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Yahoo UK
And yet the mercs aren't inspired by the peace talks to change the outcome?Divisions in rebel ranks and more committed loyalist fighters are helping the Syrian regime notch up military victories that would give it the upper hand at peace talks, analysts and rebels say.The army's capture this week of the strategic town of Qara, north of Damascus, followed three days of fighting against Al-Nusra Front jihadists.
It comes after a series of government advances in Damascus province and southwest of Aleppo, in northern Syria.
Rebels 'totally demoralised' by US backtracking
International developments have also played a role in the rebels' losses.
A Syrian expert living in Damascus said "the United States turnaround ... totally demoralised the rebels."
Washington late this summer backtracked on threats to strike regime targets in Syria after striking a deal with Russia that would see Damascus hand over its massive chemical arsenal.
The rebels "had hoped such strikes would destroy the regime's military infrastructure and allow them to enter Damascus", said the expert.
Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at Edinburgh University, said: "It is clear the current loyalist surge is linked to the prospect of Geneva II", a slated peace conference that would bring rebels and the regime to the negotiating table.
Being "Syrian rebels"... Key word Syrians, you would think the push would be on?(facetious)
Instead we are getting the loyalist surge? Perhaps dedicated loyalists have the largest numbers?
"If the (opposition) National Coalition goes to the talks, it will be in a position of weakness, militarily and diplomatically," said Pierret, adding that the United States has in recent weeks downscaled its assistance to the opposition.
"In any case, Assad's departure is out of the question right now, because neither the Russians nor the Americans want it," he added.
Also this piece I had saved from earlier in the week- Regarding Geneva II
Russia steps up push for Syria peace talks
- Russia hosted Syrian and Iranian delegations for separate rounds of talks on Monday in a renewed diplomatic push for a Syrian peace conference in which Moscow says Tehran must play a role.
President Vladimir Putin, who has stepped up his personal involvement on the Syrian issue, also called Iran's president to discuss the conflict as well as efforts to end the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
Moscow wants to show it still has weight in the Middle East and has been emboldened by its success in helping to broker a deal under which Syria will destroy its chemical weapons, but Washington is wary of letting Iran join any peace conference.
"We regard Iran as a very important partner in all Middle Eastern affairs," Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov saying at the start of talks with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The meeting "will give us an opportunity to jointly look at how developments in and around Syria unfold," Bogdanov said.
In further evidence of Russia's diplomatic offensive, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Syrian opposition sources both confirmed that Bogdanov had recently held talks in Istanbul with leaders of the opposition National Coalition.
Russia, which strongly backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the United States announced back in May they would try to bring Syria's government and opposition together in such a conference, but a date has so far proved elusive.
Lavrov said it could happen before the end of the year.
*Geneva peace talks on Syria set for December 12*
"(U.S. Secretary of State John) Kerry and I promised to do all we can to make that happen," Lavrov told Russia's official gazette, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, on Monday, referring to a telephone conversation the two men had on Sunday.
But Lavrov added that the timing of the conference would "depend on how well our Western partners do their homework of persuading the opposition to reject preconditions".


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VERMILLION, S.D. -- Gifts to The University of South Dakota Foundation remained strong despite the most challenging economic times in recent history. For the year ending June 30, 2009, the USD Foundation reported gift income of $12 million and the assets of the Foundation were $154 million. The Foundation's endowment on June 30 totaled $115 million despite a 12.9 percent investment loss for the fiscal year. New gifts to the endowment helped offset investment losses and distributions from the portfolio utilized by the University as designated by donors.
The five-year and 10-year returns of 3.8 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, placed the Foundation in the top one percentile of almost 17,000 charitable foundations nationwide. USD Foundation President Bryan Benchoff credits the Foundation's investment committee for the outstanding record. "This is the worst downturn in the market we have seen and our investment committee stayed the course. They have historically achieved an investment return better than most in the country," said Benchoff. "Our endowment is making a comeback and is nearly back to the peak endowment of $119 million of the previous year. Alumni and friends of the University realize the difference that private gifts make to the University. Their gifts, along with the endowment investment growth, will have a significant impact on the University for years to come."
The Foundation directly provided $18.9 million to the University for support in fiscal year 2009, including $5.8 million for scholarships. Because of generous gifts, two new buildings were dedicated this year – the Muenster University Center and Beacom Hall, the new home of the Beacom School of Business. Over the past 10 years the USD Foundation has provided $80 million to the University for scholarships, buildings, faculty and other support.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wed, 3 December 2014
In this show, we take a look at Cherry Picker, Alchemists, The Game of 49, Roll Through the Galaxy, and Red7. We then jump back into part 2 of our live show from BGG.con, including special guests such as Scott Alden, Eric Lang, and Mike Elliott.
Direct download: DTD383-TheDiceTower-Episode383.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:26am EDT


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- admin
- March 1, 2017
- 7 Comments
Thanks to the many who played along with our challenge this month!!!
The lucky randomly chosen winner is…..
PLEASE EMAIL ME TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE AT firstname.lastname@example.com
Hello CE Friends!! It's already time for a new challenge. Where did February go?? This month we teamed up with Spiegelmom scraps and currently have a blog hop starting today and runs through March 7th 11:59 pm. You have a bit of time since the hop is a bit lengthy but oh so full of fun and inspiration. We enjoyed working with the products Jody carries in her store. The hop will be located at the top of the blog below the March Challenge. So it's easy peasy to find.
On to the challenge… As usual, please be inspired by at least one element in the picture below and mention how you were inspired if it isn't obvious. The twist is to incorporate something that flies.
Challenge Rules:
Hello! I can't believe it's March 1st already! I am happy because I am so ready for spring!
I was inspired by the colors in the photo and by the unicorn and butterflies. I used two butterflies from the Butterfly Set and added a coat of Gesso to them and then a purple and pink spray ink. Finally, I added some Stickles. I used a unicorn from the Unicorn and added Gesso. Then I added Liquitex Glass Beads Texture Paste and purple and pink spray inks. I love the texture the glass beads gave the unicorn! I added in a Butterfly Flair in my fussy cut flower cluster.
Hope you have fun with this challenge!
Hello to all! Happy March! In New Jersey, US that means not much winter left (we hope!) I am bringing a page to you today, the photo taken in January when I got a little reprieve from winter when I went to Florida to visit my mother. She got a kick out of me taking this selfie-something she hadn't done before-so 1st selfie at 83 1/2! I was inspired by the butterflies. All of the Creative Embellishments were covered using silver gelato. The products used follow: SELFIE, timeless, CAMERA, ARROW FRAME, FLAIR BUTTON and BUTTERFLY FLOURISH I hope you have some time to join us for the challenge this month!
Well hello everyone, I so hope that you are ready to get crafty with this beautiful new challenge. I am in Montreal Canada, so with all the snow and cold we are having at this time of the year, I needed some butterflies to brighten up my days because we've had one really challenging winter with all theses recent snow storms. This girl is ready for spring to come along. The other element that inspired my project was the colors, the mix of purple, pink and turquoise oh my. I started my project by adding molding paste thru this dreamy stencil called Fairy Dust then I chose to gesso and heat emboss with three different colors my butterflies from the Monarch Butterfly set. Feel free to visit my blog if you want a few more pics of my project. Now get crafty and join in on the fun!
Hello, happy March! The purples in this month challenge photo really inspired me. I love purple don't seem to use it much when scrapping. For the twist, I used the Monarch Butterfly Set. First I painted them with some gesso mixed with some purple Tattered Angels Shimmers. Then painted with purple Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam and back them with some Rinea Paper Foil.
Below is a process video of my layout…..
Hi, all! I made a fun tag and envelope set. I was inspired by the beautiful colors of the mood board, and Dragonflies are my favorite. I used the Circles Background and Flourish Dragonflies to make this collection, I sprayed them some Lindy's and then used distress crackle on the wings. I am so addicted to texture that I added some texture paste to the circle background before spraying. I used some papers from Studio 75 and did some subtle stamping with the Distress Corners Stamp, and Distressed Circle Stamp. I put some paste on with the Scribbles Heart Stencil. And I topped off the envelope with the Heart Flair from the February 14th Collection! Such a fun and pretty set, I hope it inspires you all to create this month!
I was inspired by the subtle colors in the mood board and then added a pop of color and for the twist to use things that fly … I have a bird in the print paper, a chipboard butterfly and a flair button butterfly.
For my page, I am showcasing my youngest Grand Daughter. She was and is so cute. It was fun to use Berry Wreath circular frame around her photo and add the Monarch Butter fly accent. I added the fabulous and perfect A laugh is a smile that bursts title about her smile and laugh for sure. She had an infectious laugh that put smiles on all our faces. Beside the title, I added the Fly Away Flair button. With all the leaves and clusters on the page, I put some partial pieces of the Lupine chipboard into the foliage.
We can't wait to see what you create to share with us this month.
Hi everyone.. I decided to create a winter themed layout using photos of my pups (since my kids are grown up, I have pups now). I used some of my favorite Bo Bunny papers, lots of fun chippies: Leafy Vine frame, Rings and snow flakes. For my title, I created that using the Basic alphabets chippies. The flowers are by I am Roses and added some bling. I painted all of my chipboard elements with water base paints. Thanks for stopping by today and I can't wait to see what you all create with our photo challenge.
I was inspired by the purples and greens and the fantasy feel of the inspiration photo, so I created a fantasy fairy garden filled with 4 leaf Clover chippies and a pretty chipboard Tiny Fairy. I illuminated my garden with the most amazing little string of Tiny Lights that CE has in their store! It's one foot in length and perfect for little scenes like this. I used lots of stickles to make my fairy all sparkly. I first painted the clover with green acrylic paint and then painted on some Lindy's so they'd sparkle too. Stop by my blog for some daylight photos and DO be sure to join in our challenge!
Hi, everyone! Happy March…yippee that means it is almost Spring time where I live. With Spring in mind, I was inspired to create this gift bag and tag set. I have used the fabulous Distressed Text Stamp in the background..and my chippies are from the Small Sentiment Word set and the Leafy Vine Frame. I hope you join along with this months challenge and can not wait to see what you all create.
I was inspired by the butterflies in the challenge photo to create this Nature Sketchbook Folio Cover. I used the CE Chipboard Flourish Butterflies Set 3, which I embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder and then added some Graphic 45 Nature Sketchbook patterned paper to the back. I also used two of the CE Flourish 19 chipboards, which I cut into pieces. I painted the flourishes with Distress Crackle Paint in Peeled Paint and then inked them with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.
Hello, everyone! For this challenge, I was inspired by the cold color of this inspiration picture, so I used the blue color, and for the twist, I stuck butterflies. I embossed my CE chippies (Stars, Flourish 27 and Grunge Star Corner). I used the Boy set for my title. I applied the acrylic paint above and I embossed it with clear embossing powder. I made a monochrome to stay in the colors of my photo. It's rare; I didn't stamp in black on my background!
Well, I think it's pretty obvious how I was inspired by the picture. 😉 I love, love, love the whole fantasy theme and colors. I started by applying the bokeh circle and fairy dust 2 stencil designs with heavy gesso to the background. I then just started layering different chipboard pieces to the canvas. After I was happy with the look, I covered everything in white gesso. I am inspired by so many amazing and super talented artists such as Finnabair (I mean who isn't right? 😉 and a past DT member Asia Lubera. I love how she uses clock pieces and adds them to her work. I added clock pieces to the pegasus on the canvas. Okay back to the project. I finished by simply misting in different colors to the canvas. I used Lindys and TH mists.
Now I will link the products used on this canvas. Mountains, tiny fairies, pegasus, unicorn, dragon, small flourish, crescent moon, bubble frame, leafy vine wreath, out of this world frame, mini circle lattice panel, and creepy tree. I hope I listed them all.
We would love to see how you were inspired by this challenge. Link your project below for a chance to win a $50.00 gift voucher to the store.
Filled Under : Bev Code DT , France Ringuette , Heather Thompson DT , Laetitia PAUCHET , Lisa Moen DT , Maggi Harding DT , Marci Bensing DT , Monthly Challenge , Nadine Carlier DT , Sarah Routledge DT , Shona Keehn DT
7 Comments
- Asia Marquet
- March 22, 2017
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Hi, I've just discovered your blog very recently:) I loved your DT inspirations for this month's challenge and since I also love butterflies, I am so happy I can take part in it:) Hugs, Lemon Creation
- Layout with Maggi - Creative Embellishments
- March 20, 2017
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[…] I'm sure you'll find lots of pretty things that you need! And remember to enter our challenge because you could win a $50 gift certificate, now that's sweet! Maggi […]
- Cherry Blossom – dotstolinesblog
- March 19, 2017
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[…] March Challenge – Beautiful and Butterfly; Rubber Dance Theme Challenge– Spring; Creative Embellishments March Challenge– Inspired by the […]
- Sandi Clarkson
- March 15, 2017
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This was fun!
- Karen P
- March 9, 2017
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Thank you for the challenge, hoping to purchase some of your embellishments soon. The DT inspirations are fantastic! x
- Maggi's fairy tag! - Creative Embellishments
- March 8, 2017
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[…] sure to enter the Creative Embellishments monthly challenge, you might win a $50 gift certificate! Details here. Maggi […]
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Summer has arrived and it's a hot one out there. Some love the heat and some avoid it at all cost.
Maybe it's a bit too hot to use the grill for a foil packet meal or kabobs.
Another option to create a healthy meal is a stir-fry.
Like the other two options…you select a lean protein, load up a bunch of veggies and select a smart carb (typically rice, but others could be used) to put together your meal.
You'll want to take note of sodium and fat when your selecting the sauce to use, but still fairly simple to put together.
Traditionally…this meal takes on an Asian twist with ginger, soy and teriyaki based sauces.
But you can find other options as well that fit the needs of your family.
Here are some different options:
I recently came across a breakfast stir-fry option as well. Check out this recipe:
Here are a few links with a variety of stir-fry options:
My point with these emails is to provide you options so when you're trying to decide what to do for dinner, they are there for consideration.
If you want more information on how to put together healthy meals, please reach out.
Also, if you have nutrition challenges that you'd like to learn more about…please respond and share that information with me.
We can help!


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Questions & Answers: 38
- Where can I find official Sony certified parts & accessories?Where can I find official Sony certified parts & accessories? All Sony certified spare parts and accessories are made available via our online authorised service partner EET Europarts. EET covers a vast range of
- Why is it important to use the correct (supplied) USB-cable with my product?Most Sony products that are supplied with a USB cable are catered to function with your specific product. Using a different cable might be the reason why your product isn't functioning optimally. For example, your
- Where can I find a Sony Authorised Repair & Service Center?Please select a product category Diagnostics, Repair Booking options and Authorised Service & Repair Centres can vary depending on your product. Please click a category to continue ► Televisions & projectors
- Compatible devices with one-touch listeningSmartphones and tablets: Android OS 2.3.3 or later, excluding 3.x. Visit the following website for NFC built-in devices: https://www.sony.net/united/userexperience/support/otl_device/
- How to listen to music from a mobile device through an NFC-capable device using one-touch connection.NOTE: Not all mobile devices are supplied with the Near Field Communication (NFC) function. To see if your device is compatible with the NFC function , check the operating instructions of the mobile device. By
- What is NFC?Near Field Communication (NFC) is a technology that allows you to transfer information between your phone and other devices just by touching them together. Like Bluetooth, it's a standard system that works across
- What is an NFC compatible smartphone?The NFC compatible smartphones are smartphones with built-in Near Field Communication (NFC) function. These smartphones have Android 2.3.3 operating system or newer. Look for the NFC logo on the smartphone or mobile
- No sound, noise, or sound interruption when the headphone is connected to a playback device with a cableIMPORTANT: The following solutions are applicable to cases when the headphones and playback device are connected directly with a cable. Solutions will different when using a wireless connection Issue Overview Identify


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Vimoutiers Tiger
During August 1944, the German Wehrmacht lost a good deal of equipment during the closing of the Falaise pocket. On the 21st of August some five German vehicles found themselves eastward of the city of Falaise where they squeezed through the Falaise Gap. They managed to escape the pocket and headed towards the Guerquesalles area. Approximately 5 km from theContinue reading


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As sustainability consultants with an outstanding track record in innovation and best practice, Terrafiniti is dedicated to helping organisations manage their sustainability and CSR challenges with innovative, creative and effective tools that deliver results.
We help companies achieve results by developing strategic responses to build long-term value and uncover new opportunities.
Typically we work with leaders and sustainability teams in ambitious or leading companies who:
- Need to develop a strategic and planned sustainability approach based upon business risks and opportunities – but are unsure where to start
- Have a number of sustainability/CSR initiatives, but find they are largely reactive, not joined-up and not providing results
- Are concerned they can't communicate progress made in a structured way
- Find it difficult to respond to customer or investor requests.
With 40+ years collective experience in consulting, our sustainability consultants have worked with blue-chip companies, SMEs, NGOs and government agencies around the world.
On this page
Sustainability Consultants | Are we right for you? | Five reasons to work with us | Working with us
Joss Tantram: sustainability consultant
Founding Partner
I can bring over 20 years' experience advancing the practice of sustainability and sustainable corporate strategy to help you achieve your goals. I have trained executives from the world's biggest companies, delivering value on five continents.
Can I help you? Maybe…
Yes, if you want to:
- Reduce your risk, win new customers and clients
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Written 5 books at the leading edge of sustainability
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I work with:
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If you want sustainability & CSR that grows and drives your business I can assist you in developing a clear, powerful plan of action via advice, coaching, bespoke training or consultancy.
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Unlike most sustainability/CSR consultants I've helped people identify the real social and environmental issues they need to tackle to reduce risk and build business value.
My approach is based upon tackling issues at their root, not treating the symptoms.
I've worked with sustainability managers, managing directors, CEOs, technical and operational staff and many others to cut through the complexity of sustainability and build realistic and tangible actions.
Can I help you? …. Maybe
Yes, if you want to:
- Reduce risk
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What can I help you do?
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What can I help your company/organisation do?
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Some headline facts
- I have worked in sustainability for over 25 years
- I'm a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS)
- I was one of the original developers and tutors on WWF International's One Planet Leaders Executive Training Programme in Sustainability
- I have worked for companies, NGOs and Governments around the world.
Are we right for you?
We like to foster ambition – in sustainability impact and business success. That's challenging and not for everyone.
Sector specialism
Some people think their business sector has unique challenges. You're the expert on your business, we're the experts in sustainability.
We've chosen to remain focused, specialised and networked. If you don't like that then go to the big four. We'll welcome you back later.
Our fees reflect our deep experience. Some don't see the value in the bespoke support we provide. It's a good test of commitment.
We want you to achieve results, this typically involves asking difficult and uncomfortable questions to get beyond symptoms to underlying causes. Not everyone is up for the journey.
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1. Proven
We have provided sustainability consultancy and training to small, medium and multinational companies, government and NGOs around the world.
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We are qualified and recognised sustainability professionals, with science backgrounds and over 40 years' experience in sustainability and business.
3. Practical
We translate the challenges of sustainability into business-relevant actions that you can use. We'll help you target the areas where you can save money, reduce risk, exploit opportunities and build value.
4. Innovative
We specialise in sustainability innovation, thinking up to the scale of the sustainability challenge and delivering leading practice.
5. Flexible
We provide, bespoke services to meet your needs effectively and efficiently.
Terrafiniti's two founding partners / prime sustainability consultants are two of only six Inaugural Working Fellows in the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. Chair of the ICRS, Claudine Blamey said, "Offering Fellowship to the very best CRS practitioners strengthens the profession and the Institute. Those selected have a wide range of skills and experiences and over the course of their careers they have successfully addressed the broad spectrum of issues and challenges that confront those working in the sector."
Terrafiniti LLP is a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that donate at least 1% of their annual revenues to environmental organisations worldwide. Members of 1% for the Planet recognise that environmental and social sustainability requires actions and activity beyond the direct influence of their organisations and that the future of their business relies upon healthy and viable societies and ecosystems.
Working with us
We have extensive experience in sustainability consultancy and use our expertise and understanding to focus upon presenting complex issues as simply and clearly with an emphasis on developing your capacity to build sustainable business value.
Our approach is friendly and open, providing real advice and support that's useful. If we don't think we can help we'll say so.
We're always happy to discuss your requirements. We can sit down with you to review your needs and provide an outline of how we can assist you.
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See more:
Our Sustainability & CSR Services >>
How can we help you?
Sustainability resources
We provide free sustainable business guidance & resources to important topics to help you get ahead.
Contact us
We love to talk – get in touch to send a message of book at a call to discuss your sustainability issues


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Issues for the US Intelligence Community
Collection and Analysis on Iraq
Richard Kerr, Thomas Wolfe, Rebecca Donegan, and Aris Pappas
"The quality of intelligence will be improved only by fundamental changes at the grass roots level."
Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of reports supporting the Director of Central Intelligence's evaluation and critique of intelligence and analysis associated with the war in Iraq. It was prepared on contract by the Kerr Group, a team of former senior intelligence officers. The Group's first report, a classified study, was a documentation of the Intelligence Community's judgments before the war. It characterized the intelligence process, product content, and analytic shortcomings but was not a commentary on the accuracy of those judgments. The second report, also classified, reviewed the intelligence used to support judgments regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Specifically, it reviewed the reporting used to develop the National Intelligence Estimate "Iraq's Continuing Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction," published in October 2002. The third report, which follows, was an unclassified study presented in July 2004. In it, the team presents an assessment of the performance of the Intelligence Community from a broad perspective, focusing on systemic issues that channeled analysts' evaluations and analyses. Its observations and recommendations continue to have relevance as the Community evolves.
* * *
The Intelligence Community's uneven performance on Iraq from 2002–4 raised significant questions concerning the condition of intelligence collection, analysis, and policy support. The discussion of shortcomings and failures that follows is not meant to imply that all surprises can be prevented by even good intelligence. There are too many targets and too many ways of attacking them for even the best intelligence agencies to discover all threats in time to prevent them from happening. Nonetheless, improving performance requires an acknowledgement of past mistakes and a willingness to change.
This report was prepared at a time of a great rush to reorganize and give the leader of the Intelligence Community new authorities. That probably was a necessary activity. However, to move the organizational boxes and to offer new authorities are not the only answers or perhaps even the best answers. Based on our experience and what we learned during this review, the Group believes that the quality of intelligence will be improved only by fundamental changes at the grass roots level. That is, changes in collection, analysis, the nature of the product, and interaction with policymakers and other customers.
The Intelligence Community itself has made some useful changes and recommended others. Several fixes also have been proposed from outside the Community, which might be helpful but do not address some of the core problems identified by the Group. This report focuses on the question: Does the Community's flawed performance on Iraq represent one-time problems, not to be repeated, or is it symptomatic of deeper problems?
Principal Findings of the Earlier Reports
The central focus of national intelligence reporting and analysis prior to the war was the extent of the Iraqi programs for developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The analysis on this issue by the Intelligence Community clearly was wide of the mark. That analysis relied heavily on old information acquired largely before late 1998 and was strongly influenced by untested, long-held assumptions. Moreover, the analytic judgments rested almost solely on technical analysis, which has a natural tendency to put bits and pieces together as evidence of coherent programs and to equate programs to capabilities. As a result the analysis, although understandable and explainable, arrived at conclusions that were seriously flawed, misleading, and even wrong.
Intelligence produced prior to the war on a wide range of other issues accurately addressed such topics as how the war would develop and how Iraqi forces would or would not fight. It also provided perceptive analysis on Iraq's links to al Qa'ida; calculated the impact of the war on oil markets; and accurately forecast the reactions of the ethnic and tribal factions in Iraq. Indeed, intelligence assessments on post-Saddam issues were particularly insightful. These and many other topics were thoroughly examined in a variety of intelligence products that have proven to be largely accurate.
The national intelligence produced on the technical and cultural/political areas, however, remained largely distinct and separate. Little or no attempt was made to examine or explain the impact of each area on the other. Thus, perspective and a comprehensive sense of understanding of the Iraqi target per se were lacking. This independent preparation of intelligence products in these distinct but interrelated areas raises significant questions about how intelligence supports policy. In an ironic twist, the policy community was receptive to technical intelligence (the weapons program), where the analysis was wrong, but apparently paid little attention to intelligence on cultural and political issues (post-Saddam Iraq), where the analysis was right.
With respect to the weapons programs, some critics have argued that the off-the-mark judgments resulted largely from reinforcement of the Community's assumptions by an audience that was predisposed to believe them. This, however, seems to have been less a case of policy reinforcing "helpful" intelligence judgments than a case of policy deliberations deferring to the Community in an area where classified information and technical analysis were seen as giving it unique expertise.
On the other hand, the Intelligence Community's analysis of post-Saddam Iraq rested on little hard information, was informed largely by strong regional and country expertise developed over time, and yet was on the mark. Intelligence projections in this area, however, although largely accurate, had little or no impact on policy deliberations.
The bifurcation of analysis between the technical and the cultural/political in the analytic product and the resulting implications for policy indicates systemic problems in collection and analysis. Equally important, it raises questions about how best to construct intelligence products to effectively and accurately inform policy deliberations.
The Context
Any examination of the Intelligence Community must acknowledge the impact of more than 10 years of turmoil that adversely affected all collection and analytic efforts, including those on Iraq. The Intelligence Community was designed to focus on the Soviet Union. It had developed a single-minded rigor and attention to detail that enriched its analysis, particularly with respect to Soviet military issues. The end of the Cold War, however, brought to a close that "stable" bipolar world and left the United States without a principal enemy. Although never perfect, the Intelligence Community's analytic efforts against the Soviet threat were generally insightful and its collection largely effective, reflecting the accumulation of deep understanding developed over many years.
Absent this singular focus, in the post-Cold War environment the Intelligence Community struggled to reestablish its identity and purpose in what had become a world of multiple crises and transient threats. The effort to define its priorities was further complicated as policymakers and others raised questions not only about the role of but even the need for intelligence. Accordingly, intelligence came to be seen as an area where the government could reap resource savings. The resulting cutbacks in collection (technical and HUMINT) and analytic resources had a significant adverse impact on Intelligence Community capabilities.
Nonetheless, during the 1990s the Intelligence Community confronted numerous crises in which to demonstrate the relevance of intelligence analysis to policy deliberations. Regional conflicts, such as the first Gulf war and follow-on sanctions against Iraq, the breakup of Yugoslavia, and emerging threats from North Korea and Iran provided tests for intelligence. The Community's collection and analysis performance over this period, however, was seen as inconsistent and sometimes faulty, leaving important customers still wondering about the relevance of the intelligence input to policy deliberations.
A significant contributor to this uneven performance was, and still is, the Community's tendency to establish single-issue centers and crisis-response task forces. By stripping expertise from regional offices, they diminish the overall ability to provide perspective and context for those issues. The resources seldom get returned to the line offices, which historically have been better equipped to provide complete perspectives on country and regional issues.
Although resources increased marginally over the decade, they were not as robust or focused as the capabilities devoted to the Soviet Union and were seen by the Intelligence Community as inadequate to deal conclusively with the multiplicity of threats. Accordingly, the Community in critical situations has faltered in its analyses and failed to collect pertinent information. This has occurred over a length of time and across crises sufficient in number, quite apart from Iraq, to indicate systemic issues rather than just occasional missteps.
Collection Impeded and Misdirected
Intelligence collection against Iraq fell far short of the mark. The intelligence base for collection and analysis was thin and sketchy. The Intelligence Community had nothing like the richness, density, and detail that it worked hard to develop and became accustomed to having on Soviet issues during the Cold War. To a significant extent this resulted from the reduction over the past decade of the professional collection management cadre capable of integrating HUMINT, imagery, and signals intelligence capabilities into coherent strategies. This development was compounded by the increased separation of collection professionals from the analytic cadre who had been intimately involved in identifying collection gaps, needs, and priorities and developing collection strategies.
Placing these developments in a broader context, however, is important. Iraq was not the only significant intelligence problem facing the Community in the years immediately preceding the war. Counterterrorism and counterproliferation were given higher priority and absorbed much of the clandestine service's capability and leadership attention. Weapons programs in both North Korea and Iran received higher priority than those in Iraq until late 2002. In Iraq, technical collection priorities emphasized coverage of the Iraqi air defense system in southern Iraq in support of US military operations and prevented collection on other important targets in Iraq.
A number of other factors added to the difficulty of clandestine collection on the Iraq target. The Iraqis took pains to carefully hide their WMD programs. People and operations were protected from US intelligence by a variety of methods, including isolating scientists and technicians involved in the programs and employing effective camouflage, concealment, and deception efforts. The Iraqis had learned well about US intelligence during more than 10 years of confrontation and war.
Nevertheless, collection of information on difficult targets is the core mission of intelligence and in the Iraq case it did not measure up. Many of the more sophisticated clandestine technical collection techniques did not produce results. The Iraq WMD target was given a high priority over more than a decade, even if not the highest. Still, the Intelligence Community did not have conclusive evidence on what the Iraqis were working on, what they had achieved, which programs were ongoing, who was working them, or what the doctrines for use might be. Conversely, the Community saw no evidence that WMD programs were slowed, put on hold, or even nonexistent. Nor did it understand why Saddam's devious and obstructionist behavior continued if, as he claimed, he had no stockpiles of banned weapons.
US intelligence collection strategies contributed to the problem. Looking for information on a particular subject with a preconception of what is needed is almost certain to result in data that reinforces existing assumptions. The Community directed its collection capabilities to filling in what it thought were gaps in information about WMD programs, monitoring progress, looking for new developments in weapons and delivery systems, and identifying efforts to acquire materiel and technology abroad. Based on the hard information collected by US military forces and UN inspectors during and following the first Gulf war, reinforced by subsequent bits of information, the Intelligence Community and the US defense establishment had little doubt that Iraq was continuing development of WMD.
Collection was not focused or conceptually driven to answer questions about the validity of the premise that the WMD programs were continuing apace. This problem is well illustrated by a comprehensive collection support brief describing intelligence needs published by the DCI Center for Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation, and Arms Control. It was published contemporaneously with the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate on WMD. The brief describes in great detail the information required to support analysis of Iraq's weapons programs. The intent of the brief was to expose gaps in knowledge about what was believed to be aggressive, ongoing Iraqi weapons programs. The revealed gaps in knowledge were not, however, raised as requirements to address what was not known nor did such gaps raise doubts about prevailing intelligence judgments.
Discussing largely space-based collection systems at an unclassified level is difficult, but a few observations are possible. Despite a wide variety of technical capabilities available to the US, these systems were able to provide accurate information on relatively few critical issues. Monitoring Iraqi reactions to inspections was informative as was reporting on Iraqi acquisition efforts. Technical collection lends itself to monitoring large-scale, widespread targets, a condition not met in the Iraqi case. Analysis of Iraq's WMD programs, therefore, provides an excellent case study for an assessment of the limitations of relying too heavily on technical collection systems with little acknowledgement of the political/cultural context in which such programs exist.
Accordingly, surprisingly little collection was directed against several key issues. Neglected
topics for collection included the social, cultural, and economic impacts on Iraq of nearly 20 years of war and 10 years of sanctions and isolation. Little attention appears to have been paid, for example, to collecting information on the oil-for-food program. Considerable speculation was voiced that several countries and individuals were profiting from this program. Despite the fact that many of the targets for this subject were outside Iraq, it received only sporadic attention.
Although collection itself was a problem, analysts were led to rely on reporting whose sourcing was misleading and even unreliable. In the case of US clandestine reporting, it too often used different descriptions for the same source, leading analysts to believe they had more corroborative information from more sources than was actually the case. In addition, some critical judgments were made on the basis of intelligence provided by foreign intelligence services. Some of those liaison sources were not available to the US, and some key information obtained from liaison proved to be false.
The Intelligence Community knows how to collect secret information, even though in the Iraq situation it did not perform this function well. On the other hand, the acquisition of "softer" intelligence on societal issues, personalities, and elites presents an even greater challenge. This latter information can be found in databases, but they are too often only accessible indirectly and with considerable effort. It may also reside in the minds of groups of people who are accessible but not easily approachable and who do not fall into the category of controlled agents. Although there is a strong argument that the clandestine service should not divert its attention away from collecting "secrets," information on the stresses and strains of society may be equally, if not more, important. This type of information, however, does not fit with the reward system in the collection world and can be difficult to fully assess and to integrate with other information.
In the case of Iraq, collection strategies were weak and unimaginative and failed to get the richness and density of information required. A careful examination might have addressed the long-neglected question of the value added by the different types of intelligence—e.g., SIGINT and IMINT—relative to the resources devoted to them. Collection on Iraq also was the victim of inadequate funding and too intense competition between top priority targets. Finally, Iraq demonstrates that collection strategies must take into account that the absence of dangerous activity in a targeted country cannot be convincingly demonstrated in the presence of a secretive and devious regime. Or, put differently, collection strategies should recognize the extreme difficulty of requiring such a regime to prove the negative in the face of assumptions that it is dissembling. Overall, the Intelligence Community did not acquit itself well in developing collection strategies on Iraq.
Analysis Adversely Affected
No single act of omission or commission accounts for the inconsistent analytic performance of the Intelligence Community with regard to Iraq. It appears to be the result of decisions made, and not made, since the fall of the Soviet Union, which had an impact on the analytical environment analogous to the effect of the meteor strikes on the dinosaurs. Nothing was the same afterwards. In response to changed priorities and decreased resources, the Intelligence Community's analytic cadre underwent changes in both its organization and its methodological orientation. Perhaps the most significant change was the shift away from long-term, in-depth analysis in favor of more short-term products intended to provide direct support to policy. Done with the best of intentions, this shift seems to have had the result of weakening elements of the analytic discipline and rigor that characterized Intelligence Community products through the Cold War.
The kind of intellectual-capital-intensive analysis that traditionally and effectively preceded policy deliberations was unavailable because of the shift away from research-oriented analytic investments. In reviewing the national intelligence products associated with Iraq, we found that they too often dealt, seriatim, with a broad range of subjects but without extensive cross-reference, and with no attempt to synthesize a broader understanding of Iraq out of the many detailed pieces that were prepared. The absence of such a contextual effort contributed to assessments that failed to recognize the significance of gaps in collection that may have been more evident when viewed from a larger perspective.
The absence of a unifying analysis was also disguised by the rapidity and volume of interactions between intelligence and policy deliberations. Eagerly responsive to quickly developed policy requirements, the quick and assured response gave the appearance of both knowledge and confidence that, in retrospect, was too high.
Of all the methodological elements that contributed, positively and negatively, to the Intelligence Community's performance, the most important seems to be an uncritical acceptance of established positions and assumptions. Gaps in knowledge were left undiscovered or unattended, which to some degree is explainable by the absence of pervasive, intrusive, and effective collection in Iraq. Although many products were appropriately caveated, the growing need to caveat judgments to explain the absence of direct intelligence did not seem to provoke internal review within the Intelligence Community. Indeed, although certain gaps were acknowledged, no product or thread within the intelligence provided called into question the quality of basic assumptions, hastening the conversion of heavily qualified judgments into accepted fact.
As noted earlier, the growing use of centers also contributed to what was at best a problematic result. The Intelligence Community has generally considered centers a useful organizational concept to concentrate analytic and collection capabilities against a carefully defined target set or issue. They also have the effect, however, of drawing resources away from more broadly based organizations. The post-Cold War reductions throughout the Intelligence Community made this a critical but insidious factor. Analysis of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction thus became the purview of technically competent analysts, but as has been described elsewhere, their efforts were not leavened through review by more broadly based colleagues.
Finally, quality control was weakened. The extensive layers of critical management review that traditionally served to ensure both the validity and standing of finished intelligence products seem to have been ineffective in identifying key issues affecting collection and analysis. Allowing for a satisfying sense of voluminous production, and reflecting the approval of receptive consumers, the policy-heavy process provided positive feedback, while the narrowly focused internal architecture lacked the self-awareness that could otherwise have raised serious and timely warnings.
Interaction with the Policy Community
Few issues have engaged greater policymaker interest in intelligence than those concerning Iraq—particularly the questions of weapons of mass destruction and Saddam's links to al-Qa'ida. The demands for intelligence in the months leading up to the war were numerous and intense. The Intelligence Community responded to the overwhelming consumer demand with an ever-increasing stream of analysis— both written and oral. Neither means of communication, however, served the policy community as well as it might have.
In periods of crisis, when demands are high and response time is short, most written intelligence production is in the form of policy-driven memos and briefs and pieces written for daily
publications. The result of this narrowly focused and piecemeal intelligence flow is that it
neither fosters continuity of analysis nor provides a context within which to place seemingly unrelated information. In the case of Iraq, national intelligence did not provide a comprehensive picture of how the country functioned as a whole. The Intelligence Community has made substantial, although sporadic, efforts over the past decade and a half to explore better and more technologically advanced methods of communicating with consumers. The results, however, have been modest at best. The requirement to have background and contextual information available at the policymaker's fingertips in a timely fashion remains unfulfilled.
The policy community was also ill served by the national intelligence estimate (NIE) process. NIEs rarely represent new analysis or bring to bear more expertise than already exists in analytic offices; indeed, drafters of NIEs are usually the same analysts from whose work the NIE is drawn. Little independent knowledge or informed outside opinion is incorporated in estimative products. The preparation of an NIE therefore consists primarily of compiling judgments from previous products and debating points of disagreement. The Iraqi WMD estimate of October 2002 was characterized by all of these weaknesses and more. It was done under an unusually tight time constraint—three weeks—to meet a deadline for congressional debate. And it was the product of three separate drafters, each responsible for independent sections, drawing from a mixed bag of analytic product. Consistent application of analytic or evidentiary standards became next to impossible.
The fundamental question is whether national intelligence estimates add value to the existing body of analytic work. Historically, with few exceptions, NIEs have not carried great weight in policy deliberations, although customers have often used them to promote their own agendas. The time may have come to reassess the value of NIEs and the process used to produce them.
Oral communications have their own set of problems. While direct engagement with the policy community is essential for intelligence to have an impact, too close association with policy deliberations can be troublesome. In the case of Iraq, daily briefings and other contacts at the highest levels undoubtedly influenced policy in ways that went beyond the coordinated analysis contained in the written product. Close and continuing personal contact, unfettered by the formal caveats that usually accompany written production, probably imparted a greater sense of certainty to analytic conclusions than the facts would bear.
Some in the Intelligence Community and elsewhere hold the view that intense policymaker demands in the run-up to the war constituted inappropriate pressure on intelligence analysts. Although viewed in that context as a problem, serious pressure from policymakers almost always accompanies serious issues. The more relevant issue is how the Intelligence Community responded to the climate of policy-level pressure and expectations. Whether or not this climate contributed to the problem of inconsistent analytic performance, however, remains an open question.
The cases of WMD and Iraq's links to al-Qa'ida illustrate two different responses to policy pressure. In the case of al-Qa'ida, the constant stream of questions aimed at finding links between Saddam and the terrorist network caused analysts to take what they termed a "purposely aggressive approach" in conducting exhaustive and repetitive searches for such links. Despite the pressure, however, the Intelligence Community remained firm in its assessment that no operational or collaborative relationship existed. In the case of Iraq's possession of WMD, on the other hand, analytic judgments and policy views were in accord, so that the impact of pressure, if any, was more nuanced and may have been considered reinforcing. Although it is possible that in the absence of strong policy interest, analysts would have been more inclined to examine their underlying assumptions, it is unlikely that such examination would have changed judgments that were longstanding and firmly held.
Final Thoughts
The intelligence world is one of ambiguity, nuance, and complexity. Dealing with these elements is difficult in the world intelligence serves, where success or failure is the uncomplicated measure by which the Intelligence Community is judged. The controversies over Iraq intelligence can be expressed in the contrast between these two worlds: carefully crafted national intelligence that ultimately failed in its singular mission to accurately inform policy deliberations. This report, the result of over two years of review and consideration, reflects the same contrast. On the one hand, it recognizes the enormous efforts undertaken, the long hours and the intense debate. On the other hand, it describes failures and weaknesses that cannot be ignored or mitigated.
Failures of collection, uncritical analytical assumptions, and inadequate management reviews were the result of years of well-intentioned attempts to do the best job with the resources provided. Decisions were made and their potential risks weighed, but the outcome on important issues proved badly flawed. Recognition of these problems must bring a rapid response.
US intelligence is a robust, highly capable, and thoroughly motivated community that represents an invaluable asset to the nation and its citizens. It must reveal itself as sufficiently mature to both adapt to changing circumstances and counteract the evolutionary processes that have conspired to threaten its reputation and its ability to successfully perform its assigned mission. The alternative is unacceptable and unthinkable.
Richard J. Kerr served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence; Thomas H. Wolfe as Director of the Office of Near Eastern & South Asian Analysis; Rebecca L. Donegan as Deputy Inspector General; and Aris A. Pappas as Assistant National Intelligence Officer for General Purpose Forces.


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Source: Project: Rooftop (2008)
Type: Fan-made
If I were editor at DC Comics, I'd be contacting many of the artists who participated in this Project: Rooftop contest to see if they could do an digi-issue of Adventures of Superman (the series is out of continuity anyway) using their idea. It would certainly satisfy my hunger for good Elseworlds material.
Labels: Reign, Siskoid as Editor, Superman
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Here's a suggestion from Jane in NYC!
Ohhhhhh, give my love to EVERYONE at forest. I miss
you all. But I'm glad I'm here. Hey, I saw an Indian
restaurant on 3rd av which looks how the gold room
should look. Buy more fairy lights than you know what
to do with and string them all up over the ceiling
like a giant glowing web of goodness, then fill all
the cracks with a holy shitload of tinsel and weird
plastic gold things. Like lucky cats, you know, the
perenially knocking kind. Buy mexican tat too, some
catholic memorablia. Build some shrines (ooooooh!).
Perform some voodoo. From the outside everyone will
stop and stare at the glowing gorgeous goodness of
your aladdin treasure trove. And come inside and
drink chai. Please propose this to the good people.
If it was done in January, all the materials would be
SOOOOOO cheap. Post xxmas. here is how it looks:
http://www.plateoftheday.com/food_blog/ ... Inside.gif
amazing no?


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A defense from abuse order that Mariah Jai Anderson had gotten versus her ex-boyfriend didn't avoid him from shooting and eliminating her.
The 22-year-old mom of 3 was stalked, then shot and eliminated beyond her office in Union Township 3 1/2 years earlier. Carlos Montique Harper, 27, of 103 E. Sharp St., the daddy of her kids, was awaiting her with a weapon at her cars and truck in the Walmart parking area and fired 6 chance ats her through her guest window. After eliminating her, he left, and cops later surrounded a house in Beaver County, where he was reported to be concealing. The standoff ended when Harper shot himself in the head, ending his own life.
There have been a number of events of deaths from domestic violence in Lawrence County in the last few years, and the laws governing PFAs are not constantly going to safeguard the victims, according to Deborah Hennon, executive director of the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County.
And while PFAs may be an efficient substitute step of defense, they are not constantly going to completely secure somebody from a violent mate, according to local police and shelter authorities.
There are times that the laws governing PFAs are ineffective, because "you cannot enact laws morality," she stated. She compares domestic violence to having a speed limitation of 50 miles per hour, but chauffeurs decide to go 70.
" It's everyone's option to follow the law and you cannot require people to follow it," she stated.
Harper had informed Anderson consistently that he was going to go to prison one day for eliminating the mom of his kids, Hennon stated.
Anderson looked for help from the shelter, knowing this, she stated.
" She informed us point blank, 'he's going to eliminate me. He's going to achieve success and eliminate me," Hennon stated. "It wasn't unreasonable. It was prepared. He hunted her down, and she was doing whatever she had to do to be safe, but if someone does not have standard values, a PFA isn't really going to stop someone from stepping over that.".
The strength of a Protection from Abuse order is that it is an instant legal option to safeguard victims from attacks, stated District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa. "It offers a means that rapidly separates the celebrations so among them cannot harm the other up until they have an opportunity to obtain into court to have their rights acknowledged.".
A PFA works just if the celebrations want to comply with their terms, Lamancusa continued, but also, if the victim, on the other hand, connects to the attacker, it's not as reliable.
He kept in mind that some people submit numerous PFAs versus an offender, but when it comes times for court, they withdraw them and do not wish to move forward.
Cops in Lawrence County take PFAs seriously, he stated. "Each officer understands that the one time you do not react might be the one time where somebody loses their life.".
" This is a really major matter," Lamancusa continued. "These are a few of the most unstable kinds of cases in the criminal justice system, therefore much feeling is linked to the celebrations.".
He credited the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County for its operations in assisting the victims who declare PFAs.
The short-term PFA produces a little window of time to separate the celebrations, he stated. "The greatest disappointment is when people who have them do not follow through before a hearing.".
According to New Castle authorities chief Bobby Salem, PFAs offer the cops more power to jail somebody who is threatening and pestering a victim.
" It's another tool to safeguard them, but absolutely nothing safeguards them 100 percent," he stated. "It's a deterrent, and a lot of times it's reliable, but regrettably, in some cases, it's not. If somebody wishes to trigger damage to somebody else and they aren't worried about the effects, the PFA is not as reliable. Where there are PFAs, a lot of feelings are included.".
Whenever a custody fight or anything worrying kids is associated with a domestic scenario where there is a PFA, feelings run high and sensations are extremely strong, Salem stated. Some domestic disagreements are based upon custody, and some include other individuals remaining in a relationship.
" We are extremely happy that Judge (David) Acker is great at paying attention to their stories," Hennon stated of domestic violence victims. "He does not constantly follow the demands to eliminate the PFA if it's not for everybody's benefit.".
She mentioned, nevertheless, that while there are people for whom PFAs are rather effective, she sees them as being very hazardous for the victims, because when one is served, the upsetting celebration gets angrier.
" Sometimes the victims return because that's the much better alternative for security.".
The most threateningly deadly time for any victim is when the victim feels forced to leave, she stated. The culprit typically believes, "You're not going to leave me and I'm going to ensure it," Hennon stated, keeping in mind that child custody exchanges threaten times.
" We inform our moms to do their best to obtain somebody else to exchange the kids, and to do it in a really public place," she stated.
Hennon explained that a judge can purchase that weapons and weapons be gotten rid of from the ownership of a wrongdoer. They frequently will offer weapons to a relative who may quickly provide back. Legislation remains in the making to put those weapons in the custody of a third-party rather, she stated.
" That would be important to people's lives," she stated, including, "We have to find an excellent medium in between best and security.".
She warned that not everybody in a domestic abuse circumstance needs to choose a PFA, "but everyone needs to go and speak to a supporter about ways to be safe. And security is what this is everything about.".
Something everybody gets disappointed with is that there are many momentary PFAs, therefore, a couple of finals because the victims frequently withdraw them, she continued. Why?
" Number one, you do not fall in love in 5 minutes, so what makes people think you can leave a relationship in 5 minutes?" Hennon queried. "Why does our world think that it should simply be over? It's not humanly possible.
" Our world is established to think that if the victim cannot release, that they are at fault," she continued. "We're victim blaming in believing that way.".
PFAs are far from ideal, she concluded, "but it's one of the much better tools we have today.".
To tighten up the third-party weapon law would help, "but people make their own choices.".
The crisis shelter assists the domestic abuse victim by opting for them to the courts to look for PFAs, and it offers therapy and shelter services if required. The shelter supporters also help to prepare the victims for court.
" We're there for anything they need," Hennon stated.


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Post # 1
- Jane77677
- 7 years ago
- Wedding: February 2014
I missed ordering the printed outer envelop and ended up with plain white ones. I don't think I can even order them without a huge hassle.
I know. I'm the only one that cares or will notice, but boo!
I might stop in at Michael's an see if I can match it but I'd like to just be done!


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Silicone is being used as a material in wearables with computer sensors. The silicone is overmolded on to the computer sensors and then attaches to the skin like a band aid. Learn more here: http://nyti.ms/1wzdh0J
Now for some quick questions regarding wearables. Were you aware of the predominate usage of silicone in wearable applications? Silicone is great for overmolding applications, have you worked on any of these types of applications? If you have worked with silicone overmolding in the past, what advantages or disadvantages did you experience?


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1. Section 1-2 Word Charts - 10 charts for words chosen from your novel. You had to find 3-4 synonyms, 1-3 antonyms, write the word in a sentence, explain context and connections you can make...
2. Word Sorts - Section 1 included dystopian themed words that I gave you that you had to sort, plus 10 more that you had to find from your novel and add to the sort.
Word Sort for Section 2-4 must be updated. For each section you had to add. 10-15 words (with page numbers) that your group chose.
3. KidBlog Responses -
Section 1 making predictions was already marked. See private comment in Kidblog.
Section 2 Deep Thinking Questions was already marked.
Section 3 Visualizations and ONE of the Four Ways of Responding to Literature blog post is due tomorrow. Marked this weekend.
4. Edmodo Interschool Digital Bookclub - -week 1 video with questions about your book.
-week 2 images/pictures that relate to world events and your book and questions.
-week 3 dystopian music video that connects to the book and questions, and find your own song that connects to the book and explain the connection.
I will hand back the adjectives assignment booklet: 8 pictures with 3 adjectives to describe each picture, paragraph describing yourself, paragraph describing a cartoon character.
Thursday, hand in the:
1. Canadian Medal Count Assignment - athlete/team, sport and the medal they received.
2.Olympic story of the week assignment.
Those students who have assignments that are overdue from December and January, and have them recorded in their agenda or on their device, you need to get them in by this weekend. You can email me with the assignment at: firstname.lastname@example.com. If you forget what an assignment entailed or need a copy of an assignment, a majority of assignments can be found as google doc link on this blog.
Thank you!


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The US Agriculture Department has classified an additional 218 counties and a dozen states as disaster areas due to the nation's drought. That brings this year's total to nearly 1600 counties in Ohio and 31 other states. More than 90% of them because of the drought. A national monitor map by the University of Nebraska shows Ohio is in a moderate drought. Ohio State University agricultural economist Matt Roberts tells statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen recent rainfall cannot reverse much of the damaged crop yields.
MR: The entire state of Ohio is in some level of drought. 100 percent of it. And in general, from an agricultural standpoint, really the worst of it is in western Ohio and Northwestern Ohio.
BC: A lot of people have noticed it has rained in some parts of Ohio the last couple of weeks. Has that not helped to ease the situation?
MR: It has helped the situation. Now one of the things, because of the weather pattern--and I'm not a climatologist, I'm not a meteorologist so I don't fully understand all of this. The rains have been much spottier. We haven't seen that they've been spottier, they've been quick and they've been hard. They've not been slower, soaking types of rain really widespread. So really what we have had a few of those, but not what we like. So it has helped to keep the drought from getting worse in some cases to really improve it. The key thing to realize is we're pretty much past the point which rains like that are going to help the corn crop. The corn crop generally is what it is. On soy beans, these rains have helped yield prospects. We have seen a little bit of renewed optimism among farmers that if things break right we might approach yields that maybe are average but at least aren't embarrassing or horrible like what we expect to see in corn.
Drought affected farmers and ranchers are available for federal aid including emergency loans. The USDA also says crop insurance companies have agreed to provide farmers a penalty-free grace period on insurance premiums in 2012.


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The European Night of Museums gave us a real surprise... so colorful and precious! We had some museums in mind and finally we chose the Musee des Cristaux Chamonix Mont Blanc. What an inspired choice! We enjoyed a museum full of gems that reflect the beauty of Dauphine region and Mont Blanc Massif.
Crystal hunting began in the Middle Ages when the inhabitants were selling these gorgeous gems to traders from Geneva and Milan. What is surprising is that the tradition is still alive, here in Chamonix, but only for private collections.
Almost all minerals found in the Mont Blanc massif are quartz, with that slightly gray tint, then the rare flourite having vivid colors from red to powdered pink and purple or some electric shades of turquoise and bleu-verte. Add to these other exceptional collections of minerals, over 500 specimens from Mont Blanc and around the world ( some of the mineral specimens are well-known worldwide). In the background of each crystal it is mentioned its name and origin and the staff will explain in detail (on request) about everything that you might be interested: how were formed, where they come from and so on.
If you are passionate about gemstones, color and texture, no doubt that this small museum worth your attention. Inside the museum, at the entrance you'll find lots of free informative brochures or books that you can buy.
Entry prices: Adults - €5.90 ; Under 18 year olds - Free; Groups of schoolchildren - €2; Groups of adults - €4.50. Open daily.


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Welcome to Natural Health Therapist Offficial Website
Shahnaaz Osman has been practising Cranio Sacral Therapy, Accupressure, Iridology and DNAnalysis and has a Diploma in Homeopathy from the British Institute of Homeopathy.
She also particated in an Outreach Programme at The Alpha School for Autistic Learners in Woodstock treating/enriching them with cranio-sacral therapy. Shahnaaz has also been a Lecturer at University of Western Cape to Final Year Naturopathic Doctors.
Feel free to browse the website for information relating to Iridology, Reflexology, Accupressure, DNAnalysis, Homeopathy and Cranial Sacral Therapy.


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Modes Of Training
Key Features
4/8 Days Live Online Big Data Hadoop Training. No Replays, Speak to Trainer Real-Time and Get Your Doubts Clarified.
24 PMI PDUs and Course Completion Certificate from Sprintzeal (REP ID - 4719)
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Get 1 Year E-learning Access with High-Quality Audio-Video Lectures of Big Data Hadoop training.
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The Curriculum for Big Data Hadoop training is Designed to Meet Industry Standards
Soft Copy of Big Data Hadoop Training Material is Provided
Get 1 Year E-learning Access for Big Data Hadoop with High-Quality Audio-Video Lectures
1000+ Mock Exam Prep Questions to Help You Pass the Big Data Hadoop Final Exam
Get Certified as a Big Data Hadoop Expert
Training Syllabus Covers - Hadoop Architecture, HDFS, YARN, MapReduce, Apache Hive, NoSQL, Spark SQL and many more
Best Price Guaranteed in the Training Industry. Trained Over 26000+ Delegates Globally
Upcoming Batches
Muswellbrook (change city)
|Live Online Training
|Traditional Classroom
Corporate Training Solution
Looking for a personalized Corporate Training for a group
at your preferred location?
What is the scope of Big Data Hadoop? How is the Big Data job market?
Data volumes will continue to increase and with such an exponential increase in usage of data analytics, the Global Big Data Market will grow with an anticipated CAGR of 18.68% during the forecast period & will reach revenue of $183.62 billion by 2027.
Big Data Hadoop is among the major big data technologies and has a vast scope in the future.
The average salary for Big Data Hadoop Analysts ranges from $68,465 to $138,808
Our Big Data Analytics course in Muswellbrook helps a professional manage large chunks of data efficiently. Processing and handling data at high speed has become a global necessity and demand for professionals who can do the job efficiently is high. This Big Data analytics course will familiarize you with all the tools essential for data handling. Curated by Hadoop experts, this Big Data analytics course covers everything you need to gain expertise in this field. You will learn concepts like data visualization, regression analysis, clustering and many more.
The objective of Big Data Analytics certification is to offer skills, and knowledge to understand technology for storing, analyzing and handling large amounts of data efficiently.
Toll Free
+61 (0)240398333
Mail Your Queries


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Learning with Autism Secondary School Award
The Learning with Autism Programme is a whole school approach to improving awareness and understanding of the needs of autistic pupils. You can apply for your school award by completing the form below. Please ensure that;
- all teaching and learning support staff have completed the certification scheme
- all other support staff (including admin staff, catering and governors) have completed the 'ASD Aware' scheme
- the majority of Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils must have undertaken the Sgilti lesson and signed the Autism Aware Charter
- practice has changed in the school
We are able to check the completion rates for your setting. If these are adequate, we will issue your certificate and enter your setting onto our database.
To see which schools have completed the Learning with Autism programme, click HERE.
Thank you for completing Aware Schools application form.
Your application is currently being processed, once completed you will receive your Aware Schools certificate.


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This fabulous unit is sure to stand out. This sophisticated and traditional styled unit provides plenty of storage space, along with soft close hinges. This unit will make your bathroom the envy of others! Not only that but it is coated with 5 layers of ultra-violet established primer to help prevent fading.
Need Peace of Mind? This product comes supplied with a 10 Year Manufacturer's Guarantee
*Please Note: Images are for illustration purposes only
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We aim to dispatch your order within 5 working days. From time to time products may be out of stock and it may be impossible to dispatch within 5 days, if this is the case we will inform you by email and give you the option to wait on the arrival of new stock, or we will offer you an alternative item. If you require a certain item to be dispatched sooner, please contact us as in many cases items can be dispatched sooner. For more delivery information click here
In the unlikely event that you are unhappy with the product that has been delivered to you, you have the option to return the product to us within 7 days and we will refund your money in full. For full details on our returns policy click here


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Steve and Dorothy, Canada Oct 2015 – Gourmet Provence Tour
You were so kind and we cannot thank you enough for hosting us on our wonderful trip to Provence. We are still talking to our family and friends about our wonderful vacation in Provence.
Pam from Calgary, Canada. – Paris Bistro Tour – Jan. 2014
Paris in mid January has the potential to be cold, dreary and grey, but thanks to Yvan and Francetaste, it was a warm and inviting place to be. Yvan took great care of my cousin and I, touring us through patisseries, bakeries, chocolateries and of course, wine shops. We got to go behind-the scenes to see how croissants are made and participated in a cooking class. Yvan selected restaurants that offered ambiance but were not ostentatious and the food was exceptional. We ate waaayyy too much but enjoyed every morsel. An excellent way to get a true "taste" of Paris.
Cheryl – Oregon, U.S.A. – Paris Bistro Tour – Jan. 2014
My cousin and I shared an amazing 4 days in Paris. Our time was limited, so Yvan masterfully edited the days just for us. Our days with Yvan were special and perfect in every way. He took care of everything – beyond expectation, no expense spared. Each experience was well planned and chosen to delight and educate. We shared wonderful meals at both trendy and traditional bistrot . An entire evening with the proprietor of a wine shop specializing in the wines of Bourgogne. A morning with the owner/manager of an outstanding neighborhood patisserie meeting the bakers and seeing what they do so well. An incredible cheese shop specializing in raw milk cheeses. Plus more tours, markets, and a cooking class.
Best of all, were the fabulous people we met. Each and every one so passionate and engaged in their specialty. They happily shared their knowledge and stories. I am so grateful for these one of a kind experiences. My husband and I look forward to engaging Yvan for other tours in the years ahead.
Mark, Barbra, Anti & Eva – Canada, Finland – 2013 – Gourmet Provence Tour
Provence Tour 1: Heart and Stomach of La Provence – an unforgettable experience!
You gave an opportunity for Eva and Antti from Finland and for us, Barbra and Mark from Canada, to join each other for a week of culture and food that we all enjoy as enriching experiences. Our standards have always been very high in this regard and would one know it, you surpassed them. Your tour was magnificently constructed to give us the flavor of local history, culture and behaviors while pampering us with excellent local wines and cuisine, sprinkled with dishes that rate the best in our taste experiences ever. The heart and stomach of La Provence.
Your friendly way of taking us through it all was beyond words, and on top of it all, you placed us under the care of Sylviane and Claude of Le Moulin Vieux, who served us great breakfasts and more insights to the life in La Provence – Sylviane even cooked us a traditional Ratatouille the night before we left to return to our homes. You need to be very proud of achieving this rare balance of friendliness, people, culture and food into a single tour. Congratulations! Mark Toivanen.
Hilda-Anne and Bill, Canada. May 2013. Gourmet Provence Tour
These are our thoughts of the 5 days that we spend with Yvan Mas during our gastronomic tour of Provence. The tour was well planned and well executed; all of our expectations were fulfilled. We felt that there was good attention to detail, good time appreciation for each activity, and effective time management. Yvan was punctual and conducted the tour in a low key, unhurried, attentive, unimposing, unpretentious, warm and friendly manner; just what we were looking for. Yvan easily adapted the tour to respond to our modest requests. The choice of B&B for our stay was impeccable; as we felt very much like family or close friends, and from arrival to departure, we could not have been made to feel more welcome. We were very pleased with the choice of restaurants, as there was good variety, excellent meals, regional specialties, and without exception – warm/friendly/welcoming service and atmosphere. All restaurants spoke some English, which was important for my wife. We found the wine touring and tasting experiences to be most enjoyable, as this catered to our particular needs and desires, and provided us with some new and exciting offerings, with the added benefit of not having to be concerned with driving after enjoying a bit of wine. The time spend with the oenologist was educational, friendly, and very enjoyable. Sightseeing hit all of the high points and made us feel that we had really seen the very best of Provence, at a comfortable and unhurried pace without being draggy. We both remarked several times (to each other) that we would not have found these gems on our own without exhaustive research, and perhaps not even then. Avignon, Cassis, Les Baux de Provence, as well as other treasures both on and off the beaten path, were worth every minute of the visit. Whether the interest was historical, architectural, oenological, cultural, gastronomic, artistic, regional tourism, or something else, Yvan seemed to be able to provide insightful information and useful facts, without going overboard. There were tasteful and eclectic shops, exciting and sumptuous regional delicacies, amazing sites, a good mix of fine and casual dining, local insights, and last but certainly not least, some excellent wines. There seemed to be something to please a wide variety of discerning interests. All in all, we enjoyed the very best of Provence, making it tempting to return for another vacation. Yvan's unobtrusive but attentive style/manner was instrumental in making this "our" cherished visit or experience in Provence rather than having "participated" in a tour of Provence.
Review from Joanne. L.A. – Gourmet Provence Tour
This was our second trip with Yvan and, as before, we had a totally marvelous time. Yvan and his wife, plan these tours with much due diligence. There is simply nothing to do but relax and enjoy. You are not only well taken care of by Yvan but the experiences he prepares for you are often "off-the-beaten"path. We will never forget our picnic in the shadow of Cezanne's Mt. Sainte Victoire. Not only was the food totally and utterly amazing — country pates and breads, fresh fruit, unreal cheese, pastries and wine — and the ambience was priceless.
The part of Provence we explored is not the part of Provence with which I am familiar, having spent many days closer to the Cote d'Azur. The landscape was quite lovely and remarkable. Many pinch yourself moments. The owners of the hotel where we stayed, Chef Pierre and his wife, Annie, were charming hosts. Their old manse is full of character. Lovely people. We dined at fabulous restaurants. At least one, maybe two, had Michelin stars. Chef Pierre cooked for us one evening — and we cooked lunch with him one day and then sat outdoors and enjoyed it — for several hours.
Yvan always delivers you for your reservations and then discretely disappears — then magically appears — in time to drive you home. He prepays for everything. You just go in and order from the menu. Yuki often picks the wines. She is a oenologist.
Yvan is an elegant, thoughtful and gracious young man. He thinks ahead and your happiness is his. The group of women with whom I travel are all former executives from an international management consulting firm. We are all hard to please and all have hundreds of thousands of miles under our belts. None of us…and I mean not one of us — have anything but positive things to say about Yvan. We are planning to join him next May in the Priorat wine region of Spain following several days on our own at the festival of the patios in Cordova. We can't wait. (And we're bugging him to take us to Tuscany, too…)
Cheri Munro, Franklin, TN – Gourmet Provence Tour
I have had many people ask me about my trip.. and I can only answer that it was fabulous beyond anything I ever expected! And that of course is attributable to you. I have given many people your website and highly encouraged that they contact you. Kari, Pippa and I had so much fun in Provence … I really hated to leave. You gave me a whole new viewpoint on the importance of simple, elegant and fresh food.. and of course the wine. Thank you.
Jane Deland, New York – Gourmet Provence Tour
I want to thank you again for our unforgettable days in Provence. Your insider's knowledge gave us five days packed with sights, tastes and experiences we never could have discovered or arranged on our own. Plus you were an absolute delight to be with– truly charming guides and hosts. I never want to plan my own trip again. Tell me where you're going next and I'll be there!
Peggy Calamaro, Beverly Hills – Gourmet Provence Tour
My husband and i have travelled quite a bit and experienced wonderful things but this trip was the best.
Firstly, Yvan coddled us. We had no worries or responsiblities. It was pure vacation. We stayed in the most beautiful part of france in the most darling of small
hotels (i think it is called a gitte). Wonderful hosts who made us feel so welcomed and fed us fabulously. Each day was a new adventure. We really saw provence. Yvan planned each day with wonderful surprises. We not only had exquisite dining but we had wine tasting and visted wineries, cooking lessons, an afternoon in Cassis with a boat trip and a picnic where Cezzane painted. Each of our lunches and dinners Yvan chose and also Yuki selected our wines. Perfect. I have never had a vacation like that. It was
a trip of a lifetime. I will never forget it.


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#5 2016-05-05 22:36
Fourth game in this series and the best so far. The freestyle drawing mode makes this much more of a challenge.
#4 2014-03-27 13:12
very much in the way of the rest of the series almost a new concept in the drawing of shapes freehand allows for freedom of thought and frustration when you manage to either make the drawing too big or too small.
3/5 for the same reasons given by DM's choice
#3 2012-08-14 20:20
ok puzzle otherwise but suits better for touchscreens not mousedrawing.
nice graphics but time to think new idea.
#2 2012-08-14 19:19
A good, solid continuation of the series with a change in gameplay to help keep it fresh. The game works well with more thought required on a few levels than if the blocks/shapes had been made for you. Overall 3/5
-1 #1 2012-08-14 16:18
This series is almost a classic among puzzle games, with this installment taking an all new approach in that you may draw the required shapes yourself.
I already played it through elsewhere and I can say: That's not as easy as it sounds!
In fact, the game really forces you to think
out of the box!
Some levels, however, feel a little bit "mini-gamish", which earns a slight deduction from me. But 4/5 stars are easily in for it.


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Browse: Home / danger
'Penser avec les mains' ('Thinking with Your Hands') by Denis de Rougemont, 1936
Denis de Rougemont (1936): "It is time that thought becomes what it truly is: dangerous for the thinker and able to transform reality. "Where I create is where I am true" Rilke. […] Some think, other acts. But man's true condition is to think with his hands."
• By Philippe Theophanidis on January 30, 2013 ― Published in Art, Communication | Tagged: action, commitment, community, critic, danger, Denis de Rougemont, engagé, Godard, hand, intellectual, Politic, risk, séparation, thinker, tought, we


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Jumbo Loans
How to Qualify for a Jumbo Mortgage Loan?
A "Jumbo Loan" is a non-conforming loan that exceeds the conforming loan limit of $510,400 set by the GSEs Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC).
Usually borrowers inquire about prequalifying for jumbo financing in upscale neighborhoods and high cost counties throughout the U.S. typically found in California, Colorado, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, DC metro, beachfront areas of Florida, and parts of Texas. Many of California's large cities such as Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco Bay area allow higher conforming loan limits up to $765,600 for a home.
Are You Buying A Home That Requires A Jumbo Loan?
If you're searching for a home priced over $510,400 and don't want a starter home, and you know your income qualifies or will increase in the near future, a jumbo loan might very well be the right choice for you. Moreover, your down payment can still be as low as 3.5% in certain areas using an FHA jumbo.
What To Expect From Lenders
Because a larger amount of money is secured by a single property, most lenders consider jumbo loans to be a riskier deal than conventional loans.
*** Find out you Qualify for a 10-percent down jumbo loan up to $1.5 million? ***
For example, a $1.5 million dollar loan on a $2 million dollar property versus a few conforming loans of $510,400 on three properties.
With the increased risk, the guidelines become stricter to qualify such as a larger down payment, more liquid assets, reliability of income and so on.
Furthermore, while jumbo lender "A" may require 25% down, jumbo lender "B" may only ask the borrower to put just 10% down because you are a medical doctor or lawyer just starting in the field and your income is highly likely to increase substantially over the years. In this scenario, lender "B" is offering a portfolio product to borrowers in specific geographic areas.
Houses in major West coast cities
Homeowners and buyers living in the Los Angeles metro, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and other major cities have neighborhoods which require jumbo financing when conforming limits or FHA loans are not sufficient.
Purchase or Refinance Jumbo Loan Program Options.
- 30 or 15 Year Fixed-Rate
- 10 Year Fixed Rate (30 Year Amortization)
- 7 Year Fixed ARMs
- 5 Year Fixed ARMs
- 3 Year Fixed ARMs
Property Types
- Primary Residence
- Second Homes
- 2 to 4 units
- Vacation Property (single family residence)
- Townhome, Condominium


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Step away from the $1000 dress.
Under-$40 impulse buys that are surprisingly stylish.
Painless, we swear.
Um, one of everything, thanks.
Cheap and chic.
Easy advice from an expert.
A complete guide to help you choose which one is right for you.
10 tips from women working in finance.
Cut costs on travel, clothes, gifts, food, during the holidays.
These gals are all about saving money and looking stylish.


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Epo may be out in the open but now a new doping controversy is brewing.
Pfc — Artificial blood — can carry 50 times more oxygen than real blood
and It's undetectable. but for cyclists, it may be lethal.
story: ian austen.
The post-EPO era in cycling began late in spring last year, on a back
road in the Swiss canton of Ticino, when Mauro Gianetti slipped out of the
back of the bunch in the Tour of Romandie and waved for the race
ambulance. Gianetti was to spend the next fortnight fighting for his life
in intensive care in hospital in Lausanne.
This was the event that brought perfluoro-carbon (PFC) to the notice of
the cycling authorities. Gianetti is currently suing a Swiss doctor who
treated him in the Lausanne hospital to which he was taken, over
allegations that the drug was responsible for his illness. Gianetti
himself blames a combination of stomach trouble and dehydration.
Whatever the truth of those particular allegations, the fact is that
only a few days later, at the start of the Giro d'Italia in Nice, the
Union Cycliste Internationale issued a letter to all the teams taking part
warning them of the dangers of using PFC.
The Gianetti controversy was largely forgotten for the next couple of
months, only to resurface in the Tour de France. It was then that the
French press began talking to the men who had treated the Swiss rider –
and they remained adamant, despite Gianetti's denials, that his illness
was due to the use of the new drug.
Others maintained that Johan Museeuw's illness after his crash in
Paris-Roubaix last year was due to use of PFC. The 1996 world champion was
adamant in his denial.
So no-one knows for sure whether PFC is being used by professional
cyclists. There was, though, the same kind of uncertainty with EPO until
last July: that episode proved once again that in the fight against drugs
in sport, the cheats are always one step ahead of the authorities.
Just as the 1998 Tour de France doping scandal is finally forcing the
Artificial blood is just one example of a medicine that has been abused


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Okay, this is a totally shameless and selfish plea for help from my buds out there. I need some loving. I just need someone to tell me that I am outta-this-world-rock-em-sock-em-fan-fucking-TASTIC. I need to hear that I am a kick-ass girl, all the way. I need a serious ego-stroking, 'cause I've had a SHIT week and an even SHITTIER night and I am in DIRE need of someone to tell me that I stone-cold ROCK.
Yes, I know that it's a selfish and fairly snotty thing to ask of you people. But could you humor me? Please? Just this once? Could someone out there tell me one thing, just one little thing that you like about me? Because I'm telling you, I need it, man. I really need it.