Why Should Foreigners Care Who Wins the White House?

A Russian police officer patrols a street in front of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow

Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/GettyImages.

?Is this presidential election really the most important in our lifetime?? That was the question asked, in so many words, by a concerned Brit at a discussion in London a few days ago. His words were directed at Larry Sabato, the American political analyst, whose countenance had been beamed onto a screen in a conference room like some giant electronic guru. Sabato didn?t blink. ?This presidential election,? he replied, ?is definitely the most important since 2008.? ?

Appreciative laughter followed, but the audience wasn?t entirely satisfied. For the British?as for most other Europeans, and indeed most other foreigners?that aspect of this election is extremely hard to understand. Is the 2012 presidential race ?important??that is, will it mark a momentous change in American foreign policy and American attitudes toward the world?or will its result make no difference at all?

The source of the confusion is clear. Shards of harsh rhetoric from this nasty campaign do drift across the Atlantic, and many Europeans are aware that some Americans think Barack Obama is a Marxist-socialist bent on destroying America, while others think Mitt Romney is a vulture capitalist who will rob the poor to feed the rich. The British in particular like to ?ooh? and ?aah? over the stacks of cash Republicans and Democrats are spending in the apparent belief that the outcome matters a great deal.

At the same time, this election has received less serious coverage abroad than any I can ever remember. Foreigners were intrigued by Bill Clinton, and indulgent of his peccadilloes. Every word that George W. Bush uttered on the campaign trail was repeated with fascinated horror. Barack Obama?s biography was discussed in lavish detail all through 2008, along with the inevitable question, ?Will Americans vote for a black man?? (I told them we would; they didn?t believe me.)

This time around things are different. Until recently, Romney largely functioned in the British media as the punch line for jokes, thanks to his ill-favored visit during last summer?s Olympics. Only lately has anyone begun to grapple with the amazing fact that he might become president?though the possibility that Obama might lose isn?t causing a lot of heartbreak. Although he remains the favored candidate in most of the world?Europeans prefer the current president in ranges of 60 to 70 percent?no one lost a lot of sleep over his poor performance in the first debate.

There are multiple reasons for this indifference, starting with the fact that no one believes, as many once did, that an American president can solve all of their problems. Neither Obama nor Romney would be in a position to do much about the euro crisis. Neither could create effective governments in Egypt or Libya. Neither can render Russia less corrupt or China less nepotistic. The myth of America as an all-seeing, all-knowing superpower does persist in a few places?ironically, one hears it most often in the Arab world?but most everywhere else it?s long gone.? ?

Perhaps outsiders have also begun to understand something that not all Americans yet realize: The American president is also limited in his ability to shape events in his own country. One wouldn?t know that from listening to the campaigns: It?s always in the incumbent?s interest to take credit for everything good in the world?and in the challenger?s interest to blame him for everything bad. As a result of this kind of talk, the American president?any American president?is nowadays held personally responsible for everything from oil spills to the security of consulates. Though they like to think otherwise, many Americans have lately come to expect far more of their government than they once did, and some of those expectations now rest on the White House.

And yet?as the dead-heat polling illustrates?the United States is still a 50-50 nation. Either president is therefore likely to face a split Congress, which therefore means he will not have a free hand with the budget, with health care, or other major programs. Around the world, either man would face the same unenviable policy choices in Afghanistan, Syria, or Iran. Either will find it difficult to deal with the prickly leaders of China and Russia. Neither will have an unlimited defense budget, unquestioned authority to make peace in the Middle East, or unchallenged control over the U.N. Security Council.

Above all, neither will find that his election has, all by itself, had much of an impact. The election of President Obama did not automatically make America more popular all over the world, and the election of Mitt Romney would not automatically make America more respected, more powerful, or more hated either. So does this election matter? Yes, of course it does. It?s the most important presidential election since 2008.?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=43924ba3b76155be9b3bb5fc3b1b2c0a

All Star Game 2012 directv rashard lewis curacao curacao home run derby kourtney kardashian

Communications Networks and NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover ...

The author of this article, Brian Palmer, discusses how NASA has set up the communications network and information system for the Curiosty Rover, so that information may be adequately sent to, and received from the Rover in a timely manner. As a high-profile NASA mission, the project?s engineers have designed the information network with fail-safes in mind, by creating multiple relay components to transmit information between the Rover and mission control back on Earth.

To explain the layout of this network, one can split the separate components of the network (or the nodes), into four different groups. The first is NASA mission control, or simply NASA. From this node, there are different lines of communication (directed edges), leading to the different parts of the Deep Space Network, which include three major hubs in the Mojave Desert, Spain, and another in Australia). There are probably directed edges between all three, but for convenience?s sake, let us consider directed edges going from both Spain and Australia to the Mojave node (after all, it would make sense that the central space telecommunications hub be out in the desert, where there is less likely to be interference). Next, all three of the Deep Space Network nodes would have directed edges leading to Curiosity itself. Finally, directed edges would lead from Curiosity to a pair of orbiters circling around Mars, named Odyssey and Reconnaissance (these in turn, would have directed edges pointing back to NASA?s node). By observing the path of these directed edges, one can see that these nodes and their respective pathways form a strongly connected network ? that is, any information at any one node in the network can move to any another node in the network via a series of pathways.

For a mission such as the Curiosity Rover, a strongly connected network is crucial for being able to relay information both TO and FROM the Rover. To relay information to the Rover, there are three separate hubs, so that if there is any problem at one or two of the nodes, there is always a third one. Also, having more than one hub allows information to be split up and dispersed along separate edges (if there are traffic limitations applied to specific edges, maximizing the dispersion along different routes, as we did with the traffic example earlier this semester, would be ideal).? This also applies to relaying information back to the main NASA node ? Curiosity can parse and send the data along both of the orbiter?s paths. Finally, one could imagine a situation where information is being sent in a constant steady, or equilibrium state, amongst these nodes, along all available edges. According to the previous explanation, and by using equilibrium dispersion by assigning value ?a? to NASA?s node, and setting the summation of all values equal to zero:

a+(a/3)+(a/3)+(2a/3)+a+(a/2)+(a/2)=1; (13a)/3=1; a=3/13

The equilibrium numerical values in this case indicate the amount of information at/passing through the hub during equilibrium. Relay hubs ?Spain,? and ?Australia,? have equal values of 1/13, while the central relay hub in the Mojave has a value of 2/13, and the orbiter nodes (Odyssey and Reconnaissance), have values of 3/26. Interestingly enough, both NASA ground command and Curiosity have the same equilibrium values ? this would seem to make sense, as all the information passed from the ground to ends up at the satellite, and in response to the received commands, the satellite sends a proportional amount of information back to the ground to be received.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/mars-rover-gets-instructions-daily-from-nasa-via-a-network-of-antennae/2012/10/29/60e6e040-1c65-11e2-ad90-ba5920e56eb3_story.html

Comments

Leave a Reply

Source: http://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2012/10/29/communications-networks-and-nasas-curiosity-mars-rover/

bethenny frankel michael bay ninja turtles san antonio weather mike daisey nicollette sheridan apple dividend snow white and the huntsman

Griner leads AP women's preseason All-America team

Brittney Griner became the third player to be a two-time unanimous choice on The Associated Press' women's basketball preseason All-America team, receiving all 40 votes from a national media panel Tuesday.

Griner joined former UConn star Maya Moore and Duke great Alana Beard in that select club. Griner isn't the only unanimous choice on the preseason team. Delaware senior Elena Delle Donne and Notre Dame senior Skylar Diggins were also on all 40 ballots. Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike (23 votes), Maryland's Alyssa Thomas (19) and Baylor's Odyssey Sims (19) rounded out the squad. It's the first time there's been a tie for the final spot.

Only five other players have been unanimous selections ? Courtney Paris, Chamique Holdsclaw, Diana Taurasi, Seimone Augustus and Candace Parker.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-10-30-BKW-Preseason-All-America-/id-5817c76e394942509180fd7e8cf023cf

Gary Collins bus driver uppercut Argo joe biden paul ryan houston texans houston texans

Sildenafil Citrate Improves Overall Sexual Function of Prostate ...

BOSTON, Oct. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sildenafil citrate (SC), a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, administered before, during and after radiation therapy improved overall sexual function of prostate cancer patients, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 54th Annual Meeting.

This is the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to determine if daily, adjuvant use of SC before, during and after radiation therapy preserves erectile function in prostate cancer patients. The study included 290 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who were treated with external beam radiation therapy and/or permanent interstitial implantation and were randomly assigned to two groups (2:1 randomization): those who received a 50 mg dose daily of SC and those who received a placebo.

Patients in both groups were asked to complete the international index of erectile function (IIEF) and international prostate symptom score
(IPSS) questionnaires before therapy and at six, 12 and 24 months after radiation treatment. Results from 144 patients, those who completed the surveys before therapy and at least one additional time period, indicate that those in the SC group experienced improved overall sexual function compared to the placebo group at all time points, accounting for IIEF scores of 58.6 vs. 49.4, 56.3 vs. 48.2 and 54.9 vs. 47.6, respectively. Patient characteristics including age, use of brachytherapy, androgen deprivation therapy and baseline IIEFscores were similar in both treatment groups.

Patients received medication three days before their radiation treatment and continued with a daily dose for six months, after which daily use of SC or the placebo was discontinued and taken on an as-needed basis only. IIEF scores were based on patient feedback about their erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction.

"Our study found that prostate cancer patients treated with sildenafil citrate and adjuvant radiation treatment had improved overall erectile function and overall satisfaction of their sexual activity and function," said Michael J. Zelefsky, MD, lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "The most significant improvements were seen at six and 12 months following treatment, with a slight dip at the 24-month mark, suggesting that future trials need to be conducted to demonstrate if a longer treatment duration can further improve patient outcomes."

The abstract, "Results of a Prospective Randomized Double-blind Placebo Controlled Trial Evaluating the Use Prophylactic Sildenafil Citrate During Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer," will be presented in detail during a scientific session at ASTRO's 54th Annual Meeting at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, October 29, 2012. To speak with Dr. Zelefsky, call Michelle Kirkwood on October 28 -- 31, 2012, in the ASTRO Press Office at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center at 617-954-3461 or 617-954-3462, or email michellek@astro.org.

ASTRO's 54th Annual Meeting, held in Boston, October 28 -- 31, 2012, is the premier scientific meeting in radiation oncology and brings together more than 11,000 attendees including oncologists from all disciplines, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, radiation oncology nurses and nurse practitioners, biologists, physician assistants, practice administrators, industry representatives and other health care professionals from around the world. The theme of the 2012 Annual Meeting is "Advancing Patient Care through Innovation"
and examines how innovation in technology and patient care delivery can lead to improved patient outcomes. The four-day scientific meeting includes six plenary papers and 410 oral presentations in 63 oral scientific sessions, and 1,724 posters and 130 digital posters in 18 tracks/topic areas.

ABOUT ASTRO

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.

2012 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 54th Annual Meeting

News Briefing, Monday, October 29, 2012, 11:00 a.m., Eastern time

Scientific Session: Monday, October 29, 2012, 2:30 p.m. -- 3:45 p.m.
ET, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

4 Results of a Prospective Randomized Double-blind Placebo Controlled Trial Evaluating the Use Prophylactic Sildenafil Citrate During Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

M. J. Zelefsky1, D. Shasha2, M. Kollmeier1, R. E. Baser1, B. Cox1, R.
Stock3, R. D. Ennis2, N. Bar-Chama3, X. Pei1, J. Mulhall1, 1Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 2Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, 3Mt Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY

Purpose/Objective(s): The concept of penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer therapy revolves around preservation of corpus cavernosal endothelial and smooth muscle integrity. A randomized, placebo controlled trial (RPCT) supports the PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil citrate (SC) as a rehabilitation strategy in men after radical prostatectomy. This study was undertaken to determine if the use adjuvant daily SC during and after radiotherapy for prostate cancer improves erectile function preservation.

Materials/Methods: 290 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy and or permanent interstitial implantation were enrolled in a randomized prospective trial comparing daily SC (50 mg) to placebo (2:1 randomization).
Medication/placebo was initiated 3 days before treatment and continued daily for 6 months, after which the drug therapy was discontinued and taken on an as-needed basis. Patients completed the international index of erectile function (IIEF) and international prostate symptom score
(IPSS) questionnaires pre-therapy and at 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment. Current analysis is limited to patients who have completed questionnaires at pre-therapy plus at least one post-treatment time-point and who did not receive hormone therapy (n=144). All IIEF domains were scored including: erectile function (EF), orgasmic function (OF), sexual desire (SD), intercourse satisfaction (IS) and overall satisfaction (OS). Patient characteristics including age, use of brachytherapy, androgen deprivation therapy and baseline IIEF scores were balanced between the treatment groups.

Results: The IIEF overall scores were significantly higher in the SC arm compared to placebo at 6 months (p=0.006), 12 months (p=0.02) and
24 months (p=0.04) after therapy.

Conclusions: Daily SC administered during and after radiotherapy for prostate cancer resulted in improved overall sexual function compared to placebo at all time points. This is the first randomized prospective controlled-trial to demonstrate the utility of a PDE5 inhibitor as a rehabilitation strategy in the prostate cancer radiation therapy patient population.

Author Disclosure Block:

M.J. Zelefsky: A restricted educational grant from Pfizer, which was used to support research assistance to participating institutions for the current study. D. Shasha: None. M. Kollmeier: None. R.E. Baser:
None. B. Cox: None. R. Stock: None. R.D. Ennis: None. N. Bar-Chama:
None. X. Pei: None. J. Mulhall: Received a grant from Pfizer for a study on penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy. *Pfizer provided sildenafil citrate and placebo for the study.

CONTACT: Michelle Kirkwood, 703-286-1600, michellek@astro.org

?

Posted: October 2012

Source: http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/sildenafil-citrate-improves-overall-sexual-function-prostate-cancer-patients-receiving-radiation-14571.html

Jon Lord weather.com yahoo news foxnews Colorado shootings dark knight rises Aurora shooting

Breast cancer walk unites thousands with common goal - Wave3.com

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE ) ? Thousands of people were united in the fight against breast cancer Sunday afternoon during the WAVE 3 and American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

The event raises awareness and money to fight breast cancer, and it provides hope to people facing the disease.

It is estimated that more than 227,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer before 2012 is over.

For many people like walker Debra Wine, the event is personal. "We started out walking with my mom in 1999," Wine said. "We lost my mom in 2006 and just carried on the tradition of walking in her memory."

This year, for the first time, breast cancer survivors got to join the "Living Ribbon of Hope."

$720,000 was raised at this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Waterfront Park.

WAVE 3's Dawne Gee was among the thousands of participants.

Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.wave3.com/story/19937696/breast-cancer-walk-unites-thousands-with-common-goal

colcannon dystonia tourettes gonzaga rosie o donnell soda bread recipe vanderbilt

Frederick County Parks and Recreation Sports: FLOOR HOCKEY ...

25 Oct

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Source: http://norman8321.typepad.com/blog/2012/10/frederick-county-parks-and-recreation-sports-floor-hockey.html

roland martin whitney houston dead at 48 whitney houston dead 2012 whitney houston passed away heartbreak hotel don cornelius whitney houston i will always love you

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://ekinupidav.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/frederick-county-parks-and-recreation-sports-floor-hockey/

WWE boardwalk empire iOS 6 Release Date Canelo Alvarez Chavez vs Martinez Yunel Escobar Irish Daily Star

Source: http://imosal.posterous.com/frederick-county-parks-and-recreation-sports

the patriot nick diaz vs carlos condit hall of fame occupy dc ufc 143 fight card my fair lady conversion disorder

Source: http://avisfbec.posterous.com/frederick-county-parks-and-recreation-sports

snow day snow day neti pot

Source: http://mathewadkins.typepad.com/blog/2012/10/frederick-county-parks-and-recreation-sports-floor-hockey.html

denver weather planned parenthood what time does the superbowl start kobayashi roseanne barr margaret sanger paul george

Rocket fire from Gaza draws Israeli airstrike

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israeli aircraft struck a Palestinian rocket launching pad and an unidentified militant activity site in the Gaza Strip early Monday, in response to persistent rocket and mortar fire from the coastal territory, the military said.

Gaza militants launched 11 rockets and mortars into southern Israel earlier in the day, according to the military's count. No casualties were reported on either side.

The hostilities undercut a brittle, informal truce that went into effect last week after the worst outbreak of violence between the two sides in months.

Later Monday, military aircraft dropped leaflets over Gaza warning Palestinians to stay away from the border fence with Israel or risk drawing live fire.

The leaflets also warned civilians not to cooperate with militants, dig underground smuggling tunnels or smuggle in weapons.

In Gaza, Palestinian police with the strip's ruling militant Hamas movement scooped up the leaflets.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rocket-fire-gaza-draws-israeli-airstrike-082320651.html

bent new york jets etch a sketch romney sean payton saints bounty program toulouse france ny jets

Man and woman shot in Hollygrove | NOLA.com

?

A man and a woman were shot Saturday afternoon in the 4000 block of Hollygrove St., according to the New Orleans Police. The incident occurred around 12:38 p.m.

The injuries were non-life threatening, said NOPD spokesman Gary Flot.

No additional information was available.

Source: http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/10/man_and_woman_shot_on_hollygro.html

arkansas razorbacks trisomy 18 ozzie guillen ozzie guillen buster posey eric holder eric holder

How Will Hurricane Sandy Affect The Internet? [VIDEO]

{ttle}

{cptn}","template_name":"ss_thmb_play_ttle","i18n":{"end_of_gallery_header":"End of Gallery","end_of_gallery_next":"View Again"},"metadata":{"pagination":"{firstVisible} - {lastVisible} of {numItems}","ult":{"spaceid":"7665149","sec":""}}},{"id": "hcm-carousel-128611261", "dataManager": C.dmgr, "mediator": C.mdtr, "group_name":"hcm-carousel-128611261", "track_item_selected":1,"tracking":{ "spaceid" : "7665149", "events" : { "click" : { "any" : { "yui-carousel-prev" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"prev","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } }, "yui-carousel-next" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"next","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // no more pages, don't beacon again // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } } } } } } })); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function() { try{ if (Math.floor(Math.random()*10) == 1) { var loc = window.location, decoded = decodeURI(loc.pathname), encoded = encodeURI(decoded), uri = loc.protocol + "//" + loc.host + encoded + ((loc.search.length > 0) ? loc.search + '&' : '?') + "_cacheable=1", xmlhttp; if (window.XMLHttpRequest) xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); else xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); xmlhttp.open("GET",uri,true); xmlhttp.send(); } }catch(e){} })(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings = '"projectId": "10001256862979", "documentName": "", "documentGroup": "", "ywaColo" : "vscale3", "spaceId" : "7665149" ,"customFields" : { "12" : "classic", "13" : "story" }'; Y.Media.YWA.init(Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {if(document.onclick===YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.newClick){document.onclick=YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.oldClick;} }); }); });

Video: Finding kidney donors via social media

Dateline NBC

'Dateline NBC,' the signature broadcast for NBC News in primetime, premiered in 1992. Since then, it has been pioneering a new approach to primetime news programming. The multi-night franchise, supplemented by frequent specials, allows NBC to consistently and comprehensively present the highest-quality reporting, investigative features, breaking news coverage and newsmaker profiles.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/vp/49572695#49572695

molly sims hostess brands nh primary david crowder band natalie wood van halen annalynne mccord

In world first, biggest refugee camp gets university

Refugees in the world's largest refugee camp will soon be able to go for higher education at the world's first university being set up near a camp for its inhabitants.

The campus is being set up by Kenya's Kenyatta University (KU) near the sprawling ?city? of tents of Dadaab, where more than 500,000 people are sheltering from war and famine. It will serve both refugees and local Kenyans.

Humanitarian officials hail it as a first for refugees, while education experts say it's a creative solution for cases of long-term conflict in Africa.

?Providing education can help solve conflicts in troubled zones in the long-term. With education people get sobered up. They also feel actualized and have hope for the future,? says Dr, Josephine Gitome, the director of KU?s Center for Refugees and Empowerment which is implementing the project.

Think you know Africa? Take our geography quiz.

KU has partnered with Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER), a Canadian and Kenyan development partnership together with international organizations and institutions to establish the Kenyatta University Dadaab Campus.

BHER is a partnership which makes educational programs available to refugees where they need it. It is providing education through online distance courses in Dadaab and along the Thai-Burma border.

?Refugees who have completed secondary school almost universally voice the desire to attend university, but to date international scholarships in the Global North remain the only opportunity.These scholarships are few and benefit 1 percent,? Professor Wenona Giles of York University, the BHER lead partner, said in the Kenyan media.

Some Kenyans and officials have been pushing to relocate the camp to Somalia. However, the university hasn't generated much controversy because it also serves local residents and could remain even if the camp is closed.

?It?s on our soil and so we are the greatest beneficiaries,? said Farah Maalim, a member of Parliament from the region, in a newspaper announcement.

The campus is a big leap forward and a win-win situation for Kenya and the refugees, according to Dominik Bartsch, regional head of operations of the United Nations refugee agency.

?It will serve as an incentive for refugee children to complete school and proceed to obtain higher qualifications,? said Mr. Bartsch at the official launch of the campus on Oct. 9.

The first students start in January of 2013, and will study for certificates, bachelor diplomas in fields including Finance, Marketing, Project Management, Education, Public Administration, Community Mobilization, and Peace and Conflict studies. There will be regular courses with lectures beginning in the morning and ending in the evening, along with distance learning and weekend options.

Moses Mukhwana, an official of the Lutheran World Federation at the camp says many refugees who could not access university education were very enthusiastic.

?They will not need passes as often is the case when they have to join institutions out of the camp," he says, referring to identity cards that require registration with the Kenyan government. "We also hope for improved co-existence."

Mohammed Bashir, a 25-year-old refugee who serves as the camp's webmaster, said in a telephone interview; ?This is the best thing that can happen to us refugees.?

Think you know Africa? Take our geography quiz.

Related stories

Read this story at csmonitor.com

Become a part of the Monitor community

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/world-first-biggest-refugee-camp-gets-university-160004019.html

duke invisible children garbage pail kids st bonaventure ncaa tournament 2012 peyton manning 49ers andy pettitte

Cuba: Hurricane Sandy leaves destruction in its wake (+video)

Hurricane Sandy knocked down trees, clogged streets and killed at least three people in the Caribbean. The storm is expected to hit the U.S. East Coast over the weekend and into next week. Flooding, high winds and downed trees are of concern. ?

By Jeff Franks,?Reuters / October 25, 2012

A driver maneuvers his car along a wet road as a wave crashes against the Malecon in Havana, Cuba. Hurricane Sandy blasted across eastern Cuba on Thursday as a potent Category 2 storm.

AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Enlarge

Hurricane Sandy?swelled into a major threat to much of the?U.S. East Coast?on Thursday after lashing?Cuba?with heavy rains and tree-toppling winds and swirling through?the Bahamas, U.S. forecasters said.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition

Hurricane Sandy left downed powerlines in Jamaica as she prepared to take aim at the central Bahama with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour.

Strengthening rapidly after tearing into?Jamaica?and crossing the warm Caribbean Sea, Sandy?hit?southeastern Cuba?early on Thursday with top sustained winds up to 110 miles per hour (177 kph) that left a trail of destruction, especially in the historic city of?Santiago?de?Cuba.

Images on Cuban television showed downed trees, damaged buildings and debris-clogged streets in the communist-ruled island's second largest city, which suffered a direct hit when the storm came ashore in the early morning hours.

"Everything's destroyed in?Santiago. People are going to have to work very hard to recover,"?Alexis Manduley, a resident of the 498-year-old city, told Reuters by telephone.

According to one Cuban radio report from the city of 500,000 people, about 470 miles (750 km) southeast of?Havana, at least one person was killed in?Santiago, bringing the Sandy-related death toll to at least three, including fatalities in?Jamaica?and?Haiti.

U.S. government?forecasters warned that much of the U.S. East Coast could get swiped by Sandy, with flooding, heavy rains and high winds beginning late Thursday in?Florida. By early next week - amid final preparations for the crucial Nov. 6 presidential election - the storm could hit an area of New England where Hurricane Irene caused severe damage last year.

White House?spokesman?Jay Carney?declined to speculate about whether there would be any change in President?Barack Obama's campaign travel schedule because of Sandy, as he makes a last-minute blitz to win an edge over Republican Mitt Romney in a close race.

"The president's concern about this storm is to make sure that citizens in potentially affected areas are aware of this and taking necessary precaution," Carney said.

He spoke aboard Air Force One as Obama headed from?Florida?to?Virginia, saying the president had asked his team to hold regular briefings with federal disaster officials as the storm progresses.

Forecasters said the hardest-hit areas could span anywhere from the coastal?Carolinas?up to?Maine, with New York City and the?Boston?area potentially in harm's way.

"Regardless of the exact track of Sandy, it is likely that significant impacts will be felt over portions of the U.S. East Coast through the weekend and into early next week," the Miami-based?U.S. National Hurricane Center?said.?

"Frankenstorm"

"It's going to be a high-impact event," said?Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's HydroMeteorological Prediction Center in?College Park,?Maryland.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/GgOJmfLuJu8/Cuba-Hurricane-Sandy-leaves-destruction-in-its-wake-video

Honey Boo Boo yom kippur yom kippur avengers soa andy williams andy williams

AP basketball poll: Indiana is preseason No. 1

Tom Crean didn't look like any of the other people in the Maui airport that day.

He had just coached his third, fourth and fifth games in his first season at Indiana. He looked how you would expect a coach to look after losing games by 38 and 26 points, then managing to beat Division II Chaminade in the seventh-place game of the Maui Invitational by only two points. The Silverswords got off a possible game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Others waiting for flights to the mainland on the day before Thanksgiving in 2008 were wearing leis and flowered shirts and were carefully carrying pineapples. Not Crean. He had a lot of things on his mind and looked like he was ready to blow the whistle and start practice.

"This is going to take a while," Crean said at the time. "We can do it. This place has so much in so many ways."

He was standing and pacing now, the way he piles up the miles on the sideline.

"We can do this," he said. "We can do this."

Not many people would have believed it then. They do now. Another step in the return of the fabled Hoosiers program came Friday as Crean is about to start his fifth season in Bloomington.

Indiana was ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press' preseason Top 25, a first for the Hoosiers since 1979-80, when they were coached by Bob Knight and the 3-point line was still in the experimental phase.

The Hoosiers and their fans are quite familiar with the next two teams in the voting: Louisville and Kentucky.

The three schools are from the basketball-rabid area known as "Kentuckiana." Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are all within an easy drive of each other and they are schools which have known basketball success over the years and recently, as well.

The Hoosiers, who return all five starters including 7-foot sophomore Cody Zeller, received 43 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Indiana is a preseason No. 1 for the third time.

Louisville, which reached the Final Four last season, and Kentucky, the reigning national champions who beat Indiana in the regional semifinals and Louisville in the national semifinals, received the rest of the first-place votes. Louisville was No. 1 on 20 ballots and the Wildcats got the other two.

Louisville has most of the team back from last season including Gorgui Dieng, a defensive force in the middle. Kentucky, on the other hand, has another roster full of talented freshmen after four players left early and were taken in the first round of the NBA draft including overall No. 1 and 2 picks Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

This is the fifth time that Indiana, Louisville and Kentucky were all ranked in the preseason top 10. The last time was 1983 when Kentucky was No. 4, Louisville No. 8 and Kentucky No. 9.

Indiana's other preseason No. 1 was in 1975-76 when the Hoosiers put together the last unbeaten run to a national championship.

Ohio State and Michigan joined Indiana as Big Ten teams ranked in the top five. The last time a conference had three teams in the preseason top five was 2008-09 when Connecticut, Louisville and Pittsburgh of the Big East were second, third and fifth, respectively.

North Carolina State, Kansas, Duke, Syracuse and Florida round out the top 10.

North Carolina led the second 10 and was followed by Arizona, UCLA, Michigan State, Missouri, Creighton, Memphis, UNLV, Baylor and San Diego State.

The last five ranked teams were Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Florida State.

The Big Ten led the way with five teams in the preseason poll, while the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference had four each. Along with the Southeastern Conference's three teams, those four leagues accounted for 16 of the 25 teams.

Crean took over an Indiana program in 2008-09 that had plenty of history ? five national championships ? and a lot of current problems. Only two players returned from a team that was facing NCAA discipline over a phone call scandal that led to the ouster of coach Kelvin Sampson.

The program was back on the national scene last season when Christian Watford's 3-pointer at the buzzer beat No. 1 Kentucky and the fans rushed the court at Assembly Hall. Three straight losing seasons seemed long ago as the Hoosiers added two more wins over teams ranked in the top five and got back in the NCAA tournament.

Now Crean has a team that will start the season No. 1

"It's great. Those things are great," Crean said. "I think now, it's just so much about the daily challenge of getting better. That to me is what the focus is. It's a big deal, but you don't get any banners for your preseason rankings. You've got to go out and you've got to earn it every day. I think that's what this team is really doing a good job of, and I know it's early, but they're doing a good job of it."

Duke has the longest current streak of consecutive poll appearances at 97, a run that started with the preseason poll of 2007-08. Kansas has the second-longest current run at 65 weeks.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-basketball-poll-indiana-preseason-no-1-161314557--spt.html

ryder cup Kate Middleton Bottomless the Pirate Bay Hotel Transylvania looper eagles nfl schedule 2012

As well as shopper - Fitness equipment Classifieds

Free Classifieds Health & Fitness Fitness Equipment

One of the best horror films ever made was released on

may 23rd 1980. Directed by Stanly Kubrick,it a tale of

a family that heads to an isolated hotel for the

winter. Once there the father is overcome by some sort

of evil presence which turns him into an evil, violent

psychopath. It is a spell binding movie with a lot of

graphic scenes of blood letting.A masterpiece of modern

horror!

This movie will keep you glued to your seats. I would

not recommend it for children unless you plan on

staying up all night with them.

The lead actor, Jack Nicholson, plays such a

convincing role that at times it seems he is not

acting--a true sign of a great performance. His

wife,played by Shelly Duvall, and his son,played by

Danny Lloyd also gave really believable performances.

To understand the attraction of this movie, I believe

that you have to know some history about the leading

character.

John Joseph Nicholson was born April 22, 1937 is a

three time Academy Award-winning American actor

internationally renowned for his often dark-themed

portrayals of neurotic characters.

Jack Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award

12 times and has won three times (twice for Best Actor

and once as Best Supporting Actor). He is tied with

Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor and

second to Katharine Hepburn for most acting wins

overall He is also one of only two actors nominated for

an Academy Award for acting in every decade since the

1960. He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and

received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he

became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the

American Film Institutes Life Achievement Award. He is

best known for his films Chinatown, One Flew Over the

Cuckoo's Nest, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, As Good

as It Gets, Tim Burton's Batman, and Martin

Scorsese's The Departed.

To understand Nicholson one must first examine his

early childhood. Nicholson was brought up believing

his grandparents, John J. Nicholson and Ethel May

Rhoads were his parents. Nicholson only discovered that

his parents were actually his grandparents and his

sister was in fact his mother in 1974

Nicholson started his career as an actor, writer, and

producer, working for and with Roger Corman, among

others. His first real taste of writing success was

the LSD-fueled screenplay for 1967's The Trip, which

starred Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. However, after a

spot opened up in Fonda and Hopper's Easy Rider, it

led to his first big acting break.

A Best Actor nomination came the following year for his

role in Five Easy Pieces. He also appeared in "On a

Clear Day You Can See Forever". Nicholson earned his

first Best Actor Oscar for portraying Randle P.

McMurphy in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

His first movie as a director was a 1971 movie called

"Drive, He Said"

It was in 1980 that he made "The Shining" Although he

did not receive any Oscar nominations in this movie, it

was one of his best performances.

During the eighties he stared in many more roles and it

was the blockbuster movie "BATMAN" that earned him

as estimated $60 million. In the 1992 movie 'A Few

Good men" he played a marine Colonel. He was nominated

for another Razzie Awards.One of his best roles came

in 1996 in which he played a Boston Irish mob boss in

"The Departed"

But through out all the years,"The Shining" still

remains one of the best performances by Nickolson. A

really true masterpiece of modern horror!

Ad Listed On: Oct 25, 2012

Ad Views: 7

Location: Eugene Eugene AL

Tags: fitness equipment classifieds, health & fitness advertisement

Classifieds category: Health & Fitness

Source: http://www.adjingo.com/fitness-equipment/free-ads-124267.html

pellet gun clay aiken zambrano orange bowl tim howard goal ben gibbard nfl playoff schedule

El Cortez Hotel & Casino November Promotions and Events ...

El Cortez Hotel & Casino November Promotions and Events

Casino Events

?

Vegas StrEATs Festival ? Saturday, Nov. 10
El Cortez hosts the monthly Vegas StrEATs food-truck, arts and music festival on the Jackie Gaughan Parkway from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10. Many of Las Vegas? favorite food trucks participate in Vegas StrEATs each month along with local art and clothing vendors from across the city. For a final list of participating food trucks and vendors, visit Vegas StrEATs on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VegasStreats.

?

Presented by El Cortez, Insert Coin(s) VideoLounge Gamebar, Vegas StrEATs brings food, live art and music to the Fremont East Entertainment District. Drink specials throughout the festival include $3 Bud Light, Shock Top and Bud Light Lime, $4 Jameson Irish Whiskey, Jagermeister and 1800 Silver Tequila shots and $2 Pepsi products.

?

Karaoke Fridays and Saturdays inside The Parlour
The Parlour inside El Cortez becomes downtown Las Vegas? go-to destination for karaoke every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. throughout November.? From classics hits to today?s chart toppers, brave patrons can entertain their friends and guests during this exciting weekend party.

?

Award-Winning Elvis Presley Tribute
John Brooks, an award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist, continues his performance inside The Parlour every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. throughout November.

?

Updated Promotions & El Cortez News

?

Russell Stover Chocolate for Jackpot Winners in November
Throughout November, Club Cortez players winning a jackpot of $200 or more on a slot machine, a $200 or more jackpot on a video poker five-cent or lower denomination machine, a $300 or more jackpot on a video poker ten-cent or high denomination machine or a $200 or more jackpot on live keno will receive a free box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates. All jackpot winners will also receive an entry into the weekly Saturday night 50? LCD HDTV giveaway and $2,000 cash prize drawing.? Please see Club Cortez for additional information and to redeem tickets.

?

Free White Castle in Honor of Veterans Day ? Sunday, Nov. 11
El Cortez Hotel & Casino is serving free White Castle cheeseburgers to celebrate Veterans Day on Sunday, Nov. 11. Club Cortez members can enjoy free White Castle cheeseburgers while they play slots and table games. The complimentary burgers will be served from noon to 6 p.m. White Castle is famous for their one-of-a-kind Slyder ?, which offers a delicious hamburger patty with White Castle?s signature steamed onions and cheese.

?

Fresh Stone Crab Special Continues throughout November at The Flame
The Flame Steakhouse offers a weekly, fresh jumbo stone crab dinner special every Friday and Saturday while supplies last. Stone crab is flown in fresh from Florida every week for the Friday and Saturday nightly dinner special, which is available for only $28 per pound and served with cottage fries and coleslaw.

?

Thanksgiving Specials at The Flame and Caf? Cortez ? Thursday, Nov. 22
The El Cortez Hotel & Casino offers a delicious Thanksgiving feast with dining specials at both The Flame Steakhouse and Caf? Cortez. Guests can dine at The Flame Steakhouse for $19.95 and at Caf? Cortez for $12.95 with each restaurant offering a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

?

The Flame Steakhouse
Appetizer:?????????? Tossed green salad with choice of dressing or roasted butternut squash soup

Main Course:???? Fresh roasted turkey, giblet gravy, sage dressing, mashed potatoes or candied yams, cranberry sauce and a vegetable medley

Dessert:?????????????? Pumpkin cheesecake or apple pie

?

Caf? Cortez
Appetizer:?????????? Tossed green salad with choice of dressing or roasted butternut squash soup

Dinner:???????????????? Option 1 ? Fresh roasted turkey, giblet gravy, sage dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans amandine

Option 2- Baked Virginia ham, brandy/pineapple sauce, sweet potatoes and green beans amandine

Dessert:?????????????? Fresh baked pumpkin or apple pie

?

$5 Burger and Beer Special at Caf? Cortez
For $5, guests can enjoy a half-pound Jackie Burger, chips and a 12-ounce domestic draft beer inside Caf? Cortez. The special is available 24 hours.

?

Monday Night Football Specials at El Cortez
El Cortez will offer specials including $1 Budweiser and Bud Light drafts and $1 Vienna Beef hot dogs for all Monday Night Football games during the 2012 ? 2013 football season. In addition, halftime drawings will be held during each game where guests can win jerseys and other prizes.

?

Friends of The Smith Center Enjoy Benefits at El Cortez
El Cortez Hotel & Casino welcomes friends of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts to downtown Las Vegas by extending on-property benefits to show-goers.? Individuals who show an official ?Friends of the Smith Center? card or Smith Center show tickets and stubs on the same date as a performance can receive a $10 discount on an entr?e at The Flame Steakhouse, a complimentary cocktail inside The Parlour and a complimentary additional night?s stay after booking a one-night stay at El Cortez.

?

Food and Beverage Promotions

Ongoing
The Parlour Offers Exclusive Dining Menu
El Cortez serves a special nightly dining menu exclusively available at The Parlour from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Slow-braised pork shoulder served on a dollar roll with Creole mayo

• Barbecue Chicken Slider, $9

Served with fresh cole slaw and Jack Daniel?s barbecue sauce

Grilled hamburger patty with Swiss cheese and grilled onions served on a dollar roll

Fresh, grilled Gulf shrimp served with a spicy teriyaki sauce

• Artichoke Spinach Dip, $7

Fresh spinach and marinated artichoke hearts with cheddar and jack cheeses topped with seasoned bread crumbs and served with fresh crostini

Fried cod filets served on flour tortillas and topped with shredded lettuce and Cr?me Fraiche

Seasoned chicken drumettes fried and served with bleu cheese dressing

House-seasoned thick-cut fries served with chipotle ranch dressing

?

Caf? Cortez Take-Out Menu
Caf? Cortez inside El Cortez Hotel and Casino now offers a daily take-out menu available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The take-out menu features a variety of cuisine, such as:

• Appetizers: chicken quesadilla, $8.25; Cajun chicken wings, $7.50; shrimp cocktail, $8.50; and more
• Salads: Greek Salad, $8.95; Chinese chicken salad, $8.95; and more
• Burgers: Jackie?s Burger, $7.95; Swiss burger, $8.50; veggie burger, $7.75; and more
• Sandwiches: Deli selects, $7.95; corned beef or pastrami on rye, $8.95; fish sandwich, $7.75; and more

?

Free Klondike Bars for Club Cortez Players
El Cortez Hotel & Casino is helping Club Cortez members satisfy their sweet tooth by serving free Klondike bars for players who hit a jackpot of $25 or more every Wednesday. Klondike bars have been a dessert favorite of Americans since the 1920s.

?

Caf? Cortez Dinner Specials
Visit Caf? Cortez for prime rib dinner for only $7.95.? Meal includes choice of soup or salad. Try the vegetarian offerings including a veggie burger, veggie fajita and Greek salad.

?

Casino-wide Bar Specials
El Cortez offers two-for-one happy hour at all casino bars every Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Offer valid on all martinis and top shelf selections including Grey Goose, Tanqueray 10, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker Red, Patron Silver and Bacardi Gold.

?

Receive Up To 75 Percent Off Using Club Cortez Points
Club Cortez members can receive up to 75 percent off when using Club Points for meals at The Flame Steakhouse, Caf? Cortez or Gambling Gourmet.? The percentage off the price of the meal is based on membership level.

?

Gaming Promotions

?

Ongoing
Free Play Jackpot Bonus
Club Cortez members can earn $50 in free play for every jackpot of $1,200 or more. All free play bonuses can be redeemed at the slot club.

Personalized Website Feature for Club Cortez Members
Club Cortez has unveiled its newest feature for rated members ? a personalized URL website for players to keep track of their various offers and promotions.? This feature allows Club Cortez members a fast, simple and easy way to check on their earned benefits. El Cortez is offering this innovative new program through High Impact Direct, a leader in micro player marketing.

?

Don?t Miss Instant Action at the El Cortez
Instant Action allows players to turn their points into free play without ever having to leave their machines.? Instant Action also allows players to activate promotional free play without having to visit the slot club.

?

Free Daily Slot Tournament ? now automated 24 hours a day
Any Club Cortez member earning 500 Club Points in a single day is eligible to play in the daily slot tournament the following day.? Available 24 hours a day, players insert their Club Cortez card in any tournament machine, play the session and check their standing beginning at 10 a.m. the following day.? New Club Cortez members staying at the El Cortez also get a complimentary entry into the slot tournament.? Highest daily tournament point winner receives $250, the second highest receives $150 and the third highest $100.? The daily top ten players receive an entry into the weekly Saturday night 40? LCD HDTV giveaway and $2,000 cash prize drawing.? See Club Cortez for additional details.

?

Weekly Saturday Night 50? LCD HDTV & $2,000 Cash Prize Drawing
Club Cortez players have an opportunity every week to win a 50? LCD HDTV or one of four $500 cash prizes every Saturday.? During the week, players winning a jackpot of $200 or more on a slot machine, a $200 or more jackpot on a video poker five-cent or lower denomination machine, a $300 or more jackpot on video poker ten-cent or higher denomination machine, or a $200 or more jackpot on live keno are awarded one entry for the Saturday night drawing at 8 p.m.? Winners have two minutes to claim their prizes at the Club Cortez Booth from the time each winning ticket is drawn.? Please see Club Cortez for additional information.

?

Weekly High Noon ?Wheel and Deal? Drawing
Club Cortez players have an opportunity every week to win $500, $300, $200 or $100 in promotional chips.? There will two $100 prizes offered in total for fourth and fifth place.?? During the week, entry tickets in the drawing can be earned during blackjack, roulette and baccarat.? During blackjack, tickets are distributed to players when the dealer receives a blackjack, during roulette, tickets are distributed to players when a 0 or 00 is hit, and during baccarat, players receive a ticket every time a ?tie? hand is dealt.? Double tickets will be given to players every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.? Players can only win one prize per drawing.? There is no limit to the number of entries a player may submit.? Winners are drawn every Saturday at 12 p.m.? Winners have two minutes to redeem their prize.? Promotional chips may be placed on any even money bet on blackjack, roulette or baccarat.? Please see Club Cortez for additional details.

?

About El Cortez Hotel & Casino:
El Cortez Hotel & Casino is the longest continuously operating hotel-casino in Las Vegas and celebrates its 71st year of operation in 2012. The iconic property can be found in historic downtown Las Vegas at 600 East Fremont St. and is the only casino in the city?s burgeoning Fremont East Entertainment District.? With 300 remodeled hotel rooms, including ten uniquely themed suites that resulted from the 2010-2011 Design A Suite Downtown Contest, El Cortez offers some of the best accommodations in downtown Las Vegas. In May 2009, the property opened the El Cortez Cabana Suites, a 64-room boutique hotel offering vintage South Beach style in the heart of downtown. The El Cortez casino features full-pay 3-2 single deck blackjack, 10 times odds on craps, state-of-the-art roulette and more than 1,000 slot machines.? El Cortez also offers a full range of sports betting options and is proudly affiliated with the Station Casinos Sports Book. The Las Vegas Review-Journal voted El Cortez ?Best Paying Slots? in 2012, ?Best Downtown Hotel? in 2009; ?Best Blackjack in Las Vegas? in from 2009-2012; ?Best Video Poker? in 2008 and ?Best Keno in Las Vegas? from 2008-2012.? Dining options at El Cortez include: Caf? Cortez, The Flame Steakhouse ? a vintage favorite among Las Vegas locals ? and The Parlour, featuring an exclusive menu of small plates and live entertainment.? The property?s other amenities include: Subway featuring Seattle?s Best Coffee,? El Cortez Gift Shop, a full-service beauty salon and a barber shop.? For more information, please call 1-800-634-6703 or 702-385-5200, or visit http://www.elcortezhotelcasino.com/.

?

Stay up to date with El Cortez Hotel & Casino events and specials on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: http://www.vegas24seven.com/?p=13575

jason varitek andrew breitbart dead sheriff joe arpaio limbaugh aaron smith wilt chamberlain joe arpaio

Oil and globalization fuel Al Qaeda terror network (+video)

Mitt Romney has repeatedly argued that even though Osama Bin Laden is dead, Al Qaeda remains a major threat to American security, while President Obama has described Al Qaeda?s leadership as decimated. Who?s right?

In fact, they are both right. Al Qaeda?s leadership is decimated, and the Obama team deserves much credit. But Al Qaeda has also splintered into affiliates and offshoots that keep bouncing back, like a Whac-A-Mole game. Al Qaeda can be repressed as Mr. Obama suggests, but it is hard for any US president to completely eliminate the terror network ? and Americans should know why.

A large part of the reason is oil and globalization.

OPINION: 5 most urgent national security issues next president must face

Many people have commented on the link between oil and terror, but what is more interesting is how oil and globalization have worked together to abet terrorism. The overlapping oil and globalization eras have produced circumstances that helped create and now still buttress the Al Qaeda phenomenon.

In the Afghanistan war of the 1980s, both private and government monies from oil-rich Persian Gulf countries supported Osama bin Laden?s ?Afghan Arabs,? including their recruitment, housing, communications, and training when they were fighting the invading Russians. These revenues also helped bolster the Taliban, which housed Al Qaeda and still cooperates with it, and helped Pakistan build nuclear capabilities that both Mr. Romney and Obama believe could be stolen by terrorists and militants.

But Al Qaeda could not have become a transnational force without the interconnectedness of globalization. Cultural and economic globalization gave Al Qaeda access to the global highways and side roads it needed to spread around the world, set up shop in dozens of countries, communicate at far distances, and plan large-scale terrorist attacks.

These pathways continue to allow Al Qaeda?s affiliates and offshoots to play the Whac-A-Mole game, popping up here and there. Oil money remains vital to their operations. While it?s too soon to tell how bin Laden?s death will affect such funding, it would be foolish to assume that it will end.

Terrorists also rail against US support for oil-rich regimes such as Saudi Arabia, and mistakenly believe that America wants to ?steal? Middle East oil. In fact, the United States and its firms have barely even cashed in on oil contracts in Iraq.

Meanwhile, worldwide communications help terrorists convey their negative narrative. According to numerous polls of Muslim countries over the past decade, Al Qaeda?s message has weakened substantially, but it still carries weight with millions of people.

While oil has fueled terrorism, globalization has offered terrorists vulnerable outlets for attack. In a more connected world, just a handful of angry men can wreak havoc, which is partly what makes the Al Qaeda threat so hard to eliminate.

In previous centuries, the September 11 attacks would have hardly been known to the world; but in 2001 they hit a key node of a globalized world ? New York ? producing ripple effects around the world. All financial markets, including oil, were affected. Big businesses felt the shock waves. That kind of impact could never have been felt in a much less globalized world.

Today's communications and the 24/7 media age also allow terrorists to seem more threatening than their capabilities suggest. We can all watch terror threats unfold in real time. Even a hapless underwear or shoe bomber can stir global fear. And a small, well planned attack such as the one that recently killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya gains global coverage.

Yes, Al Qaeda?s leadership has been decimated, making a massive 9/11 attack far harder to achieve. Obama is right. But Al Qaeda?s bankrupt ideas live on and are communicated to millions, partly via affiliates and offshoots. Oil has helped fuel and motivate them, while globalization has allowed them to exploit that fuel to do things that otherwise would be more difficult and costly.

Fortunately, there are ways to combat terror networks. This work starts with targeting the circumstances and causes that fuel terrorism in the first place. For one, the next American president must work to decrease world oil dependence by investing in renewable energy.

OPINION: 8 steps to US energy security

But terrorism, while fueled by oil and aided by globalization, has other causes as well. America can also take the lead, with its Arab, European, and Asian allies, to support economic development in the Middle East as an anti-terrorism strategy. The US must also continue to help these nations fight poverty, improve employment opportunities, develop civil society, and broaden education.

The next administration will need to remain vigilant in fighting terrorism, but the best defense in this case is a strong offense.

Steve Yetiv is a professor of political science at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. He is the author of ?The Petroleum Triangle: Oil, Globalization, and Terror? and ?The Absence of Grand Strategy: The United States in the Persian Gulf.?

ALSO BY THIS WRITER: Why Obama can't control gas prices

Sign up for our free weekly Commentary newsletter (every Thursday). You can also add Opinion and Commentary to your free daily Monitor newsletter.

Related stories

Read this story at csmonitor.com

Become a part of the Monitor community

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-globalization-fuel-al-qaeda-terror-network-video-150745503--politics.html

mitch daniels shirataki noodles john kerry prince fielder state of the union address 2012 obama state of the union 2012 2012 state of the union address

China's leadership change: Why it matters

Next month Chinese President Hu Jintao and most of the Communist Party leadership will begin to hand over power to younger colleagues in a once-a-decade political transition. Over the coming months, scores of leaders across the party, the government and the military will be replaced in a painstakingly choreographed and at times divisive change-over at the top of the world's second-largest economy, which is growing in diplomatic and military strength.

___

Why does the change matter for the world?

China's politics are secretive, so policy-making seems like a black box. It doesn't help that Chinese leaders, unlike Western politicians, tend to be reserved in public, giving them a bland sameness. Still, who runs China matters. China has been a global success story, with its rapid growth lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty and buoying the world economy. But its juggernaut economy of the past two decades is flagging just as a new middle class and tens of millions of rural migrants expect a better life. Beijing is also engaged in tense territorial disputes with Japan and other neighbors and is often at odds with the U.S. and other established powers over issues as diverse as Syria's civil war and climate change. China is looking for leadership.

___

Will the new leaders embark on meaningful change?

It's hard to say, given the closed-door world of Chinese politics. Ordinary Chinese are just as much in the dark about new policies as the rest of the world. An educated guess is that any change will come slowly. China is ruled by a collective leadership whose members decide policy by consensus. Policy changes tend to come in small, incremental steps rather than sharp swings. The current political transition, for example, is well-planned, with two of the new younger leaders having been inducted into the current leadership five years ago.

___

Who are the new leaders?

Though nothing has been formally announced, Vice President Xi Jinping will become party general secretary after the National Party Congress that opens Nov. 8. Vice Premier Li Keqiang is expected to be named premier, the government head with chief responsibility for the economy. Xi and Li have been shoo-ins for the jobs since they became the youngest members of the current leadership in 2007. Beyond that, the leadership roster gets murky. There are at least five other spots on the top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee. The candidates to fill them have been the subject of hard bargaining among the departing leader, President Hu Jintao, powerful retired party elders and influential figures in the military and other interest groups.

___

What do we know about the new leaders?

Xi, 59, and Li, 57, come from very different backgrounds. Xi is a member of the red nobility; his father was a founding figure in the communist revolution. Li is from a family of mid-level officials. They share formative experiences. Both labored in the countryside when Mao Zedong's radical policies shut down schools. Their university and professional lives have been spent entirely in the era for market reforms, a time of relative prosperity and interaction with the rest of the world. Little is known about their policy preferences. Political patronage and meeting goals set by Beijing count for more than individual initiative in Chinese politics. Xi's patron is former President Jiang Zemin, while Li's is current President Hu. Putting them together is meant to balance out competing interest groups within the party.

___

Do they get along?

The two have worked together in the current leadership, but bare-knuckled infighting is common, especially this year. Rising political star Bo Xilai, who ran the metropolis of Chongqing, was purged after a longtime aide exposed that Bo's wife murdered a British businessman over a business dispute. Bo is under investigation for crimes linked to the slaying, corruption and other wrongdoing. But his real transgression may have been his naked ambition to join the new leadership. His downfall divided party powerbrokers, and deciding his fate complicated negotiations over the new leadership lineup.

___

What will really change?

The incoming leaders face big issues, including rampant corruption, strained U.S. relations and a yawning income gap between the rich and the rest. While the system works against fast decisions, personalities do matter. President Hu is often described as reserved to an extreme, and he has had difficulty forging relations with foreign leaders. Xi is described by American officials as comfortable and self-confident, and Li speaks English fluently enough to chat with visiting dignitaries without a translator. The style of leadership may change even if the substance does not.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-leadership-change-why-matters-093753792.html

brooke mueller all star weekend lent undercover boss barbara walters tupelo honey limp bizkit

NASA sees warming cloud tops indicating Tropical Storm Tony weakening

Public release date: 25-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

In a tropical cyclone, strong uplift of air pushes the tops of thunderstorms high into the troposphere. When that strength wanes, the cloud tops drop and become less cold. That's because the higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. NASA satellite infrared data has revealed that Tropical Storm Tony's cloud top temperatures are warming and the storm is weakening.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Tony on Oct. 24 at 12:17 p.m. EDT that showed the strongest thunderstorms east of the center of circulation, but cloud top temperatures are warming. Those thunderstorms are reaching high into the troposphere where cloud top temperatures are as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The cloud pattern in Tony is also becoming less organized.

On Oct. 25, 2012 at 5 a.m. EDT Tropical Storm Tony had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph). Tony was moving to the east-northeast near 23 mph (37 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Tony's center is far from land, about 835 miles (1,345 km) southwest of the Azores Islands near 30.4 North latitude and 38.4 West longitude. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center.

According to the National Hurricane Center discussion of Tony, "the southwesterly winds have not substantially separated the surface circulation from the convective canopy, although a combination of the shear and cooler waters has weakened the deep convection."

The National Hurricane Center expects Tony to start losing tropical characteristics today and dissipate over the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 25-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

In a tropical cyclone, strong uplift of air pushes the tops of thunderstorms high into the troposphere. When that strength wanes, the cloud tops drop and become less cold. That's because the higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. NASA satellite infrared data has revealed that Tropical Storm Tony's cloud top temperatures are warming and the storm is weakening.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Tony on Oct. 24 at 12:17 p.m. EDT that showed the strongest thunderstorms east of the center of circulation, but cloud top temperatures are warming. Those thunderstorms are reaching high into the troposphere where cloud top temperatures are as cold as -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius). The cloud pattern in Tony is also becoming less organized.

On Oct. 25, 2012 at 5 a.m. EDT Tropical Storm Tony had maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph). Tony was moving to the east-northeast near 23 mph (37 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next couple of days. Tony's center is far from land, about 835 miles (1,345 km) southwest of the Azores Islands near 30.4 North latitude and 38.4 West longitude. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km) from the center.

According to the National Hurricane Center discussion of Tony, "the southwesterly winds have not substantially separated the surface circulation from the convective canopy, although a combination of the shear and cooler waters has weakened the deep convection."

The National Hurricane Center expects Tony to start losing tropical characteristics today and dissipate over the weekend of Oct. 27 and 28.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/nsfc-nsw102512.php

the watchmen whitney houston dies dolly parton i will always love you beverly hilton hotel whitney houston found dead i will always love you whitney houston 2012 grammy awards

iPad mini: Five reasons to buy one - News - Know Your Cell

Pre-orders for the iPad mini start this Friday, Oct. 26. Here are five benefits to buying one.?

1. Cost

While it sports a higher tag than its Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD rivals, it's still cheaper than Apple's full-sized tablets. Here's a quick price breakdown of the mini's six different configurations:

• iPad mini, Wi-Fi only, 16 gigabytes of storage, $329
• iPad mini, Wi-Fi only, 32 GB, $429?
• iPad mini, Wi-Fi only, 64 GB, $529
• iPad mini, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 16 GB, $459
• iPad mini, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 32 GB, $559
• iPad mini, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64 GB, $659

2. Size?

It's portable, but at 7.9-inches it is still larger than its rivals.?The extra real estate is a plus on several counts, and the additional screen space doesn't exactly make for a bulky product. iPad mini still weighs significantly less than competing 7-inch tablets, and it's practically paper thin. As a bonus, the smaller size makes it girlfriend- and kid-friendly, so you can finally get your full-size iPad back.?

3. Lightning?

If you already own an iPhone 5, you'll be thrilled to know that iPad mini is equipped with the new port as well. Apple's fourth-generation full-size iPad will sport the Lightning port too, and will also come with a faster A6X chip. That said, if you're a first-time tablet buyer and you're already sold on Apple, you'll want to stick with one of these newer versions to ensure that your device is compatible with the latest accessories.?

4. iOS

If you're debating between the mini and an Android-based tablet, this is your take-it-or-leave-it factor. While our staff splits its time pretty evenly between these two operating systems, iOS always ends up with the most love. Why? Because it's consistent, efficient and generally more secure. Developers typically favor it, which means you get a better selection of apps and games (currently the iTunes Store offers roughly 700,000 combined for iPhone and iPad).?

5. Gifting?

If your loved ones have a tablet marked at the top of their holiday lists, iPad mini is your safest bet. While you'll be spending slightly more than you would on an Android-based tablet of similar size, you'll get some serious props for choosing the more popular brand. And you're still getting off cheaper than you would with Apple's full-size iPad. ? ?

?

?

Source: http://www.knowyourcell.com/news/1648746/ipad_mini_five_reasons_to_buy_one.html

valentines day ideas the villages florida egoraptor gisele bundchen turbotax the bourne legacy roland martin suspended