Matt's Favorite Words

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoa4ILUsBqIvh61WCSERuytm12RrAy4sjfr80fGfQNhG4BkDKptxqa3f2fIkKKlQSXfg1TDgPCHsO8hJvOlOG2JOWTF7jdJko5n7Fx8NAQE5SUT_grNV4iR5pAy3vitxlNHP7QXowQes/s1600/Matt+Man+Thoughtful.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/AVvXsEhVoa4ILUsBqIvh61WCSERuytm12RrAy4sjfr80fGfQNhG4BkDKptxqa3f2fIkKKlQSXfg1TDgPCHsO8hJvOlOG2JOWTF7jdJko5n7Fx8NAQE5SUT_grNV4iR5pAy3vitxlNHP7QXowQes/s320/Matt+Man+Thoughtful.jpg" width="228" /></a>Cheers and good day to all of you inglorious, yet lovable, bitches and bastards.<br /><br />Yesterday on this here wildly popular IWS Radio website, the uber-sexy <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/01/jays-favorite-words.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">Jayman listed some of his favorite words.</span></i></a><br /><br />Today I shall do the same, because, well…Jayman and I are beginning to practice something called, <i>continuity</i>, which of course is an ugly word, and will not be appearing on my list of favorite words.<br /><br />Anyhoo (and in no particular order)…Let’s get to it.<br /><br /><b>Cacophony:</b>  Yes, yes, I know…The definition is, a discordant mixture of sounds, which may seem to make it a “bad” word, an “irritating” word, but I love saying it. Ca cahhhhhh phoe neeee.  C’mon say it with me.  Ca cahhhhhh phoe neeee.  See?  Doesn't that feel good to say?  Of course it does.<br /><br /><b>Sojourn:</b>  Oh sure one can stay for a day or two, or even a couple of months in one place, but it is much sexier to sojourn. Would you rather <i>stay</i> in Charleston, WV. for a week or <i>sojourn</i> in Charleston, WV. for a week?  I know that your answer is neither, but sojourning there is far more acceptable.<br /><br /><b>Epiphany:</b>  One of my favorite words EVAH!!  And no, I am not talking Epiphany in the sense of the three Wise Men showing up at Jeebus’ barnyard cradle.  I am speaking of the word as when one has a revelation out of the blue as to something that was not previously understood.  Kinda like me sitting on the toilet, and all of a sudden I realize, <i>“Hey!!  I just had an epiphany.  Maybe I shouldn't have eaten that fourth burrito!!”</i><br /><br /><b>Ubiquitous:</b>  I dig this this word and it reminds me of my days in High School taking Latin for three years. Uuch.  It means omnipresent, easily found, everywhere.  As an example…<i>“Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is ubiquitous; he <b>has stood</b> and <b>will continue</b> to stand before any and every God Damn TV camera that has or ever will exist.”</i><br /><br /><b>Foulard:</b>  It is pronounced foo-<i>lard</i> and it is a piece of clothing sewn of silk, typically a scarf or such, but…To me it is more delicate than that, and I have used the word in a poem before in which I described the snow-covered, winter landscape as being dressed in an ivory foulard.  It is a pretty word when one utters it softly.<br /><br /><b>Obsequious:</b>  I loooooove this word because it sounds like a regal compliment yet it is anything but. Obsequious is a fancy and descriptive word for an ass-kisser.  Oh Lord, I have used this word often in my many and varied places of employment.  Here’s the trick…with a smile, tell the co-workers whom you loathe, that you find them to be so damned obsequious and chances are they’ll smile back and say, <i>“Awwww, thanks!!”</i><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmi6hWQO21tlUKiieoCBxa3eFfFXa6dpcfCcmuF9qEHhxxs-tLmKzi3uBOu2_jsiidyJIGjSYYeTXrfK0GF0cAApPHRT73nZNiHvj4Pdl_o3ug1tp7tiHsl00XANaJ_UaeXE86R-Ez6s/s1600/Sen.+Chuck+Schumer+Asshole+Ubiquitous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmi6hWQO21tlUKiieoCBxa3eFfFXa6dpcfCcmuF9qEHhxxs-tLmKzi3uBOu2_jsiidyJIGjSYYeTXrfK0GF0cAApPHRT73nZNiHvj4Pdl_o3ug1tp7tiHsl00XANaJ_UaeXE86R-Ez6s/s400/Sen.+Chuck+Schumer+Asshole+Ubiquitous.jpg" width="275" /></a><b>Bacon:</b>  My BFF/OSP Schmoop offered this one up, and seriously…When guys hear the word bacon they get a hard-on, and when women hear it, their nipples get hard.  It’s that simple.<br /><br /><b>Retard:</b>  Oh I’m sorry…are your sensibilities offended?  If they are, well…suck it, you retard.  I love this word because I use it a tad bit differently than its mainstream sense.  I use it to describe people who through no known medically diagnosed mental challenges, still go through life dumb as hell. Rude, stupid, and oafish folks without a sense of humor get the “retard” tag from me.<br /><br />And lastly…<br /><br />While it has often been said that people with lesser IQs and lack of a solid vocabulary cuss a lot, I beg to differ, because I have a pretty damn expansive vocabulary, and my uber-favorite word is…<br /><br /><b>Fuck:</b>  While it is primarily a verb, it can also be a noun and an adjective.  Verb:  I would like to <i>fuck</i> you.  Noun:  You are a stupid<i> fuck</i>.  Adjective:  You are a <i>fucking</i> moron.  See?  Fuck is a multi-faceted word, and I fucking love it.  And dig it…<br /><br />If you combine the word fuck with retard, you get another word which I adore…<i>Fucktard!!</i><br /><br />May the lexicon of life smile down upon you, my friends.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br /><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><i><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a></i><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i>   </div>

Matt's Favorite Words

Cheers and good day to all of you inglorious, yet lovable, bitches and bastards. Yesterday on this here wildly popular IWS Radio website, th...

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Monday, Monday

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features the <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/28/bamboo-courtyard-teahouse/">Bamboo Courtyard Teahouse</a> in Yangzhou, China, by HWCD:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/28/bamboo-courtyard-teahouse/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Jan13-28.jpg" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Aug08/11/dose.html">Two Projects</a> in China by TM Studio:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Aug08/11/dose.html"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Aug08/11/image01.jpg" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/28/charles-ross-the-substance-of-light/"><i>Charles Ross: The Substance of Light</i></a> by Charles Ross (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2013/01/28/charles-ross-the-substance-of-light/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/charles-ross.jpg" title="This week's book review" /></a> <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2004/07/12/robert-smithson-the-collected-writings/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/smithson.jpg" title="This week's book review" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2004/07/12/robert-smithson-the-collected-writings/"><i>Robert Smithson: The Collected Writings</i></a> edited by Jack Flam.<br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World-Architects.com U.S. <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/pages/50x50">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/39705_artist_s_house_and_studio">Artist's House and Studio</a> in Fayetteville, Arkansas, by 3GD Inc.:<br /><a href="http://www.american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/39705_artist_s_house_and_studio"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://c214210.r10.cf3.rackcdn.com/files/projects/39705/images/900:w/Image1.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features the Bamboo Courtyard Teahouse in Yangzhou, China, by HWCD: The featur...

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Customer Support engineer (Beaverton,OR) ( Trouble shooting | FAB Experience | Semiconductor ) (#108156)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Position</b>: Customer Support engineer</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Location</b>: Beaverton, OR</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Duration</b>: Full time</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Job Description</b>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Primary Purpose:</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <div>Primarily responsible for customer service activities associated with modifying, troubleshooting, diagnosing and repairing of highly complex capital equipment at customer sites and trade shows.  Represents the company to the customer and assumes accountability for customer satisfaction with service.  Assures operational quality of system equipment.  Coordinates actions with customers to minimize down time.  Provides assistance to Installation Engineers in resolving problems.</div><div><b><br />Responsibilities:</b></div><div>Evaluates, analyzes, diagnoses and troubleshoots technical equipment problems via telephone or at customer site. Ensures equipment enhances customer production. Repairs and modifies equipment at customer facility.  Evaluates equipment to determine type and extent of problem. Repairs involve board problems which can be performed using standard  procedures as well as  system level problems which may have multiple causes and no standard procedures exist. Repair of system level problems are based on CSE's technical knowledge, education and training. Board problems vs. system level problems are split 50/50.  In analyzing and diagnosing equipment problems, CSEs may access and determine problem exists in customer process such as chemical leaks or contamination and as a result may recommend shutdown of customer fab due to unsafe conditions.</div><div></div><div>1) Provides guidance and technical assistance to Installation Engineer on installations at customer sites or on installing/dismantling demonstration machines.</div><div>2) Travels by car or airplane to customer facility.</div><div>3) May conduct customer orientation and technical training on some aspects of equipment maintenance support for user applications.</div><div>4) Cross-trains and assists other field service engineers as appropriate.</div><div>5) Prepares reports on customer support activity and provides documentation to engineering, marketing and sales on recurring problems.  Makes  recommendations  for improvements.</div><div>6) May independently prepare quotes for customers based on labor, travel expenses incurred and parts needed.  CSEs use discretion in preparing quotes based on reason for equipment failure, time to prepare, etc.<br /><br /><b>Knowledge and Skills:</b></div><div>Certification Level 3 - Proficiency in systems level repair of multiple or extremely complex products within a family is required. Advanced electronics skills. Ability to troubleshoot problems in software and electronic systems. Strong knowledge of optics and lasers, computer theory and applicable operating system knowledge. Strong mechanical and analytical skills.  Strong interpersonal/communication skills in understanding customer needs.  Ability to work under pressure and stringent timelines since failure of company equipment may shut down customer manufacturing area.  Must successfully complete ongoing technical training to acquire a thorough knowledge of company equipment, the application of diagnostic techniques and practical application of service aids.<br /><br /><b>Education and Experience:<br /> </b>BSEE or BSET degree or equivalent work experience in supporting complex capital equipment for the semiconductor industry is required. Must obtain KLA-Tencor certification level 3 as well on ongoing certification. Requires re-certification every 18 months.<br /><br /><b>Supervision Required:</b></div><div>The nature of work requires that Customer Support Engineers work independently; only occasionally (approximately 20% of time) requiring guidance from management. Customer Service Engineers are required to contact management on a daily basis to report activities. Customer Support Engineers spend approximately 50% of time in office resolving equipment problems via phone and 50% of time at customer site.<br /><br /><b>Preferred Qualifications:</b></div><div>Proficient using standard electronic troubleshooting equipment (O-scope, DVM). Skilled at troubleshooting complex electronic, mechanical and pneumatics systems. Good customer and communication skills a must. Basic computer skills required. Fab experience a plus. Must be able to work with a team both locally and remotely.<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>Prior experience on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and/or Macro defect inspection equipment a plus.<br /><br /><b>Minimum Qualifications:</b></div><div>Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.</div><div>OR</div><div>Master's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience.<br /><br />Kindly send your resumes to<span style="color: navy;"> </span><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><span style="color: navy;"><u>Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</u></span></a><span style="color: navy;"> </span></div><div></div></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>

Customer Support engineer (Beaverton,OR) ( Trouble shooting | FAB Experience | Semiconductor ) (#108156)

Position : Customer Support engineer Location : Beaverton, OR Duration : Full time Job Description : Primary Purpose: Primarily responsi...

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Optics Customer Support Engineer ( Trouble Shooting | Optics and light sources | lithography ) (#108149)

<font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;"> <div><b>Position</b>: Optics Customer Support engineer<br> <b>Location</b>: Beaverton, OR<br> <b>Duration</b>: Full time<br> <br> <b>Job Description</b>:<br> The Global Service Support Organization (GSS) team headquartered in Milpitas, CA is our service organization that consists of Service Sales and Marketing, Spares Supply Chain management, Field Operations, Product Training, and Technical Support.  The GSS organization partners with our field teams and customers in all business sectors to maintain the high performance and productivity of our products through a flexible portfolio of services. Our comprehensive services include: proactive management of tools to identify and improve performance; expertise in optics, image processing and motion control with worldwide service engineers, 24/7 technical support teams and knowledge management systems; and an extensive parts network to ensure worldwide availability of parts.<b> </b></div> <div> </div> <div><b>Responsibilities:</b></div> <div>Evaluates, analyzes, diagnoses and troubleshoots technical equipment problems via telephone or at customer site.  Ensures equipment enhances customer production. Repairs and modifies equipment at customer facility. Evaluates equipment to determine type and extend of problem. Repairs involve board problems which can be performed using standard  procedures as well as  system level problems which have multiple causes and no standard procedures exist. Repair of system level problems are based on CSE's technical knowledge, education and training. Board problems vs. system level problems are split 50/50. In analyzing and diagnosing equipment problems, CSE's may access and determine problem exists in customer process or contamination.<br> <br> 1) Provides guidance and technical assistance to Installation Engineer on installations at customer sites or on installing/dismantling demonstration machines.  Also provides guidance to less senior CSE's.</div> <div>2) Travels by car or airplane to customer facility.</div> <div>3) Conducts customer orientation and technical training on all aspects of equipment maintenance support for user applications.</div> <div>4) Cross trains and assists other field service engineers as appropriate.</div> <div>5) Prepares reports on customer support activity and provides documentation to engineering, marketing and sales on a re-occurring problems. Makes  recommendations for improvements.</div> <div>6) Independently prepares quotes for customers based on labor, travel expenses incurred and parts needed. CSE's use discretion in preparing quotes based on reason for equipment failure, time to prepare, etc.<br> <br> <b>Preferred Qualifications:</b></div> <div>Certification Level 4 - Proficiency in systems level repair of multiple and extremely complex products. Advanced electronics skills. Ability to troubleshoot problems in software and electronic systems. Strong knowledge of optics and lasers, overlay/litho, computer theory and MS/DOS. Strong mechanical and analytical skills. Strong interpersonal/communication skills in understanding customer needs. Ability to work under pressure and stringent timelines since failure of company equipment may shut down customer manufacturing area. Must successfully complete ongoing technical training to acquire a thorough knowledge of company equipment, the application of diagnostic techniques and practical application of service aids.<br> <br> <b>Minimum Qualifications:</b></div> <div>AS or BS. At least 5 yrs related exp. Must be proficient in using O-Scope, DVM and other basic test equipment. Skilled troubleshooting complex mechanical, electronic, and pneumatics systems. Good customer and communication skills. Ability to work in a team environment. Prior experience with KLA-Tencor or like equipment/tool. Commitment to task completion with attention to detail. Computer skills, networking knowledge and fab experience a plus.<br> <br> Kindly send your resumes to<font color="navy"> </font><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><font color="navy"><u>Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</u></font></a><font color="navy"> </font></div> <div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></font></div> </span></font>

Optics Customer Support Engineer ( Trouble Shooting | Optics and light sources | lithography ) (#108149)

Position : Optics Customer Support engineer Location : Beaverton, OR Duration : Full time Job Description : The Global...

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Carrots for Doctors - Opinion - Bill Keller - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><nyt_text style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 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; "><div id="articleBody"><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">WITH its <a title="Times article" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/nyregion/new-york-city-hospitals-to-tie-doctors-performance-pay-to-quality-measures.html?ref=hospitals&_r=1&" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">ambitious proposal</a> to pay doctors in public hospitals based on the quality of their work — not the number of tests they order, pills they prescribe or procedures they perform — New York City has hopped aboard the biggest bandwagon in health care. Pay for performance, or P4P in the jargon, is embraced by right and left. It has long been the favorite egghead prescription for our absurdly overpriced, underperforming health care system. The logic seems unassailable: Reward quality, and you will get quality. Stop rewarding waste, and you will get less waste. QED! P4P!</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">If only it worked.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For if you spend a little time with the P4P skeptics — a data-bearing minority among physicians and health economists — you will come away full of doubts. In practice, pay for performance does little to improve outcomes or to control costs. But if you look hard enough at why this common-sense approach doesn't deliver, you find some clues to what might.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The New York plan would give hospitals bonuses to distribute to their doctors based on such indicators as patient satisfaction, speeding the flow of cases through the system and administering specific therapies. It is an attempt to get ahead of the federal law we all know as Obamacare, which includes rewards for hospitals that peg pay to a list of quality metrics. I've said before that I consider <a title="Earlier column" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/opinion/keller-five-obamacare-myths.html?pagewanted=all" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Obamacare an important leap forward</a>, mainly for extending the basic safety net to millions of Americans. And there are aspects of the law, notably the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board, that may help bring down costs, if Congress can resist the temptation to interfere. But the pay-for-performance provisions are a triumph of theory over experience.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The first problem with P4P is that it does not address the biggest problem. <a title="Article at PBS.org" href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/health-costs-how-the-us-compares-with-other-countries.html" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Americans spend more</a> than twice as much per capita as other developed countries on health care — a crippling 18 percent of the country's economic output, and growing. Before studying the statistics, I assumed the root of the problem was doctors who, paid piecemeal for the services they provide, load up patients with marginal tests and treatments. In fact, America's health care system is not much different from other developed countries in the volume of service. Our doctors prescribe more or less the same number of pills and X-rays, perform similar numbers of blood tests and surgeries, as doctors in the best European countries. While there are undoubtedly savings to be had by cutting unnecessary services (shortening hospital stays, for example), the main problem is that our system charges far more for each service — each office visit, each hip replacement, each day in a hospital bed, each dose of antibiotic. "The facile explanation is that doctors do too much," said Peter Bach, a doctor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering who studies quality of cancer care. "But if you compare us to other countries on volume, we're not leading in any category. The flip side is, we pay double for a lot of stuff." (Actually, we lead in tonsillectomies and knee replacements, but his point is generally right.)</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Doctors cite a number of reasons our medical treatments cost more — the high price of malpractice insurance being a favorite, and genuine, culprit. But the main reason everything costs less in other countries is that other countries tend to have one big payer — usually the government — with the clout to bargain down prices. A single-payer system has, so far, proven politically unpalatable in this country. And even Medicare, which has the power of scale and uses it to drive down prices, wields its power sparingly, because doctors threaten to stop serving Medicare patients if the reimbursements fall too low. As hospitals merge into mightier megachains, they may be able to bargain down the payments to doctors and drug companies and device-makers, and create economies of scale by standardizing treatments. (The physician and New Yorker writer <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/08/13/120813fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all&src=longreads&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=4ab7b" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Atul Gawande proposed</a> in a provocative August article that hospitals could drastically improve productivity by studying the example of restaurant chains like the Cheesecake Factory.) But that's not what P4P is about.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Instead of leverage, P4P employs incentives. Reduce the length of stay for acute-care patients, cut the rate of readmission for pneumonia cases, make sure heart-attack victims get a talk about diet before they are discharged, and you stand to find a little windfall in your paycheck.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Critics, who have evidence from a host of pilot programs, say that the bonuses are typically too small to change behavior; New York's would be a maximum of 2.5 percent of a doctor's salary, and most P4P programs pay less than that. Often the performance indicators measure things that are not within the doctor's control. Luis Marcos, a former president of the agency that runs New York's public hospitals, plucked several examples from the list of 13 metrics proposed for New York. Reducing waits in the emergency room (No. 4) is a worthy goal, he said, but it depends on a whole cast of people, from the clerk who greets the patient to the orderly who makes the bed ready. Shortening hospital stays (No. 13) requires having someone in the community — family, a social worker — to receive the patient; that's an especially hard requirement for hospitals that treat a lot of low-income or homeless people.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Another problem with P4P is that providers learn how to manipulate the results. "Once you define performance, people manage toward those metrics and neglect other things that don't get counted," said the Princeton health economist Uwe Reinhardt, who writes for The Times's Economix blog. New York doctors have a favorite, possibly apocryphal, story of medical providers gaming the system: Miami hospitals that use patient feedback as a performance measure wait until spring to do their surveys, because that's when the cranky, hard-to-please New Yorkers go home from their winter refuge.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Ashish Jha, a doctor at the Harvard School of Public Health, argues that P4P might get results if the incentive payments to hospitals were substantially bigger, the formulas were simplified and the performance indicators were kept to a few, clear measures that doctors and patients agree matter: mortality rates, infection rates, recurrence of heart attacks. "If hospitals achieve great outcomes, it matters little how they did so," Jha wrote in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association. And death rates are harder to game than administrative procedures.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Jha also proposes a little experiment in behavioral psychology: give hospitals 100 percent of the bonus at the beginning of the year, but require them to send a refund at the end of the year to pay for any shortcomings. Givebacks really focus the mind.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">PETER PRONOVOST, a physician and professor at Johns Hopkins, says that rather than bribe doctors to adopt better practices, we should play to doctors' professionalism. Pronovost is famous for a scheme that drastically reduced infections associated with catheters by disseminating to doctors and nurses a simple, five-point operating-room checklist of reminders: Wash your hands, wear a sterile mask, etc. No pay incentives were involved, just an appeal to professional pride — and, later, public reporting of the results. "I wouldn't rule out economic incentives," Pronovost told me. "But you can do a lot just working with professional norms."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Pronovost has a more radical piece of common sense to offer. He proposes that the United States create an agency that would do for medicine what the Securities and Exchange Commission does for securities markets: compile and audit information about the performance of hospitals, and make it public. Rankings of hospitals now come either from news organizations or consumer groups working with untested and inconsistent data, or they are propaganda produced by medical providers themselves. "There are stronger regulations about what a company can say about toothpaste than what a hospital can claim about quality," Pronovost said.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For image-conscious doctors and hospitals, pride and shame might be the most effective kind of carrots and sticks.</p><nyt_correction_bottom><div class="articleCorrection" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em; "></div></nyt_correction_bottom><nyt_update_bottom></nyt_update_bottom></div></nyt_text><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 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); display: inline !important; float: none; "></span></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/opinion/keller-carrots-for-doctors.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130128&_r=1&&pagewanted=print">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/opinion/keller-carrots-for-doctors.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130128&_r=1&&pagewanted=print</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Carrots for Doctors - Opinion - Bill Keller - NYTimes.com

WITH its  ambitious proposal  to pay doctors in public hospitals based on the quality of their work — not the number of tests they order, pi...

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SAG Awards: 'Argo,' 'Lincoln' stand tall

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="asset-metabar-wrap" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 20px 0px 23px 70px;"><div class="asset-metabar" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(230, 230, 230); display: table-cell; margin: 20px 0px 0px; width: 888px;"><span class="asset-metabar-author asset-metabar-item" itemprop="name" style="float: left; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">Brian Truitt, From: USA TODAY</span><span class="asset-metabar-time asset-metabar-item " style="border-left-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">11:13a.m. EST January 28, 2013</span></div></div><div class="double-wide" itemprop="articleBody" role="main" style="color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; width: 600px;"><h2 class="lead-in" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 27px; margin-left: 60px; margin-top: -2px;">The Oscars race comes into sharper focus after Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards.</h2><div class="article-metadata-wrap" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; position: relative;"><aside class="single-photo expandable-collapsed" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 20px; position: relative; width: 180px; z-index: 100;"><div class="image-wrap" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-shadow: rgb(200, 200, 200) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; padding: 3px; position: relative;"><img alt="DDL SAG" class="expand-img-vertical" itemprop="url" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/27/xxx-sag-awards-day-lewis-jy-3_4_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 232px; vertical-align: middle;" /><span class="toggle" style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/sprites/asset-sprite.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; bottom: 0px; height: 21px; position: absolute; right: 0px; width: 21px; z-index: 200;"></span></div><div class="image-credit-wrap" style="color: #646464; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;"><span class="credit" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 400;">(Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)</span></div></aside><div class="article-metadata" style="position: relative;"><aside class="comp story-highlights " style="clear: left; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 20px; min-height: 60px; width: 180px;"><h3 style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #999999; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px auto; text-transform: uppercase;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</h3><ul style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><li style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/components/story_highlights_bullets.png); background-position: 0px 17px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; padding: 12px 0px 12px 15px;">'Argo' wins outstanding cast, equivalent to Oscar's best picture</li><li style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/components/story_highlights_bullets.png); background-position: 0px 17px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; padding: 12px 0px 12px 15px;">Daniel Day-Lewis wins best actor for 'Lincoln'</li><li style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/components/story_highlights_bullets.png); background-position: 0px 17px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; padding: 12px 0px 12px 15px;">Jennifer Lawrence wins best actress for 'Silver Linings Playbook'</li></ul></aside></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">If Anne Hathaway dreamed a dream of sweeping the major awards this season, it's coming true.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence were probably in it, too.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The trio of actors followed up their Golden Globe wins with honors at Sunday's 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which also saw Ben Affleck's<i>Argo</i> continue its own dream run toward next month's Academy Awards.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Day-Lewis was humble in accepting his male actor award for the starring role in <i>Lincoln</i>.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It was an actor who murdered Abraham Lincoln," he said. "And therefore it's only fitting that an actor tries every now and then to bring him back to life again.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"Every single cast member gave their characters the kiss of life, and have no doubt, this is an ensemble award."</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Hathaway garnered a SAG for supporting female actor for her portrayal of a devoted mother in the musical <i>Les Miserables</i>.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"I'm just thrilled I have dental," Hathaway joked after receiving the award and recalling how she got her SAG card at age 14. "It felt like the beginning of the world."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><i>Silver Linings Playbook</i> star Jennifer Lawrence also had a big win leading up to the Oscar race — female actor.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This is incredible," she said. "Now I have this naked statue that means some of you even voted for me."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">While the Oscars and other awards ceremonies tend to be more all-encompassing in honoring the best of movies and TV, the SAG Awards are focused solely on acting — the trophy that's handed out is even called "The Actor."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><i>Argo</i> won the SAG award for outstanding cast — the ceremony's equivalent to Oscars' best picture. With a win here after a Golden Globe and Producers Guild Award, <i>Argo</i> has quickly become a favorite this awards season.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"I can't believe I'm standing in the same place where Daniel Day-Lewis was," said<i>Argo </i>star and director Ben Affleck just after Day-Lewis' acceptance speech. "I feel like I'm a better actor just from the radiation."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Tommy Lee Jones garnered a supporting-male-actor trophy for playing abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens in <i>Lincoln</i>,</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">On the TV side, Bryan Cranston scored his first win for male actor in a drama for playing <i>Breaking Bad</i>'s drug kingpin, Walter White.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It's so good to be bad," he said, thanking series creator Vince Gilligan. "He wrote the role of my career, and I am so grateful to you, sir."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Claire Danes followed up her Globes win with a SAG award for female actor for<i>Homeland</i>, in which she stars as CIA analyst Carrie Mathison.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"They said when I got this role, I'd have a lot to do," Danes said, "which is the understatement of my career."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The PBS British hit <i>Downton Abbey</i> garnered the ensemble award for drama series. "We weren't expecting this! Shut the French windows, honestly," said Phyllis Logan, who plays housekeeper Mrs. Hughes.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">In the comedy categories, <i>30 Rock</i> scored two wins with Alec Baldwin as male actor and Tina Fey as female actor.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This is ridiculous," said Baldwin after accepting his eighth award for playing Jack Donaghy. "This is the greatest experience I've ever had."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Fey thanked her cast as well as her friend and former <i>Saturday Night Live</i> cast member Amy Poehler. "I've stolen so many of your moves. I've known you since you were pregnant with Lena Dunham," she joked.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The comedian also made sure to plug 3<i>0 Rock</i>'s series finale after seven seasons on Thursday: "Just tape <i>The Big Bang Theory</i> once, for crying out loud!"</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><i>Modern Family</i> won for best cast in a comedy, but Jesse Tyler Ferguson thanked the casts of <i>30 Rock</i> as well as<i> The Office</i>, which is also ending this season. "You all have set the comedy bar so high," he said. "All of us are indebted to you."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">In the categories for TV miniseries or movie, Kevin Costner won leading male actor for<i>Hatfields & McCoys</i> and Julianne Moore nabbed female actor for playing Sarah Palin in HBO's <i>Game Change</i>.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This means so much coming from all the other actors who voted," Moore said, thanking most everyone in her cast. "I couldn't have asked for a better team."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Baldwin presented the SAG Life Achievement Award to Dick Van Dyke, who danced with penguins in <i>Mary Poppins</i>, drove a flying car in <i>Chitty Chitty Bang Bang</i> and became a TV fixture with <i>The Dick Van Dyke Show</i>.</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This does an old man a lot of good. This is just a thrill," Van Dyke said. "I've been knocking around this business for 70 years and I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing. Isn't it great we chose a profession that involves not growing up?"</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Looking at his award, he concluded, "If this heavy object here lets me refer to you as my peers, I am a happy man."</div><div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><img alt="None" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/01/28/sags100-4_3_rx512_c680x510.jpg?0f5c31de35bf4ef88a50c2e35ee3bc4da4bf3083" /></div></div></div>

Argo Lincoln SAG Awards SAG Awards: 'Argo,' 'Lincoln' stand tall

Brian Truitt, From: USA TODAY 11:13a.m. EST January 28, 2013 The Oscars race comes into sharper focus after Sunday's Screen Actors Guild...

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Here's how you can watch Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines today

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #292727; font-size: 13px;">By Houston Mitchell From: </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/" style="font-size: 13px;">http://www.latimes.com</a><span class="toolSet" style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-right: -50px; margin-top: 6px; width: 345px;"></span><br /><div class="byline" style="color: #292727; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"><div class="date" style="color: #930000; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">January 28, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">6:37 a.m.</span></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/golf/tiger-woods-PESPT008527.topic" id="PESPT008527" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; text-decoration: none;" title="Tiger Woods">Tiger Woods</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43;"> gets a chance to pick up a rare Monday victory on the </span><a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/golf/pga-tour-15007111.topic" id="15007111" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; text-decoration: none;" title="PGA Tour">PGA Tour</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43;"> when the final round of the </span><a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/golf/farmers-insurance-open-EVSPR000135.topic" id="EVSPR000135" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; text-decoration: none;" title="Farmers Insurance Open">Farmers Insurance Open</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43;"> resumes today at Torrey Pines at 11:10 p.m. PST.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div id="story-body-text" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Woods has a six-shot lead after seven holes in the final round, which had to be continued until today because rain played havoc with the tournament.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">If you are trying to figure out a way to watch the conclusion of the tournament, you have a couple of options.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">There is also to be live streaming coverage at <a href="http://www.pgatour.com/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">pgatour.com</a> when the final round resumes at 11:10 a.m. PST.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/golf/brandt-snedeker-PESPT0000010645.topic" id="PESPT0000010645" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Brandt Snedeker">Brandt Snedeker</a> and <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/golf/nick-watney-PESPT0000010651.topic" id="PESPT0000010651" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Nick Watney">Nick Watney</a> are six strokes behind Woods, but Tiger is in the driver's seat as he looks for his 75th PGA Tour title.</div></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.newsinc.com/single.html?WID=1&VID=24280159&freewheel=69016&sitesection=selatimes&w=600&h=400" width="600"></iframe></div>

golf Tiger Woods Here's how you can watch Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines today

By Houston Mitchell From:  http://www.latimes.com January 28, 2013 ,  6:37 a.m. Tiger Woods  gets a chance to pick up a rare Monday victory ...

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Drivers be warned: Fog could reduce visibility this morning

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CiaDPnLiHSs?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">Roads are a mess: Clinton Hameline, of Precision Lawncare in Flint, spent the morning today plowing the parking lots of automotive suppliers in Sterling Heights.</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">From: </span><a href="http://www.freep.com/">http://www.freep.com</a><br /><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">Fog in southeast Michigan could drop visibility to a quarter-mile, the National Weather Service said this morning. </div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">The fog is expected to last until about 11 a.m.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">About 16,000 DTE customers were without power at 9 a.m., according to the company. DTE reported 13,000 customers without power overnight, which dipped to 1,000 customers as of 6 a.m., according to DTE. </div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">A mix of snow and freezing rain closed hundreds of <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook0p" style="border: 0px; bottom: auto; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important;"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan" id="itxthook0w" style="border-color: transparent transparent rgb(0, 204, 0); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; bottom: auto; color: #009900; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: underline !important; top: auto; white-space: normal;">schools</span><img class="itxtrst itxtrstimg itxthookicon" id="itxthook0icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png" style="border: 0px !important; bottom: auto; display: inline !important; float: none !important; height: auto !important; left: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-height: none; max-width: none !important; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; vertical-align: baseline !important; white-space: normal; width: auto !important;" /></span> and left roads a mess early today, but a warm spell is in store for metro Detroit today and Tuesday.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;"></div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">All winter weather advisories and warnings ended at 6 a.m, according to the National Weather Service. But icy road conditions closed school across metro Detroit, including the Detroit Public Schools, Eastern Michigan University and many others. Classes at EMU are scheduled to resume as scheduled at 12:30 p.m.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">“Temperatures are climbing above freezing, so it’s over now,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Richter said from the agency’s White Lake Township office just after 6 a.m. “We’re going to have a nice warming trend – nice but brief.”</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">The storm left 13,000 DTE Energy customers without power overnight, but service was restored to all but about 1,000 by 6 a.m. today, DTE spokesman Scott Simons said.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">Simons also said that a substation problem in Waterford this morning is responsible for an outage affecting about 6,000 people.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">The ice and snow is expected to start melting today as temperatures rise to the mid- to upper-40s by this afternoon, Richter said. The expected high is 47 degrees, with a 50% to 60% chance of rain this morning, increasing to a 70% chance of rain tonight and all day Tuesday. Tonight’s low will only drop to 43 degrees before temperatures soar to 57 degrees on Tuesday with a 90% chance of rain, Richter said.</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">“Normal high is 32, so you’re talking 25 degrees above normal in late January,” Richter said. “That is impressive.”</div><div style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 160px;">Temperatures then dive back down starting on Wednesday, when a high around 48 becomes a low of 22 Wednesday night. Thursday’s high is only expected to be 24 degrees – with an overnight low of 12 then a high on Friday of 19 degrees, he added.</div></div>

school closings Drivers be warned: Fog could reduce visibility this morning

Roads are a mess: Clinton Hameline, of Precision Lawncare in Flint, spent the morning today plowing the parking lots of automotive suppliers...

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Purex Crystals for Baby Review and Giveaway!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Winners are Donna, Maggie and Michele!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More giveaways to come!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hang tight! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2h633x1nhNvmxFw8CNB1w98ZWnR9OUo_lIuBLRrk4AowHf42fHGaSNjullJv2S1s1W1McOTI7pPpu6iFost1xaAEyuVgi39P5de6bbq8W0SO4gbsHhFclMqA6A0OHDu0rKpkPfGyKa0/s1600/purex+baby+crystals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2h633x1nhNvmxFw8CNB1w98ZWnR9OUo_lIuBLRrk4AowHf42fHGaSNjullJv2S1s1W1McOTI7pPpu6iFost1xaAEyuVgi39P5de6bbq8W0SO4gbsHhFclMqA6A0OHDu0rKpkPfGyKa0/s200/purex+baby+crystals.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being a Purex Insider I was sent another great item to review and share with all of you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This time I was sent Purex Crystals For Baby.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You add this to your laundry along with detergent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This product is the newest member of the Purex crystals family and produced with your baby's gentle skin in mind.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This detergent is outstanding!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not only does it add freshness to your baby's laundry it is dye free, hypoallergenic, safe on all clothing such as sleepwear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H438Z-HmfL0BLTx9qXZi4Ez-5uUyGFgk57dVJmh70HJMuREMrDV7jPlXfgT3MBrAjI1Z6VHDTIOpDjBf7S4Udvx08WrUNPt1qspjLwk-5t7XMm-eSeQ_I5gGUtu13dnl4ab1WDkgsPE/s1600/purex+crystals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H438Z-HmfL0BLTx9qXZi4Ez-5uUyGFgk57dVJmh70HJMuREMrDV7jPlXfgT3MBrAjI1Z6VHDTIOpDjBf7S4Udvx08WrUNPt1qspjLwk-5t7XMm-eSeQ_I5gGUtu13dnl4ab1WDkgsPE/s200/purex+crystals.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know how some detergents have a powerful scent to them, well not this one!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wanted to see what it smelled like so I carefully twisted the cap off and took a sniff.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wow I was amazed at how good it smelled!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To me it smells just like baby powder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then did a load of laundry and was even more amazed at how soft the laundry was with the added freshness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This product is absolutely amazing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am so glad I got to try this and now you can too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Giveaway!</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>1.What do you look for when choosing a laundry product for your little ones clothing?</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Want an extra entry? </u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>2. Follow my blog.</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>4. then tweet about the giveaway and make sure you use #Purexcrystalsforbaby</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>I have three coupons to giveaway so I will be selecting three winners!</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Look for it in Wal-mart in early February! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Purex Crystals for Baby Review and Giveaway!

Winners are Donna, Maggie and Michele! More giveaways to come! Hang tight!  Being a Purex Insider I was sent another great item to review an...

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Treats for my colleagues

<p>Some peanut butter treats for my colleagues!</p><p>Totally moreish.........they were very much appreciated.</p><p><a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/homemade-reeses-peanut-butter-cups.html">Here is the recipe</a> if you are interested in making them.</p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuIfXbzUHVlohxZE4bkHjZ72YKJpuaD9d54z-loJb7CRJoOQFIPZD7H1bGHtnoWuS5TELOpUIxqSctZ0OqyXKiU09g-Z20TE-V_gLn76Q6UCv6n_POreqOuxoaAru2wCvatsd7PIS6dih/s1600/20130128_122150.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuIfXbzUHVlohxZE4bkHjZ72YKJpuaD9d54z-loJb7CRJoOQFIPZD7H1bGHtnoWuS5TELOpUIxqSctZ0OqyXKiU09g-Z20TE-V_gLn76Q6UCv6n_POreqOuxoaAru2wCvatsd7PIS6dih/s400/20130128_122150.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Treats for my colleagues

Some peanut butter treats for my colleagues! Totally moreish.........they were very much appreciated. Here is the recipe if you are interes...

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Yay, the hot tub is back open!

<p><br>We finally got the hot tub refilled yesterday.  The weather has been terrible all week - rainy and stormy.  There was a break in the rain so we started filling.  It is heating nicely now, currently at 33 degrees.  Im going to work now but I plan to get in the hot tub tonight at 9 when I get home. Woo hoo!</p><p>It was badly missed over the weekend.  Ciaran was in a tournament all weekend and was very sore.  He could have done with a dip to ease his muscles.  Looking forward to the soak tonight!</p>

Yay, the hot tub is back open!

We finally got the hot tub refilled yesterday.  The weather has been terrible all week - rainy and stormy.  There was a break in the rain so...

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IRAN ACTIVELY WEIGHS SYRIAN-ISRAELI CLASH.

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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="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="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxf7OWvQXu1weHJjzLcSOl21Lv3Z0KzpEEzNwj9aMJi7_PnANwT8J8wZ_-5_cw245-gypRfvXuinRPBIDbu25LJvtfu3IZWaoDvS7gHMqrxnkV5aAzMOUcq2TbKT66g0dHgfZuGGDh3us/s1600/2012-11-15T212906Z_01_JER37_RTRIDSP_3_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxf7OWvQXu1weHJjzLcSOl21Lv3Z0KzpEEzNwj9aMJi7_PnANwT8J8wZ_-5_cw245-gypRfvXuinRPBIDbu25LJvtfu3IZWaoDvS7gHMqrxnkV5aAzMOUcq2TbKT66g0dHgfZuGGDh3us/s400/2012-11-15T212906Z_01_JER37_RTRIDSP_3_PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IRON DOME POSTED IN N. ISRAEL</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <span style="color: blue;">IRAN:</span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A ISRAELI OFFENSIVE AGAINST SYRIA WOULD BE TREATED AS A DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN</span></b></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEBKA<i>file</i> </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;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tehran appears to be looking seriously at a limited SYRIAN-LEBANESE clash of arms with ISRAEL – possibly using Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons as a trigger, debkafile’s military and intelligence sources disclose.  Reacting to this news, ISRAEL announced the deployment of Iron Dome anti-missile batteries some days ago to reinforce security in northern Israel and the key Haifa port. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The IRANIANS see three strategic benefits in embroiling Israel in a limited war with its two allies, Syria and Hizballah:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1. A new outbreak of armed violence would direct world attention away from the SYRIAN civil war:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2. ISRAEL would be sidetracked from a possible strike against IRAN’S nuclear facilities – even a “surgical operation” such as Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke of over the weekend – by being thrown into multiple battles with IRANIAN forces in SYRIA and LEBANON, the Shiite Hizballah and the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihadi in the Gaza Strip.<br />The clash would be programmed to end without winners or losers like ISRAEL’S war against Hizballah in 2006 and its two anti-terror operations the Gaza Strip in 2009 and 2012. But meanwhile ISRAEL would have its hands too full with threats on three borders to pursue military action against a nuclear IRAN.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3. Tehran would buy another year’s delay for spinning out its talks with the Six Powers (US, RUSSIA, FRANCE, BRITAIN, CHINA and GERMANY) on their nuclear controversy.<br />At the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said “ISRAEL faced some of the gravest threats in its existence” and they continue to run riot “in the east, the north and the south.”<br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">UNCERTAINTY FACTOR: EGYPT</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Behind his words, was an immediate neighborhood beset in last couple of weeks by al Qaeda’s advance in Mali - now checked by FRENCH intervention; the ALGERIAN gas field hostage siege; and the discovery of the strong interface among the various AFRICAN Al Qaeda branches, including EGYPT, in operations, logistics, shared arms suppliers and the pooling of jihadist manpower in the different arenas.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br />ISRAEL’S prime minister and security chiefs are clearly troubled by the perceived danger of the jihadist networks based in EGYPTIAN Sinai and al Qaeda affiliates fighting in SYRIA joining up to attack ISRAEL from two directions, the north and the south. This would be in keeping with the multiple, multinational terrorist threats surfacing in AFRICA.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A ISRAELI OFFENSIVE AGAINST SYRIA WOULD BE TREATED AS A DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_hgO0wXbDpJb71rNL4sflHhF5Tbazf7UIUWAg-bxnEvyvhcpxXMdYXk3ykO30uOSbwHs26RjF87KzzZBeFXIK7QFiXFWJ8gCxbHhqLZuKHd1bzgu5GwzZXMt7PzHc5xcQKHIcqfYjDTh/s1600/israel-iran_flages1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_hgO0wXbDpJb71rNL4sflHhF5Tbazf7UIUWAg-bxnEvyvhcpxXMdYXk3ykO30uOSbwHs26RjF87KzzZBeFXIK7QFiXFWJ8gCxbHhqLZuKHd1bzgu5GwzZXMt7PzHc5xcQKHIcqfYjDTh/s200/israel-iran_flages1.png" width="175" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With regard to SYRIA’S chemical weapons, after convening an expanded security-diplomatic cabinet meeting, Netanyahu remarked: “We have to look around us… What’s happening in IRAN and the lethal weapons in SYRIA, which is falling apart…”<br />He left the specifics to Deputy Prime Minister Sylvan Shalom, who said that if chemical weapons reached Hizballah or SYRIAN rebel hands, “Such a development would be a crossing of all red lines that would require a different approach, including even preventive operations.”</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But even Shalom did not specify where the red lines would be – the handover of SYRIAN chemical weapons to Hizballah? And against whom would ISRAEL take preventive action – SYRIA, Hizballah or both? And if they reached SYRIAN rebel hands, would ISRAEL hit them or go straight for the poison gas arsenals?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Neither Netanyahu nor Shalom responded to the IRANIAN warning issued by Ali Akbar Velayati, a close adviser to IRANIAN leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that an attack on SYRIA would be tantamount to an attack on IRAN.<br />This warning was intended to drive home to ISRAEL the message that an offensive against SYRIA would be treated as a direct confrontation with IRAN.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">WARNING AIMED AT HOLDING ISRAEL BACK FROM A MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST SYRIA - SYRIA, NOT THE ASSAD REGIME</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This is because an ISRAELI attack on SYRIAN rebels armed with chemical weapons would also serve Tehran’s purpose very well:  IRANIAN forces in SYRIA and LEBANON would use the opportunity to unite the SYRIAN army and the rebels against the common enemy, ISRAEL, and so start the process of winding down the anti-Assad revolt.<br />Velayati also avoided mentioning IRAN’S key ally in LEBANON, Hizballah. In his warning, he said: "SYRIA has a very basic and key role in the region for promoting firm policies of resistance [against ISRAEL]... For this reason an attack on SYRIA would be considered an attack on IRAN and IRAN'S allies."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX2Z0jiR5lo8tP1OGdgxp42GKpYMHPWodRkPSP73aP19hYVywZlETlnk5m9v9TZyaCCggZuG8FZN7P3ABPlOFw8fhgI3XVj7B5-UYLGfMHy5-9L5I4UhHgOHWdpNxtJ1VsCCPDSGNtsIY/s1600/Syria_Israel_flags_160910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX2Z0jiR5lo8tP1OGdgxp42GKpYMHPWodRkPSP73aP19hYVywZlETlnk5m9v9TZyaCCggZuG8FZN7P3ABPlOFw8fhgI3XVj7B5-UYLGfMHy5-9L5I4UhHgOHWdpNxtJ1VsCCPDSGNtsIY/s320/Syria_Israel_flags_160910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This high-ranking IRANIAN figure took care not to draw attention to Hizballah because, according to debkafile’s military sources, parts of the SYRIAN chemical arsenal have already reached Hizballah and are stashed away in fortified bunkers in the terrorist militia’s Beqaa Valey strongholds, along with a lethal array of long- and medium-range ground-to-ground rockets that too were smuggled secretly across the SYRIAN border.<br />Some western intelligence sources – especially AMERICAN – now believe SYRIAN chemical weapons were secreted to Hizballah during 2012. They were sent over in small packages to avoid attracting US or ISRAEL attention.  By now Hizballah is thought to have accumulated a substantial supply of poison weapons.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Our military sources report that ISRAEL’S military planners have long-range logistical plans ready for dealing with new situations such as this one. It has expanded its undercover penetration (<i>See: </i></span><i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">LONG-RANGE, LARGELY CLANDESTINE AND MULTI-SERVICE MISSIONS</span></b></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><i>:<a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/idf-israeli-defense-forces.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/idf-israeli-defense-forces.html</a></i>) of SYRIA and LEBANON and is making rapid progress in erecting a sophisticated 57-kilometer security force along the SYRIAN border. This project may take months to complete. But meanwhile, IRAN is working on its own plans for jumping the gun before it is finished with a military adventure.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">See related article:</span> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/israels-overhaul-of-its-current.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/israels-overhaul-of-its-current.html</a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

IRAN ACTIVELY WEIGHS SYRIAN-ISRAELI CLASH.

IRON DOME POSTED IN N. ISRAEL   IRAN: A ISRAELI OFFENSIVE AGAINST SYRIA WOULD BE TREATED AS A DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH IRAN DEBKA file Te...

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pig in a blanket

I had my sights set on a new secretary for my entry. Not the ‘here is your coffee and you have a call holding on line 2’ type of secretary (are they even called that anymore) but a nice little piece of furniture. It was old, but not too precious that I couldn’t paint or change it up in some way without feeling bad. Character and charm to spare and spots for all the entryway things one needs. Just what I had in mind.<br /><div class="p1"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gIGIAhslmn8kI25fwFp1FWacVQUtfpbwcUXXs-Diu5iDUwOWEsuZgF3VArWuy45snP1VZUsqPpLG8U3s9sjLDkjyAbu-46t-UOEDLtLxsa2GNC1hbgAJhhFTjcMgb03Vu_t2L8_3vQNZ/s1600/33241832243.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gIGIAhslmn8kI25fwFp1FWacVQUtfpbwcUXXs-Diu5iDUwOWEsuZgF3VArWuy45snP1VZUsqPpLG8U3s9sjLDkjyAbu-46t-UOEDLtLxsa2GNC1hbgAJhhFTjcMgb03Vu_t2L8_3vQNZ/s640/33241832243.jpeg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://matchbookmag.tumblr.com/post/33241832243" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="p2"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-R0xQ1l4W9NM8WaAJS8sdqcaHoQyh0UqeexAduR4LsmRauhyphenhyphenedQ7H0XL-r_kScThVEeiFS2EZ58uKOUwn6IeRqZW5zSBCRwG-18EShejcIO_4rvUzLiJ23GTqWFpl33M2ZUoC7iR2K2B/s1600/Foyer-++with+Stunning+Antique+Secretary+-+perfect+for+a+small+desk+space+&+still+very+chic!.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-R0xQ1l4W9NM8WaAJS8sdqcaHoQyh0UqeexAduR4LsmRauhyphenhyphenedQ7H0XL-r_kScThVEeiFS2EZ58uKOUwn6IeRqZW5zSBCRwG-18EShejcIO_4rvUzLiJ23GTqWFpl33M2ZUoC7iR2K2B/s640/Foyer-++with+Stunning+Antique+Secretary+-+perfect+for+a+small+desk+space+&+still+very+chic!.jpeg" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mixandchic.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="p1">Except, it was 2 inches too deep. Two. Damn. Inches. I could have stuffed it in and made it work. But it would have been like those tight jeans that you can’t wear sitting down; great for one night and then just a regret in your closet…or basement as the case may be. And really what sense would that make? </div><div class="p2"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4ZUMXpesnNWpvVJcNw0z5XG78rPEIgayvJh-ITFoRucc09LEe6GU7PMvsBvNmxMMz07j0GfrEkIX7opanDMZays3vmk7fp_GXoJX00wwBdQix11TKpaSqOyjfyUG1t16jwhkLUo8-Z-i/s1600/Secretary-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4ZUMXpesnNWpvVJcNw0z5XG78rPEIgayvJh-ITFoRucc09LEe6GU7PMvsBvNmxMMz07j0GfrEkIX7opanDMZays3vmk7fp_GXoJX00wwBdQix11TKpaSqOyjfyUG1t16jwhkLUo8-Z-i/s640/Secretary-1.jpeg" width="414" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nellhillsblog.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYEy1h0OCa7wd8oM_n9UsUifAB1dzIleQVAtmhFm_jQTWrZzbGIYVGKP4VCGgN6-n6Z4aNXbdNOq4UfvrtsGjT2NMjVfe0hkWL5evFpLM-csOt4rLiDcZOfydrx4jvz4rg1ugKj2s66Hc/s1600/Secretary.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYEy1h0OCa7wd8oM_n9UsUifAB1dzIleQVAtmhFm_jQTWrZzbGIYVGKP4VCGgN6-n6Z4aNXbdNOq4UfvrtsGjT2NMjVfe0hkWL5evFpLM-csOt4rLiDcZOfydrx4jvz4rg1ugKj2s66Hc/s640/Secretary.jpeg" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="p1">I had thought it was a take it or leave it piece and I was the tough cookie who would walk away if we couldn’t get it for the right price. But those extra two inches rejected me before I could reject it. And now that it is for sure not coming home with me, I feel a new obsession to find its replacement.<br /><br /></div><div class="p2"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6frVIf8D4ajkwmGfAEojJb6NvqzDcTs0sJIp2bgeGOK2gHscKI-UaXgdihUfuUAy1M7hyphenhyphen61lmbQ2hSiGYWFcLyscxDMLFy9FlJo6zmmA1I-TpyCJxIX2ESojRhyphenhyphenmkChkwivAs5yjUMDlx/s1600/Crush+Cul+de+Sac.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6frVIf8D4ajkwmGfAEojJb6NvqzDcTs0sJIp2bgeGOK2gHscKI-UaXgdihUfuUAy1M7hyphenhyphen61lmbQ2hSiGYWFcLyscxDMLFy9FlJo6zmmA1I-TpyCJxIX2ESojRhyphenhyphenmkChkwivAs5yjUMDlx/s640/Crush+Cul+de+Sac.jpeg" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://crushculdesac.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYomt8fNTCRHawEGv4MrnnW5bfEM_OdL8oD9z4B4dxm9VXKGyofgv2IbOsPAxG55Kq7naI8gejeHswCxYkxgG1pUvTbxkAQSJba7Y5gT_ovFNzDXoWvzh4333igF98BeFEl4cqWHOAunb/s1600/search.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYomt8fNTCRHawEGv4MrnnW5bfEM_OdL8oD9z4B4dxm9VXKGyofgv2IbOsPAxG55Kq7naI8gejeHswCxYkxgG1pUvTbxkAQSJba7Y5gT_ovFNzDXoWvzh4333igF98BeFEl4cqWHOAunb/s640/search.jpeg" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thedecorista.com/search?updated-max=2010-09-30T13%3A32%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=6" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtSKdFnTkALhDjCpSwub-okS45NB40UW1JI_yN9AYcmFtMJg60vJVLDNQdyRdWJPd2LsyJf4Og66AM_X0SG5-94-9GQarEXI3ZKsoOpafiUXl5fAhBqEl-ZTBNsbaHXhTnPGnPWcDFXXC/s1600/Old+secretary+desk,+updated+with+two-tone+paint.+Gorgeous!.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtSKdFnTkALhDjCpSwub-okS45NB40UW1JI_yN9AYcmFtMJg60vJVLDNQdyRdWJPd2LsyJf4Og66AM_X0SG5-94-9GQarEXI3ZKsoOpafiUXl5fAhBqEl-ZTBNsbaHXhTnPGnPWcDFXXC/s640/Old+secretary+desk,+updated+with+two-tone+paint.+Gorgeous!.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peppermintbliss.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="p1">Something even better. </div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">I’m going to show those two inches I can live a happy wonderful life without them. I will survive.</div><div class="p2"><br /></div><div class="p1">Do you have a piece that got away? Have you ever had a design idea that was perfect in your head but never worked out in real life? Do you know anyway to move a wall two inches without having to make structural changes?</div>

pig in a blanket

I had my sights set on a new secretary for my entry. Not the ‘here is your coffee and you have a call holding on line 2’ type of secretary (...

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