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The Wall Street Journal editorial board's Stephen Moore falsely claimed that the drastic budget cuts known as sequestration have had “none of the anticipated negative consequences,” when in reality economists have explained that the cuts have had devastating effects on economic growth, jobs, and programs for low-income Americans.
In an August 11 op-ed, Moore called the automatic budget cuts enacted March 1 -- which were designed to be so severe they would force Congress to adopt a more balanced approach to spending reduction -- an “underappreciated success” because they had resulted in “amazing progress” in reducing the deficit. Moore applauded the further deficit reduction that would come from “any normal acceleration of economic growth,” and concluded by claiming that cuts to “military, education, transportation and other discretionary programs have also been an underappreciated success, with none of the anticipated negative consequences.”
But economists were predicting major economic consequences, as The American Prospect noted on March 6:
Private forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisers estimates “sequestration would cost roughly 700,000 jobs (including reductions in armed forces),” while Moody's Analytics predicts a hit to real gross domestic product of 0.5 percent, just a hair below Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's prediction 0.6 percent fiscal drag.
And as predicted, the cuts are harming the economy. Sequestration is having a negative effect on GDP growth and causing job losses. According to a new analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, canceling the sequestration cuts would raise GDP by 0.7 percent and increase employment by 900,000 new jobs by 2014, and would lead to greater output and higher employment in the next few years.
Furthermore, tens of thousands of individuals have already seen federal unemployment benefits cut by as much as 10.7 percent, Meals On Wheels programs have had to cut hundreds of meals from their regular service to low-income seniors, and Head Start programs have had to cancel sessions for at-risk children. According to the Department of Education, sequestration further cut $60 million from federal funding for schools that educate children who live on Indian reservations, military bases, or in low-income housing. In some cases, districts will be forced to close schools and reduce the number of courses offered.
Economist Jared Bernstein, former economic adviser to Vice President Biden, has tracked and documented the drastic effects that the cuts are having on everything from Medicare-funded cancer treatments and public safety, to scientific and medical research. Finally, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced on August 6 that furloughs to civilian defense workers caused by sequestration have created “a military whose readiness remains seriously degraded.”


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Pan seared blackened tilapia with a delicious and simple pineapple salsa.
This blackened tilapia meal is quick & easy to whip together, packed with good-for-you ingredients & nutrients, and has such a great fresh flavor.
Because we can’t get enough of this pineapple chicken, we’re revisiting the components from that meal with blackened tilapia. While the salsa is pretty much the same, we’re switching up the base and blackening some fish instead of marinating chicken.
As I’ve been working to reduce food waste as much as possible, we’re adding the “leftover” ingredients from the salsa to the rice base. So we’ll use the red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and lime juice in the rice base AND in the salsa. Score!
Time saving tips for this blackened tilapia
When it’s a busy weeknight, I’m all about shortcuts in the kitchen! Beyond the seasoning blend, here are a few other shortcuts for this blackened tilapia:
- Pineapple: if your grocery store sells pre-cored pineapple with the skin removed and you’re in a big hurry — grab it! They’re rarely too much more expensive when in season and the pre-cored/skinned pineapples are usually perfectly ripe. (If not grabbing a pre-cut pineapple, here’s a great guide to cutting one). Alternatively, a pineapple corer/slicer (affiliate link) will also save time and is great to have if you eat a lot of pineapple!
- Make rice ahead of time: if you want to save time, make a big batch of rice at the beginning of the week and use it in recipes throughout the week such as this one. Here are a couple other recipes to use leftover rice in: chicken stir fry, coconut curry chicken, or mango chicken.
- Juicer: this blackened tilapia recipe requires quite a bit of fresh lime juice, so invest in a good juicer or citrus reamer. You don’t need anything special or crazy expensive; this one (affiliate link) is pretty cheap and a great investment if you juice a lot of citrus.
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Bowls
- Shrimp Tacos reader favorite
- One Pan Easy Baked Fish and Chips
- Mojo Salmon Bowls
- Shrimp Couscous
Pan seared blackened tilapia with a delicious and simple pineapple cilantro salsa.
- 3 tablespoons finely diced jalapeno, separated (~1 large jalapeno)
- 1 medium red onion, separated dice one half to get 1/2 cup and then thinly slice the other half to get 3/4 cup
- 1 bunch cilantro, separated
- 3 juicy limes, separated
- 1 cup uncooked basmati rice + water to cook in
- 2 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, separated
- 2 tablespoons finely diced jalapeno
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- Fine sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
- 3 cups (~18 ounces) diced pineapple
- 1 pound (~3 fillets) tilapia
- Cuban inspired mojo seasoning (I use Simple Truth Organic)
PREP: We're going to use a lot of these ingredients for the rice and then again for the salsa! Dice a jalapeno to get 3 tablespoons. Halve a red onion. Cut half of that half into thin strips to get about 3/4 cup. Finely dice the other half to get 1/2 cup. Finely dice cilantro to get 3/4 cup (for salsa; measure 3/4 cup loosely and then finely dice) and 2-3 tablespoons (for rice). Zest and juice limes to get 4 tablespoons juice and 1 teaspoon zest. Cut the remaining lime into wedges to serve alongside plates.
BLACK BEAN RICE: In a small pot, cook rice according to package directions. In a large nonstick pan (the same one you’ll use for the fish later on), add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat to medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add 1 tablespoon diced jalapeño and thinly sliced red onion (3/4 cup). Saute, stirring frequently, until softened. Add garlic and stir for about 30 more seconds. Add in black beans and stir until warmed through, 2-3 more minutes. Remove from heat and then add black bean mixture to the cooked rice. Add the juice of 1 lime (2 tablespoons lime juice) and 2-3 (or to taste) tablespoons diced cilantro. Season rice mixture to taste with salt and pepper (I use about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Toss and taste for seasoning; adjust according to personal preference. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
PINEAPPLE SALSA: (NOTE 1) zest and juice 1 lime to get 2 tablespoons juice and 1 teaspoon zest (avoid the white pith). Add to a bowl along with the 3/4 cup diced cilantro, remaining 2 tablespoons diced jalapeno, remaining 1/2 cup diced red onion, and diced pineapple. Add salt and pepper to taste (I add about 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous pinch of pepper). Stir until combined and set aside.
TILAPIA: Heat 1 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in the large NONSTICK pan (same used for the beans/jalapeno) over medium-high heat. Pat tilapia dry with paper towel, season all over with 1-2 teaspoons mojo spice mix (to taste preference, we use about 1 and 1/2 teaspoons), 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper as desired, and then gently rub in seasoning to all sides of the fish. When oil is shimmering, add tilapia. Fry (working in batches as needed) until browned on bottom, 3-5 minutes. Flip and cook until spices are blackened and fish is cooked through (opaque and flakes easily with a fork) about 3-5 more minutes. Remove fish from the heat. Season if needed with additional salt.
TO SERVE: Separate the rice evenly between plates and add tilapia right on top. Generously spoon pineapple salsa on top of everything. Serve with fresh lime wedges (drizzle lime on right before serving) and enjoy!
Note 1: You will likely have more pineapple salsa than "needed" to top fish, but we like a lot on top! OR the extra you can finish off with chips You can halve the pineapple salsa recipe, but I like it as written so I don't waste the rest of the veggies.

domain: food


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Wow - I am not sure where time has gone. The last several months have been filled with lots of things. Sadness and loss, joy and accomplishment, and celebrations of new beginnings. I have missed writing!
March was a sad month. We said goodbye to a family member who has always been a part of my life. My brother-in-law Jerome left us quite suddenly and much to all of our dismay. He was such a gentle, quiet, good-humored man. We are all missing him very much - I can't imagine the emptiness it has left for his wife, my sister Jeanette. My heart aches for his children, Jessica and Josh and for his grandchild, Josie as I know the pain of unfulfilled expectations of time spent together. We wish you were still with us, Jerome!
It was also sad because we moved our dear friends further away then I imagined. The move marked an end to a time that was filled with wonderful togetherness, gratitude and joy. Our spontaneous get-togethers and spur of the moment "movie nights" were now replaced with thought-out plans and intentional gatherings. Still sprinkled with gratitude but marked with the sense that life would not ever be the same. A few months later we moved these dear friends again, now to a permenant situation, now to the reality that life truly has changed. The sting of events past somehow softened by the hope of the future, we celebrate new beginnings together. The joy of friendships that transcend time and events can not be explained. We have laughed, cried, felt frightened, experienced excitment, felt angry -together - And all has only bound these friendships tighter together. So, on to new times our dear old friends!
These days of late have left me with a haunting sense that life is not what we imagine it will be, not always. It has twists and turns that surprise, delight, and even devastate at times. It has shown me that pain teaches our hearts to experience joy with abandon, if we allow it. It has also shown me that while we have such little control over the ebb and flow of life, we can trust God. He has complete control. He is good. Regardless of circumstances, His love never changes toward us. We may feel confused about the "why's" and "how's", but when we understand that His will is NEVER evil, we can let go of it. We can lay our broken and bruised hearts at His feet and He tenderly binds them up in His time. One of my favorite songs right now, by David Crowder says it so beautifully. Click here to listen to it.

domain: literature


What is InVision anyway?
Facilities are an organization’s largest financial asset, second-largest expense, and biggest long-term obligation. This means that even a small incremental improvement in facility management can result in enormous financial savings, and far more efficient and secure operations. These sweeping benefits go unrealized for many organizations simply because facility management is such an ingrained, complex, and fractured venture.
The key to these improvements and savings is rooted in one concept: location. The location of people, places, and objects is the ONLY attribute that all the disparate facility data have in common — and that everyone in an organization understands.
The thoughtful deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can tackle, organize, and unlock this huge facility management potential — potential that is hidden in plain sight for most organizations.
Through facilities GIS, InVision delivers far more efficient management and protection of facilities infrastructure, buildings, and assets. Remarkable savings and efficiencies result from it.
The InVision Software Suite
InVision is a software suite that uses location as the organizing principle to create order out of complex facility data — making your information more intelligible and valuable. By managing your facility data geographically, InVision facilitates strategic portfolio planning as well as day-to-day facility management, operations, maintenance, and safety and security.
InVision Secure gives Safety & Security Managers the tools to inventory and inspect a wide range of public safety assets from fire extinguishers to AED devices to CCTV cameras and much more.
InVision FM will enable field workers, analysts, and managers across the organization to collect, manage, analyze, and report on facilities information so that executives can be empowered to make data-driven decisions.
At the core of all InVision solutions is InVision Foundation. IVF provides the underlying platform upon which all the InVision modules and applications are empowered.
InVision InSite is for real property managers and portfolio analysts to better understand and manage their real property portfolio.
InVision Connect enables you to integrate various enterprise information sources to create a more holistic understanding of the overall facilities.


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Place the coriander stalks and roots in a small food processor or blender, reserving the sprigs to garnish. Add the curry paste, chilli powder, galangal or ginger, two of the lime leaves and garlic and puree to a smooth paste.
Pour the milk from the can of coconut milk into a jug leaving the cream behind.
Heat a wok to the smoking hot stage. Scrape the coconut cream out of the can and add to the wok. Quickly add the curry paste mixture and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Next add the beef and fry for a further 8-10 minutes until lightly browned.
Now add the coconut milk, the stock and the remaining lime leaves. Bring to a gentle the boil and then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour until the beef is almost tender. Stir in the the butternut squash and cook for another 20-25 minutes until the beef and butternut squash are cooked through and completely tender.
Finally stir in the tamarind or lime juice and the fish sauce. Serve in deep bowls with a sprinkling of spring onions, coriander sprigs and the steamed rice.


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I have a love-hate relationship with literary awards. I love them because they provide me with countless tales to add to my ‘must-read’ list. I hate them because, oddly, they can make me feel strangely inadequate intellectually when I simply do not like or ‘get’ the overall winner. Is it me or is it the literati, the doyens and doyennes of all things literary and wonderful that are best to judge what makes a novel brilliant? I battle with this notion constantly which leads to me to a heart-breaking confession. I have read The Catcher in the Rye three times. It is supposed to be one the great American novels that defined a generation of readers and writers. I did not enjoy it. Three times. All I can say to you J.D. Salinger is that I tried.
Thankfully 2011’s Man Booker prize winner left me with no such feelings of inadequacy. Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending was an absolute delight to read; a real pleasure. It’s fairly short but doesn’t suffer from that. The character development of protagonist and narrator Tony Webster unfolds beautifully. His personal journey of self-discovery and reflection is not ground-breaking but Barnes beautifully weaves Webster’s journey through moments of his personal history with his current dilemmas.
There are no big tricks in Barnes’ prose. It is a simple tale about a man’s reflections on his fairly unexceptional life. But the journey is wonderful and the few surprises we are given are welcome and thrilling.
Donna Tartt’s seminal The Goldfinch could be described as a coming of age novel with a young orphan boy as protagonist. But The Goldfinch’s Theo Decker is no Oliver Twist. He is flawed and far from infallible which makes his story all the more heart-wrenching and believable. I have never been a teenage boy. But unlike J.D. Salinger’s Holden Caulfield who I never related to, Decker is entirely relatable. His losses are excruciating as Tartt merges anger, sorrow and confusion into a successful symbiosis of emotions.
There is an overriding melancholy that blankets the novel, but not in a suffocating way. It sits comfortably above the plot; near enough to be felt but far enough away that moments of joy and laughter can be felt. This melancholy is best understood through two important characters – one primarily absent and one whose presence is limited. Theo’s mother Audrey exists in a limited capacity at the beginning part of the novel, but she is as much an influence on her son in death as in life (and indeed the novel as a whole). Her bewitching presence reminds the reader of the brevity of life; that good people are involved in toxic and abusive relationships and work in vapid and uninspiring jobs. Good people can live pretty awful lives frankly. Lives that they live for others but not often for themselves. But Audrey remind us that pleasure can be found in the beauty of creativity. Her visits to the Met, the Frick and MOMA in NY are a celebration of her passion for art. Her unfinished art history studies at NYU remind us of the unfulfilled dreams of many before life gets in the way. I’ve read a couple reviews about The Goldfinch. It’s hard not to. But none have recognised the importance of Audrey and her influence over Theo’s very being. It seems the tragedy of her absence by death in the novel is treated by absence outside of it.
The second character that Tartt achingly develops is that of Mrs Barbour. Mrs Barbour with all her affectations of upper East Side Stepford wife is so incredibly layered, her depth cannot be overestimated. Mrs Barbour begins and ends the novel as a character that is seemingly always out of reach of the grasp of Theo. Emotionally and physically Mrs Barbour is always a step away. As her physical absence gives way to emotional absence, her influence over Theo’s world is always there. Mrs Harbour is a difficult character to like. When juxtaposed against Audrey her passion for the arts is seemingly the monetary value of art rather than any appreciation of it. She can be selfish, difficult and more concerned with the opinions of others than of her own family. And yet Mrs Barbour is fundamentally vulnerable. When the glossy fragile world she has built around her dissipates, what remains is a shell of a being.
The Goldfinch is a hefty read. At over 700 pages, it requires commitment. But it’s commitment that I believe brings great rewards once the final page has been read.

domain: library


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I followed a "Tumbleweed”
"Into the Northwoods” and came out with a "Woodcarvers Star”
I’m not sure if I have made it clear how obsessed I am with
Judy Niemeyer patterns. I always have at
least one underway. Today is
different….I have 3.
Last summer I went to Vashon island to a new quilt store (to
me) and bought the fabrics for Tumbleweeds.
I wanted to make something bright and think I went a bit overboard.
finally got this one quilted and almost finished with the binding.
I had "Into the Northwoods” on the longarm I would hop back and forth between
sewing the binding on "Tumbleweeds” to piecing "Woodcarvers Star”. Since I don’t have a design wall (yet), I use
my floor. I usually don’t have enough
floor space to lay out the quilt completely so this time I gave in and moved a
chair to another room. This allowed
"Woodcarvers Star” to fit on the floor – almost.
afflicted with a lack of patience, I always lay out the whole quilt before I
start piecing the blocks together.
This is probably the best thing to do anyway, just in case colors were
confused and corrections need to be made.
Fortunately, it all worked out.
then started putting together the blocks on "Woodcarver’s Star” while I
finished the quilting on "Into the Northwoods”.
Fortunately the timing worked out perfectly. I finished quilting "Into the Northwoods” at
the same time I had the rows together on "Woodcarvers Star”.
Into the Northwood was a creative challenge for me. There are no digitized designs for this one
yet as it is such a new pattern. I had
to figure out my own pattern. This is
what I did…I may just make my own patterns in the future!
Once I have the blocks together it is time for rows. I always find it easier to stage the rows on
the longarm. It helps if there is still
a quilt there to make a ‘table’. This
time there was.
I hope to have all 3 finished today before the grandkids
come over this evening. It’s raining and
the hubs is out dirt bike riding so I just may get them all finished in one

domain: artistic


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By Lauri M. Baker
As temperatures cool over the winter, you may be ready to breathe a sigh of relief as you enjoy a break from the summer’s constant annoyance of pests like mosquitos and ticks. But think again. An age-old belief is that ticks die off in winter months. Unfortunately, this is a myth.
While your chance of tick bites is lower in the winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ticks still search for a host any time the temperature is above freezing. For residents in the Southeastern United States, this is most of the winter months.
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) has partnered with the Southeastern Center for Vector Borne Disease to study public engagement online and understanding of tick-borne diseases. The goal is to develop better educational programming for agricultural producers and others who spend time outside working, hunting or engaging in other recreational activities.
Two Troublesome Ticks
Vector-borne diseases, like those from ticks, are on the rise. Two specific ticks of concern for growers and their families are:
- Lone star tick: Alpha-gal syndrome is a red-meat allergy that comes from being bitten by the lone star tick. The lone star tick is prevalent in the Southeast and bites humans aggressively in all life cycles, which is why year-round preventative methods are needed.
- Asian longhorned tick: The Asian longhorned tick is a major concern for animal producers. This tick prefers cattle but will feed on dogs and cats. The Asian longhorned tick has been identified in 17 states and has devasted entire cattle herds in some cases. Calves are particularly vulnerable.
Highlights from the PIE Center’s research on online communication about ticks shows people are less likely to search for tick diseases and prevention or risks during the winter months, but vigilance throughout all seasons is essential. For growers who offer agritourism experiences, it is also important to treat your spaces and remind your visitors how they can protect themselves.
Based on this research, the PIE Center recommends producers and agricultural organizations interested in engaging in online conversations about ticks or tick diseases should use visuals to help convey their messages on social media.
Visit piecenter.com/ticktalk for more about the research and resources mentioned in this article.
Lauri M. Baker is an associate professor of agricultural communications with the University of Florida. Other contributing authors include Cheng-Xian Yang, Ashley McLeod-Morin and Ricky W. Telg.

domain: biology


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1 - Stunning landscapes - most of impressive reasons to go to Vietnam
Vietnam owns rich various landscapes from north to south. Up to the north, the karst geology creates the world heritage site of Halong bay, also the world largest cave Son Doong. Down to the south Can Gio Mangrove Forest is a biosphere reserve, an important wildlife sanctuary cannot be missed. Also, getting panoramic views from the rooftop of Indochina Mountain, Sapa to the long coast-line in Central Vietnam. The larger sea and islands and the unending rice fields are the first reason to visit Vietnam
Mountains and caves in Vietnam (Source: Le Tan)
2 - The Architecture
Vietnam has a rich history of traditional architecture; it involves of Asian and European styles with ancient wooden frames of Hue Citadel and modernization of the contemporary architecture of Golden Bridge – Ba Na Hill.
3 - History of defending nation
Dating back to 2,000 years of history, Vietnam has a complicated history of defending the nation from the influence of the Chinese, the Mongo invasion, conquered by French colonialism, Japanese troops and the Americans. That is one of most exciting reasons why you should visit Vietnam.
4 - Spectacular Historic sites
My Son Sanctuary (Source: Localvietnam)
Vietnam has a rich ancient history of defending itself. Regardless, numerous sites have been destroyed, there are dozens still left from along the country you can name: Hue citadel, Khai Dinh Tomb, Cu Chi Tunnels, My Son Cham Ruins etc.
5 - Delicious food - big reason to visit Vietnam
Vietnam’s cuisine is fascinating, well recognized by international tourists. Stopping by any stalls in the street, you can grab a staple Banh Mi, fresh spring rolls and the signature Pho beef noodle soup.
6 - Friendly People
Vietnamese people (Source: Thehumansbeingproject)
Vietnamese people would love to show their hospitality to welcome tourists, it is called the land of smiles.
7 - A safe country
Many tourists quoted “Vietnam is probably one of safest places in my travels over the years.” You may be annoyed by nagging street vendors or scam taxis. Also be aware of traffic while crossing roads.
8 - Different weather from north to south
An interesting reason why travel to Vietnam is the diversity of landscape, food and culture in different regions and areas. Vietnam has subtropical monsoon weather, differences from north to south, month to month. There is no perfect time to visit the country. Make your plan and visit the country anytime of the year
9 - Full of activities
Taking a motorbike out of bustle Hanoi running up north to the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark or down to the south of the S-shaped country would be life experience. Dropping by Halong world heritage site to witness the stunning views of the bay or indulging by Thu Bon riverside by the sunset.
10 - Reasonable and affordable price
Another great reason to visit Vietnam why recently Vietnam is attracting more and more budget travelers. Hostels or dorms are priced as low as $4 per night, street food by the hostel doors at $1 - $2. Decent Airbnb or 3 stars hotel is not more than $40 per night
11 - Diverse culture
Hue's Royal Court Music (Source: Thehumansbeingproject)
Vietnam has a rich history and traditional culture with 54 ethnic groups habitat by the rivers, influenced mostly by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Many of unique attractive art, Water Puppets, Quan ho singing, and Hue's Royal Court Music
12 - Most attractive beach along the country
With more than 3,000km coastline, Vietnam has top charming beaches in the world, white sands and water fit for water activities. Can be named in Nha Trang, Hue, Danang and Phu Quoc
13 - Historical and heritage sites
Historical sites and heritage sites scattered throughout the s-shaped country some of the best are Ancient Hoi An town, Hanoi Old Quarter, Ancient Hue Citadel.
Vietnam is really a fascinating destination with many amazing things of nature, food, culture and people. There are lots of reasons that can pull your legs to take a trip to this heaven land. Coming here, you will find out the best answer for why is Vietnam a great place to visit?

domain: travel


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Partly as a result of the continuing pandemic’s hit on retail sales, email is proving to be a vital marketing tool — with social media a close second.
The “2020 State of Email, Fall Edition” report from email marketing firm Litmus found that 77 percent of marketers said email is one of their two most effective marketing channels. Additionally, 78 percent of marketing executives indicated email marketing is vital to the overall success of their company, a seven percent increase since last year.
The report, based on responses from more than 2,000 marketers, noted that ROI must be properly measured and reported in order to capitalize on the potential of email. That is a problem area for many organizations.
Just 16 percent of respondents said their company measures email marketing’s ROI well or very well. Zeroing in on that point, 45 percent of respondents cited ROI measurement of email marketing efforts as poor, very poor, or non-existent.
“The report showcases why email should be front and center in every single marketing mix,” said Litmus CMO Melissa Sargeant. “In today’s marketing environment, with brands working to break through the clutter of digital advertisements in an efficient and timely manner, personalization and targeted messaging needs to take priority.”
Many companies also fail to adequately personalize email campaigns based on subscriber data and ensure that email lists are current, ignoring one of marketing’s best practices. More than one-third of the respondents said they do not remove inactive subscribers from their mailing lists unless they opt out.
Outdated email lists can hurt ROI, defeating the purpose of personalizing emails and also contribute to security issues. More than half of respondents indicated they seldom run emails through a spam filter test to identify possible deliverability problems before sending.
The report points to marketers’ preference for taking an email-first approach for overall marketing effectiveness. Four out of five respondents said they would give up their brand’s social media for 12 months rather than give up email marketing for the same period of time.
Email is an effective marketing tool to create unparalleled ROI and maximize customer engagement, according to Sargeant.
“What makes email the most dependable channel available is the ability to garner subscriber engagement data and information to inform overall brand messaging, and, additionally, the capability to personalize content,” she told the E-Commerce Times.
Nearly all of the marketing respondents (94 percent) noted that email is one of their three most effective marketing channels. Fifty-four percent expect to send more emails this year than they did in 2019.
Sixty percent of marketing executives said they also planned to send more emails in 2020. Nearly 90 percent of respondents are conducting A/B tests on their emails. More than one quarter do so “often” or “always.”
Building in better personalization is becoming more prevalent in email campaigns. Brands are getting smarter about personalization, Sargeant observed.
“They have realized that it is much more than just inserting the recipient’s first name, as other behavioral statistics are more utilized than in the past, like previous product and email interactions and past purchases,” she said.
The Litmus report focused on polling marketing professionals with survey questions primarily about how their organizations managed email marketing campaigns. That makes sense when you consider Litmus has its own email marketing platform.
But Litmus officials recognized that social media can be an effective platform to supplement email campaigns. Brands are using email more and thus have experienced a subsequent increase in reliance on email marketing. That approach breaks through the clutter of digital advertisements in an efficient and timely manner, Sargeant explained.
“Personalization and targeted messages created through [customer] data have become a priority for everyone. Email gives marketers the ability to personalize brand experiences and even influence an entire mix with post-send and performance analytics,” she said.
That, in turn, drives organization-wide messaging and multichannel marketing strategy. Email is sexy again with continued innovation in areas like dark mode, graphics, and personalization, she added.
Email and Social Media
Still, email marketing and social media can work together to drive engagement for both channels and improve overall marketing strategy. Content or topics that are relevant in social can drive email content and vice versa.
“The more you leverage insights from both channels, the more lift you achieve. Social is instantaneous and allows marketing teams to get up to the second insights into what prospects are interested in. And, just as important, you can quickly see how that changes over time. Like email, social can drive personalized engagement and create human-to-human connections if utilized properly,” Sargeant said.
Marketers have a solid toolset using both email and social media for ad campaigns, according to Healy Jones, managing director at Fitness Masterly.
“I have seen huge success with brands that use the targeting / remarketing features on social [media] in conjunction with email campaigns. Specifically, platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn let marketers upload email lists to target those individuals in campaigns,” he told the E-Commerce Times.
A strategy that Jones has seen work is delivering the same message through both email and social media. Starting with priming the pump via targeted social media a week or so before the email promotion can increase the email campaign’s performance significantly.
“I’ve seen up to a 30 percent boost, he offered.
Social’s Sweet Spot
However, social media is often the better option for an ad platform. Its worldwide reach is compelling, countered Chelsea Hunt-Riveram, co-founder of Honest Paws.
“There is nothing you cannot see on the Internet. With just a couple of clicks, your audience can already interact with you. That means, more chances of recognition await,” she told the E-Commerce Times.
But it is also risky since you are dealing with people from around the world in the most convenient way possible. One wrong move can ruin your reputation, warned Hunt-Riveram.
“But if we are talking about accessibility and efficiency, social media opens bigger opportunities for your business. In social media, creativity is not limited. There is so much to do with it like marketing through text, surveys, photos videos, posts, vlogs, blogs, tweets, and others. Unlike with email that you’re already limited with an HD video or two,” she said.
Dodging Spam Filters
Marketers relying on the email-first doctrine must overcome the glut of spam filters. Spam filters can be tricky as the process of labeling emails as such is often somewhat random, suggested Michael Anderson, marketing & SEO specialist at GeoJango Maps.
“However, you can decrease your chances of having your emails labeled as spam by specifying a real reply-to email address and entering in your full business name as the sender,” he told the E-Commerce Times.
Applying a few insider tips can help to better handle spam filter interference, according to Kent Lewis, president & founder of Anvil Media. For instance, the best way to combat spam filters is to develop a multifaceted approach.
“First, I recommend double opt-in to reduce recipient confusion and maximize commitment. Second, I suggest reminding recipients to add the emails to Safe Senders. Lastly, pay a premium as necessary to ensure you have a whitelisted and bonded ESP to minimize loss to filters,” Lewis told the E-Commerce Times.

domain: news


Oregon's dominant performance in a 59-10 win at Virginia on Sept. 7 moved the Ducks into the No. 2 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, and the victory had a similar effect on the second Football Four Playoff Projection.
Five panelists moved Oregon into No. 2 spot this week, and two moved the Ducks to the No. 1 line. The Ducks gained 15 points in the week's polling, best of any team. Of the other top teams, Alabama lost three points, Clemson had no change, and Ohio State lost 11.
"I moved Oregon ahead of Ohio State not because of Braxton Miller's injury or anything related to Ohio State," explained panelist Ryan Dunleavy of New Jersey Press Media. "Oregon's 59-10 win is impressive but we've seen it many times before. It's another that it happened on the road at another BCS program. And it's another that Virginia was coming off a win against BYU, which proved how explosive it can be by rolling over Texas."
PREVIOUSLY: Projection after Week 1
Michigan was the lone new team to join the projection since the first week, appearing on two panelists' ballots. Last week the break line was between positions 4 and 5 (Oregon and LSU, respectively). This week, with Oregon's surge, the biggest break occurs between 3 and 4 (Clemson and Ohio State, respectively).
The Playoff Projection is intended to show what the College Football Playoff pairings might be if they were to be set today. This is purely a mock selection with no bearing on any official polls, rankings or standings.
The panel's projections will be published each week during the 2013 season, just like the BCS Standings that debut in October.
The voting after the season's second week:
Based on the votes of our 16-person panel, if the playoff were to be set today, the semifinal pairings would be:
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Clemson
Four points were awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a No. 2, two for No. 3 and one for a No. 4. Those points were then summed for each team that received a vote. Here are this week's complete results:
1. Alabama (52), 2. Oregon (39), 3. Clemson (35), 4. Ohio State (14), 5. LSU (8), 6. Georgia (5), 7. Michigan (4), 8. Stanford (2), 9. Washington (1).
Here is the running tally of points earned so far this season.
1. Alabama (107), 2. Clemson (70), 3. Oregon (63), 4. Ohio State (39), 5. LSU (19), 6. Georgia (8), 7. Stanford (5), 8. (tie) Michigan, Washington (4), 10. Florida State (1).
In the panelists' words:
Matt Brown, Sports On Earth: "Alabama and Oregon are clearly the 1-2 in my mind. I had them there in the preseason, and nothing has happened to change what I think. Clemson has the best win of the season so far, so the Tigers are in. LSU looks like it may finally have a passing game and has a win over TCU, which, for now, gives it the edge over Ohio State, Stanford, Texas A&M and others."
Dan Shanoff, USA TODAY Sports: "Why does Georgia get the top-seed nod over Clemson, a team that UGA lost to just a week ago? That's the beauty of a playoff: Because both teams qualify for the four-team field, we can reward Georgia for playing the toughest two-game schedule in the country: Nearly beating Clemson at Clemson AND beating South Carolina is a more impressive resume than Clemson edging Georgia at home and then beating up on a cream-puff in Week 2.
"This is how the playoff system was intended to work: We can judge the body of work ahead of superficialities like 'But they're undefeated!' or even 'But they beat them head-to-head!' (Meanwhile, Clemson's win over Georgia now looks even better, cementing them as the clear-cut No. 2 seed, ahead of two teams more theoretically great than proven against great opponents.)
Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports: "I dropped Alabama out this week because I'm voting strictly on body of work. Alabama's win over Virginia Tech was fine, but Michigan beating Notre Dame put them at No. 2, for the moment. There isn't much to go on just two weeks into the season, but these four teams have beaten the best opponents so far and looked the most impressive doing it."
Football Four is on Twitter @TheFootballFour.
PHOTOS: THIS WEEK'S TOP GAMES


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|Imaged sourced from here|
This is the story of Lily, a white, 13 year old girl in 1964 South Carolina. She is lonely and abused by her father, both physically and emotionally. One day she accompanies her housekeeper into town, who is going to register to vote for the very first time, and things happen that lead to her and Rosaleen running away from home.
They end up staying with an incredibly interesting household of sisters in a town 2 hours away who keep bees and have very different rituals and habits. They have been lead here by a card Lily found in her mother's things. They are pretty much adopted by the sisters and all their friends as well. The underlying social problem here is they are all people of colour, and Lily is not, in a southern state during the civil rights movement. Not that any of them have a problem with this, but it lingers in the book.
I have a few issues with the book. One, is I cannot fathom how much Lily lies to the sisters. I find August, May and even June likable, fascinating and incredibly generous people. And they let Lily and Rosaleen stay in their house, no questions asked, not knowing who they are for several months. And anytime something about the past comes up, Lily lies. I can't stand it. But I don't like lying much. I just want to shake the girl and point out everything the sisters have given her, at considerable personal risk, and yet, she won't even tell them her last name.
The other thing is while the sister's spiritualism and religion is interesting, and I was interested in knowing the stories, I got a little over it. I mean, as in I got it. I got what they were trying to say. I didn't need it all spelt out to me in odd honey smearings. Or just spelt out to me.
But lastly, I just felt ill during the second half of the book. Mainly as I knew what the narrative climax was going to have to be, I was terrified it was going to go the way I didn't want it to go. I guess that is a credit to the book really. I was that worried about the characters, even the slightly sociopathic 13 year old liar child, I felt ill.
I read it as part of a team challenge, I had to read a chick lit book. It was more than just chick lit though, which is why I am glad I read it instead of some of my other options. But if this sounds like your kind of book, and you like a spiritualism/self discovery aspect to your novels, then you'll probably like it more than me. And you should read it.


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“Hugo” Wins 3 Top Honors
“TinTin,” “Puss In Boots,” “The Lion King” and “Pina” Honored
3net, BSkyB UK and NHK Japan Presented with TV Awards
The International 3D Society bestowed 28 honors for “distinguished achievement” in the 3D creative arts Wednesday night at a black-tie ceremony held at the Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles. “Hugo” (Paramount Pictures) swept several categories including: Best Live Action 3D Feature, Best Stereography – Live Action, and Best 3D Moment of the Year. The Society’s Lumiere™ statuettes were also presented to: “The Adventures of TinTin” (Paramount Pictures) for Best Animated 3D feature, “Puss In Boots” (DreamWorks Animation, DWA) for Best Stereography – Animation, and “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) for Best 2D to 3D Conversion.
“Hugo” director Martin Scorsese received the Society’s Harold Lloyd Filmmaker Award, which was presented by Lloyd’s granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd.
Sony Corporation of America was honored with the Sir Charles Wheatstone Award for education at its Sony 3D Technology Center in Culver City, CA.
“The range and quality of 3D production across all platforms reached extraordinary new heights this year,” said Society Chairman Jim Mainard of DreamWorks Animation (DWA).
“Our theme for the night was ‘art form.’ Our honorees demonstrated that 3D is coming of age as an artistic statement, as well as technical marvel,” said Society President, Jim Chabin.
The Society’s television partner, 3net, a 3D TV channel by Discovery, Sony and IMAX, will air a one-hour special, “Your World in 3D,” highlighting nominated works and red carpet interviews from the Ceremony.
Award winners include:
3D Short Motion Picture/Narrative: “The Foundling” (RSA Films)
3D Documentary: “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” (Creative Differences)
A special “Jury Prize” for Excellence: “Pina” (Neue Road Films)
Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Entertainment: “Fields of Valor: Civil War” (3net)
Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Live Event: “Ayumi Hamasaki: Arena Tour” (Sony Japan)
Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Live Sports: “Champions League Final” (BSkyB)
Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Ad/Commercial: “Best Buy 3D”
Electronic Broadcast Media (Television) – Short: “Foster the People – Don’t Stop” (Digital Revolution Studios)
Special Attraction – “King Kong 360 3D” (Universal Studios Hollywood)
3D Videogame – Portable: “Street Fighter IV” (Capcom)
3D Videogame – Console: “Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception” (Naughty Dog-Sony Computer Electronics)
3D Videogame – PC: “Batman: Arkham City” (Warner Brothers)
International “Jury Prizes” were presented to:
Beijing Film Academy (China) – “The Light of Shanghai Expo”
KT Skylife (Korea) – “3D Microspace”
NHK (Japan) – “The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami”
Nippon Television (Japan) – “3D Baseball Live”
Sony (Japan) – “Final Fantasy”
Bandai (Japan) – “Hipura”
Fuji Television (Japan) – “Tokyo Control”
About the International 3D Society
The International 3D Society is a community of professionals dedicated to the advancement of the art and sciences of stereoscopic 3D technologies and content through education, hands on demonstration and celebration. For more information please visit www.international3dsociety.com.
International 3D Society sponsors include Signature Sponsors Panasonic and Korea Telecom, as well as Founding Sponsors: 3ality Technica, Dolby, DreamWorks Animation (DWA), IMAX, MasterImage 3D, PIXAR, Sony Corporation of America, The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and XPAND 3D.

domain: entertainment


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Gifts for Cat Lovers in watercolor on cold press paper
My grandmother, who managed her own garden and orchard, sometimes "borrowed" cats from her farmer neighbors. Using cream and fish and affection as bait, she acquired several cats in this manner. My father told me that the neighbors knew exactly where their cats were disappearing, but my grandmother was too sweet and cheerful for anyone to mind.
Gladys was the last cat my grandmother owned. My grandfather had passed away, blight had forced the orchard to be cut down, and the garden ran wild, but my grandmother still had a constant companion in Gladys. Gladys was loyal and protective of my grandmother, even though she hid when the grandchildren became too noisy.
You can see this painting on a mug, shirt, or other item by clicking Ginger Cat Art
Please note that all copyright and reproduction rights remain with the artist.
I have sold my paintings on Ebay for many years and I am proud to be an affiliate.

domain: hobby


Ray Schneider, Herscher’s six-term mayor, has decided not to run for re-election in the spring. Schneider, a Herscher native, was first elected mayor in 1989. He was 34 years old when he first became mayor and will be leaving at the age of 65.
Except for the years he spent in Dubai for work, from 1998 to 2008, he has led the village’s board meetings and heard the concerns of countless citizens. The population of Herscher has increased by more than 400 people during Schneider’s tenure.
Schneider states, “It has been rewarding to be at the leadership when the board is working toward a common goal.” He continues, “Most of the board members have been pleasant to work with, especially the last eight years. Everybody on that board has a common goal which is the betterment of the town and its citizens.”
He feels his most noteworthy accomplishments to date include establishing the enterprise zone along Rt. 115 while still striving to keep downtown business alive. Sidewalk improvements along Park Road, and ADA accessibility ramp and doors at the Herscher Village Hall are also high on the list.
Since retiring from Chicago Bridge & Iron in June 2019, Schneider can often be seen at the Village Hall working on village matters. He also enjoys playing golf and spending time with family.
Schneider has two children and five grandchildren. He and his wife, Sally, have taken several mission trips in the past. In addition, he has traveled to 28 countries as a result of business and personal travel. The Schneiders hope to travel more extensively when the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.


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CROSS OVER TO THE FUNNY SIDE WITH A GREAT READ
Submitted. It’s time to chuckle, chortle, and laugh your way to Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) to join the 2014 Summer Reading Club – there’s one for every age! All of the clubs are free to join and participants can win fantastic prizes. Sign up starts mid-June and continues throughout the summer. Visit your favourite FVRL location to join.
Read to Me Summer Reading Club (0 to Preschool)
Little ones get stickers, prizes and medals. Keep track of the reading you do with your child.
Kids Summer Reading Club (Grade K to 6)
Join SRC and get a hilarious reading record designed by BC illustrator Jeremy Tankard. Win prizes, see awesome shows, and earn a medal. Just read every day!
Teen Summer Reading Club (Grades 7 to 12)
Pick up reading record. Read. Enter to win prizes. Repeat. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Adult Summer Reading Club (Everyone Else)
Don’t let the kids have all the fun! Enter draws for every seven days of reading. The more your read, the more chances you have to win.
FVRL will be hosting fun free programs and contests all summer long. This is your chance to cross over to the funny side. For more Summer Reading Club information, please visit www.fvrl.ca or your closest FVRL location.
ABOUT FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY
Fraser Valley Regional Library is the largest public library system in British Columbia, with 25 community libraries serving almost 700,000 people in its service area. Established in 1930, it is funded with taxes raised in the community it serves, plus a Government of BC operating grant. The governing Board consists of elected officials representing 15 member municipalities and regional districts. With its mission “to connect people to the world of information and ideas,” FVRL plays a prominent role in the communities throughout the Fraser Valley.
FVRL MEMBER LIBRARIES
|Clearbrook||Fort Langley||George Mackie|
|Hope||Ladner Pioneer||City of Langley|
|Maple Ridge||Mission||Mount Lehman|
|Muriel Arnason||Murrayville||Pitt Meadows|
|Walnut Grove||White Rock||Yale|


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Fake, Photoshopped, or pure foolishness, a tattoo of your favorite sports figure is ridiculous under any circumstances. Tattoos are supposed to have meaning and we get it; however, does a tattoo of a sports figure who is a stranger that really doesn’t care much about you make sense?
Over the years we have seen some interesting (for lack of a better word) tattoos including that crazy face tattoo we posted a few months ago. Recently, an overzealous Floyd Mayweather fan took the term fanatical to new heights when he got a mural of his favorite boxer on his back. Not only did this guy get a very large tattoo of Floyd with his title belt, but he seemed to ink a mural of the “Money” Mayweather lifestyle in Sin City. He went all out and even included the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the MGM hotel, a roulette table, the iconic Hard Rock Hotel & Casino guitar sign, and the historic route 66 sign.
Getting a tattoo across your back isn’t exactly the smartest idea especially considering what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas. Luckily, Floyd Mayweather appreciates all his fans.


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Gen. David Petraeus recently took command of U.S. forces in Iraq, Ryan Crocker is the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Adm. William J. Fallon recently became commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East. All are skeptics of the previous strategy. The State Department also has a new chief of reconstruction in Iraq who had been a harsh critic of the war's early policies.
The changes came as President Bush has warmed to strategies and ideas he once rejected to turn around the violence and chaos in Iraq, such as sending thousands more troops to the country in an effort to calm Baghdad.
His new crop of Iraq leaders bypasses ideologues and loyalists in favor of professionals with experience in Iraq and war zones.
"None of them are particularly ideological or were associated with the original public push for the war," said Kurt Campbell, chief executive officer of the nonpartisan, centrist Center for a New American Security. The new leaders "are probably quietly appalled that we find ourselves in the situation that we do in Iraq," Campbell said. Last fall's firing of former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was meant to carry a powerful message, but the gradual replacement of generals, diplomats and leaders has attracted less attention.
Rumsfeld's replacement, Robert Gates, summed up the administration's awkward position Friday, and implicitly acknowledged the political pressure to end the war.
The administration will assess Iraq's political progress when deciding this summer whether to bring home some of the thousands of extra troops Bush has sent this spring, Gates said during a visit to Baghdad.
"Our commitment to Iraq is long-term, but it's not a commitment to having our young men and women patrolling Iraq's streets open-endedly," Gates said.
Last week, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley noted several of the other personnel changes and said they give the administration a chance to rethink how it manages the war. The overall war chief Hadley wants to hire would report directly to Bush. Crocker and Petraeus went to Iraq in the first months of the war and emerged disappointed with some of the administration's choices and the management style of U.S. leaders in Baghdad.
Although neither has been a strong critic of the administration, both have suggested that crucial chances were blown at the start. Timothy Carney, the State Department's newly named Iraq reconstruction chief, also had firsthand experience in Iraq in the early months of the war.
All share a reputation for shrewdness and pragmatism. Their writings and resumes suggest they will make the best of a 5-year-old war that has not gone as planned, with an eye to getting U.S. forces and advisers out as fast as possible.
Crocker is one of the State Department's most experienced Middle East experts and has worked for both Republican and Democratic presidents. He reportedly warned then-Secretary of State Colin Powell before the 2003 invasion that toppling Saddam Hussein would lift the lid on sectarian violence in Iraq.
In the summer of 2003 Crocker was a top political adviser to the U.S.-led occupation government, the Coalition Provisional Authority. He worked to set up an Iraqi governing council, and almost immediately ran into trouble recruiting qualified Sunni Muslim leaders and persuading some of his U.S. colleagues that they must include Sunnis, the minority elite that ruled the country under Saddam. After Crocker left Iraq, the Sunni-Shiite sectarian violence he had feared rose to become a bigger source of killing than the anti-American insurgency that targets U.S. troops. Crocker went back to Baghdad last month to replace the talented Zalmay Khalilzad, an energetic Afghan-born U.S. diplomat with a Republican pedigree. Although Khalilzad made inroads with Sunni leaders and developed a reputation as a dealmaker, Crocker may carry greater credibility across sectarian lines and among other Arab governments. Petraeus brings experience and perspective to the top U.S. military job in Baghdad, having commanded the 101st Airborne Division during the initial invasion in 2003. He then returned to build a viable program for training the Iraqi security forces.
Petraeus disliked the way some fellow military leaders tried to rout the incipient insurgency in 2003, suggesting that heavy-handed tactics would cause more problems than they might solve. He agreed with critics of the decision to disband the Iraqi army. Many former intelligence, security and military officials are believed to have joined the Sunni insurgency after former U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer disbanded Iraq's 350,000-member military in May 2003, a month after Saddam's regime was ousted. Petraeus is also an author of the Army's new doctrine on how to fight a counterinsurgency, developed during his stint last year as head of the Combined Arms Center and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Petraeus' revamped strategy is designed to win back public support along with turf. Carney's return to Iraq this spring is more startling, given the retired diplomat's scathing assessment of what he called bad planning and bad choices immediately after the invasion.
Carney had spent two bitter months in Iraq in 2003. He left as a critic of the policy of wholesale "de-Baathification," or ridding Iraqi government and public service of members of Saddam's Baath party. Carney saw no point in firing ordinary civil servants.
Bush's new plan calls for the rehiring of many who were fired, and U.S. advisers are prodding Iraq's fragile Shiite-led government to pass a law addressing de-Baathification.
and encouraging Sunnis to rejoin the political process. Iraq's prime minister this month ordered pension payments for senior officers of Saddam's military and offered a return to service for lower-ranking soldiers. Ray DuBois, who served as acting under secretary of the Army earlier in the Iraq war, agreed that the new group of leaders represents a reappraisal, but doesn't read it as a sign of backtracking under political pressure to pull out of Iraq. DuBois, now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said: "The assignment of these folks in particular is in my view a recognition of the absolute importance of being successful in Iraq and Afghanistan."


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Kim Kardashian Wearing Marilyn Monroe's Dress Was A 'Big Mistake,' Designer Bob Mackie Says
Chrissy Teigen has apologized for her past toxic tweets, but last week, things got more complicated when designer Michael Costello posted what he claims were direct messages from Chrissy bullying him back in 2014. Now, Chrissy claims they were fake and has threatened potential legal action. Can the cookbook author recover from the drama? Crisis PR manager Eden Gillott weighs in on what it would take for her to bounce back.


GUESTLIST - ENTITLES YOU TO COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION UNTIL 11PM
The future has arrived in San Francisco. Its home—Temple Nightclub's Future Factory; a weekly event that showcases cutting edge artists at one of the world's most innovative clubs.
Complete with two futuristic-looking rooms, an unrivaled Void sound system, and state-of-the-art lights and visuals, #TheNewTemple is transforming the Bay Area nightlife experience.
While the other-worldly redesign of the new Temple is enough to leave partygoers in awe, the talent roster of the flagship Future Factory event is equally impressive. From Deep House to NuDisco, Future House and Techno, Temple continues to bring internationally renowned artists week after week.
About Yolanda be Cool
Yolanda Be Cool is an Australian electronic dance music duo who scored an international chart-topping hit with the house smash "We No Speak Americano" in 2010.
Comprised of Sylvester Martinez and Johnson Peterson, the duo hails from Sydney, Australia, and is affiliated with producer DCUP (born Duncan MacLennan). Yolanda Be Cool made their commercial recording debut with the Afro Nuts EP on the Australian independent label Sweat It Out in 2009. The following year they teamed up with DCUP on the house track "We No Speak Americano," which notably samples the 1956 song "Tu Vuò Fà l'Americano" by legendary Italian singer/songwriter Renato Carosone. Initially released on Sweat It Out and later licensed for release by numerous other labels, "We No Speak Americano" was an international smash hit in summer 2010, topping the charts in over a dozen countries, including most of Europe.
Their releases on Steve Aoki's Dim Mak label have seen them regularly touring stateside to a growing fan base and with a number of releases set for the coming months, their platinum flying status looks set to remain while their pivotal role in seminal Aussie label Sweat It Out has seen them maintain their legendary status in their home country.


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Kildare's success in securing Newbridge as a venue for their round 3 qualifier against Mayo has set Twitter alight.
Newbridge is the top trend in Ireland as media reports say a deal is set to be announced, with St Conleth's Park hosting the game at 7pm.
The game had previously been fixed for Croke Park but was the subject of a two-day standoff between Kildare and the GAA.
Here's the immediate reaction to the news...
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Well done @KildareGAA proper order. Took time but @officialgaa did the right thing. Let’s get on with the the 🏐 now. Enough rubbish all week and not Kildare’s doing. https://t.co/E87nfdNpE3— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) June 27, 2018
Don't think I'll go to Newbridge though with all the crowd trouble expected outside the ground. Better be safe than sorry— Colm Parkinson (@Woolberto) June 27, 2018
Massive credit to @KildareGAA for standing their ground and, ultimately, getting what is rightfully theirs in this case. #Kildare #NewbridgeOrNowhere #GAA— Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_) June 27, 2018
Newbridge it is👌 That’s a victory for what’s right💪 Fair play to Kildare County Board and the @KildareGAA Team, if you sit back and take it all the time you’ll keep getting it! W is for Win😉#NewbridgeOrNowhere #GAA pic.twitter.com/f6tQK2GEvI— Bill Hill (@BillHillWicklow) June 27, 2018
Fair play to @KildareGAA on their #NewbridgeOrNowhere stance. Hopefully the 8000 'ticket holders' will get a good game Saturday night. Kildare County Board now need to get their act together and sort out their stadium capacity for future games.— Geraldine Neenan (@geraldineneenan) June 27, 2018
Thought the capacity issue was a fair argument to move the game to Portlaoise. BUT bottom line, it was and had to be 100% Kildare’s choice under the circumstances. Entitled to dig in. GAA had no foot to stand on. Expecting a rule change at Congress...— Joe Molloy (@MolloyJoe) June 27, 2018
Seems like #Kildare have won the battle, but #GAA will no doubt win the war & tighten up their rules to ensure they can move games with impunity going forward. Up to counties to keep an eye on this & study the small-print.— David Sheehan (@DavidSSport) June 27, 2018


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From the Thorley Archives
Thorley's 1845 Tithe Map
Two years ago I was given a small, red notebook containing 'some information about Thorley that might be of interest to you'. The book had belonged to Miss D. Sortwell. She had painstakingly transcribed the complete record of details of the contents of the 1845 Thorley Tithe Award. The Thorley Parish records, stored at the Hertford Archive and Local Studies Office (HALS), listed the original written Award but they couldn't find its accompanying Tithe Map. The Public Record Office at Kew also had an original copy of our Tithe Apportionments (written details) but no map. Last year I enlisted the help of Wally Wright (Bishop's Stortford historian) and we were given permission to search for the map at HALS. We eventually tracked it down, filed under a different reference number, and we were allowed to photograph it for the Thorley archives.
Since the 8th century it was a legal obligation that landowners had to hand over a tenth of the produce of their land for the maintenance of the chancel of the church and provision of church worship. Great tithes from corn and hay went to the Rector who was responsible for this provision. Where an institution was responsible for the church or chapel then a Vicar was appointed to receive the small tithes from livestock, wool and non-cereal crops. After the Reformation Henry VIII 'sold' monastic tithe rights to lay people. Early in the 19th century the Nonconformist churches began to oppose this practice of the Established church and a Commutation Act was passed in 1836. A Tithe Commission appointed surveyors who produced large-scale maps and schedules for every parish between 1836 and 1852. Subsequent Tithe Acts meant that tithe charges gradually disappeared - the last ones were redeemed in 1996!
The written tithe schedule lists the names of owners and occupiers of the land together with names, acreage, state of cultivation of each field and the assessed rent charge to the church. An accompanying tithe map contained reference numbers for each field and property that matched the written schedule. The two documents were often bound together. For family history and local history researchers such documents provide a rich and accurate source of material. Individual land holdings can be located and linked to the earliest census returns of 1841 and 1851. The map is especially useful in researching the history of the landscape and the significance of field names.
By transferring Miss Sortwell's handwritten notes to an Excel spreadsheet it has been possible to analyse the extent of the ownership and occupation of Thorley's landholdings. In 1845 Lord Ellenborough owned Thorley Hall and Thorley Wash farms covering nearly 500 acres and was assessed at £164=4s=6p. George Frere at Twyford House was the second largest landowner with 180 acres. There were ten other landowners with between 20 and 100 acres, including the Rector with 49 acres.
The tithe map provides an intriguing insight into the distribution of fields, their shapes and sizes and the derivation of field names. Thorley parish in 1845 extended from the River Stort in the east, up the valley side to the church and manor house in the middle of the parish and then on to the higher ground towards the road to Much Hadham. The fields in the river valley were meadows for grass and hay crops. They are small in size, and have names such as Slumbers Mead, Lucky Piece, The Bottoms and Moors. Rising up the valley, from the main road behind Thorley Street, are the most regular sized fields in Thorley with straight hedge lines and right angled corners. These have commonplace names such as Upper and Lower Thorley Fields, Great Wood Field and Great Pond Field. There is a possibility that these field patterns and names were the result of the Enclosure Acts that, from the Middle Ages, consolidated open field systems and common land to make farming more efficient. On the 1845 map common land is still in existence in the North West quarter of the parish. This is the area where St Michaels Mead housing now exists. Remnants of medieval strip farming where villagers or commoners farmed furlongs of unfenced land is still obvious in an area of small fields, without individual names, but marked collectively as Thorley Common.
A Section of the 1845 Thorley
Present day St Michaels Mead covers the right half of the map whilst Butlers Hall Farm is in the top left quadrant.
This part of the parish was known as Thorley Common.
From the Archives

domain: geography


Minimum Order Quantity: 20 Square Feet
|Size||Any size as per requirement|
|Surface Treatment||Galvanized and Color Coated|
|Features||Mobile and Modular|
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Eva Longoria dating Mexican businessman?
London: Actress Eva Longoria is reportedly dating a wealthy Mexican businessman and is happy in her new relationship.
The `Desperate Housewives` star, who recently denied speculation that she has reunited with former boyfriend Eduardo Cruz, is allegedly seeing a new man who is smitten with her, reported Contactmusic.
"Eva is now with a wealthy, successful businessman from Mexico. She`s very happy, and he`s crazy about her," a source said.
The 38-year-old beauty ended her relationship with entrepreneur and reality TV star Ernesto Arguello, who she met while producing dating show `Ready to Love`, in August.
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text: Super nice bluff lot in Rim Rock Mesa! This unique lot is at the point of the bluff, and has amazing views on both sides. Excellent location just minutes from town. Unusual cylindrical rock outcropping is at the far tip of the lot. Great place for your dream home. Come see this beautiful property today! Buyer to verify all information and measurements, to make an informed offer.


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US Congressman Alan Lowenthal, serving California's 47th District, visited the office of Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. to congratulate Hemlata Momaya for her 2016 Angels in Adoption recognition and to discuss current adoption legislation. Mausami and Hemlata Momaya shared our views on the US State Department's proposed new rules regulating intercountry adoption http://saveadoptions.org/ and renewal of the Adoption Tax Credit. (For more information on Lowenthal's Office, the New proposed legislation-RE: 81 FR 62321; 22 CFR 96; Document Number 2016-20968, or FAQs on the Tax Credit, please click the links in the dark text above).
Bal Jagat Blog
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KSGV- San Gabriel Valley Radio Interview

domain: law


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The minimalistic but interesting Tribeca series by Menu is a mix of pendats, wall lamps and table lamps, all inspired by the New York City glamour of the late 1930s.
All the Tribeca lamps are a combination of the elegant details and glamorous feel and the black versions are made of powder coated steel.
Designed by Søren Rose Studio. Please note that the light bulbs are not included.
Light source: 4 x E27
Powder coated steel
- Size Description
Diameter 56 cm
Height 56 cm


In my last post, I mentioned that I had switched over to the iOS. I started playing around with GarageBand and I found that the live loops are good for jamming with. I plugged the iPhone directly into my audio interface with my keyboard and got the live loops running. In the video I am improvising on the keyboard to the live loops.
Listing to the bass lines on the live loops, I could work out that the key is G minor for most of the beats.
Incidentally, I connected the iPhone 7 Plus directly into my Steinberg Audio interface using via the Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter. I then used a 3.5mm to 1/4 inch stereo cable.


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The Young and the Restless has said farewell to longtime star Kristoff St. John.
The CBS daytime soap opera paid tribute to the late actor on the Friday, Feb. 8 episode, just days after St. John was pronounced dead at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday. The performer was 52.
CBS’ homage to St. John — who played Neil Winters on the show since 1991 — occurred at the end of the episode, with stock footage of the actor reflecting his Y&R legacy.
“It feels like a real accomplishment,” he said. “I’ve been a part of something that will somehow be in a time capsule… and I’m part of that? Yeah, I’m one of the brothas on The Young and the Restless, I’m one of the sons. I’m one of the family members. I was there. Yeah, man, Neil Winters was an integral part.”
Following a montage of St. John’s moments on the series, he appeared on screen again to deliver a parting message. “Thank you for sharing in this adventure,” he stated. “This mighty ship that has sailed for so long. I love you.”
This isn’t the only tribute planned for St. John. CBS Daytime released an announcement via its Twitter account Friday that the show will air a storyline dedicated to the Emmy-winning actor and his character in April. “Today’s tribute during #YR is only the beginning,” the account tweeted.
ICYMI: The CBS Daytime Family will always value the legacy of Kristoff St. John and Neil Winters. A story will begin airing in late April where @YandR_CBS will pay tribute to both Kristoff and his beloved character, Neil Winters. Today’s tribute during #YR is only the beginning. pic.twitter.com/1F311Y1sif
— CBS Daytime (@CBSDaytime) February 8, 2019
As for Friday’s tribute, many fans appreciated the special segment honoring St. John’s memory.
“Beautiful tribute today – made me cry! RIP Kristoff,” someone tweeted.
Beautiful tribute today – made me cry! RIP Kristoff ??
— CathyB (@CountryCathy) February 8, 2019
Another person added: “Tears flowing. Beautiful man, beautiful soul. Please be forever in peace.”
Tears flowing. Beautiful man, beautiful soul. Please be forever in peace. ????
— jace55 (@ja55ce) February 8, 2019
At this time, St. John’s cause of death hasn’t been disclosed.

domain: celebrity


text:
This dissertation consists of the analyses of three separate genetic association datasets. Each represents a unique data structure with a different question of interest that therefore require distinct approaches and methodologies. As such, the three substantive chapters (2-4) can each stand on their own. However, the over-arching question in each of these studies is the same: which genes (or genetic material) are related to the disease or outcome being studied. Moreover, while the methodologies are each distinct, they all incorporate statistical learning methodologies to obtain some modicum of inference.
Study 1 - As computational power has improved the application of statistical learning algorithms to finding SNPs related to disease has become more ubiquitous. The hope is that these algorithms will be more capable than typical marginal testing in detecting SNPs with higher order effects. The Random Forests (RF) algorithm is one such algorithm that has seen increased use with genetic data. As part of its output, RF ranks the predictor variables (SNPs) on their relative importance.
The present study represents the first application of the RF algorithm to Genome Wide Association (GWA) data and investigates how best to use the algorithm for this unique data structure. A multiple sclerosis (MS) GWA data set is used for the analysis. Results indicate the typical tuning parameter settings need to be adjusted for the high degree of sparsity in the data. Furthermore, most meaningful results were obtained when both unimportant and overly important SNPs were removed. RF was able to replicate some previous findings using the same data. Moreover, four genes not previously associated with MS were identified.
Study 2 - In many analyses, one has data on one level but desires to draw inference on another level. For example, in genetic association studies, one observes units of DNA referred to as SNPs, but wants to determine whether genes that are comprised of SNPs are associated with disease. While there are some available approaches for addressing this issue, they usually involve making parametric assumptions and are not easily generalizable. A statistical test is proposed for testing the association of a set of variables with an outcome of interest. No assumptions are made about the functional form relating the variables to the outcome. A general function is fit using any statistical learning algorithm, with the SuperLearner algorithm suggested. The parameter of interest is the cross-validated risk and this is compared to an expected risk. A Wald test is proposed using the influence curve of the cross-validated risk to obtain the variance. It is shown both theoretically and via simulation that the test maintains appropriate type I error control and is more powerful than parametric tests under more general alternatives. The test is applied to an MS candidate gene study. Three separate analyses are performed highlighting the flexibility of the approach.
Study 3 - Secondary analyses, such as Gene Ontology and Motif analysis, have become central components of gene expression experiments, allowing researchers to derive biological understanding from the set of genes that are differentially expressed. An important statistical task is determining which genes should be passed on to such programs and how the genes should be grouped for analysis. The typical approach is to cluster the set of differentially expressed genes, and pass these clusters on to the secondary analyses. However, many expression experiments have specific hypotheses which allow one to analyze the genes and group them in a more targeted approach. To illustrate the utility of being more specific, a gene expression study of C. elegans is used where a particular outcome was observed and hoped to be explained. A general
model is fit and analyzed to estimate the parameters corresponding to the specific hypothesis, leading to four natural groupings of the differentially expressed genes. These groupings lead to meaningful results in the secondary analyses that allow for the biologist to make robust hypotheses that are experimentally confirmed. It is shown that a traditional approach would not have yielded such robust findings.


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[Renderings by SHoP Architects]
Capping off a rough few weeks for Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan, MSG Co. has lost its bid to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum. The team that beat him is his Brooklyn rival, the Barclays Center developers, led by Forest City Ratner and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov. This outcome is not particularly surprising considering that a) everybody just hates James Dolan so much, and b) passionate Strong Islanders weren't all that comfortable with the idea of the group that owns and operates the rival New York Rangers building the Islanders' new home.
The Barclays Center team are the proud new owners of a 34-year lease with a 15-year option to renew. They have tapped SHoP Architects, the guys behind the Barclays Center and the impending Domino development, for the $290 million project. SHoP's design will feature a Barclays Center-esque glass and steel sheathe. Most importantly, the project will be essentially free for taxpayers, as the winning team has agreed to finance the project themselves. They will also get to develop the 77 acres surrounding the arena.
· Barclays scores Nassau Coliseum revamp project [Crain's, via The Real Deal]

domain: design


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Former Vice President Joe Biden is DONE with Donald Trump.
For the first time, Biden publicly called for Trump to face impeachment.
BIDEN: “To preserve our constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity — [Trump] should be impeached … we have to remember that impeachment isn’t only about what the president’s done. It’s about the threat the president poses to the nation if allowed to remain in office.” pic.twitter.com/Qdf1t8DFjl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2019
Trump, characteristically, couldn’t help himself from trolling Biden on Twitter:
So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment – and I did nothing wrong. Joe’s Failing Campaign gave him no other choice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019
But Biden was just getting warmed up.
He clapped back with SASS! And he threw in a remark about Trump’s eternally-being-audited tax returns while he was at it:
Thanks for watching. Stop stonewalling the Congress. Honor your oath. Respect the Constitution.
And speaking of taxpayers, I’ve released 21 years of my tax returns. You? https://t.co/CrqOQG8YXb
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 9, 2019


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Maxine Beneba Clarke
Any decent gardener will tell you that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. The protagonists of Maxine Beneba Clarke’s stories are human beings who find themselves on foreign soil at what we might charitably call unpropitious moments. As an analogy, though, it is only half true: Clarke’s men, women and children do not have the luxury of roots. Instead they heave along on stunted radicals, torn from any fixed ancestry, drawing bare sustenance from the surrounding earth. Indeed it is this mobility that most offends and terrifies the “natives” whose space they invade. Sometimes menacing, more often abject, they are the Triffids of the globalised present.
Consider Asha, the young mother from the collection’s opener, “David”. I imagine her as one of those Sudanese women caught in blurred outline at western Sydney train stations as I travel from one middle-class enclave to another – a beautiful show-stopping otherness advertised as much by the vividness of her clothing as the colour of her skin.
Asha has spent money she cannot afford on a pimped-up Malvern Star bicycle with a “cherry-red frame, scooped alloy Harley handlebars, and sleek metal pedals” from a shop in Melbourne’s Footscray. We know little about her at first, aside from the fact that she is street-savvy and alienated from her community as a result of running off with an unsuitable man.
The story proceeds, as do many in the collection, in split-screen: the suburban monochrome of the First World present, intercut with the technicolour horrors of what came before. Asha, we incrementally learn, had a husband, children, and a life back in the Sudan, interrupted by the child soldiers of the Janjaweed who murdered, for a laugh, a son named David, an obsessive bike rider.
The purchase for which we are first invited to condemn her turns out to resonate with Asha’s loss, and the woman who is the agent of that condemnation – an older African, big-boned and swaddled in home-country dress – confronts Asha about her purchase before revealing her own subversively non-traditional urges. The translation across time and space is both a desecration of memory, with its clinging griefs and losses, and a liberation that makes us cry and laugh.
This combinatory process drives many of the pieces in Foreign Soil. Take its standout story, “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa”, which takes a National Geographic image of Sri Lanka and injects it with all the postcolonial venom of which Clarke is capable. A teenager is taken from his parents in the dead of night to fight for the Tamil Tigers. His refusal to rape a young girl provided for him by the rebels leads to the loss of a finger; an initial attempt at escape leads to the loss of a second. The first person to note his deformed hand is an attractive redhead, middle-class, kind of heart, and unhappily married to a true-blue Australian dickhead.
Much as Michelle de Kretser’s wonderful Questions of Travel takes its sweet time in bringing the twinned stories of a Sydney woman and a Sri Lankan asylum seeker into proximity, Clarke’s story ends only with a brief, unsatisfactory meeting between the two: just long enough for the boy to purloin a hairpin from her, which he uses to sew his mouth closed in the yard of Villawood detention centre.
There is a quality of pain in which Clarke specialises; that of the stranger hurt by the peculiar circumstances of the grand diaspora of the poor world towards the rich. Yet the palette she employs is marvellously broad. There are white women who find themselves trapped by black partners in landlocked African countries, and there are black girls who, charged with the protection of newly arrived Asian students at a Sydney public school, treat them with a contempt that puts any truly racist white counterpart to shame.
This is the horror and the marvel of Clarke’s fiction, a sense that no one, irrespective of colour, will be excused from an obligation to hate on the Other. True, there are honourable exceptions – as its title indicates, the story “Hope” suggests that the wish to alter one’s circumstances for the better might yet occur, as long as the scope of that desire is properly modest, diminished to the very basics of existence. But, for the most part, misery and hurt are accepted as universal markers. “It isn’t that there is no right and wrong here,” suggests one of V.S. Naipaul’s narrators. “There’s no right.”
And yet the language this pessimism is couched in may be joyous. Some stories are written in patois, for example the Creole of postwar Jamaica (Clarke’s original home) in “Hope” and the Southern vernacular of New Orleans in the long story “Gaps in the Hickory”. Others owe closer fealty to the tidy realism of the Anglosphere short story. Sometimes a story contains an uneasy mash-up of the two.
The weakest of these suffer from an excess of world data: they seek to explain their reality instead of trusting that readers can bear a little confusion about people or places or times distant to them. There are purplish patches, too, though these are soon cauterised by the suddenness with which Clarke can sign off on a tale, slicing hard through the connecting tissue of narrative.
It is this creative ruthlessness, this willingness to invert the usual liberal pieties, that saves Clarke’s stories from being politically impeccable agitprop, and it is the anger and despair stalking her characters, possessing them in an almost demonic fashion, that stays with the reader even after the words with which they were summoned fade away.
Clarke’s final, quasi-autobiographical narrator acknowledges this. She worries that her stories aren’t uplifting enough – that they aren’t “book club material”. It is the best argument I can think of for why they should be. AF
Hachette, 272pp, $24.99
This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on May 3, 2014 as "Maxine Beneba Clarke, Foreign Soil".
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Letters & Editorial


text:
Disney will make a seventh Star Wars movie after it acquired LucasFilm for $4.05 billion in cash and stock Tuesday.
Star Wars Episode 7 -- something George Lucas was reluctant to produce personally -- is slated for a 2015 release.
Disney now has full control over all of LucasFilm's properties.
"It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers," Lucas said in a statement, who now becomes a significant shareholder in Disney.
"I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime.
"Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."
LucasFilm joins other Disney assets including Pixar, Marvel, ABC (America) and ESPN.
By Ben Salter


Vladimir Putin calls Obama about Ukraine crisis
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — President Obama spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for an hour Friday in an effort to resolve the crisis over Ukraine, the first direct conversation between the two leaders after nearly two weeks of tension.
Putin initiated the call, White House officials said. It came after a televised interview in which Obama called for Russia to pull its troops back from the Ukrainian border. In the phone conversation, Obama asked Putin to “put a concrete response in writing” to a proposal the United States has made to resolve the crisis, which involved Russia’s incursion into the Crimean region of Ukraine.
The two agreed to a meeting between Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the proposal further.
The call came as Obama was in Saudi Arabia for a meeting with King Abdullah, where he grappled with another difficult issue: the Saudi desire to have the U.S. provide more arms to rebels fighting the government of Syria. An administration official said Obama was considering allowing the supply of shoulder-held antiaircraft missiles, along with other options.
The missiles would be a potent weapon for the opposition, but the U.S. has resisted providing them, in part out of fear that they could be diverted to terrorist groups that might try to use them against civilian airliners. That is still of concern to the president, another official said.
Obama advisors had described the visit to the desert kingdom as a way for him to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to its longtime ally in the Middle East, but the phone conversation with Putin quickly overshadowed the meeting.
Thus did Obama wrap up a week of foreign travel characterized from start to finish by its herky-jerky agenda. The focus veered widely from talks about Ukraine with Europeans to discussions about Syria, Iran and Egypt on an overnight trip
to Saudi Arabia, where Obama met Abdullah at his desert encampment north of Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
In his interview with CBS News, which was broadcast Friday, Obama drew attention to the Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s borders.
“It may simply be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that they’ve got additional plans,” he said. “In either case, what we need right now to resolve and de-escalate the situation would be for Russia to move back those troops and to begin negotiations directly with the Ukrainian government, as well as the international community.”
An administration official described the conversation between Obama and Putin as “frank and direct,” the preferred diplomatic code for contentious and tense.
In the Kremlin’s description of the call, Putin complained to Obama about the “continuing rampage of extremists” in Ukraine who, he said, are intimidating pro-Russian elements “with impunity.” He also complained that the Transnistria region of Moldova, which is seeking annexation to Russia, is suffering under a Ukrainian “blockade.”
Russia wants a “fair and comprehensive” settlement for Transnistria, a tiny slip of territory in eastern Moldova next to Ukraine, and wants to explore steps to “stabilize the situation” in Ukraine, Putin told Obama, according to the Kremlin.
Samuel Charap, a Russia specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington, said the Russian description of the phone conversation suggested there was little reason to hope for a breakthrough.
“They had different agendas; they were really speaking different languages,” he said.
Charap said Putin’s comment about Transnistria was “ominous” because Russia might use such complaints as the basis for further military action in Ukraine. And he noted that Russia would like to negotiate over Ukraine’s future with U.S. officials, but does not recognize the interim Ukrainian government.
In the White House account, Obama emphasized to his Russian counterpart that the U.S. continues to support a diplomatic path that includes close consultation with the new Ukrainian leaders.
U.S. officials declined to describe the proposal that Kerry and Lavrov will discuss, but said the two diplomats had been working to reach an agreement to de-escalate the situation. However, they said it could include international monitors, a Russian troop pull-back and direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
Obama arrived in Riyadh intent on focusing on soothing Saudi concern about various issues. Syria and Iran dominated the meeting, a senior administration official said.
By day’s end, though, the Saudi king had gotten the glimmer of a promise that Obama would weigh backing off his objection to arming Syrian rebels with man-operated portable air defense systems — “manpads,” in military jargon.
An administration official said the president continues to be concerned about the possibility of such weapons falling into terrorists’ hands. Supplying the small antiaircraft missiles is one of several options for bolstering assistance that has been under review, as the White House looks to broaden its coordination with allies in the region.
That Obama flew thousands of miles for a two-hour sit-down with the frail king speaks to the importance of the relationship. Officials said the president wanted to speak directly to the king, with whom he hasn’t met formally since 2010.
There’s no replacement for having the president “sit and patiently and carefully walk him through what we’re doing and what the objective is,” the official said.
History supports Obama’s caution about antiaircraft weapons, said Gordon Adams, professor of international relations at American University and a former national security official in the Clinton White House.
“We gave them to the Pashtuns in Pakistan, and they took them into Afghanistan and they disappeared into the hands of extremists,” Adams said.
Obama’s foreign policy challenges have a common theme, Adams said.
“Both here and in the Russian case, we’re seeing a fairly careful consideration of the ladder of escalation. The administration is looking very carefully at the steps before it moves up the ladder in dealing with confrontation with another country. They’re being very careful because they have to be.”
Hennessey reported from Riyadh and Rawdat Khuraim, Saudi Arabia, and Parsons from Washington. Times staff writers Neela Banerjee and Paul Richter in Washington contributed to this report.
in Washington contributed to this report.
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