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Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Defcon, Jun 30, 2013.
Since Spock was dead when DC Comics started its run...
Don't forget Decker took over as both exec and science officer in TMP before Spock rendezvoused with the ship, because he was, apparently, the only qualified individual in the entire crew! I realize that the Enterprise was just getting ready to launch, and not all the crew was aboard, but really, there were only two people on the entire ship qualified to run the science station?
So I guess Saavik would've been qualified to run the sciences station in STII.
Not necessarily. More than twelve years passed between TMP and TWOK. The Enterprise design was new in 2273, but other ships used similar systems by 2285. It's likely she'd have been able to use the station properly. After all, we see Chekov there in TSFS. And he was stupid.
^Let's keep in mind that, going by production order, Chekov was introduced as an assistant science officer, and wasn't seen at navigation until his third episode.
You're right. But that doesn't explain how he'd have been trained on the new design by the time TSFS rolled around. I'd guess he had a chance to learn during the ship's second five-year mission before leaving for Reliant, but it's not clear. Chekov seemed to bounce from station to station depending on which film was taking place (tactical/security ----> XO ----> navigator ----> science -----> navigator).
What do you mean, "new design?" Aside from the out-of-universe replacement of the original film projectors with video monitors, the bridge stations in TSFS were the exact same ones from TMP, which means they'd been unchanged for at least 12 years. And Reliant had the exact same design too (since it was a redress of the same bridge set). Do you really think that Chekov got from security chief to first officer without ever training on the science station?
You misunderstood what I was saying. My earlier comments were in response to a poster who remarked that as of TMP, only Decker had been trained on the new design of the Enterprise, which was why Kirk asked him to serve as science officer after Sonak died. Chekov was aboard but served as security chief and tactical officer.
By the time we get to TSFS, Chekov is at the science station, which means he would have learned the new design in the intervening twelve years. That was my point. Not that the bridge design was different between TMP and TWOK/TSFS.
In The Shocks of Adversity, Chekov's absence in TAS is explained by him being cross-trained in all divisions, under Spock's guidance. As such, he spents more time below-decks and away from the bridge.
This could be the timeframe where he earned his full qualification of the various stations.
^We're talking specifically about the post-refit configuration of the science station, so that's obviously not something he could've learned during the 5-year mission.
(Also, in Ex Machina, I established that Chekov had been on extended leave during TAS.)
I always assumed David Marcus would take over as Science Officer, and Saavik would be First Officer, till Shatner tired of the captain role, at which point Captain Saavik would've taken over.
^I'd think Sulu would've been a more likely choice for first officer than a freshly graduated lieutenant like Saavik. Or maybe Chekov, who'd already had first-officer experience.
^Well, maybe that's why Sulu was supposed to get his own command (according to the shooting script of TWoK.) He and the rest of the "Gang of Four" would have been promoted off the Enterprise and replaced with fresh faces.
^As I said, my impression is that they were planning on a gradual transition from the original cast to a new one, not an abrupt one. Although I don't know for sure.
And I'm not arguing this was ever mapped out in any definitive way. It probably mostly depended on how charismatic the new actors were, and how well their characters went over with the audience.
And how much Paramount wanted to pay the aging Original Series stars for a ongoing movie (or TV) series.
I would've loved seeing Captain Saavik and her crew in a weekly TV series. I think Alley could've headlined such a series quite well . Merritt Butrick didn't really have Leading Man charisma, but he could've been effective as a second or third banana.
In any event, Nimoy's desire to come back as Spock pretty much blew any advance planning out of the water. Which is fine; we got a few great movies out of the deal.
I think you mean a different title; Chekov was very much present throughout Shocks.
^He didn't say Chekov was absent in the book, just that the book explained his absence in TAS.
The thing that disappoints me the most about TOS/5YM/23rdC books is the fact that they don't seem to have any real sense of continuity with other TOS books. Every once in a while there might be a reference to an older book thrown in by an author, but it seems to be an exception rather than a rule.
I would love to see TOS handled a little bit more like 24thC. I don't mean I really want or need there to be on-going arcs like TNG/DS9/VOY books, just a sense of flow from one book to the next. A stand-alone can still have a little reference to the last book or a little bit of set up for the next one just to get that feeling of flow, that they co-exist in the same universe.
But, that's just me. YMMV.
I think flowing from one TOS book to another would be fine for some novels, but they do seem to 'jump' around the entire 5 years a lot. It may be a better idea to just have a flowchart of crew changes to keep the cast correct and just have an occasional link to other novels at the authors discretion.
It certainly won't get like the 24th century continuity, but a little would be nice...
I think that'd actually just throw up flaws in the timeline and throw people out of their suspension of disbelief, because it wouldn't take long at all for it to become obvious that there's about 30 years' worth of stories in those five years...
Most people didn't notice that S.C.E. had that problem. Admittedly, it was only about two years of story in one year, but still...
Separate names with a comma.


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Facebook doesn't seem to have made any formal announcement of a change. Wittman said page owners have told him their advertising representatives have communicated with them about it, mostly to assure them that the site engineers were seeking to boost the relevance and quality of each user's feed, not to extract more ad dollars.
"Personally, I don't believe they want to turn the screws on everybody and make more money--although I wouldn't put it past them--but I think it's probably a supply-and-demand thing," Wittman said. That is, as the number of brand advertisers on Facebook has grown, the service has had to tune its algorithms to prevent users from being overwhelmed by commercial messages, he said.
Wittman said he tends not to buy into conspiracy theories about Facebook's motives, although he added that the latest move on promoted stories "is very suspect--when I see things like that, it makes me second guess myself."
Wittman said he will have a better understanding of what's changed once he is able to make month-over-month comparisons, rather than comparing one week to the next. However, his initial take is that Facebook is sharpening its focus on providing the greatest reach to the most engaging posts--leaving the less-engaging ones to fade into the background.
The brand advertisers who became active early on Facebook were spoiled by the free advertising they got through Facebook pages, Wittman said. The evolution Facebook is going through mirrors Google's pivot from initially focusing on providing the best natural search result to any query to introducing search advertising -- also keyed to the search keywords, but more visible because it was paid for. "I think the similarities are too close for it to not happen like that," he said.
"Organic search results are amazing if you can get them on your own," Wittman said, but if you want a #1 ranking for a search like "New York lawyer" you're going to pay a search engine optimization consultant, pay for advertising, or both. Similarly, his analysis did show some pages actually gaining reach under the new algorithm, so those who can figure out the right formula for "really amazing content" may still be able to reach those they want to reach for free. The rest will have to reach for their wallets.
Follow David F. Carr on Twitter @davidfcarr. The BrainYard is @thebyard and facebook.com/thebyard
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© 2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Baseball memories: Pack-by-pack replay
By Joe Soehn / Special to MLB.com
Did you ever wish you could go back in time? While this question may prompt fans of the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" to recall Uncle Rico -- who wistfully spoke these words while wishing he could go back to 1982 to "take state" -- it may cause many of us to really ponder what it would be like to revisit another time and place. Well, for all you baseball fans and aspiring time travelers, today is your lucky day. Through the magic of baseball cards -- particularly ones stored in a box of 2004 Upper Deck Legends Baseball that's been sitting unopened in my home for some time now -- epic baseball moments from the past are about to come alive. I've got to tell you, I'm excited to be your host for this fantastic voyage; I guess you could say I kind of feel like Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island. This seems fitting, because this box of cards focuses on "Timeless Teams," primarily from the 1970s and '80s -- the heydays of Mr. Roarke and Tattoo. The text on the box tells me we've got 18 packs to fuel our visit to yesteryear, so let's get started and see where this time machine takes us: Pack 1: There he is -- Joe Morgan of Cincinnati (card No. 131) -- wearing a grin that offers a telltale sign of his love of the game. Remember when he used to flap his arm to maintain a proper stance in the batter's box? Who didn't try to mimic that as a kid? Pack 2: After opening this pack, we're fast-forwarding ahead to 1992. I find a card of Dave Winfield (No. 294) pictured with the Toronto Blue Jays. In Game 6 of the World Series (the first Series to be played outside of the U.S.), Winfield produced a Series-winning double vs. Atlanta that earned him his first championship, at the age of 41. Winfield was one of my favorite players -- his quick, powerful swing was pure dynamite. Pack 3: I can still hear Vin Scully, the legendary Dodgers broadcaster and storyteller, who many times recounted how Steve Yeager -- who's present in this pack (No. 176) -- invented a throat-protecting device attached at the bottom of a catcher's mask. The cousin of famed pilot Chuck Yeager came up with the invention after he was struck in the neck by a piece of a broken bat while he was standing in the on-deck circle during a game in 1976. My greatest memories of Yeager, however, came with his MVP performance for my favorite team as a kid, the Dodgers, in the 1981 World Series. Pack 4: Hey, check out FOX Sports baseball analyst Tim McCarver during his playing days with the St. Louis Cardinals (No. 4). Today he's an expert with in-game commentary, but many people may not realize that he was once an expert catcher. He caught for a top-notch pitching staff, including 1964 World Series MVP Bob Gibson, and he led the Cards with 11 hits in that Fall Classic victory over the New York Yankees. Pack 5: Is that Phil Niekro showing us a grip for a knuckleball (No. 239)? "Knucksy" really knew how to baffle hitters with that pitch. Pack 6: This pack brings reminders of the time when my sister presented me with my first big baseball autograph -- Lou Brock's -- after she happened to see him at a public appearance he was making. Brock (No. 36) was a sensational ballplayer who could really burn up the base paths, and I was always proud to tell others I had his autograph. Pack 7: OK, I'll admit it, I'm hoping an autographed card pops up soon. No signatures yet, though. Steve Sax and Ron Cey, two more favorite Dodgers of mine, are in this pack, however. Pack 8: This pack brought back memories of 1987, when I was beginning my sophomore year in college. The story in baseball that fall was the Minnesota Twins. I'll admit, I hopped along for the ride on their winning wagon and would have waved a "Homer Hanky" had I been at any of their home games at the Metrodome. The club, led by the late Kirby Puckett (No. 274), was definitely a fun team to watch. Pack 9: "Calling Dr. K. Calling Dr. K." What an amazing pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden (No. 256) was during his MLB career. I really got into checking out strikeout stats for pitchers after he put up those phenomenal numbers in 1984 (276 Ks) and 1985 (268 Ks) for the New York Mets. Pack 10: Don Mattingly's farewell to baseball is remembered after the opening of this pack. The card (No. 297) features a classic pose of "Donnie Baseball," and though the Yankees lost in his only playoff campaign, Mattingly went out with a bang, hitting .417 with one home run and six RBIs vs. Seattle in their 1995 AL Division Series matchup. Pack 11: Here's my grand-slam pack. First, there's a card of Nolan Ryan with the California Angels (No. 165), and quicker than one of his fastballs, I'm instantly reminded of the first MLB game I ever attended. On July 13, 1979, I watched in person at the "Big A" as Ryan tossed a one-hit 6-1 win over the Yankees. Next, I see an autographed card of Mookie Wilson, who hit the infamous grounder to Bill Buckner that led to the Mets scoring the winning run of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. I was impartial to both the Mets and Red Sox going in to that series, but I tell you, I found myself rooting for a Mets comeback that night (sorry Boston fans), and Game 6 remains one of my all-time favorites. Twenty years later, that "Amazin'" moment is brought home to me again, thanks to this card. Pack 12: Autograph No. 2 comes my way with a signed card of Dodgers great Bill Russell. An anchor in that vaunted infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Russell and Cey, the native of Pittsburgh, Kan., was Mr. Reliable for the Blue Crew for 18 seasons. Pack 13: What is it with the No. 13? Get this: I have a card of Wilson (No. 261) that was inserted right next to -- you guessed it -- Buckner (No. 93). But if this pack had theme music, it would be Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" because the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates' family is represented by Dave Parker (No. 173). Hey, let's twist the foil inside out and create a disco ball effect! Pack 14: In 1982, the Milwaukee Brewers won the American League pennant and were led by league MVP Robin Yount (No. 111). Although St. Louis defeated Yount's Brewers in the World Series, the talented shortstop batted .414 in a thrilling seven-game showdown. Pack 15: The two great pitchers in this pack -- Steve "Lefty" Carlton (No. 197) and Ed Figueroa (No. 147) -- remind me of a time when starters regularly finished games on their own. Carlton totaled double-digits in complete games in all but one of his 24 Major League seasons. Meanwhile, Figueroa completed 63 games in full during his career, a total that would rank in the top five among today's active leaders. Pack 16: Through this pack, I get to witness: Tom Seaver throwing heat for the Cincinnati Reds (No. 170), Brian Doyle fielding a ground ball for the Yankees (No. 185), Jim Palmer looking dapper in his early days with Baltimore (No. 12), Dusty Baker showing power at the plate for the Dodgers (No. 140) and Sparky Lyle unwinding a pitch for the Yanks (No. 161). How about that? Pack 17: Although former Boston slugger George "Boomer" Scott (No. 15) appears in this pack, the good times wouldn't have lasted long had a Red Sox fan unwrapped the foil on this one. On card No. 154, the one-game playoff between the Yanks and BoSox, played on Oct. 2, 1978, comes rushing back. It's Bucky Dent's homer over the Green Monster at Fenway all over again. Pack 18: My tour through time concludes with recollections of Jim Rice (No. 110) and Tommy John (No. 144), two baseball heroes who were favorites of mine when it came down to selecting an All-Star team to go up against my cousin George's hand-picked bunch. In the regular batter vs. pitcher game we played as kids, I enjoyed emulating these two players and doing my own public address intros before each at-bat. As Jimmy Rice, I think I hit a few moonshots on the neighbors' rooftop. Or was that the Green Monster? What, no more time-traveling fuel? Alas, my empty box tells me the ride to baseball's past is now over. For now, anyway. Because, as you can see, traveling through the national pastime's history isn't that difficult. There's no need to go through any weightless-in-space training or construct some complicated contraption to get away from the present for a while. No, visits to bygone eras are as easy as a trip to your attic, garage, basement or local baseball card shop.
Joe Soehn is an online content developer for The Upper Deck Company and part-time freelance writer living in Carlsbad, Calif. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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(39) Customer Reviews
Price Range: USD $72.99 to $169.99
Passenger Cars
All Season
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The Akina ST-09 is an all-season tire that incorporates a distinctive 'eye' in the tread, and appeals to buyers looking for a high performance car tire at an affordable price.
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Turn the radio up and there's no problem, they're noisy.
They perform very well in wet conditions but definately shouldn't be called an "all season". No good at all good for Canuck winters.
Handling on dry asphault is very good, no issues with high speed cornering at all. - Impressive -
Looks - Two thumbs up! They're a confident, racey looking boot that will dress to impress.
Treadwear - Not bad, I'm speculating 60 - 70000kms off these puppies, and that's with a fairly aggressive driving appetite. ;)
- Overall -
Good value for the dollar for performance inspired rubber. Would I buy them again? Depends on the car. Mazda 3, probably. Porsche Cayman, doubtful.
Size: 205/50R17
Vehicle: 2007 Mazda Mazda3 s (5 Door Hatchback) with 30000 KM of Tire Wear
made this review on 1/7/2012 and is a
Aggressive Driver (Hard Cornering)
Those tire are good for the price, but don't espect to have anything super sticky on dry. I mean, those are great on most daily driving applications: If you drive carefully on wet surfaces, you won't have any trouble. However, those tires kinda limit the cornering on my car : I have an aftermarket suspension, and I can feel the tires don't have a lot "left" when cornering very hard.
Threadwear seems adequate but noise is an issue. It's almost as noisy as most winter tire... but then again, it's a drawback from it's price.
However, as I said, for the price, those are great "starter" tires or budget sport car tires (but again, don't espect the performance of a more honerous tire).
On snow, I didn't try it, and I hope I wont as those are performance summer tire (should slip like hell, like every other summer performance tire, even with AWD).
made this review on 10/22/2011 and is a
Aggressive Driver (Hard Cornering)
Excellent on dry. For wet I would have preferred something a little more sticky. Don't use them in snow as they are illegal. Handle well, a little on the noisy side. Treadware is aewsome as they are hard as hell, but with all the mileage I do it's worth it. Also a road hazard warranty that exceeds expectations.
Size: 205/55R16
made this review on 8/25/2011 and is a
Confident, Experienced Driver
made this review on 7/19/2011 and is a
Extreme (Racetrack style racing)
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Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, July 3, 2013, 12:00 AM
Town Square
Guest opinion: A mid-year update from Menlo Park mayor
Original post made on Jul 3, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, July 3, 2013, 12:00 AM
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Jul 3, 2013 at 4:11 pm
While the Stanford/Arrillaga development on El Camino Real is listed first in Mr. Ohtaki's report, the brevity of the report is concerning. First, The Sub Committee is made up of 2 council members, Carlton and Keith. SInce the council created the 500 El Camino Real sub committee in April, it has met only 2 times with representatives of savemenlo which is an organization made up of MP residents who believe the Specific Plan needs to be revised. Cut through traffic is only one focus the subcommittee needs to look at. There are numerous other concerns and it would be beneficial for our Mayor to address all the concerns, if for no other reason, to assure the residents that he has listened to the numerous speakers at council meetings and read the numerous letters to the council asking for the Specific Plan to be placed on the council agenda for a closer look now that the city has a proposal from Stanford.
So the council won't reduce the residents's concerns only to traffic, let me remind the Almanac readers of the problems with the Specific Plan and Stanford's proposal: The Specific Plan erred in setting the allowable size of buildings in the Plan. That size needs to be reduced for several reasons, one of which is that size equals people and people equals car on El Camino Real. Secondly, the city's consultant did not warn the city that Stanford could and might use the buildings for academic use for which no property tax will be paid. Third, because the city gave property owners in the Specific Plan an increased floor area ration, the property owners can build right up to this new increased level and not enter into normal horse trading with the city for benefits such as funding for a safe undercrossing of the railroad tracks for pedestrians, able-bodied and those in wheel chairs. Occupants of the office and housing units in Stanford's development will want to access the civic center without risking life and limb on Ravenswood where traffic is heavy and fast. 4th, the plaza at Middle Ave. is designed for cars that need to access the underground garage. There's no real open space as residents wanted in a real plaza. The definition of "open Space" that Stanford got reduced from 40% to 30% needs clarification so that private balconies in the residents is not considered open space. Fifth, the development needs less office and more housing so the city can begin to meet its housing needs.
Mr. Ohtaki, I have thrown you a soft ball. Can you hit it back?
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jul 4, 2013 at 11:07 am
Our school children and stroller pushers are still walking on Santa Cruz Ave itself unprotected from cars. This is a disaster waiting to happen. While stopped on Santa Cruz Ave myself waiting for children to cross it I've been rear-ended twice which shows that drivers' attention is sometimes diverted there. This is a dangerous strech of road that something needs to be done about, soon.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jul 5, 2013 at 12:57 am
So what are those two traffic improvement projects your touting? And Peter how often do you drive northbound on ECR - we've had a dedicated right turn onto Ravenswood for years.
Just what we nee, another Santa Cruz Ave beautification, this one for half a million for aesthetics. That money would have gone a long way for many real needs of Belle Haven.
Basically same old, same old.
a resident of Menlo Park: Sharon Heights
on Jul 5, 2013 at 8:24 am
"Nevertheless, we are concerned about future rate increases from CalPERS and are considering applying future surpluses toward unfunded liabilities."
Wrong. Staff is always eager to apply any surplus for their retirement. The city should hold any surplus in the general fund and keep it available for contingencies.
Thus play is used by staff every few years and approved by weak councils.
Time to hire a permanent city manager.
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Jul 5, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Thanks for your detailed comments. I agree with you that cut-through traffic isn't the only concern for residents who live near this development. There's an amazing opportunity for Stanford to show that they want to work with Menlo Park and the community to design something that everyone can be proud of. So far, that hasn't happened.
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jul 7, 2013 at 7:06 am
Thank you for your thoughts Mayor. The small additions to downtown, like Refuge, are welcomed. There is still something fundamentally wrong with the quality of our downtown choices, particularly for families, which are so key to our future. While it can be nice to have quiet streets, the fact that this is driven by a relatively weak (compared to Palo Alto, Burlingame, Los Altos) store and restaurant choice. We don't need to single out stores since all small biz owners are super hard working. Nevertheless, is there a way the city can encourage, or even incenti, more new choices? This may all be rent and "market" driven, of course, and will take time. Thoughts appreciated.
Note to almanac. Thanks for coverage of downtown issue. In addition to your "best of" poll, which really, and understandably, is for your advertisers more than our residents, what if you polled MPresidents on what they would like and use downtown? I bet some themes emerge and perhaps catch the attention of biz owners outside our town. I think Refuge will be proven to be very smart in coming here.
Editor's note: The Readers' Choice awards are based on the votes that are cast and whether a business advertises or not has no bearing on the results. With regard to polling people about what they would like downtown, you could start a new topic on Town Square saying what you would like downtown and inviting others to comment and add their suggestions: Web Link
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Jul 7, 2013 at 8:26 am
I took the survey you are talking about this year.
The results can be found here:
Web Link
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jul 8, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Thanks Survey. That was helpful and a step in the right direction.
Almanac: fair point. Not all listed businesses are advertisers. But perhaps a better way to look at this is that most of the benefit goes to businesses, as they can promote their winning status. Not sure residents get much benefit since we know the choices already. The issue is that there tends to be wider and often better choices outside of our immediate area -- close enough for residents but outside of your survey zone. Therefore, asking us to only choose within a tight radius does not give residents the best scoop from their neighbors. MP is a great town with some great businesses and there is no harm from celebrating true winners. however, improvement might come faster if there were more ways to identify real demand from residents.
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jun 4, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?


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First up, a note to PCA's French readership: I hope everyone is fully recovered from the revelry, merriment and full-on partying that went down yesterday on account of it being Bastille Day. For the rest of us, here's hoping your Wednesday was another pleasant & seamless blip as we progress through the crazy hot summer. Filled as it is with cool entertainment – I told you about The Kids Are All Right and I Am Love, right? Definitely worth seeing, and you'll be so glad you did come Oscar time. Plus, Inception is afoot – I'll be there this weekend, but I may leave Sorcerer's Apprentice to the kids. Besides, they don't need my lucre, that one will clean up big time at the box office. Now, judging from yesterday's summer TV poll, everyone seems to like Rizzoli & Isles – or at least they like Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, who play the two aesthetically-contrasted crime-busting leads. You guys seem to like Covert Affairs, and you were so-so on The Bridge, and would maybe like to give it some more time (Now FYI, The Bridge is actually a Canadian police drama, which means it might be a little more, shall we say, nuanced and subtle so it's quite possible that what we think is missing is more of the good old USA's in-your-face-butt-kicking-action. But that's just a guess.) And people seem on the fence about The Good Guys. I don't happen to think that Bradley Whitford does a whole lot wrong in front of a camera, and Colin Hanks is also quite talented, so having seen a few episodes I'm already a fan. Now I mentioned yesterday that we've got a pretty cool show coming up on TV tomorrow night and one of the reasons it'll be a hit is because nobody needs to get a sitter. So already it's looking promising. And how about the fact that it's a made-for-TV movie that was especially made (for -TV and ) for the whole family? So you can actually make it a family movie night. This one's called The Jensen Project (tomorrow, NBC) and I'm telling you today so you have a little heads up, and I'll get into greater detail tomorrow, but suffice it to say it involves the following elements: a) intrigue b) science fiction c) a secret community of geniuses c) potentially dangerous technology that "goes missing" d) rogue factions and e) Kellie Martin. Hooked? This thing genuinely looks good. Now because it's summer, this means it's okay to devote some attention to aspects of entertainment that might live, oh, somewhere along the surface of things. That is to say, I was at the grocery store a few weeks back and I happened to pick up a copy of TV Guide which had a very fun article all about some of cable's best "Guilty Pleasures", featuring the stars of White Collar, Royal Pains and Burn Notice. With a good interview and turns out? I know it sounds inconceivable — preposterous, really — but evidently they're totally charming. Without any further ado, let's take a peek at three of TV's more appealing leads – the dashing semi-reformed rogue, the excommunicated spy, and the ultimate house-calling doc. Voice your choice in today's featured poll and tell us which of these three cable stars is your favorite:
1) Matt Bomer
2) Mark Feuerstein
3) Jeffrey Donovan
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Dear You,
Yes......it has been a year.
Yes....it feels weird now. I'm not sure what I am doing. I'm not sure you reading this, when you finally get to read it.....re-read it, what you will make of it. You might laugh....and think 'Ness, you IDIOT', or you might be a little happy that you thought to jot a few things down. After all, you could be reading this when you are ninety......hey, you might even be grateful your younger self thought to do this.
So.......it's been a year since you closed this little space. Twelve months of you being away. Twelve whole months when so much has happened, yet so little has happened.
I'll remind you that you decided you had nothing left in you to write about. I'll remind you that you thought it was a little repetitive. I'll remind you that you needed to stop.......and just be still.
I will remind you, that you thought this was a naff idea to write a post after you had 'closed' your blog. I will remind you that you wondered why you should not just buy a diary and write in it, then shove it to the back of a drawer. I'll remind you, that you thought you might cave and press 'delete' quite a few times. I'll remind you, that if your younger self actually published it, it was to do with the fact that she was scatty and thought it was best to have everything in one place where it could be located. Plus, in a brief wave of abandonment, you thought it was your blog and you could do what you liked with it.
I will remind you that 2016 was a difficult year, in so many ways, and for so many people. It was a year in which so many people felt scared and uncertain. It was a year when so many people felt like they didn't know anything anymore. It was a year in which so many felt like they were standing on quick sand, and not firm rock.
It was a year when there was so much more bad news in the world than there was good. It was a year when people just wanted to hide away from it all. It was a year, quite frankly, a lot of people were happy to draw a line under and move on from. I'll remind you, that you found it weird, that you didn't meet anyone who thought it had been an okay year....if not in the bigger picture, not even in their own little bubble of achievements. You were sure there must have been though.
I shall remind you that, for you, this was a strange year. A year that you felt you needed to hibernate. A year long hibernation. A year where your creative juices really didn't flow. A year where you felt you were totally spent, and just needed to re-group.
I'll remind you that you sucked at housework and ironing. I'll remind you that you enjoyed reading books again, and I'll remind you that you always need to be in the right frame of mind to decorate.
I will remind you that you that although your creative juices just sort of stopped, it was the year of embroidery for you, and you spurted those out in the vain hope that it would jolt you back in the game. Whilst you liked the embroidered outcomes, and the speediness of them, they did not jolt you sadly. It was only in the final weeks of 2016 that you picked up your hook to see if the crochet love was still there.
I will remind you that 2016 was the year of reflection and procrastination. Not that it was any different to all the years before when you were like that, but because you seemed to have nothing to show for the year (creatively speaking), it appeared that the year was a wash out.
Having said that......
I shall remind you that your three bears have spent 2016 blossoming, and you write about them with huge pride and love. Big Bear started college and turned into the gentleman you always knew he would become. You find it funny his most treasured friend is a can of hairspray, but you love how he doesn't want to shove you to one side when you are both walking down the street and he sees his mates.
I shall remind you that Middle Bear is way too funny. I shall remind you that he is the best person to have at the dinner table, and I shall remind you that 2016 was the year the hormones settled down and you realised just how amazing he was when he was not grunting. You also realised what great bear hugs he gave.
I shall remind you that Baby Bear is super. I shall remind you that everyday when he comes out of school he asks how you day was, way before he tells you about his day. I will remind you that he loves to do stuff to put a smile on your face, and I will remind you that this was the year that the Three Bears bickered the least!
I will remind you that 2016 told you, yet again, how fragile life could be. I will remind you that it felt tough being an adult when you still, at times, felt like a child in your head. I will also remind you that you realised that you just couldn't solve everything for everyone. Sometimes you just had to be there, and that was enough.
I'll remind you that early morning cups of tea with the fairy lights twinkling on the Christmas tree in a quiet house, is one of the best things EVER. I shall remind you that you are never too young for kids birthdays cakes AND I shall also remind you that you were so glad you discovered double cleansing (how's that working out for you? Is it paying off?!)
I shall also remind you dearest Ness, that you decided that whatever 2017 had in store for you, you felt ready to wake up from your hibernation, well rested and have a productive and creative year ahead.
Vanessa, I hope you will look on this post, when you do, and remember all that which you have forgotten. A post about your year. Maybe, if you have it in you, you'll post again next year to remember 2017. I guess it's nice to remember....the good....and even the not so good. There is always something to be learned from everything one experiences.
Until next time....maybe x


text: Boarding pass Wedding Invitation Rustic Boarding Pass boarding pass Details All boarding passes are all die-cut with the cutouts on the ends and perforated to resemble an actual boarding pass. All invitations are fully customized to match your wedding location and theme. Whether you are getting married locally or in a tropical destination our invitations will be customized for you in mind. When your custom invitations are delivered they are fully assembled and ready to mail. You just need to add a stamp and address them…or we can do that for you as well! Pricing Details Boarding Pass + Mailing Envelope $2.00 Magnet Boarding Pass + Mailing Envelope $2.75 Additional Boarding Passes – Used for Accommodations, Directions, Etc $1.00 Additional Boarding Pass with RSVP Tear off and white return envelope $1.25 Additional Enclosure Cards (Flat style) (Directions, Accommodations, Itinerary, etc) $1.00 RSVP Postcard with pre-printed return address $1.25 Luggage Tag Style RSVP with raffia detail & Return white envelope $1.75 Tri-Fold Ticket Sleeve $1.25 Metallic or Matte Slide-In Style Ticket Sleeve $1.50 Metallic or Matte Slide-In Style Ticket Sleeve with logo and ribbon detail $2.25 Solid Metallic or Matte 4x9 Pocketfold Envelope with logo and ribbon detail $3.25 Extras Linen paper add .50 per set Metallic Cardstock add .50 per set Patterned ticket sleeve $1.00 Charms/Crystals/ etc available Custom Mailing Stamp Design $20.00 – you can use at your stamp vendor of choice Mailing Services – We can print, stamp, and mail your invitations for you. Printing Services Return Address printing is available for .50 per envelope Return Address and Guest Address printing is available for $1.25 per envelope. To get started Please purchase the Boarding Pass Design Fee. This fee will be credited back if you order 100 or more invitations. It will include unlimited revisions and a printed sample mailed you if you require. Once we received this design fee, we will schedule your start date for the design process and send over the necessary forms for you to fill out. Merchant Account


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Model: UK089 Planar Display Model of Steam Engine with Valve Control
- imagemovie
This a planar model of the valve control linkage of a steam engine. The main piston is represented by the lower slider-crank mechanism and the sliding valve is represented by the upper slider-crank. The two mechanisms are coupled by the gear train on the right. A special feature of this coupled mechanism is the changable crank radius of the upper valve linkage that will control the amount of steam that enters the piston cylinder.
Francis Moon 2005-00-00
Reference :
- Redtenbacher : Die Bewegungs-Mechanismen (Table 54, 1866)
Resources :
- Biography : Redtenbacher, Ferdinand
- Biography : Watt, James
- Movie : Clark 154
Related Models :
- Clark : Horizontal Slide Valve Engine


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Vote of Confidence in Steve Israel on House Races
Democrats' choice of Rep. Steve Israel of New York to continue as campaign chief for the party's House races marks a vote of confidence that comes despite the party's failure to retake the House.
Mr. Israel, who will extend his term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, had strong support from Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), and many Democrats see Mr. Israel as having done a good job. House Democrats this year retook seven or eight House seats, depending on the outcome of a handful of unresolved races.
Mr. Israel spoke often during the campaign of a "drive for 25" seats—the number Democrats needed to win back the majority—and privately, Democrats said they expected to win 12-15 seats.


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DIRT RAG Magazine recently reviewed the 2014 Genius 900 Premium. Here is what the editors wrote: "(...) I spent several months aboard a 2013 Scott Genius 920 that we reviewed alongside it's 27.5 sibling. I had trouble getting the suspension to play nice so I was eager to see how it compared to the previous DT Swiss version. All I need to say is the difference is night and day.
Even in the Descend mode, the bike pedals extremely well—a significant improvement over the previous version. A flick of the Twin-Loc lever, with a much-improved action, engages the more progressive shock setting and drops the travel from 130mm to 90mm. Though I've really been enjoying 27.5 wheels lately, the Genius 29er felt much more capable on the fast and chunky trails at Deer Valley.
The Genius 900 series strikes me as a stay-on-the-ground type of bike, prioritizing efficiency and capability over gettin' rad. Maybe it was the larger wheels, the longer wheelbase, or just my familiarity with the geometry, but I would not hesitate to recommend it as a single-bike, do-it-all option. (...)"


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SAN ANTONIO -- ESPN 150 outside linebacker Mike Mitchell (Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian) isn't big on speaking publicly. He'd rather let his game do the talking -- and it speaks volumes.
On Monday, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound linebacker officially confirmed that he will announce his college plans during Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Oregon, Texas A&M and Ohio State are his three finalists.
Mitchell said all three schools -- and even a fourth, Oklahoma -- had their positive qualities throughout his recruiting process. It was a feeling of comfort, however, that seemed to win him over.
Mitchell said he has an idea of where he wants to go, but he will take the decision into Saturday.
"Mostly, it's just a feel of where you think you want to go," Mitchell said. "After eliminating all those good schools, I just felt like those three were the best fit."
Of the three, Oregon has yet to receive an official visit from Mitchell. The four-star linebacker, however, added that he was a big fan of Oregon's facilities. Mitchell visited Texas A&M on Oct. 19 and Ohio State on Dec. 7.
Newsmaker: The mother of five-star defensive back Mackensie Alexander (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee) really wants him to play with his brother, three-star safety MacKenro Alexander.
"It's a constant thing with her," said Alexander, the No. 5 overall player and No. 2 cornerback in the 2013 class. " 'I don't care where you go, son, but you have to be with your brother. Don't leave him behind.' "
Alexander said it would be an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 on the likelihood of him playing with his brother in college. Some of the schools he is considering are Clemson, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Auburn.
Superlatives: Four-star USC offensive line commitment Khaliel Rodgers (Elkton, Md./Eastern Christian) is a monster. The dude absolutely dominated 1-on-1s and 11-on-11s, and he let the opposition know about it every time. ... LSU commit Tre'Davious White (Shreveport, La./Green Oaks) is listed at 5-11 and 175 pounds, yet he managed to hold his own against a very tall, physical group of West-roster wide receivers. White successfully defended 6-7, 226-pound Derrick Griffin (Rosenberg, Texas/Terry) and 6-5, 230-pound Ricky Seals-Jones (Sealy, Texas/Sealy) -- two Texas A&M commits -- on multiple occasions. ... One defensive end who stood out was four-star Penn State commitment Garrett Sickels (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Regional). The 34th-rated defensive end breezed past top-rated offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) at one point during 1-on-1s. That doesn't happen often. ... NBA hall of famer David Robinson was in attendance watching his son, Notre Dame wide receiver commit Corey Robinson (San Antonio/San Antonio Christian), make plays during the first day of practice.
Status update: Texas commit Jake Raulerson (Celina, Texas/Celina), as usual, has been busy connecting with fellow future college stars. The ESPN 150 lineman received shout-outs via Twitter from fellow West team players in Ohio State commit Ezekiel Elliott (St. Louis/John Burroughs) and four-star running back Derrick Green (Richmond, Va./Hermitage).
"Shout out to my bro @jakeraulerson55 go follow him asap!" Green tweeted.
"S/o to my new boy @JakeRaulerson55 #HookEm," Elliott tweeted.
What's on tap?
A few things to look at:
Will the East quarterbacks and receivers get on the same page? Rain, fog and smoke from a terrifying accident just outside of Heroes Stadium made it difficult for the two sides to connect, as you might expect.
How will the West defensive backs look without Su'a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./ Vista Murrieta)? The ESPN 150 safety made the trip but will not play because of injury. What adjustments will be made in the secondary?
What will the physicality level be like with full pads? The East opted for shorts and shoulder pads in the afternoon, and things already were reaching a boiling point.
Quotable: "It's been fun coming out and competing with the receivers and the other defensive backs. It was fun. One-on-ones were fun, holding it down. I dominated, dominated. It was easy." -- Five-star cornerback Mackensie Alexander


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It is absolutely necessary that city commissions be more balanced. Palo Alto is made up of unique neighborhoods. These must be preserved if we are to remain as a nationally known town to be envied for what has been generated here over the years. Our Architectural Review Board threatens to destroy these qualities and innovations by approving anything that will enrich the city's profits without regard of what they are allowing to happen to the neighborhoods.
For example, raise the height limit so Alma Street can become a tunnel for the train station and a corridor of buildings with tiny housing units to rent to low-income worker bees. Aided by allowing the purchase of "outdated" one-level apartments to tear down or build more condos for the younger crowd of professionals eager for the nightlife on University Avenue.
Or approve plans to remodel or take down to build expensive ego palaces. Whatever happened to the requirement that buildings should fit the neighborhood, consider light planes, sight lines, etc.? There have been a few well-done remodels but far too many hideous stucco villas crammed onto lots between smaller houses. The worst examples of new design looks industrial such as the econoboxes that resemble hamster habitats or a telemarketer cube farm that sit on the north end of Guinda and the south end of Ross.
Mary Starner
Edgewood Drive, Palo Alto
Protect neighborhoods
A vote AGAINST measure D this coming November is not focused against low-income senior housing. We respect PAHC's many successful projects all over town. Our differences with the Palo Alto Housing Corporation are peripheral to the Maybell project. Basically, we oppose rezoning neighborhoods.
Planned Community (PC) zoning is City Hall speak for rezoning. It is increasingly used by City Hall to favor developers — developers who are brimming over with a never-ending list of projects. We are in a critical fight for the very soul of the city. Growth can be good. Over-growth, like a cancer, can destroy a community. Join with us to protect all Palo Alto neighborhoods.
Bob Roth
Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
End transplant abuse
Major news headlines reported last week read that China will phase out use of executed prisoners' organs for transplants. On the surface these headlines are heartening and suggest that the PRC, after years of international pressure, is finally going to stop these egregious human-rights violations. Death-row prisoners are not however the only unethical source of organs used in China.
The big elephant in the room that the headlines fail to mention is China's other group of prisoners, prisoners of conscience, who are estimated by some investigators to be the largest source of illegal organs in China. They are not acknowledged or included in China's latest commitment to the international community to meet the basic ethical standards in transplant medicine. These horrific abuses are being raised in U.S. congressional resolution HR.281 recently introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Congressman Rob Andrews, D-N.J. The resolution expresses concern over persistent and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China, including from large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners imprisoned for their religious beliefs, as well as numbers of other religious and ethnic minority groups including Uighurs, Tibetans and House Christians.
I urge your readers to contact Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to co-sponsor this important resolution. If passed, HR.281 will help our country's doctors, patients and hospitals make informed decisions regarding transplant abuses in China and will also send a strong message to the PRC that these crimes must stop.
Alejandro Centurion, MD
Graduate of Stanford Neurology
Carmel, Calif.
No man is an island
I can't be the only one tired of the battle cries and justifications of why different residences don't mix in Palo Alto. We will always be in the same boat, no matter how many desires of separateness that are expressed. John Donne said many centuries ago that "no man is an island" and it seems to still apply today. We're all human beings doing what seems best, no matter how many disguised desires for a separate enclave are advocated.
Lorin Krogh
Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
By all means
In the wake of the Weekly's superb article on social media and how it can harm teenagers, but before asking why we allow this harm in our schools, let's tote up some things forbidden on campus — at Gunn, for example — because they disrupt, distract or endanger.
If you're a teenager at Gunn, you can't bring your fireworks or water-balloons onto campus. You're forbidden by the student handbook to bring laser-pointers or matches or noise-makers onto campus, because the "presence of inappropriate objects can create a disruption." Nix on the skateboards or bikes, when classes are in session. You can't wear clothing that's too revealing (e.g., bellybuttons banned), because "appearance and dress ... shall not interfere with teaching and learning."
Hazing is out. So are T-shirts with profanity on them, or drug insignia. Lay off the streaking or "excessive affection." Unregistered visitors qualify as trespassers; don't go barefoot; and forget about loitering in a restroom.
"But by all means," we are in effect saying to our children, "make use of your electronic device at school — where during passing-periods, and brunch, and lunch, and prep periods, and when you've skipped out of class to use the restroom and not loiter, you can check social media to send and receive gossip, taunts, lewd comments, subtle harassment, anonymous bullying and naked photos."
"By all means," we say by our silence, "suffer the resulting feelings — which never, ever, will make it hard for you to flourish in class."
Marc Vincenti
Los Robles, Palo Alto
Maybell is the wrong target
The enthusiasm for repealing the City Council's rezoning of the Maybell/Clemo property as a remedy to the city's problems with Planned Community (PC) zoning concessions that result in expanded projects and profits for developers and minimal advantages for the community is wrongheaded.
You'll find wide agreement, among supporters as well as detractors of the PAHC's Maybell project, that the city has failed to stand up for citizens' desires by approving projects that are unattractive and out of scale.
But building affordable housing in Palo Alto appears to require PC re-zoning. Perhaps there are other ways that PAHC, a nonprofit corporation whose sole function is to produce and manage affordable housing, can compete for developable properties, but no one so far has shown us how.
If it is impossible to produce a significant amount of affordable housing without the tool of PC rezoning, the opponents of PAHC's Maybell project are being disingenuous when they insist that they support affordable housing for low-income seniors, but within existing zoning restrictions.
If you believe, as I do, that there is a public benefit in having additional affordable housing in Palo Alto, please use your energy and organization to go after the projects that abuse PC zoning, not this one that doesn't.
Jerry Underdal
Georgia Avenue, Palo Alto
What's happening at Bixby Park?
The city needs to explain what is happening at Bixby Park, the small landfill at the end of Embarcadero. A steady stream of dump trucks has deposited earth over the past few months. As the mountain rises ever higher, what is the height limit? What are the fiscal consequences? Is the city doing this to earn money? Some of the earlier area where we regularly walk is now being reshaped, bushes have been torn out, benches removed. And the small depressions/valleys that made the original Hargreaves design so successful are disappearing into a grandiose plateau that is out of scale with its surroundings. The current mound of earth resembles nothing so much as Hoover Dam, especially when viewed from the south. It has nothing to do with nature.
Finally, what is going to be planted on this vast barren site? Someone was told sod; if true that is unbelievable. Over the past two years Save the Bay has been planting natives. I hope the city isn't going to destroy them.
Betsy G. Fryberger
Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Noisy new roads
We were quite excited that the city was moving forward with the much needed road repaving. However, we were extremely disappointed to find that we're getting a patchwork of noisy concrete, as opposed to a complete resurfacing of quiet asphalt like the city installed on Alma and Bryant. This is a very unfortunate decision on the part of the city.
Laura Cory
Emerson Street, Palo Alto
A Palo Alto poem
My Palo Alto /My Hometown /Is the best in the West /High Standard of living,/ Educated and cultured folks/ Restaurants galore/ In all shades of ethnicity. Stanford University,/ Tree lined streets,/ A truly Mediterranean climate/ With all of its attributes/ And I say, attributes,/ But our sidewalks are a disgrace,/ A place to trip,/ A place to fall,/A place to slip,/ And break a hip. Priorities are in the wrong place./ Money spent to raise administrative salaries,/ A police department in need of employees/ To enforce laws/ Neglected by lack of people power,/ Sidewalks need renovation/ And not waiting ten years to do a fixing. Put priorities in the right place! Keep on building low-income housing/ And see what we will become; An overly crowded city/ In disrepair and continued disrespect. My city is in competition,/ A city trying to emulate Manhattan,/ But never reaching that higher status. Palo Alto!! Live up to your attributes!
Philip T. Meyerson
Webster Street, Palo Alto
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From National Responsibility to Response: IDPs' Housing, Land and Property Rights
|Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
|Publication Date
|22 February 2012
|Cite as
|Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, From National Responsibility to Response: IDPs' Housing, Land and Property Rights, 22 February 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f45f1692.html [accessed 22 January 2018]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
The study looks at how governments have fared in terms of implementing 12 practical steps ("benchmarks") to prevent and address internal displacement, as outlined in the 2005 Brookings publication entitled "Addressing Internal Displacement: A Framework for National Responsibility." The 12 benchmarks are as follows:
1. Prevent displacement and minimize its adverse effects.
2. Raise national awareness of the problem.
3. Collect data on the number and conditions of IDPs.
4. Support training on the rights of IDPs.
5. Create a legal framework for upholding the rights of IDPs.
6. Develop a national policy on internal displacement.
7. Designate an institutional focal point on IDPs.
8. Support national human rights institutions to integrate internal displacement into their work.
9. Ensure the participation of IDPs in decisionmaking.
10. Support durable solutions.
11. Allocate adequate resources to the problem.
12. Cooperate with the international community when national capacity is insufficient.
Stepping back from HLP issues (to be addressed in a subsequent set of comments in Part II of this guest posting), we drew several key observations on our overall findings.
The study found that political will was the main determining factor of response to internal displacement. Governments cannot always control the factors that cause displacement, or may themselves be responsible for displacement, but they can take measures to improve the lives and uphold the rights and freedoms of IDPs. Internal displacement due to conflict derives from political issues, and all aspects of a government's response to it therefore are affected by political considerations, including, for example, acknowledgment of displacement, registration and collection of data on IDPs, ensuring the participation of IDPs in decision-making, assistance and protection offered to different (temporal) caseloads of IDPs, support for durable solutions, which durable solutions are supported, and the facilitation of efforts by international organizations to provide protection and assistance to IDPs.
While none of the governments surveyed was fully protecting and assisting IDPs, four stand out in particular—Colombia, Georgia, Kenya and Uganda—for implementing their responsibility toward IDPs while three others—Central African Republic, Myanmar and Yemen—had particular difficulties in fulfilling their responsibilities toward IDPs. In Myanmar, the obstacles were primarily political while in Yemen and the Central African Republic, as in many of the countries surveyed, the limitations appear to arise primarily from inadequate government capacity.
The other eight countries were somewhere in between. For example, some, such as Nepal, have demonstrated a significant commitment at one particular point in time but have failed to follow through. Others, such as Sri Lanka, have at times demonstrated blatant disregard for their responsibility and have moved swiftly to try to bring an end to displacement. Sudan, Pakistan, and to a certain extent, Turkey, have very problematic records with respect to preventing displacement in one part of the country yet have supported efforts to bring an end to displacement in others. In some cases, such as Afghanistan and Yemen, the continuing conflict and the role of nonstate actors (and in Afghanistan, the presence of foreign militaries as well) have made it difficult for the government to respond effectively to internal displacement.
Prevention of internal displacement is paramount, but is probably the most difficult measure to take and the least likely to be taken in the countries assessed, which all had large IDP populations. Given the scale of displacement in the fifteen countries surveyed, it was to be expected that these governments would not have been successful in preventing displacement. Nearly half of the fifteen countries assessed had adopted some preventive measures on paper, but all fifteen have fallen short of actually preventing displacement in practice.
Moreover, many national authorities themselves have been or are perpetrators of violence or human rights abuses that have led to displacement, and many states foster a culture of impunity for alleged perpetrators of serious human rights violations. Further, the presence of foreign military forces and/or non-state armed actors limits the ability of many states to exercise full sovereignty over their territory and therefore to prevent the conditions that drive people into displacement. Some countries have taken steps to prevent displacement due to natural disasters or development but not due to conflict, indicating that the former is perhaps less politically taboo and/or practically less difficult to implement than the latter.
Sustained political attention by the highest authorities is a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for taking responsibility for IDPs. Nearly all of the governments surveyed, at least at some point, have exercised their responsibility to IDPs by acknowledging the existence of internal displacement and their responsibility to address it as a national priority, for example, by drawing attention to IDPs' plight. However, government efforts to raise awareness of internal displacement through public statements was not always a useful indicator of a government's commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights and freedoms of IDPs.
Among the five countries with laws on or related to internal displacement, there were notable limitations to the scope of the laws and gaps in implementing them. Legislation was quite comprehensive in scope in at least two cases and was narrow in others, addressing specific rights of IDPs or a phase of displacement. Other countries lacked a national legislative framework on IDPs but had generic legislation relevant to IDPs. Still others had laws that violated or could violate the rights of IDPs. Laws on internal displacement must be viewed in the context of other legislation and administrative acts applicable to the general population (e.g., those related to documentation, residency, housing, land and property, and personal status), which this study reviews to the extent possible, particularly in the case studies on Georgia, Kenya, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. In Africa, the region with the most IDPs, states have recognized in legally binding instruments the importance of addressing internal displacement by incorporating the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement into domestic legislation and policy.
Many of the governments surveyed have adopted policies or action plans to respond to the needs of IDPs, but adequate implementation and dissemination were largely lacking. Nine of the countries surveyed had developed a specific policy, strategy or plan on internal displacement, implemented to varying degrees; those in six of these countries were still active at the time of writing. In addition, at least two countries had national policies in draft form, and one country that does not recognize conflict-induced displacement had a plan for mitigating displacement by cyclones and a plan on disaster risk reduction, although it did not discuss displacement. While in some cases positive steps had been taken, by and large implementation of policies on internal displacement remains a challenge and has, in some cases, stalled. Available information indicates that efforts to raise awareness of IDP issues and policies have largely been inadequate.
It is difficult to assess governments' commitment of financial resources to address internal displacement, but some trends were identified. Addressing internal displacement, especially over time, is a costly venture. While it was difficult to obtain a full picture of a country's expenditure on IDPs, several countries allocated funds to assist IDPs, including a few that had no national laws or policies on IDPs. In at least two countries, funds for assisting IDPs seemed to diminish in recent years. In many countries, difficulties arise at the district or municipal levels, where local authorities bear significant responsibility for addressing internal displacement but face many obstacles, including insufficient funds, to doing so. Allegations of corruption and misallocation of funds intended to benefit IDPs at certain points has been observed in some of the countries assessed. Some countries seem to rely on international assistance to IDPs rather than national funds.
National human rights institutions (NHRIs) contribute invaluably to improving national responses to internal displacement in a number of countries. In recent years, an increasing number of NHRIs around the world have begun to integrate attention to internal displacement into their work. NHRIs have played an important role in raising awareness of internal displacement, monitoring displacement situations and returns, investigating individual complaints, advocating for and advising the government on the drafting of national policies to address internal displacement, and monitoring and reporting on the implementation of national policies and legislation. In particular, the NHRIs of six of the countries surveyed stand out for their efforts to promote the rights of IDPs in their countries. Interestingly, almost all of their work with IDPs is funded by international sources, raising the question of whether national governments themselves should not be doing more to increase their funding of NHRIs in order to support their engagement with IDP issues.
International actors are valuable resources for efforts aiming to improve government response to IDPs. In many cases, the past Representatives of the UN Secretary-General (RSGs) mandated to study the issue of internal displacement (Francis Deng and his successor Walter Kälin) and the current UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (Chaloka Beyani) had exercised significant influence on governments in encouraging and supporting action on behalf of IDPs. Along with these actors, UNHCR and the Brookings Project on Internal Displacement have provided technical assistance to support governments' efforts to develop national legal frameworks to ensure IDPs' access to their rights.
Durable solutions: Return was the durable solution most often supported by the governments assessed. The Framework for National Responsibility identifies three durable solutions—return, local integration and settlement elsewhere in the country. However, the fifteen countries surveyed herein reflect a global tendency to emphasize return, often excluding the other durable solutions. Yet for solutions to be voluntary, IDPs must be able to choose among them, and local integration or settlement elsewhere in the country may in fact be some IDPs' preferred solution. Especially in situations of protracted displacement, those may be the only feasible solutions, at least in the near future.
The most difficult benchmarks to analyze were those whose underlying concepts are very broad and those for which data was seemingly not publicly available. Chief among these were the benchmarks on preventing internal displacement (Benchmark 1), raising national awareness (Benchmark 2), promoting the participation of IDPs in decisionmaking (Benchmark 9), and allocating adequate resources (Benchmark 11). Analysis on all other benchmarks also faced data constraints as in many cases data were outdated or incomplete or simply were not available. Nonetheless, we found that the twelve benchmarks all directed attention to important issues in governments' responses to internal displacement.
We also found that while protection is central to the Framework, the issue is of such importance that there should be a benchmark explicitly focused on it—and specifically on protection as physical security, provided to IDPs during all phases of displacement. This benchmark would also underscore the responsibility of governments to protect the security of humanitarian workers engaged with IDPs.
Overall, the study found that the Framework for National Responsibility is a valuable tool for analyzing government efforts to prevent displacement, to respond to IDPs' needs for protection and assistance and to support durable solutions. But this study also reveals certain limitations to using the Framework as an assessment tool, particularly in terms of accounting for the responsibility of nonstate actors; accounting for national responsibility for protection, particularly during displacement; and accounting for causes of displacement other than conflict, violence and human rights violations.
Addressing housing, land, and property (HLP) issues is a key component of national responsibility. Principle 29 of the non-binding but widely accepted Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement emphasizes that competent authorities have a duty to assist IDPs to recover their property and possessions or, when recovery is not possible, to obtain appropriate compensation or another form of just reparation.
The 2005 Framework for National Responsibility – which set the benchmarks we applied in our current study – reaffirms this responsibility (in Benchmark 10, "support durable solutions") and flags a number of the challenges that often arise, such as IDPs' lack of formal title or other documentary evidence of land and property ownership; the destruction of any such records due to conflict or natural disaster; and discrimination against women in laws and customs regulating property ownership and inheritance. The Framework for National Responsibility stresses that, "Government authorities should anticipate these problems and address them in line with international human rights standards and in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner."
The extent to which a government has safeguarded HLP rights, including by assisting IDPs to recover their housing, land, and property thus was among the indicators by which we evaluated the efforts of each of the 15 governments examined in our study. Our findings emphasized the importance of both an adequate legal and policy framework for addressing displacement related HLP issues and the role that bodies charged with adjudication and monitoring can play in ensuring implementation.
HLP Law and Policy Frameworks
One of the most encouraging signs of governments taking seriously their responsibility to address internal displacement has been the development, adoption and implementation in all regions of the world of specific laws and policies that respect the rights of IDPs. Some of the countries surveyed have developed laws, decrees, orders, and policies that protect IDPs' HLP rights, but these measures are also not without their limits and challenges. A few examples are presented below.
In Colombia, while Law 387 on Internal Displacement (1997) stipulates the right of IDPs to compensation and restitution (Article 10), the government has been hard-pressed to establish measures enabling them to realize that right (see further, below). In Colombia, the constitutional complaint process – the accion de tutela petition procedure – has made the government accountable to IDPs and has influenced government policy toward IDPs, including the policy of allocation of government assistance such as housing subsidies.
In Georgia, the legal framework for IDP protection includes a property restitution law for IDPs from South Ossetia, adopted in 2007, which provided for the establishment of a Commission on Restitution and Compensation; however, this body never became operational and the status of the law is unclear following the August 2008 conflict. The State Strategy on IDPs, also adopted in 2007, protects IDPs against "arbitrary/illegitimate eviction" and sets out a large-scale program for improving the living conditions of IDPs in their place of displacement, all the while reaffirming their right to property restitution.[1]
Displaced families whose homes were destroyed or damaged during the August 2008 received $15,000 from the government to rebuild their homes, although many IDPs have held off reconstruction efforts due to concerns about insecurity. The RSG on IDPs recommended in 2009 the established of a comprehensive mechanism for resolving HLP claims for both the South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflicts. In addition, in 2010, Georgia adopted procedures for vacating and reallocating IDP housing, which, among other things, addresses those cases in which removal of IDPs from a collective center is ordered by the government and may require an eviction, and spells out safeguards for guaranteeing the right of IDPs.[2]
Iraq's 2005 Constitution protects Iraqis against forced displacement (Article 44(2)). Through its Property Claims Commission, formerly the Commission on the Resolution of Real Property Disputes established by Order No. 2 (2006), Iraq has sought to recover property seized between 1968 and 2003, although significant gaps and challenges remain. For those internally displaced between 2006 and 2008, Prime Ministerial Order 101 (2008) sets out a framework for providing property restitution for registered IDPs with a view to encouraging and facilitating their return to Baghdad governorate, the origin of the majority of post-2006 IDPs and the location of the majority of post-2006 returnees. However, there have been few claims; many IDPs lack the necessary documentation, do not trust government institutions, fear retribution or cannot afford the requisite costs.[3]
In Afghanistan, where national authorities have not yet defined "internally displaced persons," property and land rights of IDPs are either specifically addressed or generally implicated in substantive and procedural provisions found in a series of executive acts that have been issued since 2001, including the most IDP-specific of them, Presidential Decree No. 104 on Land Distribution for Settlement to Eligible Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (2005). This decree sets forth a basic framework for distributing government land to both IDPs and returnees as a means of addressing their housing needs. However, IDPs seeking access to land are required to provide their national identity cards (tazkera) and documentation proving their internal displacement status—documentation which they may have lost. Moreover, the decree does not recognize other fundamental rights or needs of the internally displaced; it is valid only in areas of origin; and its implementation has been marred by inefficiency and corruption within the very weak ministry that is tasked with its implementation.
Although the 2006 peace agreement in Nepal included a commitment to return occupied land and property and to allow for the return of displaced persons, four years after the peace agreement (and three years after the adoption of a national policy), between 50,000 and 70,000 people remained displaced. Nearly half of the returnees interviewed by the Nepal IDP Working Group reported serious land, housing and property problems. Of the more than 10,000 claims for compensation for property filed in 2007 only 2,000 families had received support to reconstruct or repair their houses by 2009. It is widely reported that IDPs with non-Maoist political affiliations have been the least likely to recover land and property.
In Turkey, the government has yet to take full responsibility for displacement caused by its security forces against a largely Kurdish population. In its Law 5233 on Compensation of Damages That Occurred Due to Terror and the Fight against Terror (27 July 2004) and its Return to Village and Rehabilitation Program, displacement is defined in terms of "terrorism" or the "fight" against it. This law does not specifically focus on internal displacement, but it does benefit IDPs among other affected populations. Law 5233 and its related amendments and regulations compensate for "material damages suffered by persons due to terrorist acts or activities undertaken during the fight against terror" between 1987 and 2004. Compensation is provided for three types of damage: loss of property; physical injuries, disabilities, medical treatment, death and funerals; and inability to access property due to measures taken during "the fight against terrorism."
According to the law, compensation is to be determined by damage assessment commissions (DACs) at the provincial level, with funding provided by the Ministry of the Interior. From 2004 to August 2009, the commissions received just over 360,000 applications. Of those, over 190,000 claims were decided: 120,000 were approved and the claimants awarded compensation; the remaining 70,000 were denied. Around $1.4 billion in compensation was awarded, of which close to $1.1 billion has been paid.[4] The existing legal and policy framework do not adequately address the obstacles to return, including the village guard system, insecurity and the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance.
In Kenya, the government's promotion of return included a National Humanitarian Emergency Fund for Mitigation and Resettlement of Victims of 2007 Post-Election Violence which was to meet the full costs of resettlement of IDPs, including reconstruction of basic housing, replacement of household effects and rehabilitation of infrastructure. But in practice, the government has been criticized for promoting return before conditions were safe. The government has also tended to focus on IDPs who own land and to attach durable solutions to land; there is no clear strategy for dealing with landless IDPs, such as squatters and non-farmers.
Awareness among IDPs as to their housing, land, and property rights under existing law – where there is law addressing those rights – is inadequate in many instances. For example, in Turkey, about half of IDPs surveyed in 2006 were not aware of their entitlements under the Return to Village and Rehabilitation Program or the Law on Compensation. [5]
National Human Rights Institutions and Constitutional Courts
In some cases, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and constitutional courts have a critically important role to play in supporting as well as in holding governments accountable to guarantee the rights of IDPs. In a number of the countries our study examined, the work of NHRIs on internal displacement has included a focus on HLP issues.
In Georgia, for example, the Public Defender has been actively monitoring and reporting on the country-wide housing program begun in 2009 and has raised concerns about evictions of IDPs and the quality of housing in relocation sites. The Public Defender's office also has undertaken a study on the conditions of the hidden majority of IDPs living in private accommodation rather than in collective centers.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has reported on and raised concerns about the large number of IDPs living in urban slums and informal settlements and about the fact that many IDPs were unable to return to their homes due to disputes over land and property.
Constitutional courts have in some instances played a role in strengthening the national legal framework for protecting the property rights of IDPs. Notably, Colombia's activist Constitutional Court, in its Decision T-821 in October 2007, ordered the government to ensure respect for IDPs' right to reparation and property restitution. In January 2009, the Constitutional Court ordered the government to comprehensively address land rights issues and to establish mechanisms to prevent future violations.
Subsequently, the government has sought to ensure these rights by adopting in 2011 the historic and ambitious Law 1448, known as the Victims and Land Restitution Law. In this law, government acknowledges for the first time ever the existence of an internal armed conflict in Colombia, and recognizes as "victims" those individuals or communities whose rights were violated under international humanitarian law or international human rights law. The law regulates reparations for all victims of the armed conflict since 1985 – numbering over 5 million – including through land restitution or compensation for IDPs which is to occur over the next decade.
However, restitution of land does not guarantee returnees' security and may even endanger people given that land disputes and seizures remain a driving force of displacement. Aiming to prevent further victimization of returnees as a result of insecurity and violence, the government established a new security body, the Integrated Center of Intelligence for Land Restitution (Centro Integrado de Inteligencia para la Restitución de Tierras, also known as CI2-RT) within the Ministry of Defense. Additional participants include the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Justice and Interior, the Department of Administrative Security (DAS), Social Action (Acción Social), Incoder, and organizations representing victims of violence. Time will tell how successful the implementation of this ambitious law will be.
In Georgia, the Constitutional Court has also played an important role by recognizing the rights of IDPs to purchase property without losing their IDP status or in any way jeopardizing their right to return.
Securing HLP rights for IDPs is, of course, a key component of finding durable solutions to displacement. The study found that land and property disputes are almost always sources or manifestations of lingering conflict and often an obstacle to IDPs' free exercise of their right to return. While some governments have made efforts to provide mechanisms for property restitution or compensation, those mechanisms have rarely been adequate to deal—at least in a timely manner—with the scale and complexity of the problem. National human rights institutions and constitutional courts can play a key role in holding governments accountable for HLP and other rights and freedoms of IDPs.
[1] Government of Georgia, State Strategy for Internally Displaced Persons–Persecuted Persons, Chapter V.
[2] The Standard Operating Procedures for Vacation and Reallocation of IDPs for Durable Housing Solutions (2010) (www.mra.gov.ge)
[3] IDMC, Iraq: Little New Displacement but around 2.8 Million Iraqis Remain Internally Displaced: A Profile of the Internal Displacement Situation, 4 March, 2010, p. 240 (www.internal-displacement.org)
[4] IDMC, Turkey: Need for Continued Improvement in Response to Protracted Displacement: A Profile of the Internal Displacement Situation, 26 October 2009, p. 12, citing correspondence with the government of Turkey, 17 September 2009 (www.internal-displacement.org)
[5] Hacettepe University, Institute of Population Studies, "Findings of the Turkey Migration and Internally Displaced Population Survey," press release, 6 December 2006, cited in IDMC, Turkey: Need for Continued Improvement in Response to Protracted Displacement: A Profile of the Internal Displacement Situation, 26 October 2009, p. 11 (www.internal-displacement.org)


text:
Three pitchers get All-Star nod for Halos
Saunders, Santana, K-Rod selected; Vlad, Lackey snubbed
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
It's the first time in franchise history that the Angels have had three pitchers in the All-Star Game. No Angels position players were selected when the rosters were announced on Sunday, ending Vladimir Guerrero's streak of four consecutive starts in the AL outfield as a member of the Angels.
For Rodriguez, Major League Baseball's saves leader with 34, this marks his third appearance in the Midsummer Classic. He also was selected in 2004 and 2007, nailing down the save last year.
Saunders and Santana, who came to Spring Training believing they would be competing for the fifth spot in the Angels' rotation, are making their first All-Star Game appearances. They emerged as consistent staff leaders with John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar sidelined early in the season because of injuries. Lackey has returned with a flourish, but Escobar remains sidelined by a shoulder injury.
The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 5 p.m. PT. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
Rodriguez, Saunders and Santana all made the team on the Player Ballot. K-Rod led all relievers in votes, with Saunders and Santana second and fourth among starters.
Rodriguez, on pace to eclipse the single-season saves record of 57 held by Bobby Thigpen of the 1990 White Sox, retired Aaron Rowand for the final out in the AL's dramatic 5-4 win last year in San Francisco. The victory gave Francona and the AL champion Red Sox home-field advantage for the World Series.
Since assuming full-time closer duties for the Angels in 2005, K-Rod leads the Majors in saves with 166. He has a 1.93 ERA in 40 appearances and had blown only two of 36 save opportunities.
Yankee Stadium has been a special place for Rodriguez since he appeared there in the 2002 AL Division Series, claiming his first win as a Major League pitcher -- in postseason play.
"It was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "I have so many memories of pitching there the first year I came up. And now, being able to go back there for the All-Star Game in the last year of Yankee Stadium ... it's going to be a lot of fun."
Asked if it ever gets old, Rodriguez replied, "No, no. Hopefully, they'll keep it coming. I'm really happy and excited, and I look forward to having another experience there."
This "absolutely" is the best of K-Rod's three All-Star seasons, but he quickly injected a qualifier.
"It's been a great run so far, but I always say it's not how you start but how you finish," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully, I can continue doing what I'm doing right now and finish really strong. I'm really a competitive guy, and I like to be out there helping my ballclub win ballgames. That's all. That's what they pay me for. It has nothing to do with contracts or arbitration or anything else."
K-Rod began the season with an arbitration hearing that resulted in a $10 million settlement when the ruling favored the club. He modified his delivery during Spring Training under the watchful eye of pitching coach Mike Butcher, hoping to reduce the violence of his follow-through and save wear and tear on his lower body.
Saunders, in his first full season in the rotation after two seasons as a spot starter, leads the AL in wins with 12. He was 5-0 in April with a 2.04 ERA in six starts and has maintained his consistent excellence throughout the first half, yielding two or fewer runs in 12 of his 17 starts with a 3.04 ERA.
"We have some fabulous arms on this team," Saunders said. "To get the opportunity to do this is pretty special. Everything's fallen in place this year."
Saunders said he feels blessed on and off the field. His wife, Shanel, is due to deliver their first child on Monday.
"It's tough to describe," he said. "I couldn't be happier."
Angels manager Mike Scioscia has seen Saunders take the ball and run with it this season.
"I think Joe's become really comfortable with what he needs to do to get hitters out," Scioscia said. "He's not afraid of contact and he's got a good arm, which is the start of everything.
"I think in the winter there was some competition that was kind of building when we traded for Jon Garland to get some depth in our rotation. But once we got into the spring, it was clear the guys we felt we were going to line up -- and Joe was always one of them. He had a terrific spring and went about his business the right way and worked hard. It's great to see his hard work appreciated and rewarded."
Santana, who is 9-3 with a 3.28 ERA, is fifth in the league in strikeouts, with 106 in 115 1/3 innings. His .224 opponents batting average against is fourth best in the AL.
"It's a great honor," Santana said. "I put in a lot of work during the winter and this spring, and it's a good feeling to be helping the team and now making the All-Star team. I've always believed in my ability. It's just a matter of being consistent."
Scioscia reflected back to Santana's struggles last season and how he needed some time at Triple-A Salt Lake to regain command of his delivery, which led to a higher confidence level.
"Ervin threw at a very high level for us for two seasons before he struggled last year," Scioscia said. "So we knew he had it in him. He went down last year to get his mechanics back to where they were. It sounds like a simple chore, but it's not.
"Since he's got back into his mechanics, his velocity is back where it should be and his fastball-breaking ball combination is as good as anybody in the game today."
Guerrero, an All-Star eight times in his career with four NL selections as an Expo, was not chosen as a reserve after finishing fifth in the fan balloting. Three outfielders -- J.D. Drew, Carlos Quentin and Grady Sizemore -- were chosen on the Player Ballot in support of starters Manny Ramirez, Josh Hamilton and Ichiro Suzuki. Drew jumped ahead of Guerrero in the final week of the balloting.
Guerrero was not among the five players chosen for the Final Vote.
Lackey, who made the 2007 AL squad alongside Rodriguez and Guerrero, couldn't overcome the six weeks he lost with a triceps strain. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 1.93 ERA.
The World Series champion Red Sox led the AL with seven choices, followed by the Rangers, with four.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Episode 1
Game On
Jackie takes the contents of the medicine cabinet
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Emmy® Award Winner Edie Falco stars as Jackie Peyton, a quick witted and wonderfully flawed emergency room nurse with more than her fair share of secrets.
Comedy, Drama
Suitable only for 15 years and over
Peter Facinelli Edie Falco Merritt Wever Paul Schulze Ruby Jerins
Game On
Jackie takes the contents of the medicine cabinet
Enough Rope
Eddie tells Jackie he can't keep lying to Kevin, whom he considers a friend.
Play Me
A husband fights with his in-laws to have his critically injured moved.
Jackie's back in the swing of things, having re-hidden her stash of pills.
Rat Falls
Jackie is on edge.
When the Saints Go
As Jackie's pill supply starts to dwindle, her strategies become more intense.
Orchids & Salami
Jackie soothes Grace's anxiety about the upcoming saint pageant.
The Astonishing
Jackie visits Bill at his diner only to find that he has no pills for her.
Have You Met Miss Jones?
Eddie confronts Kelly about the missing Fentanyl patches from the Oncology run.
Fuck the Lemurs
The Peyton's meet with Grace's psychiatrist Dr. Bowen.
Batting Practice
Kevin dodges Jackie early in the morning and takes off to batting practice.
Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test…
Akalitus is all over the staff.
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text: So, the Dark Reign one-shot has been released and a few things have been explained. The one-shot shows what happened just prior to and just after the meeting scene in Secret Invasion #8. Emma Frost has a nightmare, apparently about Kitty Pryde, before receiving a request from a Thunderbolts agent asking her to attend the meeting. - Osborn points out that they are all deposed kings or leaders. They have lost what is theirs. He offers them a chance to get that back. All he wants is the credit for keeping them under control. - To Doctor Doom he offers extradition back to Latveria. No charges for the Symbiote attack. He'll claim that Tony Stark was infected with a Skrull virus when Doom was arrested. Doom will get Latveria back. - To Namor, he says he knows about the disorganised Atlantean sleeper cells all over America. He will leave them alone. - To Emma Frost, he recognises her as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club and as a leader amongst the X-Men. He expects her people to register, but they will be left alone, free from the constant harassment they have suffered since M Day. There are plans afoot to move every remaining mutant to a concentration camp in Canada. That stops if she signs up. Plus he feels having a psychic around would keep everyone honest. - To Loki he promises that her efforts to seize control of Asgard will be not be interfered with, and that it will be returned to the heavens where it belongs. - To The Hood he insists that all of his people register and go legit publicly but once they do they get a free ride. They don't have to pay anything to him. As long as they don't do anything he can't publicly pardon they get a free pass on anything they do. He'll call them the Wisconsin Avengers or whatever they like, but as long as they don't touch a government facility they will walk for life. - All he wants is for them to hit what he tells them to hit, but they won't have any problem with what he asks them to. If they try to betray him or each other, however, then his "friend" - a shadowy figure standing behind a door - will make them sorry. - He promises that neither the Avengers, who will be dealt with within a week nor Tony Stark will be a problem at all. - Once the meeting is over, only Doom and Namor remain. Continuing their new alliance from the recent Sub-Mariner miniseries, Doom says that they will go along with Osborn but when he destroys himself then Doom will get the land and Namor will get the seas. And if Osborn doesn't destroy himself then they should prepare for a battle the likes of which this dimension has never seen. - Back at Thunderbolts mountain, Swordsman confronts Osborn, threatening to go public with all of Osborn's dirty secrets if he doesn't get the out he was promised. Osborn goes in to a psychotic rage, taking von Strucker's sword and running him through before pushing him off the mountain.