Article & Journal Resources

by: Valerie Dansereau


Journaling is a great way to deal with chronic stress. It is one of the most powerful tools for self growth and can help you release negative emotions, clear confusion and sort out puzzling or traumatic events.

The best way to begin is to set a time to write and put down whatever thoughts and feelings pop into your head. Your journal can be used to reflect on the events currently affecting you that are particularly traumatic or overwhelming. It can also be used to process other things, such as dreams, childhood events, and long and short term goals.

Research has shown that writing not only about your feelings but also your thoughts about your feelings is more helpful than just venting your feelings. In other words, write from both an emotional and an intellectual angle,

Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. The purpose of what you’re doing is to relieve stress and release pent up emotions, not to cause yourself more stress by censoring your own writing. Keep what you’ve written private. If you think privacy is an issue, keep it under lock and key. If you’re journaling on a computer, password protect your file.

A journal can be written on lined or plain paper, in a special bound book or a plain spiral notebook, or you can use a computer. The important thing is to make a commitment to write for 10-20 minutes each day if you can. Schedule a time to write, whether it’s first thing in the morning or last thing before you go to bed, preferably a time when you’re free from interruptions. Experiment with writing at different times of day and in different locations.

Don’t think of journaling as a chore. If you miss several days of writing, simply pick up and write again when you can. Chances are the more you practice journaling, the more you will look forward to it. Your journal can be thought of as a friend who is always willing to listen. In a journal you have the freedom to express deep emotions that you may not be able to share with anyone. No one will be affected by what you write.

If you review what you’ve written over time, you’ll be able to see your own growth. If you’re processing a traumatic event, you’ll be amazed to see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve healed.

Journaling is a lot less expensive than most other methods of stress relief. It’s a great tool for self-knowledge and emotional healing. Like other healthy habits, you will improve with practice, and the benefits you attain from journaling will build the more you work on this life-changing habit.

by: Sarah Stephens


Turquoise is a semi-precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. It is most often found in blue and turquoise hues, and is widely recognized as the December birthstone as well as the 11th anniversary gemstone. But beyond its modern-day uses and associations, turquoise holds a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that adds nostalgic value to its already strong aesthetic worth. Read on for more information that will help you fall in love with your turquoise jewelry – or inspire you to buy some today!

Turquoise can range from grey to green to blue and yellows, often veined by the brown matrix with varying textures, and is only found in dry, barren regions. As a far back as 6000 years ago, this stone is one of the oldest to be used by man, for both jewelry and ornamental purposes. Around 5500 BC, the ancient Egyptians found turquoise in the Sinai Peninsula. Around 1900, Queen Zer’s tomb was unearthed and she was found wearing a turquoise and gold bracelet around her wrist.

Turquoise is said to bring luck and fortune to the wearer, and a feeling of calmness with its cool color tones, in addition to wisdom, and is often popular in Southwest, Native American, and Egyptian jewelry designs.

Turquoise gemstones look best as parts of formal evening jewelry when paired with black onyx, pearls or sterling silver. More casual combinations include softer contrasts with black pearls, carnelian and ruby. To see a selection of handmade artisan jewelry featuring turquoise, visit www.dashaboutique.com/shopbygemstone.Turquoise is typically considered a sophisticated gemstone that works well with any outfit. In earrings, citrine works well to enhance the luster of hazel eyes.

Chinese Turquoise comes in both green and blue colors, with many subtle color variations throughout the stone, and has spider web (matrix) veining. There are four to five regions in China where they are mined. The Ma'ashan turquoise mine is located near Shanghai, in addition to the Hubei Province, just to name a few.

As far back as approximately 1700 BC, Turquoise was used in China mainly for ornamental carvings and other artistic purposes. In Beijing, at the Academy of Social Sciences, there is a bronze and turquoise plaque on display which is thought to be from that era.

Chinese turquoise is almost always stabilized, and will not be as likely to be affected by lotions or perfumes when it is worn, protecting the color of the turquoise from outside elements.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty Mountain in Globe, Arizona, which is one of the largest mines as to date. Sleeping beauty comes in many hues of light to dark blue. Turquoise is mainly found in the US, Australia, Chile, Mexico, and historically, Iran.

Mohs' Hardness score is based on a 10 point scale where 10 is the most resistant, like a diamond, and 1 is easily scratched, such as Talc. Turquoise gets a score of 5-6, meaning that it is fairly scratch resistant and therefore suitable as a component of everyday jewelry. Turquoise gemstones should be regularly cleaned by a professional or with a soft rag and mild soap and water. Other methods, including ultra-sonic clenares, solvents and harsh chemicals should be avoided when cleaning your handcrafted jewelry as exposure to these elements can damage semi-precious and precious gemstones and pearls.

Learn more about all semi-precious gemstones, including amethyst, apatite, black onyx, blue topaz, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, coral, garnet, white topaz, crystal, diamond, emerald, iolite, jade, Labradorite, moonstone, pearl, peridot, prehnite, rose quarz, ruby, sapphire, smokey topaz, tanzanite, tourmaline and tourquoise when you check out this gemstone chart: www.dashaboutique.com/gemstone chart.html.

by: Gary Nugent


Tired of spending, hours, days, weeks or months building a website, only to see a small return for it? Yeah, maybe you do it because you love your subject and want to share it with others. But wouldn't it be nice if you made some money from it, even if only to cover hosting fees?

Building a quality website can take a huge amount of time and many people are frustrated at the low levels of money they earn from Adsense ads placed on their pages. That can be down to something as simple as the placement of those ads on the page.

But there is another approach...

Instead of putting all your time into one website, why not put a small amount of time into many websites and start building a Virtual Real Estate Empire. Now each website might only earn between $0.10 and $0.50 per day, but if you had 10 websites, you'd be getting $1 - $5 per day. With a 100 sites, you'd get $10 - $50 per day.

You see, Adsense is a numbers game...

The more websites you have, the more meney you make. All those little amounts combine into one big monthly check. But how do you go about building multiple sites? Well, one thing you can do is buy those Adsense website templates you see all over the internet. Or you can go one stage further and buy complete website packages in a box, but there are problems with these:

- Most look very cheap

- You have to modify them to suit your content and tailor them to your affiliate promotions

- If any content is provided, it's static, unchanging, and the search engine spiders, along with visitors will get bored looking at it

- And, most importantly, 100s if not 1,000s of others are using exactly the same templates and content

That hardly leads to a dynamic, unique website. Google hates duplicate content and you don't stand a chance of being remotely unique in a sea of sameness unless you start individualising your sites. And, guess what? You're back to square one, putting a lot of time into each site to make it different.

But there is a solution...

What if you knew there was a piece of software that would create dynamic, unique websites, optimized for Adsense, customizable as you need with options for adding other affiliate revenue streams, and you could create such a website with the click of a button?...

by: Justin Burch


Resting only a few miles apart in calm Caribbean waters, St. Kitts and Nevis have always shared an intimate relationship. Today, that relationship finds St. Kitts as one of the Caribbean’s premier travel destinations, while the smaller island of Nevis offers plenty of great activities for day tripping tourists. Though St. Kitts remains a superior resort destination with more tourist opportunities, the islands have much in common. For starters, both islands feature dormant volcanoes at their center, each surrounded by lush rainforests with miles of hiking trails. Furthermore, as St. Kitts and Nevis represent former colonial outposts with economies once dominated by successful sugar plantations, both islands possess an incredible array of historic architecture. Lastly, as most visitors to the Caribbean take great interest in the beaches and the recreation opportunities provided by the Caribbean Sea, tourists will find plenty of warm, clear water and powdery sand wherever they travel.

Rising over 3,200 feet above the Caribbean Sea, Nevis Peak dominates the landscape of St. Kitts’ sister island. Similar to Mt. Liamuiga at the center of St. Kitts, Nevis Peak is surrounded by lush trail-filled rainforests and diverse plant and animal life. As a result, hiking and biking in the shadow of Nevis’ dormant volcano are two of the most popular activities for day-tripping tourists. With tours available for every age and skill level, visitors can spend a few hours experiencing the unspoiled beauty of Nevis and learning about her vibrant Caribbean ecosystem.

Scuba divers and snorkelers will also want to spend an afternoon on Nevis, enjoying pristine coral reefs and ship wrecks. As only 2 miles of Caribbean waters separate St. Kitts and Nevis, many of the best diving tours visit the most popular sites surrounding both islands. Many of the other water sports popular on St. Kitts can also be found on Nevis. A number of tour operators cater to deep sea fishermen and wind surfing enthusiasts, with many offering lessons for those new to the adventurous pursuits. After spending some time in the water, many day-trippers spend their afternoons relaxing on Pinneys Beach – one of the Caribbean’s most beloved stretches of sand.

If you would rather spend your day on land experiencing Caribbean history, there are plenty of sites worth visiting on Nevis. Much like the historic city of Basseterre on St. Kitts, much of the activity on Nevis revolves around the island’s colonial capital – Charlestown. Walking the streets of this quiet city, you will see charming remnants of the island’s history around every corner – from Anglican churches and the Caribbean’s first hotel to elegant plantation homes and the childhood residence of an American founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Elsewhere on the island, you can spot the remains of the once-bustling sugar industry in the form of 18th century plantations, windmills and mansions.

As St. Kitts sister island is close enough to be visible from the beach, a short ferry ride is all that is required to access the small island of Nevis. For many visitors, the 45-minute ferry ride itself is a memorable activity, as the trip provides exceptional views of both islands and the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Furthermore, as the ferries operate daily from the early morning until the evening hours, it is easy to spend the afternoon on Nevis and return to St. Kitts for the superior dining and nightlife.

Additionally, many tour companies operate on both islands, making it possible to find activities on Nevis through your resort on St. Kitts.

When in St. Kitts, try to make the short voyage across the Caribbean to Nevis. Though St. Kitts may feature superior resorts and recreation opportunities, it is hard to deny the charm of St. Kitts’ little sister.

by: Peter Ris


SEO forms a very important part of the success of a website. After all you want as much visitors as possible to your site in order to increase your sales. Like the law of supply and demand, once professionally done SEO is growing in importance, the price asked by most companies for a good SEO job will increase too. So what to do if you are running a small home based business and you are faced with SEO offers of up to $4000 for small job? Perhaps even the job isn’t that costly at all but the SEO specialist’s time is.Off course he wants his time to yield as much for him as possible. Let me tell you, affordable SEO is still available. What many experts won’t tell you is that, more often than not, they have very sophisticated software at their disposal. Software like that does lot of the web site analysis to be done before the SEO can be implemented which saves a lot of time. The next point of concern is that imagine you would be able to find a relatively cheap SEO? Would you trust it? Doesn’t cheap mean that it is no good? Or perhaps the “cheap” agency is run by scam artists? No doubt this is still true is many cases. Either there are companies that charge (criminal) amounts of money for a good SEO job at one hand and there are the “cheap” scam artists at the other. However it is my belief if you do a good search on the web you will still find some honest guys that are willing to work for you at an honest price and really give you a good return on your money.

How much work there is involved? First the SEO analyst will have to “scan” your website as to what is there and what is still missing SEO wise. Has the web site been submitted at all for the search engines? Have the right keywords been filled out at the various tags? Is the text or tile of the site search engine friendly? SEO experts use sophisticated software that “scan” all those details. After that they will advise you about how to get a better content,will supply you with a list of good keywords, will advise you how to restructure your site if necessary; all imperative actions to optimize the site for search engines and Page rank.

How much time will a typical SEO cost? Well the depends the size of the project off course but mind that SEO is a marathon and not a sprint. SEO is a process rather than an action. If your site’s current page rank is zero,a good SEO job could get it to 3 in 2 months and to 5 in 4/6 months, also depending on the content of the site.Most of the work for the SEO expert comes in the beginning of the job. After all the work on the site, tags etc is done than the site might need some fine tuning or re submission to the search engines a few times. Therefor usually most agencies work with a maintenance agreement of up to 6 months.

Of course if I talk about cheap or affordable SEO I don’t mean cheap in a sense of $100 a project but, depending a bit on the work involved off course,I would say about 40%/50% off the general market rates. That’s what I call affordable and accessible to most home business owners.

Are you interested in having some affordable SEO done on your website? Please contact us(CapitalOneEquity SeoDesigners) and we are most happy to provide you with a free analysis of your site and make you a very fair offer. For contact details please see my profile.

by: Kevin Eikenberry


Toby was a young and ambitious salesperson. Part of his training had been to spend time with Janice, a veteran and very successful salesperson at the firm. As Toby went on sales calls with Janice he took notes, and one of the things he marveled at was Janice’s ability to ask great questions. In fact he had been collecting and recording her questions and had begun using the same questions himself.

Toby was disappointed though, as it seemed that the questions that worked so well for Janice didn’t seem to have the same result for him. He was pretty confident his timing was right – he wasn’t asking a particular question at an inappropriate time ... so he was confused.

He continued to try and practice for several weeks. Then at the annual sales conference, he decided to see if he could get some additional coaching from Janice. He asked her to have breakfast with him on the second morning the conference. Janice was pleased and quickly said yes; she appreciated Toby and thought he had a very bright future.

After they had placed their orders, Toby described his dilemma; he wanted to know Janice’s secret for asking questions so successfully. He explained that he felt it wasn’t the words themselves – in fact he proved it by showing her over two pages of handwritten questions he had heard her use successfully.

Janice listed intently and smiled. When Toby was finished, she, not surprisingly, asked a couple of clarifying questions to make sure she understood his situation. Toby smiled as he noticed her naturally using great questions yet again.

After their food had arrived, Janice sat quietly eating for a couple of minutes, clearly pondering Toby’s queries. As she finished her toast, she said, “I think there are five things that make for great questions beyond the words themselves, Toby. I’ve certainly thought about each of these things in the past, but perhaps never as a cohesive set. That’s why I took a couple of minutes to collect my thoughts.”

Toby smiled to assure her that he didn’t mind. Then he slid his plate away so he could take notes.

When Toby returned to his room after the full day of Conference activities, he reviewed his notes on Janice’s five keys. Here is his summary of those ideas.

Before You Ask The Question

Toby compiled these ideas as an acrostic so he wouldn’t forget – remember to put your questions on ICE . . .

I ntent – The intent of your question is as important as anything. This intent will guide the overall success with your question. In fact, if your intent is genuine, pure and sincere, it will allow even the clumsiest question to be successful. Regardless of the situation, consider why you are asking a particular question. If the question is meant to gain knowledge, help the other person, allow them to express themselves or in some other way be a step in serving them, your question will be more powerful.

C uriosity – When we are genuinely curious about the answer to our question we will ask better questions. Sometimes people ask a question in a perfunctory way, or they ask even though they already assume they know the answer. When we ask our questions from genuine curiosity, they will be more successful and effective.

E xpectancy – Ask questions expecting to get an answer, and expecting to get a valuable answer! When we ask our questions with a positive expectancy, we will ask much better questions.

After The Question is Asked

Toby realized that the other two ideas on his list come after the question has been asked. Janice’s advice for this critical time was:

Care About the Answer – While it may seem obvious, in reflecting on this point, he realized that when you have the ICE components before your question, you are in a much better position to truly care about the answer you receive. Janice reminded him that the question itself is only a vehicle to get to the answer – and so truly caring about the answer is a huge key to successful questions.

Listen – The last item on Toby’s list was something he knew Janice did well. Janice truly listened to the responses to her questions. Of course Toby knew that listening was important – everyone does, right – but as he reviewed the other four keys he realized that they all led up to and supported successful listening.

As Toby reviewed some of his recent sales calls he realized that his intense focus on asking the right question had diverted him from these five ideas and that these considerations before and after the question itself would be the key to greater success.

These keys aren’t just for Toby – but for everyone, in any interaction where you ask questions. Use these keys and you will unlock even greater power in your questions.


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Potential Pointer: Great questions are about more than the questions themselves. Your purpose for asking and your willingness to listen carefully are as important to the value of the question as the words themselves.

by: Graciella Chairman


Church furniture is available in different styles and shapes and one of the salient points is that you can even get them for a competitive price. There was a time when furniture for a church was simple and had almost no design at all. But today, things have changed and church furnishings like altars, pulpits, podiums, lecterns, Prie Dieu kneelers, communion tables and even confessional screens are available in variety of styles and finishing.

Depending on your requirement and budget, you can look for new as well as used church furniture for decoration of fellowship halls and sanctuaries. You can even work out a fitting theme for the furnishings and add a contemporary, gothic, traditional or medieval touch to it. You can even buy used church furnishings and remodel them according to the requirements of the church. This will help you to save most of the congregation money also.

The question is where can you find church furnishings that will suit your requirement and your budget? There are different styles of church furniture available but the question again is where should you look for them? Some of the old churches have furniture with the traditional look. The traditional furnishings will include cushioned seats, wooden pews, and kneelers. The furnishings in a modern church are quite different though and will consist of individual chairs that make up a row.

The first place to look for church furniture is at a church that is expected to close down. The advantage is that you can get used church furnishings from that church and upgrade their look and feel at a low cost. This is the most cost effective method of purchasing furniture for your church.

The second option is the Internet. If you search for church furniture, then you will find 8,780,000 web pages and most of them are online stores. You can find new as well as used furnishings over the internet. For example: you will find one of the websites selling used 9’ long pews at $80 each and 17’ long pews for $100. Some other websites will sell you an entire package of pews, pulpit, book rack and flower stands.

One of the important pieces of church furniture is the chairs. You can choose from old and new chairs, multiple colors, cushioned or wooden, with or without handle etc. If a church has a larger area of worship then theater-style seating will be most appropriate. There are specific online stores who deal with buying of chairs in bulk or for theater style seating. There are other stores who specialize in pew designs especially for congregations. There are others who will offer you a discount for exchanging your old furniture for new.

If the church doesn’t have a high budget then it can also buy used church furniture from other churches. Most of the churches selling their furniture sell it in bulk. You will be able to find 9’ 6” long pews for $125 each; 10’ long pews with small damages for $75; 14’ 6” long pews for $100 each if you pick in bulk; 12’ 3/8" long pews for $125 each and you will find similar bargains over the internet.

Some of the online companies or manufacturers also offer the option of customizing church furniture. You can make modification in fabrics used, dimension of the chair, altar, pulpit, pews etc, colors and much more. The furniture can also be modified to meet the various requirements of different religious denominations. Some of the online manufacturers provide good discount if you make a purchase online. The items are shipped and the shipping charges vary depending on the dimension, weight and location.

So practically speaking there are various options purchasing church furniture over the internet. You can just browse through multiple companies and get price quotes as well as catalogues and then choose the one that fits your budget and is able to deliver according to your requirement within a specified time frame. Mostly, small churches have a small budget and their requirement is smaller too. So they can purchase used church furnishings at a low cost and then spend a little in upgrading them.

Whether it is a big or a small church, church furniture is a necessity. You can always start with the seating or chairs first and then go on to other furnishings. The truth is that you will be able to find most of the church furnishings over the internet and all this will be available at a competitive price. All you need to do is get started!

by: Rishi Bhrigu


Before ordering "self proclaimed" powerful love spells from the hundreds of spell casting sites that seem to pop all over the internet these days,there are a few key essential things that someone looking for a love spell need to know.Without knowing these key information about real love spells and the different ways that one spell can be cast (which directly effects the success rate of a love spell),you might just be throwing your money away.

The casting of real powerful love spells encompasses a wide variety of magical work.Most of these love magic work includes the use of candle work,talisman work,love potion work,evokation of love based entities,petitioning of Love dieties and such.

The most basic work is Candle work.In love spells using candle work,the magic worker charges a specific oil according to his magickal path to be used for love purposes.The oil is then used to anoint a Red candle,or a candle in the shape of a nude human form while invoking the emotions involved for love and charging the candle with both the magick oil and the visualisation of the target.Sometimes a photograph of the target is also used and placed below the candle so that the wax melts on the photograph of the target.

Candle work,while effective for straight forward situations (like there needs just a little nudge in the right direction for love to blossom and theres no enmity or background between the two people),is rarely enough on its own for more complicated situations.Also its usually those young and new practitioners of magic,looking to make a quick buck from their newfound powers,as limited as they are,that offer candle work by itself without any prior consultations and other complementary work.

Talismanic work is a step above candle work.Talismanic work for love spells could include talismans of the sun,the moon,venus and the various planets.The effective magick worker will use the energies of the planet to super charge a talisman for a specific purpose.For example solar talismans can be used to give success,confidence,radiance,power to the wearer and thus increase his success in love,Moon talismans can be used to bring out the sensual,hypnotic side in the wearer and thus influence the opposite sex and Venus Talismans work directly to bombard the wearer with an attractive aura that intrigue and fascinate the opposite sex.

The problem with many New Age practitioners is they do not follow the old ways when charging a talisman which makes success with these talismans unpredictable.When it comes to planetary work,old practitioners like me follow the exact time and day corresponding with the planet we want to work with and also do an astrological reading to see at which date would be doing the love spell be most effective.For example,Mars can be seen as the Captain of the army,he is brave,courageous and a natural leader.When he is in the same zone as the Moon however,he is in detriment.The Moon is viewed as the Queen,so when the Captain enters the Queen's chambers,he has to remove his sword,clean his boots and bow down to the queen.Very unbecoming of the Captain.So doing Mar's work when it is together with the Moon will not be very effective.

It takes an advanced magic worker who has been practicing for many years to yield the power to evoke entities such as the Goetic spirits like Asmoday, the Necronomicon entities like Gil,and also be thought of high enough in the spiritual world for his petitions to the dieties like Aphrodite and Kamdev to yield results.Evoking entities,and having enough power to ask them to do what you want is two different things altogether.Evokation is the most powerful of all love spells and love based work as you call forth powerful love entities to forcefully effect change in a situation,thereby changing fate itself.Even then one has to look at the astrological outlook of the situation for a hundred percent success rate and advice the buyer to be detached from the outcome of the love spell work so that his mental capacity does not handicap the spell work.

Again,most new aged workers do not do this,thereby affecting the outcome of their magick work.Its the Real Magician/sorcerer who yields these ancient techniques and combines astrology with candle work,talismans and evokations to bring forth maximum results.

Rishi Bhrigu is a Practicing Sorcerer and Magick Worker for over 45 years who has had vast experience with Goetia Work,Necronomicon work,Hindu Rituals and even worked with the Nature Shamans on many occasions.

He has a vast clientele of people who seek his help from Businessmen,Politicians,Celebrities and every day folk as well.he is available for custom spell work at http://www.forbiddenblackmagic.com

by: Airfreddy


With all of your flight training, there will be times when you get the notion that your instructor is mean or doesn’t know what they are talking about—perhaps not in such a bold way, but it will happen. This brings me to a story I have of a night cross-country with a student.

The flight itself is a pretty simple one and is safe for night flights. The flight goes from Mesa Falcon Field to Wickenberg, Arizona. I have personally put this flight in my syllabus for many reasons. I have gotten into many arguments with instructors who worked for me about this flight. Several of them refused to do the flight and instead ended up taking the student down to Tucson. As far as I am concerned, this defeats the purpose of the night cross-country. Following a big lit-up highway in between two bright major cities does not expose you to the real situations that can happen on a night cross-country.

Don’t let your instructor take you to an easy-to-find destination that is lit up like New York City. Go somewhere that is pretty difficult to find, at least for you, not your instructor. Yes, you want to make sure the instructor knows where he is going to land in the event of an engine failure, but you need to be on a flight that can get you into a little bit of trouble if you aren’t paying attention.

Back to my story.

I will call the student John. You know that I am totally against using all these high-tech things for private pilot training and even instrument ratings. Remember what job number one of the pilot is ? Yes, fly the airplane! I have also already stated that it will take you about 500 hours before you have this second sense stuck in you inner memory. Even then, a difficult situation will be a battle between many parts of your brain at the same time.

John called me in the afternoon about his night flight. We verified the time, and at the end of the call, John stated that he had just gotten his new Garmin 95 latest-and-greatest GPS device and asked if he could bring it along. You probably know me pretty well by now and know exactly what my answer was: “No!”

John showed up at the airport with his cross-country planned and flight plan filed, and ready to go. Before we walked out of the office, out came that shiny new Garmin box. “Fred, you need to check this out . . . this is the new Garmin 95, top-of-the–line, latest-and-greatest . . . ” This was back in 1996. Garmin was a no-name back then and was just getting into the market.

"Please, please, please can we take it with us?" After all the begging, I finally gave in. Deep in my mind somewhere, I had a little smile, and a voice just said, “Okay.”

Before John even started his pre-flight, he set up his new Garmin 95 on the control column. I knew right then that we were in for a good time! I told John that he couldn’t turn it on until we got out of Phoenix airspace, which is right where it starts to get nice and dark. He said, “Okay, no problem.”

We took off and headed west as planned. John was right on the money with all of his checkpoints and times. Flight plan opened at the right time. He was getting an A+ at this stage of the ball game. We got about five miles west of Deer Valley airport, where it starts to get nice and dark. (Again, don’t do a night cross-country when there is a full moon! It is nice to see the big bright moon from 4,500 above the ground, but it makes your night cross-country easier. If you are doing your first night flight as a licensed pilot with your girlfriend/boyfriend, go for it—that is the safe thing to do.)

John looked at me with those puppy eyes and asked, “Can I turn it on?” At this point, I just looked at him and said, “Yes.” The little voice in my head spoke to me again, “Now it is time for the real lesson to begin.”

John turned on the new greatest gift to mankind. The screen came on, and he said, "Look, Fred, isn’t this great? It tells you everything!” The little voice in my head said, "Yeah. Right. It tells you everything except what your #1 job in an airplane is.”

John kept playing with his new toy. I learned way back in 1989 that there are times when the flight instructor’s job is to shut up and let the student go. This was definitely one of those times.

At first, John had it under control. He was following his line on the screen and was okay, but I knew that sooner or later, it was going to distract him from his number one job . . . Yes, fly the airplane!

A little while passed, and John decided to start playing with the screen options. I knew now that the big lesson had begun, so I just sat there. Slowly, his altitude started to go up and down—not very much at first, but I knew it was just going to get worse.

I looked at John, and his head was down looking right at the GPS. By the way, the time frame of this entire lesson was probably less than a minute.

John continued to look down and said, "Hm, I can’t find the screen I am looking for.” I just sat there. Slowly, he started a right turn, only a few degrees bank, heading right into the mountains. The plane began to slowly lose altitude as the right turn started to get steeper. There was no horizon at all, so John had no clue of what was going on. Luckily, he was one of the students that took my aerobatic option before solo, so he was familiar with extreme unusual attitude. But not at night.

Slowly but surely, the plane had entered the dreaded graveyard spiral at cruise power setting. I waited and waited, hoping that the sound of the wind howling across the airplane would give him a clue, but nope—he had been trained for this many times, but he didn’t pick it up.

The plane kept going into a steeper bank. If it had been daytime, I would have let him get upside down, but not at night. Finally, it was time to open my mouth. "Anything wrong?"

John looked up, and the string of four-letter words began to flow. He got the plane under control. Power back wings level and nose level. However, he was still heading on the quickest path to meet God, right into the mountains a few miles north of the very dimly lit highway I plan as my emergency landing spot.

I said to him, "What can you see in front of you?" "He replied with, "Nothing." I said, “So that means . . . ?” I got the reply, “I am flying right into the ground.” That answer was pretty much correct; with his new heading, he was flying straight into the hills. Since we lost about 1,500 feet, our altitude was perfect for the big smack.

I raised my voice slightly and said, “If you can’t see anything, you are in trouble. Find some light, start climbing, and head in that direction.”

John got the plane under control, turned the GPS off, and we had an uneventful flight to Wickenberg and then back home to Falcon Field.

When we got back on the ground, John said, "I think I am going to learn to fly before I worry about that GPS.” He also requested some night unusual attitude training. I also highly recommend this.

So again, the little lesson is fly the airplane! John got distracted from that job by his little GPS. If you insist on using this stuff, make sure you know how to use it, and don’t try to learn it in the plane, especially at night!

As far as disorientation goes, it can happen very quickly, and when it does, it is not going to be pretty. It has happened to me in actual instrument conditions. I had all my ratings, and it still took a few minutes before the blood pressure went down.

Just remember this little unusual attitude check, which you should be able to repeat at the bar when you are about to fall on the floor:

Airspeed High, Or, "I Hear the Wind Howling Outside the Plane”

1: Power Back
2: Wings Level
3: Nose of the Airplane Level
4: Once You Have the Plane under Control, then bring the power back in, and get back to your altitude and heading

Airspeed Low:

1: Nose Forward
2: Wings Level
3: Once you have the nose at descent attitute, then add power. Why? If you do not remember, go back to the “To Spin or Not To Spin, That is the Question” chapter.

If you are out on a dark night, you are going to be fighting that attitude indicator. Get some training on night unusual attitudes. Then come back a few weeks later and do it again until you automatically react, especially after some time has gone by.

Make sure you go somewhere that is not easy, and make sure it is on a dark night.

by: Glen Clancy


Released on Youtube and Googlevideo this week, FOOL ME TWICE, exposes the cover-up of the Bali bombings and provides evidence that it was a Falseflag Operation.

The film begins by documenting the Australian government’s prior knowledge of the Indonesian military’s plan to use violence to maintain autonomy over East Timor. Contrary to The Howard Governments claims they argued against peacekeeping forces allowing the Indonesian Special Forces to carry out their campaign of fear and suppression.

Within 24 hours of the 2002 Bali bombings a team of FBI, UK special agents and Australian federal police started arriving in Bali. The investigation team continuously claimed different explosive devices were responsible for the main blast. Days after the attacks, Indonesian Police Chief, General Dai’ Bachtier, announced that the FBI had discovered C4 pointing the blame towards Jemaah Islamiah, JI (“SE Asia wing of Al qaeda”). Eventually, investigators concluded that the main explosive device was a potassium chlorate car bomb. C4 was never included in final reports.

The main explosive device was so powerful it seriously damaged buildings in a 2/400 metre radius and left a 1 metre deep, 10 metre wide crater. 202 people perished in the blasts, the majority incinerated from the main explosive device. Investigators quickly excavated the crater contents and dumped the remaining debris off the coast of southern Bali, including completely stripped concrete reinforcing bars. Potassium chlorate is a low velocity explosive and does not have the overpressure force to create a 1 metre deep crater or completely incinerate humans, let alone strip concrete. Only a high-tech explosive device has the power to strip concrete.

FBI claims of C4 announced by General Dai’ Bachtier, ensured Jemaah Islamiah was immediately blamed for the Bali bombings. All prior intelligence of the Bali bombings came from so called JI leader, Omar Al-Faruq. Omar Al-Faruq was secretly handed over to the US by Indonesia months prior to the bombings under the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. Australian intelligence agencies reported that intelligence obtained from captured “JI suspect”, Omar Al-Faruq, warned of possible terrorist attacks in Bali. After the attacks the Bush administration denied access to Al-Faruq for questioning in the Bali bombing trials. When Omar Al-Faruq was suddenly called by US court to provide evidence in a trial of another terrorist suspect – he had “escaped high security prison”. No JI leaders have ever been brought to trial.

Prior to the Bali bombings the Indonesian government denied the existence of terrorists within Indonesia and opposed US anti-terror operations in Afghanistan. After the bombings President Megawati signed a joint statement – “Agreeing that terrorism poses a continued threat to international peace and security, and that the two Presidents are committed to enhancing their bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism”. The Bush administration provided funds to the Indonesian police and military and setup a national terrorism unit under the control of national police chief, General Dai’ Bachtier.

FOOL ME TWICE:

Youtube-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n1tLO87vzNQ

Googlevideo-
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2246973658225588456

by: Jennifer Koretsky


The Christmas holidays are fast approaching! While you're busy decorating and preparing your home for guests, here are a few important tips to keep your dog safe this season.

The Christmas Tree

Tinsel, small ornaments, and ornament hooks are major choking hazards for dogs. It's best to avoid tinsel altogether and keep small ornaments high on the tree, out of the dog's reach. Also, make sure there are no stray ornament hooks on the floor!

If your family has a real tree (as opposed to an artificial tree), it's best to block off the area around the tree with a screen or gate. Many dogs become ill from drinking tree water and ingesting pine needles. Vacuum the area around the tree regularly.

Holiday Guests

It's exciting to have family and friends over during the holidays—even for your dog! But there are certain precautions you should take when having company over.

Dogs can easily slip out the door when people are continuously going in and out. Make sure your dog is wearing an identification tag with your phone number, even if he is micro-chipped. Not everyone who finds a lost dog knows to have him checked for a micro-chip.

Your guests may adore your dog, but don't let them give your dog any food without asking. Children especially may want to give the dog a treat—hand them a safe treat and supervise while they give it to the dog. Under no circumstances should your dog be given turkey or chicken bones. They are too small and are a serious choking hazard. As an alternative, buy a marrow bone at the grocery store as a special holiday treat.

Why You Shouldn't Give Dogs as Gifts

Bringing a new dog into the family is a wonderful thing, especially if you adopt a dog from a shelter. However, giving a dog as a Christmas gift is never a good idea. Regardless of whether the dog is a puppy or an adult, his first few days in your home should be all about him. The holidays, for most families, are too chaotic and busy for a dog to get used to his new environment, and he may become anxious or frightened.

A great idea for families who want to give their children a dog for Christmas is to gift wrap a dog bone. When the child opens it, tell them it's for the new dog that you'll be getting in a few weeks. Or you can leave a note from Santa explaining that he didn't have enough room on his sleigh and will be coming back with the dog. Animal shelters are flooded every January with dogs who were given as Christmas gifts—so January is a great time to adopt a dog who needs a home.

Lastly, it's always a good idea to have your vet's phone number posted in a visible spot. Your vet's office should have someone answering the phone 24/7.

The most important thing to remember, amidst all the chaos of the holidays, is to always know where your dog is and what he's up to. That way everyone in your home, including the four-legged family members, can have a Merry Christmas.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky

by: Steve Cantellini


I can't remember the first time I remember seeing a Webkinz. I vaguely remember hearing talk about them between my daughter and a few of her friends. I recall not really paying attention to it until I heard one of Marisa's friends mention she had 12 out of the 18 Webkinz that were out. One of the other girls said she had 8, another 6 and my daughter said she had 1 that she received for a birthday gift. I thought to myself that this was crazy and these girls must be a bit more then a little spoiled. As time went on, all I heard from Marisa was talk about her Golden Retriever Webkinz that she named Barkley. She constantly carried "him" around or was constantly on the Webkinz web site. Finally I figured that after hearing all the hype I would check this out. I bought Marisa a new Spotted Frog and off to Webkinz World I went. I wasn’t expecting much, but I figured I would at least have some quality time with my daughter.

In spite of my skepticism, I was very happily surprised. I couldn’t believe everything that was involved. First we had to register our new family member. We decided to name him Henry. We bought Henry food and clothes and furniture for his room. Most of all, we had to play with him and give him attention so he knew he was loved. I couldn't imagine that a toy like this would be able to teach a child such responsibility. Furthermore, some of the games on the Webkinz website were very educational. They were not typical Internet or video games, but actually made Marisa think and learn. Two hours had passed and it seemed to fly by. Webkinz had a new fan and he was well into his thirties.

I can now tell you my daughter is one of those kids who owns an extensive collection of Webkinz. Each one of them has given Marisa much joy and entertainment. Because of the Webkinz she has a much better understanding of responsibility and a better appreciation for education. Today, when I hear Marisa and her friends talking about their Webkinz, I smile to myself. I know she is in a world that makes her feel good about herself. I also know the Webkinz world teaches her responsibility in its own way while keeping her happy. What more could a parent what?

by: Jorge Chavez


Filling out survey questionnaires to get paid for online surveys is a great way to make extra money. All you need is an Internet connection and your opinions. There are traps out there, but you can avoid them if you know how to. And your can then go on to make very good money...

Imagine yourself sitting at home or at your favorite place (anywhere you have an Internet connection) and making money filling out paid surveys. Sounds like an impossible dream? Maybe it is for some... but for thousands of others it is a daily reality. Actually, it's easy to get paid for online surveys, and paid well.

Paid online surveys are a huge business on the Net, with thousands of new surveys being made every week. Many thousands of survey participants are receiving checks in the mail or deposits in their PayPal accounts every month. You could join them, get paid for online surveys and make money, if you do it right.

To succeed you must understand that only about 20% of survey makers offer the legitimate paid online surveys that pay well, on time in cash or equivalent. Another 40% are so-so. Sometimes they pay enough to make it worthwhile, sometimes not.

The final 40% are simply time-wasters who expect you to work for free or will try to sell you things. Or worse, they will sell your contact info to shady high-pressure sales companies which will bombard you with trashy offers.

To get paid for online surveys and make money you will need a good list of legitimate paid survey panels with a high proportion of survey makers that pay (those in the top 20%. The secret is in getting that list. In reality, you will have to pay something for your list, either in a lot of work or or with $30 to $50 in cash.

Yes, there are "free lists" out there. They're one of the traps to be avoided. Few things are really free. So who is paying for "free lists"? The 80% of no-pay/low-pay survey makers must have new recruits to replace those that quit. They pay recruiting fees to anyone who sends them more recruits to exploit

For those "free lists" the list distributors collect recruitment fees and make money, the survey makers make money on the recruits. However, the list users, the survey participants, get the short end of the deal.

They don't really get paid for online surveys by those low-pay/no-pay survey makers that exploit participants. They eventually get tired of working for nothing and quit, just like those before them, the ones they were recruited to replace.

To get a good list, make sure that YOU pay for it so the seller is trying to please YOU! Look to paid survey membership sites that maintain lists of good survey makers. For a small one-time fee you can join them. get a copy of their list and get started fast, on the right track.

Only consider those paid survey sites that offer a strong money back guarantee, backed up by a bank or financial company like PayPal or ClickBank. If they won't guarantee your satisfaction, then they are not serious. Don't even think about trusting your membership fee with any site without a strong guarantee.

From this group with strong guarantees (there are at least 75 that should qualify) choose one with a low refund rate. The refund rate is the way to determine the opinions of their current and past clients regarding the quality and value or the service they provide.

Low refund rates mean happy clients. Clients who used their list, got paid for online surveys, made money and were satisfied. High refund rates indicate unhappy clients who tried their list, did NOT get paid for online surveys, did not make money, became dissatisfied and demanded their money back.

So choose a paid survey membership site with a low refund rate, join up, get their list and then apply to all of the survey makers on that list. That way you will get a good list, get paid for online surveys, make money and join the happy clients of that paid survey membership site.

To get more information and details on how to get paid for online surveys you can follow the links below...


About The Author
Jorge Chavez

To get paid for online surveys, make money with them, see: http://surveysentinel.ya23.com/Get_Paid_for_Online_Surveys.html For more about refund rates and comparing paid survey sites, see: http://surveysentinel.ya23.com

by: Wesley Berry, AAF


After more than a year of neither publicly affirming nor denying their romantic relationship, Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn are finally engaged. On June 27th Vaughn proposed to Anniston miles above the earth in a plane flight home from their nine-day vacation in Mexico. Although we florists recommend a proposal complete with a beautiful bouquet of roses, happily the outcome was a good one for Vaughn, even without roses-Anniston said yes. The question now is whether or not the couple will draw out their engagement without details leaking to the press, or will they move quickly and throw a fall wedding?

Summer is still the most common season for weddings, but the number of fall and winter weddings is on the rise. As reported by the Society of American Florists, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, June is still the most common month for weddings, followed by July, August, and September. However, October is running very closely behind September as a popular wedding month. September's statistics show 8.9 weddings per 1000 people while October is at a very close 8.5 weddings.

If Vaughn and Anniston should decide to get married in the fall, they'll have lots of gorgeous flowers and floral accessories to choose from. The fall color palate includes rich reds, robust oranges, warm golds, and deep burgundies, wines, and hunter greens. Such gorgeous colors are the perfect compliment to the colorful show nature puts on in the fall. Flowers and accents that are often used in fall weddings are orange gerberas, hydrangeas in rust or burgundy, apricot-colored lilies, vines, and hypericum berries.

Of course, traditional roses are also an excellent option, but those within the fall color palate are preferable for an autumn wedding. Some good fall-colored rose choices include:

* Leonidas: A dark, bi-colored chocolaty brown rose. * Black Magic: The darkest of the burgundy roses. * Terra Cotta: The rich orange color of a flowerpot. * Hocus Pocus: Small burgundy roses with playful yellow spots. * Star 2000: A dark coral-orange rose. * Red Berlin: A bright, tomato red rose. * Konfetti: A yellow rose with a reddish-orange tint on the edges. * Sari: A rose with a golden-orange color. * Mambo: A bright tangerine colored rose.

Regardless of the season Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn choose to be married in, there's no doubt that with the help of a professional and skilled florist, their wedding flowers will be as beautiful as the bride.

by: Patti Oar


You may think that women want someone who is buffed and tanned and looks like a bodybuilder model from GQ. Those things are nice and yes we like to look at those guys, but just like you don’t need for us to look like Victoria Secret models we don’t require it in our man. OK. The 13 most important qualities that women look for in a man are:

1. Honesty
2. Intelligence
3. Nice Smile
4. Sense of Humor
5. Manners
6. Sensitivity
7. Sincerity
8. Gainfully employed
9. Has own place
10. Owns a car
11. Affectionate
12. Considerate
13. Thoughtful

OK. First things first. Honesty is the NUMBER ONE trait that women look for in a man. That doesn’t mean to be brutally honest and tell her she looks fat. (Never do that) but we want to know that we can trust that what you are telling us is the truth. If you’ve lied in the past it will be a very cold day in Hell before she trusts you again. And she may want to check your phone messages and read your email and call you 10 times a day to feel secure that you’re trustworthy again. You may not like that but if you lie it may be the price you have to pay.

Intelligence: Women want to feel safe and protected and we want our men to be smart. Maybe even smarter than us. Women feel that your brain is your sexiest organ. So dazzle us with your brain and you will be surprised how stimulated we become. Kick her ass at “Jeopardy” and watch what happens.

Smile: We love your smile. We can’t get enough of it. It makes us want to touch you and kiss you. So brush and floss and see your dentist and keep your mouth kissably fresh.

Sense of Humor: If you can keep us laughing you are golden. We love to laugh and we love a man who can make us laugh. This goes back to the smart thing as well. You have to be smart to be humorous. We like a man who’s humor challenges us. Leave that 3 Stooges stuff for the guys. Women don’t appreciate 12 year old juvenile humor.

Manners: Little things like manners are very important. Women don’t want their man to drive up and reach over from the driver’s seat and open the passenger door or just wait for us to open the door. A little old fashioned chivalry goes a long way. Escort the lady to the car and open the door for her. We love to be treated like queens. It makes us feel like you think we’re special. And hopefully you do think she’s special. We love a man with manners. We know we can take him home and our parents will love him. We don’t want to have to worry about what you might do or say. We want to be with a man not a boy. That means no farting, belching, toe or nose picking, spitting, or smacking your lips when you eat. We want to know we can take you in public and we won’t be embarrassed. And don’t forget we also like to show you off to our girlfriends and we want them to approve. You want the girlfriends to think you’re a “Keeper”.

Sensitive: That whole thing about being “Sensitive” and getting in touch with your “Feminine Side” are all very true. A woman is waaaay more attracted to a man who isn’t afraid to show his feelings and be gentle and sensitive. We actually think that makes you more manly. A man who clams up and thinks being macho is what we want is very wrong. One of the things that is extremely attractive to a woman is when it’s obvious that you are attracted to us. There is nothing hotter than seeing how much we turn you on. Don’t be afraid to show that. But of course there are limits and this can easily be overdone. Be careful about showing things like that at work or you might find yourself in a sexual harassment situation. And if you decide to try to tip your hand to a woman and show your interest, remember to keep it subtle. No woman likes a STALKER or a HORNDOG! We love to know that we are getting to you, but not in an obnoxious way. You may have to make some changes in your behavior. But of course, they’ll be changes for the better and you will most likely be happier for it.

Sincerity: This is a little like honesty, but what I mean is if you need to change some of your behaviors to be more attractive to women then don’t just do it to get the girl. This is something that has to be real. If you think that’s not you, then maybe you should think about making a change. You can decide you don’t want to change, that you like yourself the way you are, but if that was working for you then you probably wouldn’t be reading this article. You were drawn to this piece because you must truly want to know how to be better with women and if you sincerely do then you may need to take an honest look at yourself and decide what you want because it has to be real.

Employed: OK. This is a no-brainer, but truthfully there are some men out there without jobs that think they can get all the women they want. I have no idea what makes them think that, but their egos are on overtime. Women need security and we want a man who can provide for us. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to work, but it does mean that we want to know that you are a responsible MAN.

Has Own Place: OK. Matthew McConaughey was really cute in Failure to Launch but that was a comedy. Seriously we don’t want to have a sleepover at your Mom’s house. Having your own place just shows us again that you are a responsible adult. And it does help if your place is decorated nicely. I don’t mean you have to hire a decorator, but we’re not drawn to frathouse chic. Impress us with your style. Again we want MEN not BOYS!

Has Own Car: This may not be important if you live in New York or in a place where the public transportation makes owning a car unnecessary but in most of the world you need a car to pick up your date and take her out. It is important to mention here that even though we love luxury cars we don’t need that in our man. Women love men with all kinds of cars, but FYI keep your car clean (especially the inside). Nothing says SLOB more than a dirty car. Take out the fast food wrappers and keep it neat and smelling nice.

Affectionate: We really do love to touch and be touched. And I am not talking sexually here. But try holding her hand when she’s not expecting it or gently rubbing her back. Little touchy things like that mean a lot. Rub her arm when you’re reading the paper or do little things like foot and hand massages. Women love that.

Be Considerate: We appreciate the little things like holding a door open or not walking ahead of us. If we’re sleeping make sure you turn out the light when you leave. Show her you care by picking up after yourself. When you get some dessert out of the fridge ask if she’d like some or make sure you leave some for her. Just basic consideration is so important to us.

Thoughtfullness: This may sound like consideration, but it goes a little further. Being thoughtful of her needs goes a long way. Maybe give her a call from work just to see how she’s doing. While we love that we don’t want to be smothered with a bunch of calls all day long. Bring something home for her when you go to the store, like some fresh flowers (I know that’s cliché, but that’s because it works) or maybe some of her favorite ice cream…just because. This shows us that you are thinking of us and that makes us feel important and special.

Those 2 words important and special should be burned into your brain. If you can always make a woman feel important and special you will be an irrisistable Chick Magnet.

by: Dana Blozis


Have you ever visited a website that had poorly written text or read a brochure that had typos or spelling errors on the cover? I don't know about you, but I am always turned off by this kind of sloppy work. In fact, if the offending business isn't paying attention to these little details, I wonder what else it is missing. Maybe the company will mail my purchase to the wrong address or forget to gift wrap the package I need sent overnight. Of course, these scenarios are exaggerations, but that's the risk companies take when they overlook details like good copywriting and editing. When we see mistakes—even minor ones—we question the quality of a company's work.

How can you create a flawless first impression? Simple. Avoid copywriting and editing errors in your own marketing materials with these guidelines.

1. Identify your target audience and the voice you'll use when speaking to it. Are you offering your services to CEOs and top level managers? If so, consider using a professional tone in the third person (they, he, she). Maybe you want to appeal to parents of young children. Consider a more casual, friend-to-friend tone in the first (I, we, our) or second person (you). Be sure to consider the type of material you are writing, too. Brochures tend to be more formal than website copy, for example. Flyers and coupons, on the other hand, are often lighter in tone.

2. Present your information in a well-organized, easy-to-follow manner. How? Outline your ideas ahead of time and organize them as if you were a prospective customer. Ask yourself these questions: What problem is this business solving for me? What benefits will I get if I buy this product or service? How much does it cost? Why should I choose this business instead of another? Take your answers to these questions and logically organize them. On a website for example, your home page should tell prospective customers what problem you are solving for them and what's in it for them. Subsequent pages can discuss pricing (pricing or a rates page) and differentiation (about us, why choose us).

3. Write, revise, repeat. After writing your initial draft, set the material aside for a few hours or overnight if time allows. When you come back to revise it, you'll have fresh eyes and errors such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and organization are more likely to jump out at you.

4. Proofread. If you are satisfied with what you've written and have organized it so that it is easy to follow, run a spelling and grammar check (if you haven't already) and proofread the text line by line. Read it out loud or from the bottom up. Do you have contact information (website, e-mail address, phone numbers) listed in your materials? If so, test each one as it is written. See a phone number or an e-mail address? Dial the number or send a test e-mail to be sure the information is accurate.

5. Have someone else proofread your copy. No matter how skilled we are at writing and proofreading, we will always make mistakes. We're human and we can't avoid it, but we can improve our chances of error-free copy by having someone else proofread our work. Almost anyone will do—a friend, co-worker, spouse, teenage son or daughter, even a customer. Ask him or her to not only look for errors but to see if the information is concise and complete. Do you need more text? less text? Can you easily find the information you need?

6. Correct mistakes as soon as you find them. Imagine that you've published your copy to the web or had your materials printed before you find a glaring error. It's not the end of the world, but you'll want to fix it right away. Web changes can often be made quickly. Printed materials take a bit longer—and more money—to correct, so keep a file of changes to make before your next reprint.

7. Lastly, if this process is completely unappealing to you or if you are simply too busy, consider hiring a professional copywriter for the job. He or she will gather information about your intended audience, products and services, and company and, based on your direction, will write copy that is clear, concise and complete and that will draw in readers. To find a professional copywriter, try a Google search for copywriters in your region or look for local writing and editing organizations for referrals. Many have online directories that list qualified copywriters. When selecting a copywriter, I recommend that you contact two or three, read samples of their work and interview them by phone to see if your personalities and work styles are a match. This step may increase your marketing budget a bit, but the quality of your materials will be well worth it.

If you tackle your next copywriting project with these ideas in mind, your marketing copy will be flawless, allowing your message to shine through.

Virtually Yourz,

Dana Blozis

Copyright © 2007 by Dana E. Blozis. All rights reserved.

by: Karrie Edwards


Bounce House Buying Guide

Bounce Houses have emerged as safe, fun alternatives to trampolines, and have become a party tradition. From inflatable fun centers, to backyard rentals, to the garage, bounce houses are popping up like mushrooms! In the past, renting was the only option, but bounce houses made of special materials have become affordable for home use. First and foremost, you need to choose the Bounce House that’s right for your family. This Bounce House 101 Buying guide shows you how inflatable bouncers and water parks work, and what to look for when purchasing an inflatable.

How do Bounce Houses Work?

Most quality Inflatable Bouncers and Water Parks fall under the category of Continuous Airflow. This means that an air blower continuously pumps air into the Bounce House or Water Park while the inflatable is in use (If you want to blow it up by mouth, you're in the wrong place!). Air escapes through the seams and the porous materials. You will hear air "breathing" out of the inflatable, or even see bubbles in water slides and water parks. This is perfectly normal, and not cause for concern. Beware of cheap knock offs. There have been a number of recalls due to low-cost knock offs that either split due to improper materials, or have fans that break apart during use. Blowers require power in order to inflate the bouncer, and must be used in areas that have power readily accessible. If you don't have power for your bouncing party, you will need a generator to run the blower.

Within the continuous airflow category, are two primary types of inflatables: Commercial Grade inflatables ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Commercial_Grade_Bounce_Houses_s/40.htm ) and Residential Grade inflatables ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Bounce_Houses_s/21.htm ) , which we will discuss, but this article is primarily focused on residential grade inflatables.

Types of Inflatables

Residential inflatables use woven oxford cloth as the primary material. This cloth makes them much lighter, weighing in at as little as 30 lbs, and starting as low as $200. Because of the lighter weight, residential inflatables are much easier to set up, take down and transport. Residential bounce houses can be used for years, if properly cared-for. These inflatables are not recommended for commercial use, or rental.

The most important criteria with oxford bouncers are stitching, material quality and weave. Steer clear of bouncers that are not double stitched with commercial stitching. Also, be careful with materials, and only buy from reputable companies. Cheaper materials may not have the proper pvc coating, or may not be balanced weave, making them weaker and prone tun splitting in one direction.

Commercial Inflatables are made of PVC tarpaulin material, and are designed for continuous use scenarios. These Bounce Houses, Slides and Water Parks are commonly used by rental businesses, churches and rec centers, day cares, etc. While commercial inflatables can be used for home-use, they are expensive, commonly starting at over $1,000 and running as high as $20,000. Additionally, they are very heavy, typically weighing well over 150 lbs for small units.

Bounce House Features

There are tons of different styles and themes for bounce houses, but they all boil down to a few main features.

• Bounce Floors! If you're buying a bounce house, this will be the most important feature. Make sure you get a bounce house that has a floor big enough to house all your kids, and strong enough for your intended use. The Superstar Party Moonwalk ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Superstar_Inflatable_Party_Moonwalk_p/inf-superstar.htm )has tons of room for big bouncing parties. The Play Palace ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Play_Palace_Bounce_House_p/inf-playpalace.htm ) has a commercial grade floor for heavier and older kids.

• Slides! The second most common feature of inflatables are slides. Many bouncers have slides there for aesthetic or safety purposes only. To get a slide big enough for kids to actually slide down, you'll need something at least a few feet tall. See the Misty Kingdom Bounce House ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Misty_Kingdom_Bounce_House_Water_Park_p/inf-mistykingdom.htm ).

• Water! Inflatable water toys and water slides are continuously winning awards. They keep kids cool and occupied during warm times. The Crocodile Isle ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Crocodile_Isle_Inflatable_Water_Park_and_Slide_p/crocodile%20isle%20water%20park.htm ) is an awesome water park. The manufacturer Blast Zone also has items like the Rainforest Rapids Amusement Park ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Rainforest_Rapids_Bounce_House_Water_Park_p/inf-rrap.htm ) that can be used as water parks, or used dry. Bounce houses can be used year-round. Water-only items will get you 6-9 months use a year.

• Climbing Walls & Obstacles! Kids like to climb almost as much as they like to bounce. Some items will have more interactive features like climbing walls. The Sport Center ( http://www.bouncersdirect.com/Sport_Center_Bounce_House_and_Obstacle_Course_p/inf-sportcenter.htm ) has a climbing wall and a basketball hoop.

One you’ve found the Inflatable at the right price, from the right company, with the right features, buy it! Happy bouncing, and good luck!

Taken from http://www.bouncersdirect.com , Official home page of Blast Zone Bounce Houses.

by: John Mei


According to the December, 2007 Visa Bulletin foreign workers falling in the EB-3 category and EB-2 workers from Mainland China and India will be affected by a severe backlog of visa numbers. This means there are more individuals wishing to immigrate than there are allotted visas. As a result, foreign workers in the effected categories may have a wait time exceeding 5 years before they are able to file an application to adjust status to that of a permanent resident.

Filing a New Labor Certification as an EB-2

The same employer who had filed an EB-3 application for a foreign worker may file a new labor certification for EB-2 classification for the same foreign worker if the job offer as an EB-2 is bona fide and the foreign worker possesses the requisite educational and employment experience that meets the criteria for EB-2 classification.

If there is a bona fide job offer as an EB-2 and the foreign worker is qualified, filing a new labor certification as an EB-2 may eliminate or dramatically reduce their backlog wait time. This may be especially advantageous for employers who have already filed and have an I-140 Visa Petition approved for a foreign worker. If the I-140 for EB-3 classification has already been approved, the foreign worker may seek to retain the old priority date on the new I-140 as an EB-2.

Filing a New Petition as an EB-1

A petition for EB-1 can be filed for aliens of extraordinary ability, multi-national executives and managers, and outstanding researchers or professors. Though rare, we have seen cases that should have been initially filed as EB-1s instead filed as EB-2s, or EB-3s. Those individuals may wish to file a new visa petition as an EB-1 to avoid the backlog. Those with EB-2 or EB-3 I-140 Visa Petitions already approved can seek to retain the priority date of the initially approved I-140.

Individuals may be tempted to file a new petition in an attempt to circumvent the backlog. However, a new petition should not be filed unless there is real merit to warrant such a filing. As such a careful examination of your current job duties and its requirements should be made in contrast to the job duties and requirements on which the first petition was based.

No Downside

Many employers and foreign workers have expressed concerns that a new petition may jeopardize their approved visa petition. However, a new labor certification and visa petition as an EB-2 represents a new job offer that is separate and apart from the job offer that supported the EB-3 labor certification and visa petition.

In the case of filing a new petition as an EB-1, one is merely filing a petition seeking benefits in a classification they qualified all along, but had instead chosen to file the initial labor certification and visa petition as an EB-2 or EB-3. There is no risk to the approved visa petition if there is a legitimate step up in job duties, job requirements, and the foreign national qualifies for the new position as an EB-2 or if the foreign worker could have initially filed as an EB-1, but did not.

by: Bent Andersen


Most, if not all, homeowners have a toolbox, and DIY (do-it-yourself) junkies can’t live without one. However, because tools can be so cheap and varied nowadays, there’s a very strong temptation to just grab one of everything at the hardware store and then say that you’re getting ready for any eventuality. This results in a cluttered garage or tool area and, in many cases, wasted money. Below are some of the bare necessities that your tool box should contain. While they may not prepare you for post-tornado house rebuilding, they will certainly suffice for fixing that noisy door in the kitchen or for the regular maintenance jobs around the house.

The Usual Stuff

These are the things that everyone has in their sets, the contents of the usual toolbox. That’s another way of saying “if you don’t have the following, get one now.” These are tools that even your grandfather had, so you’d probably be familiar with them already.

Screwdrivers are absolutely necessary tools. They come in two general variations (the minus and the plus, formally known as the flat or straight and the Philips, respectively), but can come in a wide range of sizes. Just get the usual, fixed-blade, no-frills models unless you’re expecting to do some specialized work. The teeny tiny versions of screwdrivers are called precision sets and are handy to have around.

Hammers, like screwdrivers, come in a variety of sizes for different jobs. Two should probably be enough for your needs. You could get a medium size (usually 16 oz.) for regular jobs and a larger size (usually 32 oz.) for the heavy duty work.

For plumbing and working with fasteners, you’re going to need pliers and wrenches. Usually, a couple of each (one of each type, snub-nose and long-nose, for the pliers) will do. You can even go the extra mile and get a wrench set, which has about 10 to 15 pieces.

Saws are obviously necessary tools if you plan to maintain any wood or metal. For cutting metal, a hacksaw and a couple of cold chisels will do. For wood, a chisel and a saw will suffice. To save on space, you could get one of those handles that have a base compatible with removable saw blades. The blades and the handles themselves are small, and it’s a great little multitool.

Your testing and measuring instruments are critical for determining when you’ve done a good enough job. Make sure to always pack some measuring tape, measuring tape, a measuring square, a level, a voltage tester and an amp meter. Consumable items are also important, so you should always have a couple of pencils, electrical tape, sealant, lubricant, and an array of screws, nuts, nails, and bolts on stock.

Not-So-Usual Necessities

Now that we’ve gone through the usual contents of the toolbox, let’s cover some of the other tool necessities. These are the items your granddad probably didn’t think of putting in the toolbox, but are still ones you should have yourself. Of special mention here are multitools, which have recently become very popular and, more importantly, more affordable. They’re those multi-armed trinkets that have several attachments on them, hence, the name and their ability to do several tasks.

Vise-grips and a utility knife automatically fall into this category. They’re great for any number of tasks and should be a staple in your toolbox. Have at least two vise-grips (plumbing jobs and clamping is usually easier with two), while a six-inch knife should be good enough. A right angle drive helps you get your fasteners into tight places and impossible spaces and, while not absolutely necessary, will be convenient to have around for several tasks.

Cleaning materials have recently become toolbox mainstays, and you should always have some, too. A bit of anti-rust agent (WD-40 works great) and a toothbrush are absolute necessities for cleaning and maintenance.

by: Kaelem Steven


Hair loss is the most dreaded problem among humans as it directly affects the person’s outlook. Hair loss can be caused by a number of things like using harsh chemical soaps, shampoos, gels, stress or imbalanced diet. Certain illness can also cause hair. These are all causes in hair loss but the most common type of hair loss that affects approximately 95% men and 70% women is known as hereditary hair loss also known as Genetic hair loss. Genetic hair loss is more commonly observed among males than females and usually starts at the age of 30. The reason for this is that this type of hair loss depends on the extent to which the male hormone testosterone is converted in the scalp to another hormone dihydroxytestosterone. Although genetic hair loss takes place usually after the age of 30 in many cases but in some cases it starts to happen as early as your late teens. Genetic hair loss comes usually from the mother’s side of the family.

Genetic hair loss occurs due to the shortening of the hair's growth cycle, this in turn makes the hair thinner and shorter, and a time comes when the growth stalls completely. It is also responsible for developing bald patches and interacts with the hair follicles. The hereditary hair loss has a very predictable pattern, which is often followed from generation to generation so you can predict by seeing your father and his father how you will go. By the time men reach 50 years of age 50% of the men become bald. In case of men hair loss usually occurs on the crown or the top of the head starting with a receding hairline and leaving healthy hair on the back and sides of the head.

Through certain preventive measure people can slow down the process of baldness. These include using products that make the hair healthy and avoid certain things that damage hair and make them weak, as weak hair fall of easily.

by: Gary M. Miller


Patients having difficulty sleeping will often resort to a number of possible remedies that are available on the market today. Believe it or not, they aren’t always content with the traditional “counting of sheep” method! In order to easily doze off to sleep, it often requires much more than just an imaginary fence and a flock of sheep. Patients try different medical options that can help them to feel drowsier and eventually fall into that wonderful, peaceful rest they so desire.

There are many treatments and medications available today. Often patients use white noise devices or sleep pillows as an initial solution to their problem. If this doesn’t work, they will usually move to a more serious treatment. Among the more popular medications are the sleep drugs. Sleep drugs are especially successful in helping people who are having an especially hard time making themselves sleep. They use the drugs for only a short time in order to “re-train” their body clock into a normal schedule of sleep. Then, when they have caught up on their rest, they try to transition into a natural method. Over the counter sleep drugs are being used by many people who have an especially tough time sleeping. It is important, however, not to become dependant on these drugs. An FDA warning on sleep drug risks is very alarming as it shows that many people become dependant upon these drugs if they aren’t careful.

Medications for curing sleep problems are of two classes; benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepine are usually used for treatment of insomnia but can also be used for other sleep disorders such as in the case of the drugs Dolmane, Ativar, Restoril, Doral, Xanax, Halcion and Prosom. These types of medication are only to be taken for a short period of time. Continuous usage will very likely cause dependence and addiction to the product. Other side effects include a terrible hangover!

Non-benzodiazepine medications are said to be safer and can cause less dependence. Examples of these are Ambien, Sonata and Lunesta. They help to reduce the struggle of falling asleep without increasing the risk of dependence. It is still important, however, that you don’t rely on these pills all the time. They may still have different side-effects and characteristics that may be harmful to your long-term health. Ambien is a sleeping pill which is an excellent aid to better sleep. It affects you later on in the night and helps you to sleep more soundly. Sonata is also a good medication used by people who have difficulty dozing off. Finally, Lunesta is approved by the FDA for patients who are not able to get any sound sleep and is also a lot safer than the Benzodiapines.

Compared to the Benzodiazepines, non-Benzodiapines allow a patient to have a worthwhile sleep and, at the same time, avoid a lot of the risk associated with the Benzodiapine medications. They also don’t cause hangovers for patients using them! There is less risk of dependence and addiction to the drug and less harmful side effects.

Aside from all these other typed of medication for sleep problems, there are still a few others which should be mentioned. Rozerem is another medication that is approved by the FDA. It targets the brain and controls the sleep-wake cycle of the body. Because it targets the person’s brain and is found to be safe for older adults, it has also become very popular. Still, this product is not for use by people with severe cases of sleep Apnea or hepatic impairment or by anyone sensitive to such medications. A number of other medications are benadryl, atarax, and zopiclone. A person can also use chloralhydrate-oral but the FDA warns individuals of its adverse effect on the body.

Always be informed about the warnings of each drug so that you will not go wrong in using any of them. Also, don’t overuse any drug! Anything taken over its recommended dosage is not good. Sleep medications can be a great benefit to those suffering from the many disorders out there today. Still, always remember that an overdose of any drug can pose more danger to one’s health and should be properly prescribed by a doctor.

by: Toby Russell


When you look at the vast array and unusual types of clock which are manufactured its somewhat surprising that you will find that digital clocks are hard favorites for many people. These clock styles now come with a variety of options that today's techno fan will feel is necessary for day to day living. One slightly different type of alarm clock that you can[purchase these days is that of an alarm clock and mp3 player. This is Basically an alarm clock clock and an mp3 player which works together.

The numerous other types of digital alarm clock are widely available however you will not find these with an mp3 player everywhere. So for this reason when you are looking into the idea of purchasing one of these clocks you may want to see what the Net has in the way of recommendations. The user and purchaser reviews that you can find are a good way of weeding out alarm clock mp3 players which you may find difficult to obtaib or ones that have tons of problems to them.

These details are significant as without them you may end up acquiring a make or model on the back of being sucked into media and publicity ballyhoo which leaves out the true value of such a clock. When you are look for this[info you may want to see the choice of stores or online retailers where you can buy these clocks. The other significant information that you should look into is that of the price.

You will find that some of the more well known brands will be developed around certain items that customers look for. These may be the number of songs which can be stored in the memory of the player. The types of player styles that you can opt for while you have the alarm clock clock in mp3 mode may be another way that people look at choosing one of these clocks.

Once you have found out all of these details you to check out finding a sho near you to purchase your chosen model]of an alarm clock clock in mp3 player. Certainly depending on the time of year, its probably worth checking stock availability before travelling far to purchase as some may be in high demand. due to the popularity of the product, especially if its been extensively advertised..

Normally its always worthwhile to consider a second option, just incase your desired first choice is tricky to find, out of stock or just not all its cracked up to be The other bonus to planning out your purchase and doing some research is you end up with the right type of alarm clock with mp3 player for your needs and hopefully at an acceptable price

by: Susan Collmorgen


Perhaps dining out is something you and your family really enjoy doing. After all, it’s a great way to spend quality time together and engage in conversation, and you don’t have to be the one to cook the meal or clean up the mess. But can you really enjoy dining out together and still maintain a healthy lifestyle? The answer may surprise you.

When done in moderation, dining out can still fit in with a healthy family lifestyle. So long as you make wise food choices and keep nutritional value in mind, you can enjoy your dining experiences without the guilt. The following are five steps to guilt-free dining:

Step 1.) Skip the appetizers.

Most restaurant appetizers are high in fat and calories. Rich chip dips, mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and Buffalo wings are tempting, but they should be avoided if you wish to feel good about your food selections afterwards. Keep in mind that at many restaurants, the main course will automatically come with bread, salad, soup, or in the case of a Mexican restaurant, chips and salsa. If you simply must order an appetizer, limit it to one to share with everyone at the table.

Step 2.) Choose your entree carefully.

When it comes to your main dish, pay attention to the listed ingredients. Avoid items with cream sauces or high-fat meats. Pass on fried side items like French fries and onion rings as frying adds additional fat. Consider steamed vegetables or rice as a side dish, or ask for the side items to be left off completely.

Step 3.) Control your portions.

I cannot stress this enough. Whether dining out or eating at home, portion control is perhaps the most important factor to consider when trying to maintain healthy eating habits. When you can, order from the lunch menu since the portions are generally smaller. Also consider asking for a to-go box when placing your order so you can split your meal immediately and avoid the temptation of over indulging. This also gives you a second meal later. Another option would be to split an entrée with your spouse or child.

Step 4.) Avoid alcoholic beverages.

A mixed beverage or beer with your meal may be tempting, but try to limit alcoholic beverages to special occasions. Alcohol is very high in empty calories.

Step 5.) Say no to desserts.

Desserts may be hard to resist, but you’ll thank yourself for doing so. Not only are they very high in calories; they’re generally just as high in fat. If you’re really craving a dessert, make it a point to split one dessert with someone else. That way you’ll only take in half the fat and calories. Of course, on special occasions, it’s alright to cheat a little. Just don’t make it a habit.

by: Kristina Bogacheva


Russian Federation is the country that always had very high level of medical education. It was the first country in the world where was opened pediatric faculty (Russian State Medical University), first country in Europe where was opened medico-biological faculty (Russian State Medical University), it is the country where were made a lot of greatest medical discoveries, where were born a lot of greatest scientists.

Nowadays the row of Russian Universities was placed in the ten best Universities of rating of UNESCO. For example Moscow Medical Academy has the 2nd place in pointed rating. It proves that the medical education in Russia always had and has the best quality.

In accordance with national legislation of mature economies countries students that graduated any University registered by WHO have the same rights. No matter where University is. Much more important the personal merits of students. The most part of Russian Medical Universities is registered by WHO.

The cost of medical education in Russia is much less than in Europe and USA. So foreign students can get excellent education at acceptable price.

When foreign students study in Russia they get a chance to learn the treasure culture of this biggest country, to see the world famous places.

There are different agencies who can offer their help with entering medical Universities in Russia. One of well-known is Russian Educational Medical Center which can propose admission letters, invitations, accommodation services and other kind of help. It works with students of all nations and offers undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, nursing courses.

Use your chance! Get the best medical education with competitive price!

by: Brian Holland


I recently received several e mails from domain sellers who had fallen victim to a domain appraisal scam. The scam starts with a mail the seller receives concerning a domain they own and the scammer showing interest in buying it.

The scammers find information about their targets on Ebay and on Whois.

In the first mail they tell you that they are a new player wanting to invest money in the domain market as a side business and inquire how much you want for the domain.

Next step is the mail in which they accept your asking price for the domain. The scammers tell you that they want you to get the domain appraised as they don’t want to make a bad investment. The scammers want the appraisal from a certain manual appraisal website which they believe to be a good one, ofcourse this appraisal website is part of the scam. This appraisal website gives a highly inflated appraisal value and asks a high fee for it ( up to over a hundred dollars) as they know you need the appraisal to sell the domain.

The end of this story is that once you have mailed your appraisal you never hear from your buyers again. leaving you one hundred dollars poorer and an absolutely useless appraisal richer. This is a very cunningly operated scam and to show you how such a scam mail looks i give you a real example of such an email below.

Email 1:

Hello,

We ‘ve found your domain name listed for sale..

If you are still interested in selling please send your quote and I will

consider it with my partners.

Main direction of our business is software development and technical

support.

Domain names is not our business but a new way to earn on reselling. We are

going to buy domains to resell them at higher prices since we have a large

database of clients interested in good domains.

Looking forward to do business with you.

Regards,


Email 2:

You want 13,500 USD. Ok.

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

If it’s just the name it’s ok. A web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domains appraised already? Can you show me your valuation certificates? As far as I know it’s a common practice to show appraisal of domain name (even without traffic and web site) before doing business.

Without an appraisal I risk to overpay. In other words I won’t be able to make a profit on reselling this name. It’s very important for you and me to know the current market value of your domains.

Of course, we must be sure that you are engaging an appraisal company with REAL manual service. I heard many appraisal companies often made inaccurate auto-generated appraisals. I will only accept appraisals from independent sources I trust. To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies in a forum. (they now give you a link of a forum you have to check out)

Just check this posting.

If the appraisal comes higher you can adjust your asking price accordingly. I also hope you can give me 10 discount of the appraised value.

After I get an appraisal from you we’ll continue our negotiations.

How do you prefer to get paid: Escrow.com, PayPal.com check or wire?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.



So if you ever get an email like this, you know what to do. Scrap it. Just remember this wise saying that if something sounds too good to be true it probably is.

by: Valerie Nay


Every year during the holiday season TV, radio, newspapers and others talk a lot about the hazards of drunk driving and remind us to be careful. Extra police are on the streets and many cities set up sobriety checkpoints to catch drunk drivers on nights when there are likely to be more parties.

This extra focus reduces the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents and makes all of us safer on the road during the holidays.

Drunk drivers aren’t the only hazard on the road during the holidays, though. While most of us would never dream of getting behind the wheel drunk, we could still be creating serious dangers without thinking about it.

Holiday Madness

Juggling normal responsibilities with shopping, parties, and extra school events can make a normally safe driver a literal wreck. Even if you are always calm and collected, remember that other drivers may be more on edge than usual and take these precautions.

*Be extra patient and make allowances for other people and the mistakes they make. Don’t forget to watch out for pedestrians as well as other drivers.

*Try to keep your attention on what you are doing. Not only could they cause you to make a mistake, but cell phones, eating and other distractions keep you from paying attention to other people and the silly errors they can make.

*Be especially careful in parking lots crammed with cars and pedestrians at this time of year. Take it a little slower than normal to avoid fender benders or worse.

*Take note of your emotions and consider taking a break if you get too stressed out, irritated or emotional. Get a cup of coffee or tea and relax for 10 minutes before you dive back in to the frenzy.

Holiday Fatigue

Another danger that is often forgotten, but also a huge problem during this hectic time of year, is driving while drowsy. Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously the most dangerous result, but tired drivers also tend to be more irritable and impatient.

This year like normal there will no doubt be many people who leave work on Friday and start out on long-distance trips to be with family or friends. College students whose holiday break begin after classes on Friday may be headed home as well.

Here are some recommendations you should consider and pass along to family members and friends who may be traveling by car during the holidays:

*Don’t start your journey tired. Be aware of the risks if you get up unusually early to start your trip or leave directly from work or school when you are tired.

*Plan your trip to include a 15-minute break every two hours.

*Make sure that you and everyone on your trip is carrying emergency contact information and valid identification.

*Share the driving if possible. Safety experts recommend switching off every three hours.

*You’re too tired to drive if you start drifting from your lane, hitting rumble strips, yawning repeatedly, having difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open, missing road signs or tailgating. Pull over to a safe place as soon as possible, drink a high caffeine drink and take a 15-minute nap.

by: Mark Walters


There are some ways to protect a stock portfolio, and increase leverage, through investing in bullion, which cannot be found in any other investment. For one thing, bullion can be kept at home and traded at the local store. Many of the investors who survived the 1920 stock crash did so by using their gold. The more volatile the economy becomes, the higher the demand for bullion grows. The more risk banks’ take one, the higher the price of bullion grows.

There are two main bullions traded in North America, gold and silver. Silver is starting to interest many investors because the stock piled supply is gone. Every year the demand outstrips the supply by a larger percentage.

However, investing in bullion is not risk free. An investor can lose if they do not manage their portfolio wisely.

#1 Volatility Increases the Value of Bullion

In most cases, when fears increase, inflation climbs, banks fail, stocks spiral in a bear market, and the gurus stop making predictions then bullions increase in value.

#2 Timing is Everything

Many investors like to follow the reports, however, most of the time the moment has passed by the time the report is released. To pick the right time to buy and sell bullion the investor needs to take a global look at the markets. The central banks are not the ones to follow – in fact, they are the ones following the trends.

Bullion investors should be leading the markets, taking advantage of the economy dynamics, and paying attention to the non monetary considerations.

#3 Do Not Trust Strategies

Bullion does not follow the strategies and trends the way other markets do. Returns from a "buy and hold" strategy can overcome inherent volatility. Many investors try to outsmart the market by hyperactive trading. Success depends on the occurrence of "fat tail" events that lie outside the trading models.

#4 Beware Passive Investing

Many investors sit on bullion as if it was cash that can be sold at a profit when they want to sell, whenever that is. This is not true. It is impossible to decide one morning to sell some bullion and earn a bit of extra cash without understanding what is happening in the world.

#5 Invest in Mining

Equities of mining companies offer more leverage than ownership of a metal. Metal equities appear expensive in comparison to regular companies because they contain an imbedded option component for a possible increase in the metal’s price.

The share price sensitivity to a possible increase in metal price is related to the cash flow from current production.

#6 Gold Fever

Bullion is a solid investment, but being caught up in gold fever. Avoid offbeat "exploration" mines with little or no current production and large appetites for money. Speculate only with solid companies who have done their research.

#7 Bullion Coins

When buying bullion, do not accept certificates. If the gold is to be stored, then expect it to be stored in a segregated vault, subject to unscheduled audits. Better yet, if possible, store the gold yourself.

Do not value a coin on the ‘mint’ value it has. Dealers may try to increase a coin’s value based on the year it was minted, or a certain face value it may have. Bullion is invested based on its purity, not its face value.

#8 Bullion Purity

Not all bullion is the same quality. There are different purities. Buying bullion from a less than reputable dealer may have the investor with a greatly depreciated portfolio.

#9 Do Not Trust the Gurus

Gold is a controversial, anti establishment investment. Its value is not controlled by the banks, or by a single government. Conventional financial media and brokerage house commentaries will not help the gold investor.

#10 Observe the Intangibles

A natural disaster, a pandemic, an airline crash, can send the price of bullion far higher than its current price – by several multiples. This is what gold investors wait for.

These 10 commandments of investing in bullion can help an investor build wealth and protect their portfolio through the next few decades.

by: Maria Sandella


When you are caring for a parent it is important to keep in regular contact with the medical community. Talking regularly with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and social workers is critical in making the best decisions you can. Not only will this help you to get results, but it also will give you peace of mind. Talking with healthcare professionals comes down to three things.

1. Giving them all pertinent information about your parent so they can make an informed medical opinion.

2. Asking the right questions to get the information and answers to any questions you or your parent has, this will help you when it comes time to make decisions.

3. Getting the information, services and the quality of care your parent deserves.

While you may want to know everything about your parent’s health condition, they may be reluctant to tell you everything you want to know. It's important that you respect their decision in regards to how much information they are willing to share with you or how willing they are to communicate with their doctor or nurses. All you can do is inform them of the importance of communicating in regards to their health, and that your main concern is they receive both safe and effective care.

If your parent is hesitant to talk to the doctor, but is open with you, you can, with your parents permission talk to the doctor or nurse yourself. If you are the one to talk to the doctor make sure you ask questions. Write any questions you have on paper before hand. This way you won't forget to ask anything important. It is just as important to receive information from the doctor as it is to give information to the doctor. The doctor needs all relevant information about your parent in order to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the proper treatment that is both safe and effective.

In addition to doctors, it's important that both you and your parent talk to other health care professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and dieticians.

Nurses are trained in patient education and counseling. A nurse can explain the doctor's diagnosis and teach you how to follow any treatment required, take blood pressure at home, and how to give injections.

Pharmacists are experts in drugs. They are there to answer any questions you may have regarding the medication the doctor has prescribed. They will inform you of any side effects to watch for and how to use the medication properly.

Social Workers are available to help you navigate the social security system and the medical care. If there are programs available to help you, a social worker will direct you in that direction.

Dieticians are available to provide information on meal planning. Certain medical conditions require a special diet and a dietician can help you set up the proper diet for your needs.

As a caregiver you are now also your parents advocate. While the medical profession has the medical expertise, the quality of service and attention are not always there, so you have to take an active role in getting the best service possible.

by: Tom Ryan


I caught the astronomy bug at an early age. It was right after my dinosaur-obsession and right before my car-obsession. Unfortunately, my interest in astronomy ended as abruptly as it began and on a very sour note. It took almost 30 years for me to decide to take it up again, and when I did it was hard to imagine waiting so long. Upon reflection, I realized I didn’t just stop; I stopped out of anger and frustration. My mother confirmed this recalling that when I was about 8 years old, my father and I went out with my little telescope for the first time. A half hour later when we came back in I wanted nothing more to do with it and wouldn’t even talk about it! It’s very easy to get a child interested in astronomy but it’s even easier for them to get frustrated and quit. I’ve come up with four suggestions that I feel may help you avoid the pitfalls I experienced and inspire your future scientist to take up the amazing hobby of astronomy and enjoy it for a lifetime!

First, you don’t need a telescope for an astronomy hobby. You heard that right! The very best way to start out is by learning about what you’re looking at. And you don’t need any equipment to do it. Get a book on constellations, sit down with your future astronomer (during the day), and start with the constellations that are visible for that time of year. Learn to identify the patterns, associate them with their names, and read the stories behind the historical characters they are named after. Kids have amazing memories and are fantastic at learning patterns and associating the names with them. Perfect for constellations! Check out science kits, science toys, and Janice VanCleave science experiment books, they are a great way to get started. After your child has become familiar with and can identify some of the constellations in the book, wait for a dark clear night, lie out on a blanket, and identify as many as you can. It will be so much fun you will count the days until the next time you go stargazing!

Now let’s talk about what you can and cannot see. The moon is amazing to look at through either binoculars or a telescope, but it’s bright so make sure you have a moon filter so you don’t hurt your eyes! A moon filter is like wearing sunglasses, it reduces the amount of light entering your eye(s). And don’t observe the moon when it’s full, it’s too washed out. Shadows bring out details in craters and other landscape features. Meteor showers are fun and there are schedules that will tell you when and where to look for them. Constellations are easy to see with the naked eye, but try to go out during a new moon (also called a dark moon) or close to it. The brighter the moon the harder it is to see celestial objects. With binoculars you will be able to see many open clusters and globular clusters, quite beautiful! With a low powered telescope you’ll be able to see both types of clusters, some double stars, and a few nebulae. You may also get to see Jupiter and Saturn. The only galaxy you should expect to see is Andromeda (M31), the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way. Unless you live under extremely dark skies and have a big telescope, galaxies are just too faint and too far away to see. Even Andromeda will look like a faint fuzzy in most parts of the country.

This leads right into my second postulate. Objects seen through a telescope rarely look like the clear, colorful, large photos you see. The human eye is unable to see the color that can be picked up by a camera. Therefore, a nebula that shows up in photos with wonderful reds and purples, and sticks out in sharp contrast to neighboring stars will look gray, faint, and ghostly through your telescope. And that’s if you can see it at all. Jupiter will show some color, but the image will be very small in your eyepiece and making out details will be difficult. I’m not saying the objects you see will be disappointing, quite the contrary. But if expectations are set too high for a child, the let-down can be damaging. Learning about the objects first will make them much more interesting to observe.

Let’s take the following example: Imagine looking at a globular cluster (personally, my favorite object in the sky). Looks pretty amazing through your telescope, believe me. But look at it again knowing its M-13 or Messier 13, the Hercules Cluster, the best globular cluster north of the celestial equator. This is a naked eye object under very dark skies with 500,000 stars extending 150 light years across and a distance of 26,000 light years from Earth. Discovered by Edmond Halley (of Halley’s Comet) in 1714. While Messier never saw its individual stars, even a small telescope brings out the details in this magnificent mass of stars. This globular cluster is about 14 billion years old! Three dark rifts radiate outward from near the center, like a dark “propeller”. M-13 is located in the constellation Hercules, son of Zeus, the hero who was made to perform twelve great tasks to cleanse himself after he went temporarily insane, killing his wife and children. Even if your child can’t grasp all the concepts, do you see how the constellation and the objects now have life?

Third, (as I’ve previously mentioned) you need to manage a child’s expectations. If they expect to see a big, bright, colorful object, and they end up having to struggle to see a bland, blurry one that takes you a long time to find, they will get frustrated and lose interest. Kids have big imaginations as we can see by the cartoons they watch. Their world is big, loud, and colorful and their attention span is short. It also depends on what age your child is. The Janice VanCleave science experiment books are for kids 8 years and older, and that’s probably a good age to start them with a telescope. They may be interested in constellations at an earlier age but when it comes time to look at things through the telescope it’s a little tougher. Astronomy can be a slow and deliberate hobby, with beauty in the very subtle details of the objects. As a parent you need to decide when to start your child in this fantastic hobby. If they have become interested, teach them as much as they can soak up!

And fourth, when you are ready to buy a telescope, don’t buy a cheap piece of junk! Now let me tell you how I really feel. ? You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but buying an inferior scope is a recipe for disaster. Walking through department stores you’ll notice the no-name brand telescopes being sold that advertise 400x power (sounds good, right?) and show beautiful large color pictures of heavenly objects on the box. As we’ve discussed, you won’t be seeing those objects on the box the way they are shown, but it’s a nice marketing tool. Cheap telescopes don’t focus well and 400 power just blurs images. A low power scope with quality optics is the best way to go, and they are inexpensive. A great source on the web is Science Store for the Stars for telescopes and Janice VanCleave science books.

Years after I put my telescope into “storage”, I got it out again and took it apart to see what was inside. The primary mirror was basically a piece of tin foil that reflected the little bit of light it could muster onto a small mirror that looked just like the hand mirror a dentist puts into your mouth. It was a complete piece of junk! It never focused or showed anything in detail. Even the moon was blurry. No wonder I angrily quit the hobby! Of course there was no way for my parents to know, and how would you?

Very briefly let’s talk about telescopes. The purpose of a telescope is to first, capture light with the primary mirror or refracting lens(s), and second, to focus it (with an eyepiece) into a clear and sharp image. The eyepieces are what give you different powers (also called magnifications). One lesson I learned rather quickly was that you don’t need an expensive, large, and powerful scope to see some of the best objects in the sky. But you do need a quality telescope. There are many different designs of telescopes, but there are really only 2 types; refractors and reflectors. Refractor telescopes use lenses like binoculars to refract or bend the light coming in. Reflectors, on the other hand, use a primary mirror which reflects light to a smaller secondary mirror, then through an eyepiece (a lens) before it gets to your eye. There are many different kinds of reflectors including the Dobsonian, SCT or Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Maksutov-Cassegrain, Newtonian reflectors, Ritchey-Chretien, and others. We won’t get into the specifics of these, but the different types of reflectors all basically work the same way; by reflecting light.

If you start by learning about the constellations and other celestial objects and manage your child’s expectations, they will appreciate what they see. When it comes time to buy a telescope, do your research! There are plenty of inexpensive telescopes with quality optics out there. Try Science Store for the Stars for great starter scopes by Smithsonian and Educational Insights. Both are affordable with high quality optics. They also have Janice VanCleave science books on astronomy and constellations. If you follow these guidelines, you and your young astronomer will enjoy the hobby of astronomy for a lifetime!

Copyright © Thomas J Ryan - Science Store for the Stars 2007

by: Rebecca Latham


As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are painted “in miniature”.

Early Beginnings

Miniature painting is a traditional style of art that is very detailed, often referred to as painting or working “in miniature”. Because of their origins as illuminations, they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome as well) Miniature art can be traced back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England's Lindisfarne Gospels (both of which measure around 9" x 12"). Some early manuscripts contain miniature paintings on their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower arrangements on their borders. The history of miniature painting is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures.

Miniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many were not able to, before printing was invented. The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written word. Therefore, the art of miniature painting is directly connected to the book arts. The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature, portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits – paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to as “hand held miniatures”. Portrait miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all painted works that were of a larger size.

Sizes

Miniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered miniature art, though this is not the case. It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term "miniature" have nothing to do with a size. The word miniature comes from the terms 'minium' (used for the red lead paint used in illuminated manuscripts) and 'miniare' (Latin for 'to color with red lead').

Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and as such, a wall sized work could be painted “in miniature”. Authors of the Yale University Press publication, “The English Miniature” have stated that miniatures have been painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirm that miniature paintings are not restricted to smallness. Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to detail is observed. Miniature art is also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniature painting.

Exhibitions

Today, there are miniature art societies in western society to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the “spirit of miniature”. Their exhibitions feature the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of it's natural size, or the 2” rule, that an object in the painting may not exceed 2”. Scale rules were initially put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for society miniature works as well. All of these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.

Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size, such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical criteria of the miniature's definition. The world's experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.

The term "miniature", as it addresses miniature painting, is often confused with "miniaturize" and some miniature art exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it's initial meaning of techniques, but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.

Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or intimate hand held works.

Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, & Patrick Noon.

Posted by The Oregonian

In the 2000 election, Oregon voters passed Measure 3, designed to protect the property rights of the criminally accused. Under prior law, a person accused of a crime could have certain property forfeited before he was convicted. Measure 3 advocates argued that it was unfair to deprive a person of his property before being found guilty of the offense.

The loudest voices against Measure 3 came from animal shelters and humane societies. They feared they would be overwhelmed by the cost of caring for animals seized in abuse and neglect cases until the case was resolved. Since criminal cases typically take months or even years to resolve, the cost in terms of dollars and shelter space would be difficult to bear.

Voters approved Measure 3, and the predictions have come true. Animal shelters and humane societies across the state have been charged with caring for animals that wait and languish in shelters for months on end until the criminal proceedings are concluded.

Sadly, when an animal is seized in an abuse or neglect case and brought into a shelter that is already full, another animal might be euthanized to make space available. While the animal waits in the shelter for the legal process to run its course, that space is unavailable to other animals who need to be housed before being put up for adoption. The end result is that shelters are pressured to either not accept animals who need shelter, find other agencies to take the animals, or simply euthanize them.

The law increasingly recognizes that animals are not like other forms of property. They suffer, they have complex needs, and they deserve to live their lives in loving and responsible homes. Unlike a stolen car or piece of jewelry, they can't be locked in storage and forgotten until a case is resolved.

Measure 3 should be amended to provide an exemption for animals seized in abuse and neglect cases. If a veterinarian certifies to the police and courts that an animal has been the victim of intentional abuse and/or neglect, the law should provide a process for immediately forfeiting the animal to a shelter or humane society so that a loving home can be found.

Measure 3 was well-intended, but it contains a fatal flaw -- one that spells tragedy for animals in our community and throughout our state.

-- Scott Beckstead

Written by Lindsay Knapp

In addition to email sent to me from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I get regular emails from NASA with the latest round of Hubble photos. The pictures are always extraordinary, and the language used to describe their content is fascinating. Somewhere in that huge cache of left-brained scientists there's a poet or two, and always a phrase that catches my mind and lingers, wandering between the hemispheres. This is the one that captivated me a few months ago: "Special relativity overthrows Newtonian notions of absolute space and time by stating that distance and time depend on the observer, and that time and space are perceived differently, depending on the observer."

So what on Earth would make someone think of garden design when reading about theoretical physics? Look at the idea again, from the observer's standpoint: where I am viewing, and when I am viewing, dictate what I am viewing. Most designs have the where and the what, but lack the when. Ignoring the element of time deprives the observer of the complete view that designing for the fourth dimension provides.

So what kind of time are we talking about? Time of day, of course, and time of year, because these control both the amount and the quality of available light. It is also time in terms of age. As I wander through Deering Oaks Park here in Portland, the view in 2007 is dramatically different than I would have seen a century ago. A century from now, it will be different still. The trees will change, the skyline will change, and the ethos of the people will change. What changes ethos? Culture. What changes culture? Time.

Does the fact that I grew up in a culture where women voted, and went out to work and burned bras and marched in protest affect the way I see the landscape? Of course. I am a product of my time, and a product of my age. How I view what I see is a result of both. There's a perfect example of this at the far edge of the same park, in the form of a very Victorian, very elaborate rose garden. I don't know how I would perceive this space if it weren't disconnected from the Park by a thoroughfare, and I don't know how I might have perceived this space had I viewed it when it was young or I was younger, but I see it now as an island of physical and cognitive dissonance. The site hasn't changed, but because I have, because the traffic, the city, and the culture has, this particular garden is out of sync with time itself.

So why are there gardens for which time has stopped, gardens in which you are transported to another era with such ease you barely notice the shift, gardens through which you walk as if gowned, cloaked in the very air of the period? Again, the answer is time and space. When the physical space of the garden is large enough, when the passage through requires that we submit ourselves for a substantial piece of time, our world and our time falls away. Without the distance such time and space affords, we remain connected to the present circumstance and never have the chance to leave ourselves behind.

Although the rest of the Park is seldom without sound and I am not so removed from the world that I don't notice traffic moving on all sides, the fifteen-minute walk one end to the other is all I need to experience that shift. I focus on the trees, magnificently old, and the way the light floats through the leaves in Summer or falls to the still ground in Winter. There is enough time and enough space for me to see them as they were. I don't know how many minutes or how many steps set the threshold for enough, but the poor little rose garden has neither. It has been severed from its past and cast adrift in our present. Without the anchor of time, it is mere relic.

There is a sadness to relics, a melancholy born of death. We marvel at the civilization that created the object, but even as we admire we know we are looking into a culture that time has swept away. We can uncover the bones, reassemble the shards, study the architecture, and duplicate the jewels, but we cannot bring the culture back to life. A garden, though, is supposed to be alive, and so the pain of witnessing its living death is all the more acute. If we cannot, for want of space, be pulled back to the time of the garden's origin, we must move the garden forward in time.

There are two components to this understanding of time and space: that of keeping the garden grounded in the esoteric sense, and that of grounding in the very real sense. To me, taking care to provide sufficient physical space is easy, and yet it's the very thing that seems to confound people. You'll have no confusion, though, if you keep this image in mind: when you buy most plants, they're two-year-old toddlers. Just as the toddler human will outgrow his crib seemingly overnight, the toddler plant will outgrow its earthen equivalent. We can replace the crib with a full-sized bed to accommodate the child's growth, but if we have not provided the plant with ample space it has nowhere to go. Imagine a gangly teenager in a trundle bed and you get the idea.

When we tuck a shrub or a tree into a spot that we know is too small for the mature size, we intend for all the world to move it in a few years when it's bigger, but those years roll by in a heartbeat. It still looks okay where it is, so we leave it for a couple more. The next time we look, it's too big to move without heavy equipment, and so there it stays. We hack away at offending branches and learn to ignore the confused tangle where it conflicts with some other shrub or tree and the dead spots where it's given up trying to grow altogether.

Real stewardship of our land requires that we plant only those things we can truly provide for in terms of space, and over time. The joy of watching the plant flourish is every bit as satisfying as the immediate gratification of an impulsive buy at the nursery - and longer lived. When I visit properties I designed a decade ago and see in reality landscapes that existed only in my head, I am almost ridiculously happy. Fat, sturdy tree trunks that support big, healthy branches, shrubs that have doubled, perennials that have quadrupled in size - now that's fun. It's long-range fun, I grant you, but fun nonetheless.

I wonder what I will see when I look a decade from now, and what others will observe in the decades after that. I wonder how they will feel as they watch the light float through the leaves of a tree I planted, or smell a magnolia, or fill a bowl with peonies. Landscapes are spaces we leave for the times that follow.

Posted by The Oregonian

In the 2000 election, Oregon voters passed Measure 3, designed to protect the property rights of the criminally accused. Under prior law, a person accused of a crime could have certain property forfeited before he was convicted. Measure 3 advocates argued that it was unfair to deprive a person of his property before being found guilty of the offense.

The loudest voices against Measure 3 came from animal shelters and humane societies. They feared they would be overwhelmed by the cost of caring for animals seized in abuse and neglect cases until the case was resolved. Since criminal cases typically take months or even years to resolve, the cost in terms of dollars and shelter space would be difficult to bear.

Voters approved Measure 3, and the predictions have come true. Animal shelters and humane societies across the state have been charged with caring for animals that wait and languish in shelters for months on end until the criminal proceedings are concluded.

Sadly, when an animal is seized in an abuse or neglect case and brought into a shelter that is already full, another animal might be euthanized to make space available. While the animal waits in the shelter for the legal process to run its course, that space is unavailable to other animals who need to be housed before being put up for adoption. The end result is that shelters are pressured to either not accept animals who need shelter, find other agencies to take the animals, or simply euthanize them.

The law increasingly recognizes that animals are not like other forms of property. They suffer, they have complex needs, and they deserve to live their lives in loving and responsible homes. Unlike a stolen car or piece of jewelry, they can't be locked in storage and forgotten until a case is resolved.

Measure 3 should be amended to provide an exemption for animals seized in abuse and neglect cases. If a veterinarian certifies to the police and courts that an animal has been the victim of intentional abuse and/or neglect, the law should provide a process for immediately forfeiting the animal to a shelter or humane society so that a loving home can be found.

Measure 3 was well-intended, but it contains a fatal flaw -- one that spells tragedy for animals in our community and throughout our state.

-- Scott Beckstead

The Daily Republic

It’s not that we approve of drug abuse. We don’t.

And we do take a very dim view of armed robbery. Really, we do.

But a 62-year prison sentence for using a BB gun to stick up a pharmacy for prescription painkillers?

It seems like a lot to us.

Seventh Circuit Judge Jeff Davis sentenced Terry Vicars, 32, to 62 years in the state penitentiary for robbing a Walgreen’s pharmacy in Rapid City on July 19. Vicars got away with more than 2,000 tablets of morphine and OxyContin, both highly addictive drugs.

Vicars will have to serve at least 75 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole, which means he’ll be in prison for the next 46 years. Since he’d be at least 78, if and when he gets out, that’s effectively a life sentence.

Vicars had a criminal history that included convictions for receiving stolen property, possession of drugs with intent to deliver and criminal conspiracy.

Then there’s the BB gun, masquerading as a deadly weapon in the commission of a robbery.

All of that is a strong argument for increasing his prison time.

The question is, how much?

In many jurisdictions, people who commit murder or manslaughter get less prison time than 45 years.

What he did go in to that store with is an addiction to drugs. He’ll go to prison with one, too.

We taxpayers can either pay to keep drug addicts in prisons for the rest of their lives, or we can choose to spend more of our state and federal prison budgets to treat drug abuse.

While we think Vicars should spend some serious time behind bars, we’d most like to see that time tied to treatment of his drug addiction.

We aren’t soft on crime, nor do we think the Walgreen’s robber should get a slap-on-the-wrist sort of prison sentence.

But 62 years?

Rapid City Journal

Gov. Mike Rounds has a plan to earmark about $10 million to be distributed in loans for energy conservation projects on government and school buildings throughout the state.

Though all $10 million will be in loans, according to Rounds’ press secretary Mitch Krebs, the loan money will be divided evenly between two basic categories: 1) local governments and schools and 2) state government buildings including Board of Regents institutions.

It’s a smart idea.

Promoting conservation just makes sense in terms of being responsible with the energy we use. Plus, the bonus is that the money saved by developing and implementing the projects will go toward paying back the loans.

Sounds like a win-win scenario.

The governor said the loans will carry a 4 percent interest rate. He also said projects designed to conserve the most energy - and subsequently most likely to repay the loans the quickest - will be given top priority. Ideal conservation projects will likely include improvements involving weatherization, lighting and heating.

Conserving energy is important. And it’s something that Americans, in general, haven’t been the most conscientious about, historically. Consider the facts. According to the Energy Information Administration, America has 5 percent of the world’s population but consumes more than 20 percent of the planet’s resources and about a quarter of all the energy used in the world.

Given facts like these, it’s good to know that our governor — and our state government — are ready to step up to the plate and do their part to conserve both our state’s energy and its dollars.

Each of us can play a role in conserving energy every day. By performing simple tasks such as turning lights off after leaving a room and programming heating thermostats might seem like small things, but they things add up.

Conserving energy is a smart thing to do.

Let’s all do our part.

Aberdeen American News

Posted by: Ashish Ghoda

It is critical for any organizations and IT professionals to develop systems that can transform organizations Information Technology Center from Cost Center to Profit Making Center delivering maximum business values and customer satisfaction.

In the first part of the article we will discuss about the Business Enabled Applications and how to implement them. In the second part of the article we will be discussing about the 3 Ps (Be Professional, Be Positive and Be Practical) require to implement Business Enabled Applications.

What is Business Enabled Application?

Business Enabled Applications are Information Technology Driven Applications that implies a balanced approach among customers requirements,organization strategies, business values and quality standards.

The following is a simple formula of the Business Enabled Applications:

Balanced Requirements Implementation + Balanced Quality Standards + In Time Delivery + Under Budget = Business Enabled Applications

Business Enabled Applications tend to drive organizations towards profit. Proper alignment of Business Enabled Applications with organizations strategies ultimately helps organizations to transform Information Technology Center from Cost Center to Profit Making Center.

Features of Business Enabled Applications

Business Enabled Applications mainly focus on both angles of the business – Customers and Organization Strategies i.e. stakeholders. The Fig 1 demonstrates user-centric and business driven key features of Business Enabled Applications.

Figure 1: Key Features of Business Enabled Applications



User-Centric Key Features of Business Enabled Applications

User-centric applications are focused on mainly three factors – Users, Users and Users. Users are empowered to
configure services and feature sets of applications very easily based on their needs.

* Easy to Understand

Users should be able to understand the application without any major training and can easily make it a part of their day-to-day life cycle. Simplicity is a key for success. Simplified and consistent applications are more usable and are more accepted by the end users.

* Easy to Customize

In this global market space it is very critical that applications and services are developed considering different cultures, geographies, users’ requirements and business processes. If user can customize the applications/services based on their needs, applications become more usable and user can operate without any problems.

* Flexible

If application is based upon loosely coupled services and generic and open technology platform; the applications will be more flexible and will enable users to customize based on their requirements. These types of application can easily adopt changes in business processes, requirements and advancement in technology.

* Seamless Integration

All services and features of an application should be integrated in a fashion that end users feel a seamless flow of features and services across the application. Seamless integrated services and features of the application improve the usability of the application.

* Well Performing and Stable

Applications are usable only when the performance of the application is acceptable to end users and they are errors free. A balanced approach utilizing right technology and features at right time makes the application well performing, stable and easy to maintain.

Business driven applications are focused on mainly three factors – Organization Strategies, Quality and Cost. The following are business driven key features of Business Enabled Applications.

* Quality Services

Consistent delivery of high-quality products is a key factor to remain top in the market. Every organization has to focus on three areas to deliver consistent high-quality products and services:

1. Quality of the products

Stability, Scalability, Usability, High Performance and Maintainability are key components to measure and monitor the quality of products and services.

2. Quality of the (customer) services

Organizations need to grow loyal customers. The Customer centric support and maintenance model is essential to keep customers happy and thus loyal to the products.

3. Quality of the organizational processes and standards

Standard and unified organizational processes and standards are required to implement quality products and services. Organizations have to keep their eyes open and rather than having orthodox processes and standards, should be adjustable enough to meet current market challenges.

* Business Processes Streamline

In order to achieve maximum benefits from IT products and IT centers, organizational business processes need to be streamlined and accommodate to adopt required changes to support globalization, advancement in the Information Technology and requirements from the stakeholders and customers. Innovative approach will certainly bring success towards streamlining business processes.

* Agile and Cohesive IT Model

Traditional IT/software model does not suite today’s agile environment where there is daily advancements in the Information Technology, continuously changing customer’s requirements and expectation of faster, better and cheaper products delivering high business values. Organizations have to implement an optimized, diversified, agile and cohesive IT organization model that can facilitate global and virtual environment and provide a flexible service oriented technology platform to adopt changes in the technology and customer requirements.

* Regulatory Policies Compliance

One of the key organization components to stay out of the trouble is to follow regulatory policies and rules. Implement processes and define standards to continue monitor and measure regulatory policies like document retention and also adjust organization IT model to incorporate them within IT products.

* Return on Investment

The return on Information Technology investment cannot only be measured by the returned profit. There are various factors that can impact the ROI of the Information Technology. Along with the financial profit, the ROI is also measured against the gain in the productivity, efficiency and business values, improved customer confidence and satisfaction and ease to implement changes based on regulatory policies, advancement in technology and changes in customer needs.

Texas House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam issued the following statement today concerning Attorney General Abbott’s opinion in the Speaker’s power saga:

"No one should be surprised by Greg Abbott’s ruling. From the start, many other Texans and I expressed concern that the financial ties between Abbott and Craddick raise serious doubts about the fairness and independence of the opinion process. They are wed at the hip by the same donors, and the public record makes that clear (according to the Ethics Commission, they have taken more than $13.6 million in combined contributions from sources that gave $2,500 or more to each man). Unfortunately, Texas’ current Republican leadership puts allegiance to one another over the fundamentals of democracy. The result is what anyone would expect from the legacy of Tom DeLay politics.

“Beneath the tortured legal reasoning is this fundamental fact: Greg Abbott threw a lifeline to his ally Tom Craddick. Craddick’s lawyers concocted the notion that the Speaker serves a fixed two-year term and the Speaker that House members elect cannot be removed without Senate permission—what a joke. Now, his political partner Greg Abbott has backed up that ridiculous claim. They hope this AG Opinion will prevent any honest debate of the dictatorial and undemocratic methods we have come to expect. In that hope, they are wrong.

“No person with a common sense understanding of the fundamentals in our country, much less a trained lawyer, can condone Abbott’s opinion that Craddick should have the absolute power of a Tito, Mussolini or Stalin. If Greg Abbott really believes that, then we need a new Attorney General.

“Tom Craddick’s refusal to let members vote on his removal was the ultimate in political cowardice. Abbott’s silence regarding Craddick’s refusal to recognize members for that debate shows an equal lack of spine. As many work to ensure the rights of free men and women are available around the world, and as Texans are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan right now for those rights, it is regrettable that those same rights are absent in the Texas House, and that Greg Abbott condones that.

“The ruling means one thing: Texans must vote for representatives who will elect new leadership for the Texas House in January 2009.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by Vince Leibowitz

By Staff and wire reports
Salem News

(page 1 of 2)View as a single page
"The food service people fired up the oven and they're eating pizza ... and Christmas cookies (and) sharing them with people who couldn't get home."

- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charlie Baker of Swampscott on how his company dealt with the traffic delays caused by Thursday afternoon's snowstorm.

"Of all the names released yesterday ... Roger Clemens hurt the most."

- Sports columnist Bill Burt on Thursday's release of the Mitchell Report that listed current and former Major League Baseball players believed to have used steroids.

"She has forced us many times, in nice ways, to think outside the box."

- Beverly School Supt. James Hayes thanking outgoing School Committee President Nancy Brusil for her service. After 10 years on the board, Brusil chose not to seek re-election to her Ward 4 seat on the board last fall.

"Nobody wants to admit they're slow or struggling, but the economy is really taking its toll on restaurants."

Milissa Oraibi, co-owner of Beverly's Wild Horse Cafe, on why she and her fellow restaurateurs opposed Mayor Bill Scanlon's proposal - since withdrawn - to increase the number of liquor licenses in the city.

"I think time demonstrated that we had made a wonderful choice at that time."

- The Rev. Andrew Demotses, chairman of the Peabody Council on Aging, on Denis Coleman, right, who retires next month as director of senior services for the city. Demotses was on the committee that help pick Coleman for the job 25 years ago.

"They're part of the community whether you like or not."

- Ward 5 Councilor David Gamache, explaining that the City Council had no legal grounds to prevent the Golden Banana strip club on Route 1 from reopening next week.

"It's punishment for a previous life, I'm sure."

- Political consultant Michael Goldman on the trips he's made to Iowa on behalf of presidential candidates. He spoke before members of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.

"The Arctic is screaming."

- Mark Serreze, a senior scientist at the government's snow and ice data center in Boulder, Colo., speaking about how the melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer.



"I still have hopes the people in Iraq will appreciate us being there. It just seems like we are making a difference."

- Daniel Laird, a California man who leans Republican and was questioned in an AP survey that showed more people believe the U.S. is making progress in Iraq and will eventually be able to claim some success there.

"He understood that some of the things he was doing in life and off the field were dangerous, and he told me he feels lucky that he's alive and not hurt, and now it's all about the future." - Michael Vick's longtime family attorney Lawrence Woodward, after Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his involvement in the killing of dogs.

"Access to information is a strength, not a threat, and it is a fundamental part of innovation." - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a speech in China, where communist leaders maintain a firm grip on all media.

"I still have hopes the people in Iraq will appreciate us being there. It just seems like we are making a difference."

- Daniel Laird, a California man who leans Republican and was questioned in an AP survey that showed more people believe the U.S. is making progress in Iraq and will eventually be able to claim some success there.

"He understood that some of the things he was doing in life and off the field were dangerous, and he told me he feels lucky that he's alive and not hurt, and now it's all about the future." - Michael Vick's longtime family attorney Lawrence Woodward, after Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his involvement in the killing of dogs.

"Access to information is a strength, not a threat, and it is a fundamental part of innovation." - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a speech in China, where communist leaders maintain a firm grip on all media.

Posted by: prabasiva

IT Strategy formation process (from vision statement to IT balanced Scorecard) is not a unique and dedicated process for information technology field. The process is based on Kaplan & Norton methodologies are not only well known but widely used for any functional strategy (like corporate strategy, business strategy, marketing strategy etc) formation. It is generic and simple to follow by any one in the organization.

The unified strategy formation for any functional area ensures it aligns with the overall corporate strategy and the performance measurement (IT scorecard) is folded under the corporate balanced scorecard.

It is relatively easy to come up with a good strategy for any organization or functional area within the organization as long as the methodologies, approaches of the strategy formation is understood and direction of the organization are clear with the stakeholder of the process. The real upbeat challenge is to execute the strategy to meet the vision. Strategy execution is the area where most of the organization struggle.

That is where the enterprise architecture of the organization can assist the come up with the right initiatives to meet the target defined for the strategic objectives (a bubble in the strategy map is a strategic objective)

Enterprise architecture is not a strategy. It is tool used to implement the IT strategy. EA will provide the realistic picture what can be done in current year to meet the strategy. It will assist what are the measures the organization can use for each strategic objective. The target for each measure shall be decided by the executive management of the organization. The initiatives to meet the target can be selected based on the information available in the enterprise architecture.

This concept not only works but is very effective. Can you imagine how to create initiatives for Business – IT alignment, improve the innovation with in the organization, maximize the return on IT investment? It will become clear and realistic if you use the EA. I will soon create a case study with IT strategy implementation using Enterprise architecture.

By Bill Plante , Staff writer
Salem News

What I want to know is this: What does the Fed dropping the short-term interest rate a quarter of a percentage point have to do with the price of hamburg?

The governors of the Federal Reserve System don't seem to be worried about inflation - probably because they're cooped up with computers that measure everything but how ordinary people live.

Better they should use my inflation counter. It doesn't measure stats, it just references the cheapest mix of hamburg at a supermarket meat counter. This week, it was $1.89, pre-frozen with 15 percent fat content. Too much? Try a mix of beef and pork at $1.30.

I don't do much shopping anymore, but I do make the rounds for necessities - gasoline, for one, because no matter how light my foot is on the gas pedal, the engine consumes what could have been about a pound and a quarter of cheap hamburg every 29 miles.

Part of the gas in the tank comes from oil in the ground - very expensive. Part of it comes from corn. The price of corn has gone up 33 percent in a year.

We like meat. It comes from animals. Animals eat grain, lots of grain. So do combustion engines. We step on the gas pedal, we are not burning only oil from wherever, we are burning chicken feed, dairy products and eggs that have nearly doubled in price in the last year.

Wall Street, for reasons known only to those who live with statistics and computers, isn't all that worried about inflation. I have no clue as to why. Every item in my supermarket was brought there from wherever by trucks a lot thirstier than my small Hyundai.

We used to call high prices "too dear," back when farms were a lot closer to where people lived. The milkman delivered milk and other dairy products to our homes; Sears, Roebuck catalogs put us in touch with things we needed from away, and freight trains brought them to us. The Great Depression became the time when almost everything became "too dear."

We called what we had to do in order to survive "getting by." No one needed a computer then to measure how things were. Local storekeepers began keeping small notebooks when times became so hard they could no longer keep track of what was owed them. Before that, they'd made notes on the protective cuffs of their jackets. Thus the phrase, when someone was asked how he was able to buy groceries that week: "We had to put it on the cuff."



Cuffs were worn by storekeepers with a heart. The times weighed equally heavily on customers with consciences, as well as the neighborhood grocers trying to keep their stores open. When cupboards were nearly bare, and cuffs at a neighborhood market were stretched to the "sorry, but ..." point, that was when the Great Depression really hit home.

No intention here to suggest that's where we're headed. The Feds say they have too many safety valves today to bring us from reaching that despairing level. But the telltale signs of recession begin at the bottom of the food chain; so you want to know how things are going, keep your eye on the price of hamburg.

Cuffs were worn by storekeepers with a heart. The times weighed equally heavily on customers with consciences, as well as the neighborhood grocers trying to keep their stores open. When cupboards were nearly bare, and cuffs at a neighborhood market were stretched to the "sorry, but ..." point, that was when the Great Depression really hit home.

No intention here to suggest that's where we're headed. The Feds say they have too many safety valves today to bring us from reaching that despairing level. But the telltale signs of recession begin at the bottom of the food chain; so you want to know how things are going, keep your eye on the price of hamburg.


nnn

Bill Plante is a staff columnist. Contact him at plantejr@comcast.net.

Alan Taylor's diary

YET AGAIN Michael Winner, maker of some of the greatest movies of our age, is wronged. The culprit this time is Dame Helen Mirren, who has accused the national institution of treating her like "a piece of meat", possibly a pork chop, when she was a young and ravenous actress. In 1964, she told Richard and Judy, a double act, that Mr Winner made her turn around and show off her assets. "I was mortified and incredibly angry," said the woman who makes the Queen look like a char lady.

More in sorrow than anger, Mr Winner has tried to set the record straight. He was not, he insists, being a randy old dog trying to take advantage of a curvaceous, innocent babe. Au contraire, he was simply acting on behalf of St Mirren's agent, who was worried that she might only get bimbo parts because she wouldn't wear a bra. This gave the Daily Mail a glorious opportunity to show four pictures of St Mirren without a bra, including one in which no clothes at all were visible.

"Her bosoms," slavers Mr Winner, gallantly, "were indeed enormous and, dare I say it, sagging." He hopes now that a line may be drawn under the affair. "Calm down dear," he pleads, "it was only an attempt to make you more employable." Deaf, I fear, are the ears of his audience.

JUST when one was beginning to despair of the panto season, the inquest into the death of Lady Di, Princess of Wails, and Dodi "the oily bed-hopper", turned decidedly fruity, firstly with the appearance on the stand of Fatty Soames, Boney Prince Charlie's best chum, who denied ever threatening to have Di done in. Mr Fatty, a Dodo EmPee, who stopped eating briefly to give evidence, was once remembered by a former flame, now a pancake, who said that being made love to by him was like having a wardrobe fall on top of you with the key still inside the lock. Apropos the oily bed-hopper, Filippo the Greek denied - through his 69-year-old private secretary, Brigadier Sir Michael Hunt-Davis, who lists elephant polo among his "recreations" - that he'd ever called Dodi that. Contrary to his image as a gaffe-prone prune with racialist overtones, Filippo was portrayed as the Marjorie Proops of the Tupperware class, offering his services to Di as a marriage counsellor. Where all this is leading is obvious: nowhere and at Northern Rock expense to you, me and the lollipop lady. Hence the imperative to suck as much amusement as one can out of it while it chunters on. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Raine Spencer, known as "Acid" by her husband's weans, eagerly trying to reject the role thrust upon her of Di's wicked stepmother. Contrary to received wisdom the pair were apparently bosom buddies. And Mohamed al-Fayed shops at Lidl.

AMAZING news! There is a teeny-weeny possibility that Unity "Valkyrie" Mitford had Adolf Hitler's love child. This has been raised in the New Statesman, which suggests that the one-balled fascist may have got Ms Mitford preggers shortly before he waltzed into Poland. Until now historians have believed that the 25-year-old blonde bombshell shot herself in the head when war was declared. Being hopeless at most things, however, she failed to kill herself. With the bullet lodged in her brain, she was flown back to Britain, where she died in 1948.

That she was infatuated with Adolf the red-nosed mass murderer is indisputable. Being beside him, she said, was "like sitting beside the sun". Hence, no doubt, her susceptibility to hot flushes. Whether they actually ever did the deed, though, is open to doubt. Sex-wise, it would appear, AH was no Boris Becker. Even his marriage with Eva Braun was unconsummated but that may have been because they were more interested in planning their suicide pact than their honeymoon. Eva, it goes without saying, did not like Unity, whom she suspected of having designs on her dog-loving vegetarian. Another area of unresolved speculation: did either Eva or Unity have a Brazilian wax? And if they did, would they have been happy to allowed their pubic moustache to be called Adolf - as it is among the defurred doxies of Manhattan?

NEEDLESS to say, I was not surprised that when my dearest friend Alexei Salmonella became Czar of Caledonia his first decree was to build a golf course near his palazzo in sun-kissed Strichen. Some years ago, when he shocked the civilised world by abandoning Hollyrude, there was much speculation over his reasons.

Some suggested his fondness for the Turf was about to haunt him, others that something unsavoury in his personal life was about to be revealed, such as a penchant for wearing pinnies when doing the dishes.

I, however, knew all along that he was stepping down to spend more time on the golf course in a futile attempt to reduce his considerable handicap.

Thanks to Donald Chump and his Kinnockian haircut he may now get a course on his doorstep which is equal to his talent. Bizarrely, a few twitchers and ramblers have responded sourly to Mr Salmonella's inspired decision to query an Aberdeenshire Council committee's rejection of Mr Chump's plans.

Ditto a cackle of ignorant pundits who seem to think that His Chumpness intends to build a replica of Las Vegas at Balmedia. If only. My own suspicion is that Balmedia and its unSaharan dunes are more likely to be transformed into a freezing northern version of Cardrona, the plook on the silvery Tweed between Peebles and Innerleithen. One hears little in the way of protest about that spreading excrescence.

Meanwhile, I am grateful to a loyal reader for informing me of another of Mr Chump's splendid schemes, the Trump SoHo, a 45 story "condominium hotel" in Lower Manhattan, which will dwarf the surrounding buildings and ruin the much-prized skyline.

Michael Sorkin, a designer and academic, writing in the Architectural Record, describes the as yet incomplete tower as "an awful scar on the sky. As urbanism, it's vandalism." Mr Chump's real genius, however, was to persuade the New York authorities to give him planning permission.

Say what you like about him, but when it comes to doing deals Mr Chump always seems to come up trumps.

Business and the economy are ending the year in surprisingly good shape, given the rough ride global markets have had in recent months.

The stock exchange is ending the year roughly 20% higher than it was in January 2007, despite warnings at the time that growth could be subdued after stellar performances in previous years.

The rand, the barometer of investor confidence in the country, also looks stronger than expected, in part because of a weak dollar, but also because South Africa remains an attractive emerging market with a good new-business story. The surprising strength of the country’s consumer boom and the hundreds of billions of rands the government is investing in infrastructure is building local confidence and luring foreign investors.

This is despite government failing to put in place — or get to work effectively — policies needed for economic growth and job creation. Bringing down the cost of telecommunications and strengthening education and skills development are key among these. Black economic empowerment must also begin to move from racial head-counting to broadening the base of those invested in the economy and who have the skills to take advantage of the economic opportunities being created.

But, for now, inflation and interest rate hikes are top of mind, and the outlook for the first part of next year at least does not look good. Internationally, demand for oil and food is driving up prices.

In the rest of the world, central banks try to nurture growth by cutting interest rates. In SA, Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni aims to stamp out inflation by raising them, dampening growth and job creation. He is wrong.

South Africans cannot stop driving or eating, even if those who can afford to are spending on luxury goods. Reducing our ability to buy and sell and start businesses will not stop the country using imported goods. One of the main causes of the country’s trade deficit — a concern of the governor — is the importing of goods for the government’s infrastructure development programme.

Global economic growth is in danger of slowing because of the sub-prime crises. Through complicated financial instruments, investors across the world have been lending to homeowners in the US who now cannot afford to pay their bonds. These bad debts threaten banks and other key institutions in the world financial system.

SA and most other emerging economies look set to escape the worst of the fall-out. Our banks are not heavily exposed to these dicey investments and, increasingly, our key business partners are other emerging economies like China, India, Brazil and other African countries. This ability of emerging economies to ride out crises in the financial systems of Europe and the US is an indication that a new international economic order is developing.

Commodities demand from China and India underpins much of our growth. This is a good thing.

This economy has proved itself resilient and with the 2010 World Cup, among other projects, driving growth, the year ahead looks promising. The biggest threat to our prosperity is not the political risk of a Jacob Zuma presidency — for now it is Eskom, which is unable to keep the lights on.

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.

By Laylan Copelin

Supplemental Information from the Speaker’s Press Office

The following information is a summary of the attorney general’s opinion, and an explanation of the misconceptions about the arguments addressed in his opinion.

Speaker Craddick commends General Abbott and his office for an excellent analysis of these important legal issues. The Speaker believes the analysis will be of tremendous assistance to the House of Representatives well into the future.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

A “motion to vacate the chair” is not authorized by House rules. Speaker Craddick declined to recognize members for such a motion in the waning days of the 80th legislative session.

As the attorney general opinion shows, the motion violated constitutional provisions that define the specific means for removing a speaker from his constitutional office. The speaker also recognized the policy reasons as to why the motion should be declined, including that it would have placed before the House a speaker’s race at the expense of displacing legislative business, including the budget. The House rules vest the speaker with the authority and responsibility to exercise and enforce his discretion regarding what subject matter he will recognize during floor proceedings. Speaker Craddick outlined his legal reasoning for declining to entertain such a motion during the floor proceedings and also in his May 26, 2007 House Journal entry (attached). The principles of law Speaker Craddick enumerated were entirely confirmed by the attorney general’s opinion.

The specific findings in the opinion include:

The Speaker of the House is a state officer and serves a two-year term of office;

A Speaker can be removed from office only by means authorized by the constitution;

The rules of the House, including necessarily the House rules giving the Speaker recognition authority, are exclusively the province of the House.

*

CLARIFICATION OF FACTS

There are several misreported facts that merit correction from our office:

The speaker never said that removal was limited to impeachment

Speaker Craddick never said that the removal of a speaker was limited to “impeachment”, as has been erroneously reported. On the contrary, Speaker Craddick correctly recounted to the members each of the various constitutional methods for removal (e.g., by expulsion upon a two-thirds vote; upon conviction for bribery; etcetera). The speaker addressed these specifics during the floor proceedings and also in his May 26, 2007 House Journal entry. The attorney general notes that impeachment is not the only means for removal, which is in agreement with the legal position that had been asserted by Speaker Craddick.

The speaker never said he was a “statewide” officeholder

The speaker correctly stated that his position is that of a constitutional “state officer” (that being an official who exercises autonomous constitutional authority —- not necessarily a “statewide” official). The speaker’s legal assertion in that regard was challenged by Keffer/Cook et al, who argued the speaker is not a state officer and their arguments were variously reported to be that the speaker was trying to say that his position is one of a “statewide” official, which the speaker has never said. General Abbott’s opinion concluded that the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is indeed a constitutional state officer envisioned within the terms of Art 15, Sec 7 (an “officer of the state”), and thus any method for removing a speaker would have to comply with that provision of the constitution, though not to the exclusion of other, existing constitutional removal processes —- all of which Speaker Craddick stated in his May 26, 2007 Journal entry.

A Speaker Cannot Be Removed By Motion

The attorney general’s opinion acknowledges that Art 3, Sec 9(b) of the Texas Constitution vests the Speaker with a two-year term of office. That term is limited by constitutionally-enumerated grounds for removal, or by grounds for removal enacted by law pursuant to the constitution (Art 15, Sec 7), again, just as Speaker Craddick had explained from the House floor.

The attorney general affirmed a House speaker’s position as rules arbiter

This was a complete, not partial victory for Speaker Craddick’s legal position. The attorney general acknowledged the constitutionally-mandated separation of powers doctrine dictated by Tex Const Art 2, Sec 1 which leaves the interpretation of the House rules exclusively to the legislative branch. The speaker’s recognition authority is derived from long-standing House rules (Texas House Rules, Rule 1, Sec 9 and Rule 5, Sec 24). When the House convenes for the next legislative session on January 13, 2009, members may choose to debate the wisdom of departing from the long-existing rules on recognition. However, the decisions made under the rules in the past session were consistent with prior House practice going back as far as House Journals have been recorded. House Rule 1, Sec 1 reads, “The speaker shall enforce, apply, and interpret the rules of the house… .”

*
The attorney general’s opinion upholds the speaker on every disputed issue. Not a single legal or rules argument asserted from the floor or argued in the opinion request found support within the attorney general’s opinion. On the other hand, the opinion makes clear the decisions made by Speaker Craddick during the session were based on the rule of law and authorized by House rules. Furthermore, all of Speaker Craddick’s actions were in careful deference to the Texas Constitution, upholding the integrity of not only the Office of the Speaker, but also the House of Representatives as a whole.

By MAURA HARTY
Nearly everyone has family members or friends who are adoptive parents or adopted children. There are 150,000 adoptions in the United States every year. Though most of these are domestic adoptions - only 14 percent of adopted children are foreign-born - the astonishing fact is that Americans adopt more foreign children every year than all the other countries in the world combined.

As a U.S. citizen, I am proud of what that says about Americans' generosity and open hearts.

As the person responsible for ensuring that these adoptions comply with the laws of the child's country of birth and with U.S. law, I am dedicated to securing the integrity of the process. This month, the United States is joining a community of nations that has pledged adherence to the highest ethical and procedural adoption standards. U.S. ratification of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is a historic milestone that will benefit thousands of orphaned children around the world and American families seeking to adopt them.

The convention establishes internationally accepted safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions occur in the best interests of children. It affirms the principle that such adoptions are an essential way to provide permanent, loving homes to orphans who have not been adopted within their extended families or local communities. It promotes transparency and ethical practice.

The United States traveled a long road to reach this milestone. Our country was one of the first to sign the Hague Adoption Convention, in 1994. In 2000, Congress passed the Intercountry Adoption Act, the legislation that has guided our efforts. On Nov. 16, the president signed the ratification documents, which I have just deposited in the Hague.

Ratification is the culmination of 14 years of effort by my colleagues in the Department of State, as well as the steadfast support of hundreds of others in Congress, in other government agencies and in the adoption community. The process took longer than expected. We have moved toward this goal deliberately, but unceasingly, because we had a moral imperative to get it right. Joining the convention has been worth the effort and the wait.

What difference will this make? Here are some of the safeguards and why they matter:

• Federal certification of U.S. adoption service providers working in convention countries, and a complaint registry that will enable us to monitor and enforce compliance with convention standards.

• Required procedures and safeguards designed to keep adoption a not-for-profit activity whose sole purpose is to identify loving homes for children who need them.

• Training, best practices and other support for adoption officials, social workers and judges in source countries.

• Moral authority to encourage additional countries to accede to the Hague Convention.

The Hague Adoption Convention fits seamlessly into the United States' broader commitment to establish a global framework to protect children. With our partners in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, we work to secure the return of children who are victims of international parental child abduction.

A new Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support was adopted Nov. 23, and I am proud to say that the United States was the first country to sign it.

Reaching this milestone on the Adoption Convention is truly a reason for celebration and for renewing America's commitment to children. As we implement the convention, we reaffirm our goal to help children in need of permanent families find secure and loving homes, wherever that may be. The United States will continue to work with our many convention partners to build a better future for the world's children.

Maura Harty is assistant secretary of state for consular affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

By RICK MILLS
Sun Executive Editor

Do flashing warning lights at railroad crossings save lives?

Of course they do. Absolutely. Without a doubt.

If they didn't, we wouldn't spend the money to install them.

Knowing that a train is approaching is enough to make even the most daredevil drivers slow down and take a look.

A debate over that topic ensued after the tragic accident a week ago that killed two local residents north of town.

One reader from Ohio blasted us for quoting Dan Benjamin, who lives right next to the Baseline Road crossing where the deaths occurred.

Appropriately describing the crash as a "tragedy," Benjamin said the lack of warning lights made it "an accident waiting to happen."

The Ohio reader argued that we should never have used that quote because it's obvious the intersection is sufficiently marked.

First, that's true. A railroad crossing sign, a stop-ahead sign and a stop sign warn drivers three separate times.

In this particular accident, as in many railroad crossing accidents, the driver ignored all three and, according to police, apparently made no effort to even slow down.

Clearly, the decision had been made – consciously or absent-mindedly – to run the stop sign.

But to argue that Benjamin's opinion is wrong and that flashing lights would not save lights is ridiculous.

Another reader, from Charlevoix, made a similar argument . While admitting how sad the crash was, and pointing out how it changed the lives of family members forever, he chastised us for hinting that lights could have changed the outcome.

"Our laws must be respected, and the stories written by the press should be accurate and complete so that maybe people can learn that they must take responsibility and not try to blame somebody else for their actions," he wrote.

Both of those critics are, of course, completely correct.

In fact, in the rural area where I grew up, most railroad crossings were marked by yield signs.

They've since been changed to stop signs.

But the truth is – when you think about it – yield signs are all we need. In a perfect world, where everyone paid attention and obeyed all the laws, yield signs would prevent all accidents.

Plain and simple, a yield sign tells us we do not have the right of way and somebody else does. We have to let them go and then proceed with caution.

But for many reasons – hidden views, strange lay of the land, high traffic, efficient traffic flow – planners move from yield signs to stop signs, four-way stops and all kinds of traffic lights.

And at railroad crossings, they move from yield signs to stop signs to flashing warning lights to gated crossings.

I'm not a traffic engineer nor an expert on railroad crossings.

So I can't pretend to know whether that crossing, or any other, needs an upgraded warning.

I do know, though, that we don't live in the perfect world where all yield signs or stop signs are obeyed and nothing more is needed.

Some people get distracted, and some people intentionally disobey stop signs.

But to suggest that the same people would run a crossing when they knew a train was coming is ridiculous.

Last Saturday's accident was, indeed, a tragedy.

Blame aside, two lives were lost, and many more were changed forever. People make mistakes, and not every accident, no matter how tragic, requires a change to prevent future ones.

But a newspaper should never quiet voices or avoid discussing topics that might save lives.

At the very least, it's worth pondering.

(Rick Mills, executive editor, can be reached at rmills@ michigannewspapers.com)

The Custer National Forest spans 1.2 million acres scattered from the Beartooth Mountains above Red Lodge to pine-studded buttes near Camp Crook, S.D. Nearly half of the acreage - about 513,000 acres - is in the Beartooth area, which includes a portion of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. But when the forest undertook the writing of a new travel plan for the Beartooth Ranger District, most of the public comments focused on a 75,000-acre area about 30 miles east of Red Lodge.

Many strong opinions

The Pryor Mountain portion of the Custer National Forest is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts who have varied and conflicting ideas about how this swatch of the forest should be used. Strong opinions favoring more access for all-terrain vehicles and strong opinions favoring limited motorized access have streamed into The Gazette's Voice of the Reader columns for the past few months. A forest spokeswoman estimated last week that well over 200 comments had been received on the Beartooth Travel Plan, with many concerning the Pryor area.

In the midst of this debate, it is important to note the limited resources the forest has to implement and enforce whatever travel plan it makes. The entire forest has just one full-time law enforcement officer. Five other staff members are trained as forest protection officers but have other full-time jobs. In most years, between five and 10 seasonal workers also receive forest protection training. If need arises, the Custer Forest can call for help from other forests in the region or request assistance from local sheriff's departments. But for routine patrols, the enforcement ranks are minimal.

In the Pryor forest area, summer visitors could see vandalized information signs and little evidence of road maintenance.

The draft environmental impact statement noted public comments on "the lack of enforcement, such as resource damage and diminished recreation experience for other forest visitors. Some comments suggested that there was a need for additional law enforcement personnel to handle the increase of motorized use on the forest."

The amount of maintenance performed annually on roads and trails depends on funding. According to the draft statement, most miles of Beartooth District trails and roads (even roads designated for passenger cars) haven't received any annual maintenance in most years of late.

Continuing resolutions

The Custer National Forest had a total budget of about $10 million last year for managing 1.2 million acres of public lands in two states. Like most other federal agencies, the forest is operating on the same budget it had in the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, 2005. Congress didn't pass a budget in 2006 and continued the previous year's budget. The federal government is now 2½ months into the 2008 fiscal year and has no new budget. President Bush vetoed budget bills passed this fall, but not all budget legislation has even reached the president's desk. The stalemate continues with Bush threatening to veto all budget bills unless domestic spending is reduced below the level in last year's budget, which is the same as the previous year's.

The Custer Forest expects to have a decision on the Beartooth Travel Plan early this summer and to have free travel maps available in October so forest visitors will know where they are permitted to ride and hike. Most individuals will follow those rules regardless of whether they are using ATVs or walking. Most forest users will follow other laws: They won't litter, poach wildlife, vandalize or deface the public land they love. The minority, the scofflaws, will continue to be an enforcement challenge.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

TIM CESTNICK

Tim Cestnick is managing director at WaterStreet Family Wealth Counsel and author of 101 Tax Secrets for Canadians.

About three months ago, Czech race car driver Matej Kus, who could speak just a few basic English phrases, was knocked unconscious in a racing accident. After he awoke in hospital, he began speaking perfect English for a few days. And there are similar stories.

The most famous involved a Norwegian woman who suffered an injury from shrapnel in the Second World War, and came out of the hospital with a German accent. The term to describe the condition is "foreign accent syndrome" (go figure).

This should be a warning to Snowbirds: If you end up in the hospital south of the border, you might just wake up with a strong southern drawl, which could last up to a few weeks. On the other hand, you might wake up with tax issues that you never bargained for. Or worse, you might end up with both a southern drawl and tax problems. The accent should disappear after a while, so let's focus on those tax problems today.

the rules
If you're a Canadian citizen and resident, but spend time in the United States each year, you might be required to file a tax return south of the border. In a worst-case scenario, you might have to report your worldwide income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which will mean reporting that income in both Canada and the United States at the same time. Now, foreign tax credits should ensure you don't pay tax twice - but all of this just complicates your tax affairs significantly.

Here's the deal: You'll be required to file a U.S. personal tax return if you're also a U.S. citizen, green card holder, or you simply spend a lot of time in the United States each year and meet the "substantial presence test" (SPT). It's the SPT that many Snowbirds should be concerned about.

You'll meet the SPT if the following formula adds up to 183 days or more and you spend more than 31 days in the United States in the current year: The number of days present in the United States in the current year, plus one-third of your days in the prior year, plus one-sixth of your days in the second prior year.

The bottom line? If you spend 122 days (about four months) or more in the United States each year for three consecutive years, you'll meet the test, and will be considered a resident in the United States for tax purposes. This will require you to file a U.S. personal tax return and report your worldwide income to the IRS - unless you can escape the requirement in other ways.

the escape

If you meet the SPT but maintain a closer connection to Canada than the United States, you can generally escape classification as a U.S. resident and the need to file a U.S. tax return by filing U.S. Form 8840, "Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens," on or before June 15 of the year following the year you met the SPT (by June 15, 2008, if you meet the SPT in 2007). You may also escape being considered a U.S. resident under the Canada-U.S. tax treaty, but claiming protection under the treaty is often more complex than filing Form 8840.

Don't ignore the issue of days spent in the United States. It's only a matter of time before Canadians will be subject to an automated entry/exit system at the Canada-U.S. border, which will track the exact number of days you spend in the U.S. The system already exists, but Canadians have been exempt from having to use the system in the past.

Don't count on this leniency forever.

tcestnick@waterstreet.ca

Twenty-five years of John McLaughlin.
by Andrew Ferguson

Okay, if he won't mention it, I will: The year just ending marks the 25th anniversary of The McLaughlin Group, the landmark public affairs TV show founded by John McLaughlin. It's odd that McLaughlin himself hasn't made a bigger deal of it. A shameless showman, he's celebrated his earlier anniversaries with full-tilt hoopla--retrospective programs and public commendations and lavish parties held in the gilded ballrooms of downtown hotels.

About the silver anniversary, however, we've heard not a peep. I'm not sure why this is so, but--in tribute to the McLaughlin method of journalism--I will take a wild guess. The show has been in a long decline. Ratings are down, syndication is down, the panelists seem listless, the host himself often distracted or fatigued. The formula is now limp in the hands of the man who invented it. There's nothing to lift McLaughlin's famous bellow above the general riot heard round the clock from Fox, MSNBC, or CNN. Maybe McLaughlin figures that any reminder of the show's age would just invite stories of the "Lion in Winter" variety: The man who started it all fades away, unloved and unacknowledged. Even a publicity hound of McLaughlin's appetites would probably prefer to do without those.

Yet he did start it all, you know. That's why the Group's anniversary deserves some kind of notice. McLaughlin is the most influential figure in televised political journalism since .  .  . well, forever, probably. That he has become lost amidst the army of his imitators merely proves the size of his
achievement. McLaughlin appeared at the dawn of the cable news era, when the orthodoxy of mainstream "consensus journalism" still seemed unassailable. That orthodoxy, as reinforced daily in the major newspapers and on the broadcast networks, was unconsciously liberal, resolutely self-important, and intensely boring. We now know that consensus journalism was an artifact of postwar mass media. Big audiences were needed to sustain the profits of broadcast networks and large-circulation newspapers. The bland, inoffensive journalism of the period was in large part a financial necessity, even if some of its practitioners convinced themselves that it was grounded in metaphysical notions of public service and social uplift.

McLaughlin saw through the consensus to other, richer possibilities. In TV commentary--"news analysis," as it was called--the orthodoxy was asserted in deadly chinwags like Agronsky and Company, which is now gone, and Washington Week in Review, which is still breathing, though barely. McLaughlin designed his Group to subvert the very premises of the Washington political conversation--by being, among other things, bizarrely amusing, even exciting. Droning was forbidden; no topic could occupy more than four minutes' airtime. McLaughlin bellowed at his panelists and the panelists bellowed back; feuds developed among them, alliances were formed and broke apart in a shower of insults. The 24 minutes of an average show zipped by at laser speed. Though the Group never topped the duller shows in the ratings, its reach and power left the others sputtering about a "decline in standards."

They were right about the decline, but they were wrong that the standards were worth preserving. As on Agronsky or Washington Week, the jibber-jabber on McLaughlin was pristinely pointless, but at least McLaughlin made it seem fun. It was gasbaggery unencumbered by pretension; all you needed to appreciate it was a short attention span. By the time cable television became the main supplier of political news, the orthodoxy had suffered a lethal blow. Commentary was demystified, and fact commingled shamelessly with opinion. As McLaughlin and his panelists became celebrities and grew rich from speaking engagements and road shows, punditry replaced reporting as the dearest aspiration of would-be journalists. Perhaps most important, antiestablishment conservatism became unignorable, for alone among the chat shows, the Group declined to treat right-wing ideas as though they were freakish anomalies smuggled into the capital by the Reaganite junta.

Whether this upending of the established order was good for us is, I suppose, a matter of opinion--in fact, thanks in part to the kind of journalism McLaughlin popularized, everything seems to be a matter of opinion these days--but you've got to admit, it was a lot for one man to accomplish. How did he do it? I worked for him once, in the early 1990s, and though my employment lasted slightly less than 24 hours, it was long enough for me to begin to answer the question. Through friends I'd heard McLaughlin was looking for a part-timer to help him research and write the lead-ins to each show's video segments. The money was pretty good and whoever got the job would also get an on-screen credit as an assistant producer. The show was still at its peak of influence and charm. I thought: TV!

In a city famous for tyrannical bosses, from congressmen crazed with drink to bureau chiefs aflame with illicit desire, McLaughlin had become a legend. You heard stories of volcanic rages, unimaginable flights of egomania. Least among his eccentricities was his requirement that all staffers refer to him as "Dr. McLaughlin," because he had once earned a Ph.D. in communications or some other of the lesser academic disciplines. "I can handle that," I said to myself, and after a brief interview I was told to show up early Friday morning to prepare for the show's taping at midday.

he McLaughlin legend, I quickly discovered, had shortchanged the McLaughlin
reality. When I opened the door to his production company's suite, the first words I heard came roaring up in the famous Rhode Island drawl: "This is s--! Unadulterated s--!" From the shadows of a darkened office, behind a desk as vast as the deck of an aircraft carrier, McLaughlin would bellow at his staff through an intercom. His voice ricocheted down hallways, and the epithets burst like ack-ack above the dim cubicles where his assistants cowered and trembled. The abuse was astonishing, unpredictable, and, in several instances, cruel. A single tirade could last for an hour.

He didn't scream at me, though. Part-timers generally, and men in particular, were usually exempt from his outbursts. That didn't mean our newborn relationship was normal. For my first task he told me to work up a lead-in to a segment on some bit of legislative sausage grinding its way through Congress. "Cokie Roberts had an excellent report on the bill on NPR this morning," he said. "I taped it to make it easiah on you. It's all the background resuch you'll need."

I went back to another office carrying Dr. McLaughlin's handheld recorder. He had evidently propped it against his radio speaker to record the tape that morning. "Considerate of the old bastard," I thought, pressing the play button. I heard Cokie's swampy voice explaining the doings on the Hill. And then I heard water rushing, and a clatter of ceramic, and a mysterious release of air, and I realized that the doctor had made the tape in the bathroom. I was hearing his morning ablutions: the gush of faucets running and the honk-honk of nasal passages clearing and the rumble of phlegm rising and .  .  . much worse. Scraps of show tunes hummed off-key competed against every noise the human organism is capable of producing at that hour of the day, and together they threatened to drown out Cokie's report: "The prognosis, critics say, is still a matter of PHLOOOTH!" At times I could barely make out what she was saying. I'd rewind the tape only to hear some new intimate eruption. I shut off the recorder after four or five minutes. I wrote up the lead-in as best I could and walked back to his darkened lair.

He was eating an enormous platter of steak and eggs from the restaurant downstairs. "Did you learn anything, Andrew?" he said from behind his desk, with a half smile. He dabbed his thumb and forefinger on the napkin tucked into his collar.

"It's hazing," one of the assistants told me later that morning. "He's establishing the parameters of your relationship. This way you know who's in the dominant position. He can embarrass you, but you can't embarrass him. That's the key: He refuses to be embarrassed."

I quit after the taping that afternoon, with no hard feelings but with, I've always thought, a special insight into the personality required to do what McLaughlin did: transform the trade of political journalism and establish a new industry that, alas, would accelerate so rapidly it eventually passed him by. When I watch TV I marvel at the personalities who rule public-affairs television today--Chris Matthews, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Sean Hannity, and all the others in that eager, endless parade of peacocks and posers--and I still wonder how they can do what they do, night after night and week upon week. And then I remember: They're Dr. McLaughlin's children. They refuse to be embarrassed.

Andrew Ferguson is a senior editor at THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

By Duncan Bech, PA Sport

Manager Avram Grant has rejected speculation over John Terry's future as England captain by claiming his conduct at Chelsea is impeccable.

Terry's suitability for the role has been called into question amid criticism over his hounding of referees and behaviour off the pitch.

The 27-year-old could be the first high-profile victim of Fabio Capello when the Italian begins his tenure as England boss.

But Grant has been impressed by Terry's leadership, especially during the upheaval that ensued in the wake of Jose Mourinho's exit in September.

"If you ask the coaches and managers all over the world if they want a captain like John Terry, they will say yes," said the Blues manager.

"Just one of John's strengths is on the pitch. His other strengths are the way he connects with other players and what he does for children.

"I see him day by day and what he does off the pitch is an example to others.

"People are often judged on what is written about them, but sometimes there is a writer who doesn't like John Terry or me.

"Judge John through his actions - not what is being written about him.

"He's a professional and he's doing what he needs to do. I don't know where this talk has come from.

"John is a great captain on the pitch, off the pitch, 24 hours a day.

"Everything looks good at Chelsea now but back in September we had problems and he did a great job for the team.

"Everyone sees he's a good player, but off the pitch he pulled everyone together during what was a difficult time.

"His actions showed he cared about Chelsea and not other things.

"He's doing the same for England - he got injured for six weeks because he wanted to play for England against Russia.

"I don't think there is a better captain in England."

Terry will wear the Chelsea armband for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with leaders Arsenal at the Emirates.

The Blues lie only three points behind their title rivals and once hostilities are over Grant will renew a friendship with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger that has spanned a decade.

Grant - who signed a new four-year contract on Thursday - is an unashamed admirer of Wenger, but refuses to copy the Frenchman as he seeks to forge his own path.

"Arsene is a great coach and great person. He has a great vision about football - he thinks about it in the right way," he said.

"He doesn't just think in the short term but builds from the base. I like him.

"I like to take good things from any coach I respect and he's one of them. But I like to do things my way.

"Arsene has built his team over many years and what I will try to do is build a style that is good for Chelsea over the long and short term.

"Our clubs play different football, but we both play positive football."

Anthony Foster and Orville Clarke, Freelance Writers

Track and field and horse racing enthusiast Richard Ashenheim, who passed away yesterday at age 80 in Bermuda, was remembered as a source of information and inspiration. He was 80.

President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), Howard Aris, described Ashenheim, who was also a Hall of Fame Inductee in horse racing, as "a very outstanding, committed, dedicated track and field official".

Ashenheim, also a past president of the JAAA, "was the most prominent of all statisticians in this region; as a matter of fact, he was even used by the IAAF as a statistician".

Aris said Ashenheim was an honorary life member of the JAAA and also a recipient of the IAAF Veteran's Pin, as well as a board member of the Carreras Sports Foundation.

The JAAA boss also said: "Richard Ashenheim brought to bear the legal strength of his background (to the JAAA), ensuring that we follow all the various rules and guidelines in the field of track and field.

"His passing, therefore, is regretted and I extend condolences to his wife and the rest of the family. We will sadly miss him."

Teddy McCook, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association, remembered Ashenheim as a "chief statistician, not only for the region, but for the judicial committee of the IAAF.

"His contribution has been wide and varied of the sport and not only in Jamaica, but at the very highest level," added McCook, himself a former JAAA president.

Deeply mourned

McCook said having just really retired, it is sad that he did not get to watch track and field in a more relaxed atmosphere.

"His passing is deeply mourned."

Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), described Ashenheim, who will have a race at Caymanas Park run in his honour today, as "a person who serves sports and athletics very, very well ... and is loyal to sports, especially athletics".

While saying he was best known as a statistician, Fennell, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, added that Ashenheim was a "source of great knowledge about the sport", one whom he said "contributed to the sport in many ways.

"It's a great loss to all of us and we wish his family well," concluded Fennell.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), Rudolph Muir, also paid tribute to Ashenheim for his contribution to horse racing.

"Richard did a tremendous job to the Jamaica horse racing fraternity and also to the legal profession.

"Richard served as the attorney who was engaged to the commission for many years, during which he gave yeoman service and helped to advance the rules of racing as we know them today.

"His interest also included the area of track and field athletics, and his meticulous records are a testament to this.

"A Hall of Fame inductee and member of a prominent racing family which gave us Legal Light, among other outstanding racehorses, Richard shall surely be missed. On behalf of the JRC, I extend condolences to his family."

Ashenheim was a director and vice-chairman of Caymanas Park Limited during the '70s. He was the holder of the national honour, the Commander of the Order of Distinction, and was educated at Jamaica College and Oxford University in England.

The great compromises that chip away at the great cause that is India

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Cry, My Beloved Country' is an expression which comes to mind when we think of some facets of the Indian condition, such as that section of our population which lives on Rs 20 a day; farmers who have committed suicide; the hundreds of families who have lost their kin to the violence all around us; and the trauma inflicted regularly on women, of which we saw ghastly examples in Guwahati only last fortnight. These constitute deep agonies.

But between these deep valleys of anxiety lies another terrain. For all its undramatic nature, even this plain terrain has its own smaller ravines and hollows.

One such that comes to mind most persistently is the silent interlocking of entrenched interests.

Great causes can accommodate great compromises. I will refer to three such comings-together. The first is in the domain of the state; the second of society and
the third concerns individuals—you and me.

My first example has its locus in something we are rightly proud of and which has earned the world's applause—our elections. The coming-together of interests in our elections is the coming together of low politics and high money.

In the first few years since 1937, elections meant the chance to select, objectively, A over B. Today, it can still mean that. However, it cannot but mean the pitting of A's money resources against those of B. Elections have come to mean, by definition, the infusing of candidature with cash. The weaker the candidate, the stronger the cash.

An election episode of 1937 has been recounted by Lal Bahadur Shastri: "I remember his (Nehru's) visit to the district of Allahabad. It was about 8.30 pm when he finished his speech. As soon as he had done so, he enquired from the local Congressmen

whether he could leave. Pat came the reply, 'Yes, sir', after having driven about a furlong, Jawaharlal said that the Congress workers of Mirzapur had no sense of hospitality. 'I said I wanted to go and they agreed to it without even offering me a cup of tea.' Nehru had taken no tea in the afternoon and...he was feeling very hungry. He asked me whether there was any restaurant in the city...I remembered the railway station where some tea could be got. He said, 'Let us go there.' We motored to the railway station and went to the railway restaurant.... After having taken the tea, we were asked to pay the bill. Every one of us searched his pockets and found that none of us carried sufficient money. Between us we could collect about two-and-a-half rupees. Nehru had about a rupee and a quarter, Mrs Purnima Banerjee another rupee and I gave the few annas to complete the full amount required. How awkward would it have been if we had failed to make up the amount among ourselves!"

Another cameo, this time from the elections that followed a decade later, in 1946: the highly respected Congressman of Bombay, Vaikunthlal Mehta, was a candidate. His reputation was such that any individual or corporate house would have considered it a privilege to assist with his campaign. When he was contemplating the contest, his instincts for integrity were strengthened by a letter he received from Gandhiji. "Offer your name as a candidate for the Assembly, on the condition, however, that you will not have to spend a single pie and will not have to go begging for votes," the letter said.

Vaikunthbhai decided to send a postcard to each of his electors and do nothing more. The postcards won him the seat and he became the first finance minister of Bombay state after Independence. No donor could have reminded the finance minister of his debt—for there was no donor and there was no debt.

Both these elections were held in pre-Independence India. Let us come to post-independence India in which C.

By Michael Domain

South Africa will be aiming for a fifth successive Test series triumph when they take on the West Indies for the third time in South Africa, starting in Port Elizabeth on December 26.

There is the little matter of a Pro20 international between the sides in the same city tomorrow to start hostilities between the teams, and Windies captain Chris Gayle will be hoping for a victory in the shortest format to get his troops in the right frame of mind for a task which the great Brian Lara twice failed dismally at.

Lara led the Caribbean side here in 1998/99 and 2003/04, and the 5-0 and 3-0 Test series scorelines from those tours speak of a serious mismatch on both occasions.

The Celtics [team stats] have tied the 1984-85 team for the best home start (12-0) in franchise history, and with a win tomorrow in Toronto can become the fourth Celtics team to start a season 20-2.

Those numbers could be lacrosse scores, for all Kevin Garnett claims to know.

“Did you know that before the game?” he asked Paul Pierce [stats] after the Celtics’ 104-82 win against the Milwaukee Bucks last night. “I’m not trying to be smart or anything, but I’m not even aware of any of the records. Every game is critical and we’re preparing for every team as if it’s our last game.

“During this morning’s shootaround you could have heard a pin drop,” said Garnett. “We are not aware of any records. I mean I didn’t even know. Well, OK, we are 19-2, so I do know that now, but up until that I was not even aware of the record.”

Crash landing

There was one troubling sight last night when Glen Davis crashed to the floor late in the fourth quarter and came up holding his already bandaged left wrist. The big forward landed on the wrist with two seconds left.

Davis later had the wrist iced and wrapped in a large Ace bandage, and said there was swelling and pain. He’ll know more this morning. . . .

It’s a tribute to Ray Allen’s Spartan approach that the Celtics guard hadn’t missed a game since twisting his right ankle against Charlotte on Nov. 24. But Allen’s insistence on playing through the discomfort finally took a toll before last night’s game against the Bucks, which the Celtics guard missed to rest his painful ankle.

Coach Doc Rivers expressed doubt that Allen would play tomorrow in Toronto. As a result, Tony Allen started in his place.

“I don’t want to take a chance,” said the Celtics coach. “That’s why I’m sitting him (last night) and maybe even (tomorrow). He keeps playing, and he keeps up his routine, and that didn’t help him.”

Snow and steady

Like everyone else across the state, the Celtics were stranded by Thursday’s snowstorm.

The difference was that unlike the thousands stranded on the highways and roads around Boston, the players simply spent an extra five hours or so inside the team’s Waltham practice facility.

“We had pepperoni pizza and I learned how to play spades,” Brian Scalabrine said of the ongoing card game. “We were playing for pepperonis, for pennies, that’s all.”

The day’s hero was John Connor, the team’s travel manager, who proved his reputation as a master procurer by braving the roads for a mass order of pizza. The round trip reportedly took three hours. . . .

But of all the tales of long trips and stranded motorists, it figures that Davis, confronted with his first drive through a snowstorm, only needed 30 minutes to get home.

AHMEDABAD: Hoteliers in Gujarat are raking in moolah as political leaders of various political parties are in the State for the election campaigning, and their stay here along with their supporters have led to an all time high occupancy rate in the hotels.

Almost every popular hotel in Ahmedabad proudly displays 'houseful' signboard.

Hiteshbhai, a member of Hotel Association in Ahmedabad said, "This time due to elections and wedding season the business has gone up to 5-7 percent. Hotels are packed to capacity. With politicians, media persons and our regular corporate visitors this time our hotels are packed."

Amidst this trend, the most affected are the casual tourists and visiting businessmen who are being turned away, especially if they don't have any advance bookings.

Vikas Sangawar, a corporate executive from Mumbai, was one such unlucky person.

"With elections and other festive season NRIs, politicians, media persons are flocking to Gujarat. I am looking for a hotel. But all of them are 100 percent occupied," said Vikas.

The hoteliers, however, are delighted and expect that the heavy booking will last beyond elections.

Most of the hoteliers have doubled up the accommodation cost looking at the flow of visitors in Gujarat amid growing demand for rooms. There are approximately 150 star-rated hotels in the Gujarat.

While tourist arrivals, including domestic and foreign, rose from 6.6 million in 2004 to 10 million in 2007, rooms in the star category as well as other odd hotels increased from 1,000 to 2,000 and 27,000 to 35,000 respectively.

In fact the persons assigned the task of accommodating the party big wigs from Delhi are finding it tough to fulfil their needs.

Rohit Patel, in charge for accommodation from Congress party said, "Ahead of elections and festive season, we are finding hard to accommodate our politicians as well as party members. We have shifted our party members to the residences of local party members."

Over 25,000 political party members and supporters are in Gujarat.

Excerpts of the week's editorials from around the country and world

RUSSIAN POLITICS

Troubling pattern

Dmitri Medvedev's announcement that President Vladimir Putin would be his choice for prime minister if he became president should have surprised no one. At the beginning of October, Mr. Putin himself said the idea of becoming prime minister was "entirely realistic." The stage was set. In a broader sense, the development is no surprise because it adheres to the Kremlin's record of ignoring the form and spirit of Russia's tentative democratic system to serve its own prerogatives. ...

Mr. Putin and his Kremlin have changed the content of the country's political system to the point that the way it operates in practice bears little resemblance to its written, constitutional form. Turning the prime minister's office into a vehicle allowing him to continue to exert this control would be true to form.

The Moscow Times
Perpetuating Putin's power

The mystery of Vladimir Putin's preferred successor is solved: Dmitri Medvedev, from the president's St. Petersburg circle. As the world gets used to a new name, however, it should realize that behind it lies a familiar one, and the West will continue to be challenged by an assertive Russia. ...

Of course, the youthful Mr. Medvedev – slimmer, more dapper, and a more polished speaker than a year ago – still needs to be elected. But with the state and Mr. Putin (now one and the same) behind him, that's a done deal. ... Mr. Putin should be taken at his word that he intends to exercise power based on his "moral mandate," which is firmly anchored in his overwhelming popularity.

The Christian Science Monitor
HOUSING MARKET

Beware a big bailout

The Bush administration's plan to help stabilize the mortgage market is a modest one – too modest, say critics, who want to help more troubled homeowners. But we think the small scope is actually one of its strengths. ...

Under the plan, companies that service adjustable-rate mortgages will agree to freeze the interest rate on certain subprime loans at the low-introductory level. This is designed for those who can afford to make payments at the initial teaser rates but would sink once the rate is reset higher. ...

Going further than this plan would almost certainly involve a public bailout of mortgage holders and their lenders. And that would create a new set of victims: the taxpayers. Americans who rent or who have borrowed carefully or who don't borrow at all would be asked to subsidize a great deal of folly.

The Providence Journal
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Balancing the scales of justice

Until recently, federal sentencing guidelines called for harsher penalties for crimes involving crack cocaine than for powdered cocaine – a miscarriage of justice contributing to racial disparities in prison populations.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission appropriately changed the guidelines recently. ... Now the Supreme Court lends its weight with a 7-2 vote allowing judges greater discretion to impose more lenient sentences than recommended by the federal guidelines. ...

Righting the uneven scales of justice will require more. Congress should next examine mandatory minimum sentences based on drug quantity.

The Seattle Times
PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Too ambitious agenda?

Thursday's Democratic debate did little to help voters who have not made up their minds about which candidate to support. If anything, the six Democrats made the job harder for being so darn nice to one another for 90 minutes.

These candidates believe that the American people want a president who can be uplifting and optimistic, and they believe there is no end to what the federal government can do to solve any problem: health care, education, global warming, energy independence. ...

But the candidates also have an obligation to tell the voters how they would get them accomplished in a Congress that is likely to be closely divided, and how they would fund them without adding to the national debt. Little emerged from Thursday's debate that would help voters on that score.

The Des Moines Register
TERRORISM

A Christmas grinch

Candy Roquemore of Austin, Texas, had a simple wish for Christmas: She wanted to send cards to wounded soldiers. She didn't have anyone in mind; she was just going to address them to the injured. ...

Then she learned she couldn't because ... the military fears terrorists could lace cards with a biological agent and address them to any American soldier. ...

Sending Christmas cards to the troops is a nice way people can honor members of the military. Such cards should be encouraged, and the Bush administration, which has made a habit of criticizing war opponents as unpatriotic, should find ways to get the cards screened and delivered.

The Las Vegas Sun

PHILADELPHIA - In response to the growing body of research in the field of cancer prevention, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announces the launch of a major peer-reviewed scientific journal, Cancer Prevention Research, and invites submissions of papers. This important new journal is the first in the world dedicated exclusively to cancer prevention, from preclinical research to clinical trials.

"In the past, scientists and interested readers have had to parse cancer prevention articles from many other journals, unable to find the full range of prevention research and opinion in one resource," said Editor-in-Chief Scott M. Lippman, M.D., professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. "The richness and scope of our field now parallel those of mainstream oncology and require this new, centralized home for the wide-ranging literature that supports prevention discovery."

"The main purpose of Cancer Prevention Research is to build a translational bridge between the basic and clinical sciences in the field of cancer prevention," said Lippman. Articles will cover the preclinical and clinical work of nearly every cancer prevention discipline, from molecular biology to medical oncology, from behavioral science to surgical oncology, from nutritional science to exciting new areas such as infection- and inflammation-related cancer prevention. "Cancer Prevention Research also will serve as a forum for perspectives on key public policy issues affecting cancer prevention and will highlight the central role of cancer prevention and early detection in public health," Lippman said.

"The emphasis on linking preclinical and clinical research in prevention is unique among scientific journals. The idea to launch Cancer Prevention Research came from the basic, clinical and translational researchers who are AACR members," said AACR President William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D. "On behalf of AACR, I thank Dr. Lippman and his outstanding team of editors and staff who have devoted their time and expertise to launching this important new vehicle for scientific discovery in a field that holds tremendous potential for saving lives."

"This new journal will join our established interdisciplinary journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, and our annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting as part of the AACR's comprehensive approach to cancer prevention," Hait added.

Scientific articles published in Cancer Prevention Research will fall into four primary research categories, each with a unique role in the study of cancer prevention: oncogenesis, intervention, risk assessment and early detection. Oncogenesis studies include those that cover the origins of cancer development and the cellular mechanisms that could prevent cancer growth. In addition to translational clinical studies, intervention articles will include, for example, preclinical studies on the molecular mechanisms of potential preventative agents or animal studies of new preventive drugs or nutritional interventions. According to Lippman, the field is trending strongly toward these types of preclinical studies to validate rationales before launching definitive randomized controlled clinical trials in humans.

The sections on risk assessment and early detection research will include work in presymptomatic disease to prevent the clinical consequences of cancer. Through articles on leading-edge molecular biomarker research, these sections will join the identification of high cancer risk with very early detection of cancer. "These sections also will highlight the growing interface between cancer prevention and cancer therapy and the emphasis of Cancer Prevention Research on communicating discoveries that cross the gap between the basic and clinical sciences of cancer prevention," Lippman said.

This announcement and call for papers coincides with the AACR's Sixth Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, being held December 5 to 8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a scientific meeting that features the latest biological, medical and behavioral research behind cancer prevention.

Beginning in March, 2008, Cancer Prevention Research articles will be published continually online as soon as edited and will be open to anyone during the introductory phase. Regular monthly issues will begin appearing in June 2008.

For further information and to submit a paper, click here.

Deputy Editors of Cancer Prevention Research are Cory Abate-Shen, Ph.D.; Powel H. Brown M.D., Ph.D.; Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D.; Ernest T. Hawk, M.D.; Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.; Thea Tlsty, Ph.D. and Janet Woodcock, M.D. Senior Editors are Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D.; Martin J. Blaser, M.D.; Andrew J. Dannenberg, M.D.; Paul F. Engstrom, M.D.; Judy E. Garber, M.D.; Jean-Pierre Issa, M.D.; Jonathan M. Kurie, M.D.; Lawrence J. Marnett, Ph.D.; Lynn M. Matrisian, Ph.D.; William G. Nelson, V, M.D., Ph.D.; Brian J. Reid, M.D., Ph.D.; David Sidransky, M.D., Ph.D.; Eva Szabo, M.D.; Mark Taketo, M.D., Ph.D.; Brent M. Vose, Ph.D. and Eileen P. White, Ph.D. Statistical Editors are J. Jack Lee, Ph.D., D.D.S. and Susan G. Hilsenbeck, Ph.D.



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The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes nearly 26,000 basic, translational, and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and more than 70 other countries. AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special Conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment, and patient care. AACR publishes five major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Its most recent publication, CR, is a magazine for cancer survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians, and scientists. It provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship, and advocacy.

Contact: Greg Lester 267-646-0554 greg.lester@aacr.org

On November 20, 2007, it was announced that a major breakthrough had occurred almost simultaneously on two continents, with respect to stem-cell research. It looks as though, in years to come, thousands of labs will have the capability to reprogram skin cells to function in much the same way as embryonic stem cells.

Two research groups have found different genetic recipes to give ordinary skin cells the power to turn into virtually any kind of human tissue, just as embryonic stem cells do.

"If the recipes live up to their promise, they could someday end the [pseudo-]ethical debate over embryonic stem cell research — and usher in an era when a person's own cells could be manipulated to mend a broken spinal cord, heal a damaged heart or regenerate other failing tissues.

"But in their current state, the recipes are too risky for disease treatment, and even the scientists behind the latest studies cautioned that therapies are still years away. In announcing their discoveries, they emphasized that much more research still needs to be done on stem cells that have been derived from human embryos."

"'It's not the time to say human embryonic stem cell research is dead,' James Thomson, a biologist at the Univerity of Wisconsin at Madison, who is behind a study appearing in the journal Science, told msnbc.com.

"Kyoto University's Shinya Yamanaka, the principal author of a study published by the journal Cell, echoed that view, saying it would be "premature" to conclude that the cells created in his lab could replace embryonic stem cells.

"Like embryonic stem cells, these reprogrammed cells become 'pluripotent' — that is, they're capable of turning themselves into virtually any tissue type in the human body, including neurons and heart tissue. They also exhibit many of the other biochemical properties of embryonic stem cells, although they're not genetically identical to stem cells. [Emphasis mine, wherever colored type, italics, or boldfacing appear, within quoted statements in this article. No verbiage was changed in those.]"

"That bright future depends on a series of big ifs.

"First of all, the function of the reprogrammed cells will have to be compared closely with the function of actual embryonic stem cells. "I'd be surprised if these cells do all the same tricks as stem cells derived from embryos," Advanced Cell Technology's chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza told msnbc.com.

"Also, in both experiments, the four-gene recipe was added to the skin cells using a virus as the delivery package. "The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] would never allow us to use these virus-modified cells in patients," Lanza said."

A back door to human cloning? Yamanaka also said the reprogramming technique could allow for the creation of egg cells as well as sperm cells from the same person, male or female.

This Breakthrough is NOT a Substitute for ongoing Ebryonic Stem-Cell Research

A few months ago, one of the advertising agencies we work with included social media as part of its marketing mix for a national account that we’ll call “Acme.” Acme has a conservative approach to marketing, so we weren’t all that surprised when they dismissed the social media portion of the proposal.

It was unnecessary, they said, because they purchase key words. A quick search of the company’s name reveals that they do. The company captures the top spot on Google and other search engines.

The fifth spot, however, belongs to consumer complaints about Acme. The sixth and seventh belong to individual dissatisfied customers. The eighth is a review site, littered with poor reviews.

Given each consumer description is emblazoned with words like “disaster” and “nightmare,” terms you cannot ignore when considering a major purchase, they outweigh any of the company’s neutral messages. In fact, each divergent and unanswered message compounds and erodes consumer confidence.

Imagine. All of this is being read before the company has a chance to submit a proposal or pitch the customer. Worse, it makes their customer service representatives look like cons and charlatans, ignorant of what is being said about their company at best.

It’s a shame because despite the abundance of negative messages, Acme is fine company. The primary reason for the disparity between their product and consumer opinion is largely related to unhappy consumers having louder and more passionate voices than happy customers, who are too busy enjoying the product to say anything.

Yet, unaware and/or unconvinced, the company continues to allow its brand to be slowly and quietly killed, drowning in the sea of social media. They have no idea, they say, why they have lost market share. Yet, part of the reason seems to be obvious.

Social media shapes more opinion than all other media combined.

One of the newest surveys conducted by BrandWeek reinforces the point.

• 47% of all respondents said they would go to a social networking site to download coupons or search for gift ideas if those services were available;

• 45% said they would visit a social networking site to find out about upcoming sales in stores or discounts on products;

• 22% said they would read or write a product review on a blog.

With results like these, even Nancy Costopulos, CMO for the American Marketing Association, told BrandWeek that they are well aware people are avoiding advertising messages and looking for alternative opinions.

While I won’t go so far as to say that social media is making advertising irrelevant, I will point out that if brands are the net sum of all positive and negative impressions (the relationship between the company and consumer), then it stands to reason unchecked social media may be delivering a deficit.

I suspect many companies know it too, but it’s hard to admit until there is a crisis. Even Acme demonstrated there is some truth to this. When the agency challenged Acme to present five reasons why social media is not right for them (which I was to politely and publicly address on this blog), they quickly declined.

Why not? If social media doesn’t matter, then what difference does it make? You know, they said, just in case. Unfortunately, based on online identity calculations alone for Acme, “just in case” seems to be “as a matter of fact.”

And they are not alone. While some accounts have engaged us in social media, several are content to say that they are not ready for it. Some are so not ready, they passed on a complimentary social media evaluation and proposal that might reveal how new media might best work for them.

The paradox is that they might not be ready for social media, but social media has been ready for them, starting more than a year ago. Since, it has been slowly and silently killing them for every day they remain disengaged. Special thanks to Evolution for allowing us to share this story; not all agencies are so ready address it. We are grateful to have you.

Yet another study finds that executives talk a good game about how important IT is to business operations and future competitiveness, but they aren't doing much about it.

The latest is a survey of 456 business and technology executives by Diamond Management & Technology Consultants. The results speak (depressingly, alarmingly) for themselves:

* 80 percent of executives surveyed reported that IT is strategic to their
business
* 83 percent noted that technology is ratcheting up the competitive pressure in
their industries.

However,

* Only 33 percent of respondents said they "totally agree" that the CIO is very
involved in developing business strategy.
* Only 30 percent of business executives and 28 percent of IT executives said
they "totally agree" that the person leading strategy development is very
involved with integrating business and IT strategy.

Even more mind-boggling, considering how pervasive technology has become:

* Fewer than half of the respondents forsee that IT will drive major changes to
any business function other than the IT department itself.

What's going on here? This isn't like those surveys of social attitudes, where people sometimes lie to pollsters because they want to appear open-minded. Is it? Are business execs just trying to sound hip when researchers ask them whether they care about IT, because all the management literature says they should?

There's also noticeable disconnect between business units and corporate headquarters regarding how much impact IT will have on specific business functions. You guessed it: the corporate suits don't get it.

This last observation offers the report's authors, Chris Curran, Diamond's CTO, and John Sviolka, vice chairman and managing director for innovation and research, a ray of hope: "CIOs who can close those expectation gaps and meet the demand for breakthrough innovations can become heroes whose efforts contribute directly to the bottom line."

Yet the need for heroics reflects poorly on companies' ability to innovate and compete. As my colleague Tom Wailgum observed last week, we're past the point when IT leaders should be complaining about not being aligned.

There's a recession coming, the economic analysts say. The last time the economy turned south, IT budgets shrank, and CIOs retrenched into operations. I don't think that's going to be enough for most companies this time around. Even in companies where operational efficiency is the focus, execs have to understand how their IT investments further their business goals. Whose fault is it that they don't?

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – The first post-Oprah poll of likely Democratic voters in South Carolina shows a toss-up between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama among African-Americans in the state, although they see Clinton as the most electable candidate next November.

Clinton leads Obama by a statistically insignificant margin of 46 percent to 45 percent among black voters in the state, according to CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted December 9 -12. (The sampling error for black voters is eight percent, a larger number than the four percent margin in the rest of the poll.)

Former Sen. John Edwards comes in a distance third, with 5 percent.

Obama has made significant gains among African-Americans since earlier this year, when Clinton was buoyed by her higher name recognition and Obama remained largely unknown.

The Obama campaign has used their large grassroots organization and small community events in the state to register new voters and introduce Obama to African-Americans more familiar with Clinton.

About half of South Carolina’s Democratic primary-goers are African-American. Black women, who were a clear target of the Oprah rally here last weekend, make up roughly 30 percent of primary voters.

Black voters, asked which candidate has the right experience to be president, chose Clinton over Obama by an overwhelming margin of 72 to 17 percent. They also said, by a margin of 67 percent to 21 percent, that Clinton had the best chance of beating the Republican nominee next year.

Obama won kudos for running a positive campaign: 42 percent of black primary voters said he spends the least time criticizing other candidates. That number was 24 percent for Clinton.

Among white Democratic voters, 41 percent support Clinton, followed by Edwards and Obama, who claim 27 percent and 24 percent of the vote in the CNN poll.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Polls, South Carolina

City parking restrictions will be strictly enforced this weekend due to an expected snowstorm. Citizens should park their vehicles indoors or off-street, and they should observe alternate parking restrictions. Vehicles in no-parking zones will be ticketed and possibly towed.

I wrote to Ellen Tauscher, our US Representative (D-Alamo), and got this response:

Thank you for writing to me about the Alamo Incorporation Movement petition. As you know, the petition has been signed by more than 3,000 residents and the Local Agency Formation Commission has scheduled a December 19 meeting at which a consultant will likely be selected to analyze the feasibility of this proposal. I support the will of the people of Alamo. As long as the Local Agency Formation Commission deems that incorporation is financially feasible, voters will have an opportunity to voice their opinion at the ballot box in 2009.


I'm glad we know where she stands...

Long list of strong candidates forces difficult decision
Opinion by Tyler Hansen
Tucson, Arizona

The Star will release its All-Southern Arizona football teams Sunday, Dec. 23. It is one of the most daunting tasks we face each year, selecting a Player of the Year and more than 100 other players for first-team, second-team and honorable-mention honors.
That might be the easiest part of the process this season.
The Coach of the Year race has been a hot topic all year, with a handful of locals able to make a strong case for the award.

Eight coaches made their debuts at Southern Arizona schools this year, and many of them turned in the finest efforts we have seen in recent years.
Jim Monaco established Desert View as a rising contender, leading the Jaguars to the brink of the 4A-I state playoffs after years of suffering.
Mountain View's Paul Schmidt inherited a quality team, then turned it up a notch and finished second — ahead of powerhouse Sunnyside — in the ultra-tough 5A Southern Region II.

Monaco and Schmidt — as well as first-year Rincon/University coach Pat Ryden — were good, but not quite as good as the four men the Star selected as the top four candidates for the Coach of the Year award.

At right is a season summary for each candidate. Peruse their cases, then give us your two cents in the poll.

UA still interests recruit
The UA basketball team has responded to Lute Olson's season-long absence with success on the court, and success on the recruiting trail has not dropped off, either.
Santa Rita sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin, Tucson's highest-profile recruit this decade, said Thursday his interest in the UA is still very high.
He added interim head coach Kevin O'Neill is someone he would like to play for if Olson retires before Stoglin graduates high school in 2010.

"Coach Olson not being there affected me a little bit, but O'Neill is a good coach, and I like him a lot," Stoglin said. "If he became the permanent head coach, I'd be very confident that the program was still going in the right direction. I'd still be very interested in playing there."

Stoglin is a 5-foot-11-inch superstar who averages 22.3 points per game for Santa Rita (6-0). He is a native Tucsonan being pursued by UCLA, Stanford, Cal and more.
If Olson's team lost out on a local player of Stoglin's caliber, it would be the first time.

At the buzzer
Tucson-area soccer teams are at it again: dominating the rest of the state.
OK, so it is very early in the season, but the chance to have a repeat of last season's record-setting success — five big-school state championships by local boys and girls teams — appears likely.

As of early Thursday morning, Southern Arizona teams owned the No. 1 spot in the statewide power rankings in all eight divisions (girls and boys 4A-I, 4A-II, 5A-I, 5A-II).

That is not the most impressive part. All 26 boys teams in the area, and 23 of 26 girls teams, were ranked in the top 16 of their respective divisions in the power rankings, which is the system that determines state playoff entrants.
There are still five weeks left in the regular season. A lot can happen in that time, but do not expect Tucson's title contenders to disappear. We might be in for another landmark season.

Alice O'Keeffe


Some 2,000 children pass through UK holding centres each year. Their imprisonment breaches a key UN Convention

When nine-year-old Adeboye Falode grows up, he wants to be on The X Factor. "I want to be a singer," he says in a broad Irish accent. "Or a footballer." He says it with a shamefaced little smile, as if he is already aware that his life will not work out like that. Currently, Adeboye is under lock and key at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, along with his mother, Aderonke, and his brothers Adedire, 12, and Adebowale, 14.

In order to get from the visitors' area to their room in the "family unit", Adeboye and his brothers must pass through up to ten locked doors and undergo a search. "They make you feel like a criminal, when you haven't done anything wrong," says Adebowale. Like the 2,000 other children who pass through the UK's immigration removal centres each year, they have no access to primary NHS care if they fall ill. The food they are given each day consists primarily of chips and rice: "It's disgusting." They have all been taken out of school - particularly worrying for Adebowale, who was studying for his GCSEs next year. He wants to be a doctor. "I just want to go to school and do normal work," he says. How will he feel if he is still in detention this Christmas? "I'll probably explode."

When I meet the Falodes in the visiting area at Yarl's Wood, they have been told they are due for "removal" to Nigeria the following day. "I don't want to sleep because I know they [the guards] will come in the night or first thing in the morning," says the boys' mother. Aderonke is terrified that the guards will try to drug her in order to stop her resisting deportation; Adebowale tells me that he knows another child who was carried unconscious from his cell after hiding under the bed to resist removal. "They had injected him with something," he says. Such rumours abound in Yarl's Wood - Gill Butler, a member of the Yarl's Wood Befrienders' Group, has heard many similar stories. Although difficult to substantiate, they are an insight into the fear and insecurity the place instils in detainees. "If you are not strong, you will go mad in here," says Aderonke. "There is no peace of mind."

The family is planning to resist removal. "Even if Gordon Brown himself called me I would not go," says Aderonke. The boys have been issued with careful instructions: when the men come in the night, they should get into the van quietly, because if they make a fuss they might get hurt during the journey. Only when they reach the safety of the airport should they start to shout and scream. "The children want to resist," says Aderonke. "They just want to go back to school and to their friends. They don't want to go to Nigeria." The Falodes had been living in Belfast for a year before they were detained, having fled Nigeria when the boys' father died. "I was being harassed and threatened by my late husband's family. They wanted me to marry my brother-in-law, and to take the children as slaves." In Belfast, the boys were doing well at school and had joined a local church. "Everyone was so welcoming. Last Christmas, they gave the boys presents, and we made them African food. We were so happy."

Deportation targets

The Falodes' appeal for asylum is unlikely to be successful, as their case is based around a domestic dispute rather than political persecution. (The UK asylum system is often criticised for prioritising the type of claims made by men, who are more likely to be directly involved in politics, and treating problems faced by women, such as domestic and sexual violence, less seriously.) But even if they are to be refused, Adebowale points out: "Why couldn't they just let us stay in a house until they reach a decision?"

The official reason for detaining those whose asylum case has been refused is to prevent them from absconding prior to removal. But the European Commissioner for Human Rights, reporting on detention of children in the UK immigration system in 2005, found: "Prima facie . . . families with their children attending school are less likely to abscond [if their asylum claim is refused] than any other category." Families are easy pickings for a government obsessed with meeting deportation targets.

In detaining children for immigration reasons, the UK breaches the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children can be detained for an unlimited time without charge or trial. In a report entitled No Place for a Child, Save the Children found that detained children suffer from "weight loss, lack of sleep, skin complaints and persistent respiratory conditions. Children often suffer from depression and changes in behaviour in detention."

Butler, a former nurse who has visited dozens of families in Yarl's Wood, says: "The mental health effects [on children] are devastating. You see bedwetting, nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder. Imagine the trauma for a child of being woken up in the early hours by eight to ten officers and taken away from home."

Recently, 14-year-old Meltem Avcil, who had been in Yarl's Wood for three months, was transferred to Bedford Hospital after entering into a suicide pact with another detainee and cutting her wrists. Meltem is Kurdish, but had been living in the UK for six years before she was detained. She was even tually released following an intervention by the Children's Commissioner for England, Professor Al Aynsley-Green. "Looking at the immigration system, one is forced to ask: what does the government's slogan 'Every Child Matters' actually mean?" says Adrian Matthews, Aynsley-Green's senior policy adviser on asylum. "It is outrageous that increasingly, children with immigration issues seem to be excluded from that. Things are not considered from the child's perspective in taking the decision to detain . . . [children's] lives are picked up and torn apart."

In 2005, Aynsley-Green produced a report based on a visit to Yarl's Wood, in which he expressed grave doubts about the welfare of children at the centre, remarking: "It is not possible to ensure that children detained in Yarl's Wood stay healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, and achieve economic well-being." However, says Matthews, the commissioner's call for far-reaching reforms went unheeded by the government. "Following our visit, Yarl's Wood did make some small changes, such as replacing the barred cell doors," he says. "However, on the wider issue there has been very little progress."

Once the Falodes have been escorted out of the visitors' hall by a guard, I meet Comfort Adefowoju and her daughters Adesola, ten, Olasubomi, seven, and Sarah, seven months, and son Adedapo, five. Sarah, a tiny, lively baby, has livid red eczema all over her face which, Comfort tells me, she has not been able to get any medicine for. "They don't even provide enough formula. It is four o'clock, and Sarah has only had one bottle so far today." On the first day, Comfort spent the last of her money on formula, but now she has completely run out. "If I can't even buy milk for the baby, how am I going to get a solicitor?"

Early-morning knock

The Adefowojus were picked up from their home in Belfast - they attended the same church as the Falodes - early in the morning and, as is usual practice, told they had to leave immediately. "We didn't have time to get any clothes," says Adesola. "I only brought two pairs of unders, and I don't have any socks." She and her sister have spent the freezing cold winter days - during which they were first transported from Belfast to the Dungavel detention centre in Scotland, then transferred to Yarl's Wood - wearing just a pair of sandals on their bare feet. Olasubomi is wearing a tattered vest and no jumper.

"The children don't understand what is happening," says Comfort. "They were saying to me, 'Are we criminals?'" The family fled Nigeria after Comfort's husband borrowed money from a politician that he was unable to pay back; he ran away, leaving Comfort to deal with the thugs sent to the family home to collect the money. "They threatened to firebomb the house and kidnap the children," she says. University-educated and previously a successful entrepreneur, Comfort was forced out of the house and business she had helped to build. "If they send us back, there is no way these children will not be destitute," she says. "I tell you one thing: they will put us on that plane over my dead body."

The Adefowojus were threatened with removal barely three days after being taken into detention - leaving no time to get legal representation. They managed to resist, but, like the other families in immigration detention this Christmas, they live in fear of another early-morning knock on their cell door.

What can you do?

The New Statesman will report further on children in immigration detention in the New Year. If you are concerned and would like to help, consider doing the following:

Write to Al Aynsley-Green, the Children's Commissioner, expressing your support for his work with children in detention centres, and urging him to continue putting pressure on the government to stop detaining children for immigration reasons. Email: info.request@11MILLION.org.uk

Join a visitors' group. For more information about visiting detainees in Yarl's Wood, see: http://www.ywbefrienders.org

For details of latest campaigns, check the websites of the following pressure groups: Medical Justice Network, which campaigns for detainees' rights - www.medicaljustice.org.uk - and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns - http://www.ncadc.org.uk

By The Times-Union

There are several lessons to be learned from the report of the special committee appointed to investigate drug use in major league baseball.

Jacksonville's Planning and Development Department has proposed extending a runway at Craig Municipal Airport from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, despite neighborhood opposition, the Times-Union reports.

That would make surrounding Arlington residential areas quieter, not more noisy, planners say.

Besides, they want to ban future runway extensions.

Hey, wait a minute! ...

The City Council and Port Authority, which at the time ran the airports, banned runway extensions in 2001.

Now planners are saying they want to break that promise - but will promise not to break it again.

How comforting.

Time to register

If you want to vote in Florida's presidential primary elections next month and haven't yet registered, you need to do so quickly.

The deadline to register in person is 5 p.m., Dec. 31 in the Supervisor of Elections Office, a staff member says. Or you can register by mail, as long as the letter has a Dec. 31 postmark.

If you are eligible - at least 18, U.S. citizen and Duval County resident - you should register.

But then you need to study the candidates and issues carefully, so you can cast an informed vote.

Read newspaper articles, watch broadcast news and study campaign Web sites.

Follow your head, not your heart.

If you aren't informed enough to do that on Election Day, then don't vote.

Help make this a better country.

Vice President Crist?

Don't expect a definitive answer from Gov. Charlie Crist on the Republican vice presidential nomination.

After Times-Union columnist Matt Towery wrote that he would make a good VP candidate, Crist's spokeswoman said he was "focused on Florida."

When asked whether that meant Crist was uninterested or preoccupied at the moment, she simply repeated, "Focused on Florida."

More recently, the Hill newspaper - which serves mainly Congress - quoted U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., as calling Crist an "attractive potential vice presidential nominee."

When asked for a comment, the same spokeswoman said her boss was still "focused on Florida."

A writer then inquired whether he was disinterested or preoccupied. Her answer: "Focused on Florida."

At least the message is consistent.

Honoring heroes

America's war casualties are gone but not forgotten.

Maine-based Worcester Wreath Co. donates thousands of wreaths for veterans' graves at Arlington National Cemetery every year, for example, reports Dan McCarthy, city of Jacksonville's military liaison.

Now, McCarthy says, it is shipping free wreaths to other cities, also - and about 100 have arrived here.

They are to be placed on the graves of veterans at Evergreen Cemetery, on North Main Street, today.

Those wanting to help the local Civil Air Patrol lay the wreaths, should arrive at 12:30 p.m., McCarthy says.

The service is to begin a half-hour later.

In many ways, throughout the year, Americans express gratitude and admiration of those who suffered and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our continuing freedom.

We are a fortunate nation. And most of us realize it.

The Bush tax cut legacy

Some politicians have been claiming these are tough economic times.

However, Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, says in a news release:

"November marked the creation of an additional 94,000 jobs ... and the 51st straight month of job growth.

First, that baseball, among all the major sports, has done a terrible job controlling drugs.

As the Mitchell report summarized, "the use of steroids in major league baseball was widespread. The response by baseball was slow to develop and was initially ineffective."

Second, responsibility can be shared by all parties: management, union and players. One major difference with pro football, which has had a far more effective drug testing program, is the power of baseball's union.

"For many years, citing concerns for the privacy rights of the players," the Mitchell report stated, "the Players Association opposed mandatory random drug testing of its members for steroids and other substances."

Third, baseball was pushed, kicking and screaming, to reform from the accumulated coverage of the mainstream news media, mostly daily newspapers.

The Mitchell report itemized 85 newspaper stories before 1998, when an Associated Press report revealed the existence of the steroid supplement Androstenedione in the locker of home run slugger Mark McGwire.

"Andro" was banned by pro football, college football and the Olympics, but not in baseball.

In the meantime, reporters nationwide did remarkable work, especially two reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle, whose use of anonymous sources led to revelations about the use of supplements by baseball players.

This is another reason that a limited national shield law is needed to protect reporters in such cases when national security is not in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the news media, especially print, should take a bow.

Not very reassuring

"Since August 2003, more than 8.3 million jobs have been created during the longest consecutive run of job growth on record. "

Wage increases and tax cuts have resulted in "$3,600 in additional yearly personal income for every working American."

That generated new economic activity, Crenshaw continued, and as a result, "tax receipts rose by 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2007."

More jobs. Better pay. Higher living standards. New government revenues.

And yet some Democrats want to repeal President Bush's tax cuts. Why? We tax what we want to limit, such as cigarettes and alcohol.

That's why taxing free markets makes no sense.

by: Sarah White

As Karen Brooks points out, Abbott released it at the latest hour on a Friday night to avoid media coverage. Could it get any sketchier? Read the full opinion here (pdf) and let us know what it means in the comments. For background on the briefs provided by other sources, check out Capitol Annex's breakdown, the brief filed by Texas bloggers can be found here (pdf). We'll fill in the gaps later after we digest the 31 pages.

----Update---

Surprise, surprise, Abbott sided with Craddick. For some brief insight check out Brooks & Kronberg
Sarah White :: Attorney General Opinion On Craddick's Absolute Power

The Reporting Services team is developing a new report designer tool that we're considering including in SQL Server Express 2008 with Advanced Services. This new report designer has a different user experience that is more geared toward information workers than developers. You can take a look at a preview of the new designer by downloading the SQL Server Developer 2008 November CTP. Once installed, you can find it at Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 | Reporting Services | Report Designer Preview.

So why am I telling you this?

I'm interested in your opinions of this tool and the idea of having the new Report Designer as part of SQL Express instead of BIDs. (Don't worry: BIDs will still be available in other SQL Server 2008 editions, just not in Express.) I think the look and feel of the new Report Designer will be easier to use for most SQL Express users while still offering all the major report design functionality that folks need.

The only features that won't be exposed in the new designer are related to more advanced development tasks, such as creating managed assemblies to use in your reports.

Reply requested

Register your opinion about this change by either posting a comment in this blog or by using the EMAIL link at the top of the blog to send mail to the team. We're interested in what you think.

* Mike

SQL Express team

Filed under: Futures, Headlines

Talented heiress fails to impress
By Lester Haines

A poll of 4,000 discerning Brits has unsurprisingly voted Rwandan mercy-dash heroine "One Night In" Paris Hilton the planet's most pointless celebrity - pipping former Big Brother contestants Chantelle "Bulgarian Airbags" Houghton and Jade "Juicy Kebab" Goody into second and third spots, respectively.

The next highest-ranking celebutard from across the Pond was David Gest, at fourth, with Nicole Richie securing a creditable sixth.

The survey, conducted by internet market research outfit OnePoll.com, demonstrates that when it comes to meaningless celebrity, the UK punches far above its weight. Among those also deemed to be squandering DNA which might have been put to better use elsewhere are Rebecca Loos - famous for manually pleasuring a pig on Channel Five's The Farm, having allegedly previously performed the same service for David Beckham - and Essex's finest Jodie Marsh.

In fact, the sole personality on the list to have previously held a real job is former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, noted for his sanctimonious TV pontificating about how the UK's tabloid press handles fame and celebrity before he was sacked in 2004 over fake snaps of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner.

Actually, that's a little unfair, since the top 20 shows that the unwashed masses are equally unimpressed with Ulrika Jonsson and Linda Barker. For the benefit of our US readers, both have at some time purportedly worked for a living, the former as a TV weathergirl and the latter bringing decorative joy to hapless homeowners in TV makeover smash hit Changing Rooms.

All in all, it's a pretty comprehensive list - apart for one glaring omission. How on earth pneumatic model, popstress, author and mum Jordan failed to make the cut is quite beyond us:

1. Paris Hilton
2. Chantelle Houghton
3. Jade Goody
4. David Gest
5. Rebecca Loos
6. Nicole Richie
7. Kerry Katona
8. Jodie Marsh
9. Jack Tweed
10. Heather Mills
11. Kevin Federline
12. Piers Morgan
13. Tamara Beckwith
14. Johnny Vegas
15. Ulrika Jonsson
16. Jonathan Wilkes
17. Victoria Beckham
18. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
19. Lee Ryan
20. Linda Barker

Discussions should be on the record

By MIKE PRIDE
Monitor editor

A core axiom for modern newspaper editors goes like this: Don't do anything you can't explain to readers. Well, last week I ended up in an off-the-record phone conversation with former president Bill Clinton moments after telling the Hillary Clinton campaign that I wouldn't take the call.

I'll explain, but first some background.

For the editor of the Concord Monitor, the presidential primary campaign is a yeasty time. The candidates, mainly the Democrats but some Republicans, too, want to be my friends. They want the paper's endorsement, favorable coverage, inside information and an ear to complain to.

We want some things, too. The main one is access to candidates that will prove useful to readers. Newspapers are not seeking sound bites or even 30-second answers. When we get an extra editorial board interview with a candidate, for instance, it means we can drill down on issues and report the answers fully in our news columns. The interviews also inform our editorials and columns and are a critical element in how we decide whom to endorse.

Sometimes things get a little more personal, but not much. Stuck in traffic jams or trekking through our notches and gores, candidates occasionally call to check up on me.

Did I see this poll or that story? Do I have any questions? I am still on John Kerry's Christmas card list, although I notice that his U.S. Senate campaign paid for this year's edition.

It was in this spirit of such relationships, if you can call them that, that I asked Hillary Clinton's campaign months ago if it could arrange for a Monitor interview with Bill Clinton.

We have a history with the Clintons. The Monitor endorsed Bill Clinton during the 1992 primary campaign and stood by him even when his candidacy hit extreme turbulence. Both Clintons know the state well from those days.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has been active in wooing us. She gave our editorial board a long - and impressive - interview last summer and is scheduled to return for another.

Kathleen Strand, her spokeswoman, indicated all along that she would try to get us time with Bill. The other day, I was driving back from Franklin, where I had interviewed a World War II veteran, when my cell phone rang. Strand was calling to offer an off-the-record conversation with Bill Clinton. I thanked her and said I'd get back to her.

Back at the office, I spoke with other editors and concluded I should decline the offer. What good would it do the editorial board or Monitor readers for me to talk privately with Clinton? I couldn't report on anything Clinton said. And allowing a politician, even a former president, to set such restrictive terms for the whole of a conversation is rarely a good idea. He wasn't calling to give me a tip on some covered-up public malfeasance.

I decided to treat the offer as the first bid in a negotiation. I sent Strand an e-mail that said, in part:

"While I appreciate the offer of an off-the-record phone call from President Clinton and would personally love to do it, I have to decline. What we'd really like is an on-the-record conference call from him with the editorial board."

Not a minute after I pushed the send button, my telephone bleated. The caller said she was from President Clinton's office and I should hold for an off-the-record talk with the president. I was momentarily confused, thinking somehow that this was a continuation of the conversation about the ground rules. I said okay.

There was a click, then silence. During this 10-second pause, it dawned on me precisely what the woman had said - basically, "Hold for President Clinton." I had seconds to consider my options: hang up, stick to my guns about an on-the-record interview or start asking questions.

We are human. We are weak. I started asking questions.

My rationalization was that maybe if I hadn't, none of us would have gotten a chance to hear from Clinton. But in reality, the desire to talk to the one-time leader of the free world overwhelmed the courage of my convictions.

Of course, I cannot now share with readers anything he said. But if you're paying attention to the campaign, you can probably guess the pitch he made for Hillary Clinton's candidacy. Throw in a couple of choice Arkansan locutions, and you'll have the whole picture. I'm pretty sure the president was making other similar calls that afternoon.

The race is tightening, as they often do near the end, and that's hard on a campaign, especially one as button-downed as Hillary Clinton's.

No doubt it's also hard on the former president. He's all in for his wife's candidacy but must be careful not to be too public about it, lest people think he's running the show.

The morning after he called, the front page of the New York Daily News had a small picture of the Clintons (his expression worried but resolute, hers haggard and glum) with a headline that read: "Honey, I'll fix the campaign."

The story inside was full of contradictions and anonymous sources, but the premise is probably correct. Naturally, the Clintons are thinking about how he can best help her.

As much as the former president is itching to be involved, I don't think his wife's campaign sandbagged me on the phone call. If my brain were more agile, I could have declined it and gone on negotiating terms with the campaign.

But even though our talk was just between him and me, I did think I owed readers an explanation.

This is it.

Washington Post columnist Robert J. Samuelson writes that, while "covering the 47 million uninsured already looms as the centerpiece" of the health care debate, out-of-control spending is the real problem, but it is not being adequately addressed by politicians, who only "pay lip service" to the issue.

According to Samuelson, politicians would rather cater to the public's belief that everyone should have adequate health care than address the hard questions, such as "How much will health spending increase taxes, depress take-home pay and crowd out other government spending—on schools, roads, parks, defense?" He argues that "the politics of health care rests on a mass illusion: Most Americans think that someone else pays for their care." Because people believe that either employers or the government pay for health care, they have no incentive to control costs.

Samuelson suggests making people "see and feel health costs" by making "Medicare beneficiaries pay more"; creating a "dedicated federal health tax to cover all government health spending" that would rise and fall according to spending levels; and getting rid of "the income tax exclusion for employer-paid insurance and replac[ing] it with a tax credit of lesser value" so "workers would have more pretax income, but they'd have to spend more after-tax dollars for insurance." However, Samuelson says that such proposals are not likely to be adopted because they "would inflict 'pain,' and candidates who embraced them would invite political ruin." (Samuelson, Washington Post, 12/6/07)

EU leaders said the Treaty of Lisbon would be the basis for a more modern and democratic Europe. But it remains to be seen if the reforms will meet with approval in the bloc's 27 member states, says DW's Bernd Riegert.

he politicians' speeches all sounded strangely similar. A "historic day," a "milestone," a "new stage" and a "managed crisis:" all words that were used before at the signing of a treaty three years ago in Rome. That's when the then 25 EU heads of government signed the EU constitution in a ceremony just as serious and solemn as in Lisbon. But everyone knows what happened to the constitution draft -- it failed after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected it. Then a number of countries, including Great Britain and Poland, developed fundamental aversions to the constitutional project.

During two and a half years of painful discussions, a new EU treaty was created -- a watered-down constitution that happens to be called the "Treaty of Lisbon" because Portugal holds the rotating EU presidency. The evaluations of the constitution signed in Rome and the reform treaty signed in Lisbon are the same. Now one can only hope that the "treaty" doesn't meet the same fate as her big sister, the "constitution."

The reform treaty -- or the treaty of changes, as the European Council's president for the first half of 2007, Germany's Angela Merkel, called it -- still has to be ratified by the bloc's 27 member states within a year to become binding international legislation. At the moment, it looks like only Great Britain could still cause problems. The euro-skeptics there are vehemently calling for a referendum. Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to avoid one because he knows very well that his countrymen and women could reject the treaty. They believe in a fairy tale of a European super-state that might be created by the treaty. But actually all the state symbols, like a flag or anthem, have been explicitly struck from the text.

The president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, cited an old, but no less true, EU principle in Lisbon: Europeans have always emerged stronger from a crisis. It's true that the Treaty of Lisbon contains the tools to modernize the EU and fit the union's growing size. But it's also true that the EU doesn't make any of the long overdue statements about which direction the EU should be heading and where its borders possibly lie. This debate is still pending. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he wants to lead the debate during his council presidency in the second half of 2008.

The eternal dispute between the EU's two camps -- those who want to deepen ties and those who want to expand as quickly as possible -- can't be decided. Not even the Lisbon Treaty will be able to do it. The treaty is a milestone, but it will never be the keystone. As in the past 50 years, the EU will develop -- sometimes faster, sometimes slower -- and the Treaty of Lisbon won't be the last one.

But there is one consolation for euro-skeptics: for the first time, a treaty offers the possibility to leave the European Union.

Bernd Riegert is DW-RADIO's Brussels correspondent. (sms)

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

The Health Ministry's committee preparing recommendations on which medical technologies to add to the basket of health services has invited the public to send it comments and recommendations via a Web site.

The drugs and medical equipment in the basket are supplied to patients by their health fund, subsidized by the Finance Ministry. The Treasury has agreed to expand the basket by NIS 275 million in 2008.

Prof. Menachem Fainaru, chairman of the 16-member committee, said that while patient organizations and pharmaceutical companies have already sent their comments (and lobbyists) to the panel, the members wanted to hear from individuals so "we can hear the voices that don't reach us."

The panel held its fifth meeting at Ramat Efal, near Tel Aviv, on Thursday.

Comments sent to public.sal@moh.health.gov.il will be put together by basket committee coordinator Dr. Anat Luxemburg. Letters can be sent to her at 2 Rehov Ben-Tabbai, San Simon, Jerusalem.

The panel's priority list is slated to be determined during the next few weeks.

The basket committee and the Israel Medical Association's alternative forum on the basket are competing for the limelight.

The forum, which held its second meeting at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Beit Belgia on its Givat Ram campus Thursday, has its sessions completely open to the press and is aimed at influencing the official committee.

The basket committee has opened its sessions to the press for the first time in a decade after being worried about "competition" from the forum, whose members are very eminent. But journalists who come to the Ramat Efal meetings may not quote or photograph anyone. Attendance at both events has been sparse because they have been very procedural and technical.

Posted by Brian Montopoli

Barack Obama, who has been courting college students in his effort to win the Jan. 3rd Iowa caucuses, has penned an opinion piece for the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa's student newspaper.

As UWIRE reported, the column touts Obama's positions on student loans, health care, Iraq, the environment, and other issues.

“Under my plan, if you graduate and don’t find a job that provides health insurance right away, you can stay on your parents’ insurance until you’re 25,” he wrote.

On December 4th, Iowa State's student newspaper, the Iowa State Daily, endorsed Obama. "Obama has not been afraid to throw a lot of his time and resources into trying to invigorate the younger crowd," noted the editors.

Students will be on vacation on the caucus date, but Obama has encouraged those who live out of state to return to campus early to caucus for him.

As UWIRE notes, at an appearance at Iowa State, Obama sought to reassure college students who might feel that they are not welcome at the caucuses.

"“Don’t let people tell you that you can’t caucus," he said. "You’re Iowa students, you can be Iowa caucus-goers.”

By MarketWatch

Edited Press Release

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- GlaxoSmithKline announced Friday that Tyverb (lapatinib) has received a positive opinion recommending a conditional marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Lapatinib, in combination with capecitabine, is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumours overexpress ErbB2 (HER2).

Patients should have progressive disease following prior therapy which must include anthracyclines, taxanes and therapy with trastuzumab in the metastatic setting. 1.
Lapatinib is the first oral, small molecule dual targeted therapy that works by getting inside the cancer cell to inhibit both ErbB1 (EGFR) and ErbB2 (HER2), two receptor proteins which are responsible for tumour growth. 2 This novel mechanism of action is a new way to treat breast cancer.

"This positive opinion is fantastic news for eligible women with ErbB2-positive breast cancer across the European Union. Thousands of women are diagnosed every year in Europe with ErbB2 positive breast cancer and are at a greater risk of disease progression and death compared to women with tumours that do not overexpress this protein," said Dr Martine Piccart, Professor of Oncology, Universite Libre de Bruxelles and Department Head, Medicine, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels. "Lapatinib represents an important new treatment option for a group of patients in real need of alternative therapies and I look forward to the day that I can prescribe lapatinib.

Not only that, but this is just the beginning given the ongoing clinical programme investigating the potential use of lapatinib in earlier stages of the disease."
The positive opinion was based on a pivotal Phase III trial (EGF100151) in which women with advanced or metastatic ErbB2-positive breast cancer whose disease had progressed following prior treatment were given either the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine, or capecitabine alone. The data showed that the analysis of investigator reported median time to progression (TTP) was 23.9 weeks in the lapatinib and capecitabine arm versus 18.3 weeks in the capecitabine arm alone.

In addition to the achievement of the primary endpoint, results from the trial demonstrated the associated potential to reduce the incidence of brain metastases as the first site of recurrence in metastatic breast cancer. Progression of brain metastases was 2% in the combination arm compared with 6% in the capecitabine alone arm. 7 Central nervous system metastases are a major burden for breast cancer patients. 8 These preliminary results with lapatinib are encouraging and are the basis of ongoing research in this area. Latest data on the use of lapatinib and capecitabine in brain metastases will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) on Dec. 16, 2007.

The most common adverse events during therapy with lapatinib plus capecitabine were gastrointestinal (diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting) or skin disorders (rash and hand and foot syndrome). The majority of adverse events were mild to moderate in severity and were not significantly higher than those seen with capecitabine monotherapy. 5
A conditional marketing authorisation is granted to a medicinal product that fulfils an unmet medical need when the benefit to public health of immediate availability outweighs the risk inherent in the fact that additional data are still required.
In the case of lapatinib, GSK is to provide further data from the pivotal study and also additional demonstration of decreased incidence of relapse in the central nervous system, for which a study will be conducted. A conditional marketing authorisation is valid for one year. Thereafter, the conditional marketing authorisation may be renewed annually.

"This is an extremely significant development for patients and physicians across Europe as lapatinib, in combination with capecitabine, will play a valuable role in treating an especially aggressive form of advanced breast cancer by providing an effective treatment that offers added convenience as an oral therapy," said Paolo Paoletti, SVP and Global Head of the Oncology Medicine Development Centre at GSK.
Andrew Witty, President, Pharmaceuticals Europe, GSK and CEO designate added, "The innovative mechanism of action of lapatinib represents a new way to treat breast cancer patients. It is also important to note that this is GSK's second EMEA positive opinion for a cancer treatment in a matter of months, following the positive opinion and approval of Atriance(R) (nelarabine) in the summer. These positive opinions underscore our commitment to develop an industry leading oncology portfolio to address the unmet medical needs of cancer patients, whether they be for highly prevalent or extremely rare forms of the disease."

A comprehensive clinical development programme will evaluate lapatinib both alone and in combination with other therapies (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, other targeted agents and VEGF inhibitors) across the spectrum of ErbB2-positive breast cancer, from metastatic to early breast cancer. Trials are also ongoing and planned in a range of other solid tumours that overexpress ErbB1 and/or ErbB2.

GSK Oncology is dedicated to producing innovations in cancer that will make profound differences in the lives of patients. Through GSK's revolutionary ' bench to bedside' approach, we are transforming the way treatments are discovered and developed, resulting in one of the most robust pipelines in the oncology sector. Our worldwide research in oncology includes partnerships with more than 160 cancer centres. GSK is closing in on cancer from all sides with a new generation of patient focused cancer treatments in prevention, supportive care, chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
-Contact: 201-938-5400 End of Story

Commentary: The stores were too big in a too-competitive sector
By John C. Dvorak

BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- I was saddened by the timeline announced for shutting down CompUSA, but wasn't in the least surprised.

As I have said in columns here and elsewhere, the idea of a computer megastore working is sketchy. Investors in Apple Inc. (AAPL:

The problems are obvious to anyone who visits big computer stores. It begins with the fact that the sector is highly technical, and these vendors cannot afford to hire people who can sell intelligently.

But it goes beyond that. Here's my list of issues:

1. The perpetual-depression nature of the business. In other words, once the product hits the shelf, it begins to deflate in value. The deflation stems from the rate of change within the industry, and affects most products.

2. Impossible to satisfy customers. I have been to CompUSA dozens of times and rarely found what I needed. The store cannot carry enough weird cables or esoteric tanks of printer ink; no one can.

3. Competing with the Internet. Most savvy computer users shop for much of their hardware online. The Net works like a mall in a way that makes it hard to compete. Say you have some random item you need to find. A search engine will locate the one merchant that has it.

4. The stores are creepy. CompUSA typically had guards checking you at the exits to see if you stole anything. This always seemed a bit odd to me.

5.Other big-box outlets carry the commodities. Office Depot Inc. (ODP:
Office Depot, Inc
News, chart, profile, more

6. I usually could get the same things at RadioShack without a hassle.

7. The stores were too big.

It's the last lament that has me concerned about Apple. The company is the first PC maker since Altair in the late 1970s to do the computer store correctly.
This means opening a lot of small territorial sites, with a selection of everything within the product line. My concern is that the Apple stores are getting too big.

by Mike Elgan, Computerworld

Editor’s Note: This story is reprinted from Computerworld. For more Mac coverage, visit Computerworld’s Macintosh Knowledge Center.

The Associated Press published an article last week about high schools increasingly banning iPods because some kids use them to cheat.

The article, reprinted in USA Today and hundreds of other newspapers, reported one example where a school “recently enacted a ban on digital media players after school officials realized some students were downloading formulas and other material onto the players.”

I don’t want to second-guess the individual decisions of specific teachers and school principals. But the ban does raise questions, the most interesting of which is: Should iPods or other handheld gadgets instead be “required” during tests?

What the iPod ban teaches kids

Most high school students prepare for tests by guessing what facts might be on the test, then trying to memorize those facts to maximize their grades. Hours after the test, those facts tend to be forgotten. This is a gross oversimplification, sure, but largely true.

How much of your high school history, science or math do you still retain to this day? If you’re like me, the answer is practically zero.

In my case, the single most valuable thing I learned in high school was how to touch-type (thank you, Ms. Balish!). Skills, habits and experiences, more than temporarily memorized facts, are what turn us into adults who can learn.

So many college students I’ve met—even at some of the nation’s top universities—are there because they have an aptitude for memorization. Many straight-A high school students have few interests, little curiosity and zero inclination toward intellectual discovery. Our system rewards the memorizers and punishes the creative thinkers.

An iPod, when used during tests, is nothing more than a machine that stores and spits out data. By banning iPods and other gadgets, we’re teaching kids to actually become iPods—to become machines that store and spit out data. Instead, we should be teaching them to use iPods—to use that data and to be human beings who can think—and leave data storage to the machines.

By banning iPods, we’re preparing our kids for a world without the Internet, a world without iPods, a world without electronic gadgets that can store information. But is that the world they’re going to live in?

What iPods teach kids

What are those iPod cheaters doing, really? They’re creatively putting facts at their fingertips using ubiquitous technology in preparation for using those facts.

Isn’t that a more realistic preparation for college, career and life than teaching memorization?

When I go into a meeting, deliver a presentation, write a column or develop a report, electronic gadgets and Internet-connected PCs are always part of the process. My ability to use those devices and my ability to think critically using the universe of facts always at hand determines to a large degree the quality of my work.

Memorizing information is valuable but not as valuable as the ability to find and use information. Yet we teach the low-value skill and ban the valuable one.

When kids take math tests, most teachers require them to “show their work” instead of doing problems “in their heads.” Or they require calculators. Teachers are preparing students to function in a world where pencils and calculators are generally available. Banning iPods is like banning pencils or calculators.

What’s the point of creating an unrealistic scenario that involves the total absence of widely available tools? Outside the classroom and after high school, a student can “always” have access to an iPod or an Internet-connected phone or computer.

Schools need to learn, too

If Johnny can get an “A” by using his iPod, what does that tell us about the necessity of memorizing the knowledge? What does that tell us about the power of electronic gadgets?

The larger, more interesting question is: Why do we devote so much time and energy teaching kids to memorize facts we know they’ll forget? We should instead teach critical thinking, creative decision-making and sophisticated information retrieval.

We should teach kids how to function in the real world—the world they live in, not the world their grandparents lived in.

That means kids should learn how to efficiently pack a gadget or computer full of content and figure out how to quickly access and use that content to solve problems and answer questions.

We need the iPod equivalent of “open-book tests,” where gadgets are required, the tests are harder and demand of the student problem solving, creative thinking and deep understanding of the ideas, not just the ability to spit out words fed to them earlier.

Kids need to learn relevant skills in order to function in a changing world. Schools need to learn, too. It’s time that schools accept the fact that the Internet and little electronic info-gadgets are everywhere and here to stay.

A revolution has occurred. In one generation, we’ve transformed a world where information is scarce and hard to find to a world where nearly all knowledge can be available to everyone, all the time.

Instead of pretending that revolution never happened, let’s take advantage of it to propel students into a successful future. Let’s teach them how to deal with the new problem of too much information.

Let’s stop banning iPods and start requiring them.
Recommend this story?

[ Mike Elgan is a technology writer and former editor of Windows Magazine . ]

BOSTON, Dec. 14, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Shares of Neurochem (TSX:NRM) Inc. tumbled on heavy volume Friday after the company's Neurochem Ltd. subsidiary said that the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency issued a negative opinion for its eprodisate drug, which is used in the treatment of AA amyloidosis.

The company said that the committee recommended refusal of the marketing authorization application for eprodisate and concluded that another study would be needed to demonstrate eprodisate's effectiveness.

Neurochem is currently reviewing all of its options in view of this opinion.

Shares tumbled 13% to $2.51 on volume of 275,757. The 30-day average volume is 214,428 shares.

Casey Logan
cl/tk1
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.

by Mike Elgan, Computerworld

Editor’s Note: This story is reprinted from Computerworld. For more Mac coverage, visit Computerworld’s Macintosh Knowledge Center.

Last April, I wrote a column titled, “Why e-books are bound to fail.” My reasons: cost, the availability of better alternatives and, most importantly, book lovers love paper books.

I was wrong.

Last week, I set out to deflate the hype about Amazon’s new Kindle e-book reader and to tell you why it will fail. But while researching this column, I became convinced of the opposite: Kindle is revolutionary and will succeed in the market. Some percentage of book lovers, including me, will buy one to replace their beloved paper books, magazines and newspapers.

I’m not going to reproduce basic facts about Kindle widely covered elsewhere. If you want the basics, read the Newsweek cover story by Steven Levy, Linda Rosencrance’s excellent Computerworld report or check out Amazon’s own Kindle marketing page.

Instead, I’ll reveal some surprising facts about Amazon’s Kindle. But first let me tell you why the Kindle is such a revolutionary device.

Why Kindle rules

I’ve dissed and dismissed e-books for years. But three factors I didn’t anticipate reversed my long-standing attitude.

Fast, free broadly distributed wireless. Amazon has actually out-Appled Apple in ease-of-use. Like the iPhone, Kindle lets you buy media — books and periodicals, in this case — without your PC. Unlike the iPhone, you can do that without ever being billed for wireless access. The free, unlimited wireless is just there. And it’s not Wi-Fi, but mobile broadband; it connects anywhere a Sprint cell phone can connect (taxi cabs, the beach — you name it).

Special extras for hardcore book and magazine lovers. My biggest complaint about e-books has been that book lovers love the look and feel of real paper books. But book lovers love other things, too, and Kindle gives them a long list of compensatory goodies. Amazon’s $9.99-and-under book pricing means book fans can buy more books. They can look up words in a dictionary, Wikipedia or on the Web right from the device. They get instant gratification by buying books from anywhere; books take a minute to download.

The seller and service provider — Amazon. The company is uniquely positioned to provide this product and this service. Obviously, Amazon already sells books. The company long ago figured out the complexities of online book distribution and most book buyers already trust Amazon. And I don’t mean we are “willing to trust.” We already have Amazon accounts, and Amazon already has our credit card numbers.

Surprising facts about Kindle

Beyond all this, it’s important to realize that Amazon’s Kindle isn’t just an e-book reader. It’s a surprising new kind of device. Here are some of those surprises.

What you knew: Kindle can access Amazon.com and the Web to search Wikipedia via it’s free wireless connection.

What you didn’t know: You can just surf the Web in general. Kindle comes with a Web browser called Basic Web, which supports cookies, JavaScript and SSL, but doesn’t support plug-ins like Flash or Shockwave or Java applets. Basic Web lets you type in a URL, click on links and generally surf the Web like you would on a PC.

What you knew: You can download and read any of the 88,000 books from Amazon.com — and the list is growing.

What you didn’t know: You can download a much larger selection of free e-books using the Kindle’s Web browser — many in Kindle-friendly .MOBI and .PRC formats. Text-based books are available, too. And if you don’t like how these look in text-format (which you won’t), you can convert to .MOBI and .PRC formats on your PC using free or cheap tools available online.

What you knew: Kindle connects free to Sprint’s EV-DO 3G network.

What you didn’t know: Where EV-DO isn’t available, Kindle connects via a second protocol called 1xRTT, which is an older 144Kbit/sec. standard. The addition of 1xRTT increases the number of locations where you have wireless access.

What you knew: Kindle’s Search feature lets you find words or phrases on Wikipedia, the Kindle Store and the Web.

What you didn’t know: Kindle gives you access to an experimental and free service called Kindle NowNow, which is a search engine powered by actual humans. You send any question, and a human being will research it for you, then send the best three answers, usually, Amazon says, within five minutes.

What you knew: Kindle’s wireless service works only in or near the U.S.

What you didn’t know: You can buy books from anywhere in the world from your PC, and sync to the Kindle.

What you knew: The Kindle can read only four text-document file formats: .AZW (Kindle-specific), .TXT, .MOBI and .PRC. In addition, every Kindle gets its own e-mail address for receiving Amazon-converted Word, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP files for 10 cents per document. You send the original to your Kindle’s address and your device receives the converted document (only e-mail addresses you authorize can send to your Kindle).

What you didn’t know: If you have Amazon send converted documents to your regular e-mail account instead of your Kindle account, the conversion is free. You then have to download the attachment and sync via USB.

What you knew: Amazon keeps a copy of all your subscriptions online so, if you upgrade or replace a Kindle, you won’t lose purchased books, newspapers or magazines.

What you didn’t know: The Kindle also automatically and wirelessly backs up online all your notes, bookmarks, clippings and even “last location read.”

What you knew: Kindle is an e-book reader.

What you didn’t know: Kindle is also an audiobook reader and MP3 player, and has both speakers and a headphone jack. Amazon lets you buy audiobooks directly from Audible.com by going to a dedicated Web site where you can download and install Kindle-specific software for connecting to and buying from Audible.com. You can listen to music while reading, although only in “shuffle” mode.

What you knew: The Kindle comes with a built in dictionary — The New Oxford American Dictionary.

What you didn’t know: If you prefer another dictionary, you can buy it from Amazon.com, then tell your Kindle via an option setting that the new dictionary is now your “preferred” dictionary for instant lookups.

What you knew: You can subscribe to newspapers and magazines.

What you didn’t know: Your subscriptions arrive hours or, in the case of some magazines, days before print subscribers get theirs.

What you knew: Newspaper and magazines are not retained permanently by default on Amazon’s Your Media Library. Amazon’s contract with these content providers typically allows just seven issues, although the number varies.

What you didn’t know: You can download periodicals to your PC or Kindle and retain them forever. Amazon can’t retain them beyond seven issues, but you can.

What you knew: You can read for about two days on a single charge (which takes two hours).

What you didn’t know: If you turn off the wireless feature, you can read every day for more than a week on a charge.

What you knew: The Kindle is sold out already.

What you didn’t know: You can order now, and they’ll ship it to you after Nov. 29.

What you knew: You have to pay for books and magazines downloaded from the Kindle Store.

What you didn’t know: You can try before you buy. Magazines and newspapers come with a 14-day free trial and can also be purchased one magazine at a time without a subscription. You can read the first chapters of books free.

What you knew: Amazon charges $2 per month to subscribe to each RSS feed.

What you didn’t know: You can read any RSS feed, including those they charge for, free of charge via the Kindle’s Web browser by going directly to the sites.

What you knew: Amazon does not support PDF files for conversion.

What you didn’t know: Free PDF-to-Word converters exist, and Amazon will convert those to its Kindle format, so PDF files on the Kindle are merely inconvenient, not impossible.

What you knew: You can “dog ear” pages to bookmark them, save “clippings” (copies of entire pages) and notes on Kindle, all of which are backed up as part of your books.

What you didn’t know: You can also “highlight” text — like using a highlighter pen, but without the bright color. Highlights are also backed up.

What you knew: The Kindle Store is functionally similar to the Amazon bookstore.

What you didn’t know: You can use Kindle’s keyboard and wireless connection to write book reviews on the Kindle Store.

The Amazon Kindle isn’t perfect. It’s ugly as sin and needs a light for reading in the dark, and the Kindle Store could use a far greater selection of newspapers and magazines.

But, broadly speaking, the Kindle is a game-changing revolution in buying, reading, managing and using electronic books and other content. It’s also the hottest holiday gift you can buy this year for anyone who loves to read.
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I’ve always been skeptical about e-books, but Amazon has made a believer — and a customer — out of me.

Craddick claims victory; Abbott sidesteps addressing some questions.
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Six months ago, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was asked to referee the fight between Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and a rebellious group of Republicans and Democrats who wanted to remove him as House leader during the final days of the legislative session.

Late Friday night, almost too late for reaction, Abbott finally delivered his opinion, just hours before today's legal deadline.

n layman's terms, he gave both sides something to cling to while refusing to interpret House rules at the center of the controversy that enveloped the chamber in May.

In an e-mail, Craddick's press secretary, Alexis DeLee, declared victory.

"The speaker welcomes the attorney general's opinion and his acknowledgement that the rules of the House, as well as the interpretation of those rules, are matters to be determined solely by the members of the House," the news release said. "The attorney general's opinion affirms the speaker's position on all issues."

Two Republican lawmakers who had sought Abbott's opinion, Rep. Jim Keffer of Eastland and Byron Cook of Corsicana, disagreed.

"In football terms, the attorney general's advisory opinion has punted this issue to the courts and has fumbled in its attempted summary," they said in an e-mail.

They argued that Craddick, who is elected from one district out of 150, is not a statewide officer and can be removed by a majority of House members.

"We firmly believe Craddick's application of 'absolute authority' has violated constitutional rights of members of the legislature and the constituents they serve," they wrote. "The people of Texas need to let their local representatives know that they've had enough of Tom Craddick's one-man dictatorship."

In his opinion, Abbott concluded that the state constitution and statutes are silent as to whether the speaker, elected by the 150 House members, is an "officer of the state" for the purpose of removing him from office.

But the attorney general cited two Texas Supreme Court decisions in obscure cases dealing with the removal of a San Antonio State Hospital superintendent and a member of the Texas Relief Commission, a Depression-era agency.

"Although neither decision is a model of clarity," Abbott's lawyers wrote, "they are the best authority available."

Reading those decisions, the attorney general wrote that courts would "likely" rule that the speaker is a state officer who "most likely" serves a fixed term.

"His tenure explicitly begins when the House first assembles and temporarily organizes, and, due to the ongoing duties imposed by law, must continue until the next session commences," the opinion says.

That conclusion bolsters the argument of pro-Craddick forces who said the House should not try to remove a speaker during a legislative session, barring impeachment on serious charges.

In May, Craddick's opponents criticized the speaker's leadership style, saying he had consolidated power in his office and was forcing members to vote against the best interests of their districts, an accusation Craddick denied. They never accused Craddick of criminal wrongdoing, which would have been grounds for impeachment.

Abbott's opinion adds, however, that removing a speaker is not limited to impeachment.

At that point, however, Abbott cites the separation-of-powers provision in the constitution, refusing to interpret House rules or the parliamentarian's interpretations of those rules.

The issue in May was whether Craddick had to allow a vote on a motion to remove him and elect a new speaker. He refused, claiming he had absolute power to recognize a member for a motion — or not.

Craddick's detractors, which by that time included many of his former GOP supporters such as Rep. Mike Krusee of Williamson County, argued that House members who elect a speaker can remove a speaker.

Craddick's allies said removing a speaker under those circumstances would invite chaos.

The House, evenly split between Craddick's supporters and opponents, embarks on the 2008 election season as both sides hope to return to Austin in 2009 with a clear majority.

All 150 House members are up for re-election, but only a couple of dozen House races are likely to be in play.

With the House so evenly divided, a few victories one way or the other could ensure Craddick's re-election to a fourth term or a new speaker elected on the first day of the legislative session.

lcopelin@statesman.com; 445-3617

These coming-of-age tales are timeless triumphs.

BY A.E. HOTCHNER

1. "The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway" (Scribner, 1938).

Ernest Hemingway's autobiographically inspired tales of Nick Adams are, for me, the finest evocation of the coming-of-age experience, Tom and Huck included. The interlocking Nick Adams stories carry him from boyhood to an embattled manhood, beginning with a portrayal of his oppressive mother and oppressed father ("The Doctor and the Doctor's Wife"). Nick eventually renounces his Midwestern life ("The Three-Day Blow") and enlists in the Italian army during World War I--his severe wounding and tragic love affair with a nurse are depicted in "A Very Short Story." The odyssey's capstone is "Fathers and Sons," wherein the 38-year-old Nick reflects, during a quail hunt, about his boyhood and his father, whom he adored. Nick's yearning for his father, who committed suicide, is so poignant, so awash with painful nostalgia, that you pause from paragraph to paragraph to settle your emotions.

2. "Goodbye, Columbus" by Philip Roth (Random House, 1959).

This acidulous and funny novella begins with the 23-year-old narrator, Neil Klugman, holding Brenda Patimkin's glasses while she dives into a country-club swimming pool--and then he watches, entranced, as she walks away: "She caught the bottom of her suit between thumb and index finger and flicked what flesh had been showing back where it belonged. My blood jumped." With that, Philip Roth is off, spinning an unsparing yet tender tale about a summer affair between poor-boy Neil, from Newark, N.J., and Brenda, a Radcliffe student who is staying with her upper-middle-class family in Short Hills. "Goodbye, Columbus"--originally published with an additional five short stories--is primarily concerned with Neil and Brenda's tense romance and the challenges of Jewish assimilation, but it is also a brilliant lampoon of the American way of life.

3. "The Member of the Wedding" by Carson McCullers (New Directions, 1946).

Frankie Addams, a gangling girl of 12--restless and given to a world of fantasy--is the protagonist of Carson McCullers's gentle, powerful novel. Frankie's mother is deceased, her father preoccupied with his business, and so she is devoted to Berenice Sadie Brown, the Georgia family's black cook of many years, whose wisdom and compassion are anchors in Frankie's chaotic existence. But Frankie foresees a new life: Her brother, a soldier, is getting married, and she imagines that her role as a "member of the wedding" means that she will go along on the honeymoon. In her desperation to flee the life she knows yet still feel a sense of belonging, Frankie suffers her agonies with a dream-like incandescence that illuminates the universal passageway into womanhood.

4. "Stop-Time" by Frank Conroy (Viking, 1967).

"My father stopped living with us when I was three or four. Most of his adult life was spent as a patient in various expensive rest homes for dipsomaniacs and victims of nervous collapse. He was neither . . . " So begins "Stop-Time," Frank Conroy's memoir of the world of half-mad, lonely characters whom he confronted during his adolescence. It is a story of growing up during a time of anxiety, broken families, sexual anarchy and pervasive discontent. There is no self-pity, but Conroy's remarkable perceptions lay bare the feelings of this distinctive boy, who nimbly side-steps despair to reach a seemingly impossible destination on the next-to-last page: "I was rich and I was free."

5. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger (Little, Brown, 1951).

Holden Caulfield thoroughly deserves his status as the quintessential teenager of American literature. J.D. Salinger found a note-perfect teenage voice, with Holden's venomous contempt for everything "phony," a voice that the author expertly deploys in capturing all the prejudices and emotions of a troubled prep-school boy from New York. Holden's escapades are both hilarious and painful, as when he decides to lose his virginity with a prostitute that he has procured with the help of a hotel bellhop. When she arrives, Holden has second thoughts about this misguided attempt to grow up and finds himself bargaining with the indignant woman to let him out of the deal. Holden zig-zags through an amusing, pathetic, confusing year, battling inner turmoil every step of the way. But in the end he does grow up--somewhat.

Mr. Hotchner is the author of the memoir "Papa Hemingway" (1966) and "The Boyhood Memoirs of A.E. Hotchner" (2007). His 20th book, "The Good Life According to Hemingway," will be published next spring.

A non-transfer of power that makes Russia less stable.

Plans for a transition of power were unveiled this week in Russia. The news is that there won't be one.

Many Russians and foreign investors alike were cheered by Vladimir Putin's clearest signal yet of his intention to stay in charge beyond March's presidential elections. Shares soared on his endorsement Monday of longtime aide Dmitry Medvedev to nominally take his spot in the Kremlin. Shares jumped again a day later when the heir apparent returned the favor and pledged to name Mr. Putin as the next Prime Minister with, so everyone presumes, stronger powers than the next President.

This choreographed switcheroo is Putinism to a tee. The President and his men trample on civic freedoms and concentrate power in the name of "order" and "stability." With the economy growing on the back of oil approaching $100 a barrel, up from $15 when Mr. Putin took office in 2000, complaints are muted--sometimes by force. But of all people, Russians ought to have learned from history that personalizing and centralizing so much authority brings trouble down the road.

An old friend of Mr. Putin's from his KGB days told us this week that the President wanted to step down to establish a precedent for future Russian leaders. But in the same breath he said that it was too dangerous for Mr. Putin to step aside--for Russia, and for Mr. Putin himself. This is largely true, and is another feature of Putinism.

The President has made himself indispensable to keeping the peace among his boyars. The 42-year-old Mr. Medvedev holds no sway over the influential Kremlin group of siloviky--the ex-KGB men around Mr. Putin, a KGB colonel himself--or the security services as a whole. To them, as well presumably to Mr. Putin, Mr. Medvedev's remarkable features are his loyalty and lack of any evident charisma. An added bonus for Mr. Putin is that his choice of sidekick-in-chief was hailed abroad as a "liberal"--which is only true compared to the other candidates floated in recent months. Mr. Medvedev's first comments Tuesday were so deferential to Mr. Putin that no doubt was left about who will stay boss.

The Putinites have their own self-serving reasons for wanting the current regime to continue. Though less brashly than the oligarchs around Boris Yeltsin, the current establishment has done very well for itself in the past eight years. Dmitry Trenin, a Russian analyst at Carnegie's Moscow Center, writes in his new book "Getting Russia Right" that the same people "rule and own" the country. Having expropriated wealth from the previous crowd, they're worried that the same could happen to them.

Mr. Putin knows that leaving power is dangerous for a Russian politician. Every single previous national leader went out in a coffin (from natural or unnatural causes) or in disgrace. So he is looking for ways to protect himself by holding on to the reins.

This transition could have helped Russian democracy to mature. The country lost an opportunity in this decade of good economic times to build a proper and predictable political system around institutions rather than men. The blame falls squarely on Mr. Putin.

If all the President cared about was restoring economic health and Russian pride, he could have claimed credit for the few good reforms his government carried out (such as the flat 13% income tax) and rode the petroleum boom to the bank. But his actions reveal a deep unease about his own appeal to Russians.

The Kremlin went out of its way to destroy the free media, freeze out national opposition parties, cancel the elections of regional governors, and shrink independent civil institutions. The courts and the Duma were neutered, and elections made irrelevant. This month's parliamentary poll was the least free since Mikhail Gorbachev introduced perestroika.

A turning point was Ukraine's "Orange Revolution" in 2004. There, an Orthodox Slav nation rose against a corrupt and authoritarian clique in spite of a booming economy; this came too close to home for the Kremlin. In its wake, Mr. Putin has turned Russia's government into the most anti-Western outside of Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela. The recent campaign saw his nationalism hit a new high pitch.

The absence of democracy is dangerous for Russia, and the world. Putinism hangs on a single man. It denies Russians a proper outlet to discuss their problems. Others will be found. Fast rising inflation has brought impromptu demonstrations. The Kremlin has opened a Pandora's box by embracing neo-fascist youth groups and ideas that will be hard to control. After the thaw under Messrs. Gorbachev and Yeltsin, Russian citizens are once again nothing compared to the power of the state, and they may one day rediscover a taste for liberty. All of this makes Russia unpredictable.

In the meantime, power struggles will continue among various factions inside the Kremlin, beyond view and unchecked by laws. Contrary to its own advertising, Putinism has sown the seeds of instability. The tapping of Mr. Medvedev and the prominent role carved for Mr. Putin in no way ends the great uncertainty about Russia's near- and long-term future. It

John McCain doesn't mince words when it comes to Iraq, the State Department and spending.

BY BRIAN M. CARNEY
Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST

John McCain sits across the table from the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, fielding questions on everything from taxes to torture to terror. He's asked what surprised him the most about the behavior House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with regard to Iraq. His answer--"their lack of patriotism"--is of the characteristically impolitic kind that often defines his personality. Over the course of a 75-minute conversation, it's on display time and again.

For a candidate who was mostly written off by the media only six months ago, the senior senator from Arizona seems remarkably confident of his primary chances.

Mr. McCain is 71. But the tired, sluggish, former front-runner you may have read about was nowhere in evidence when the senator came to the Journal's offices yesterday. In his place was a combative and--yes--straight-talking candidate with no qualms about rising to a challenge or speaking his mind. In short, he looks once again like the spry 63-year-old who nearly knocked off front-runner George W. Bush eight years ago.

When asked whether he would tag Hillary Clinton as well with a "lack of patriotism," Mr. McCain does dial it down a notch. "Maybe 'lack of patriotism' is too harsh," he allows. "'Putting political ambitions ahead of the national interest' may be a more subtle way" of putting it. He then adds, with a chuckle, "And we all know how subtle I am."

Just how subtle comes across in expanding on Mrs. Clinton's stance on the war and on the surge. "She had that very clever line--I don't know who wrote it for her--that you'd have to suspend disbelief in order to believe that the surge is working. Well, you'd have to suspend disbelief that it's not now." And then, as if confronting her in a presidential debate, he addresses the absent senator from New York directly: "Do you still stand by that statement, Senator Clinton? Do you still believe you'd have to suspend disbelief to believe that this surge is working?"

Mr. McCain is almost as scathing about his own party's behavior in power as he is about Congress's current leaders. Of the Republican congressional majority that was voted out in 2006, he says: "We let spending get out of control. . . . And we would have won the 2006 elections if we had restrained spending. Our base didn't desert us because of the war in Iraq. Our base deserted us because of the Bridge to Nowhere. I'll take you to a town hall tomorrow and I'll say 'Bridge to Nowhere' and everyone in that room will know what I'm talking about. That bridge is more famous than the Brooklyn Bridge."

That version of the events of November 2006 is not universally shared, even within the GOP, but it does serve Mr. McCain's interests pretty well. He has been one of the most prominent and unapologetic supporters of the war in Iraq, even though he at times disagreed with the administration about tactics and strategy.

And he voted against the Bush tax cuts--even though he admits that they helped the economy in the midst of a recession. "We all know that [they helped]. Without a doubt. Without the slightest doubt. Absolutely."

Even so, he defends his opposition to them on the grounds, he told us, that Congress couldn't get spending under control. "I opposed the tax cuts because there was no spending restraint. . . . If we'd enacted spending restraints, we'd be talking about more tax cuts today. And to the everlasting shame and embarrassment of the Republican Party and this administration, we went on a spending spree and we didn't pay for it. . . . And every time I called over to the White House and said, look, you've got to veto these bills, the answer was, 'We'll lose the majority, we'll lose this election, we'll lose the speaker.' Well, you know what happened."

The words "I told you so" don't quite pass his lips, but his sense of vindication is plain enough.

As for the tax cuts themselves, he now pledges that he would fight to make them permanent. "I will not agree to any tax increase," he says. And then once more for emphasis: "I will not agree to any tax increase."

His combativeness is on display again when the subject of interrogation techniques is raised. It's a subject on which the Journal's editorial board has been critical of Mr. McCain in the past. Does he assert, he is asked, that techniques such as waterboarding never produce reliable information?

He turns it back on the questioner: "I do assert that America's moral image in the world is badly damaged when it comes out that we torture people. . . . I do assert that we're going to win this battle against al Qaeda on ideological grounds."

Then he adds: "So my assertion is that it's fascinating, it's fascinating, that those who have served in the military--particularly in positions of responsibility--almost all of them say, 'Don't do it.' Those who have never served, those who have never heard a shot fired in anger and never will, say, 'Let's torture the hell out of them. Let's take them to the rack. Let's do what the Spanish Inquisition invented.' "

That last is a caricature, and given the jab at "those who have never served," it might even come across as a mean-spirited one, but Mr. McCain manages to put it across without any evident derision in his demeanor or voice. On the contrary, it is said almost amiably.

Likewise, when he's asked what he thinks about the State Department, he delivers the jab with a smile: "Sometimes you have a little personal bias when you find out that they nearly rebelled when the secretary of state said all of them had to go serve in Iraq. I mean, please. Please." He continues: "I think we ought to have a State Department that understands that service to the country is what they're all about. And if that means going into countries where there may be some danger in serving, then by God that's the place they should want to go first." It helps to have volunteered for service in Vietnam if one wants to say that kind of thing.

He doesn't pull any punches with the CIA, either, asking whether it has become a "rogue agency" when queried about the intelligence community's handling of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. On the NIE, he adds: "I want to know why in the world we should have any relaxation with regards to Iran just because they have had a pause in the quickest part of the program to build a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile the enrichment goes on. And they're still exporting the explosive devices. They're still supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. They're still dedicated to the extinction of Israel. What's the change?"

As for direct talks between President Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr. McCain is once again scathing: "That is the most overrated thing in the world. We know who's going to profit from that. . . . Who gains in stature from face-to-face meetings? That is the ultimate question. . . . If they want to negotiate"--an open question, it would seem, in Mr. McCain's eyes--"we can find lots of ways to negotiate. But say we have to have face-to-face? Come on. Come on. That's just foolishness. And I would not do one thing that would enhance the prestige of the president of Iran."

In Iraq, meantime, Mr. McCain sees events at long last moving in the right direction. "I think this is a seminal moment in American history. I really do. Because we've got a long way to go. Al Qaeda is on the run but they're not defeated, OK?

"And we've got really a long way to go. But I'm telling you, if we could keep going like this for another nine months to a year or so, and get the Maliki government to start functioning effectively--and a lot of things are happening by the way that are not at the highest level--I think you're going to see things happen in the rest of the Middle East.

"The Syrians sent someone to Annapolis [for the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks]. That's good news. The Iranians may be cutting back on the explosive devices. Pakistan: Musharraf is acting as we wanted him to."

In his view, these are all connected, and all related in turn to the reversal of fortunes in Iraq since the surge began. "And I'm convinced that if we can continue this success, you're going to see a change in the Middle East. Plus, some progress on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. If we fail, we're not going to be in the neighborhood and it's every nation and every group for themselves."

Of course, Mr. McCain will have to resign himself to being right but ignored unless he can actually win. And while he may once have been seen as what he calls "the designated successor" to the Republican nomination, he's now a distinct underdog. So he places a lot of emphasis on what he calls the "volatility" of the current race.

"We all know that if I sat here two weeks ago and I said, 'By the way, Huckabee is ahead in Iowa and South Carolina,' you'd just have said, 'Yeah, right.' " He goes on: "I think you're going to see a lot of ups and downs. Sixty percent, 70%, 80% say they're undecided."

He also sees hope, ironically, in the despondency of the GOP faithful. "Our base is dispirited. I'm telling you, our base is dispirited. We're going to have to rev up our base. We're going to have to promise them we're going to stop this spending. We're going to have to promise them that we'll get trust and confidence back with them."

The senator says he doesn't worry too much about the electoral tactics, but he does know what lies ahead. "We've got to win New Hampshire," he says, or at least exceed expectations there. "And then I think we can do well in South Carolina. In South Carolina we've got the base this time. The Attorney General, the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Graham, most of the base."

Whether that's true or not, Mr. McCain still trails by 15 points on average in South Carolina. But assuming he can do well there, "then I think we're obviously very much in the game. What happens to Huckabee, what happens to Rudy, what happens to Romney--all this stuff is in such flu