Matt Said, Jay Said Uno Dos Tres Cuatro

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Matt talks, Jay talks, You listen. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTQfk5u_OgHXNodN7EYiFpMMo_0Y8do_FAkkIdVXMTOGnT6NGaPUb7hyphenhyphenun64M1VLzNEPv6X0FcgWIXEmTSfWYmNEtsWMF7LNZ5Nn75p7-sJ2xJK9FHXiKAMIFas_I_J9iyNwp0zreRwY/s1600/Jamie-Chung-Bikini-Nude-Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTQfk5u_OgHXNodN7EYiFpMMo_0Y8do_FAkkIdVXMTOGnT6NGaPUb7hyphenhyphenun64M1VLzNEPv6X0FcgWIXEmTSfWYmNEtsWMF7LNZ5Nn75p7-sJ2xJK9FHXiKAMIFas_I_J9iyNwp0zreRwY/s320/Jamie-Chung-Bikini-Nude-Hot.jpg" width="226" /></a>Schmoop: Hiaya! <br />Jay: Huh .. Uh … What are you wearing?<br />Schmoop: A t-shirt .. AND NOTHING ELSE! <br />Jay: Whoa! <br />Schmoop: Hello?<br />Jay: *heavy breating*<br />Schmoop: Are you there? <br />Jay: *grunts* …. *more heavy breating*<br />Schmoop: Uhhhhhh … What are you doing??<br />Jay: What? <br />Schmoop: What were you doing sicko?<br />Jay: What? I dropped my pen and couldn’t reach it. <br />Schmoop: Oh, okay. Here’s Matt<br />Matt: Cheers! <br />Jay: Hola! <br />Matt: How’s you? <br />Jay: Excellent! How’s you? <br />Matt: *sigh* It’s been a rough week. Rough TWO weeks actually. <br />Jay: I know it has Pookie. <br />Matt: Thank you for your support. <br />Jay: You’re totally welcome. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jay: Hey! Kim and Kanye named their kid … Matt: Stop. <br />Jay: North! <br />Matt: Stop! <br />Jay: No really, they named it North West. <br />Matt: Maybe the full name is Northby North West <br />Jay: Or North South Easton West<br />Matt: Maybe actual FULL name is Pacific North West?<br />Jay: I guess there’s always Westby North West too. <br />Matt: <br />Jay: You there? <br />Matt: Are we done with these people?<br />Jay: Yeah<br />Matt: Then I’m here. <br />Jay: Oh, okay then. <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Matt: Why do I have David Carradine in my notes? <br />Jay: Shit, I don’t know. <br />Matt: It had to have something to do with the show. <br />Jay: Oh you wrote him down in your SHOW NOTES!<br />Matt: Well yeah, I’m a professional, you know?<br />Jay: True. I guess we talked about Erotic Asphyxiation or Thai Hookers. <br />Matt: That doesn’t sound like us at all. <br />Jay: IKR? Maybe Kung-Fu TV show? <br />Matt: That show was a classic! <br />Jay: Totally! <br />Matt: But that couldn’t be it. <br />Jay: Hmmm … Well I got nothing then. <br />Matt: Strike David Carradine off the list then! <br />Jay: OHHHHH! Vacation activities. <br />Matt: Really? THAT was one of the vacation activities we talked about? <br />Jay: Well, there were other things too. <br />Matt: God, I hope so. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyG_u4AW6wDYJhD2H-jGzKbzU7HfoSlDWpgw9pnJxn4S310wyDG_VVkwVwuofpzYa-J8cQwnjbbLqyxGmbSdw-keoba6toytJmndCzM0ij99yzfPTQ3YWPR9DCKQRrUQff6YQQBeqEU/s1600/Kristen-Bell-Bikini-Ass-Nude-Hot-Sexy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRyG_u4AW6wDYJhD2H-jGzKbzU7HfoSlDWpgw9pnJxn4S310wyDG_VVkwVwuofpzYa-J8cQwnjbbLqyxGmbSdw-keoba6toytJmndCzM0ij99yzfPTQ3YWPR9DCKQRrUQff6YQQBeqEU/s320/Kristen-Bell-Bikini-Ass-Nude-Hot-Sexy.jpg" width="235" /></a>Jay: So that’s what we’re talking about this week right?  Matt: Deviant sex acts? <br />Jay: No, vacations and summer<br />Matt: Right! Summer celebration and stuff. <br />Jay: Yeah, the Ratchet Summer Show<br />Matt: What does “ratchet” mean. <br />Jay: Not really sure, but the kids use that word all the time. <br />Matt: Is it something like “off the hook?” or “Cray-Cray?” <br />Jay: Yeahhhhh .. Something like that, but more dirty and nasty. <br />Matt: Oh. Well okay then. We’ll do it for the kids. <br />Jay: And the ratings. <br />Matt: Mostly the ratings. <br />Jay: So summer vacations<br />Matt: Local tourist attractions! <br />Jay: Road trips and roadside attractions! <br />Matt: Family vacations as when we were kids.<br />Jay: Oh yeah. <br />Matt: Summer activities. <br />Jay: Places we would like to go! <br />Matt: OH … Something else I have to do! <br />Jay: Okay, I’ll wait. <br />Matt: No on the show! A Slim Whitman tribute. <br />Jay: Well of course! <br />Matt: Definitely. <br />Jay: Also Poet’s Corner? <br />Matt: Oh hell yeah. <br />Jay: And maybe some tourism related sponsors. <br />Matt: Brilliant! <br />Jay: And a Summer Move Blockbuster!<br />Matt: Can’t wait! <br />Jay: Oh yeah, we’re ready for greatness! <br />Matt: Always! <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Be sure to listen to the <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/06/23/ratchet-summer-show" target="_blank">Ratchet Summer Show</a> on I’m With Stupid Sunday at 12 Noon ET!! It’s gonna be HUGE! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Matt Said, Jay Said Uno Dos Tres Cuatro

Matt talks, Jay talks, You listen. Schmoop: Hiaya! Jay: Huh .. Uh … What are you wearing? Schmoop: A t-shirt .. AND NOTHING ELSE! Jay: Whoa!...

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A New Day

I have battled weight all of my life.  I have tried multiple diet methods, programs, and have always ended with the same conclusion - FAIL!  My biggest issue:  feeling hungry all of the time!!  I wake up hungry, I go to be hungry.  Unfortunately, my thought to end hunger is....well, simply, EAT!  My weight gain has been progressive over the last few years.  Several events lead to the weight gain.  One being the passing of my mom to cancer.  Another is the loss of a job I loved and I was good at.  The third is falling and breaking my foot requiring 2 surgeries about 2 years ago.<br /><br />This week, a few things happened that will hopefully change my life for good.  A friend posted a picture of me and her on facebook.  I was horrified when I saw the picture.  I couldn't believe what I was looking at.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owi3K7APFqA9CPJFD1y0VrS4wpCmKyj3-qc6FMo5XMHCgNbinuWZp1YmYgFzV8TLqMhCkJ8dzE2Bcx38faTPCYILd7c6pJxz7GhUDEiA3WUsMDK1moPZfl5vMgOpUo1oz5tSWKpl-N8/s1600/me+and+pam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1owi3K7APFqA9CPJFD1y0VrS4wpCmKyj3-qc6FMo5XMHCgNbinuWZp1YmYgFzV8TLqMhCkJ8dzE2Bcx38faTPCYILd7c6pJxz7GhUDEiA3WUsMDK1moPZfl5vMgOpUo1oz5tSWKpl-N8/s320/me+and+pam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I knew I needed to make a change.  I am considering lap band surgery, but my insurance doesn't cover it.  So, I will have to save to cover the procedure.  It will cost minimally $10,000 to have the lap band, with that cost to be higher depending on the physician I chose.<br /><br />This week, I had a small medical issue where I needed to see my primary physician.  My physician shares an office with  my orthopedic surgeon that I have been using for about 5 years for various orthopedic issues.  When I walked in the door, the girls at the front desk were reading a brochure that a pharmaceutical rep left behind.  As I was approaching the counter, one looks up and said, "Hey, let's get Ellie to try it."  Now understand, this person is someone I have become friends with over the year and just so happens to be the wife of my orthopedic surgeon!  They all get excited as if I was about to encounter something great!  The brochure:  Belviq and a free 15 day trial certificate.<br /><br />Belviq is a new prescription medication recently approved by the FDA to treat obesity.  BELVIQ is believed to decrease food consumption and promote satiety by selectively activating serotonin 2C receptors in the brain.<br /><br />So, my physician wrote out the 15 day RX (taking 2 a day).  This morning, I got the RX filled by my pharmacy and I took my first dose at about 10:00 am.  For lunch, although probably not ideal for weight loss, my coworkers treated me to an already pre-planned lunch.  Mexican food is one of my weaknesses.  I CRAVE salsa and can usually go through 2 bowls before my meal even comes out.  I always, for the most part, finish my plate.  Today, I ordered the taco dinner.  It comes with the standard beans, rice, and had 3 tacos.   I didn't realize that I only had 1/2 small bowl of salsa before my food came out.  By the time I got my food, I was already feeling "full".  I ate 1 taco and that was it!  I was full.<br /><br />So, is this a sign that this will really work?  So far, my mind isn't consumed on eating - which is not normal for me.  In fact, eating has become a habit.  So, I have to remind myself to keep busy so I don't conform to my habit.  That's where this blog will come in!  <br /><br />Stay tuned as I blog about my change!!!<br /><br />Also, remember, no pill will lose your weight entirely.  Like every other weight loss pill, Belviq is to be used along with proper diet and exercise.  Those two elements will be the biggest part of the change!  But, I can do it!

A New Day

I have battled weight all of my life.  I have tried multiple diet methods, programs, and have always ended with the same conclusion - FAIL! ...

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Dogs with jobs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This dog has an important job to do - he picks up his owners lunch in the Old Town Bakery and carries it back to the house!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwzrv-MgAwJ_WKG3lN6BNR9zlyWQMAltg5ShvIytB-ZgSfBYDljXKc_BFmtyaZdzhFnV5PonWVBbUDNU-ueru4hNd8zZfOIiI8dInktyWVH82rypOF703wUNRKe5S7aVvQq4vu1Ya2UdA/s640/blogger-image--23871483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwzrv-MgAwJ_WKG3lN6BNR9zlyWQMAltg5ShvIytB-ZgSfBYDljXKc_BFmtyaZdzhFnV5PonWVBbUDNU-ueru4hNd8zZfOIiI8dInktyWVH82rypOF703wUNRKe5S7aVvQq4vu1Ya2UdA/s640/blogger-image--23871483.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This dog sits on his owners moped as he makes sandwich deliveries all over the island of Key West.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyKg17dWyVJ4iOhbTDYgpCjLMhyphenhyphenCy9-0SN9thG6F2PAak1m-u5I0ewJfAHL8FI-CL21ta83IF0zxJ9xXOWtDD7DRUl6bdihEVPC7wBPPUMaoi2Wl4mZWFvhQqx4fvAlGdw4PvlCsxrQhz/s640/blogger-image--213716040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyKg17dWyVJ4iOhbTDYgpCjLMhyphenhyphenCy9-0SN9thG6F2PAak1m-u5I0ewJfAHL8FI-CL21ta83IF0zxJ9xXOWtDD7DRUl6bdihEVPC7wBPPUMaoi2Wl4mZWFvhQqx4fvAlGdw4PvlCsxrQhz/s640/blogger-image--213716040.jpg"></a></div><br></div>

Dogs with jobs

This dog has an important job to do - he picks up his owners lunch in the Old Town Bakery and carries it back to the house! This dog sits on...

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The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Roxy Albright</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most important idea? Get ready to work hard. There are some helpful products, services and information available that can aid you in losing some weight, but a good effort is almost always necessary from you to get results. This short article will talk about some ways to have a more successful journey toward the weight loss Salt Lake City residents are often after. We will even talk about how the lip injections Utah beauty centers can offer could potentially contribute to your efforts. There are lots of little tricks that may help you out, but a strong commitment to taking action and working hard will do the most for you.<br /> <br /> To begin, we will talk about how adjusting to and maintaining a quality and healthy diet will frequently help to earn better results. Further, we are going to have a look at some things you can certainly do to further your weight loss in Salt Lake City through action. To conclude, we should talk about how enhancing your self-confidence can further success in reducing the surplus weight.<br /> <br /> We often hear about how a healthy diet is a major part of getting the weight loss Salt Lake City residents may be seeking. You should think thoroughly about what you're eating each week. Write down the drink and food from your own past week. Look for healthy things that are missing and that you could use more of, but also look at the non-healthy items you could omit from your daily diet. This is a valuable activity.<br /> <br /> You often hear all over the place that exercise is a large part of being healthy, but many people find it difficult to fit it into their busy lifestyle. There are some approaches to this dilemma that can help you be more active and contribute to the weight loss Salt Lake City residents want. Think about opportunities all around you. If you reside in Utah, you likely have plenty of mountains near you that abound with ways to be active and thrive. Biking, kayaking, and hiking are among the many activities that could be available not too far from you. Or you may need activities at home. Buying a pedometer to measure the number of steps you are taking each day might help you get a bit more movement in. Just try to keep yourself busy with things that call for physical activity. Many projects around the home can provide decent workouts.<br /> <br /> Growing in confidence in yourself and your appearance may help to improve your efforts. Having treatments done such as the facials, laser skin resurfacing, or lip injections Utah providers can perform may help boost your confidence. Perhaps you just need a new haircut. Whatever you do, the more confidence you find in yourself, the more you will typically want to work hard at losing weight and improving you.<br /> <br /> The weight loss Salt Lake City inhabitants want could or could not include interesting options like getting the lip injections Utah medical aesthetics centers provide, but consulting with a physician and expending a good amount of effort at it are both things that should really be involved.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Learn more about <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/vive-weight-loss'>weight loss Salt Lake City</a>. Stop by Lucy Cho's site where you can find out all about this and options like <a href='http://www.elase.com/utah/lip-augmentation'>lip injections Utah</a> and what they can do for you.</div><br /> </div><br />

The Weight Loss Salt Lake City Citizens Seek Calls For Hard Work

By Roxy Albright Yes, there are many great ideas for getting the weight loss Salt Lake City citizens may want. But what is the most impo...

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Much Ado About Nothing: A droll something

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2012) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/muchadoaboutnothing/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for sensuality, subtle sexual candor and fleeting drug use</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a> • </b></span>Originally published in <i><a href="http://www.davisenterprise.com/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">The Davis Enterprise</a></i>, 6.21.13</b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fred and Wesley finally got back together, which is pretty cool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while the circumstances are rather unusual, they’re no less delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49cn4JE4y8y6Ud7dL7qqadJa-nkkRqKxBQh25KU0IAlYcs-9ffztoXVCbv8OmVAYnFGWAVZexjob9xy9jCnhO_dx-J4m5qEEjM6LeXKOeF6azN3qY5PfdtMMcb7yZOAZ2zg47kZ_9zPs/s1600/Much+Ado+About+Nothing+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49cn4JE4y8y6Ud7dL7qqadJa-nkkRqKxBQh25KU0IAlYcs-9ffztoXVCbv8OmVAYnFGWAVZexjob9xy9jCnhO_dx-J4m5qEEjM6LeXKOeF6azN3qY5PfdtMMcb7yZOAZ2zg47kZ_9zPs/s400/Much+Ado+About+Nothing+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">An eavesdropping Beatrice (Amy Acker, foreground) is astonished to overhear details<br />about how Benedick — elsewhere in the estate — has long adored her ... astonished<br />because it seems that she and Benedick do nothing but snipe at each other. Ah, but<br />Beatrice doesn't realize that Hero (Jillian Morgese, center) and the maid are fully aware<br />that they're being overheard, and are discussing "details" that have been exaggerated<br />for Beatrice's benefit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most filmmakers, after completing principal photography on a massive, gazillion-dollar project, unwind prior to the next step — assembling the director’s cut — by taking calm vacations ... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anything <i>but</i> film-related.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joss Whedon isn’t most people. Prior to putting the finishing touches on <i><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2012/05/avengers-well-assembled.html">The Avengers</a></i> — last year’s wildly successful superhero summit meeting — he filled the in-between time by staging an intimate, micro-budget movie at his own Los Angeles home. And, as genre geeks know, when Whedon mounts such a project, he always engages the close friends who’ve become one of Hollywood’s most loyal repertoire companies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this case, a 12-day shoot (!) yielded one of the most unusual interpretations of Shakespeare’s <i>Much Ado About Nothing</i> ever to hit cinema screens. Lensed in glorious, mood-enhancing black-and-white by cinematographer Jay Hunter, this modern-dress staging nonetheless employs the Bard’s original dialogue — condensed and occasionally tweaked by Whedon — and features faces well-recognized from his various television projects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, kids; that means <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, <i>Angel</i>, <i>Firefly</i> and <i>Dollhouse</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, my somewhat cryptic opening sentence can be explained by the casting of Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker — Wesley Wyndam-Price and Winifred “Fred” Burke, respectively, on <i>Angel</i> — as Benedick and Beatrice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lest you roll eyebrows over the reflexive accusation that Whedon has unleashed a self-indulgent vanity production, well, yes, that’s certainly true. But who can complain, when the results are this entertaining?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be sure, the initial disconnect is jarring. The setting, clothing and technology clearly are 21st century, which is at odds with the flowery Shakespearean dialogue. The acting style throughout is a bit ostentatious and overly mannered, the performers occasionally mugging for the camera the way a stage actor would pause for a laugh from the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that “settling in” period can be true of <i>any</i> Shakespeare production, even those that are rigorously authentic. Fifteen or 20 minutes into this film, everything starts to look and sound natural, at which point you’ll simply enjoy the richly contrived romantic entanglements present in one of Shakespeare’s most appealing comedies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The core plot is fairly simple: Leonato (Clark Gregg), governor of Messina, plays host to his good friend Don Pedro (Reed Diamond), who has just quashed a rebellion by his villainous brother, Don John (Sean Maher). Although the latter and his two accomplices — Borachio (Spencer Treat Clark) and Conrade (Riki Lindhome) — arrive in handcuffs, they’re allowed freedom of movement during this visit, as a gesture of kindness. (<i>Big</i> mistake!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don Pedro is accompanied by two faithful officers: Benedick and the younger, somewhat impetuous Claudio (Fran Kranz). The latter immediately falls head-over-heels in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero (Jillian Morgese), and she with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benedick, in turn, has something of an on-again/off-again relationship with Leonato’s niece, Beatrice. They spar verbally in the rich, earthy and often scaldingly pointed manner of “estranged” Shakespearean lovers in numerous plays. T’would be gross understatement to mention that Denisof and Acker thoroughly enjoy hacking at each other, particularly as the exchanges become more deliciously nasty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leonato, Don Pedro, Claudio and Hero concoct a plan to cut past this nonsense and get Benedick and Beatrice to acknowledge their mutual fondness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this would mean <i>two</i> happy couples, which is far more than the evil Don John can tolerate. He therefore engages his own sinister scheme to sever both relationships, and if the residual fallout should destroy his brother’s reputation ... well, so much the better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other words, business as usual for Shakespeare: duplicitous villains, concealed identities, misleading intentions and additional folderol that could be put right with one or two direct conversations. But where’s the fun in that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu make excellent use of the spacious outdoor and indoor settings, and Whedon also draws additional chuckles from the incongruities of modern behavior. As one example, Denisof rambles through one of Benedick’s tormented soliloquies — questioning his possible responses to Beatrice’s behavior — while jogging up and down the concrete stairs that lead up to the estate swimming pool (an intriguing visual in its own right).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most fun, however, comes when first Benedick and then Beatrice, in turn, are tricked into believing that they’re “accidentally” overhearing telling conversations by Leonato, Don Pedro, Claudio and Hero. Denisof’s attempt to conceal himself in the back yard, moving from one window to the next, is simply priceless; Acker’s body-bruising effort to hide within the kitchen is equally hilarious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a more serious level, the degree to which we’ve bought into the story — no matter how grandiloquent the speech and mannerisms — can be measured by our reaction to the moment when, as Hero is betrayed in the worst possible way for a woman, her own father shuns her. Gregg, until now a genial host and doting parent, transforms into a beast whose fury is shocking; we feel his wrath like a physical blow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, even such dire moments are offset by lighter fare. Nathan Fillion supplies pure comic relief as the bumbling, word-mangling Dogberry, a total idiot police officer who stumbles into this case entirely by accident, and then fails to grasp the significance of the evidence he helps uncover. (Dogberry is too agitated over having been called an ass by the contemptuous Conrade.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fillion and Tom Lenk, playing Dogberry’s partner Verges, also have plenty of fun lampooning modern TV cop show clichés, down to the unnecessary sunglasses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the story is propelled by romantic intrigue and clandestine double-cross, Whedon doesn’t overlook the lusty undertone that permeates many Shakespeare plays, which can range from subtly earthy to flat-out bawdy. An early celebratory party at Leonato’s estate — before Don John’s vile machinations take hold — is one such example. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tone is set by a pair of scantily dressed Cirque de Soleil-style acrobats who cavort on a trapeze near the pool, but the entire company sways with the intoxicating application of free-flowing alcohol and sexual tension. Couples begin to shed clothes and vanish off-camera, just quickly enough to preserve this film’s PG-13 rating ... and then there’s the lusty maid, Margaret (Ashley Johnson), who seems willing to drop her knickers for just about any good-looking bloke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denisof and Acker get most of the best lines — and plot contrivances — and therefore wind up with more screen time during which to strut their stuff. But much of the cast is equally memorable, no matter what size the role. Morgese is appropriately winsome and delicate as the fair Hero, which is essential if we’re to believe her reaction to the foul accusation from those she has trusted. (We must remember that Shakespearean women, no matter how spirited their tongues, can have their lives ruined by unscrupulous men.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kranz is suitably earnest — and just naïve enough — as the smitten Claudio. Kranz has a similarly powerful moment when his character is enraged by a perceived betrayal: Again, the moment is breathtaking for its unexpected intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maher narrows his gaze quite convincingly as the vile Don John, who visibly revels in his own malevolence: a guy who loves being wicked for its own sake. (And he was such a <i>nice</i> guy on TV’s <i>Firefly</i>. Go figure.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Diamond remains a bit bland as Don Pedro, while both Clark and Lindhome are under-developed as Borachio and Conrade. Lindhome’s casting actually is intriguing; some recent productions of this play have staged Conrad (no “e”) as Don John’s male lover, and Whedon drops more than one suggestion here that — despite being played by an attractive young woman — this film’s Conrade actually <i>is</i> a man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assuming I’ve read that correctly, it’s an amusing nod toward the fact that, during Shakespeare’s time, female roles were played by effeminate men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My overall pleasure notwithstanding, I suspect this film will be embraced solely by Shakespeare buffs and Whedon’s devoted fan base. I can’t imagine mainstream audiences getting on board, particularly during summer’s bombastic silly season. Indeed, quite a few folks departed midway through Monday evening’s Sacramento preview. (Their loss.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, so maybe Whedon <i>did</i> make a film mostly for himself and his friends. It could be argued, though, that this is the first rule of art: Satisfy yourself, and hope the rest of the world catches on. This <i>Much Ado</i> may be an odd Shakespearean duck, but I’ll happily watch it again: always my most essential movie criteria.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->

2012 Alexis Denisof Amy Acker Clark Gregg Comedy Fran Kranz Jillian Morgese Joss Whedon Nathan Fillion Reed Diamond romantic Sean Maher Shakespeare Tom Lenk Much Ado About Nothing: A droll something

Much Ado About Nothing   (2012) •  View trailer   3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for sensuality, subtle sexual candor and fleeting drug use By  D...

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A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Michael Petry</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In accordance with a census done in 2010, the total number of population in West Hollywood is at 34,399 and out of which, there are about 6 % of children that are below the age of 18 and are living with their parents.<br /> <br /> A number of the parents in Weho have recognized the significance of health and fitness not only for themselves but for their children too. They understand really well that a healthy way of life should start at a young age. So to help these parents, a West Hollywood personal trainer provided a list of some physical activities that parents can do along with the kids.<br /> <br /> Relay Racing<br /> <br /> Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br /> <br /> Plan some challenges for the competing teams to play with, just make sure that they are the kind of challenges that are safe for the kids and something that will not lead to any injuries. The West Hollywood personal trainer said that you can do this activity once or twice a month to help your kids to stay active.<br /> <br /> Swimming<br /> <br /> Another favorite activity of the kids is swimming. So if you live in a coastal area in West Hollywood where several beaches are to be found nearby, schedule a weekly beach outing for the kids. You can also enroll them in a swimming school in your local area if they are not adept at swimming yet.<br /> <br /> Relay Racing<br /> <br /> Relay racing is a popular activity among kids, and your kids will surely enjoy this game. To make it more fun, gather the kids in the neighborhood and organize a mini boot camp in your place in order for your kids to enjoy it even more. Prepare some equipment to use for the mini boot camp, such as ladders for them to jump over, a skipping rope, some rubber tires on the trees, crawling areas and several other adventurous things that you can think of.<br /> <br /> Invest on a good bicycle for your kids or for the entire family. Cycling is a fun activity which you can do as a group and it is a healthy exercise, too. Your kids will certainly enjoy cycling along with you and your hubby in the nearby park. Also, if your kid's school is just within the village, encourage them to cycle going to school to help them exercise. The West Hollywood personal trainer strongly recommends that you encourage your kids to take up bicycling so they will grow healthy and physically fit.<br /> <br /> Other Activities<br /> <br /> Aside from the activities above, there are numerous other fun activities that your kids will certainly love and among these are:<br /> <br /> * Bowling<br /> <br /> * Dancing<br /> <br /> * Martial arts<br /> <br /> * Skating<br /> <br /> * Skating<br /> <br /> Research shows that a lot of kids suffer from obesity nowadays. If you do not want this to happen, the West Hollywood personal trainer recommends that you encourage your children to exercise while they are still young.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Being in excellent shape with the aid of <a href="https://plus.google.com/100349319569853932791/about">West Hollywood Personal Trainer</a> not just boosts your own entire body but also your well being as well. The advantages that one can receive from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-west-hollywood/">Personal Trainer West Hollywood</a> are limitless.</div><br /> </div><br />

A West Hollywood Personal Trainer Suggests A Number Of Fun Activities For Kids

By Michael Petry West Hollywood, also known as Weho, is an affluent city in California that is located in the County of Los Angeles. In ...

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NeuroTalk Support Groups - Psych Central

A place for people to find support for neurological and brain disorders.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/index.php">http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/index.php</a>

NeuroTalk Support Groups - Psych Central

A place for people to find support for neurological and brain disorders. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/index.php

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Networking Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Although fully organized patient-run trials are still few and far between, patients are taking a more active role in clinical research. Now, more than ever before, patients have access to scientific knowledge as it's reported, and advocate communities are flourishing, thanks to the wide-ranging, faster, and more accurate communication provided by the Internet. This increasing patient activism, and an accompanying willingness to share personal stories, has resulted in a veritable deluge of patient data.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"When you have gigabytes of data, perhaps hundreds of gigabytes, for each patient, that's more data than has existed in all clinical trials combined up until a couple of years ago," says Marty Tenenbaum, who in 2010 founded Cancer Commons, a database that collates real-time patient data and up-to-the-moment basic medical research to inform cancer treatment.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The online networking site PatientsLikeMe, for example, has accumulated more than 175,000 users who are recording information about hundreds of diseases, treatments, and outcomes. Of the 200,000 customers of direct-to-consumer genetics company 23andMe, some 85 percent have contributed their genomic and phenotypic information to research—totaling more than 80 million phenotypic data points for more than 60 conditions. And the Personal Genome Project, launched by Harvard Medical School's George Church in 2006, has accumulated about 200 full genomes and 400 partial sequences, with some 1,500 additional volunteers who have already made trait data available online and are willing to share their whole genomes.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">But the availability of such data is only one side of the coin. Without expert analysis, patient-generated data would be useless to the drug development community. Fortunately, initiatives and companies are cropping up left and right to support and take advantage of this movement.</p><p style="margin: 14px 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Among the benefits of such stockpiles of data is the ability to sift through the challenging heterogeneity of patients, their diseases, and their case information. "Clinical trials, especially as they've been traditionally constituted—large randomized trials—just are a disaster in cancer, because of the nature of the disease," says Tenenbaum. "Every tumor is unique at some level." Databases that collate genetic data, such as patient genomes or the genomes of their tumors, could facilitate the identification of biomarkers to help differentiate responders and nonresponders, speeding a drug's path to the clinic. "It could literally slash years, if not decades, off the normal process," Tenenbaum says.</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">Platforms that support patient input can also help researchers develop better benchmarks for assessing disease progression and more accurate measures of patient health, as well as point to novel indications for existing drugs and promising drug combinations. "We're enabling a new partnership between the patients and the physicians," says Jamie Heywood, cofounder and chairman of PatientsLikeMe, "and that new partnership should produce outcomes at lower costs with lower risks and better innovation."</p></div><a href="http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34585/title/Networking-Medicine/">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34585/title/Networking-Medicine/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Networking Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

Although fully organized patient-run trials are still few and far between, patients are taking a more active role in clinical research. Now,...

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Do-It-Yourself Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; "><span class="dropcap" style="display: inline-block; float: left; margin-top: 9px; margin-right: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 36px;"><b>O</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; ">n August 10, 2011, Joan Valor Butler diluted a solution of 5 percent sodium chlorite in 1 gallon of slightly salted water, and slowly injected 1 liter of the mixture into her 42-year-old son's feeding tube, at his request. Sodium chlorite is a chemical commonly used in low concentrations in camping water-purification kits and for municipal water treatment. Many also believed it to be the active ingredient of a promising drug in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a disease Eric Valor has lived with for the better part of the past decade.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">As the disease gradually paralyzed his entire body, Valor became an avid student of ALS, a degenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease and characterized by a deterioration of motor neurons. He had first learned about the intravenous drug, called NP001, in 2010, when its developer, Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals, announced it would soon be starting a Phase 1 trial and was recruiting ALS patients. Animal toxicology tests had demonstrated the drug's safety, and a small study in an ALS mouse model suggested it may slow disease progression—most likely by reducing macrophage-initiated killing of neurons, a recently proposed mechanism for how ALS wreaks havoc on the body. Valor started a thread on an online ALS patient forum to discuss NP001, and several patients decided to inquire about taking part in the trial. But 7 years removed from diagnosis, Valor's disease was far too advanced for him to qualify as a trial participant.</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Though he has outlived the average ALS lifespan of just 2 to 5 years, Valor's muscular paralysis is severe. Within 6 months of his diagnosis, Valor—once an avid surfer and snowboarder—had difficulty walking. He started using a cane, then a walker, then a wheelchair. Eventually the disease confined Valor to his bed, where a ventilator forces air into his lungs 6 to 8 times per minute. By the time NP001 was making a splash in the ALS community, his speech was barely intelligible, and he was unable to move any part of his body except for his eyes and some of the muscles of his face. In his condition, Valor was a risk for any clinical trial testing a treatment expected to slow progression: for the drug to show a noticeable effect, he would actually have to start getting better, rather than simply stop getting worse—something no drug had ever done for ALS patients.</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">So Valor looked into treating himself at home, scouring the Web through a computer linked to an infrared camera that tracks the movement of his right eye. (See photographs below.) Dozens of other patients who couldn't get into the trial also searched for another way to try the experimental drug. On the basis of a literature search, a Phase 1 trial consent form, and a patent owned by Neuraltus cofounder Michael McGrath, the patients believed NP001 to be a formulation of sodium chlorite. Some purchased NP001's precursor, WF10, which was known to contain just over 50 percent sodium chlorite and could be ordered from Thailand, where it was approved for treating the autoimmune consequences of cancer radiation. But for many, the cost of $12,000 for a year's supply was prohibitive. Sodium chlorite, on the other hand, could be purchased from online suppliers for just $50 per quart—15 years' worth at the dosage outlined in the patients' documented protocol.</p><blockquote style="float: right; color: rgb(203, 45, 45); font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px; max-width: 310px; min-width: 150px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.8em; margin-left: 1em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: ProximaNova-Regular, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p style="margin: 14px 0px; ">There's a new model of medicine in my opinion. You see these DIY programs where patients are deciding, after doing an Internet search, that this is what they want to do; they go get the medicine; they take it; and they log their own output measures.<br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); float: right; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; text-align: right; ">—­ Richard Bedlack,<br>Duke University ALS Clinic</span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Self-dosing patients went to great pains to ensure that what they were doing was safe. Because WF10 was already approved in Thailand, they knew that at least one form of chlorite had completed safety testing to satisfy that country's regulatory authorities. Patients reached out to the drugs' inventors, and spoke to their doctors and each other about the risks and the proper dosing. Even test engineer Tom Poast, who does not have ALS, chimed in on the patient forum with insights on the purity of chlorite solutions available for purchase, dilution and mixing, and the chemical's behavior. More than 1 year and 1,000 forum posts later, some two dozen ALS patients decided ingesting sodium chlorite was worth a shot.</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">While the ALS community has taken do-it-yourself (DIY) medicine further than most, patients across the board are starting to play a noticeably bigger role in their own care. "There's a new model of medicine in my opinion," says neurologist and clinical researcher Richard Bedlack, director of the Duke University ALS Clinic. "Once upon a time we had a very paternalistic system, where patients would come, and they would have a set of symptoms, and doctors would ask all the questions and give all the answers. And in the past decade things have really shifted almost to the other side, where a lot of medicine is autonomous now. You see these DIY programs where patients are deciding, after doing an Internet search, that this is what they want to do; they go get the medicine; they take it; and they log their own output measures."</p><p style="margin-top: 14px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">And although Bedlack has concerns about the safety and effectiveness of patient-driven trials, he argues that patients' greater involvement is a good thing—both for managing their own health and for deciding the course of drug development. "I don't think anybody has more to gain or lose from all this than patients," he says. "So I think they should be driving the agenda."</p><div style="font-size: 14px; ">More ...</div><div style="font-size: 14px; "><br></div></div><a href="http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34433/title/Do-It-Yourself-Medicine/">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34433/title/Do-It-Yourself-Medicine/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Do-It-Yourself Medicine | The Scientist Magazine

O n August 10, 2011, Joan Valor Butler diluted a solution of 5 percent sodium chlorite in 1 gallon of slightly salted water, and slowly inje...

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PBS' Judy Woodruff to moderate VBA gubernatorial debate at Homestead Resort

<img align="left" height="236" hspace="12" src="http://mail.aol.com/37834-111/aol-6/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=31264087&folder=NewMail&partId=7" width="168" /> The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) announced Friday that PBS NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff will be the moderator for their 123rd summer meeting's Gubernatorial Debate between Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe and Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli. The event will take place on July 20 at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.<br /><br />Ms. Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. She regularly co-anchors “PBS NewsHour,” a program she rejoined in 2007. Previously she worked at CNN for 12 years, during which time she anchored the weekday “Inside Politics” program. Woodruff served as chief Washington correspondent for PBS “NewsHour” and for NBC’s “Today Show." <br /><br />The award-winning broadcast journalist also appears monthly on the Bloomberg Television program “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.”<br /><br />“We’re absolutely thrilled to have the co-anchor of ‘PBS NewsHour’ – and someone with Judy Woodruff’s experience in political coverage – as our moderator,” VBA President Tom Bagby said. “This debate is likely to receive national attention and certainly will be one to attend.” <br /><br />Woodruff’s appearance as moderator for the 2013 VBA debate follows that of CNN chief political correspondent Candy Crowley. Crowley took The Homestead stage last July with U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen. Not long after that, Crowley became only the second woman to moderate a presidential debate, and the first woman to do so in 20 years.<br /><br />Polls of the 2013 Virginia governor’s race show Republican Cuccinelli and Democrat McAuliffe closely matched in voters’ minds several months ahead of Election Day. A sizable percentage of adults have not decided who will get their vote. Pundits have dubbed the match-up one of two marquee gubernatorial races in the nation this year. <br /><br />By sponsoring debates and inviting news media coverage, the nonpartisan VBA seeks to educate the public and its members about candidates’ views, and to stimulate voter interest and participation in the election process. <br /><br /><i>Founded in 1888, the VBA (www.vba.org) is the state’s oldest and largest voluntary organization of lawyers, judges and legal educators. As the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, it advances the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.</i>

Candy Crowley George Allen Homestead Resort Hot Spring Judy Woodruff Ken Cuccinelli NewsHour PBS Terry McAuliffe Tim Kaine Virginia Bar Association Virginia gubernatorial race PBS' Judy Woodruff to moderate VBA gubernatorial debate at Homestead Resort

The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) announced Friday that PBS NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff will be the moderator for their 123rd summer mee...

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freshening the foyer - part 1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Thanks everyone for your great <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/06/potty-time.html" target="_blank">potty training tips and ideas</a>. Today the fun begins, so I'll keep y'all posted.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few years into our marriage, I gave my husband a valuable little nugget of truth that has helped him to <strike>accept</strike> deal with my never ending project list - "by the time I mention something to you, know that I've already been debating the idea in my head for quite some time." I know, poetry right?</div><br />So when I told him a few weeks back that I had plans to overhall the foyer, his response was music to my ears -"Cool". He's a good egg.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUltKDHpZebaeSZp_QQuZUjXmSpnqeFWRlvLqCwmMCVDmKHnmxGqUQbVoG7P08vLlidlDCXsbFp5k1HZF2knL1OZ9Mk7ROIqi-auNaKuXhilR9HEmQwSXXCAGtT-daxLiQLyCT-bCP72ge/s1600/P2194481.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUltKDHpZebaeSZp_QQuZUjXmSpnqeFWRlvLqCwmMCVDmKHnmxGqUQbVoG7P08vLlidlDCXsbFp5k1HZF2knL1OZ9Mk7ROIqi-auNaKuXhilR9HEmQwSXXCAGtT-daxLiQLyCT-bCP72ge/s400/P2194481.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Now I may get some slack for this because this little image is <a href="http://pinterest.com/ladybaum/the-little-black-door-projects/" target="_blank">pinned</a> quite a bit, but I'm tired of it. That wallpaper was one of the first projects we (aka the hubs and my dad) tackled in the house. Seven years ago. It is faded, scratched and is starting to come off on the corners.<br /><br />Also, as much as I like the yellow table on its own, I was never in love with it with the wallpaper. It was all a bit too ketchup and mustard for me.<br /><br />And the third strike, as great as this layout is in theory it isn't real life. We don't come in the door and put our mail and keys down. We come inside and take off our shoes. And 50% of the residents of this little cottage need to sit down and take several minutes to get those little shoes on and off. So its time to pull a Dr. Phil and 'get real' - we need a spot for all of this action.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgN97L_EElrw3W0xqM_suSsWq2PfYzql-IxNa_ooF0yo3t4ZZxoGM1cU1uS166qYJ9XKVzNdeirgdNRw50W_syDf55q26zd7odpoehYauTQ3qeildFgfqwNrj458a_GavQw-MXX4GtkQR/s1600/foyerbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgN97L_EElrw3W0xqM_suSsWq2PfYzql-IxNa_ooF0yo3t4ZZxoGM1cU1uS166qYJ9XKVzNdeirgdNRw50W_syDf55q26zd7odpoehYauTQ3qeildFgfqwNrj458a_GavQw-MXX4GtkQR/s400/foyerbefore.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br />Enter my new favorite. You may remember I was fortunate to <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/03/change-up-your-welcome.html" target="_blank">snag my beauty of a bench</a> a while back and it fits perfectly in the foyer. But the wallpaper isn't doing it any favors. This bench deserves a snazzy space.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV-dBd-BmTv-Wa6VLAi8Cge-Ibx2HEC4jqq52WRy5eh7pWcSOkwgPbxUj22NStOSOx_B3qHWKnax3hTxXPjR7dT2NqRcpJp0i7AyVzea8Ej2y_qvvObskvTba-NBE8Sa6zZzFE4NqoLUr/s1600/wallpaperremoval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV-dBd-BmTv-Wa6VLAi8Cge-Ibx2HEC4jqq52WRy5eh7pWcSOkwgPbxUj22NStOSOx_B3qHWKnax3hTxXPjR7dT2NqRcpJp0i7AyVzea8Ej2y_qvvObskvTba-NBE8Sa6zZzFE4NqoLUr/s320/wallpaperremoval.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />So the wallpaper came down.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA4Iq_lXQVSO4AFLqmJvCnDaqrC7myGgBylVRw48LgUm1HEbCAb71dPbnNdN2W4CJF9ruzNKMBc7k83mxb5Ld3TChK5hnOqWHNY6fq7WqFsKyWD2gPR3nCPpHVC_F_X_clbRjG0IyhrvO/s1600/evehelps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA4Iq_lXQVSO4AFLqmJvCnDaqrC7myGgBylVRw48LgUm1HEbCAb71dPbnNdN2W4CJF9ruzNKMBc7k83mxb5Ld3TChK5hnOqWHNY6fq7WqFsKyWD2gPR3nCPpHVC_F_X_clbRjG0IyhrvO/s320/evehelps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />No one in this house is exempt from a good DIY.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqx3umy0aPXB0jpWkK_hNePpI4MDMWpu3OS8xmx-yvREyU_8GXwHq0koxsh6tQ9qqJYlvrEy5VSE4VeXgo0vhIq6vhXpBHHkc-68vgxpRQSYTuN_Oyncxm0_JJLvKVL3OKUGmdTjgjE-d/s1600/wallpaperremoved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqx3umy0aPXB0jpWkK_hNePpI4MDMWpu3OS8xmx-yvREyU_8GXwHq0koxsh6tQ9qqJYlvrEy5VSE4VeXgo0vhIq6vhXpBHHkc-68vgxpRQSYTuN_Oyncxm0_JJLvKVL3OKUGmdTjgjE-d/s640/wallpaperremoved.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Thanks to plaster walls, I was able to remove all of that wallpaper, all of it, with just my hands. No tools needed. See, I told you it was ready to come down. An important tip in removing wallpaper though, once the paper is off the wall, don't think you are finished. You still need to give the wall a good scrub with a wet sponge to get off all of the glue that remains on the wall. That sponge also helped to loosen up those pesky little pieces that hung on.<br /><br />After about an hour before bed and then an hour or so the next morning I had a blank palette. I'm already in love with how much brighter and bigger the space feels. And let's face it, anything I can do to make this tiny space feel bigger is a thumbs up. So I painted the entry the same color as the <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/living-room.html" target="_blank">living room</a> (<a href="http://www.myperfectcolor.com/en/color/20123_Pratt--Lambert-2249-Arrowroot" target="_blank">Arrowroot by Pratt & Lambert</a>) to help with that bigger space feeling trick.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc0RBmiNr-ED35YYosPnTGxEziomDT0wSTxhcMF0LM7W_WAebT12YIuwtVRZEsBdgoA8DNey_JqZuFoos6A_mW6fRZblnA82A0SfRjdc0wSxkD7Bbv2eiMMiAJ_rgVzpNAsLIO1EnRawq/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc0RBmiNr-ED35YYosPnTGxEziomDT0wSTxhcMF0LM7W_WAebT12YIuwtVRZEsBdgoA8DNey_JqZuFoos6A_mW6fRZblnA82A0SfRjdc0wSxkD7Bbv2eiMMiAJ_rgVzpNAsLIO1EnRawq/s400/IMG_1493.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><br />But fear not, I didn't just leave it that way. You know I can't go without a good dose of color. Next week we'll see where that color went and what to do when DIY goes wrong. (how's that for a tease?)<br /><br />What are your plans for the weekend? Any DIY projects planned? Any plans to <i>fix</i> a DIY project?

freshening the foyer - part 1

Thanks everyone for your great potty training tips and ideas . Today the fun begins, so I'll keep y'all posted. A few years into our...

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I Have Cancer, But Don’t Call Me Brave - One Eyed Dog

There is a special lexicon reserved for people with cancer: we talk of survivors and journeys. The verbs we use tend to be martial: we "fight" or we "battle" cancer. This vocabulary of struggle is partly a response, cells on the march, its positions firmly entrenched in our organs, its stealth troops quietly setting up distant outposts in our bodies.<br /><br><br /><br>As part of this lexicon, cancer patients are almost universally thought of as brave. It is rare to see a headline about someone's death from cancer that doesn't describe the deceased as brave. "Swinton Man Loses Brave Cancer Battle." Since my diagnosis many people have said they have admired my courage — and I thank them for that, as it's certainly better than being regarded a spineless, simpering worm — but it always leaves me thinking: How exactly am I being brave?<br /><br><br /><br>People have told me that if it were them, they would be curled up in a ball, locked inside a dark room, not wanting to be around people. They wouldn't be on Facebook, or blogging about cancer, and certainly wouldn't be making jokes. They imagine a kind of mental shutdown, a recoiling of mind and body, where they essentially place themselves in quarantine. <br /><br><br /><br>With this notion of how they think they'd respond to having cancer, just living a normal-enough life is seen as being brave: going to work, looking after the kids, climbing mountains, running marathons. But ask any one of those people with cancer if they would regard themselves as brave and most likely they'd tell you, no, absolutely not. The default response to cancer, from the patients I have met in real life and online, is normally one of resilience: a very practical sense of just getting on with it and making the best of things.<br /><br><br /><br>Courage is often defined as being afraid of something but carrying on regardless, like jumping out of an airplane, or charging a Taliban position to save your stricken comrades. The key difference is that such displays of courage come with a choice and those choices have consequences. We weigh the consequences, do the calculus, and make the decision. But for most people with cancer, there is little choice. I am sick and I will take the treatment to try to get better. It is no different to any other illness, no more gallant than undergoing surgery for heart disease. My treatment is a life raft extended in a storm and there is nothing remotely brave about clinging on for dear life. <br /><br><br /><br>Brave (or perhaps stupid) would be looking my cancer in the face and saying, "I'm confident I can beat this on my own. I'm going to the pub." Or brave might be refusing life-saving surgery and chemotherapy, well aware of the grave consequences, because it is against deeply held moral or religious convictions. Brave would be choosing to meditate my cancer away so confident I would be in the curative power of energy pathways. <br /><br><br /><br>People have also said I'm brave for talking so openly about my cancer, but in a world overrun with cancer memoirs, cancer blogs, survivors' forums, I'm not exactly breaking any sacred ground here. It is not 1910 and we are not shunting off cancer patients to windswept sanatoriums to die in a veil of silence. Nor do I have AIDS in early 1980s San Francisco, where prejudice, ignorance, and fear prevented people from talking openly about their conditions. And anyone who knows me knows I am something of an attention whore. I wrote a book about my feelings surrounding my father's death, so I don't exactly need much encouragement to share my inner-most feelings with a bunch of strangers. For me, having cancer and not writing about it would be truly courageous.<br /><br><br /><br>There was a piece recently in USA Today about Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy and go public about it. It was a sneery, uncharitable piece, written by someone with breast cancer, but it raised the question of courage.<br /><br><br /><br>To paraphrase, the author was basically saying that Jolie isn't the brave one, the head-scarfed women battling metastatic breast cancer are the brave ones, fighting their terminal cancer with a dignified silence. That's brave, not Jolie, with her looks, her publicists, and her army of stylists. <br /><br><br /><br>I suppose, being charitable to the author, I could see what she was trying to say and I certainly agree with her on the inevitability and laziness with which journalists use the "brave" word, but what was distasteful about the piece was her setting herself up as a judge of other people's courage. <br /><br><br /><br>Going for an operation, let alone having a double mastectomy, is a frightening prospect for anyone. (I wept like a baby just before having my anesthetic for my resection. No stiff upper lip here.) Even if your chances are good, just having cancerous cells at large in your body with even the slimmest possibility of recurrence is a scary business. Cancer is not a competition of who suffers the most. I wouldn't necessarily label Jolie as particularly "brave" for taking a sensible decision about her health as I just think that word is inadequate and unhelpful, but I certainly wouldn't want to diminish what she went through by comparing her to others in trickier situations. There is no leader-board for courage.<br /><br><br /><br>So while I don't think Jolie is particularly brave, nor do I think it is the best way to describe those women on the cancer ward. I bet they wouldn't think of themselves as brave either and reducing their complex feelings and emotions to that easy catch-all "brave" is the kind of reductivism the author seems to dislike. People with more advanced cancers, with poorer prognoses, are just getting on with it because they have no choice, facing their own expiry date as people have always done, with faith, humor, fear, solace, sadness. They might regard themselves as fucked, unlucky, pissed off, sad … but brave, I'm not so sure.<br /><br><br /><br>So "brave," while well meant and certainly not offensive, just doesn't seem quite right to me. Ultimately, it is just semantics. Having cancer and being described as "brave" is just a linguistic tic, where a default terminology becomes so pervasive that we just use it without really thinking. <br /><br><br /><br>It is part of a lexicon that likes to give people with cancer almost super-hero-like powers, great warriors doing battle against an evil disease. It isn't a lexicon that allows much humility in front of a rapacious enemy. Whenever I hear those martial verbs, or hear people being described as brave, I feel a little sorry for people with heart disease or Alzheimer's, who, rather than warriors, tend to be portrayed as passive, voiceless victims, who never get to "fight" their illnesses but only ever "succumb." <br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://theoneeyeddog.tumblr.com/post/53358703876/i-have-cancer-but-dont-call-me-brave">http://theoneeyeddog.tumblr.com/post/53358703876/i-have-cancer-but-dont-call-me-brave</a>

I Have Cancer, But Don’t Call Me Brave - One Eyed Dog

There is a special lexicon reserved for people with cancer: we talk of survivors and journeys. The verbs we use tend to be martial: we "...

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Flaming Buoy Fillet Co. - Again!!

We love this place!<div><br></div><div>It's got such a great atmosphere - so Key West.  We ate here on our first night in KW and it was the first restaurant that chose to eat a second time on this trip.  </div><div>On this occasion we chose from the Sumner Sampler/tapas menu.</div><div><br></div><div>We chose a salad, 3 taster plates and a dessert and a nice bottle of merlot.  </div><div><br></div><div>Check out the delicious food that we ate tonight </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS31FBEJHEwENnIsXlve9h6P4rYrw1eQ_tc_f6c6q-YK3bcxkeIacFGwH73JbHQbQ6toakMm_2j_ldlLtmm3xigrdVGZV-sI2Zuwvd4Vn_ad0cv56uPMBw_4caEBprSJp1b1CAmhrbALWY/s640/blogger-image-1991215977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS31FBEJHEwENnIsXlve9h6P4rYrw1eQ_tc_f6c6q-YK3bcxkeIacFGwH73JbHQbQ6toakMm_2j_ldlLtmm3xigrdVGZV-sI2Zuwvd4Vn_ad0cv56uPMBw_4caEBprSJp1b1CAmhrbALWY/s640/blogger-image-1991215977.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULqHI9zH08zTCBg1d5v-iKZmQBRG0JAezavC3T7VqapvE0qI69DzLGURV0DwidqLuJV_UnzsIEtfP-5V9wHSWB9iDnqX3s0pSUzVc8D4IsM1OCSS7Vinv0ThxBjAMnvmGRhmoANPIqDlM/s640/blogger-image-316318213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULqHI9zH08zTCBg1d5v-iKZmQBRG0JAezavC3T7VqapvE0qI69DzLGURV0DwidqLuJV_UnzsIEtfP-5V9wHSWB9iDnqX3s0pSUzVc8D4IsM1OCSS7Vinv0ThxBjAMnvmGRhmoANPIqDlM/s640/blogger-image-316318213.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8DseXKRbVWAxBkj-K8ezzMW58kMjVSdqRBfrqfvvlfhqvm_P-xcLBMo4EH2FWX8cMu-Q3DAjNcZ_y4vGNJDxR5EBSs5WnGKC0eERfBkaopipHeJ8EGLJyVWwB_-GEmLwQfNffPQ07fqO/s640/blogger-image-896611681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8DseXKRbVWAxBkj-K8ezzMW58kMjVSdqRBfrqfvvlfhqvm_P-xcLBMo4EH2FWX8cMu-Q3DAjNcZ_y4vGNJDxR5EBSs5WnGKC0eERfBkaopipHeJ8EGLJyVWwB_-GEmLwQfNffPQ07fqO/s640/blogger-image-896611681.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQB7tsCrorNbtDsW7yEJH6sJKEh8UJ5AkmFxw_nSpxVw2jPNqvvHYIjiD6F5YsTHbfOS6iB4xgrqF9hM1SPEmg1Hqf8ooHV6CtQb4ZmzgCsgVYncx_4v5XP5MOy8mFkK8KUpDibGUy6fr/s640/blogger-image--536940065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQB7tsCrorNbtDsW7yEJH6sJKEh8UJ5AkmFxw_nSpxVw2jPNqvvHYIjiD6F5YsTHbfOS6iB4xgrqF9hM1SPEmg1Hqf8ooHV6CtQb4ZmzgCsgVYncx_4v5XP5MOy8mFkK8KUpDibGUy6fr/s640/blogger-image--536940065.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The lobster Mac & cheese is probably their signature meal - it is so good - the pasta is cooked al dente, the lobster is sweet and tasty and it is smothered in good strong cheese.  Worth visiting this restaurant for it!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then it was on to dessert!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcqMdwLZ2WpstAqKz4ip8MlLYCCorn0AAD9TUE5TDnwLkQwHr0Up-FFo5kLpd04P2gkVB4Ky54GMGx1gvsbnI8oZ7nxEgdBlXC4M5zMceK_TVk87SJkyWmL3O4ogtxhVuTSnQvRM0CmBM/s640/blogger-image--245917266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcqMdwLZ2WpstAqKz4ip8MlLYCCorn0AAD9TUE5TDnwLkQwHr0Up-FFo5kLpd04P2gkVB4Ky54GMGx1gvsbnI8oZ7nxEgdBlXC4M5zMceK_TVk87SJkyWmL3O4ogtxhVuTSnQvRM0CmBM/s640/blogger-image--245917266.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj_upVcWHn-IQpgJtz7c39yJXVyEYPCdLy3NiKYR883dkCIiQvsPJn1zKR5_w7yDLg_35tAHR_qDbr1yviaqlCYZZ7QhMu561S5C5Q6o3WBy1pvYb7uxUcB5-j03_lh5vp8MmQa4EL67l/s640/blogger-image--25139884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj_upVcWHn-IQpgJtz7c39yJXVyEYPCdLy3NiKYR883dkCIiQvsPJn1zKR5_w7yDLg_35tAHR_qDbr1yviaqlCYZZ7QhMu561S5C5Q6o3WBy1pvYb7uxUcB5-j03_lh5vp8MmQa4EL67l/s640/blogger-image--25139884.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you visit be sure and say hello to owners Fred & Scott.  Tell 'em the Irish sent you!!</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

Flaming Buoy Fillet Co. - Again!!

We love this place! It's got such a great atmosphere - so Key West.  We ate here on our first night in KW and it was the first restauran...

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Random acts of kindness

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoREauoj3t6JtTRvgfmyMEl5N7tfgB_ii2H6aFNMrUCYhg_ikfs2rLn8hzF7rqXGXvd_yfTvAls6N6rXe5JKjBU3QVkidXx1_kcaEGLjQFqDa4cvlTZr7s0pUNyKrhpujoVUUmlCJzUSb/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoREauoj3t6JtTRvgfmyMEl5N7tfgB_ii2H6aFNMrUCYhg_ikfs2rLn8hzF7rqXGXvd_yfTvAls6N6rXe5JKjBU3QVkidXx1_kcaEGLjQFqDa4cvlTZr7s0pUNyKrhpujoVUUmlCJzUSb/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Staunton Braves baseball game on June 17, 2013</i></div><br />There is still good in the world, and there are still good people who commit random acts of kindness. Recent random acts of kindness have directly affected me -- generosity passed along from complete strangers.<br /><br />The first incident happened last week while out for lunch with a friend at Logan's Roadhouse in Waynesboro. A couple at the next table offered a newspaper coupon to help offset our meal, saying they already had one and it would expire in a couple of days so they wanted someone to be able to use it. We gratefully accepted -- every little bit helps -- and thanked them for their kindness.<br /><br />The second incident was at Monday's Staunton Braves baseball game. As my husband, sister, niece, and I approached the ticket gate, a couple getting ready to enter the game asked if we had tickets. No, we said ... we were about to buy them. The lady handed us four tickets -- rain checks from an earlier game that would expire that night. We thanked her and she thanked <i>us,</i> saying she was glad they could be used. It was especially appreciated when a lightning storm rolled in 20 minutes later and stopped the game, cutting short our game night out.<br /><br />Random acts of kindness. They happen every day....<br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 17, 2013

Logan's Roadhouse random acts of kindness Staunton Braves Waynesboro Random acts of kindness

Staunton Braves baseball game on June 17, 2013 There is still good in the world, and there are still good people who commit random acts of k...

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First day of summer and shrimping in SC

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJzUHhRgD8Xj-CKTt_dh5K4KRaYUY9sT5VH6-i3dnJz1Pgu9gNkhwyTpsslKEAXej2bpIKpCc_mNenXD8suAvEfbEHNSEoxzmeVVGkMnCNk0FluipEyPTjkWsanccrTeqHz4TjfgMIQhO/s1600-h/shrimp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078881631706905634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJzUHhRgD8Xj-CKTt_dh5K4KRaYUY9sT5VH6-i3dnJz1Pgu9gNkhwyTpsslKEAXej2bpIKpCc_mNenXD8suAvEfbEHNSEoxzmeVVGkMnCNk0FluipEyPTjkWsanccrTeqHz4TjfgMIQhO/s320/shrimp.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFcQ18rhL6rbmbs0G7AKWcVg8eH1Xa6xHj0wfnAB2um0IyytdzGs7ZsupXxqEsnfka_ZflmHXuGaB_CK3-15OI0fuoS9dXCA3stjvWgNOfUl0dksE5dy5Xwb_RGxKg0jF1hEKBiZvaYZy/s1600-h/boat.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div>So today is the first day of summer ... and I was thinking about another first day of summer years ago when my husband and I visited with friends who were living in Charleston, S.C. On June 21 of that year we all boarded their boat and headed out into Charleston Harbor to visit historical Fort Sumter, walking its pathways and absorbing the history of it all.<br /><br />After leaving Fort Sumter, we pointed the boat toward the coastline and went into one of the delta inlets for some shrimping, a great pastime for our friends and something that was about to become a new experience for us. After anchoring the boat, we swam and waited for the water to recede as the time for low tide approached.<br /><br />The delta flats have canals cut into them where the water rushes out with low tide ... and that's where we turned our attention. Jumping overboard with nets in hand, we stretched them across those canals to catch the shrimp being washed to sea in the ebbing tide. As the nets filled, we emptied the shrimp into five-gallon buckets on deck, continuing until all buckets were full. Since we then had plenty of time to wait until the tide returned to once again float the boat, we worked at removing the heads before putting the shrimp on ice for the ride back to dock.<br /><br />The experience made an impression on me because we commented several times throughout that day that it was the first day of summer, the longest day of the year, and it was HOT on the salt water -- mid 90s -- with barely a breeze. It was a memorable event that I recalled today while enjoying the present first day of summer in the Valley with the morning cool and 58-degree temps.<br /><br />Both memories are keepers. It's summer in the Shenandoah Valley....</div>

Atlantic Ocean Charleston Charleston Harbor first day of summer Fort Sumpter June 21 shrimping South Carolina summer solstice First day of summer and shrimping in SC

So today is the first day of summer ... and I was thinking about another first day of summer years ago when my husband and I visited with f...

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ISRAELI - AZERBAIJANI ALLIANCE AND IRAN Part 2

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ5sVlVUAH08xcqTBmg1OKE381omzzANQ5-2IzU3c07zrzhf15jsC4oNX03Yqt7XBA6x1hrk5qjuj4rY9er5FK3gJRsTRK9XGs6dM5gIMRgziyhlkTaEpyZWNAtNA_6NGcMIdNQ-5QTdU/s1600/20123009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ5sVlVUAH08xcqTBmg1OKE381omzzANQ5-2IzU3c07zrzhf15jsC4oNX03Yqt7XBA6x1hrk5qjuj4rY9er5FK3gJRsTRK9XGs6dM5gIMRgziyhlkTaEpyZWNAtNA_6NGcMIdNQ-5QTdU/s320/20123009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/author/mahir-khalifa-zadeh/" title="Posts by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh"><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AZERBAIJAN’S APPROACH TOWARD ISRAEL </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the SOVIET UNION’S disintegration, AZERBAIJAN has been under direct pressure from RUSSIA and IRAN. RUSSIA supports ARMENIA politically, militarily, and economically, which helps ARMENIA to occupy Nagorno-Karabakh–which is internationally recognized as AZERBAIJANI land.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn17" title="">[17]</a> IRAN has also provided support to ARMENIA and blames AZERBAIJAN for its close links with the UNITED STATES and ISRAEL.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Mahir Khalifa - Zadeh </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the time of its restored national independence in 1991, AZERBAIJAN has strived to become an important regional player and to retake lands occupied by ARMENIA. In line with these goals and as a result of RUSSIAN and IRANIAN pressure, the late AZERBAIJANI President Heydar Aliyev oriented the country’s strategic foreign policy toward the WEST and ISRAEL. In 1997, he met with ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made a brief stop in Baku. The two discussed the IRANIAN threat as well as ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI intelligence cooperation. The meeting was considered by some to be the starting point for the alliance between the two countries.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn18" title="">[18]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN STRONGLY OPPOSES AZERBAIJAN’S TIES WITH ISRAEL </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a continuation of Heydar Aliyev’s strategy, AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev welcomed ISRAELI President Shimon Peres in Baku on in June 2009. President Ilham Aliyev said, “I am happy to host you in my country. This is a most important visit for AZERBAIJAN and we are interested in expanding and strengthening the cooperation between AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL in the areas of security, diplomacy and the economy.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn19" title="">[19]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peres’s visit took place despite strong opposition from IRAN.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn20" title="">[20]</a> President Aliyev’s decision earned him great respect in ISRAEL. “The clear position of AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev on relations with ISRAEL, in particular his refusal to submit to the demands of IRAN to cancel the visit of ISRAELI President Shimon Peres to Baku and his refusal to join any anti-ISRAEL campaigns” have garnered “sincere respect in ISRAEL.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn21" title="">[21]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL IS VITAL FOR AZERBAIJAN FOR SEVERAL STRATEGIC REASONS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, both AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL face regional security threats.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn22" title="">[22]</a> Despite official slogans of friendship and brotherhood between two nations,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn23" title="">[23]</a> AZERBAIJAN very much fears IRANIAN threatens to use force and expand its intelligence network in Baku and in other parts of the country.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn24" title="">[24]</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, IRAN provides large-scale support to ARMENIA, which seriously damages AZERBAIJANI-IRANIAN relations and creates serious mistrust between the two countries.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn25" title="">[25]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ARMENIAN EQUATION </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI58iYrxze2KsTGl32G0wMsWFTGNQc_td_wvo1CYFzMq6191-oTCjJAQnYhR8jz7ivw1_4SQqLbYYYpeDrn9OUkaWoibfbk7gzokm9Fd4knF4zrlFayst-cbhn_tYfEWBgOgBlXxqY2km/s1600/Caucasus_countries.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI58iYrxze2KsTGl32G0wMsWFTGNQc_td_wvo1CYFzMq6191-oTCjJAQnYhR8jz7ivw1_4SQqLbYYYpeDrn9OUkaWoibfbk7gzokm9Fd4knF4zrlFayst-cbhn_tYfEWBgOgBlXxqY2km/s400/Caucasus_countries.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AZERBAIJANI political elites consider ISRAELI or Jewish support a key element in countering the ARMENIAN diaspora, particularly in the UNITED STATES and EUROPE. In 1997, during an official visit to the UNITED STATES, President Heydar Aliyev met with representatives of AMERICAN Jewish organizations in New York and openly asked them to help AZERBAIJAN.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn26" title="">[26]</a> AZERBAIJAN is grateful to ISRAEL for lending the pro-ISRAEL lobby’s weight in Washington to improve AZERI-AMERICAN relations.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn27" title="">[27]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another strategic factor was the successful experience of the TURKISH-ISRAELI partnership for over a decade, which inspired AZERBAIJANI decision makers to form strategic ties with ISRAEL. Despite current problems in the TURKISH-ISRAELI relationship, Ankara “understands that its regional aspirations require correct relations with [the] Jewish state.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn28" title="">[28]</a> Former ISRAELI Ambassador to TURKEY Zvi Elpeleg also noted, “I do not think that relations will deteriorate because there are fundamental reasons why TURKEY and ISRAEL have the same interests.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn29" title="">[29]</a> AZERBAIJAN has attempted to play the mediator between the two countries following tensions and disagreements that emerged as a result of the Mavi Marmara incident. Undoubtedly, this type of mediation can expand Baku’s role in MIDDLE EASTERN affairs and strengthen AZERBAIJAN’S international standing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAELI EXPORTS TO TURKEY RISE 42% TO EQUAL EXPORTS TO GERMANY</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TRIANGULAR SECURITY AND DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY, ISRAEL, AND AZERBAIJAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baku welcomes the triangular security and defense partnership between TURKEY, ISRAEL, and AZERBAIJAN. This model of cooperation has been successful concerning energy affairs.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn30" title="">[30]</a> The strategic triangular partnership could be an effective tool in strengthening and supporting U.S. diplomacy, as well as counterbalancing the IRAN-RUSSIA axis in the SOUTH CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Modernizing the AZERBAIJANI Army as part of this defense cooperation is clearly the next and most important strategic dimension for Baku in its relations with Jerusalem. From 1992 to 1994, ISRAEL supported AZERBAIJAN in a war with ARMENIA, supplying Stinger missiles and other weapons to AZERBAIJANI troops.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn31" title="">[31]</a> Moreover, the Jews of AZERBAIJAN fought together with AZERIS against the ARMENIANS during this war. Albert Agarunov, an AZERBAIJANI Army officer and a Mountain Jew, became a national hero in AZERBAIJAN following the war.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn32" title="">[32]</a> More recently, in February 2012, as part of this bilateral defense cooperation, AZERBAIJAN signed a deal to purchase $1.6 billion worth of arms from ISRAEL.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn33" title="">[33]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOW PROFILE RELATIONSHIP</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last, AZERBAIJAN views its relations with ISRAEL as part of a long-term strategy to develop close ties with the UNITED STATES, in order to contain IRANIAN and RUSSIAN threats. Though ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI cooperation has expanded to include foreign policy, the military, economy, and intelligence, AZERBAIJAN does not have a diplomatic mission in ISRAEL for fear of jeopardizing its relations with Muslim countries. Moreover, both sides do not want to publicize their relations. AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev described his country’s relationship with the Jewish state as being like an iceberg: “nine-tenths of it is below the surface.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn34" title="">[34]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL’S PRIORITIES VIS-À-VIS AZERBAIJAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to Dr. Ariel Cohen of the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Foundation, “ISRAEL’S strategic priorities include developing good diplomatic and economic relations with CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA countries, preventing IRAN from increasing its influence in the region, and participating in energy projects, including oil and gas imports to ISRAEL.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn35" title="">[35]</a> In April 2012, ISRAELI Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman paid an official visit to Baku. He met with President Ilham Aliyev, with whom he discussed bilateral relations and IRAN. According to ISRAELI analysts, “Lieberman’s visit comes one month after the AMERICAN magazine <i>Foreign Policy</i> reported that AZERBAIJAN has given Israel access to AZERBAIJANI airbases, which is considered an important step towards a possible attack on IRAN.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn36" title="">[36]</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AZERBAIJAN'S ISRAEL DIPLOMACY TESTS IRAN</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/israel-azerbaijan-and-iran.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/israel-azerbaijan-and-iran.html</a>and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL’S IRAN “WARMONGERING RHETORIC’S” ARE DECEIVING TACTICS FOR A GREATER CAUSE</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/israel-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan_6.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/israel-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan_6.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As mentioned numerous times on this blog, mainstream media and to some extend even alternative media report that IRAN presents the most serious threat to ISRAEL, and that IRAN’S nuclear threat should be a concern for the entire world is mainly a convenient bargaining tool for both, ISRAEL and IRAN. In most likelihood the behind the scene scenario looks rather different. Like with AZERBAIJAN, ISRAEL may conduct secrete wheeling and dealings with the PERSIAN state, a scenario not at all impossible, since ISRAEL’S new political doctrine fosters geopolitical as well as economic alliances with non Arab Muslim stated. After all the two countries, in the not too distant past, had not always been arch enemies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ARE IRAN AND ISRAEL REALLY ARCHENEMIES, OR IS IT JUST A FACADE? </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-real-archenemies.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-real-archenemies.html</a>and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IRAN SOFTENS TUNE ON ISRAEL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-improvement-in.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-improvement-in.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL CONSIDERS AZERBAIJAN AND THE CASPIAN LITTORAL AS PART OF THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykz77-5A52EMvdDdWLV01pJsZ78F9u3HxDMJHZtdRxkUFcYFYWoMGohw3J5-e79ggX9CwQ9i4LMYy9GMdxLgpdw9QxKYydRNPn8T5KzTvTUu0cb3JeR0ZuHOmvYtQkQJoPp5G32-dCFQ/s1600/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykz77-5A52EMvdDdWLV01pJsZ78F9u3HxDMJHZtdRxkUFcYFYWoMGohw3J5-e79ggX9CwQ9i4LMYy9GMdxLgpdw9QxKYydRNPn8T5KzTvTUu0cb3JeR0ZuHOmvYtQkQJoPp5G32-dCFQ/s320/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" width="320" /></a></b></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL rejected the allegations. In Baku, Lieberman commented, “Such reports are from the sphere of science fiction and do not correspond with the truth.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn37" title="">[37]</a> Undoubtedly, Lieberman’s visit once again confirmed the strategic character of the ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI relationship. According to ISRAELI news media, “The foreign minister acknowledged that ISRAEL and AZERBAIJAN–which is strategically located on IRAN’S northern border–have good, stable relations, and he described it as an ‘important country which is now a member of the UN Security Council.’”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn38" title="">[38]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAELI policymakers consider AZERBAIJAN and the CASPIAN littoral as part of the GREATER MIDDLE EAST.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn39" title="">[39]</a> ISRAEL, which for decades has had to deal with hostile neighboring ARAB states, has attempted to improve its security as well as its foreign image and international relations. As part of this strategy, ISRAEL has tried to develop relations with non-ARAB Muslim states. “Expanding its influence into an area of the world heavily Muslim but not ARAB has long been a strategic ISRAELI objective.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn40" title="">[40]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NINE NON-ARAB MUSLIM STATES</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This strategy is designed not only to improve relations with the Islamic world, but also to demonstrate that ISRAEL can have peaceful relations with Muslim states. ISRAEL has attempted to prove that there is no ISRAEL-Muslim or Jewish-Muslim confrontation. The collapse of the USSR provided a brilliant opportunity for ISRAEL to develop relations with the newly independent former SOVIET Muslim republics. As of this writing, ISRAEL has successfully established diplomatic relations with nine non-Arab Muslim states.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn41" title="">[41]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this light, AZERBAIJAN’S experience of the peaceful cohabitation of AZERIS and JEWS was attractive for the ISRAELI political elite. This model serves as a foundation upon which to develop a long-term partnership. ISRAELI policymakers enthusiastically responded to AZERBAIJANI attempts to establish close bilateral ties.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notes: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[17]</a> “Russia Extends Lease on Military Base in Armenia Through 2044,” <i>RIA Novosti</i>, August 20, 2010, <a href="http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100820/160276128.html">http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100820/160276128.html</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[18]</a> David Lev, “Iran Warns Azerbaijan: Keep Mossad Out,” <i>Arutz Sheva</i>, February 12, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152671">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152671</a></u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[19]</a> Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “President Shimon Peres in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for Historic First Visit, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, June 28, 2009, <u><a href="http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/President_Peres_visits_Azerbaijan_and_Kazakhstan_28_Jun_2009.htm">http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/President_Peres_visits_Azerbaijan_and_Kazakhstan_28_Jun_2009.htm</a></u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[20]</a> “Iran Recalls Azerbaijan Envoy Following Peres Visit,” <i>JTA</i>, June 29, 2009, <u><a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/29/1006211/iran-recalls-azerbaijan-envoy-following-peres-visit">http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/29/1006211/iran-recalls-azerbaijan-envoy-following-peres-visit</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[21]</a> Ilya Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace,” <i>Middle East Quarterly</i>, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Summer 2006), pp. 47-57, <u><a href="http://www.meforum.org/987/israel-and-azerbaijans-furtive-embrace">http://www.meforum.org/987/israel-and-azerbaijans-furtive-embrace</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[22]</a> Arye Gut, “Azerbaijan, Israel Have Become ‘Strategic Allies’,” <i>News.Az</i>, June 28, 2011, <u><a href="http://news.az/articles/politics/39340">http://news.az/articles/politics/39340</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[23]</a> “Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad Held an Expanded Meeting,” President of Azerbaijan website, News, November 17, 2010, <a href="http://en.president.az/articles/1103">http://en.president.az/articles/1103</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[24]</a> “Iran Threatens Pre-emptive Action amid Nuclear Tensions,” <i>NBC News</i>, February 21, 2012, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46461790/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iran-threatens-pre-emptive-action-amid-nuclear-tensions/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46461790/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iran-threatens-pre-emptive-action-amid-nuclear-tensions/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[25]</a> “Iran Provides Every Support to Armenia, Azerbaijani MP,” <i>News.Az</i>, February 14, 2012, <a href="http://www.news.az/articles/politics/54665">http://www.news.az/articles/politics/54665</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[26]</a> Speech of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev on the official reception in honor of President Heydar Aliyev on behalf of the conference of presidents of major Jewish  organizations–July 28, 1997,” <i>Heydar Aliyev Heritage International Online Library</i>, <a href="http://library.aliyev-heritage.org/en/7423863.html">http://library.aliyev-heritage.org/en/7423863.html</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[27]</a> Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[28]</a> Efraim Inbar, “Israeli-Turkish Tensions and Beyond,”<i>Hurriyet Daily News</i>, March 12, 2010, <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=israeli-turkish-tensions-and-beyond-2010-03-12">http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=israeli-turkish-tensions-and-beyond-2010-03-12</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[29]</a> Serkan Demirtaş, “Amid Sound and Fury, Turkey-Israel Alliance Endures,” <i>Hurriyet Daily News</i>, April 13, 2012, <a href="http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10705597.asp">http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10705597.asp</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[30]</a> Alexander Murinson, “Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel Relations: The Energy Factor,” <i>Middle East Review of International Affairs</i> (MERIA), Vol. 12, No. 3 (September 2008), <a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/2008/09/murinson-2008-09-04/">http://www.gloria-center.org/2008/09/murinson-2008-09-04/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[31]</a> Soner Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson, “Good Relations Between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia?” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, March 30, 2005, <a href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/good-relations-between-azerbaijan-and-israel-a-model-for-other-muslim-state">http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/good-relations-between-azerbaijan-and-israel-a-model-for-other-muslim-state</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[32]</a> <i>Address of Jewish Diaspora of Azerbaijan</i>, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), June 19, 2003, <a href="http://www.osce.org/secretariat/42078">http://www.osce.org/secretariat/42078</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[33]</a> “Azerbaijan Rejects Iran Fears over Israel ‘Arms Buy’,” <i>Defense News</i>, February, 29, 2012, <a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG04/302290002/Azerbaijan-Rejects-Iran-Fears-Over-Israel-8216-Arms-Buy-8217">http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG04/302290002/Azerbaijan-Rejects-Iran-Fears-Over-Israel-8216-Arms-Buy-8217</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[34]</a> Patrick Brennan, “Israeli-Azerbaijan Deal Leaked, Bolton Blames Obama,” <i>National Review</i>, March 29, 2012, <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/294856/bolton-blames-obama-leaking-israeli-azerbaijan-relationship-patrick-brennan">http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/294856/bolton-blames-obama-leaking-israeli-azerbaijan-relationship-patrick-brennan</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[35]</a> Ariel Cohen and Kevin DeCorla-Souza, “Eurasian Energy and Israel’s Choices,” <i>Mideast Security and Policy Studies</i>, No. 88 (February 2011), <u><a href="http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/MSPS88.pdf">http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/MSPS88.pdf</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[36]</a> Lieberman Denies Israel Has Access to Azerbaijan Air Bases,” <i>JewishJournal.com</i>, April 23, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/lieberman_denies_israel_has_access_to_azerbaijan_air_bases_20120423/">http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/lieberman_denies_israel_has_access_to_azerbaijan_air_bases_20120423/</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[37]</a>  “Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Visits North Azerbaijan on 20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations,” <i>BayBak Azerbaijan</i>, April 24, 2012, <u><a href="http://en.baybak.com/israeli-foreign-minister-avigdor-lieberman-visits-north-azerbaijan-on-20th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations.azr">http://en.baybak.com/israeli-foreign-minister-avigdor-lieberman-visits-north-azerbaijan-on-20th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations.azr</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[38]</a> Herb Keinon, “Reports Baku Gave Israel Airfields Are Fiction,” <i>The Jerusalem Post</i>, April 4, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267268">http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267268</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[39]</a> Bulent Aras, “Post-Cold War Realities: Israel’s Strategy in Azerbaijan and Central Asia,” <i>Middle East Policy</i>, January 1, 1998, <u><a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20297513.html">http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20297513.html</a></u>, p. 6869.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[40]</a> Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[41]</a> U.S. Department of State, “Israel,” <i>Background Notes</i>, <a href="http://www.state.gov/">http://www.state.gov</a>.</span></div>

ISRAELI - AZERBAIJANI ALLIANCE AND IRAN Part 2

AZERBAIJAN’S APPROACH TOWARD ISRAEL  Since the SOVIET UNION’S disintegration, AZERBAIJAN has been under direct pressure from RUSSIA and IRA...

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