text:
  • I.F. Stone

zaterdag 9 november 2013

Holy Shit. The Pusherman!

War Criminal
George W. Bush to Raise Money for Group That Converts Jews to Bring About Second Coming of Christ
The former president follows in the footsteps of Glenn Beck, who addressed the group last year.

By Sarah Posner

November 08, 2013 "Information Clearing House - "Mother Jones" -- Next week, former President George W. Bush is scheduled to keynote a fundraiser in Irving, Texas, for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute, a group that trains people in the United States, Israel, and around the world to convince Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah. The organization's goal: to "restore" Israel and the Jews and bring about about the second coming of Christ.
Messianic Jews have long been controversial for Jews of all major denominations, who object to their proselytizing efforts and their message that salvation by Jesus is consistent with Jewish theology. Last year, Abraham Foxman, president of the Anti-Defamation League, told Politico that former Sen. Rick Santorum's appearance at an event hosted by another Messianic Jewish organization, the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America, was "insensitive and offensive." And Commentary magazine, which bills itself as a "conservative American journal of politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues," noted, "it must be understood that the visceral distaste that the overwhelming majority of Jews have for the Messianics is not to be taken lightly." Many Messianic Jews are Christians who have adopted aspects of Jewish ritual observance; others are Jews who share the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
Asked about Bush's upcoming appearance at the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI) event, Rabbi David Saperstein, the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said, "It's disappointing that he would give his stamp of approval to a group whose program is an express effort to convert Jews and not to accept the validity of the Jewish covenant." Foxman was traveling overseas and unavailable to comment.
(After this story published, Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles' Sinai Temple, whom Newsweek has called the most influential rabbiin the country, tweeted, "This is infuriating.")
Based in Dallas, the MJBI claims that it acts like the Apostle Paul in helping to "educate Christians in their role to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy and thus save some of them (Romans 11:11-14)." It has Bible schools in 12 countries, an online school of "Messianic theology," and programs to train Messianic rabbis and pastors. Its logos feature a star of David and a menorah, and its website promotes the weekly Torah portion, a "Yiddish Mama's Kitchen," and links to purchase Judaica and books, such as Christ in the Old Testament. The nonprofit organization brought in approximately $1.2 million in revenue in 2011, the last year for which records are available.
At the November 14 event, which will be held at the Irving Convention Center, Bush will discuss his White House experiences, according to promotional materials. Bush, the group says, will "share his passion for setting people free." Last year, Glenn Beck was the star of the group's fundraiser, which was held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
This year's event is designed to bring in funds for the group's proselytizing operations. And the former president is helping out with more than just speech-making. The most expensive of the ticket packages, which range from $100 to $100,000, includes 20 invitations to a VIP reception and photo opportunity with Bush, 10 signed copies of Bush's book Decision Points, and passes to tour the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Alisa Stephenson, MJBI director of events and partner relations, would not say whether Bush is receiving a speaking fee for his appearance. "We cannot have any outside advertising or any media whatsoever involved in this, so I most likely cannot answer any of your questions," she tells Mother Jones.
A spokesman for Bush and a spokeswoman for the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum did not respond to requests for comment.
At last year’s MJBI fundraiser, Beck received a "Defender of Israel" award. During Beck's time as host of his Fox News program (which ended in 2011), hundreds of Jewish leaders denounced his on-air rhetoric as anti-Semitic—particularly his repeated invocation of Nazis and the Holocaust to demonize political adversaries and his accusation that George Soros is a "puppet master" who collaborated with the Nazis. "One of the reasons why I love Israel so much is I'm a guy who's for the underdog," Beck told the audience. "I'm a Mormon, which is kind of the Jew of the Christian world."
Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, which Beck attends, introduced Beck as a "prophet" at the event. Morris told the crowd that his church has supported MJBI because "when we do this, the Bible tells us, it's going to change the whole world. That it's going to hasten the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it's going to bring about worldwide revival."
When asked how the MJBI managed to secure Bush to keynote its fundraiser, Stephenson cited its track record of drawing influential speakers, pointing to the appearance by Beck.
At last year's event, members of the MJBI's board of directors explained the organization's mission of converting Jews to an audience of hundreds who were seated on a professional football field, wearing formal clothes, and eating pork barbecue. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, a leading Messianic Jew and televangelist who chairs MJBI's board of directors, maintained that "our numbers are growing and growing," because "the Bible predicted that the day would come when the blindness would come off the eyes of the people it all began with." He was referring to Jews. The Bible, Bernis continued, "tells us that the day will come when all of Israel will be saved." The MJBI, Bernis said, "is one of the ministries that God has raised up to bring that to pass." Other featured speakers last year included David Barton, the religious right's discredited "historian," who this week used Beck's radio show to announce that he won't challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in next year's Republican Senate primary.
Another MJBI board member, Rabbi Marty Waldman of Baruch HaShem, a Messianic congregation in Dallas, described his own conversion experience before making a pitch to the audience to donate money to MJBI. Money, he explained, is needed to hasten the return of Jesus. With the funds it collects, Waldman said, MJBI trains "people to preach the good news of the Messiah to the Jewish people." That's important, Waldman noted, because when there are "enough" Jewish people who call Jesus their savior, "some sort of a trigger will go off in heaven, and our father in heaven will say, 'Okay, son, it's time to get your bride.'"
At last year's MJBI event, a group called the Christian Heritage Foundation displayed a collection of Torah scrolls outside the Miller Lite Club at Cowboys Stadium. On the field, a shofar was blown, to applause.
Research for this article was supported by a 2012 Knight Luce Fellowship for Reporting on Global Religion. The fellowship is a program of the University of Southern California’s Knight Chair in Media and Religion.
Sarah Posner is an investigative journalist covering the intersection of religion and politics. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Salon, The Nation, The American Prospect, Al Jazeera America, and many other publications. Her website is http://sarahposner.com

Zionist Terror 165

Nuclear Accord With Iran Could Create Fierce Diplomatic Storm Between U.S. And Israel

Netanyahu’s harsh rejection of Geneva accord signals looming battle that could strain relations, split the Jewish community, raise prospects of a unilateral Israeli attack – and put Avigdor Lieberman in the spotlight.

By Chemi Shalev
November 08, 2013 "Information Clearing House - "Haaretz" --  If there were a synoptic map for diplomatic storms, the National Weather Service would be putting out a hurricane warning right now. The winds are blowing cold, tensions are on the rise and tempers are beginning to flare in the Bermuda triangle of relations between Israel, the US and the American Jewish community.
 And given that the turbulence is being caused by an issue long deemed to be critical to Israel’s very existence, we may actually be facing a rare Category 5 flare up, a “superstorm” of US-Israeli relations.
The flashpoint, of course, would be the emerging agreement between Iran and the P5+1 forum - which is not the bag yet, as US Secretary of State John Kerry said upon his arrival in Geneva on Friday. Nonetheless, Netanyahu’s exceedingly harsh condemnation of the contours of the proposed pact provides early warning signs of the potential ferocity of the approaching storm.
Netanyahu’s expressions of frustration and anger stem from the substance of the emerging agreement being negotiated as well as the fact that it appears to have taken Israel by surprise. After receiving assurances from the Administration that it would not seek an interim deal and that it would not offer partial sanction relief, Washington, in Jerusalem’s eyes at least, appears to be doing just that.
The prime minister’s video-taped, no-holds barred condemnation on Friday of the “very bad deal” that Israel “utterly rejects”, photographed in unflattering close up that only magnified its ominous resonance, seems to set the stage for a monumental confrontation.  At the very least, a “first step” agreement on Iran’s nuclear program could trigger a Congressional counteroffensive aimed at strengthening sanctions rather than relieving them, with Israel and its supporters in Washington rallying to help undermine the Geneva accord. The stakes, and the potential fallout, couldn’t be higher.
Such a confrontation would rekindle the underlying mistrust and animosity that characterized Netanyahu’s relations with President and the US Administration for most of Obama’s first term. Despite his successful visit to Israel in March, most Israelis continue to view Obama as naïve and soft in his dealings with Arabs and Muslim countries. Obama’s detractors, both in Jerusalem and in the American Jewish community, will say: “We told you so”.
That feeling may have intensified in recent days in Israeli government circles as a result of what seems to be an American effort to undercut its own pledge to keep the military option “on the table” in its dealings with Iran. A US “senior official” told reporters in Geneva that a military attack on Iran “would not end, in our view, Iran’s nuclear program. It would set it back, but it would not end it.”
In internal discussions, Administration figures have also said that even if there was a US attack on Iran’s nuclear installations, the sides would still have to return to the negotiating table to work out a the same kind of deal that they are discussing now.
The American Jewish community itself would also face a potentially divisive and acrimonious internal debate. American Jews are likely to be split almost evenly between those who will want to “give peace a chance” and others who will cite Netanyahu’s “Iranian deal of the century” description. Most of the American Jewish establishment is likely to line up behind Netanyahu, but most Democratic-voting American Jews may prefer to back the Administration’s diplomatic efforts.
In any case, the Administration is likely to face a steep uphill battle to prevent Congress from taking direct action to undermine a Geneva agreement. Obama’s approval ratings have never been lower, he is struggling to keep his Affordable Care Act afloat, and Democratic lawmakers up for reelection in 2014 were starting to keep their distance even before an Iranian agreement was in the offing. Together with the Republican caucuses in the Senate and the House who would like nothing better than to embarrass Obama on the world stage, Democrats could form a majority that would suffice to put any agreement with Iran in jeopardy.
Such Congressional sabotage would result in an unprecedented internal and international crisis and would also highlight what is already emerging as the mammoth elephant in the room: does a Geneva agreement increase or decrease chances for a preemptive Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear installations? Would Israel dare disrupt a diplomatic process that enjoys almost universal international support with such a brazen move? Can it afford, others will ask, to allow this “historic mistake”, as Netanyahu termed it, to go forward?
Adding to the volatile mix is the appearance of growing US impatience with Israeli settlement building and its negative impact on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Kerry’s unusually blunt criticism of the scope of recent government decisions on construction in the territories and his unprecedented warning that Israel may be facing a “third intifada” are telltale signs that all was not well between Jerusalem and Washington, even before reports of an impending Geneva agreement. A falling out between Netanyahu and Obama over the Iran accord could very well spill over into an open confrontation over the Palestinians as well.
But possibly the most intriguing question, from an internal Israeli point of view at least, is what will Avigdor Lieberman do. Buoyed by his exoneration on Wednesday of criminal charges, the right wing firebrand is returning to the Foreign Ministry on Monday just as Israel may be entering a critical diplomatic confrontation with the world.
Will Lieberman be nudging Netanyahu into a dangerous make or break gamble, as most people would expect, or will he choose to don the persona of the mature and responsible politician who urges caution and restraint? At this point, only Lieberman can know for sure.

Tax the Rich

This is viewer supported news
Tuesday’s election signaled a political sea change in New York City as voters chose a candidate who repeatedly emphasized his progressive vision. The city’s public advocate, Bill de Blasio, crushed Republican Joe Lhota in the mayoral race to replace billionaire mayor Mike Bloomberg. De Blasio is set to become the first Democrat to lead the city in two decades. During his campaign, de Blasio’s signature message focused on what he called a "tale of two cities" and challenge the police department’s controversial "stop-and-frisk" program. Mayor-elect de Blasio rose to power with the help of the Working Families Party, an independent political coalition sponsored by labor unions and focused on reducing social and political inequality. The party’s grassroots organizing efforts are not limited to New York. It recently won landmark legislation to tackle the student debt crisis in Oregon; fought the corporate education reform agenda in Bridgeport, Connecticut; and won paid sick days in Jersey City, New Jersey. Voters in New Jersey also approved a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage by a dollar to $8.25 an hour and add automatic cost-of-living increases each year. "We are living in the world Occupy made," says Dan Cantor, executive director of the Working Families Party. "We are the beneficiaries of what they did in terms of making this [about] inequality, which is from our point of view the core issue of our time."

De Mainstream Pers 71

The study of money, above all other fields in economics, is the one in which complexity is used to disguise the truth or to evade the truth, not to reveal it.

John Kenneth Galbraith. Money Whence it Came, Where it Went. 2001

During the Christian era in Europe, wealth, privilege, and power came with great moral costs. In frescoes, woodcuttings, architecture and murals, merchants, moneylenders, popes, cardinals and kings were depicted in shackles being carted off to hell under the watchful eyes of truncheon-wielding demons. The message to the illiterate population was clear – the rich and powerful have received their reward on Earth; best to be humble and poor, assured of a life in heaven after this one. Economic doctrines like the ‘just price’ and taboos on debt dominated European markets. Normalization of interest and gain required an entirely new understanding of Christianity, a new aesthetic of wealth. Centered in Florence, a new crop of wealthy patrons began to hire artists to depict Christ and his followers, the Virgin Mary, the Pope, local elites and the like, lavished with opulence and wealth. The new idea was that riches and religion were symbiotic.
Darren Fleet. The Creative Destruction of Neoclassical Economics. 2012

Initially the church regarded the practice of profiting from loans as a sin – known as usury – but the bankers found a loophole in religious doctrine: it was permitted to charge for the reimbursement of expenses incurred in making the loan. This was termed interest. Gradually bankers widened the definition of ‘interest’ to include what had formally been called ‘usury.’ The practice of loaning out receipts for gold that didn’t really exist worked fine, unless many receipt-holders wanted to redeem paper notes for gold or silver all at once. Fortunately for the bankers, this happened so rarely that eventually the writing of receipts for more money than was on deposit became a perfectly respectable practice know as fractional reserve banking.
Richard Heinberg. The End of Growth. 2011

Totdat in de moderne tijd een deel van de elite besluit dat er teveel geld is geproduceerd waar niets tegenover staat en dat het lucratiever is om de luchthandel ineen te laten storten. De gemeenschap moet vervolgens voor de kosten opdraaien zoals onder ander tijdens de kredietcrisis van 2008 gebeurde. De mainstream pers en de democratisch gekozen politici deelden de bevolking mee dat het niet bestaande geld was ‘verdampt,’ een autonoom natuurkundige fenomeen, dat kennelijk niets met menselijk handelen te maken had. Daardoor kon het speculeren met werkelijk niets weer opnieuw beginnen, tot de volgende kredietcrisis en recessie of zelfs economische depressie. Het spreekt voor zich dat dit een valse voorstelling van zaken was en nog steeds is, aangezien het creëren van geld en het speculeren met geld niets met de natuur heeft te maken, maar alles met de mens. Daarover schreef de Britse financieel adviseur Tarek el Diwany in het tijdschrift de New Internationalist:

The ability to practice usury was in olden times limited by the amount of gold or silver coins available to the moneylender. In the seventeenth century, a critical development in England largely removed this limiting factor. Here, early bankers took deposits of gold coins and in return issued paper receipts promising repayment on demand. In due course, merchants began to use the bankers' receipts in payment for goods and services. It was easier to hand over a paper receipt to a seller than to travel to the bank in order to withdraw coins first. This behavior allowed the bankers to dramatically enlarge their business as moneylenders because, from now on, when the public came to borrow money, the banker could lend them freshly printed paper receipts. This policy had one great advantage. Unlike gold, paper receipts could be manufactured at little or no cost. 'The Bank hath benefit of interest on all moneys which it creates out of nothing' was how William Paterson, first Director of the Bank of England, put it in 1694. The more paper receipts bankers printed, the more loans they could make and the more interest they could earn. It was therefore 'in their interest' to create as much money as possible. But this policy had dire consequences for the rest of society. The more money that was issued into circulation, the more prices began to rise throughout the economy. And because every unit of paper money was issued under a loan contract, the indebtness of society grew remorselessly over time. If a banker called in the paper loans, a vicious recession could easily result. The political power that this gave to the banks was not lost on President Andrew Jackson. In his farewell address of 1837, he accused the Bank of the United States of having done exactly this in an attempt to defeat his program on banking reform:

'The distress and alarm which pervaded and agitated the whole country when the Bank of the United States waged war upon the people in order to compel them to submit to its demands cannot yet be forgotten. The ruthless and unsparing temper with which whole cities and communities were oppressed, individuals impoverished and ruined, and a scene of cheerful prosperity suddenly changed into one of gloom and despondency to be indelibly impressed on the memory of the people of the United States. If such was its power in time of peace, what would it have been in a season of war with an enemy at your doors?'

Andrew Jackson waarschuwde zijn landgenoten dat indien hij er niet in was geslaagd om in 1833 deze 'national bank' te sluiten

the government would have passed from the hands of the many to the few, and this organized money power, from its secret conclave, would have dictated the voice of your highest officials and compelled you to make peace or war, as best suited their own wishes.

Precies 80 jaar later, in 1913, lukte het de financiële macht in de VS om opnieuw een particuliere nationale bank op te richten, de Federal Reserve, die geen eigendom is van de staat, maar van de aandeelhouders, te weten particuliere banken die niet de brede belangen van de gemeenschap behartigen, maar alleen het financiële belang van de rijke elite. Het gevolg is dat de Amerikaanse plutocratie vandaag de dag zowel de Amerikaanse binnenlandse als de buitenlandse politiek bepaalt. Zeker ook omdat de rijken bepalen welke kandidaat financieel gesteund wordt om president te worden en welke absoluut niet. Obama is daar een sprekend voorbeeld van en het is ook tekenend voor de misdadige onwetendheid van een opiniemaker als Geert Mak om nog in 2012 publiekelijk te verkondigen dat

het beter voor Nederland en de internationale gemeenschap [is] dat Obama de verkiezingen wint.

Even absurd was zijn bewering dat er 'Geen Jorwerd zonder Brussel,' mogelijk is, terwijl hij weet dat de 'Federal Reserve, de particuliere, centrale bank van de Verenigde Staten van Amerika, vergelijkbaar [is] met de Europese Centrale Bank in Frankfurt.'  http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve

De Amerikaanse onderzoekster Rebecca Fisher schrijft in haar essay The Paradox of Democratic Capitalism (2013) over de macht van de financiële en economische elite op de zogeheten Amerikaanse 'democratie,' die volgens Mak barst van de 'vitaliteit':

Dominant political and cultural discourses are now routinely constructed to promote capitalist narratives of democracy, freedom and individual choice. This has been the case even in the wake of public outcry and social unrest following the financial crisis and ongoing recession, which has seen the readiness of the state to prioritise the maintenance of the capitalist system, with massive injection of state money to bail out the financial system, brutal cuts to public spending, and drives to privatise even more of the public sector and close more and more of the commons. This has resulted in another crisis of legitimacy and an increase in the use of coercive strategies to control restive populations, such as increased militarisation.

Tegelijkertijd krijgt het grote publiek doorgaans een slap aftreksel geserveerd van de voorheen zo doeltreffende propaganda. Een illustrerend voorbeeld gaf op zaterdag 20 oktober 2013 NRC-'redacteur' Marc Chavannes, hoogleraar journalistiek aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, benevens commentator bij de NOS en andere omroepen, onder de kop ‘De aftakeling van de democratie’:

Democratie is geen exportartikel meer. Dat was wel anders toen de Verenigde Staten in 2003 met het gelijk van de zendeling Irak binnenvielen en dictator Saddam verwijderden. De landen van het Midden-Oosten waren toe aan bestuur van het volk door het volk; de ene dominosteen na de andere zou kantelen. Na weken verlammende geruzie in Washington lijkt de Amerikaanse democratie zelf vastgelopen en uitgewoond.

Wie bepaalden destijds dat ‘De landen van het Midden-Oosten [toe] waren aan bestuur van het volk door het volk’? En wie bepaalden eerder dat 'De landen van het Midden-Oosten' nog niet '[toe] waren aan bestuur van het volk door het volk’? Het volk? Washington die de dictaturen in de twee belangrijkste Arabische landen, Saoedi Arabie vanwege de olie en Egypte, vanwege het met Israel samenwerkende leger, in het zadel hielpen en hielden? En sinds wanneer was voor de plutocratische supermacht ‘democratie’ een ‘exportartikel’? Ondanks al zijn stelligheid zwijgt professor Chavennes daarover. Hoe lang nog?

Die vraag is actueel omdat door de verandering in tijdgeest de oude mythes ineens zijn uitgewerkt en de westerse burger plotseling ziet dat de Keizer geen kleren aan heeft. De legitimiteit van het systeem staat ter discussie en het ancien régime, inclusief zijn lakeien, de journalisten, moet op zijn woorden gaan letten.  Dat begrijpt opiniemaker Chavannes maar al te goed en is dan ook de voornaamste reden voor zijn weigering om met mij publiekelijk in discussie te gaan over zijn beweringen. Ondanks het feit dat hij tijdens zijn Oratie als Hoogleraar Journalistiek stelde dat journalisten weliswaar ‘onderling de nodige discussie hebben,’ maar ‘nooit over wat echt goede journalistiek is’ en dat bovendien journalisten dit moetendoen in een geïntensiveerde samenspraak met wat vroeger “de lezer” en “de kijker” werd genoemd, dus op internet,’ reageert Chavannes niet op mijn uitnodiging om hier op mijn blog in alle democratische openheid met mij in discussie te gaan over zijn dan wel mijn visie. Hij kijkt wel uit, de mainstream journalist weet inmiddels dat zijn argumenten te zwak zijn om tegen de feiten op te kunnen. De discussie gaat ook niet meer over de vraag of er sprake is van een ‘aftakeling van de democratie,’ want dat moeten de Makkianen door de ‘omstandigheden gedwongen, inmiddels toegeven, maar de discussie zal gaan over de oorzaken van die ‘aftakeling’ en over de centrale vraag of de onvrijheid van het kapitalisme en de vrijheid van de democratie uberhaupt kunnen samengaan. En juist op het serieus bespreken van dit onderwerp rust voor de mainstream journalisten het belangrijkste taboe. Deels omdat ze dan hun carriere kunnen afschrijven, deels omdat ze dan moeten erkennen dat hun werk een leugen is, en dat ze dus aan het verspreiden van een leugen hun aanzien te danken hebben. Rebecca Fisher:

Thus we see that the ideological hegemony based on the false belief in the notion of the inevitable and inviolable union between democracy and capitalism is increasingly difficult to manufacture, as social and ecological limits to capital accumulation are reached. Ultimately, the need to achieve hegemony – which includes both coercive and consensual mechanisms – is a sign of weakness, as it entails a reliance upon legitimating, masking, and enforcing an increasingly violent system. That capitalist propagandists must make appeals to democracy, which stands in contradiction to capitalism, shows their fundamental vulnerability. Only time will tell whether the ideological hegemony that protects capitalism will rehabilitate itself sufficiently in order to hide its contradictory relationship with democracy and (re)organise sufficient levels of popular consent to protect elite wealth and power from demands for greater social equality. Alternatively, this time, clamours for systemic change may assert themselves more effectively against the dominance of capital, and force open new directions that will overcome the hegemonic forces and the structural socio-economic and political structures of capitalism, both of which currently promote democracy while simultaneously, and forcefully, denying it.

En hoewel een Makkiaan als Geert Mak in zijn Reizen zonder John de terreur van de   elite in Washington blijft verdedigen met beweringen als zou de VS 'decennialang ordebewaker en politieagent' van de wereld zijn geweest, toch weten steeds meer burgers aan de hand van de feiten door deze misdadige propaganda heen te prikken. Kort samenvattend zou men bovendien kunnen stellen dat het voor de Makkianen een hele klus zal worden om het motto geloofwaardig te kunnen maken dat er ‘Geen Jorwerd zonder Brussel’ mogelijk is en dus dat het neoliberalisme in welke vorm dan ook de toekomst van de mensheid moet bepalen. Dit wil niet zeggen dat de dissidente visie zonder meer in kracht zal toenemen. Geenszins. Het enige dat wel kan worden voorspellen is dat er in deze overgangsperiode veel bloed zal vloeien, want de macht, welke macht dan ook, zal nooit vrijwillig haar macht inleveren.

Geert Mak: 'Geen Jorwerd zonder Brussel.' Met andere woorden: Geen Europa zonder Neoliberalisme. Geen miljonairs zonder Europese Centrale Bank

vrijdag 8 november 2013

Noam Chomsky 87

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Chomsky: Why the Rest of the World No Longer Wants to be Like U.S.

Many countries in the world see the U.S. as the single greatest external threat to their societies.
During the latest episode of the Washington farce that has astonished a bemused world, a Chinese commentator wrote that if the United States cannot be a responsible member of the world system, perhaps the world should become "de-Americanized" — and separate itself from the rogue state that is the reigning military power but is losing credibility in other domains.
The Washington debacle's immediate source was the sharp shift to the right among the political class. In the past, the U.S. has sometimes been described sardonically — but not inaccurately — as a one-party state: the business party, with two factions called Democrats and Republicans.
That is no longer true. The U.S. is still a one-party state, the business party. But it only has one faction: moderate Republicans, now called New Democrats (as the U.S. Congressional coalition styles itself).
There is still a Republican organization, but it long ago abandoned any pretense of being a normal parliamentary party. Conservative commentator Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute describes today's Republicans as "a radical insurgency — ideologically extreme, scornful of facts and compromise, dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition": a serious danger to the society.
The party is in lock-step service to the very rich and the corporate sector. Since votes cannot be obtained on that platform, the party has been compelled to mobilize sectors of the society that are extremist by world standards. Crazy is the new norm among Tea Party members and a host of others beyond the mainstream.
The Republican establishment and its business sponsors had expected to use them as a battering ram in the neoliberal assault against the population — to privatize, to deregulate and to limit government, while retaining those parts that serve wealth and power, like the military.
The Republican establishment has had some success, but now finds that it can no longer control its base, much to its dismay. The impact on American society thus becomes even more severe. A case in point: the virulent reaction against the Affordable Care Act and the near-shutdown of the government.
The Chinese commentator's observation is not entirely novel. In 1999, political analyst Samuel P. Huntington warned that for much of the world, the U.S. is "becoming the rogue superpower," seen as "the single greatest external threat to their societies."
A few months into the Bush term, Robert Jervis, president of the American Political Science Association, warned that "In the eyes of much of the world, in fact, the prime rogue state today is the United States." Both Huntington and Jervis warned that such a course is unwise. The consequences for the U.S. could be harmful.
In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, the leading establishment journal, David Kaye reviews one aspect of Washington's departure from the world: rejection of multilateral treaties "as if it were sport."
He explains that some treaties are rejected outright, as when the U.S. Senate "voted against the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012 and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1999."
Others are dismissed by inaction, including "such subjects as labor, economic and cultural rights, endangered species, pollution, armed conflict, peacekeeping, nuclear weapons, the law of the sea, and discrimination against women."
Rejection of international obligations "has grown so entrenched," Kaye writes, "that foreign governments no longer expect Washington's ratification or its full participation in the institutions treaties create. The world is moving on; laws get made elsewhere, with limited (if any) American involvement."
While not new, the practice has indeed become more entrenched in recent years, along with quiet acceptance at home of the doctrine that the U.S. has every right to act as a rogue state.
To take a typical example, a few weeks ago U.S. special operations forces snatched a suspect, Abu Anas al-Libi, from the streets of the Libyan capital Tripoli, bringing him to a naval vessel for interrogation without counsel or rights. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry informed the press that the actions are legal because they comply with American law, eliciting no particular comment.
Principles are valid only if they are universal. Reactions would be a bit different, needless to say, if Cuban special forces kidnapped the prominent terrorist Luis Posada Carriles in Miami, bringing him to Cuba for interrogation and trial in accordance with Cuban law.
Such actions are restricted to rogue states. More accurately, to the one rogue state that is powerful enough to act with impunity: in recent years, to carry out aggression at will, to terrorize large regions of the world with drone attacks, and much else.
And to defy the world in other ways, for example by persisting in its embargo against Cuba despite the long-term opposition of the entire world, apart from Israel, which voted with its protector when the United Nations again condemned the embargo (188-2) in October.
Whatever the world may think, U.S. actions are legitimate because we say so. The principle was enunciated by the eminent statesman Dean Acheson in 1962, when he instructed the American Society of International Law that no legal issue arises when the United States responds to a challenge to its "power, position, and prestige."
Cuba committed that crime when it beat back a U.S. invasion and then had the audacity to survive an assault designed to bring "the terrors of the earth" to Cuba, in the words of Kennedy adviser and historian Arthur Schlesinger.
When the U.S. gained independence, it sought to join the international community of the day. That is why the Declaration of Independence opens by expressing concern for the "decent respect to the opinions of mankind."
A crucial element was evolution from a disorderly confederacy to a unified "treaty-worthy nation," in diplomatic historian Eliga H. Gould's phrase, that observed the conventions of the European order. By achieving this status, the new nation also gained the right to act as it wished internally.
It could thus proceed to rid itself of the indigenous population and to expand slavery, an institution so "odious" that it could not be tolerated in England, as the distinguished jurist William Murray, Earl of Mansfield, ruled in 1772. Evolving English law was a factor impelling the slave-owning society to escape its reach.
Becoming a treaty-worthy nation thus conferred multiple advantages: foreign recognition, and the freedom to act at home without interference. Hegemonic power offers the opportunity to become a rogue state, freely defying international law and norms, while facing increased resistance abroad and contributing to its own decline through self-inflicted wounds.
© 2013 Noam Chomsky -- Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate
Noam Chomsky is a professor of linguistics and philosophy at MIT.


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Download Environment, Forced Migration and Social Vulnerability by Tamer Afifi,Jill Jäger PDF

By Tamer Afifi,Jill Jäger

This publication is without doubt one of the outputs of the convention on ‘Environmental swap, compelled Migration, and Social Vulnerability’ (EFMSV) held in Bonn in October 2008. Migration is among the oldest version measures of humanity. certainly, with out migration the multitude of civilizations and interactions among them – peaceable and in a different way – will be challenging to visualize. The United countries (UN)-led international discussion on migration is a transparent signal that governments and the really expert UN organisations and our bodies have well-known the necessity to view, govern, deal with, and facilitate migration; to mitigate its unwanted effects; and to capitalize at the optimistic ones. it's a universal expectation between specialists that environmentally brought about migration will extra bring up within the a long time to come back. consequently, subsequent to the political, fiscal, ethnic, social, monetary, humanitarian, and safeguard points of migration, the environmental part should still urgently be thought of within the ongoing foreign discussion on migration. This desire is usually a problem. with out acceptable clinical wisdom, evaluation, definitions, and classifications, the intergovernmental frameworks wouldn't be capable to take care of those advanced phenomena. The Five-Pronged-Approach as formulated via the United countries collage (UNU) might function a framework to spot the extra dimensions of this problem subsequent to – and really at the same time with – the medical one.

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Naturally Elegant

Steve Forney’s Naturally Elegant White Wine Poster

A red gloved hand holds a glass of white wine from California's central Coast

Naturally Elegant is the companion piece I created to pair with Simply Sophisticated. It celebrates the magnificent white wines from California’s Central Coast. This image is of a red glove holding a glass of white wine, Read more


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St. Francis

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Catholic Church

Lord make me an instrument of peace..   Where there is hatred, let me sow love   Where there is injury, pardon   Where there is discord, unity   Where there is doubt, faith   Where there is dispair, hope

en es

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Wednesday, 2 March 2011

Spring Has Sprung

Can anyone believe it's March, already? Well, it is and I wanted to wish everyone, a belated but happy St. David's Day.

So, Spring is just around the corner and the daffodils are poking their little heads through the ground and nearly in bloom and to celebrate the end of a very long winter, I thought this card would be appropriate for today's share!! Hope you like it...
The daffodil image is from a acrylic stamp sheet by Dawn Bibby and I've used K&Company papers on the background. As finishing touches, I've added my much loved and well used flourish die cuts, some punched butterflies and last but by no means least...a little bit of indulgence! Yes, the Melt Pot came out, again and I melted down some UTEE and then dropped my Hero Arts rubber stamp into the molten liquid to make this beautiful piece of enamel!

Before I go, I just wanted to say a big, thank you for all your lovely comments on the last card I all made my day!! :D
I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday and wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining!!
See you soon
Love Emma

Sarah Hurley said...

looooove the melt pot work, I really need to get me one of those!!

Sarah x

Live4Soccer said...

you're so right! there's nothing like the blooming of the daffodils..that little splash of yellow after a long winter!

the stamp and butterflies are brilliant but obviously the star of the show is, once again, the enamel you made with the Melt Pot! that splash of gold works so well...just adds a perfect bit of "bling"! :D

lovely as ALWAYS! ;)

Vicky said...

Love the melt pot piece - such a stylish card. :)x

Katina said...

Hi Emma, a perfect card to celebrate the arrival of Spring! The daffodil stamp is lovely and I'm sooo impressed with your enamelling! xx

Kathy said...

this is soooo lovely, a real breath of Spring - mind you it's soooooo cold here today I think Spring might have changed it's mind!

Kaz said...

oooo this is gorgeous, love the uttee too, just fab! great work Emma!

Kim Dellow said...

Beautiful Emma, just love the UTEE embellishment - gorgeous! Have a fab weekend! Kim

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Homage to Spring: Pasta Primavera With Scallops

As I sat with my morning coffee yesterday morning, I clicked on the local news to see what the day would bring. The weather report forecasted "abundant sunshine". How about that? It didn't say "sunny" or "partly sunny", or even "very sunny". Nope. The reporter's exact words were "abundant sunshine". What beautiful words to hear at 6:15 a.m., on a dark, chilly March morning. What a wonderful promise of a wonderful day! It made me smile.
It also made me realize that Spring has apparently sprung, at least in my neck of the woods. Being on the tail end of the Easter season, we've all been hearing and talking a lot about renewal and rebirth. I've been spending so much time these past few weeks baking for Easter and posting about it, that I never had time to properly welcome Spring.
Later, as I was stopped at a red light while driving to my office, I took a good look around. I was surprised at what I saw. Almost overnight, an explosion of new growth had occurred. There was a profusion of pink, gold and violet surrounding me. Sure, living in Florida means that something is always blooming, but this was much more pronounced. The fuschias of the bougainvillea, the peaches and yellows of the hibiscus and the lavenders of the jacaranda seemed so much more vibrant than the day before. The sky was bluer and the sunlight was.....well, it was abundant! It was like all of nature woke up after a long, restorative nap.
I knew that whatever I created in my kitchen that evening had to reflect this seasonal shift. Truth be told, I'm still a little amped out on baking, so I decided to put together a savory dish that sings Spring. I made Pasta Primavera.
Pasta primavera is an Italian dish that consists of pasta and and assortment of fresh seasonal vegetables. The word primavera, in fact, means Spring in Italian. Any vegetables can be used in this dish, but I like it best with a variety having an array of bright colors and textures. I julienned most of them to facilitate quicker cooking, and because I think they're pretty that way. You can certainly just slice them up any way you like.
The sauce can be either olive oil or butter and cream based. This time, I combined both to make a light cream sauce with white wine, broth and half and half. Though the dish usually involves tomatoes in some way, I left them out because I couldn't find any that were worthy. This is all about the freshest, loveliest ingredients, isn't it?
Since this was to be a one dish dinner, I also added some gorgeous, plump sea scallops to it. I have also prepared this recipe using shrimp and chicken, but yesterday, the scallops won the draw.
I have laid out the recipe here so that, with the exception of cooking the pasta, the dish can all be made in one pot. I'm sure that whoever does the dishes at your house will be happy to hear that!
So here you have it - Pasta Primavera With Scallops - my homage to Spring!

Pasta Primavera with Scallops

1 lb. pasta of your choice (I used linguini.)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 stick of butter
1 large sweet onion, very thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, julienned
1 red bell pepper, julienned
2 cups fresh asparagus tips
2 cups fresh shucked English peas or frozen green peas
2 medium zucchini, julienned
2 medium yellow squash, julienned
2 cups sliced mushrooms (I used the regular button variety.)
1 lb dry packed sea scallops, sliced in half horizontally
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock (Canned broth is just fine.)
2 cups half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Zest of 1/2 a lemon
Fresh herbs of your choice for garnish
Fill a large stock pot with water and bring to a boil. When boiling, add asparagus and fresh peas, if using, and blanch for 1-2 minutes. Fish out the vegetables and "shock" in a bowl of ice water. Drain and set aside. Then, cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and toss with a little olive oil to keep it from sticking and clumping. Set aside.
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Remove to a large lowl and set aside.
Add a little more oil and butter to the skillet if needed and add the carrots and red pepper. Saute about 5 minutes until tender. Add the zucchini, squash, mushrooms, peas and asparagus, and saute about 2-3 minutes more. Remove and add to the bowl with the onions.
Turn the heat to medium-high, add a little more oil and butter and add the scallops, in a single layer. Saute until lightly carmelized, about 1 minute per side, depending on the thickness of the scallops. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Add wine and broth to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits. Reduce heat to medium and keep to a low boil until liquid is reduced by about 1/2. Add half and half, salt, pepper and nutmeg, stir and continue to simmer a few minutes until cream begins to thicken.
Add vegetables and scallops back to the skillet and heat through. Toss with pasta and top with lemon zest and herbs.
If you like this recipe, you might also enjoy:
Spaghetti With Asparagus and Shrimp from Kalofagas

Mike of Mike's Table said...

The seasonal change definitely seems to have hit in FL and its nice having the screen doors open and long sunny days w/o the oppressive summer humidity.

The pasta looks very tasty and very seasonally appropriate. The photos look great too--a nice splash of color!

Proud Italian Cook said...

I envy your georgous weather! And your dish screams spring!! I have a SIL that lives in Sarasota, and everytime we visit I just love all the flowers there!

Peter M said...

Look at all that mise en place! You made a fitting meal to help usher in Spring..someone come thaw all this snow we got this year.

Kevin said...

That pasta looks nice and fresh and colourful and tasty. I can't wait for the Spring weather to come here!

Manggy said...

That looks awesome, and not just because I adore scallops, but it's not the overly creamy mess that I usually see when it comes to Pasta Primavera! It looks rightly light and delicious.

How wonderful to be surrounded by so many colors. (I obviously am a little bitter for living in a factory district)

Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...

Scallops are so frickin yummy and my husband won't even give them a chance........BAH

Nina's Kitchen (Nina Timm) said...

This is an amazing and colorful dish - I bet the flavor was even better.

Bellini Valli said...

This dish is packed with flavour Susan:D I also enjoyed your Spring poem..When the forsythia bloom that means spring to me...I do see some tiny buds:D

Aran said...

I love spring too. Rebirth of all things although in Florida is hard to notice it sometimes right? When I go to the store and see all the new fruits and vegetables... I love it. And anything with pasta is fabulous!

StickyGooeyCreamyChewy said...

Mike- Thanks! The changes in seasons here are a lot more subtle. I guess I've lived here long enough to pick up on them. Glad you liked the pasta.

Marie- The weather here is pretty gorgeous, but it can also be monotonous. I can't believe you have family here! I wonder if I know your SIL. This is not such a big place and I've been here a looong time.

Peter- Thanks! I've been trying to blow some warm weather up your way. Any luck yet? ;)

Kevin- Glad you like it! I'll try to blow some warm weather up to you too! ;)

Manggy- Thank you! I hate that gloppy kind of pasta too. Don't be bitter. Sometimes, I get sick of all this green!

Obsessive- I'm lucky that my husband isn't a picky eater. If he was, he'd starve, because I cook what I want. This ain't no restaurant! ;)

Nina- Thanks! This is definitely one that I like to make over and over.

Valli- Thank you! I'm so glad you liked the pasta and my poem. I'm finally starting to feel more comfortable putting my "creative side" out there.

Ah, forsythia! I love them, but we don't have them here. :(

Aran- I agree. Pasta rules!
It is really hard to notice our subtle weather changes - even more so where you are. After a while, you get better at it.

Jen of A2eatwrite said...

This looks absolutely lovely and springlike!

Lora said...

My kind of recipe-explicit instructions. Definitely gets a try-but who needs meat when you have all those wonderful vegetables? Great Southern tradition-veggie only meals!

michelle @ TNS said...

confound you floridians and your early spring. i have 7 crocuses blooming in my jersey backyard and i'm ECSTATIC.

i'll still eat your pasta, though.

Tartelette said...

I love all the colors of the dish! Puts me in a great mood. I too feel like paying hommage to Spring. My favorite time of the year here in the South.

StickyGooeyCreamyChewy said...

Jen- Thank you! That's what I was going for. ;)

Lora- Thanks! I try to make the recipes easy to follow. You could also add white beans to this dish instead of meat or seafood and still get the protein.

Michelle- You're more than welcome to the pasta, but, um...what's a crocus? ;)

Tartelette- Thank you! I'll bet you've got azaleas blooming all over the place up there! That would put me in great mood too. :)

Cate said...

Mmmm, the dish sounds delish! I cannot wait for Spring weather to finally arrive... enough of this cold!

canarygirl said...

Oh my Gawd! I need to make this! It looks incredible. I even have some scallops in my freezer...YUM!

Pixie said...

I'm so glad I have scallops currently in my fridge because this sounds like the perfect recipe to use them with!

Patricia Scarpin said...

Susan, I have never tried scallops but I can see this dish is delicious!

Katerina said...

What a beautiful picture! I am very jealous that your spring is spring as we started spring with snow this year, and considering we haven't had it for 2 months it was sorta weird. I am very much looking forward to actual spring and I when it happens I will make it your primavera. Thanks for including me.


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5 Essential Tips To Stick to the Raw Food Diet For Weight Loss

O.k. ladies! No matter what, we have to get those pounds under control within the year once we have our baby or babies, because the longer they sit, the harder it gets. So outlined below are the tips on tips on how to lose weight after pregnancies! Some emerging opportunities in straightforward nutrisystem powerfuel foods. There are truly many diets available, but you want not to experience those that say drop xxx pounds in nights. You want a healthy diet weight loss program.
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The best books of 2014

Sturt292014 has been another wonderful year for literature, a classic case of so many books, so little time. I ended the year having read 80 books, predominantly fiction novels, but including one play (Mike Bartlett’s perceptive and witty King Charles 111, works of non-fiction and collections of short stories.

An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine (Text)

The UnAmericans by Molly Antopol (W.W.Norton)

The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez (Bloomsbury)

Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami (Alfred A Knopf)

Thank you For Your Service by David Finkle (Text)

Beyond the Beautiful Forever by Katherine Boo (Random House)

The Golden Age by Joan London (Random House Australia)

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (Allen & Unwin)

A Winter’s Book by Tove Jansson (A Sort of Book)

His Own Man by Ribeiro Edgard (Text):

The gender division was 66-44 per cent to the blokes, the authors came from 18 different nationalities and although America, Britain and Australia dominated, some of the South American authors definitely punched above their weight. My Top 10 isn’t in any particular order and is based on books I read during 2014, irrespective of when they were published. Similarly, the publisher reflects the edition I read.

This year was particularly hard to nominate just ten books so, below are the closest runners-up:

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnstone

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Tows

How to be Both by Ali Smith

The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis

All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld

Wishing everyone a happy, peaceful and book filled 2015. (Artwork by the always brilliant Sturt Krygsman)

  1. My read list in 2014 – The Tragedy of the Pike River Mine – Rebecca Macfie (the mine disaster on the west coast of NZ)The War that Ended Peace – Margaret MacmillanThe Bat – Jo NesboParade’s End – Ford Madox FordAll of These People – Fergal KeaneThe Shorter PepysThe Clash of Civilisations – Samuel P HuntingtonDona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos – Jorge AmadoIs This a Man/The Truce – Primo LeviHarvest – Jim CraceJane Eyre – Charlotte BronteBelieve & Destroy – Christian Ingrao (Story of Hitler’s scientists and the death camps)Measure for Measure – WSShort Stories by Russian AuthorsDesperate Remedies – Thomas HardyAustralian Explorers – Robert CoupeErnest Giles – Ray EricksenJourney to Horseshoe Bend – TGH StrehlowSchultz – JP DonleavyHis Own Man – Edgar Telles RibeiroOne Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel G MarquezCrossing the Dead Heart – CT MadiganThe Narrow Road to the Deep North – Matsuo BashoThe Letters of Noel Coward – compilationLong Walk to Freedom – Nelson MandelaJim Clark – Eric DymockStrut’s Desert Drama – Ivan RudolphThe Orphan Master’s Son – Adam JohnsonBetrayal – Simon BensonJohn Flynn – Ivan RudolphThe Narrow Road to the Deep North – Richard FlanneryWe Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy FowlerHow to be Both – Ali Smith”J” – Howard JohnsonTo Rise Again at a Decent Hour – Joshua FerrisLeichhardt – The Dauntless Explorer – Colin RoderickPackhorse & Waterhole – G BuchananCapitaes da Area – Jorge AmadoHeroes & Heroines – Thomas CarlyleMr Stuart’s Track – John BaileyThe Assassination of Mrs Thatcher – Hilary MantelFlynn of the Inland – Ion IdriessAmazon Throne – Bertita HardingCyrano de Bergerac – Edmund Rostand (play)The Dead Heart of Australia – JW GregoryThe Light Between Oceans – ML StedmanBig Red – Henry G LamondThe Symposium – PlatoThe Murranji Track – D LewisJoseph Andrews – Henry FieldingSpinifex & Sand – DW CarnegieThe Power of One – B CourtneyWest of Centre – Ray EricksenPuckoon – Spike MilliganWeary – The Life of Sir Edward Dunlop – S Ebury That’s my lot this year. My top 10 in red. Cheers Keith Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:31:54 +0000 To:

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Bald Eagle Days Salutes our National Symbol

A visit to Bald Eagle Days  in the Iowa-Illinois Quad Cities produced a nice outing for our grandchildren and a chance to see and learn a bit about our grand national bird.

Representatives from the Naiobi Zoo also were on tap with some other fascinating creatures.

And even some that took a full time crew.

A good time was had by all.

Is Art a Reasonable Investment?

Michigan: For Every $1 State Investment in Arts, $51 Returned
Crain's Detroit Business
, 1/18/12
"For every $1 the state invested in nonprofit arts and cultural groups in 2009, those organizations pumped more than $51 into Michigan's economy through spending on rent, programs, travel, and salaries. The sector employed 15,560 people that year, paying them a total of $152 million in salaries. Creative State Michigan, a new report from the Wixom-based advocacy group ArtServe Michigan, reinforces what ArtServe has known all along, said the group's director of public policy, Mike Latvis. 'For a long time, we've heard that state funding to the arts is a handout, but it's not. This report shows that investment is returned multiple times over to the state's economy'...The 210 participants in the inaugural report represent just ten percent of Michigan's estimated 2,000 nonprofit arts and cultural groups. They span 45 of Michigan's 83 counties."

Monday, January 16, 2012

Who are the one-percent in your town?

The January of my dreams continues.   We have had one minor snowfall and no below zero weather. Although this might be the occasion to wax elouquent on global warming, I prefer to think of it as just a simple pleasure gifted by the spin of the wheel of weather fortune.  I still suspect we will pay big time before the appearance of the daffodils.

What I did notice today was a fascinating chart and an accompanying article on the nature of the 1% in our country.  It comes from the New York Times and is revealing and probably about as even handed as any article on this hyperpolarizing topic can be.  Check it out.    I have discovered that I was not in, am not in now, and will not OCCUPY THE 1% NITCHE IN THE FUTURE.


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Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the 51 year old Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 150 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

My Photo
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Liturgical repair rather than revision

Much of the liturgy of the 1979 Prayer Book reflects the English language translation of the Roman Novus Ordo (new order) of the Mass put forth after Vatican II (1960's). The latin text is VERY poorly translated into English. Many 'translations' had theological revisionist motive behind them.

Under John Paul II and now Benedict XVI they are correcting the translations. Will ECUSA correct theirs too? Unfortunately, the modernist Anglican liturgy continues to be revised with supplimental texts - revised in the wrong direction rather than corrected!

Below is an article from ZENIT news service on the corrections by the Roman Church. See if any of it sounds familiar to the old Anglican Service (which is based on the old Latin liturgy).

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments approved the first section of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.The U.S. episcopal conference reported today that it received the "recognitio" from the Holy See for the Order of the Mass, the main section of the missal. The approval includes phrases such as "et cum spiritu tuo" (previously translated "and also with you") now to be rendered as "And with your spirit." In the Confiteor, the text "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault" has been added.The Gloria's translation and structure is different, and the first line of the Sanctus now reads "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts." The response of the people at the Ecce Agnus Dei (Behold the Lamb of God) is "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." This is the first of 12 sections of the translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal.


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Saturday, September 09, 2017

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase:
Fall 2017 jazz preview, part three

Welcome to part three of StLJN's Fall 2017 jazz preview, presenting videos featuring noteworthy jazz and creative music performers who will be visiting St. Louis over the next few months. (You can see part one here, and part two here.)

Continuing in chronological order from where part two left off, today's first clip features singer and pianist Eric Comstock and singer Barbara Fasano, whose show "Downton Abbey Road: The Best of Britain" will be presented as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival on Friday, October 27 at the Gaslight Theater.

Although no excerpts of that show are available on video, you can see them up above performing "When In Rome (I Do As The Romans Do)" as recorded in April 2015 during the weekly "Cast Party" event at Birdland in NYC.

After the jump, there's a clip featuring guitarist, singer and St. Louis favorite John Pizzarelli, who's returning to headline the annual "ArtSounds" benefit on Saturday, October 28 at Sheldon Concert Hall.

Recorded last month at KNKX in Tacoma, WA, it features Pizzarelli and Daniel Jobim, the grandson of Brazilian music legend Antonio Carlos Jobim, performing "The Girl From Ipanema" from Pizzarelli's latest album Sinatra & Jobim @ 50.

The third video features saxophonist Houston Person, who will be back in town to perform Wednesday, November 1 through Saturday, November 4 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Person, who usually works with local rhythm sections on gigs like the one he's doing at the Bistro, is seen here in a video from March of this year that documents his team-up with fellow saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person for a gig at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC. Along with the two Persons, the band includes pianist Zaccai Curtis, bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer McClenty Hunter.

Next, it's singers Farah Alvin and William Michals, who will join forces to present "Broadway's Greatest Hits of All Time" for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4 at the Gaslight Theater.

In their individual clips, Michals is performing "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific, recorded last month at Feinstein's/54 Below in NYC, while Alvin is singing "Infinite Joy" as part of a show last month at the the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, MA.

Today's sixth video features a full set from singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, recorded in December 2016 at Dizzy's with a band including pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Paul Sikivie, drummer Lawrence Leathers, and guest star Anat Cohen on clarinet.

Salvant has a new album called Dreams and Daggers coming out at the end of this month, and her tour in support of the record will include a performance on Saturday, November 11 at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

That same evening, electronic musician John Wiese will be headlining an event for New Music Circle at St. Louis University's Xavier Hall.

Billed as "a site-specific composition that includes over 20 local musicians, utilizing both traditional and non-traditional instrumentation," the performance can't really be previewed here, but you can get an idea of the sort of thing Wiese does in today's penultimate video, which documents a performance in August 2016 at the Artifex Guild in Bloomington, IN.

The final video features actress and singer Emily Skinner, who will perform "Broadway Her Way" for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival on Saturday, November 11 at the Gaslight Theater.

Word came down this week that Skinner already has sold out this single performance, but since this post was mostly written by the time that news reached StLJN HQ, you might as well enjoy a clip of her performing "Could I Leave You" last fall in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of Follies.

Look for part four of StLJN's Fall 2017 jazz preview next week in this space. You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...

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$5.00 - $18.50

Coming Soon

these are for use with the Game Boy Zero projects which utilize the cartridge edge connector for SD card connections.

  • gold fingers on edge connector
  • beveled edge on connector for ease of insertion and less wear
  • microSD socket footprint
  • 0.8mm thickness
  • matte black soldermask
  • white silkscreen
  • compatibility with original and kitsch-bent style cartridge shells
  • requires the edge of the cartridge shell be cut out to insert SD card, this is not done in the 'fully assembled' version
  • wiring diagram in the pictures; easy installation

kk_gb_zero_b is the original version.

kk_gb_zero_b2 has 2 decoupling capacitors on the PCB (or, the footprints in the non-assembled versions). decoupling capacitors are not required, but often requested.


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Leave it to Me - Teal - Necklace Kit

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Product Description

Gorgeous Lampwork focal leaf by Ren Farnsworth of Milford CT.

7 Cord Braid - The focal section is four inches - Total length appx 20 inches.

Included in Kit - My compartmental case, Beads, Cord and Layout Instructions.

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Product Reviews

  1. Absolutely beautiful 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 16th Jan 2018

    This teal color blends with so many colors and the leaf is a great attention getter. Love this necklace!!

  2. Beautiful glass focal 5 Star Review

    Posted by on 8th Jan 2018

    I got over 200 comments on this necklace on fb. It is absolutely beautiful on. The turquoise is a true color and blends very well with the necklace.

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Qatar: A City of Contrasts

From atmospheric souqs selling Arabian antiques, handcrafted gold jewellery and old camel bags, to glitzy mega malls retailing luxury good, Doha is where you can pick up the best loot in Qatar.

Updated on September 26, 2017 8:09 am

Food & Travel Singapore Editor

qatar travel guide

Strategically located in the Persian Gulf Region on the Arabian Peninsula, Qatar is a culturally and historically rich country that bristles with a slew of traditional market places (also known as "souqs" in Arabic), art galleries, as well as museums.

That said, the country has been thoroughly modernised in the last decade or so, as such, there exists within the country an unusual mix of old and new, and it is exactly this unique contrast of soaring skyscrapers, bustling commercial complexes, mega shopping malls, and futuristic architecture, alongside ancient historical monuments, old palaces, mosques, and souqs that gives Qatar its unique character.

While there’s plenty to see and explore here, one of the things that every visitor has to make time for is definitely shopping. Like the other United Arab Emirates’ cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, shopping in Doha is a real delight. Travellers can expect to be thoroughly spoilt for choice as the capital city of Qatar offers several traditional and modern shopping options. For a more localised experience, visit one of the many souqs here, where visitors can expect to find everything from spices and antique jewellery to colourful textiles.

Alternatively, for those seeking out international brands and luxury designer stores, head to one of Doha’s luxury themed air-conditioned malls. The Doha City Center mall, for one, houses over 200 international luxury and retail stores, or visit Villaggio Mall, an Italian themed shopping and entertainment mall located close to Aspire Sports Zone.

Here are some of the must-visit souqs and malls:

1. Souq Waqif

More than a century old, the Souq Waqif used to be a place of trading. Back in those days, the harbour was relatively close to the souq, and plenty of merchants and traders from across the globe would meet and trade here. Indian traders, for one, were a common sight as India is situated within close proximity to Qatar.

This more-than-a-century-old market has since been refurbished and restored to its original setting, and is a cultural hotspot for both tourists and locals alike. The souq operates from 10am to 12pm, and 4pm to 10pm on weekdays, and closes at a later time during the weekends (Friday and Saturday). Locals love gathering here in the evenings for meals and shisha smoking, while tourists delight in exploring the many alleyways, which house tons of good food and interesting goods.

It is recommended to start your tour at the handicraft market, where you'll get to see and experience many things such as traditional musical instruments, traditional garbs, sword making and even pearling. Visitors who are interested to learn how to make these “souvenirs” may also attend a workshop.

2. Gold Souq

After exploring the handicraft market, visitors—especially jewellery lovers—should make their way to the specialist gold souq, which is situated close by. Home to an array of exquisite jewellery pieces, as well as precious metals and stones, visitors will be pleased to know that the prices here are very reasonable. Apart from picking out unique jewellery pieces, visitors can also watch master craftsmen at work.

Regardless what you plan to purchase, always remember to bargain—start by asking for 50% off of what they offer and work your way up to an agreed pricing.

3. Falcon Souq

Located in one corner of Souq Waqif, the falcon souq is truly one of the most amazing parts of the souq, where visitors can admire these majestic birds, as well as find all kinds of paraphernalia involved in falconry. In the Middle East, it is a common sight to see Qataris with their falcons as most of them use their falcons for hunting. The birds are so important here, that the souq has a falcon hospital. If you are lucky, you might be able to witness a public falcon auction, attended usually only by males, where the prices of a falcon start at $3,000.

4. Souq Al Wakrah

Can’t get enough of the local market places? Head over to Souq Al Wakra, which is commonly known as the second Souq Waqif. Located in the port city of Al Wakra, outside Doha, this Souq Al Wakrah is part of the Al Wakrah Heritage Village, which is also home to Al Wakrah Corniche and a gated mosque. Once here, expect to find hundreds of shops, restaurants, and cafes, and visitors can look forward to purchasing perfumes, gold, spices, and Arabic antiques and handicrafts.

5. Villaggio Mall

Located on Al Waab Street, in the west end of the city and within Aspire Zone, Villaggio Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Qatar, and is hugely popular among tourists seeking top-of-the-line luxury items from renowned international brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Gucci, Valentino, and more.

Apart from shopping at luxury retail shops here, visitors can get on board one of the gondolas and take a ride down the indoor canal, which runs through the centre of the mall. Other unique attractions here include an indoor Olympic-sized skating rink, and a 22,000 sq metre indoor theme park.

6. City Center Doha

Strategically situated in the heart of the economic district of Doha in West Bay, City Center Doha is another shopping paradise, offering a wide variety of renowned international brands. This popular mega mall also features a range of family oriented offerings including a 14-screen cinema complex, a bowling alley, an ice rink, plenty of restaurants, and a family entertainment centre.

7. Mall of Qatar

The newest kid on the block, Mall of Qatar, which opened recently, looks set to become the country’s largest and most spectacular mall yet—featuring 500 varied retail, dining, and café options. Strategically located next to the award-winning Al Rayyan FIFA 2022 stadium, this mega mall also premieres the world’s first resident troupe—offering mall-wide entertainment with 52 weeks of spectacular headline shows on a 360-degree custom developed revolving stage, as well as a multilevel family entertainment complex integrating an international edutainment concept, advanced gaming machines, and enthralling rides. Another highlight of the mall is the 19-screen megaplex inclusive of IMAX’s revolutionary laser projection and 12 channel immersive sound system on the region’s latest screens.

Getting around

A convenient and easy way to discover and get around the city is to hop on the Doha Bus, which allows travellers to hop off the bus and explore the city at his or her own pace, then hop back on the bus to either continue the tour or move on to another attraction. This bus service offers over 22 attraction stops including Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Arts, Katara, Al Shaqab, Aspire Tower, Al Khor Park, Al Zubara Fort, Villaggio Mall, the Gold Souq, and more.

In addition to taking you to your desired destination, the Doha Bus also offers a voice-guided tour, which will give you a deeper insight into the country. The Audio Guide is available in seven different languages: English, Arabic, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. For more information on how you can purchase your tickets, visit

For more travel guides, visit Food & Travel Singapore.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Get Download The Working Man Full HD Movies released by T, W

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View and down load dvd The Working Man On the web Internet streaming in High-definition format. We have been always up-date with all the new best motion pictures that your whole family members will like. The Working Man is (Comedy, Drama, Romance) category launch on: 1933-04-20 from T, W.

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scout leaders

Thinking about bringing your mob, pack, troop or crew along? All the information you need to do this, is here.

Thinking about coming along to one of our events? Everything you need to know for your first event is here.

A one stop landing page for regular attendees - rapid access to results, coming events and all sorts of other useful material.

useful resources

Interested - but can't make it to an event? Why not check out our maps, pre-planned activities and made-up kits that you can borrow for one of your troop nights.

Other Services

about rogaining

The activity we provide is a mini-rogaine - sponsored by the Victorian Rogaining Association. Click the icon to learn more about rogaining.

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Want to know who that person is that beat you in the scores? No problem, just check out our Suburban Adventure Racing Who's Who.

Applications, files etc that may be of interest to you -particularly to youth leaders and parents interested in teaching kids about maps.

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Left something behind? If it was last week, then get in touch. If it hangs around for a while, we put a picture up here. Click on the icon to see what we've got in the Lost and Found box.

useful links

There is a huge amount of information on the net - much of it confusing. We've picked out some of the best links for you. Just click on the icon above.

None of what we do would be possible without the generous support of these people. If you're thinking of being involved in navigation sports, check these folks out.


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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Coastal Living Idea Home is Now Officially on The Market

Now is your opportunity to buy into a simplified lifestyle on The Jefferson Canal that this beautiful cottage encourages. This custom home is built to the LEED for Homes standard which provides an energy efficient, healthier environment, and greater sustainablity for you today as well as the future. That "green" element comes coupled with our high standard for quality craftsmanship, attention to detail and a focus on the client that Structures has been known for since 1999. This cottage doubles as a haven to retreat or a home where you can open the doors for lively parties, could it be right for you?

Coastal Living idea Cottage Photo Journal

This 2009 Coastal Living Idea Cottage is changing face so quickly! The exterior details are wrapping up and the colors have gone up on the walls! Everything that's been on the plans or in our heads is finally becoming visible in this beautiful custom home!

The front master balcony that faces Jefferson Canal in the heart of I'On Village

Master Suite Balcony overlooking the soon to be private courtyard

Private courtyard looking into the main living area of the house - kitchen, family room and dining room

Guest Suite balcony over the attached garage looking into the courtyard

Foyer looking into the den

Den Built-ins

Den looking into the Sleeping Nook

Laundry Room

Master Bathroom Vanity

Hall looking into Guest Suite over the garage

Guest Suite Bedroom view looking into the bathroom and hall

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Beautiful PEOPLE of Charleston, SC

Carol has an incredible and beautiful story of courage, hope and determination! We (our company along with loyal trades and vendors) have been privileged to work with the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association in helping make this distant dream become an actual reality! Next time you're checking out at the store, reach for the PEOPLE magazine of the 100 Most Beautiful People edition and flip to page 160. . . this is what you'll see! Congratulations Carol, James, Jaime and Alexander on your brand new custom home and greater than that, your beautiful wife and mother that is one courageous woman!


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STU is a Management and Consulting Boutique with an entrepreneurial approach. Our success is based on our strict focus on implementation change.

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Saturday, January 07, 2012

A Case Study in Bias

Two studies came out comparing the performance of schools or teachers. In the first case, Raj Chetty, John Friedman, and Jonah Rockoff came up with just about the most extensive and sophisticated study of teachers' value-added that I've ever seen. As highlighted in the New York Times, the study includes estimates for how much high-quality teachers improve their students' income years later, and also (see pp. 29 ff.) includes a new way to check for bias by looking at how cohorts of students change performance when a high or low value-added teacher arrives from somewhere else. Very cool.

But such a study, implying that some teachers are better than others, and that teacher quality can be revealed by how well their students do on tests (conditioning on prior achievement and student demographics), is disturbing to some people. Diane Ravitch tweeted at least 67 times the day the study came out, trying to undermine the study by questioning its lack of peer review (so far), the way in which it was conducted, and the very project of looking at test scores in the first place.

 In the second case, there's a group called Educate Now in Louisiana that released a PDF chart (available here) that merely lists the schools in New Orleans identified by whether they are Recovery School District schools or voucher-accepting private schools, and then listing what percentage of students score above basic on English and Math in grades 3-5. That's all. No attempt to control for the individual students' prior achievement, no attempt to control for any student demographic variables such as poverty, no attempt to control for the fact that students are eligible for vouchers only if they had been attending a failing public school, no statistical analysis whatsoever.

This is as primitive as it gets, and is a horrible way to judge the merit of voucher schools (as I explained here).

 Did Diane Ravitch tweet 67 times criticizing this purported attempt to compare voucher schools to public schools? No: right in the midst of her incessant criticism of an immeasurably superior study, she sent out one tweet that said, "How did voucher schools in New Orleans do?" followed by a link.

Ravitch here displays the worst sort of intellectual bias: when what looks like one of the best studies out there doesn't fit her ideology, she acts as if it is far more questionable than the baloney that she otherwise is happy to plug. To be sure, it's OK to ask questions about the new value-added study, what it means, how it was done, and whether it was oversold in the media. But it's not OK to pass along a worthless analysis of the merits of vouchers.

Anti-reformers need to think a bit more carefully about whether they want someone as their standard-bearer who doesn't know the difference between good and bad research (or, worse, who doesn't care).

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June 29, 2011

Fallschirmjager army list for Panzershrek X submitted

Had the hard word and had to submit my army list for Panzershrek X the Flames of War doubles tournament I am attending next month (hopefully). Its a mixture of what I have painted, what I want to use and a little pragmatism in terms of getting something balanced. We'll see how it pans out. Will get at most two practice games in (again here's hoping) beforehand but thats its. List is:

Company: Late War Fallshirmjager
Briefing: Hells Highway, 3rd Fallschirmjager Division
Points: 1,100

Company HQ
w. Panzerfaust, 2xPanzershrek, 2xGW42

FJ Platoon
w. PF Command, 3 Squads

FJ Platoon
w. PF Command, 3 Squads

FJ Mortar Platoon
w. 2xMortar Sections

FJ Artillery Battery
w. 3x10.5cm Guns

FJ Anti-Tank Platoon
w. 4x7.5cm Pak 40

Ersatz Platoon
w. 1x SdKfz 250 & 3xSd Kfz 250/9

TOTAL 1,095

1 comment:

lap1964 said...

Looks OK,but what's your partner using? As i think there could be quite a few tank heavy lists?


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Super Anarkali Suits Eid Collection 2014 By Brides Galleria

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On the 25th and 26th of October the Pearl Lifestyle Event was back! All visitors could enjoy their dose of make up, fashion, wellness and some great workshops! Styled in Black was invited to embrace the full Pearl experience! Check out a quick photo recap!

The Pearl Event would not be complete without some make up action! Besides various stands where you could get your make up groove on, there was also a Make Up battle organized by MD Make-up. This first picture (above) shows that the combination of a creative hairdo and a well beat face can get you to first place!

Last year I interviewed youtube sensation Taren Guy at the Pearl Event. This year Youtube vlogger, and fellow Dutchie, Samantha Pollack gave her ‘Embrace Your Curls-workshop’. One and a half year after putting her first youtube video online, Samantha’s succes took a major flight. During the workshop she explained and demonstrated how she takes care of her (BEAUTIFUL!!!) natural hair.

Vlogger Samantha Polllack of  Jadoremycurls

Celebrity stylists Kim Keizer (r) and Isis Vaandrager (l) are no strangers to fab fashion. At the Pearl Event they had a Fashion Closet Sale. Stepping into this pop up store, I felt like I walked into the 80s and 90’e…I mean this in a good way!

Celebrity stylists Isis Vaandrager and Kim Keizer

Pearl Event: Popup store Isis Vaandrager and Kim Keizer

As a hip hop stylist, Kim Keizer knows very well that a little bling never hurt nobody! Curious about this stylist to the stars? Check out the interview I did with Kim here!

Popup store Isis Vaandrager and Kim Keizer1

Events are always a great way to discover new shops. I met these two lovely ladies, Danie (r) and Rosalie (l), owners of Wear for Love. Anyone with a serious addiction to black fashion  items and sophisticated accessories, has to visit their online boutique! I guarantee you will see some of their items on Styled in Black really soon!

Pearl Event: Wear for love Rosalie and Danie Pearl Even- Wear for Love collection

Of course this is just a sneak peek of the event. So if you want to experience the Pearl Your Lifestyle Event to the fullest, then I suggest you go next year! ;-)


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may visit my newly open Blogshop

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Eye Relaxer

People who sitting in front of the PC/Notebook all day long should have one of these newest products to protect their eyes and keep themselves healthy. This Electric Eye care massager is special designed base on human body`s uneven outline and different point distribution. 26 neodymium magnet massage dots build a magnetic field on microcirculation, 9 massage modes for different strength massage, and adjustable massage timer for easy controlling. After long time staring on the screen, or when you just read over a stack of books or files, or even you feel hard to get in sleep, you can use the Eye Care Massager for help. Unlike the others just by battery powered, this one also can be powered by USB or AC power 110V/250V. Which means you can just connect this massager to the USB slot while you are working on PC and no need to find batteries. Very helpful and convenient to use. Perfect gift for your friends, kids or lover. Suitable for anyone who excessively use eyes, like IT workers, writers, accountants, students, etc.

1.    Eliminate eyestrain and relax eye muscle tension.
2.    Alleviates eye pouch, dark circles and wrinkle
3.    Relax brain nerve and improve blood circulation, helps insomniac to fall asleep
4.    Prevents myopia from turning into high myopia
5.    Also helps old people to improve their eyesight
26 neodymium magnet massage dots
9 massage modes switch
Power: 2 X AAA battery(Not Included) / USB power(DC 5V) / AC power
AC input: 110~250V
Output: 4.5V, 300ma
Nylon elastic strap length: approx. 35 cm
Package Included:
1 X Eye massager


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June 21, 2011

The Suitable Alternative to a Suit

Thankfully, I work in an office where I do not have to wear a suit very much, if ever. Although I like wearing skirts and dresses, and suits are flattering, they are just too much effort. They are stiff and uncomfortable and I feel like I should be in court. Well, if I am wearing a suit, I usually am in court so yeah. There you go. Tonight we have our big board meeting and I might have to say something so this is my quick fix for a suit. Because it's a 174 percent humidity, I am not going to wear a suit. Instead, I am wearing a light white blazer with a full skirt as a suitable alternative. The skirt is actually brown and white but the damn iPhone makes it look black and white. It's comfortable and cool and I don't look completely frumpy in it. Frumptastic, maybe but not frumpy.

The Wear:
White summer blazer: Merona
Brown tissue tee: J. Crew
Brown and white full skirt: Willi Smith
Pink shoes: Mossimo

The Where:
Daycare, work, lunch with coworker, daycare, Co-Op, home, board meeting.

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Newark Airport Limo Service
Success Limousine And Airport Car Service In Chester NJ

Just an hour away from midtown Manhattan and even less from Newark Airport or Teterboro; lies the township of Chester NJ. It’s awkwardly located for many vehicle services; especially companies that only operate within a fixed distance. At Success, we recognize that many of our customers need to reach far away towns and boroughs and we offer comprehensive service measures to help you get there.

Success Car & Limousine Service has built quite a reputation over the decades for its adherence to quality customer service and range of travel. Yep, even though Chester is about an hour away from the Newark-New York City area; it’s well within our drivers’ range. If you’re going to drive out there, do it in luxury; relaxing in the back of one of our immaculate vehicles with your friends, colleagues or family.

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