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September 24th, 2009
06:23 PM ET

The Skunk at the Party

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the 64th United Nations General Assembly Wednesday.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the 64th United Nations General Assembly Wednesday.

Program Note: Tune in tonight to hear from Reza Aslan on AC360° at 10p.m. ET.

Reza Aslan
The Daily Beast

Iran’s presumptive president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, heads to New York today to once again address the United Nations General Assembly. And once again, he has prefaced his address to the world body with yet another jibe at Holocaust history.

Last Friday, during Iran’s annual Jerusalem Day festivities—an occasion for Iranians to show solidarity with Palestinians—Ahmadinejad told an assembled crowd at the University of Tehran that “the pretext for establishing the Zionist regime is a lie ... a lie which relies on an unreliable claim.”

“The occupation of Palestine has nothing to do with the Holocaust,” Ahmadinejad continued. “The very existence of this regime is an insult to the dignity of the people, but it won't last long. The Israeli regime’s days are numbered and it is on its way to collapse. This regime is dying. Fighting it is a national and religious duty. The West has launched the myth of the Holocaust but it’s a lie.”

Right on cue, the U.S. media went into hysterics—“Ahmadinejad Denies Holocaust… Again!” was the headline at The Daily Beast—just as Ahmadinejad hoped they would.

Filed under: Iran • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • Reza Aslan • United Nations
June 19th, 2009
12:46 PM ET

Iran's military coup

A young girl accompanies Iranian women as they walk to hear the ayatollah give his speech Friday.
A young girl accompanies Iranian women as they walk to hear the ayatollah give his speech Friday.

Program Note: To hear Reza Aslan's take on the latest developments in Iran, tune in to AC360° tonight 10 P.M. ET. In his piece from earlier this week, Aslan discusses the country's response to its recent, highly contentious presidential election results.

Reza Aslan
The Daily Beast

So let’s get this straight. We are supposed to believe that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected in Iran’s presidential election last week by a 2 to 1 margin against his reformist rival Mir Hossein Mousavi. That this deeply unpopular president, whose gross mismanagement of the state budget is widely blamed for Iran’s economy hovering on the edge of total collapse, received approximately the same percentage of votes as Mohammad Khatami, by far Iran’s most popular past president, received in both 1997 and 2001? That Mousavi, whom all independent polls predicted would at the very least take Ahmadinejad into a runoff election, lost not only his main base of support, Tehran, but also his own hometown of Khameneh in East Azerbaijan (which, as any Azeri will tell you, never votes for anyone but its own native sons)…and by a landslide. That we should all take the word of the Interior Ministry, led by a man put in his position by Ahmadinejad himself, a man who called the election for the incumbent before the polls were even officially closed, that the election was a fair representation of the will of the Iranian people.

Such bald-faced election fraud is a totally new phenomenon in Iran, which takes its election process very seriously. This is, after all, the only expression of popular sovereignty that Iranians enjoy. Over and over again, the electorate has defied the will of the clerical regime when it comes to choosing the country’s president: in 1997 and 2001, when 70% of the population rejected the establishment candidate, Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, in favor of a completely unknown cleric, Khatami, whose greatest political contribution was as head of Iran’s National Library; and again in 2005 when Iranians rejected Hashemi Rafsanjani—the billionaire former president and the quintessential establishment candidate—to vote instead for a little-known mayor of Tehran named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who until that time had never run for any political office (Ahmadinejad was appointed mayor of Tehran after his predecessor was charged with corruption).

Filed under: 360° Radar • Iran • Reza Aslan
April 20th, 2009
07:30 PM ET

How to win a cosmic war

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from Reza Aslan's new book "How to Win a Cosmic War" published by Random House and in bookstores today. See Reza on AC360 at 10 pm ET tonight!

Reza Aslan

The problem with the ideological War on Terror is that “terrorist” is a wastebasket term that often conveys as much about the person using it as it does about the person being described. It can hardly be argued, anyway, that this was a war against terrorism per se. If it were, it would have included the Basque separatists in Spain, the Christian insurgency in East Timor, the Hindu/Marxist Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the Maoist rebels in eastern India, the Jewish Kach and Kahane underground in Israel, the Irish Republican Army, the Sikh separatists in the Punjab, the Marxist Mujahadin-e Khalq, the Kurdish PKK, and so on.

Rather, this was a war against a particular brand of terrorism: that employed exclusively by Islamic entities, which is why the enemy in this ideological conflict was gradually and systematically expanded to include not just the persons who attacked America on September 11, 2001, and the organizations that supported them, but also an ever-widening conspiracy of disparate groups such as Hamas in Palestine, Hizballah in Lebanon, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the clerical regime in Iran, the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, the Chenchen rebels, the Kashmiri militants, the Taliban, and any other organization that declared itself Muslim and employed terrorism as a tactic. According to the master narrative of the War on Terror, these were a monolithic enemy with a common agenda and a shared ideology. Never mind that many of these groups consider one another a graver threat than they consider America to be, that they have vastly different and sometimes irreconcilable political yearnings and religious beliefs, and that, until the War on Terror, many had never thought of the United States as an enemy in any war. Give this imaginary monolith a made-up name – say, “Islamofacism” – and an eerily recognizable enemy is created, one that exists not so much as a force to be defeated as an idea to be opposed, one whose chief attribute appears to be that they are not us.

By lumping the disparate forces, movements, armies, ideas, and grievances in the greater Muslim world into a single category (“enemy”), assigning them a single identity (war), the United States manufactured what the counterterrorism expert David Kilcullen termed “an undifferentiated enemy.” And as Sun Tzu said so long ago, if you do not know who the enemy is, you cannot win the war.

Filed under: Reza Aslan • Terrorism
January 27th, 2009
08:44 AM ET

President Obama speaks to Muslim world

Anderson talks with his panel about the key moments in President Obama's first sit-down interview with Arab media.

January 13th, 2009
08:47 PM ET

In defense of the Bush Doctrine

Editor's note: Watch Nic Robertson's report from the Israeli/Gaza border tonight at 10p.

Reza Aslan
The Daily Beast

Would the war in Gaza still be happening if we'd listened to George Bush? The Daily Beast's Reza Aslan on why Bush has every right to say "I told you so" when it comes to the Middle East.

The devastating war in Gaza between Hamas militants and the mighty Israeli army has once again raised a chorus of criticism about the foolishness of George W. Bush’s democracy agenda in the Middle East. “Another pillar in his crusade to spread democracy” is how Margaret Carlson, writing for Bloomberg, describes the rise of Hamas. But the truth is that whatever violence or instability may have resulted from the push to promote democracy in the Middle East, the solution to lasting peace, prosperity, and sociopolitical reform throughout the region, and especially in Palestine, is more democracy, not less.

It was four years ago that a bumptious George W. Bush, fresh from his stunning re-election, took the podium on a cold January morning in Washington, D.C., and laid out an audacious—some would say foolhardy—vision for his second term as president.

Filed under: Hamas • Israel • Middle East • President George W. Bush • Raw Politics • Reza Aslan
September 11th, 2008
07:01 PM ET

al Qaeda, by any other name…

Editor's Note:
We are devoting many posts today to the anniversary of 9/11, with first-hand accounts, insight, and commentary dedicated to that day seven years ago that changed our world.

Reza Aslan | BIO
Author, “No god but God”
Perhaps the most significant change to have occurred over the last seven years of fighting the War on Terror is that we are no longer battling a terrorist organization called al Qaeda. We are now fighting a global social movement called al Qaeda.

The truth is al Qaeda was never the coherent, global entity it is so often imagined to be – an organization with an easily identifiable leadership structure and a systematic ideology. That al Qaeda existed only in the imaginations of those of us desperate for the days when America’s enemies were nations that could be assuredly defined and armies that could be conventionally overcome. It is no wonder that word al Qaeda continues to be rendered into English as “the base.” A base implies something concrete and conquerable, something that can be defended or assailed.

But the word al Qaeda also means “the rules” or “the fundamentals,” and is used by Arabs most often to refer to the basic teachings or creed of Islam. In that light, it may be somewhat appropriate to consider al Qaeda an Islamic form of fundamentalism, in so far as that word implies puritanical adherence to the elemental doctrines of a religion. But it is imprecise, and even dangerous, to consider al Qaeda the operational seat of global Islamic extremism.

July 10th, 2008
09:50 AM ET

Strategy Session: Iran's testing of missiles

Iran is making headlines after test-firing missiles... Last night on AC360° we sat down with CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen and Middle East Analyst Reza Aslan to explore the larger implications, and give context to what's happening in the region. Here are their observations and insight:

On attacking Iran:

David Gergen
Former Presidential Adviser
CNN Senior Political Analyst
AC360° Contributor

"The big question tonight is whether, in fact, the United States and/or Israel will attack Iran while George W. Bush is still president in the next six months, before a new president comes in? That's what's rattling the oil markets and why, whenever the saber-rattling comes up, whether it's testing by the Israelis, military maneuvers by the Israelis, military maneuvers by the united states, or now today by Iran, whatever that happens, oil prices shoot upward. And it has put pressure on the candidates. What would you do?... there is a sharp difference here between Barack Obama, who would put much more emphasis on diplomacy, on more carrots, if you would, as well as sticks, versus john McCain, who would have fewer carrots and more sticks."

Filed under: 360° Radar • David Gergen • Reza Aslan
April 18th, 2008
06:06 PM ET

The OTHER global religious leader visiting America

Reza Aslan
Author, “No god but God”

The media spotlight on Pope Benedict’s first trip to the United States seems to have completely overshadowed the American tour of another global religious leader, the Aga Khan.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of some 20 million Ismaili Muslims. The Ismailis are Shiah who broke off from the main Shiite branch of Islam, known as the Ithna Ashari, or Twelvers, in the middle of the 8th century. Ismailis live primarily in South Asia, while some 300 million Twelver Shia live mostly in Iran, Iraq, and other parts of the Middle East.

The Aga Khan - the title means something like “the Noble Lord” - is believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. As such, his position among followers is absolute. He has sole authority to interpret the Quran and Islamic law, and his word on both subjects is infallible. But this Aga Khan, the 49th imam in a line that stretches back 13 centuries, is unlike any other spiritual leader.

He is a graduate of Harvard University. His personal worth is estimated to be in the billions. He jaunts around the globe in private jets and yachts. His father, the previous Aga Khan, was once married to Rita Hayworth. In his fitted suits and silk ties, he looks more like a well-aged movie star than a spiritual leader.

But don’t let the clothes and the fabulous riches fool you. The Aga Khan is not only a devout and transcendent man of deep religious faith, he is also one of the most generous philanthropists in the world.

Filed under: Aga Khan • Reza Aslan
March 15th, 2008
01:18 AM ET

Reza Aslan: A different election

An Iranian man casts his vote in the parliamentary elections on March 14 in Tehran, Iran. Iranians have begun to vote in elections in which reformist opposition have been barred from running against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

As the three remaining presidential candidates begin staking out their positions on important foreign policy issues facing the country, each will have to explain how they plan to deal with an increasingly powerful, increasing belligerent Iran.

It is no exaggeration to say that America's relations with the Islamic Republic hinges on who will be the next president and commander in chief.

Iran is having an election, too. But unlike the primary season in the United States, Iranians do not support the ballot choices offered to them by the regime of the Islamic Republic.

A new nationwide public opinion survey of Iran conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow and D3 Systems shows widespread disillusionment with the candidates running in the Parliamentary elections on March 14.  When asked which candidates they plan on supporting – whether Reformists or Conservatives – a third of Iranians replied "neither," while a quarter said they do not know.

Filed under: Iran • Reza Aslan
February 27th, 2008
03:20 PM ET

Apparently, terrorism pays. It pays very well.

For some time now a trio of self-proclaimed ex-terrorists has been making the rounds of the lecture circuit, charging thousands of dollars for their fantastical tales of life as murderous Muslim extremists.

Reza Aslan

Walid Shoebat, Kamal Saleem – both US citizens – and Zacharia Anani, a Canadian national, all claim to have been members of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Anani claims personal responsibility for the deaths of over two hundred people. Shoebat says he was part of a terrorist cell inside the United States.

Their most recent appearance was at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, which hosted the three at its 50th Annual Academy Assembly on the topic, "Dismantling Terrorism: Developing Actionable Solutions for Today's Plague of Violence."

Shoebat, Saleem, and Anani were asked to speak about their personal experiences as Islamic terrorists, to provide the next generation of US soldiers with an inside account of radical terrorism.

The selection by the Air Force Academy of these speakers was criticized by both the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Why? Because it turns out these guys are not ex-terrorists at all but—wait for it—fundamentalist Christians posing as ex-terrorists. Their fervently anti-Islamic message, in which all Muslims are labeled as radicals, is a prelude to a testimony about how accepting Jesus into their hearts and becoming born again saved them from a life of terrorism.

Filed under: Reza Aslan
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Allergic to Insect Stings: Allergy Shots
Decrease Anxiety and Depression

Stinging insects are everywhere making them nearly inescapable. The thought of being stung can cause depression and anxiety for the two million Americans that are allergic to their venom. But according to a study being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 7-11, allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, can improve quality of life for these sufferers. Allergy shots are the only allergy treatment known to modify and prevent disease progression, and can be life-saving for those allergic to insect stings. Researchers have found this type of treatment also decreases anxiety and depression in those allergic to wasp, bee and ant stings.

Title: Anxiety and Depression in Hymenoptera Venom Allergy Patients

Author: Timothy Craig, MD, allergist and ACAAI Fellow

By the Numbers: Insect stings send more than 500,000 Americans to hospital emergency rooms and cause at least 50 known deaths each year. A person who has had an allergic reaction to insect sting has a 60 percent chance of having another similar or worse reaction if stung again. Immunotherapy has been shown to be an astonishing 97 percent effective in preventing future allergy to insect stings.

Useful Links:

  • Insect Allergy
  • Insect Sting Allergy Treatment
  • About ACAAI

    The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit Join us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

    Get Relief

    Find an Allergist

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Give Introverts A Chance At Sales

If I asked you to give me some of the attributes that make for a successful sales person, you’d probably say that they’d need good at communicating, that they’d need to be confident and that they’d definitely need to have good people skills. This is the typical construction that many of us have concerning sales people, often due to having met many sales people like this. What might surprise you is that more reserved, less people oriented people can do just as well in most areas of sales, if not better in others.

According to an article from The Worldwide Express Blog, introverted individuals (those people who tend to be more at home at home than in loud social situations) can make for excellent entry level sales employees as they are generally better listeners than extroverts. Extroverts, on the other hand, are much better suited for sales pitches and engaging larger clients in a more personalized setting. The article says that the best sales people are a hybrid of the two extremes, but this is pretty much the case with everything. The bottom line here is to not write off the quiet ones as automatically being unsuited for a sales position as their listening skills and attention to detail can make up for their reserved personalities.


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If you come to a downhill section, use your pole to flip the crampons back underfoot until needed again. These are compatible only with 2004 and later Fritschi Diamir Freeride, Explore and Express bindings.

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A visit with
publicity photo of Leo
On February 19, 1999, Leo Kottke performed at the State Theatre in Easton, PA. Before his performance that evening, he took the time to speak with Otto Bost of WDIY-FM. The interview was edited together with selections from Leo's recordings, and broadcast on March 1, 1999, on Otto's weekly radio program, "Acoustic Eclectic". What follows is a transcript of the broadcast.

The broadcast begins with "REGARDS FROM CHUCK PINK" (from "Chewing Pine," Capitol, 1974) as the opening music bed. Otto, speaking over the music, introduces the interview:

OttoHe's a composer, a songwriter, and most of all, Leo Kottke is a guitar player – perhaps the most creative and influential fingerstyle acoustic guitarist of the twentieth century. For the last three decades, virtually everyone who has ever picked up an acoustic guitar has, at some point, listened to Leo Kottke and wondered, "How does he do that?"

Leo was born on September 11, 1945 in Athens, Georgia, and lived as a child in half a dozen different states. He studied trombone in grade school, but discovered the guitar at age eleven, and became immediately enchanted with the idea of an instrument that was not only capable of playing more than one note at a time, but could also be played while lying down. Before long, Leo heard the music of Pete Seeger, and fell in love with the sound of the twelve-string guitar. His first studio album, released in 1969, was called "Six and Twleve-String Guitar," and it remains one of the best-selling solo guitar albums of all time.

Kottke's music has always been aggressive and rhythmically powerful, but he's always maintained a sense of delicate precision, as well. His playing style has evolved over the years, going through a considerable transformation during the 1980s, when tendonitis threatened to end his career. Leo responded by altering his technique, and abandoning the use of fingerpicks, which had contributed to his injury, and which he soon realized simply weren't necessary.

Despite his stature as an idol among a generation of guitarists, Leo Kottke is a very modest man, with a quirky, and often self-depreciating, sense of humor. When he's not on tour, he lives in suburban Minneapolis with his wife, Mary, and their two children. I caught up with Leo in February of 1999, just before a performance at the State Theatre in Easton, Pennsylvania. Two days earlier, Leo had given a private concert at a US Navy base in New London, Connecticut.

The music bed fades as Leo speaks:

Leo That was a strangely sentimental journey for me. The guy who runs day care, and entertainment, and morale, and – more or less – I don't know the exact name of his slot there, in the Navy – is a fan of mine. I was talking to him, and I told him how much I'd love to see a boat. I was in the submarine service, and I really wanted to see a contemporary weapon of death. And he said, "I can get you on there. Why don't you play at a base?" And I said, "Put me on my old base!" So I went back to New London, where I was stationed when I was on the USS Halfbeak, and played a show for the – it was inhouse, for all the characters in sub school there, and, uh – I got on a boat called the San Juan, and had a wonderful time. I – I had intended, at one time, to be a sonar man. At no time, until it was literally in my lap, did I ever intend to be a performer. At all times, ever since I was eleven, I knew I'd be playing the guitar, but, uh – the Navy was, in other words, sort of an interruption, of what turned out to be a career that I had never intended. I was – I joined underage. I was seventeen, and, uh – I wasn't that welcome in the Navy, and I didn't enjoy the Navy that much, but I sure loved the submarine. And I still do. There's something just amazing about those devices.

Early photo of Leo in concert
Leo's live recording of "THE FISHERMAN" (from "My Feet Are Smiling," Capitol, 1973) begins with his introduction:

Leo I'm going to demonstrate one of my favorite techniques in this next song. I'm going to take a lovely, simple melody and drive it into the ground.

The instrumental piece is heard in its entirety. As the audience applause fades out at the end of the song, the interview continues:

Otto I wanted to ask you about some of your recordings. One of the things that strikes me, as I listen to your recordings, is the fact that you almost always perform as a solo performer, and yet when you go into the studio, you always bring in other musicians to accompany you. Why the difference?

Leo Mainly because it's lonely in the studio. That's mainly it. If you've got to be locked into a windowless, airless room for twelve hours a day, it's better to have other people in there with you. And you pick people to play with, not so much because of their chops, but more so because of their – you know – personality. If you – you know, could stand to be stuck on a desert island with them – which is what it's like to record – then you can have them in the studio. The other thing is that records in no way bear any resemblance to performance. Even if you record live in the studio, to a two track, and that's it, it's nowhere near the same thing as a performance. So you might as well take advantage of everything that the experience offers. Just for the fun of it. It does, in the end, mean that some of what you do is gonna sound like you've never done it before, because you haven't – and, uh – at the same time that it's a drawback, it can also be an advantage.

Leo's studio recording of "ITCHY" (from "Standing in My Shoes," Private Music, 1997) is heard in its entirety. As it ends, Otto introduces the next segment of the interview:

Otto Kottke's latest album is called "Standing in My Shoes," produced by Leo's longtime friend, David Z., a Minneapolis producer whose earlier work has included projects with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Fine Young Cannibals, and Prince. The title track, like others on the album, is an updated version of a tune that Leo had first recorded much earlier in his career. In fact, over the years, Leo has re-recorded several of his tunes. Why?

Leo To get 'em right, basically. And in this case, in the latest record, it was because those are the tunes that I had, um – Some of them I hadn't yet recorded when I met David Z., which was almost thirty years ago. He was working with Prince, and I was in the same studio, just working with me, and we wanted to make a record together, so we did. It just took us about twenty-eight years. So the material on there is the stuff we would've done then. It's what first caught Dave's ear, and it's uh – so it was really, uh – you know, kind of an obvious choice for us. But the other times that I've done it – and I'll be doing it again on this next record, which I'm working on now, which is just solo guitar – no vocals and no production, um – the other reason to do it is that the tunes change, and so does your attitude, so that they can take on an entirely different character. Sometimes, it's not necessarily an improvement, but sometimes, it is.

Otto What would be an example of a song that you think has improved, and therefore you've redone it?

Leo Well, there's one with the unfortunate title of "Morning Is the Long Way Home," that I recorded first of all as a vocal . . .

Leo playing for the puppy
As Leo begins to respond, the original recording of "MORNING IS THE LONG WAY HOME" (from "Ice Water," Capitol, 1974) begins to fade up behind his voice. Leo continues:

Leo Then, on a greatest hits package that Capitol released, I eliminated the vocal, and kept the break, which turned out to be the best part of the tune anyhow. And the break contains a rhythm section – bass and drums. It had always been an instrumental, but I tacked on the vocal before I recorded the thing the first time, because I thought it fit. I don't anymore. And I don't, anymore, have – and I have never had – a solo recording of what is a solo guitar piece. So I'll probably wind up putting it on this record, and for that reason.

The music fades up to full volume for the duration of the song. When it ends, "THE CREDITS: OUT-TAKES FROM TERRY'S MOVIE" (from "Burnt Lips," Chrysalis, 1978) begins. Otto speaks over the music:

Otto In addition to his albums and concerts, Kottke has written music for several television programs and movie soundtracks. This tune, for example, is called "The Credits: Out-takes From Terry's Movie."

Leo That's Terrence Malick, whose latest movie is "The Thin Red Line." He's a good friend of mine, who I'll talk to once every twenty years or so, and uh – I have a few friends like that. We're very close, but we never speak to each other. Um – I first met Terry when he made "Days of Heaven," fairly close on the heels – considering the way Terry makes movies – on the heels of "Badlands," which was his first movie. And he wanted me to do the entire film, and uh – I refused, which was one of the stupider things that I've done, because I forgot that he had written the movie and directed it, so he knew what belonged there. And I told him that what he had, which was a score by Ennio Morricone, was great, and, he, uh, you know . . . what a jerk! So I kinda backed out. I gave him a little bit of stuff, which worked great in the movie, and then I began to see what he was talking about, so I sent him some more stuff, but that, which is "The Out-Takes From Terry's Movie," was in the wrong direction for him. And I know exactly now what he wanted. He was absolutely right, and I've followed his, uh – his approach, ever since. Well, almost. No! Actually, that's a lie. I haven't yet followed it, but I'd love to follow it, and get his idea of how to score a movie. And, uh, the thing that I sent him, "The Outtakes From Terry's Movie," I think is really nice. I liked it, myself. But it wouldn't have worked, for what he wanted.

The music fades up to full volume for the duration of the piece. When it ends, the interview continues:

Otto Are there recordings that you've made over the years that you wish you hadn't?

Leo Oh, yes! Oh, yeah. Probably, though, the most wincing that I do is over some of the lyrics that I've written in those . . . Early on, I had a bad habit of writing two verses, a bridge, and repeating the first verse – or, chorus, and repeating the first verse. If I could go back now, I'd throw away the repeat, I'd throw away that damn chorus – it was frequently the biggest stinker – and I'd probably eliminate half the words in the first two verses. I just didn't yet have any kind of sensibility for how you did that. And uh – it took me just a very long time to develop any. But I've given up thinking that there are records I wish I could assassinate, because one of those was an album called "Burnt Lips," and when I finished that, I was mortally embarrassed by what I had done. I just thought it sucked, something awful, and uh . . .

Leo on the porch
As Leo speaks, "TWILIGHT TIME" (from "Peculiaroso," Private Music, 1994) begins to fade up behind his voice. He continues:

Leo And by accident, about – well, many years after it came out, maybe a couple of years ago, I put something on a turntable – I was looking for something – and it was that record. And I thought "Aaww, no! God, there's that thing I did!" And then I thought, "Well, no, – that's not too . . ." And then I listened all the way through, and I liked it, and so – which at first, made me very happy, you know, "Oh, good! It's not crap!" But, after a couple of days, I thought "Well, what is it, then? And whose opinion is the right one? The one I had when I made it, or the one I have now?" And, unfortunately, there is no answer to that. So since then, I've had to accept the fact that I literally do this stuff only to make myself happy. And it may not last more than two seconds. And I don't really know, uh, whether even – you know – if it'll last for me. So I've kinda given up on any kind of criticism, certainly, on any level . . . really trusting my own judgement. I don't even go there anymore, which has left me in kind of a funny place . . . sorta confused.

The music ends as Leo finishes speaking, and then "THE OTHER DAY (NEAR SANTA CRUZ)" (from "Great Big Boy," Private Music, 1991) is played in its entirety. As the song ends, part one of the interview comes to a close:

Otto You're listening to an interview with Leo Kottke, recorded February 19th, 1999. I'm Otto Bost. In part two of this interview, we'll hear about Chuck Pink, and about Leo's friendship with John Gorka.

Leo John is one of the very few people . . . who enjoyed my singing.

The broadcast pauses for station identification.

Part two begins with a live recording of "WILLIAM POWELL" (from "Leo Kottke Live," Private Music, 1995). Otto speaks over the opening applause:

Otto Welcome back to part two of an interview with Leo Kottke.

Leo begins the tune, stops, then restarts it, saying:

Leo That's a little fast. I'm going to slow it down.

Once the melody is established, the music fades slightly, and the interview resumes, as the music continues behind it:

Otto Another thing that I noticed about your pieces is you often include people's names in the title of your song. Maybe you can explain some of these things to me. For instance, "William Powell."

Leo Ahh, William Powell! Well, William Powell is certainly well known. He was an actor. He was "The Thin Man," with Myrna Loy. Played a great sort of a controlled drunk and, um – I always was impressed with him, because he became a leading man in Hollywood without a chin. And, you know, any variance from the norm is something I always approve of, whatever the norm is. And, you know, it's – to use his name, it sounds very much to me like something that you hear a lot in bluegrass. You know, there's "Bill Cheatham," for example. And "William Powell" just falls nicely into that kind of slot. "My Aunt Francis" is my aunt Frances, although I misspelled her name, making her male instead of female. "Coolidge Rising" is not President Coolidge, but a friend of mine, who still makes his living selling little glass swans at state fairs – and one of the funniest guys that I know.

The music fades up, continues briefly, then the interview continues as the music fades behind the voices again:

Otto Who's Chuck Pink?

Leo Chuck Pink is a – was a fry cook at Pink's Hot Dogs in Hollywood. Danny – my first manager and I used to go down around three o'clock in the morning and order hot dogs. Chuck Pink looked exactly, and I mean exactly, like Chuck Berry, and had an incendiary temper. The least little thing would send this guy off. So we would go down there, broke as we were, and order a couple of hot dogs – wait a few minutes, and change the order – and watch him blow up. It was cheap entertainment, really.

Leo on stage
The music fades up again, and the remainder of it is heard at full volume. As the track ends with applause, the interview continues:

Otto Tell me about the song "Jack Gets Up."

Leo Ah, that's, uh, that's a song I'm very fond of, for reasons that have almost nothing to do with the tune. I love to play with David Hidalgo. David has a really organic approach to playing. He's very fluent, he's a great musician, but a lot of really good musicians play very intellectually – and I love that, but David includes – or hasn't dropped away from – how to be stupid. He's very happy to be dumb. And I was playing his bajo sexto, which is that low thing you hear in the track, and it's not the way you're supposed to play it. It's actually meant to be sort of like a high hat. It's not – it's a twelve-string, but it's tuned an octave below pitch. It's not – you're not expected to really produce music with it. You're expected to just produce a kind of a clank, with a – with a nod towards pitch. But if you play it properly, and try and support it, it will do what it does on the track . . .

As Leo explains the recording, the introduction to "JACK GETS UP" (from "My Father's Face," Private Music, 1989) begins quietly behind his voice, then fades out as he continues. This process repeats itself a few times, as Leo continues his lengthy explanation:

Leo So I started playing this, as stupid as I could be, and uh, you know – and I mean stupid, in the highest reaches of that term. It can be a compliment. And uh, just a one-four-five thing, because it's what suits that. And I, uh – I went away. I went miles away – and when I caught myself, I kinda came back to the studio – I realized that for several minutes, I'd been gone, and in the interim, I'd been not only stupid, I'd been STUPID. And I looked – I glanced over – at Hidalgo, to see if he was, you know, now sneering at me and getting ready to hit me over the head – and he'd been just as stupid as me for the whole track! He was just goofing around on his lipstick pickup electric guitar that he had – lipstick-tube pickup. And we listened to the song. First of all, that's what I like about the tune, is, you know – when you're supposed to be so productive, and come up with stuff, you can still just lay back and be as, as, you know – dumb as a post, and you can have a ball doing it. And so we listened back to the track, and it had that nice little kinda slop character that it's got, and that great bajo sexto thing, but it didn't – it went absolutely nowhere, so if I wanted to keep it, I had to come up with the lyrics. So I sat down and I just made up a – probably just, uh – improvised the first half of the song. The form found itself. That's actually a traditional – it's a Victorian, fairly Victorian form of poetry. And uh – and then I started to embarrass myself, so I went back to the Howard Johnson's that I was staying in – the Beverly Garland Howard Johnson's – and hit the hay. And the next morning, I woke up, and there was a cigar on the side – you know, on that little head you hit – uh, the table you hit your head on – that Joe Pass had given me. And I'd just been carrying it around, and I would look at it every now and then, and think, you know – "Joe Pass gave me this." My great friend, Joe Pass. That morning I thought, "Aw, hell. I'll smoke it.". I don't smoke cigars that often, and I smoked it, I got sick, and then I came up with the second half of the song. So the first half, when I was feeling well and happy, really sounds kinda morose, but the second half, the next morning, when I was sick as a dog, lifts – and you have the happy ending that's in the tune.

As Leo finishes his explanation, the song's introduction finally fades UP instead of out, and the rest of the song is heard. When the song ends, the interview continues:

Otto You did some recording a few years ago with John Gorka. How did you meet John?

Leo Oh, where did I meet him? I think we met, uh, in the – in some weird little job in Wisconsin. That, uh – it doesn't seem likely, but off the top of my head, that seems to be the first place that we met. And uh – John is one of the very few people who actually tried to, uh – in the beginning – he tells me – who enjoyed my singing, and uh – liked it, and used some of it. Now, I've never heard this, you know. There – there are a couple, I shouldn't say never – but he was the first. And uh, we just kinda hit it off, you know. Like I mentioned earlier, when you're – when you wind up recording, it's not so much because John is Pavarotti, or I'm, uh – Pepe Romero or Joe Pass. It's just 'cause you get along, you know, and you wanna play. It really is just a couple of kids in a sandbox.

Leo standing on stage
A live recording of "CROW RIVER WALTZ" (from "The Best," Capitol, 1976) begins with Leo's introduction:

Leo So, what I'm gonna do is, uh – play a song that – it's a medley. It begins like all my songs, with a lot of tuning.

After a minute or so, the music fades slightly, and continues behind the interview:

Otto When can we expect a new record from you?

Leo I wish I could tell you that. All I know is that I have about half of it recorded, and when I finally get back into the studio, I'll probably re-record that half, and the rest of it will probably take me a day, 'cause it's just me. When the label wants to release it, I don't know. My guess is that it would probably come out in the spring or the summer.

The music fades up, continues briefly, then the interview continues as the music fades behind the voices again:

Otto Do you ever get tired of doing what you do for a living?

Leo No. I do get tired, plenty of times, of running around – the, the travel part of it, just getting to the job. But I actually enjoy performance more now than I ever have. I get more out of it. I do it better than I did in the beginning. And I realize – although I've always known this – I realize more and more what a privilege it is to play. There're so many good players, and there are so many ways to wind up on a stage, and so many ways to be thrown right off of it again, so many mistakes you can make. To be there now, and to be still doing it, is such a combination of luck and, and, uh – events, and – but above all, just, of privilege, you know, uh – that people would allow you to do this. It's really very, uh – heartwarming.

Leo finishes speaking just as the medley fades up and segues into "JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING", then into "JACK FIG". At the end of the medley, the audience applauds as the broadcast concludes:

Otto You've been listening to an interview with Leo Kottke, recorded February 19th, 1999 at the historic State Theatre in Easton, PA. I'm Otto Bost. Thanks for listening.

Thanks to Mindy Hamilton for her help with transcribing this interview. For a wealth of information about Leo Kottke, visit The Unofficial Leo Kottke Website, or Leo's official leokottke.com website.

This page created and maintained by The Folk Dude.


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Alzheimer's Association
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Alzheimer's Disease Resources How we can help Research Advocacy

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Welcome to our monthly e-newsletter to keep you up to date on everything happening in our chapter's 7,400 square mile area. Please send any feedback, information on your fundraising efforts and pictures to Kristy at kristy.wyngaarden@alz.org.

$100 Million Dollar Walk
Dave Stephens

Dave Stephens (our Chairman of the Board!), Darren Gerlach (of Lynchburg), & TJ Pruier (of Virginia Beach) will be walking over 200 miles to D.C. to tell elected officials that Alzheimer's deserves a $100 million dollar investment to carry out the National Alzheimer's Plan and to raise money for their Walk to End Alzheimer's® teams. They will be arriving in D.C. on Alzheimer's Action Day (9.21.12) during World Alzheimer's Month!

blue arrow - background transpFollow the walk on Facebook or read Dave's blog, then share it with your friends and family!
blue arrow - background transpDonate to Dave's Walk Team here.
 tiny purple arrow Come out on September 12, 11:30 a.m. to the Alzheimer's Association Parking Lot, 6350 Center Drive (Koger Building), Norfolk to give the three men an energizing send off. Wear purple and you can even walk a mile with them to get them started! If you live in Newport News or Williamsburg, you can also meet them at specifc stops to cheer them on - Sept. 13th for Newport News and in Williamsburg either late afternoon on the 13th or early on the 14th. Exact times and locations will be announced on their Facebook page. If you would like an email instead, contact us at infoseva@alz.org.

South Hampton Roads Walk to End Alzheimer's® Kick-Off

Walk to End Alzheimer's Logo

Join us! August 23, 5:30 - 8 p.m. Uno Chicago Grill, 5900 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk. Registered participants will receive a walk sport bag (while supplies last). If you haven't already, you can register at the event. Questions? Contact Jennifer Crabtree at jenn.crabtree@alz.org.
tiny purple arrow Up to 20% of food proceeds this evening will benefit with Alzheimer's Association. Flyer will be posted on Facebook and in the next e-news! Share it with your co-workers, friends and family.

World Alzheimer's Month is September!

World Alzheimer's Month

In September 2012, the Alzheimer's Association will observe the second annual World Alzheimer's Month. You can help us increase awareness.
  • On September 1st, change your main picture on social media sites to:
     Facebook WAM Picture (right click this image and click save as)
  • Encourage everyone in your office and your family and friends to wear purple on Alzheimer's Action Day (September 21) and email the picture to us at infoseva@alz.org so we can post it in an album. View pictures from last year!
  • View this Flyer for more ideas for your company or organization.

Thank you for voting us A. Dodson's August Charity of the Month!

Every time a customer rounds up their purchase, A. Dodson's will match it. At the end of the month, all money will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. Visit A. Dodson's at 2948 Bridge Road, Suffolk or view their website. A. Dodson’s carries trendy clothing, distinctive home furnishings, exquisite gifts, and antiques of yesteryear.

Vote for us in the Subaru "Share the Love" Event

Don't forget to vote everyday now through Aug. 26! The Alzheimer's Association is in the running to be a part of the Subaru "Share the Love" event! In 2008, Subaru started the “Share the Love” event as a way to help make a difference in people's lives and their communities. Over the holiday season, for every new Subaru vehicle leased or sold, Subaru will make a charitable donation in the amount of $250 to the buyer's choice of the five selected charities. Help us be chosen as one of five charities at sharethelove.subaru.com/facebook

Support Respite Care Subsidy Assistance for Alzheimer’s family caregivers

 Tina Micula
50% of the proceeds from the downloads of Just 3 Words and I'm Still Here will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association Southeastern Virginia Chapter.
tiny purple arrow More information on how to purchase the music or a special DVD here.

Ping Pong  MUST LINK

Enjoy Ping Pong? We Need You!

If so, we are looking for some Ping Pong enthusiasts to be part of a committee to support a Tournament in March at Old Dominion University.
blue arrow - background transp If you would like to help, contact Gino Colombara at Gino.Colombara@alz.org or 757.459.2405.

Upcoming Events

Nails Uptown Friendraiser
TODAY! August 16. Visit Nails Uptown, 5251 John Tyler Hwy, Williamsburg and 20% of your services will be donated to the Williamsburg Landing Walk to End Alzheimer's team. Come enjoy a manicure, pedicure, facial or massage! Enter to win gift baskets with a donation of any amount. They will be raffling off gift baskets every hour from 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Cash, check and credit card donations are accepted. Make checks payable to Alzheimer’s Association. Call Nails Uptown to make an appointment. 564-1809 For more information, contact Kristin Forbes at 253.9711.

Summer Concert Series at Warwick Forest
TONIGHT! August 16, 7 p.m. Join us for live music and dancing! Donations will be accepted for the Walk to End Alzheimer's®. Warwick Forest, 1004 Old Denbigh Blvd. Newport News. Takes place inside Warwick Forest at Burton Hall Keswick Place. Entertainers: The Lyrics Big Band Music. Flyer

2nd Annual "Kathy's Purple Heart Event" "We Heart Art"
August 18th 7:30p.m. - 10p.m. Simply Selma's, 1860 Laskin Road Virginia Beach. 757.428.2885. More information.

Alzheimer's Day at Moe's in Williamsburg
September 6, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Windormeade Marketplace. Present this coupon and Moe’s will donate 20% of your receipt to support the Williamsburg Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Party to Remember
September 8, 7 - 11p.m. at One Life Fitness Xpress in Oyster Point, Newport News. Food - Fun - Exercise - Door Prizes. Fundraising event to benefit the Peninsula Walk to End Alzheimer's. $10 requested donation minimum. Call Rona at 757.329.4440 for more information.

"Family Night" at Chick-fil-A Friendraiser
September 10th, 5-8 p.m. Chick-fil-A at Salem Crossing, 2013 Lynnhaven Parkway, Virginia Beach location only. Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s “Angel’s for the Cure” Walk To End Alzheimer's Team is hosting this event to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Chick-fil-A will donate up to 15% of the evening’s sales to the Alzheimer’s Association. You must bring in this flyer.

California Pizza Kitchen Friendraiser
September 12, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. MacArthur Mall location, 300 Monticello Ave. Bring this flyer and 20% of your purchase will go towards the Walk to End Alzheimer's. This friendraiser is hosted by Sherry's Strutters!

Laugh to End Alzheimer's - Stand Up Comedy
September 16, 5:30 p.m. at Funny Bone Comedy Club, Virginia Beach. Join Cletus Kassady and others for an evening of comedy for a cause. Come out and have a laugh, bring your family and friends. You can even sign-up for the Walk to End Alzheimer's while you are there! Tickets are $10 per person. Purchase tickets at www.virginiabeachfunnybone.com. $10.00 per person. Contact organizer Pat Knight at prwkn@aol.com for more information. Flyer.

Wash & Blow Dry Friendraiser
September 21, 4 - 6 p.m. All “Wash & Blow Drys” are offered with a recommended donation of $20 (valued at $25). What I Want? Salon, 312-I Lightfoot Rd.,Williamsburg. Call (757) 345 -2812 to make an appointment. If you are wearing purple in honor of Alzheimer’s Action Day, you will receive a free purple Alzheimer’s wristband. Flyer

"You Are Here" Film Screening
September 27. Reception - 6 p.m., Film showing - 7 p.m., Q & A - 8:30 pm. Oast & Taylor Invites you to attend a special screening of "You Are Here" at the University Theater at Old Dominion University. The 78-minute movie is a drama depicting one woman’s journey with early onset Alzheimer’s. LIMITED SEATING, reserve yours now at: 757-452-6200. Flyer

12th Annual Worst Golf Tournament
October 6th* NEW date, Hell's Point Golf Club, 2700 Atwoodtown Rd, Virginia Beach.
Our friend Tim Worst of Virginia Beach created this fun event and asked us to be part of it last year. 75% of the proceeds benefit the Alzheimers Association & 25% benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $400 per team. Lots prizes, give-a-ways, dinner, awards, win a car, etc. Contact Tim at worst@earthlink.net or 757.353.1555. Facebook Logo for Stationery Event

Walk to End Alzheimer's®

4 Metro Walks
Western Tidewater- Constant's Wharf, Suffolk | Saturday, September 22, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event
South Hampton Roads- Neptune Park, Virginia Beach | Sunday, October 14, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event
Peninsula- Port Warwick, Newport News | Saturday, October 20, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event
Williamsburg- Community Building, Downtown | Saturday,October 27, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event

2 Rural Walks
Eastern Shore - Senior Perspectives Office, Nassawadox | September 29, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event
Farmville - Longwood University | October 4, 2012 Facebook Logo for Stationery Event

1 Satellite Walk
Old Dominion University | September 20, 12 p.m.
Presented by the Student Government Association. For more information on how to sign up, contact Tami Park, Community Liaison, tpark@odu.edu.

Community Run Walk
South Boston Alzheimer's Support Walk | The Woodview, 103 Rosehill Drive, South Boston | September 13, 5p.m. For more information contact Dawn Emerson at 434.517.7534.

Local Educational Classes Coming Up

Orientations to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Orientations are offered free by the Alzheimer’s Association to family caregivers. Registration is required at least 2 business days in advance, call 800.272.3900. Participants will receive the Alzheimer’s Association’s local resource manual, Getting Started.
o August 15, 1 - 3 p.m. Norfolk.
o August 21, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Hampton.
o September 10, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Suffolk.
o September 11, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Norfolk.
o September 12, 1:30 - 3 p.m. Franklin.
Family Caregiver Education
Education classes for families and friends are offered free by the Alzheimer’s Association. Registration is required at least 2 business days in advance, call 800.272.3900 or email carol.gurioli@alz.org.
o  Sensible Communication - August 22, 10:30-12:30 p.m. Churchland Library (Portsmouth).

YAAA! Upcoming Events

YAAA! is our young professionals group. Most members are 21 to 45+.

o  New Member Interest Social will be on August 30, so come anytime between 6 and 8 p.m. to this informal networking social! Big Woody's Bar & Grill at Chesapeake Square Mall, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd, Chesapeake. RSVP by Facebook or send an email to Ginny at Ginnyb16@yahoo.com.

o YAAA's Monthly Meeting will be September 11, 6 - 8 p.m. Location TBA. Monthly meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

o SAVE THE DATE - 2nd Annual Kickin’ Alzheimer’s Kickball Tournament. December 1 - Indian River Middle School at 10 a.m. $25 person, 12-20 players per team. Online registration will begin September 10, 2012.

blue arrow - background transp "Like" the new YAAA! Facebook Page!

Event Recaps

Mindful Art
The walk committee on the Eastern Shore threw a great art event in August. Thanks to everyone who participated! View the pictures here.

Peninsula Walk to End Alzheimer's® Kick-off
See pictures from this fun event!

Senior Advocate Partnership Kick-off
We have partnered with Senior Advocate Resource Guide as they launch a new edition for the Southside. A portion of advertising sales comes back to us! See pictures from the kick-off party.

Thank you to our Major Corporate Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsor
Riverside Logo 2012
Gold Sponsors
Province Place Corporate Sponsor 2012 2013

Silver Sponsor
Comfort Keepers 2012 Logo
Thank you, advertisers!:
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, advertising, or just want to get your company involved, contact Gino Colombara at Gino.Colombara@alz.org

Support groups are also taking place each month.

Educational classes and orientations on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

More fun events to benefit the chapter.

Free Professional Dementia Training Sessions.

Home | Tell a friend | View Message| Unsubscribe
Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 Ph:1.800.272.3900

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Let them Eat Crop Insurance: Extreme Weather, Agricultural Stability & Subsistence Farmers

As U.S. farmers grapple with extreme weather, can we secure U.S.-style safeguards for the world’s poorest farmers?
A family during the Horn of Africa drought and food crisis of 2011. Credit: S. Hauenstein Swan
A family during the Horn of Africa drought and food crisis of 2011. Credit: S. Hauenstein Swan

The New York Times, among other news agencies, has featured a spate of articles recently on severe weather patterns across the U.S. and how particularly crippling the drought has been for farmers and ranchers in the West—not to mention the resulting increase in food prices that U.S. consumers can expect next year.

News of price spikes, desiccated crops, and ranchers selling off cattle to cut drought-induced losses is a critical story in the U.S. It’s also reminiscent of the realities that routinely haunt Action Against Hunger’s work around the world—like the tragic effects recurring drought has had across East Africa, where more than 12 million people experienced acute food and water shortages—even famine, in Somalia—over the past year.

American farmers and ranchers are clearly suffering, but a wider catastrophe can largely be avoided thanks to long-standing safeguards like livestock and crop insurance that help these groups recover after periodic climate shocks. In fact, the U.S. agricultural sector benefits from a range of policy and market-based developments that have historically ensured stability for farmers, growing production volumes, and benefits for U.S. consumers—e.g., expanded access to quality seeds and fertilizers; agricultural extension services, training, and insurance programs; subsidized access to credit; real-time market exchange information; improved storage and transport technologies; and price supports. So while the current crisis may lead to short-term losses and increased commodity prices, it will unlikely lead to widespread hunger.

Let’s ensure these same safeguards for subsistence farmers around the world where livelihoods are easily upended by climate shocks and millions of young lives are threatened when severe droughts occur.

You can help ACF reinforce such solutions by supporting our food security and livelihoods programs. You can also delve deeper into these issues by checking out books such as Enough: Why the Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty and The Last Hunger Season.

Tell Us What You Think

Ever stop to consider the bewildering array of agricultural, technical and policy developments that have made it possible to drink from that carton of milk with the fridge door open?

Help us save lives by fighting
hunger around the world

About Muriel Calo

Muriel is Action Against Hunger’s Senior Food Security & Livelihoods Advisor, applying her food policy expertise to oversee our programs promoting long-term food security in South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda.

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How to Get What You Deserve...

Real Estate Agent with Mason Real Estate CA BRE 01444168

How to Get What You Deserve... by Getting

Top Dollar of Your House in any Market!
by John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR

This is another one of the FREE reports that I provide to my clients.  Often, this will be included in my pre-listing package, before I ever meet a potential client.

Often times a seller wants to squeeze every dollar that their home is worth, and that's a good thing as long as they don't want to go into the realm of make-believe values.  This ability to reap the additional hidden profits are yours...if you make the right improvements.

The difference between homes are usually measured by buyers - not is square feet or bedroom count; but rather by enhanced feelings of more space, more light, more rooms and closet space, greater privacy, warmth and security.

Fortunately, there are many changes available that can give your prospective buyer these feelings - and often they can be achieved on a shoestring budget.  Some very simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potential buyer.

For example you know that deferred maintenance should be done before the home is ever toured.  Otherwise the perception is that if a buyer sees one maintenance issue, how many are unseen and the home has been poorly maintained.  So, if you have a cracked light plate, go ahead and replace it.  Faded paint in the hallway, where the dog likes to walk - clean it and paint it.  Little things go far and make the biggest impact - both good and bad.

The unstated concerns a buyer has is often what kills a deal before it ever starts - so give every potential buyer the full opportunity to visualize themselves in you house - making it their home.  Remember what goes on in buyers subconscious thought process is every bit as important as what they will verbalize.

If you are working with a small budget try some of these simple techniques; they will work absolute wonders:

The Magic of Mirrors!-Mirrors can provide a greater sense of space and elegance when properly placed. Be careful not to overdo it, but when placed properly throughout your home, each area will seem larger to the potential home buyer.

Try looking in your attic or basement for any old mirrors, but be sure they have a nice frame or at least give the frame a new coat of paint. You may also want to visit a local flea market or garage sale; you can almost always get a great deal on an old mirror or two. Putting one foot square mirrors on a closet door in the master bedroom is always an attractive touch.

Adding Additional Closet Space-One of the biggest complaints heard from potential buyers is that there just isn't enough closet space! Simply purchasing an inexpensive closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make all the difference.

You can also try putting a rod across one corner of a bedroom for hanging clothes. Also you could try hanging a screen made from a variety of materials. The screen could match the material of the bedspread, drapes etc. The idea here is to be creative so that the "fake closet" looks as though it was a part of the room.

Make a Bare Wall Beautiful-Wallpaper is inexpensive, quick and easy to do! The right wallpaper can brighten the room or hallway and bring it back to life. Be careful to choose something with a neutral design or pattern. Remember, you're trying to move out.

Bring Old Floors Back to Life!-Nothing turns off a potential buyer quicker than dull, dingy, disgusting looking floors. Whether you have wax, wooden or tiled floors, do whatever you can to make them shine again! For wax floors, either rent a floor machine and do it yourself, or if it's in your budget, hire a professional.

Have a professional give you an estimate and explain exactly what they would do to bring your floors back to life. If you have them explain what they would do, it may be just as easy to do it yourself.

If you have carpeted floors, you should either have the carpet steam cleaned or install new carpeting. This may sound expensive but new carpeting can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

Add Attractive Plants-Having plants in the house is not only healthy for you but you create a warm feeling with them. Many indoor plants are far less expensive than you might imagine.

Attractive pots such as ceramic, brass or even designer plastic will add a designer flair to your home. Hanging plants such as Boston ferns are inexpensive, easy to care for and would go great in your new home whenever you move.

Adding a Room Without Calling in the Contractor!-This simple but seldom used technique, can give a buyer the feeling there are more actual rooms in your house. Floor to ceiling room dividers are inexpensive and simple to install.

When a buyer walks through your home, they will generally count the rooms in a subconscious manner. Each room will present an emotional response as they walk through your home.

By dividing and designing each side of your room, you create a "separate room" feeling in the potential buyer. It may sound crazy, butit works!

Clean Up the Bathroom-We've probably all heard that phrase a hundred times growing up! Well, guess what? It's still valid. Give your bathroom a face-lift if needed; fresh paint, decorative moldings, tile grout, new designer faucets are all attractive eye catchers.

What is That Smell?-

Though people don't like to admit it, everyone's home has a certain smell to it. We just never notice it because we live with it day in, day out. Strategically placing fresh scent devices throughout the home will be pleasant to the nose of any potential buyer.

As a matter of fact, an old Realtor trick is to pop some cinnamon rolls in an oven 5 minutes before a showing. I bet you thought all Realtors just had a sweet-tooth!

Once again, I hope that this material has helped stimulate your thought process and given you some ideas on how you can add value to your home so that you get what you deserve!

If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, Hemet Realtor

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Until Next Time, Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, ePRO, REALTOR®
DRE Lic No: 01444168

ePro,John Occhi,,realtor      Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist Logo Awarded to John OcchiFive Star Logo,Certification,REO,Five Star Institute

Excellence in Real Estate,Team Log,John Occhi,,hemet,san jacinto,CA

This blog and the contents written here is the intellectual property of John Occhi, Temecula - Murrieta, CA REALTOR® in the South West Riverside County region of the Inland Empire of Southern California.  The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of John Occhi and those who comment.  Please note that I am not an attorney or a tax professional and any time I discuss either topic, I suggest you consult with the proper professional for relevant assistance.

I am proud to be a full time REALTOR® who is proud to be a contributing member of the ActiveRain community.

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May 2012 Silver Spring, MD zip-code 20901

Real Estate Agent with Weichert

May 2012 Silver Spring, MD zip-code 20901 includes popular subdivisions; Argyle, Ballantrae, Burnt Mills, Chalfonte,  Dumont Oaks, Fairway, Forest Knolls, Highland View, Indian Springs, Montgomery Knolls, North Hills, Northwood, Seven Oaks, Sligo Park, Four Corners, and Woodmoor.  If you living in one of these communities and are interested in more detailed information about the value of your house or are thinking of purchasing in the area, please feel free to contact me on 301 785 2753 or at Laura.D.Murray@Verizon.Net.

If you or someone you know is looking for an alternative to foreclosure as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) I help homeowners find the best solutions for their unique circumstances and avoid foreclosure through the efficient execution of a short sale.

May 2012 Silver Spring, MD zip-code 20901

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Massapequa, NY Home Sold

Real Estate Broker/Owner with RE/MAX Wittney Estates 516-795-6900

Massapequa, NY Home Sold

East Shore Drive

by Remax Wittney Estates

We are delighted to have successfully marketed this truly exceptional property located in the highly sought after "Nassau Shores" community in

Massapequa, N.Y.

The home was offered for sale on 6/19/2012 at an asking price of $649,000.00; it was quickly reduced to $599,000.00. It sold in 53 days for $594,500.00.

Full credit for the sale of this property is due Debra Pasquale of RE/MAX Wittney Estates.

The property offered many tried and true family features.

A well planed kitchen with granite counters and a spacious eating area.

A fabulous Glass Sun-Room with a hot tub and a granite fireplace.

The grounds are park-like and include a Koi Pond and a gorgeous

swimming pool

21 X 41  Vinyl Swimming Pool

A Master Suite with walk-in closets and a spacious granite bath.

Master Bath

An expansive living room, formal dining room and a superb family room.

 Dining Room

This Massapequa, NY Ranch is 2700 square feet with an over sized garage, central air to keep you cool in the summer and a four zone heating system with a separate hot water system to keep you warm in the winter, all designed to minimized your heating bills.

There are currently 353 homes available for sale in Massapequa.

To view these Massapequa homes for sale Click Here.

When you are ready to sell don't settle for less THAN THE BEST... contact RE/MAX WITTNEY ESTATES. With sales in excess of 3 billion dollars since 1984 you can relax with confidence knowing that our proven track record will successfully resolve all of your real estate needs.

MLS Homes For Sale - View 30,518 Homes for Sale.

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Renée Burrows
Savvy Home Strategies Realty, LLC-REALTOR®-Estate-Probate - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Real Estate Broker -

Definitely lots to love about this Massapequa NY home!  Lucky home buyer!

Oct 04, 2012 04:13 PM #1
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Richard and Beth Witt

Broker/Owner RE/MAX Wittney Estates Long Island NY
Do you require a fast cash sale?
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DMA names Oswald VP-state affairs

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New York—The Direct Marketing Association has named Christopher J.W. Oswald VP-state affairs. Oswald succeeds Ron Barnes, who had handled state lobbying efforts for the DMA since 2007. Barnes left the association in September to become head of state legislative affairs at Google Inc. Oswald previously served as director-state government affairs at publisher Reed Elsevier, supervising the company's western state and local legislative and regulatory strategies and managing contract lobbyists. He also served as director-state government affairs at the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and as state liaison for the National Rifle Association. DMA increasingly has battled state legislative initiatives it views as harmful to entrepreneurs and its membership, most prominently fighting legislation in several states that would require e-commerce merchants to charge state sales tax on online purchases.
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Mobile app revenue to grow 85% this year

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London—Revenue generated by mobile apps will reach $27 billion this year, up 85% over 2012, according to a new report by ABI Research. According to ABI’s “Mobile OS, Browsers and Applications Research Service” report, there are more apps available now for mobile devices running Google Inc.’s Android operating system. However, apps running on Apple Inc. mobile devices still command about two-thirds of all smartphone and tablet app revenue because Apple users are “more willing to depart with their cash,” ABI Research said, in a statement. Apps for tablet devices are gaining ground on smartphone apps and are expected to take the revenue lead by 2017, ABI said. Revenue categories considered in the report include pay-per-download, subscription, in-app purchase and in-app advertising.
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Random Youtube: Neon Trees ‘Everybody Talks’

Remember when MTV used to play music? Apparently, they still do on occasion, because I found myself watching the video for "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees.

Videos with an actual storyline almost seem like a lost art sometimes, with the landscape dominated by either performance clips or videos that are so simplistic that you find yourself saying "I could have done that in my bedroom." (Truthfully, some of these clips might have been made in bedrooms.)

The smart bands and artists realize that the video revolution has moved online and there is indeed still an audience worth making videos for....and occasionally, it's worth making it seem like you put actual effort into the video!

The Neon Trees video certainly goes above and beyond that, presenting a recap of an unforgettable night at the drive-in - you know, the ones where the zombies in the double feature come to life?  Yeah, we've all been there.

It's pretty awesome.

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U.S. Party Politics At A Cross Roads…Complicit RINO’s Play Footsie With Revolutionary Dems…Where Is Congress Headed?…Commentary By Adina Kutnicki

Leaving aside the inevitability of one party rule, especially since the ascent of the Potentate-in-Chief, Congress’s relevance has been on the wane. Few can still argue, after four insufferable years under his reign, that the Demsters, along with their RINO helpmates, are not seeking a mirror image of iron-fisted rule, even if the veneer of checks and balances can’t be erased, just yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Their totalitarian footprints are highly visible, you only have to know where to look. Seek and you shall find. From all the explosive evidence amassed, one can point to the unmistakable parallels between DHS & Germany’s Gestapo – adinakutnicki.com/2013/02/16/the-disturbingdangerous-parallels-between-dhs-nazi-germanys-gestapo-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/ . Coupled with the conditioning of its citizens – adinakutnicki.com/2013/02/15/u-s-leaders-forward-march-towards-tyranny-conditioning-its-citizens-in-the-process-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/ …one can “forward march” towards one party rule – adinakutnicki.com/2013/02/08/the-lefts-march-towards-totalitarian-rule-one-party-at-a-time-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/. Step by step, barely missing a beat.

YET, there are still those who insist on clinging to the Repubs, like a drowning person to a life raft. EARTH to patriots – you are going under, if the tide isn’t reversed forthwith. Therefore, pay heed to Erik Rush, another stalwart patriot. He takes no prisoners, nor does he mince words. Bravo.

‘You Don’t Negotiate With Terrorists – or Democrats’

– Erik Rush (Bio and Archives)  Saturday, February 16, 2013

Leaving aside for the moment the likelihood that parties and party politics in America will become moot within the next few years (owing to the emergence of a single party or the country’s dissolution into civil war), conservatives and libertarians are finding themselves at an unpleasant crossroads. While some observers gave up on the leadership of the Republican Party long ago, it is now becoming apparent to rank-and-file Republicans that the GOP leadership and its prominent operatives are wholly complicit in the fundamental transformation of America.

As the parchment upon which the Constitution is written approaches 451 degrees, some are now being openly accused of their treason, because the causes and effects thereof have become apparent. A preponderance of conservatives and libertarians have recognized the deeply malignant designs of the Obama administration, with which there is no good faith negotiation.  Thus, they do not expect anything that even resembles weakness from those who claim to be opposed to the course the President has set.While these might not be on board with the “fundamental transformation” as referenced by candidate Obama in 2008 (his being a dedicated Marxist and all), they are indeed working in concert with Democrats to bring about a monolithic socialist state. Worse, many said Republicans have been masquerading as staunch conservatives and are acknowledged as such, so they are accepted by committed conservative voters.

Like the decision of Ohio Governor John Kasich to accept Obamacare funding to expand his state’s Medicaid program. There are few acts that could be viewed more readily as capitulation to the Obama regime than this. Informed conservatives and libertarians have been aware that Obamacare is the death knell for liberty in America since before it was passed into law. Kasich campaigned as a fiscal conservative, and the support of the Tea Party was instrumental in his election. In so doing, he has stabbed these constituents in the back. Kasich was heretofore considered by many conservatives to be one of the faithful.

Recently, a furor in conservative circles erupted over the Conservative Victory Project, started by Karl Rove and the super-PAC American Crossroads. The goal of this group is ostensibly to protect incumbent Republicans against primary challengers and avoid losses like the GOP saw in 2012. Conservatives and Tea Party members have accused Rove of putting the establishment ahead of conservative principles by supporting weak establishment candidates who lose, and sabotaging viable conservative candidates.Another treachery that has gained wider implementation is the proclivity that prominent “conservative” politicians and operatives have for marginalizing grass-roots conservatives like the Tea Party.

Which he is clearly doing. Rove points to real conservative candidates his organization has supported, but his flawed prognostication, stymieing of grass-roots efforts, and inconsistent signals to the base speak to someone who is more wedded to the establishment than principles. We cannot forget that he was “the architect” for the uber-establishment faux conservative George W. Bush.

Conservatives know that the stakes are too high for these boilerplate political games, so why don’t so-called conservatives like Rove, Kasich, Newt Gingrich, John Boehner, and a host of others?

The answer is clear, and the operative term is “games.” The machinations of the GOP power brokers in recent years haven’t been those of ineptitude or spinelessness, they have been those of collusion. These high-profile Republican operatives are oligarchs of the same mold as their Democrat counterparts. Personally, they may hold slightly different political views, but these are analogous to two people who prefer different varieties of cheesecake.

For decades, people have scoffed at the idea that powerful Republicans were indeed compromising American interests in favor of various global socialist agendas, even as evidence continued to mount. Charges that were leveled 30 years ago have been validated, yet the scoffing continues. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush signed the U.S. onto the United Nations’ Agenda 21. This is now widely recognized as an insidious means by which the economies of Western nations – America in particular – might be crippled under the pretext of “sustainability.” At this point it is quite clear that Agenda 21 is sinister, yet prominent faux conservatives titter right along with liberals at this notion.

This is but one example of where that which once appeared to be fringe conspiracy theory is now reality. When I was growing up in the 1970s, there were those who spoke of the dangers of the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, and other agencies, even as Republicans of the day claimed membership therein. Now the agendas are out in the open rather than the ramblings of “fringe elements,” but the proponents of globalism have gained so much ground that there may be no stopping their progress in America short of civil war.

So what’s a conservative to do? If there is a chance of reversing this process at theballot box, with whom should constitutionally-minded conservatives and libertarians align themselves, particularly considering the fact that there are still so many of their number who trust the GOP?

I tend to agree with colleagues who have concluded that the federal government is lost, and that we must concentrate our efforts – at least in the short term – on our state governments. Vis-à-vis Obamacare, for example, it has been rightly asserted that refusal to cooperate on the part of the states will be an effective counter to its implementation. Ruthless scrutiny with regard to who we send to the state house as well as to Congress, eschewing even thwarting the campaigns of party establishment hacks, is another way we might retain a measure of liberty within the states in which we reside. Unless and until the Federal government initiates a full-blown police state, the statists may still be neutralized via the current political infrastructure.

No one should be fooled by the games being played, least of all patriots. Mouthing platitudes, pretending they are protecting Conservative interests, is just that – a whole lot of hooey and hot air. But it is hardly enough to be livid, and then allow the Repubs to continue as is.
A glaring case in point, of a “do nothing” Repub leadership, other than a lot of huffing and puffing, is demonstrated forthwith –
“Holder told ABC News on Wednesday that he was unfazed by the vote of most House Republicans and 17 Democrats to hold him in contempt of Congress last June over Fast and Furious.The bungled operation placed more than 2,000 weapons — including giant .50-caliber guns — into the hands of Mexican drug cartels and other criminals. Most of the weapons have never been recovered, and the scheme has been linked to the deaths of two federal agents and hundreds of Mexican nationals.“It’s something that I think was unfortunate,” Holder told ABC. “It’s a result of this kind of partisan sport that I think we engage in here in Washington far too often.”Holder said the votes did not bother him, considering who cast them.“But I have to tell you that for me to really be affected by what happened, I’d have to have respect for the people who voted in that way,” Holder said. “And I didn’t, so it didn’t have that huge an impact on me……”http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/issa-holder-washington-dysfunctional/2013/02/28/id/492583?s=al&promo_code=12A00-1#ixzz2MISk5YEk

The above displays an astonishing mendacity, an utter contempt, for American citizens, and this is coming from the chief law enforcement officer in the nation! Most egregiously, Rep Issa blusters and blubbers (as do others), but Holder & crew appear untouchable. Do “Teflon Dons” come to mind? In effect, if the gangsters in Washington behave as renegades, why the hell should Americans obey the law? Indeed.

As such, if ample reasons are requisite to step up the Conservative game, this is the moment in time. Looking back to 2010, as the eruption of the Tea Party’s power-thrust, it should serve as a springboard towards exponential momentum.

It is becoming increasingly clear, standing on the sidelines is no longer an option. Simply put, another chance to save/assert Conservative values will not be viable, at least for many generations to come.

In its essence, the Republic will be lost. Kaput.

7 thoughts on “U.S. Party Politics At A Cross Roads…Complicit RINO’s Play Footsie With Revolutionary Dems…Where Is Congress Headed?…Commentary By Adina Kutnicki

  1. Adina, Just thought you might be interested.Gatestone Institute– article by Soeren Kern: Germany v radical Islamists 15 march. Finally someone has seen the light,sit back and watch the fireworks!!! Bob NZ

  2. I watched parts of CPAC and am crying as I watch my country slowly crumbling apart and morphing into something I do not recognise!!! What few conservatives we have are getting the “boot on the throat” Where is my Ronald Reagan????

  3. Pingback: Benghazigate Directives: Keep Your Mouthes Shut; Survivors Identities Subject To Change; & An “SOS” Is Issued For Admiral Gauotte…Commentary By Adina Kutnicki | Adina Kutnicki

  4. Pingback: AMERICA (TO BE) RULED BY FIAT: AS DECREED BY ITS DICTATOR-IN-CHIEF! 2014, THE YEAR OF ITS INAUGURAL…Commentary By Adina Kutnicki | Adina Kutnicki

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Field is set for ECAC final four in Lake Placid

March 17, 2014
By staff , Adirondack Daily Enterprise

LAKE PLACID - The field is set for this weekend's Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference men's ice hockey championships at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

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Nw Honda dealers and new bike purchase.

Discussion in 'Pacific Northwet - Where it's green. And wet.' started by klondike300, Jan 31, 2013.

  1. linkweewee

    linkweewee tantum quantum

    Jul 8, 2007

    I'd offer $3k and would walk out feeling bad about a refusal if that helps.
  2. klondike300

    klondike300 Been here awhile

    Jul 8, 2007
    I'm not sure with what my happy price range is. I just hate the whole procedure. I'd almost rather buy a house again than buying from a dealer. But at that price range I'm not expecting some jaw dropping deal. Just whoever wants my business.
    I'm taking my KLX in next week and do some wheeling and dealing with the guy who sold me my quads.
  3. ThrottleThrill

    ThrottleThrill Been here awhile

    Jul 1, 2009
    Woodinville, WA
    You know after reading thru this thread, it made me think of how I buy vehicles. Last weekend, I bought a new truck and based the decision solely on price. I contacted several dealers, told them what I wanted and whoever quoted the best price would get the business. I actually saved a lot of money and it was for the most part, pain free.

    And yet, when I look at how I buy vehicles I enjoy and am passionate about (motorcycles and snowmobiles) I take a completely different approach. Because these are sports I love, I make an effort to support my local dealer. I can't tell you how many vehicles I have bought at my local shop which happens to be Ride Motorsports iin Woodinville. I know I will get a fair deal on the purchase as well as on parts and service. I truly want shops like this to do well and stay in business. I also can't tell you how many times they have saved a weekend for me by staying open a few minutes late so I could get the part that just broke, or gave me service advice that salvaged a weekend or countless other examples.

    I guess my point is that the difference between a scrapped weekend and being able to ride is one of the reasons I support the local dealer vs doing mail order or shopping just on price. Also, unlike how I just bought my truck (transportation vs fun toys) I don't squeeze every dollar out of every transaction (But then again, Ride has been very fair on pricing anyway) because I want to them to be there next year and the year after. And before anyone asks, no, I don't work there, no I don't have any financial stake etc. I am just a loyal customer because I have always been treated well.

    Having seen how many dealerships have failed the last few years, I believe even more in this. Just one guys thought here but, I would much rather support the local guy than see an empty store front.

  4. shrubitup

    shrubitup Uncouth Sloth

    Mar 20, 2009
    Kitsapolis WA
    To avoid dealer bullshit just buy one lightly used on Craigslist. Much easier. :thumb
  5. rm_hm

    rm_hm Logging Road Cruiser

    Oct 31, 2009
    Gig Harbor, WA
    I bought my 2009 TW200 from tacoma motorsports.

    I paid full price (I tried to dicker). I put 2k down and financed the rest. (took me six months to pay it off)

    Another guy was in there at the same time buying a Ruckus and they gave him free his and hers helmets with his deal. I then hinted at can you throw anything in with my purchase and was met with a "sorry can't do that".

    After I bought it I never heard from the dealer/salesman again. (I'm a firm believer in a follow up call)

    Bike came with a quart of fuel and loose handlebars.