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Sunday, December 30, 2012
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WWE Spoils Title Change at Tonight's RAW Tapings In Washington, DC
- WWE announced the following tonight:
"WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Wade Barrett won the Intercontinental Championship at tonight?s Raw taping, defeating Kofi Kingston at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. to capture the coveted title for the second time.
The victory comes just days after Barrett pinned the acrobatic former champion during a Six-Man Tag Team Match on SmackDown. In fact, the British Superstar seemed to have Kingston?s number during their tense rivalry over the past few weeks, but it was Kofi who prevailed when the two men met with the Intercontinental Championship on the line at WWE TLC. Although he had fallen victim to Barrett?s Bull Hammer on more than one occasion, the resourceful Kingston always retained his title when the stakes were high ? that is, until tonight."
Exclusive Update on CM Punk's Status and Feud with The Rock...
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Video: Lincoln, Argo among best political movies of 2012
Best bets: America storms 'Downton Abbey'
This season, America meets England, as Shirley MacLaine muscles her way into the mansion, playing Cora's mother. Also this week: The chilling and engrossing "Zero Dark Thirty" opens, and the fascinating "Looper" hits home video.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50313490/
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Saturday, December 29, 2012
How former Jayhawks fared in NBA games of Dec. 28
Cole Aldrich, Houston Rockets (L, 122-116 vs. SAS)
6 points (3-4 FG), 4 rebounds in 17 minutes
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat (L, 109-99 vs. DET)
4 points (1-6 FG, 1-6 3P, 1-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover in 29 minutes
Xavier Henry, New Orleans Hornets (L, 104-97 vs. TOR)
2 points (0 FGA, 2-2 FT) in 5 minutes
Marcus Morris, Houston Rockets (L, 122-116 vs. SAS)
7 points (2-9 FG, 1-7 3P, 2-4 FT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists in 30 minutes
Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns (L, 97-91 vs. IND)
6 points (3-3 FG, 0-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal in 13 minutes
Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings (W, 106-105 vs. NYK)
Did not play (coach?s decision)
Tyshawn Taylor, Brooklyn Nets (W, 97-81 vs. CHA)
2 points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3P), 1 steal in 6 minutes
Source: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/dec/29/how-former-jayhawks-fared-nba-games-dec-28/
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Friday, December 28, 2012
Bunkycooks ? Food Artisans and Farmers Speak Out For a Food Hero
To paraphrase Brigham Young ? A good man, is a good man, whether in church, or out of it.?
We traveled the back roads of Tennessee and North Carolina this year with the intent of writing a story about the best in regional artisans and farmers.? While their stories are inspiring and we have already written several articles, there was a much bigger story that emerged and one that was quite unexpected.
This is a story of how one individual can come along in a person?s life and make a substantial impact; cause a turning point, inspire a career, create a new path or accelerate the one they were on.? There is a backstory in the culinary world about a chef that has quietly impacted the lives of so many chefs, farmers, and artisans in the Southeast.? In today?s culinary world dominated by chefs and individuals seeking recognition for their own work, Chef John Fleer has always been the spokesperson for others.
Fleer?s original plan was to be a minister with a degree in the humanities, however, his passion for Southern foods and cooking was ignited the year he graduated from college.? The food he experienced at Magnolia Grill in Durham, North Carolina ?was fun food, interesting food, food I recognized, and I was blown away.?? This experience led him to an extreme shift in careers and to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), trading in a pulpit?s robe for a chef?s jacket.
Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley ? Cashiers, NC
John Fleer was the executive chef at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee from 1992 to 2007 and has been the executive chef of Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina since 2009.? Fleer joined Blackberry Farm after graduating from the CIA in 1992.? At that time, Blackberry was an upstart mountain retreat with ambition to become one of the finest destination resorts in the United States.? Owner, Sandy Beall, upon hiring Fleer, enlisted the new chef to translate his vision for the property into a culinary vision and execute it.? Fleer?s focus was on rustic, yet refined, Southern cuisine.? He developed recipes that incorporated regional ingredients sourced primarily from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and other parts of Appalachia. He called it, ?Foothills Cuisine.?
?When I graduated from culinary school and went to Blackberry Farm I had Southern sensibilities. I wanted to do Southern food and to do Southern food, you have to have Southern ingredients.? It?s that simple.? You seek them out.?? Fleer would often visit local farms and markets in search of unique and extraordinary ingredients.? ?My cooking reflects my heritage, but it also reflects some of the other things I have done in my life.?
The story of Allan Benton ? Smoky Mountain Country Hams
Benton?s Smoky Mountain Country Hams is housed in a modest building on busy Highway 411 in Madisonville, Tennessee.? Entering the retail store, you are taken back in time to the 1960?s as the establishment has changed little over the years.? The air is filled with an overwhelming smoky aroma of hams and bacon.? It is from this small building that Benton?s prized hams and bacon are smoked, aged, and shipped to chefs across the country.? It is also where locals come to shop, chat, and see friends.? Allan Benton, who has become known as ?The King of Bacon?, told us ?I can promise you that no one would have ever heard of me if John had not started using my products and you certainly would not be here today talking with me.? John singlehandedly changed my life and got my name out there to chefs.? I would not be in business without him.?
Benton?s Smoky Mountain Country Hams
Fleer shared, ?My relationship with Allan is longer than with anyone else and goes back to the beginning at Blackberry Farm.? Allan will remember that first telephone call.? When I called to talk to him about his product and place an order, he was so impressed that there were other uses for his ham besides serving it for breakfast.? He used to have a covered pick-up truck and would deliver to Cracker Barrelesqe places in Gatlinburg that were using his country ham.? Blackberry was on the way, so he could deliver.? To this day, he cures his meats and does business the old fashioned way, just as he did back then.? He continues to use his old rotary phone.? He?s one of the last true Southern gentlemen.?
Allan Benton
Allan said, ?I was trying to sell 12-month hams for the same price others were selling 80-day hams in Gatlinburg and I was literally starving.? When John started using my product and sharing it with some of the best chefs in the country visiting Blackberry Farm, these chefs would get home and my phone would be ringing and asking, ?Can you sell me this??? They are a tight community.?
Early in his tenure at Blackberry Farm, and as part of Fleer?s culinary vision for the property, Fleer invited guest chefs from around the country to cook at Blackberry Farm.? ?They were the chefs I wanted to meet and work with.?? While they were in town, they were introduced to and worked with Benton?s products, Muddy Pond Sorghum, Sunburst Trout, and Tennessee Truffles.? ?The chefs would also see the walk-in and the pantry.? We all peer into each other?s closest, so to speak, to see what tricks and products we are using.? One of the biggest things was the buttermilk from Cruze Farm.? ?You don?t use Sealtest?? What the heck is this?? they would ask.?
As a token of appreciation for their time spent at Blackberry Farm, the visiting chefs were given gift packages of local products like Benton?s Country Ham or bacon and small jugs of Muddy Pond Sorghum, taking these products far beyond the foothills of Tennessee.
Colleen Cruze ? Cruze Farm ? The story behind the buttermilk
Talk about Cruze Dairy Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee and Chef Fleer smiles.? ?Colleen is a 2nd generation farmer that truly believes in what the family has done for the last twenty years and she is taking it to the next level.? She is not a hobby farmer who wants to grow pretty vegetables.? She grew up with this and is taking the tradition further.? How many 20 year olds want to do this??? And she does it with such flair, delivering and sampling their dairy products in gussied up farm girl garb while marketing their buttermilk to the next generation of chefs in an ever expanding market in the Southeast.
Fleer?s relationship with Earl and Sheri Cruze (Colleen?s parents) also goes back to the early years at Blackberry Farm.? ?There is a buttermilk culture in this region.? The Breakfast of Champions, if you are daring, is a bowl of cornbread and raw onions with buttermilk poured over it.? The combination of buttermilk and mushy cornbread is delicious.?? Could this be regional hangover food?? Fleer says it probably wouldn?t hurt.
With Colleen Cruze at Cruze Dairy Farm in Knoxville, TN
Known as the ?King of Buttermilk? by friends and other chefs, Fleer says he uses Cruze?s buttermilk in everything and features it as much as possible.? ?They have great products and if you use the heck out of them on the menu, they continue to get bigger.?? On our recent visit to Cruze Farm, Yuki (one of the Japanese interns working on the dairy farm), saw a picture of John Fleer on the computer and shouted ?Buttermilk!?? I guess that says it all.
The Jersey Girls at Cruze Farm
?John was finding and using local ingredients before it was trendy,? Colleen said.? ?He took an interest in us and made my mother deliver to Blackberry Farm.? It was a long distance.? He kept pushing my mom to keep making it and to bring it.? He was able to get chefs and others to realize that our buttermilk is different than what you purchase in the grocery store.? He has a huge commitment to our local products.?
To understand the commitment to these artisans, consider this story from Chef Fleer.? ?Cruze had 400 extra gallons of buttermilk they had overproduced.? Colleen called and said she was headed to Charleston to sell some of it.? I told her I would make some connections in Asheville with the chefs.? The next day, I helped her deliver around town.?? Colleen told us, ?John is such a nice guy.? I told my boyfriend that he reminds me of him.? I hope that he will be that kind of husband and father one day.?
The buttermilk craze has now expanded far beyond the Appalachian region. Cruze Farm has recently been featured in publications such as Garden & Gun, The New York Times, and Southern Living, to name a few.
Mark Guenther ? Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill ? The sweet story
?I found Muddy Pond Sorghum in the same place I first discovered Cruze?s buttermilk.? Fleer said.? ?It was a Farmstand grocery store called the Horn of Plenty in Maryville.? I did not grow up with the tradition of sorghum, but then you get a little tickler of something that is important to the culture and you begin to find out how vast the story is.? So few people do it the right and the old fashioned way.?
With Mark & Sherry Guenther at Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill in Monterey, TN
Mark and Sherry Guenther of Muddy Pond Sorghum noticed sales had been increasing over a period of time.? Mark received a call from Blackberry Farm one day asking if they could buy the sorghum directly from him.? ?It opened the doors for us with a tremendous audience using our product.? I did not realize the reputation and the connections of Blackberry Farm.? Business exploded for us and then other places started to contact us and use our sorghum.?? Fleer shared, ?Mark and Sherry are smart folks.? They made small replicas of their one gallon jugs.?? These are the small bottles that went home with visiting chefs and guests at Blackberry Farm.
The Guenther family and Muddy Pond Sorghum were awarded one of the most prestigious culinary honors in the Unites States, a Made in America:?President?s America Treasures Award in July, 2012.
Tom Michaels ? Tennessee Truffles ? Growing black gold in Tennessee
Black p?rigord truffles, reminiscent of those in France, were unheard of in the United States; that is until Tom Michaels of Tennessee Truffles in Chuckey, Tennessee planted his truffi?re.? Tom had contacted Fleer at Blackberry Farm by phone several times asking him to try the truffles, but Fleer had used other domestic truffles and was disappointed.? He said, ?If they can?t get it right in Oregon, how can it possibly be done in Tennessee??? However, one day Tom requested to stop by and Fleer agreed.? That was the winter of 2004.
Tom Michaels (left) truffle hunting at Tennessee Truffles in Chuckey, TN
Tom said, ?I was just a little old farmer trying to grow these darn things (humble, but not quite so ?little? since he is really a Ph.D in plant pathology with a dissertation in truffles/mushrooms).? I really didn?t give much thinking to the culinary end of marketing them.? I had two chefs using them in Knoxville at the time.? My third sale was to John Fleer at Blackberry Farm who I thought was thinking, ?Oh yeah, he?s some hick or hayseed from the? woods growing truffles,? but then I went in with my containers.?
- John recalls, ?Tom showed up one day with his little Tupperware containers filled with rice and black truffles.? He had a dozen or so and asked if he could open them and let us smell and taste them.? He opened them up and I knew, that was a truffle.?? Joseph Lenn, who trained with Fleer and is now executive chef of The Barn at Blackberry Farm, also recalls the moment.? ?When Tom opened the containers, the kitchen came to a standstill.?? The pungent aroma of black truffles consumed the kitchen and there was no denying that this Tennessee farmer had produced black gold.
Michaels and Tennessee Truffles were honored with a Made in America:?President?s America Treasures Award in July, 2011.
Sean Brock ? Husk and McCrady?s ? Charleston, SC ? The chef?s perspective
Chef Sean Brock in Charleston, SC
Many chefs in the Southeast who have worked with John Fleer over the years have also been inspired by his vision.? Sean Brock is one of them.? Winner of the James Beard Award for ?Best Chef Southeast? in 2010 and nominated for the James Beard ?Outstanding Chef? award in 2012, Brock was excited to talk about Fleer.? ?John Fleer headed up the early movement of preserving Southern traditions.? I begged him to let me work at Blackberry Farm when I was 19 or 20 years old.? I looked up to him.? He was one of my first mentors and one of the few chefs I could talk to about ingredients I grew up with (in Appalachia) like cushaws and paw paws.? He has a traditional manner of cooking, but with a modern side.? He is one of those people that can see much further into the future.? He is an unsung hero.?
Chef Fleer at a Blind Pig Supper Club dinner in Leicester, NC
Fleer, speaking of his support for these artisans said, ?I have always seen it as part of my mission to be a champion of these people and I feel like I have done a good job.? Not because I wanted to make them famous, but it was important that people knew there was something and someone behind the product.? I didn?t do anything except continue to use the products and to tell people about them.? Hopefully, I represented the products as they were intended and maybe took them to another level, while respecting the integrity of the people and the product.?
Fleer?s profound culinary contribution has been through helping others be successful, rather than trying to bring recognition to himself.? Would we have heard of these people without John Fleer?s culinary vision for Foothills Cuisine that he created twenty years ago, honoring and supporting the artisans that produce extraordinary ingredients in the Smoky Mountains and Appalachian region?? Would the legacy of Foothills Cuisine be what it is today had Fleer not developed the original recipes, sourced these products, and hired and trained the current chefs at Blackberry Farm and created the guest chef program?
Blackberry Farm has continued the tradition of using artisan products in Foothills Cuisine and has evolved the program over the years.? They have brought many artisan specialties, such as cheesemaking, truffles, charcuterie, heirloom seed preservation, and even brewing craft beers, in-house.? Blackberry Farm was also a recipient of the Made in America:?President?s America Treasures Award in July, 2012.
Prepping for the Seven Fires Dinner in Highlands, NC
Tom Michaels of Tennessee Truffles said it well,? ?John Fleer is the hidden Rasputin of the culinary world here in the Southeast.? He has formed so many ideas and brought along so many chefs and farmers.?
John Fleer became an early evangelist for promoting and preserving the legacy and integrity of our regional foods.? He has inspired the next generation of chefs to do the same.? Chefs like Sean Brock, who have taken up the cause with artisans like Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills, to focus on preserving heirloom seeds and ingredients.
While there are many chefs joining this call, it is imperative that more people in the culinary world take up the cause for these real food heroes: our farmers and artisans that produce traditional and heirloom products.? Without our support, these food traditions and products may be lost forever.? As Brock said, ?Five years ago this conversation would not have happened.? The most important thing is to preserve Southern cooking and ingredients.?? John Fleer has been at the forefront of this movement.
With Chef John Fleer
Author?s note: Chef Fleer was not aware that this article was being written about him.? I interviewed him with the intent of gaining his perspective for an article to be written about the various artisans.
Here are the articles we have published on several of these artisans and farmers:
Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill
Tennessee Truffles
Sunburst Trout Farms
The challenge of preserving our culinary heritage is not limited to the United States.? Here is another article from Bunkycooks on preserving culinary traditions and artisans in Friuli, Italy:
D?Osvaldo, Prosciutto di Corm?ns
Chef Fleer has shared a recipe for his Savory Buttermilk Panna Cotta which combines two of his best-loved ingredients, Cruze buttermilk and Benton?s 18-month aged ham.
Savory Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Print Recipe
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Savory Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Yield: Serves 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
For panna cotta:
1 Package powdered gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cup Half & Half
Freshly cracked black pepper (sift to remove any large pieces)
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoon finely cut chives
1 cup Cruze buttermilk (substitute another good buttermilk if you do not have access to Cruze Farm's products)
2 tablespoons cr?me fraiche or sour cream1 bunch of fresh Asparagus
Thinly sliced Benton?s 18 month Tennessee prosciutto
For Muscadine Vinaigrette:
2 cups muscadine wine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup hazelnut oilDirections:
For panna cotta:
1. Bloom gelatin in room temperature water.2. Bring Half and Half, sugar, salt, and pepper to a simmer. Remove from heat and whisk in bloomed gelatin and cr?me fraiche. Whisk until gelatin is melted.
3. Whisk in buttermilk and chives. Taste for seasoning. Fill 6 3-ounce molds. Place in refrigerator over night. (Best if made a day ahead so that they may set up.)
For asparagus:
1. Cut tips off (3 inches), blanch, quarter. Peel and blanch the middle section and slice paper thin.For vinaigrette:
1. Reduce wine to 2/3 cup and allow reduction to cool. Stir in mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whisk in oils and check seasoning.For assembly:
1. Sprinkle thinly sliced asparagus stems on top of panna cotta. Place panna upside down in center of salad plate. Using torch, lightly heat up mold so that the panna comes out smoothly. Dress asparagus tips and juilenned country ham with muscadine vinaigrette.
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Posted by Gwen on December 27, 2012
Source: http://www.bunkycooks.com/2012/12/food-artisans-and-farmers-speak-out-for-a-food-hero/
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Home Remodeling Cost And Budget Setting Without Monster-Sized ...
A home remodeling cost and budget setting are important leading steps to take because they help keep you and your funds in shape. As a moneymaking activity, home remodeling is a popular way to boost property value if done correctly backed by a solid research.
As it takes some time and care, projecting your home remodeling cost from start to finish will likely be both exciting and stressful. Possibly, it?ll be less so than having to build a new house and move into an unfamiliar neighborhood.
When you begin to think of remodeling or home improvement, the first thoughts that come to your mind might be ??maaan, it?ll cost a fortune!? Venture out and ask about home remodeling grants that may be available in your area. A real estate office or your town hall officers may be able to help you with that.
And since not all home improvements are created equal, begin asking about your housing market.
If you?d like to remodel your home, or even a part of it, make sure that it is still worth the money and efforts. In other words, will your remodeling efforts pay you back the money you?ve put in?
Asking for a professional cost estimate on your home remodeling plan is the key move to make. It may fall between 15% ? 20% of the home value. From there, about 40% of an expert remodeling cost is labor. It?s this part of the total budget you can decrease by picking the jobs that are right for you.
However, a general remodeling cost estimate consists of more than just the cost of labor and materials. There are many other reasons to consider before projecting a clear path on your expenses. Contractor?s pay, interest charges, legal fees, permits, extra shipping charges, unexpected specialized trades services, final clean up fees, and delay charges are all examples of such reasons. Be sure to include them in your cost estimate.
Most home renovations, especially improvements like bathrooms and kitchens, have great long-term returns in the areas of quality of life, improved resale value, and lower energy expenses. Depending on your housing market?s economic activity, it may just simply make sense to borrow money for remodeling projects without having to dip deep into your savings. Just know that you can get a good return on investment by doing so.
Bear in mind that a sluggish housing economy may allow to recoup only a portion of your remodeling investment while a booming one may make you smile all the way to the bank.
In some housing markets, it?s common to remodel for a single reason alone ? and that is making your property look and feel more attractive to potential buyers. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling alone are the most popular and effective to consider first.
As we can all think of ways to save money on these projects by ?doing it yourself?, it is often a misunderstood part. A hasty decision may run the overall cost through the roof.
The reasons that stand out and in the way are overestimating one?s abilities, unavailable specialized tools, installations that must be done by licensed trades, and free time we?d have to devote to finishing what we?ve started. Facing problems like these in the middle of the project may indeed run the costs higher than getting professional help first.
Why face it? You can either postpone your remodeling till it makes more sense, or offer to work alongside a professional during your days off to cut costs down.
How about getting extra insurance during your remodeling? Discuss it with your insurance agent if he or she suggests there be one in your case. If it helps you sleep better, so be it.
A well-designed home remodeling plan can save you hoards of time, money, and most of all disappointments and heartache. Feeling strapped emotionally and financially is the last straw anybody wants while home remodeling cost keeps climbing. Use the suggestions above. Consider them all and brainstorm for more. Avoid the common pitfalls and turn your home remodeling into a huge success.
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Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Dies at 78
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the retired general credited with leading U.S.-allied forces to a victory in the first Gulf War, has died at age 78, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News.
He died today in Tampa, Fla., a U.S. official told the Associated Press.
Schwarzkopf, sometimes called "Stormin' Norman" because of his temper, actually led Republican administrations to two military victories: a small one in Grenada in the 1980s and a big one as de facto commander of allied forces in the Gulf War in 1991.
"'Stormin' Norman' led the coalition forces to victory, ejecting the Iraqi Army from Kuwait and restoring the rightful government," read a statement by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. "His leadership not only inspired his troops, but also inspired the nation."
Schwarzkopf's success during what was known as Operation Desert Storm came under President George H.W. Bush, who said today through his office that he mourned "the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation."
"Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomized the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises," Bush said. "More than that, he was a good and decent man -- and a dear friend."
Bush's office released the statement though Bush, himself, was ill, hospitalized in Texas with a stubborn fever and on a liquids-only diet.
Schwarzkopf, the future four-star general, was born Aug. 24, 1934, in Trenton, N.J. He was raised as an army brat in Iran, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, following in his father's footsteps to West Point and being commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1956.
Schwarzkopf's father, who shared his name, directed the investigation of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping as head of the New Jersey State Police, later becoming a bridgadier general in the U.S. Army.
The younger Schwarzkopf earned three Silver Stars for bravery during two tours in Vietnam, gaining a reputation as an opinionated, plain-spoken commander with a sharp temper who would risk his own life for his soldiers.
"He had volunteered to go to Vietnam early just so he could get there before the war ended," said former Army Col. William McKinney, who knew Schwarzkopf from their days at West Point, according to ABC News Radio.
In 1983, as a newly-minted general, Schwarzkopf once again led troops into battle in President Reagan's invasion of Granada, a tiny Caribbean island where the White House saw American influence threatened by a Cuban-backed coup.
But he gained most of his fame in Iraq, where he used his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and fearsome temper to drive his troops to victory. Gruff and direct, his goal was to win the war as quickly as possible and with a focused objective: getting Iraq out of Kuwait.
"If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our intention to overrun the country, we could have done it unopposed," he said at a military briefing in 1991.
He spoke French and German to coalition partners, showed awareness of Arab sensitivities and served as Powell's operative man on the ground.
Powell today recalled Schwarzkopf as "a great patriot and a great soldier," who "served his country with courage and distinction for over 35 years."
"He was a good friend of mine, a close buddy," Powell added. "I will miss him."
Schwarzkopf retired from the Army after Desert Storm in 1991, writing an autobiography, becoming an advocate for prostate cancer awareness, serving on the boards of various charities and lecturing. He and his wife, Brenda, had three children.
Schwarzkopf spent his retirement in Tampa, home base for his last military assignment as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command.
ABC News' Dana Hughes, Gina Sunseri and Polson Kanneth contributed to this report.
Also ReadSource: http://news.yahoo.com/gen-h-norman-schwarzkopf-dies-78-004852482--abc-news-topstories.html
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
'Les Miserables' Role Gave Russell Crowe 'Delicious' Anxiety
'I don't know what it's like to be on a film set without a challenge so it's a normal place,' Oscar winner says.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Russell Crowe in "Les Miserables"
Photo: Universal Pictures
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1699418/les-miserables-russell-crowe.jhtml
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UN envoy, Moscow call for revival of Syria plan
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, UN Arab League deputy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The international envoy charged with pushing to end Syria's civil war has called for the formation of a transitional government to run the country until new elections can be held. Brahimi told reporters in Damascus Thursday that political changes in Syria must not be "cosmetic" but lead to genuine change while preserving state institutions. (AP Photo/SANA)
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, UN Arab League deputy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The international envoy charged with pushing to end Syria's civil war has called for the formation of a transitional government to run the country until new elections can be held. Brahimi told reporters in Damascus Thursday that political changes in Syria must not be "cosmetic" but lead to genuine change while preserving state institutions. (AP Photo/SANA)
BEIRUT (AP) ? Russia and the U.N envoy for Syria both said Thursday that they want to revive a long-shelved peace initiative that would call for a transitional government to run the country until elections can be held.
But it was unclear whether Lakhdar Brahimi's proposals would block top members of President Bashar Assad's regime from participating, an omission which helped doom the plan this summer. Russia said it not will endorse plans that call for Assad's ouster.
Much has changed in Syria in the past half-year. Rebels have seized more territory and a number of military installations in the country's north and are expanding their control in suburbs of the capital, Damascus.
This makes it increasingly unlikely that they will accept any plan that does not bar most members of Assad's regime from a future government.
The original Geneva plan called for the establishment of a national unity government with full executive powers that could include members of Assad's government, the opposition and other groups. It was to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and elections.
Because of Russian objections, that plan did not call specifically for Assad's ouster, nor did it ban him from participation in the new government ? making it a non-starter with the opposition.
"The Syrian people seek genuine change," Brahimi told reporters in Damascus, adding that the transitional period "must not lead to the collapse of the state or the state's institutions."
Brahimi said that original plan could undergo some amendments, but did not specify what those could be. Nor did he specify how his plan would treat Assad. He said it still needed to be determined whether the called-for elections would be for president or parliament.
The Syrian government did not immediately comment on Brahimi's suggestion.
Russia has been Assad's strongest backer throughout the conflict, selling arms to his forces and, along with China, protecting him from censure by the U.N. Security Council for his violent crackdown on the opposition.
Top Russian officials have recently signaled a new resignation to the idea that Assad could fall. Still, they have said they will not call for his ouster or offer him refuge should he decide to flee.
In Moscow on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevic said Russia is trying to revive the June plan. He also reaffirmed Moscow's objection to calls for Assad's ouster.
"We continue to believe that there is no alternative to that document in trying to find a settlement in Syria," Lukashevich said.
Brahimi is due to visit Russia this weekend. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met Thursday with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to pave the way for Brahimi's visit.
Mekdad is expected to hold talks with other top Russian diplomats later.
Violence continued around Syria on Thursday, with rebels attacking a police academy and military airport in the northern province of Aleppo while clashing with government forces near the Wadi Deif military base in Idlib.
A car bomb blew up Thursday morning in the Damascus suburb of Sbeineh, killing four people and wounding ten others, the state news agency said.
Anti-regime activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since crisis began in March 2011.
___
Associated Press writer Albert Aji contributed reporting from Damascus and AP writer Vladimir Isachenkov reported from Moscow.
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How to Support Your Pets During Winter | Pet Blog
As it appears, there are plenty of ways to protect your pets against the winters. Frost that comes with winters can cause damage to your pets? ears, feet and tail. Therefore, care must be taken.
Dogs will need to drink water even in the winters. For this purpose, there is specially designed pet bowls available that have thermostat installed in them. They work during frost temperatures to maintain the temperature of the water making it drinkable and safe.
Floors get really cold in the winters, and they are a potential health hazard. Limiting contact by using slippers on your pets does the trick. However for dogs living outside, you will be go for elevated dog houses and beds.
Even for those owners, who consider adorning their pets as outrageous, pet clothes serve as a viable solution in case of rain and snow. Pet clothing articles such as sweaters, shoes, boots, parkas and jackets are available in many sizes to choose from.
Dog clothing comes in five sizes. Most of them can be washed in machines. Thus they can be easily kept clean and maintained. These clothes and supplements keep the joints of your pets protected and functioning well.
Dogs spent most of their times near the doors. Dressing your dogs up with light fleece or a sweater will help protect from the draft. Goggles are also available to protect their eyes from rain, wind and salt-laden snow.
Dogs are much more resistant to frost than cats as cats have less body fat than dogs. For cats, cat ???coves? and beds are available.
As you must have noticed, even when during mild winters, dogs love to curl up. Heated pets mats are available that warm up the carpet sleepers or floor. They will keep both you cats and dogs really comfy.
Remember not to leave your pet outside for long, and also provide them with proper shelters outside.
Printed napkins and fine table linens are costly.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_M._Miller
Source: http://pet.mypkweb.com/how-to-support-your-pets-during-winter-3/
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
BMW's Car Hotspot LTE means Bavarian Motor WiFi
The dedicated car phone may be a thing of the past, but the in-car hotspot is becoming increasingly common. BMW isn't shy when it comes to in-vehicle tech, so the fact that it's launching its own solution should come as no surprise. We initially heard about the ConnectedDrive LTE integration back in summer, but now it looks like it's almost here. The BMW Car Hotspot LTE is essentially a purpose-built WiFi router that houses an LTE SIM (it also supports 3G and EDGE). It's compatible with any BMW with a telephone docking station and allows connections from up to eight client devices. Authentication can be done via code entry or NFC (or there's WPS too). Rather than just rebranding an LTE dongle, the system is designed to integrate with the vehicle's aerial for better signal, while the dock keeps it charged. As you might surmise, this does indeed mean there is an internal battery, making it useful beyond the confines of the automobile too (for about an hour according to the car maker). No official word on price or release, but it's suggested it'll be landing in Europe as soon as this week.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Transportation, Mobile
Via: Telematics news
Source: BMW
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/VTgOEzWQdAA/
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
Syrian troops battle rebels in Damascus suburbs
BEIRUT?Syria's interior minister suffered a serious back injury in the bombing of his ministry last week and was brought to Beirut on Wednesday for treatment, Lebanese security officials said.
It was the first confirmation that Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar was wounded in the Dec. 12 bombing in the capital Damascus that killed several people and wounded more than 20. At the time, state-run Syrian TV said he was not hurt. The security officials asked that their names not be used because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Also Wednesday, government forces were carrying out a broad offensive against rebels trying to topple the regime in the suburbs of Damascus, state media reported. The state-run SANA news agency said that troops have killed "scores of terrorists"?the government term for the rebels.
The suburbs of the capital have been opposition strongholds since the uprising started. The rebels have recently made significant advances in in the area, capturing air bases and military installation and clashing with a pro-government Palestinian group for control of the Yarmouk refugee camp, located in the southern part of the capital.
Massive bombings like the one that struck the Interior Ministry have been a trademark of Islamic radicals fighting alongside the Syrian rebels, raising concerns about the extremists' role in the civil war.
Rebels have targeted the center of Damascus with bomb attacks in the past, most dramatically in July when they detonated explosives inside a high-level crisis meeting in Damascus that killed four top regime officials, including Assad's brother-in-law and the defense minister.
Activists estimate more than 40,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in March 2011.
SANA said Wednesday's fighting was taking place in the capital's southern outskirts of Daraya, Harasta, Douma and Hajar Aswad, an area neighboring the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk.
On Tuesday, Syrian fighter jets bombed Yarmouk for the second time in a week, sending thousands fleeing from the camp. There were no reports on casualties from those strikes. Similar airstrikes on Sunday killed at least eight people in Yarmouk, activists said.
The rebel offensive in the camp, which began Friday, is aimed at driving out pro-government Palestinian gunmen of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC).
Most of the fighting on Wednesday was concentrated on surrounding districts outside the camp, said the Britain-based opposition activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It said the rebels took control of large parts of the camp after resistance from the PFLP-GC gunmen ceased in the morning.
Since the camp's creation in 1957, it has evolved into a densely populated residential district just 5 miles (8 kilometers) away from the center of Damascus. Several generations of Palestinian refugees live there, some employed as doctors, engineers and civil servants and others as day laborers and street vendors. Many Syrians have also moved into the camp area over the years.
When the revolt against Assad's rule began, the half-million-strong Palestinian community in Syria stayed on the sidelines. But as the civil war deepened, most Palestinians backed the rebels, while some groups?such as the PFLP-GC? have been fighting alongside the troops. The group is led by Ahmed Jibril, Assad's longtime ally.
The fighting in the camp has forced an exodus of Palestinian refugees and Syrians who came to the camp in past weeks to escape violence elsewhere in the city, according to United Nations officials.
More than two-thirds of the roughly 150,000 Palestinian residents of Yarmouk have left the camp since Friday when the fighting flared up, according to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. They have either sought shelter in the outskirts of the camp, in other parts of Damascus or other Syrian cities, or headed to the Syrian-Lebanon border, said Sami Mshasha, an UNRWA spokesman.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement Wednesday he had asked U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to help in bringing the Palestinian refugees in Syrian to the Palestinian territories. This could include the West Bank, where Abbas governs, or the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
The statement said there are 450,000 Palestinian refugees living in 10 camps in Syria. Abbas said Yarmouk, which is the biggest camp, "has been through a difficult situation due to the escalating conflict in Syria."
Any movement of refugees into the West Bank would need the consent of Israel.
Israel's Foreign Ministry had no comment.
The battle to bring down the Assad regime has forced some 3 million Syrians from their homes, according to a new estimate. Cold, wet winter weather is making life increasingly difficult for the displaced. Among those who left their homes are more than 500,000 who fled to neighboring countries.
In Geneva, the United Nations refugee agency appealed to international donors for $1 billion to support Syrians in neighboring countries and Egypt. Additionally, the U.N. is also appealing for more than $500 million dollars to help people inside Syria who have been driven from their homes during the civil war.
The new appeal is based on planning estimates that up to one million Syrian refugees will need help during the first half of 2013.
"Unless these funds come quickly, we will not be able to fully respond to the lifesaving needs of civilians who flee Syria every hour of the day - many in a truly desperate condition," said Panos Moumtzis, the agency's regional coordinator for Syrian refugees.
?????
Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and John Heilprin in Geneva, Switzerland, contributed to this report.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Samsung Drops Requests To Ban Apple Products
Samsung has withdrawn lawsuits which seek to ban the sale of Apple products in Europe, although the companies' legal battle over copyright continues.
A statement by the Seoul-based company said it strongly believed companies should compete in the marketplace, not in court.
"Samsung remains committed to licencing our technologies on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms," it said.?
"In this spirit, Samsung has decided to withdraw our injunction requests against Apple on the basis of our standard essential patents pending in European courts, in the interest of protecting consumer choice."
The announcement came shortly after a US judge rejected Apple's call to ban the sale of several Samsung smartphone models in America.
Apple applied for the ban after a jury found in its favour in August, saying the South Korean firm had illegally used Apple technology.
District Judge Lucy Koh's decision is part of a series of rulings that she is releasing over several weeks to address the many legal issues that were raised in the case.
Apple was awarded $1.05bn (?648m) in damages after jurors found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and iPad.
It had urged the judge to permanently ban the US sales of eight Samsung smartphone models, while also seeking to add millions more to the award.
"The phones at issue in this case contain a broad range of features, only a small fraction of which are covered by Apple's patents," Judge Koh wrote in her ruling.
"Though Apple does have some interest in retaining certain features as exclusive to Apple, it does not follow that entire products must be forever banned from the market because they incorporate, among their myriad features, a few narrow protected functions."
Earlier this month, she appeared ready to trim the $1.05bn in damages that had been awarded by the jury, but gave no indication as to by how much.
Adding to the legal tangle, Apple filed a second lawsuit earlier this year, alleging that Samsung's newer products are unfairly using Apple's technology.
That trial is scheduled to go ahead in 2014. The two companies are also locked in legal battles in several other countries.
Earlier this year, Apple lawyer Harold McElhinny claimed Samsung "willfully" made a business decision to copy Apple's iPad and iPhone.
He called the jury's $1.05bn award a "slap on the wrist".
Samsung lawyer Charles Verhoeven argued Apple was trying to tie up Samsung in courts around the world rather than competing with it in the marketplace.
Samsung also claimed it had been deprived of a fair trial as the California courthouse is located just 12 miles from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino.
Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1027042
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Coal industry in last-minute push against renewable energy goal
A crucial day for the renewable energy sector. Photo: Nicolas Walker
Coal miners have launched a last-minute lobbying bid against the extension of the Renewable Energy Target (RET), releasing a study challenging the policy?s effectiveness.
The independent Climate Change Authority is due to reveal its final recommendations on the RET review at 10am AEDT this morning, in a decision likely to be closely watched by the electricity industry.
The authority?s draft report in October backed the retention of the current settings even though renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are on course to exceed the goal of 20 per cent of total generation by 2020, arguing changes to the policy would create uncertainty for investors in the sector.
The Australian Coal Association (ACA), a lobby group representing coal miners, said an assessment prepared by the Centre for International Economics found the RET failed five key measures of policy effectiveness.
ACA Chief Executive Officer, Nikki Williams, said the RET was ineffective in encouraging carbon dioxide abatement, research, development and demonstration (RD&D), enhancing energy security, providing investment certainty, and acting as a supportive policy for the carbon tax.
?These renewable sources are currently more expensive than other sources such as coal,? Dr Williams said in a statement. ?Therefore the quota amounts to a tax on consumers and fossil fuel generators, to subsidise renewable generators.?
The ACA earlier called for the RET to be removed, with existing rights to be ?grandfathered? or compensated, in its submission to the CCA?s review.
The coal industry?s complaint echoes calls from large fossil-fuel based electricity generators, many of which are struggling to remain profitable as weaker-than-expected power demand has sent wholesale electricity prices tumbling.
RET backing
The renewable energy industry, meanwhile, remains confident the CCA will recommend leaving the key goals of the RET unchanged, particularly the target of sourcing 41,000 gigawatt hours a year by 2020 from large-scale sources.
?Given what CCA said in the draft report, we?re not expecting significant changes? to the large-scale renewable energy target, said Russell Marsh, policy director of the Clean Energy Council.
?Without the RET you wouldn?t really see wind development ?or any renewable energy being developed,? he said.
The CCA, though, may recommend further changes to the uncapped Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme after the take-up by households of solar photovoltaic panels exceeded expectations.
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The government and the Coalition have said they back the 20 per cent RET goal. The Greens have called for the target to be raised.
?I hope the Climate Change Authority stands firm in the face of fossil-fuel lobbying,? Greens leader Christine Milne said on Tuesday. ?What we actually need is to shift to 100 per cent renewable energy as soon as possible, so we should set a minimum goal of 50 per cent by 2030.?
The CEC, which lobbies for the renewable energy industry, estimates that retaining the current RET settings will see another $18 billion invested in the sector by 2020, more than doubling investment so far under the scheme.
The CCA?s recommendations will be considered by the government, which may take months to settle on a final decision.
The longer the delay in getting final approval of the review, ?the longer the delay in getting actual investment into renewables?, Mr Marsh said.
Some nations are seeking more ambitious targets for renewable energy, such as Scotland?s goal of sourcing half its power by 2020 from renewable activities. Germany aims for 35 per cent by then and a reduction in energy consumption by 10 per cent, although a report out overnight suggests current policies will see achievements fall short of those goals.
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