a resource-load onto publishers for reconversion every time IDPF releases a new version of epub?
Ultimately, Apple may lose out. Because Google Editions is just around the corner folks, and you can bet your bottom dollar they ain't gonna be placing any silly obstacles in publishers' way. Google Editions will likely have, therefore, a wider selection as many publishers, I imagine, will produce new titles as 1.0.5 but may not spend precious cash reconverting their entire backlist just because Apple got sloppy.
Your post is based on an incorrect premise rendering most of it moot.
IDPF didn't release a new version of the EPUB spec (which is currently v2.0). The developers (mostly at Adobe) of a validation tool called epubcheck released a new version of their software (1.0.5) that Apple has used to validate their EPUB files (and maybe included that validation in their iBook/iBookstore process). I don't see any irresponsibility on Apple's part for using the latest version of the software. Neither is IDPF to be held accountable for anything since they didn't change the spec. To the best of my knowledge the software has no official standing within the IDPF.
The main changes between 1.0.3 and 1.0.5, as I understand them, are improved validation of some items that weren't be validated before. So technically, files validated using 1.0.3 might not always be valid EPUB files. Publishers who would like to display on the iPad should upgrade to 1.0.5 in order to pass the validation. In doing so they are producing better EPUB files that should still work on previous eReaders. Another change is to flags any files included in the EPUB file that are not listed in the manifest. If these files are not being used in the eBook, then having them in the file is wasted space and wasted bandwidth for those organizations which support the download and distribution of the files.
If Google is going to use epubcheck to validate the Editions files, I would image that they would use the latest version of the software as well. Why would they want to release files that may not be completely correct? Will any reader they develop allow files that are valid to 1.0.3 to be read/distributed? That's their call.
So Apple was not slack/sloppy. If anything they might have hurt themselves by limiting the existing base of files that can be read by their reader and sold in their store. If you view validation as a silly obstacle, so be it. The publishers allowed sloppy files to be released and the updated tool is now identifying problems that crept through.
Eric, I stand corrected, and thank you for clarifying the detail. However, the outcome is the same: much cash and resource pumped into upgrading tens of thousands of files for most publishers.
It is hardly the fault of publishers if a previous version of epubcheck failed to validate properly. We can only go by what the standards bodies release to us. And of course, the vast majority of publishers do not create their own epub files, outsourcing to businesses that do the conversions, big and small. But I don't need to tell someone from Aptara that!
So it's perhaps a little disingenuous to claim that "publishers allowed sloppy files to be released". Publishers have mostly bought in a specialist service and then relied upon the standards bodies for a validator which passes those files. Publishers have pinned their QA to standards (be they de facto in the case of epubcheck, or de jure in the case of epub itself). Are publishers to blame for every new iteration of epubcheck then which requires more upgrade work? Surely you can see that's not sustainable? If publishers get their fingers burned every time a new validator rejects files which were validated in a previous iteration and therefore correctly (at the time) released into the digital supply chain, then having to go through the process of recalling and upgrading, duplicating their work and costs, what do you think that might do to the still-nascent ebook market?
In the case of Apple, I agree now that it is not their fault. But it looks like there should be questions asked about how so many previously-ratified epub files are now potentially unfit for purpose. The industry looked towards epub as a solution to the highly complex product variety out there for customers. But now we see epub on Sony (wrapped in ACS4) as incompatible with Apple epub (wrapped in Apple DRM) and vice versa. We see old epub files that were validated with a de facto standard tool (epubcheck) now being reclassified as invalid. And where is the end user in all this? Still just as clueless as to compatibility, interoperability, and choice. It would be great to have you write a separate blog entry on epub and perhaps start a new debate here.
I think this instance is one of the growing pains of a new industry. How it is handled will tell a lot about who the industry evolves and grows.
Perhaps you know that EPUB is coming up for an update. Maybe someone should suggest that an official testing suite be developed as well so that any file that passes the test suite is "good". That way publishers are not left to an unofficial party's work to validate their files. In a previous job I worked with geospatial data and in that environment there are a set of standards that have reference implementations attached to them that are the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" for each standard. If your tool/data passes the test, it's guaranteed to be valid to the spec. Also any changes in the test require a new version of the spec.
I would hope that in this case, publishers (and conversion houses) will learn that they need to be aware of the requirements of the spec, in order to do their own acceptance QA on finished EPUB file, whether they generated them or someone else did. Perhaps they should negotiate a maintenance/correction clause into their contracts to cover instances like this in the future.
As far as where the consumers stand in all this: if someone buys a book from Sony, it will work on his Sony reader; the same with Apple. Because of the DRM wrappings the files aren't transferable anyway. The version of epubcheck being used really doesn't matter in this case.
The real issue would be if Sony decided that they were going to do the 1.0.5 validation and then did it in such as way that all the old files they distributed are now invalid. It is the vendors who previously distributed data at the 1.0.3 level that need to figure out how to handle the later versions in a backwards compatible manner. Another instance might be when one vendor (e.g., Sony) moves and another (e.g., Kobo) doesn't but they both use the same DRM scheme (Adobe). In that case we might see incompatibility issues.
I was not smart enough to preorder mine soon enough, so had to stand in line on launch day. Macrumors had said that Best Buy would have them, so we were out there early. The manager told us at 7 am that he didn't have his shipment, but the UPS truck pulled up at 9 am to our cheers. Here's the way it looked on local TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26zqkSXvQ7k.
Two big surpises for me are the quality of the sound (WOW, esp. vs the iPhone) and the fact that GPS is enabled. Would have waited for the 3G model except for the MiFi app that turns iPhone into a WiFi hotspot. One disappointment is that Apple has crippled the Bluetooth so that my Bluetooth headset does not work. Am using the Line2 app that turns iPad into a full-featured phone but would like to be able to use a BT headset.
As a book publisher with more that 70 titles in print and 17 as apps for iPhone / iPad and Kindle.
I am particularly interested not only in selling books but in promoting reading, I think one of the great thing the iPad provide is precisely not to allow tow programs running at the same time. I disagree with you when you compare it with the Android.
My greatest surprise is that this unique devise really make reading a different experience. It allow you to think as does the paper book. That is not the case with Kindle and or any other form of screen reading.
It is a game changer, great for books, authors and publishers.