text:
US Vice President Joe Biden's trying to recover from the embarrassment of arriving in Israel on a peace mission, to be greeted by an announcement of 1,600 new homes being built in disputed East Jerusalem. So is the US now ignored by Israel? A once strong force that has lost its influence? Or has Israel always done what it wants, regardless of outside pressure? This is how the visit is playing in Israeli and Palestinian newspapers.
116 Responses to "On air: Has America lost its power over Israel?"
March 10, 2010 at 14:34
Oh, gee folks! This has always been the other way around! The answer of course is negative: No, Israel hasn't lost its power over the US.
March 11, 2010 at 06:04
yes, Gary, you are spot on
March 10, 2010 at 14:39
Isn´t there a thing named International Law?
March 10, 2010 at 15:35
Yes Jaime there is, but it only applies to some countries, while other countries consider themselves to be way above it… With my love… Yours forever, Lubna in Baghdad….
March 10, 2010 at 14:40
I'm sure many here today will ask this same question – since when did the U.S. have any power over Israel?
March 10, 2010 at 15:37
Well said John 🙂
March 10, 2010 at 14:43
America COULD have power over Israel because of all the military aid they provide–but Netanyahu is banking on the pro-Israel lobby in the USA not to allow that power to be used.
March 10, 2010 at 14:55
It is absolutely Israel's right to choose whom to listen to.America shouldn't feel hurt at this snub.Besides, i think Israel should pay attention to America because they've got good propositions to offer.
March 10, 2010 at 15:16
They are now on different agendas with respect to world peace.
March 10, 2010 at 15:20
If anything, Israel has power over us. We will support them in nearly anything (with some exceptions, like hopefully the new settlements), to the detriment of our relations with everyone else on the Middle East.
March 10, 2010 at 15:24
America is not dealing with the root issues, rather pandering to a nation that will only be welcomed in the region, when it stops its bullying tactics of its neighbors. Like a father torments its child the child then grows up to torment its child. Israel is guilty of perpetrating the same intolerance it was shown in the 1940's. Its time to forgive, move on and be that better person.
March 10, 2010 at 19:52
last time i check israel did not exist in the 40's. if you mean the persecution of jewish people by the nazis and you are comparing israel to the nazis you are moving onto pretty slippery slopes……
March 13, 2010 at 00:53
Israel is no where even NEAR the Nazis. That's a ridiculous statement.
March 10, 2010 at 15:33
I agree with the first two comments, I don't see that America ever had much power over Israel and Israel seems to hold more sway over America.
March 10, 2010 at 15:33
Israel has NEVER lost it's power over the States. Biden's visit is yet another obligatory photo op that all American politicians are required to do.
The Israeli govt. will continue to do anything they want. Occasionally there will be diplomatic press releases and maybe an ambassador will be called in for "consultations". But would Obama ever cut off Israeli aid? No. Would he ever cut off diplomatic relations? Again no.
Finally, if your boss doesn't like you criticizing Israel, you can be fired for expressing your opinion. Does that happen in Israel?
March 10, 2010 at 15:56
Isreal has repeatedly ignored the resolutions of the security council concerning settlements and they have been supported by the silence of America. I am not suprised that this is happening. It is an indication that more disregard for the US is yet to come.
March 10, 2010 at 15:57
No and the Arabs haven't lost their power over the world's media
March 11, 2010 at 06:07
Arabs? You mean you do not like to hear any possibility that Arabs could have equal rights. Or any reporting that counters the idea of Israel being the only victim in this issue.
There is no power over the media by the Arabs, other than Arab media. To say there is, is a joke. There is, however great power exerted by Israel over the media.
March 21, 2010 at 14:32
username, what a joke! In the USA, the superpower enabler of Israel's every whim,
the US MSM is overwhelmingly devoted to giving only the Israel government's POV, and equally devoted to maximizing Israel as a victim, and the Palestinians as sub-human terrorists.
March 10, 2010 at 16:03
America having influence of Israel is and always has been a myth. Israel has alsways had influence over the USA due to it's strategic location and the political clout of it's PAC's in the USA. The money donated to israel would be better spent on healthcare and education in the USA.
March 10, 2010 at 17:14
here here.
March 10, 2010 at 16:03
I totally agree with Bob in Queensland. I add that Muslims do not appear to have representation in The USA?
March 10, 2010 at 16:10
The whole world has been taken hostage by Israel for a very long time. The logical step for the US to do is cut off the 5 billion dollars it sends annually to Israel. It goes without saying that this step won't be taken, considering the power of the Israeli lobby in Washington, which to say the least is very unfortunate.
March 10, 2010 at 16:13
When I read the question I couldn't help laughing. When has the US, or any country, had any power over Israel?
After reading the comments, I guess I was not the only one amused.
March 10, 2010 at 16:14
What is most worrying is that Netanyahu demonstrates yet again that he is a walking disaster area, he is no leader, he is led by events and by his coalition partners. Any sensible government that has real aims, that wants to do what is best for its people, would have stopped this stupidity. Why waste money on land that is going to be given away? Why annoy our most important ally? Why detract attention from the very clear fact that the Palestinian's desire to enforce the Nuremburg Laws shows that they desire a peaceful solution to the conflict about as much as David Cameron wants to be president of the TUC.
What is equally worrying is that the Palestinians are already playing the game of lets get them blamed for the failure of the talks, instead of finally after 20 years of negotiations finally making a single concession on anything.
March 11, 2010 at 06:11
Well, the problem with any talks, is that – as Palestinians have learnt, there never is any strength behind any mutual agreement. Israel can do what it wants. The only game to play is the victim game.
The issue is and has always been one of human rights. Israels cannot go on demanding that their rights must first be met to their satisfaction before any consideration of Palestinian rights even be considered. They must be equal in every way – equal rights to land, to infrastructure to autonomy, to freedom of movement, to the rest of it. Until THAT is the point of negotiation, it will always be how cleverly one side or the other can play victim – or BE the victim.
March 10, 2010 at 16:25
The government of Israel has to show their nationalistic voters, that they insist on their "right" to build settlements no matter what foreign powers demand.
As Israel depends on American help to maintain their military power, the US has influence but it is political difficult to use this power.
March 10, 2010 at 16:36
Ah, that is realy true, America is now fedup with israeli stuborness. But, after all, USA blind eye toward ISraeli has caused this mess in the middle east. If US is true about negotiations in the middle east, Obama would have insisted the total settlement freeze, and this is one of the consequences of that.
March 10, 2010 at 17:13
YES.. So no more aid to them!
March 10, 2010 at 17:13
Salaam gang,
What bothers me the most about this whole thing is the issue of double standards when it comes to the application of the international law, some countries gets a cruel geniune punishment from the whole international community for breaching the international law while there're other certain countries seem to always get away with it (aside from verbal condemnations that have absolutely no effect whatsoever on the ground) despite the fact that they constantly breach the international law and the UN resolutions, why is that I wonder ? Do those certain countries consider themselves above the international law ? Do the world's super-power enable those certain countries by constantly turning a blind eye to their outrageous behaviour ? I do have a question, how does your Maimi audiance view the issue of double standards in international relations considering the fact that we down here in the Middle East have suffered a great deal over the years because of those double standards adopted by the successive US governments in the Middle East ? With my love… Yours forever, Lubna in Baghdad….
March 11, 2010 at 16:47
Lubna, the weakness is no State in the West wants to even mention the name of the real Axis of Evil by name, let alone stand up against it. "the certain other country" is Israel that gets away with as many violations of the Security Council resolutions as it pleases with impunity. It is said that if Saddam Hussein too had a Big Brother to veto those resolutions he fell foul of he would still be in power, however evil he might be. People today bow to the wealth and superpower status of the US, rather than to justice and fairplay.
March 10, 2010 at 17:13
Did the US ever have any power over Israel to begin with. Israel will do what ever Israel wants, it always has and seemingly always will do so.
It will go its own way regardless of international law, regardless of opposition from friends and allies and regardless of any moral imperative.
Consider Israel's latest alleged activity with state sanctioned assassination using forged passports for security agents. Apart from a bit of throat clearing and the obligatory bluster from nations such as France, Australia, etc nothing has really been made of this and nothing will come of it.
America funds the Israeli military to the tune of many billions of dollars and support with many other aspects but that is apparently without any condition on the part of Israel. However, the opposite seems to be true with Israel having quite considerable influence on the US political system and governance.
March 10, 2010 at 17:22
Israel must be feeling very confident –
Many times in the past, the US has veto'ed UN sanctions against Israel for various war crimes and ignoring international laws (regarding occupied territories etc).
This has been an important aspect of their alliance in the past. Perhaps the ever decreasing relevence of the UN is a reason for this increased confidence,
Perhaps Israel is in a position of not needing the US to veto future UN resolutions, instead they will just ignore them if they come up. It seems that Isarael can settle in occupied Jerrusalam with impunity, why do they need the US to support them.
On the other hand, the US does need a strong allie in the middle east. So perhaps US needs Israel more than Israel needs US.
The power balance of the Israel/US relationship seems to have shifted to the Israel side.
March 10, 2010 at 17:23
Joe Biden condemnation is unlikely to be translated into action as both the US and Israel strongly need each other in the turbulent Middle East. They have so much in common concerning this region, notably Iran. For the US it will be unwise to weaken Israel, politically, militarily and economically. Some go as far as to say that Israel is the fifty one state of the US. As it is hard for the US federal government to impose sanctions on any of its states, exposing it to danger, the same applies to Israel. Israel is, to put it metaphorically, is the spoilt daughter of protective mother US. She can give her a soft slap on the wrist if she angers her but she won't go as far as throwing her out of the house, leaving her exposed to the elements.
Israel has a strong lobby. It has got away with many actions that have angered the international community, at least apparently. So as a spoilt child, it will continue to get what it wants benefiting from muted actions and tacit approval.
March 10, 2010 at 17:27
America is trying to potray its waning power, israel can just help itself.
March 10, 2010 at 17:36
Has Israel increased its power over America?
Used to be more clandestine with the influence now they. ' don"t give a monkey's'
In the mean time there security forces are assassinating people all over the world using identities of other nations citizens to carry out there international crimes.
What president going to stand up to that lot and remain in power?
March 10, 2010 at 17:37
The US hasn't lost its power over Israel because it never had any. Israel knows that no US government, regardless of party, will have the spine to call them out on their violations of international laws and human rights. I'm waiting for the day when an American president calls them out and say, "For every dollar Israel spends on these illegal occupations, the US will reduce its aid to Israel by two."
March 10, 2010 at 17:41
America's relations with Israel have always been ambiguous, they often have different agenda's, this is just the latest episode, and it won't be the last.
Oh, well, here we go again, the one region in the world where people would go to war over 1600 houses wants some attention, again…
March 10, 2010 at 17:59
It all comes down to Money, Power and Control.
Money flowing to Israel from the US by both the Government and Citizens
Power over the Palestinians and their various Organizations.
Control over the region for Military and Commercial reasons.
All that the world sees is just rhetoric for the masses and media. Posturing and positioning to sooth ego's and placate those who think they have control.
March 10, 2010 at 18:01
This latest display of extreme arrogance by Israel may actually have done the US a big favour. Israel's behaviour over the last few years has been truly appalling and anyone with any sense can see that they are headed down a very dangerous path.
The hard-line pro-Israel lobby in the US must be losing support, not least because it is fuelling the sort of anti-Semitism that should have died with Hitler and Stalin.
If Israel continues on this path, the US will be able to disengage from unquestioning support for it and then, just maybe, Obama's promise to "reach out" to the moderate section of the Muslim world could be capable of fulfilment.
March 10, 2010 at 18:04
I agree with Jim (USA).
March 10, 2010 at 18:12
You have the question the wrong way round. Its Israel that has power over the United States and no it hasn't lost it. This incident only serves to prove this point.
March 10, 2010 at 18:13
As always, Lubna (my dear friend) is Very Much Correct with her analysis on her comments with Jaime…
And, I agreed with Lubna thoughts and rationale….
March 10, 2010 at 18:20
Let's just imagine that the Goldstone report has accused Iran (not Israel) of committing war crimes against humanity, how would the international community and the world's super-powers (the US government in particular) react in that situation ??? With my love… Yours forever, Lubna in Baghdad…
March 10, 2010 at 23:40
Lubna, you say " just imagine that the Goldstone report has accused Iran (not Israel) of committing war crimes against humanity,".
Interesting that you bring that up. Exactly how many of its own citizens did Iran massacre thus far in its crack down on anti government protesters and why didn't the UN seek to hold a Goldstone style inquiry into this or hold a UN emergency security council meeting like they always do re Israel? Are the lives of Iranian citizens inferior to the Palestinian lives? Exactly who is the UN – a corrupt organisation that has a body of 52 muslims countries who control the world's oil supplies and their allies working as a block which automatically votes against Israel on every issue – trying to cover and vouch for?
A number of posts here are ranting and crowing about Israel's alleged domination over the US. And who did Obama bow to? Netayanhu or the King of Saudi Arabia?
March 10, 2010 at 18:37
Israel can humiliate the Vice President of the United States and we (the US) will still bend over backwards to accommodate Israel's colonization of Palestinian land. Perhaps the thrill of having ethnically cleansed the Native Americans from their home lands can be vicariously lived out all over again. What a disgrace to humanity.
March 10, 2010 at 18:44
Fourth try to get past the censors. Human rights for Palestinians needs to be a US priority. US funds should be contingent on serious attempts at PEACE for the common man. There are many other people in the US, many of whom are Jewish, who share this opinion.
March 11, 2010 at 06:29
I agree with you Nora, but I would say universal human rights. The rights of Israelis for security goes hand in hand (not above, nor below) the rights of Palestinians for security, land, infrastructure and freedom of movement.
The US has played the game of rescuer for Israel for too long. It was and always has been hypocrisy.
March 10, 2010 at 18:52
As most people have said, it's most likely the other way round.
US foreign policy is hamstrung by Israeli interests both by the influential lobby group AIPAC and directly from Telaviv. Who can forget how the lobby hounded out Obama's pick for senior intelligence adviser Charles Freeman, or how Olmert was boasting how he shamed Condi Rice by dictating how the US should vote at the UN.
Almost every single US veto at the UN has been in defence of Israeli violations.
The US even voted against a nuclear-free Middle East and against Nuclear inspections of Israeli nuclear weapons.
Billions of US taxpayers money are siphoned off to Israel (the regions only nuclear-armed power) as aid.
The US can feign concern at the settlements, bombings and blockades but the generous flow of US tax money, US weapons and US vetos are what endorse and encourage these crimes of occupation.
March 10, 2010 at 18:59
I think this is PhotoOP as someone has already indicated and unfortunate, but true, for the public and the international community consumption. Nothing constructive is going to come out of it because that's not the intention. Due to the huge Jewish lobby in the US, regardless of who is in power, they will be more than wary to do anything that is detrimental to the Israeli cause. it is high time the other players in this region realize this and grab whatever opportunity that comes along.
March 10, 2010 at 19:11
I am really curious to see what the moderators did not allow on the blog! Since the time I actually started paying attention to world events (not that long ago, I'm afraid) I have always heard of Israel doing things like moving into areas that are in dispute, and the US saying, "Now, now, that's not right,", but no real consequences. I used to think this unswerving support of Israel by the US was related to religion and the idea that we are related by it (what can I say, I'm kind of slow sometimes), but I soon realized that Israel is the only ally we have in that very oil-rich region. However, wouldn't it be better for the US if it dropped Israel as an ally and adopted everyone else as an ally in the region?
March 11, 2010 at 06:38
I, too, am curious. If a comment was blocked because of foul language or words of hate (not merely contrary opinions) by all means block it but give the reason. It is the variation of opinion and the reasoning behind the opinions I appreciate on this forum, but if people get insulting or have nothing to say except how evil someone else is, then I feel it is ok to block them. Thank you
March 10, 2010 at 19:13
I am offended that the US should have "power" over a sovereign ally.
Israel is building homes in the capitol of its country, which has been the capitol for thousands of years. It is offensive to say that somehow the fact that Israelis are building homes is an "international incident" to begin with.
March 10, 2010 at 19:15
Please do yourself a favor and read the historical documents recently released by Israel and thoroughly investigated by Avi Shlaim and a host of other Israeli historians. You will find that your arguments about Arabs telling Palestinians to leave their homes, etc. are utterly mythical, according to ISRAELI documents. As for your other arguments, suggesting that the Arab states should be responsible for the Palestinians being displaced and occupied by Israel is insulting to intelligence. You say that blame can be found on both sides but apparently you can only "go on for pages" about the pitfalls of Palestinian violence. Please, let us know how Israel is trying to solve this problem right now. By building settlements? By building a giant wall on Palestinian land? By blocking food and medicine from going into Gaza? Please, enlighten us on what positive steps Israel is currently taking to promote peace.
March 10, 2010 at 19:17
The US has had very little influence over Israel. The one President of the US who stood up against Israel during his presidency was George Bush Senior, who cut off some funding to Israel but he paid a price for it. It appears many US Policymakers (White House and Capitol Hill) are more dedicated to the cause of Israel than they are to the citizens of United States. How can the tax payers of the US finance Israel's Heath Care system, which is publicly funded but some citizens of the US die due to lack of health care coverage and yet this does not appear to bother some of the leadership in Washington? In my opinion, the US has little or no influence over Israel because there are those in Washington who will do everything for Israel even if it means the US should suffer by their action!
March 10, 2010 at 19:20
If policies were tied to funding, Israel would change its policies tomorrow! But the US will never touch their 'foreign aid', otherwise known as military funding. This is a US sacred cow.
March 10, 2010 at 19:22
Why should Israel do anything for the US when it is clearly being ignored-if not being lobbied against by the US? Obama has made it clear he is pro Palestine and has done little to nothing in the way of reaching out to Israel despite the fact it is a small nation surrounded by hostile forces who will do ANYTHING to harm its people. It would be one thing if the US was giving Israel the kind of a support it has in the past, but the way things are today I can't blame them for making their own policies despite the wishes of the US.
ALSO, how would you feel if another country came in and told you you couldn't build an apartment complex in Washington DC? That's pretty much what we're telling Israel to do, and what gives the United States that right?
March 10, 2010 at 20:10
What gives the US the right?
Well, first of all, buidling on occupied land is illegal. The West Bank is occupied, the settlements are illegal.
Second, the US pumps billions of taxdollars in aid to support Israel and finances and protects these settlements.
Third, the US uses it's vetos at the UN to block all attempts at dismantling these settlements.
Finally, the comparison to Washington DC is inaccurate. The Israeli occupation of Palestine is like the US occupation of Iraq. Compare it to the US cordoning off large swathes of Baghdad and building civilian settlements for Americans only.
March 11, 2010 at 06:52
The analogy of another country coming in and telling an American he could not build an apartment in Washington as equal to Israelis building settlements on Palestinian land is a false one. It might be similar if that said apartment was to be build on American Indian land.
You must understand why the issue of settlements is so contentious. If you think it is all about Israel, poor little picked-upon Israel being able to be itself – you grossly misunderstand – or are perhaps grossly ignorant of the situation.
The issue is one of appropriated land from someone else. That must be looked at honestly and truthfully. I do not think anyone (well, may a few idiots) would object to an Israeli or anyone else building homes if that was all it was, but it isn't.
Find out why it is a problem and try to understand the people these buildings are harming. Help figure out a way to give justice and land and hope and equal access to all these things (not easy, but worth it) and then you might understand.
March 10, 2010 at 19:25
Some more context to this latest situation:
The 1600 units that are in the process of being approved (it will be a few more months before they receive final approval, and have been in planning for 3 years), are in a suburb of Jerusalem. If you look at a map of Jerusalem from the '49 armistice agreement, you will notice that Jordan had occupied a huge portion of the area surrounding Jerusalem, including the old city… this became "East Jerusalem". It is very difficult for the municipal government of Jerusalem to build anywhere in Jerusalem for either Arab or Jewish populations without building in "East Jerusalem". To call these suburbs "settlements" is a fundamental distortion of the situation.
Israeli's differentiate between anywhere in JERUSALEM, and elsewhere in the West Bank.
There MUST be an understanding by observers of this situation, to recognize this differentiation between Jerusalem and elsewhere.
March 10, 2010 at 19:25
The US should stop funding Israel. I can't understand how Israel flouts international condemnation in the way it treats the Palestinians and builds in Jerusalem and on the West Bank unless it feels this is the way to take revenge on past history — the way the Nazis treated the Jews in the 20C. It's time for the Israeli Government to show some humanitarianism and not to copy Nazism.
March 10, 2010 at 19:26
Power is not the issues here. The issues is whether Israel really wants peace or not and. From where i sit i would seem to me that if the US is trying to assist in the negotiation. Now if the Israeli and the Palestinians really want peace then i would expect that the stronger of the two, namely Israel, would be the appropriate one to begin the process by halting all construction on all lands that has any impact on the discussions.
I see the US willing to assist in this process and arriving only to be slapped in the face with this announcement. It show a total lack of respect and defiance to the hole process that the Vice President was there for. It would seem that Israel has no intention of negotiating and is only playing along like its some kind of game.
The US should cut all ties with Israel both politically and financially until they come to the table with serious intentions to hammer out a peace agreement and independent Palestinian state as this is the only way forward at this juncture.
March 10, 2010 at 19:28
The professor may be right but he did not bother to define where Israel's borers are? Does anyone know where the borders of Israel are?
March 10, 2010 at 19:30
A question for the professor of Middle East studies (or anyone else with the facts): What is the percentage of US funds that Israel receives from the US Government vs. the percentage of funds they receive from private US organizations?
March 10, 2010 at 19:30
Isreal is a throrn on the side of America and the world and have there own agenda. I do not believe they will ever have peace in the middle East as it seems all the politicans from Isreal and the Palestians are recycled from the past in every dodgy election. Until a new generation comes forward, let them fight it out. and yes, America, cut off the aid.
March 10, 2010 at 19:34
Whoever suggested that Israeli settlements are only a red herring and not an obstacle to peace is only fooling himself. The fact that Israel is guaranteeing the impossibility of a contiguous Palestinian state has everything to do with the lack of a viable peace process. They are not the only obstacle but they represent the promise that any future Palestinian state will be made is impossible.
March 10, 2010 at 19:34
Peter is absolutely spot on. Cut Isreal off financially and see how quick they'd come to the table.
March 10, 2010 at 19:35
The hilarity of hearing an academic claim, just a few moments ago…that israeli settlements on the west bank make up only 5% of the real estate there….after admonishing the audience for misstating facts…is so ironic as to be almost laughable.
I invite anyone to take a look at some maps of israeli settlements and how they have spread and multiplied over the period of, say…the last 10-15 years.
there is absolutely no doubt what is going on here. It is a seemingly unstoppable march that irael is making to illegally "land grab" as much of the west bank as possible until any palestinian/arab populations are reduced to a quality of life which makes remaining in the west bank and Gaza completely untenable.
THEN…israel will have achieved what is set out to do 50+ years ago…it will have evicted all non-jews and annexed their land to the state of israel.
And apparently….there is no other nation (US included) with the political fortitude and bravery to use the leverage they have to get israel to cease these human rights and international law violations.
Just look at a map….
March 10, 2010 at 19:36
Where is the US getting the money to help Israel? Aren't we trillions of dollars in debt????
March 10, 2010 at 19:39
Until the hatred, mistrust and violence ends, the Palestine / Israel issue will never be resolved. They don't want to live near one another, share holy sights or land, or try to get along. Every politician who works for peaceful solutions is either voted out of office or assassinated. Each side provokes the other in a perpetual stalemate for which no solution is satisfactory enough for both sides to accepted or to have implemented. If the U.S. government has problems with the actions of Israel there is always the option of sanctions. The U.S. has no problem with using them as tools of persuasion against N. Korea and Iran. With all the U.S. dollars that go to Israel that could definitely have a noticeable effect. But, as stated before, the U.S. hasn't the guts.
March 10, 2010 at 19:49
One way or the other.. whatever works best.
Whatever your empolyer allows…
Whatever your profession allows!
March 10, 2010 at 19:49
One more question to Andrew / Tektwo,
Do these 70% that want peace accept a one-state solution where Arabs and Jews live in al of Palestine/Israel together?
March 10, 2010 at 19:54
The question was posed: is this a case of Israel snubbing the US? Clearly it's more than a snub–it's a test. I believe that Israel is testing the US to see if it will back up its call for no more settlement building. Such testing happens within many relationships–children test their parents when parents set limits, clients test therapists or social workers, one business leader tests another, one side in a legal case tests the other, a friend may test a friend, and so on. It's time for the US government to stand up to the test and show that it will take action to back up its position. The action it must take is to stop the US aid to Israel–a step that should have been taken long ago. US aid to Israel amounts to $3 billion per year or more, which could definitely be put to better use here at home while we're frantically trying to survive the financial crisis, rather than continuing to allow Israel to violate agreements, international law, and UN resolutions with impunity. I believe that this action by Israel–stating it will build more settlement housing in East Jerusalem–means the time has come for the US to back up its position against more settlements. Settlements are really a form of colonization, a form of creating "facts on the ground" to make a two-state solution no longer viable for Palestine by eroding its territory and chopping it up into bantustans. And by the way, East Jerusalem is not part of Israel, as one participant erroneously stated–it's part of the West Bank. Thank you.
March 10, 2010 at 20:06
US Foreign aid
Israel (2009): $2.55 billion (has been significantly reduced over the years especially if you factor in inflation, used to be over $3 billion, most of it has to be spent on American arms, making money flow back to the US)
Egypt (2006) $1.8 billion (also partially through American arms)
Jordan (2006) $460 million
Pakistan (2006) $1.5 billion
Palestinian Authority (2006) $150 million
Combined aid of Jordan, Palestinian Authority and Egypt outweighs that of Israel when considering they don't have to give back most of it to the US treasury. When considering that the Israeli population is roughly twice the size of that of the Palestinian territories and it's per capita income 10 times higher we can conclude that the US aid is proportional to the size of the Israeli and Palestinian economies. Furthermore we can conclude that where the Palestinians have private donors, the US as well as European and Arab countries to fund them, Israel has only private donations and the US so the Palestinian economy receives much more aid.
March 10, 2010 at 20:06
That's a funny and quite ignorant question. The answer is of course that America has never had any influence over Israel. It is Israel that has extremely huge influence over America through lobbying and owning US politicians and "special relationships" with the mostly JDL affiliated media ownership.
Pick a media giant in America, and then connect the dots to the Israeli government.
Oh yeah, and let's not forget the Apocolyptic evangelical churches in America that see it as their duty to put Jews in control of the area so that the conditions will achieve the goal of their Messiah's return.
Crazies, yes. But so's the question. Fox, ABC, NBC. CBS, all the Hollywood studios, etc… are Jewish controlled and Israeli leaning. Does America have influence over Israel? A funnier question has never been asked!
March 10, 2010 at 20:09
Things change.Just compare the world power situation(economic and military)to even 20 years ago.The US influence in world decisions is waning fast.Jump ahead 20 years and visualise where the power will be.It is just a matter of time,Israel will be without western support and literally on it's own.If Israel cannot see this,and make peace with it's neighbours,then as a nation it will not survive.
March 10, 2010 at 20:11
"Do these 70% that want peace accept a one-state solution where Arabs and Jews live in al of Palestine/Israel together?
Ibrahim in UK"
I'll answer that one for you: no, of course not. It would ruin the Israeli economy and be the end of most political and personal freedoms in Israel. Not even the Arabs want to share their countries with the Palestinians.
March 10, 2010 at 20:42
Could the fact that Israel has nuclear weapons and has intimated a willingness to use them against Iran, have anything to do with the balance of power?
Israel habitually presents itself as an embattled country, protecting itself against everyone else in the Middle East and America has been complicit in this image. I am glad that Senator Biden is speaking out. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
March 10, 2010 at 21:05
Israel goverment is probably the smartest regime's in the world. They have for decades refused to agree to International pressure on building on disputed land with impunity and were fully supported by all previous US Administrations. They are cognisant of the fact the current US Administartion doesnt have the might or public support (votes) to stop them from continuing to humiliate Palestians. Israel is also aware that the current US administartion is not going to be around in 3 years and that they will definetly get their right wing friends back in Power. Israel will continue their policy of apartheid against the Palestinian people and the usual lip service of mid-east peace process will be resurected n the last term of the next US Administration 11 years from now to result in yet another expected failure.
World had hoped for Obama to bring peace but hope is never a good strategy.
March 10, 2010 at 23:03
Isn't the United States' funding of Israel just the "cost of doing business" in maintaining ANY ally in the Middle East? What other realistic option does the USA have?
March 10, 2010 at 23:24
I am reminded of a US State Deparment joke:
Why doesn't Israel want to become the 51st State of the United States?
Because then it would only have 2 Senators!
March 11, 2010 at 01:12
The issue is not about having influence or not. The reality is if Isreal current leadship is serious about peaceful resolution of the problem on hand. In support of my claims, look at the CNN Isrealist Government Sportsman, REGEV's interview: http://www.cnn.com/video/
Let people stop wasting thier time on these people, because they are not at all serious. When someone is sincere, you can tell from their talks. Watchout: http://www.cnn.com/video/
March 11, 2010 at 02:57
Oops! it's getting too late for Obama's administration. when it came to power it concentrated its efforts on the Arabs, now they want to come back and detect to Israel; oh poor kid it's late already.
America is gradually loosing its friends, Ukraine has slipped into Russia's grip soon it will be Georgia. now it is Israel.
OBAMA WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER! America can't stand it all alone.
March 11, 2010 at 17:55
Your philosophy is chasing them away.
March 11, 2010 at 03:10
I was surprised to hear the BBC staff repeatedly say, "occupied Jerusalem", I thought I was listening to Aljazeera and co. I wonder if one speaks in the same manner about the Falklands Islands!
March 11, 2010 at 03:13
Since when did America have power over Israel? So, where comes the loss of power?
Israel wants its way. The American Jews know that all the time, relentlessly lobbying the government to condone Jerusalem.
March 11, 2010 at 03:51
What power?
March 11, 2010 at 05:51
It is clear that the Israeli goverment is not interested in Peace, Benjamin Netanyahu the Israeli PM came to power with a hardline agenda. A member of Likud Party who has espoused a hawkish stance towards the Palestinians will not likely be the one to make any concession towards peace.
The US has been a long time ally of Israel and will not abandom them. This is how they keep the balance of Power in the region.
The US relation with the arab world is tepid and they need each other.
The behaviour of the Israeli Government is like the little brother who bully others becuase he knows that big brother is standing near by and will
pounce on anyone who fights back.
With all the bloodshed and atrocities comitted against each other, the Palestinians and Israelis seem far away from reaching a peaceful resolution.
March 11, 2010 at 06:12
Once upon a time America had influence over Israel , but with the passage of time after assessing the Americans over a period of time-the Israel exerted influence over America, America was never sincere in solving the Palastenian problem.All what America needed was to keep the Muslims under their thumb, for which Israel is the base.
If the Palestnian problem is solved Terrorism the world over will cease. Thus the Americans have no way of bulling the other nations that terrorists are round the corner .. Further their arm sales will drop considerably.
Present situation is similar to the tail waging the dog. Perhaps this suits America well to continue its agenda of being a super power with the help of Israil. It is something like the word GOD being written as DOG.
March 11, 2010 at 06:48
It is time for America to draw a line in the sand. Create a boarder between the two states suggest they both accept it.
If neiither side want the line drawn by a neutral party ….. with great humor and innocense, wish them both well, best of luck, and bow out! Tell them both to continue on, and it would be best not to bother America any longer about the issue. Stop all foreign aid, tell them we have everything we can do to handle our own problems. economy, health care and survival against our enemies.
March 11, 2010 at 13:45
Troop- I like the simplicity of your idea, except that the US isn't a neutral party, the line would have to be drawn by someone else.
March 11, 2010 at 17:53
We need to leave completely, in every way, and leave them to decides their own futures, in their own way. If they let their nonsense spill to other countries, the *UN* with full US support, should do as it deems correct.
March 11, 2010 at 06:53
I see the attempt at trying to influence Israel as pathetic.
Israel has never taken any advice from the US on any issue and will never do that ever.
The US influence, if you can call it that, is non existent and it js all in the minds of the US hierarchy..
March 11, 2010 at 08:02
I would have loved it if the question was how much influence does Israel wield over America? America is controlled by the Jews and their money and Israel knows that much as America shout there is nothing they can do to change Israel's decision.
March 11, 2010 at 08:05
I applaud sister LUBNA IN iRAQ FOR HER EXCELLENT AND MIND-BLOWING rhetoric.
I am sure no country mentioned,including UK,UN,EU,G8,G20 and of course, Israel, will not be able to reply to her.
March 11, 2010 at 10:19
The state of Israel is an independent nation. They have the absolute right and reservation to make their own decision. After all the United State is the world greatest violator of accords.
March 11, 2010 at 14:43
America's relationship with Israel is unchanged. America temporarily lost it's power over Joe Biden, a hot-head who shot off his mouth without thinking. He has quite apparently received a severe tongue-lashing from Washington, and is in Tel Aviv scrambling to do damage control.
This is the last time they will let Joe Biden travel unsupervised to any politically sensitive regions. In fact, Biden may be spending the rest of the Obama years on the golf course.
March 11, 2010 at 17:50
The core of the Middle East conflict has been religious fundamentalists on both sides. This gives them complete resolve and makes an end impossible. It is also what keeps Israel in control of the US. It is a war of wills, and the US has always been on the losing end. We even let them get away with attacking a US warship in their '67 war! The US desperately needs to quit sending aid to Israel for many selfish reasons, and just as many moral ones too.
March 13, 2010 at 20:21
If Israel "controls America with money" how come the US and others refuse to place their embassies in [West ] Jerusalem?
If the Arab World is so passionate about Arab Palestine why does it not build and fund hospitals, schools and sewerage work instead of leaving fundamentals to UNWRA which is half US money and 1/4 €U funds?
Listing Israeli "faults" alone can not explain her behaviour if you do not read the Arab behaviour she is reacting to – which still includes rejecting UN181 by significant groups of Arabs who cause Israel persisting military annoyance and casualties albeit mostly "low level." Only last autumn President Abbas said publicly he refused to recognise Israel as a "Jewish [majority] state." In such an atmosphere why should israelis beklieve the eir Arab opposites want peace ?
With due respect it is unlikely that we shall see peace between the Arabs and Israel – or even between Arab states – till the oil era runs out and outsiders thirsting for oil no longer turn a blind eye to Arab whims and delusions.
March 17, 2010 at 09:52
Everyone one knows that Israel through its US Jewish lobby controls US policy towards Israel and the Middle East, pretending otherwise is delusionary.
Israel does not want a Palestinian state next door-fact.
It has nuclear weapons-fact .
It constantly reminds the US that Iran is the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East(preaching to the converted here) and implies it will take arbitary action against Iran(further antaganising the looney mullahs who control Iran), but appreciated by the many looney Dr. Strangeloves in the US.
All this of course paralyzes any meaningful action by those wanting to solve the Palestinian /israel impasse.
I am bemused by the fact that the spin doctors in the US are unable to let US citizens know why they can't have many things they need (Healthcare for all for one) because of the vast amounts of monies being sent to Israel.This would go down well in the soup kitchen queues of the unemployed.Also which congressmen and senators recieve funds from jewish organisations.
this at least should get things into focus.
Lastly a phone call to the Russian leaders,who could help by threatening to turn Israel into a carpark if they attacked Iran.
It's really ,good cop,bad cop.
March 17, 2010 at 21:27
Mike has hit the nail into the bull's head by so eloquently and in a nutshell describing the inside story about America's failure to attend to Palestinian needs,etc.,etc.
I have expressed this before and I insist on it now, that Israel is not bent on or inclined to give back an inch of the Palestinian territories they occupied 63 years ago.And, that they are NOT prepared to live in PEACE side by side with a sovereign Palestinian independent state.This is the actual fact on the ground and the BOTTOM LINE,PERIOD.
March 17, 2010 at 23:14
"Everyone one knows that Israel through its US Jewish lobby controls US policy towards Israel and the Middle East, pretending otherwise is delusionary."
Yet another post stating that the Jews control America…..Typically antisemites will say "Israel" or "Zionist" lobby, but your readers are saying JEWISH… And I'm pointing this out to you. Again.
March 18, 2010 at 14:10
"Ekohl Eden, Kampala,Uganda
March 11, 2010 at 08:02
I would have loved it if the question was how much influence does Israel wield over America? America is controlled by the Jews and their money and Israel knows that much as America shout there is nothing they can do to change Israel's decision."
Again, with so much hatred and distortion about Jews, this is the very reason why Israel has to and does exist. If America is controlled by the Jews, where's my part of the pie? I want to control something! what do I control?
March 22, 2010 at 01:56
.Well done,OSCAR. Every letter, word and sentence comprising all that you have expressed, is worth its weight in GOLD.It is absolute truth and that is what has been a sustained policy of the benefactor of ISRAEL, over the last 63 years,since the creation of Israeli jews' state amongst the and in the legitimate land belonging to Arabs of Palestine.
And, that is the only reason why Israel has acted with impunity and arrogance in defying all UN resolutions against it and also misusing its arms and ammunitions against the poor Palestinians, whom, they have also deprived of the right to basic human amenities by sealing all its borders,including sea shores.
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The Obama administration announced that 10 public-private partnerships across America will receive $20 million in total awards to help revitalize American manufacturing and encourage companies to invest in the United States. These Investments will promote job creation and economic growth in local
industry clusters in Arizona, California, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
and Washington.
The 10 partnerships were selected through the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, which is a competitive multi-agency grant process announced in May 2012 to support initiatives that strengthen advanced manufacturing at the local level. These public-private partnerships consist of small and large businesses, colleges, nonprofits and other local stakeholders that "cluster" in a particular area. The funds will help the winning clusters support local efforts to spur job creation through a variety of projects, including initiatives that connect innovative small suppliers with large companies, link research with the start-ups that can commercialize new ideas, and train workers with skills that firms need to capitalize on business opportunities.
The Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the National Science Foundation.
As part of President Obama's commitment to creating an economy built to last, the administration has invested more than $200 million promoting regional innovation clusters. The administration created an interagency task force, known as the Taskforce for the Advancement of Regional Innovation Clusters, to develop and administer interagency grant competitions. This is the third round of the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge and, in addition to the six partnering agencies, this initiative also leverages technical assistance from up to eight other federal agencies.
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Suits Postmortem: Will Harvey Go Through with His Plan?
[WARNING: The following story contains spoilers about the Suits Season 3 premiere. Read at your own risk.]
Is Suits' Pearson Darby about to become Spector Darby? Maybe, if Harvey (Gabriel Macht) has his way.
After losing his bet with Jessica (Gina Torres) and forced to stay and sign a non-compete last season, Harvey has come up with a new plan to retaliate against his boss. Though he initially arranged a deal with Darby (Conleth Hill) to have him fired on Tuesday's Season 3 premiere, Harvey later floats a new plan with the Brit: He wins the bribery case involving oil bigwig Ava Hessington (Michelle Fairley), who's near and dear to Darby's heart, and Darby will back Harvey for partner so they can oust Jessica.
Get the scoop on Suits and more of your favorite returning summer shows
Harvey isn't the only person ganging up on Jessica though. A newly emboldened Mike (Patrick J. Adams), desperate to get back in Harvey's and Rachel's (Meghan Markle) good graces, rejects the new office Jessica has given him and threatens to take her down if she ever sends the letter she wrote to the D.A. that exposes the law degree-less Mike. While he still has ways to go to repair his relationship with Harvey, Mike finally gets Rachel, who dares him to quit, to forgive him - and gets her back in bed - after telling her the full story about his past.
Meanwhile, Louis (Rick Hoffman) finagles his way to becoming the firm's quartermaster, only to be outwitted by Nigel (Adam Godley), who takes his associates - retaliation for reneging on his promise and putting Nigel on his efficiency list last season.
So will Harvey actually take down Jessica? When will he forgive Mike? Is it smooth sailing for Mike and Rachel? (Of course not!) Creator Aaron Korsh answers our burning questions.
Everyone's targeting Jessica! Does she have any ally?
Aaron Korsh: [Laughs] That's a good question. I think all the characters in the course of the season, they're always living with the consequences of their actions. ... She went all out to beat him and now she's reaping what she sowed. She's humbled a little, but she's not down and out.
She had to have figured that he would retaliate, right?
Korsh: She knows Harvey is a competitor. Harvey isn't about trying to be managing partner, which is a little bit more of a coaching role. Harvey would rather be the gunslinger. Managing partner inherently requires an element of restraint. You can't shoot from the hip like Harvey does. He just doesn't want to lose. I don't think she thinks Darby would ever make Harvey partner. I don't think she thinks Harvey will go through with it. As she tries to mend some fences, he'll wonder if he did the right thing or not.
Does she find out he's trying to oust her?
Korsh: I think she knows that there are ramifications to what she did. She's his mentor. Just because he entered the deal, it doesn't mean he'll go through with it. My kids are a little too small ... but I'm sure my son will one day say, "I'm going to run away." Ten minutes later, he won't want to run away. ... Harvey is going to try to get rid of her for the time being, but it's not a simple case. The rubber isn't going to meet the road on that for a little bit.
Suits Season 3: Will Harvey and Rachel forgive Mike?
How will she try to mend fences?
Korsh: Through the cases they're working on. She said, "I got you on Ava Hessington," but Darby pulled rank and she decided to use that to mend fences. Harvey sees through that, but she is honest in her process-thinking. She's trying to do that through working on cases with him and gestures at work. To some degree, Jessica may have crossed the line and entered a merger, but she didn't start the fight. He might have overreacted. They talk about who started it and does it matter who started it in the second episode.
I was impressed with how Mike confronted Jessica. He was so confident, but not cocky about it, like he knew he had her.
Korsh: Yeah, me too. So much goes on this year and there are so many relationships to manage and discover that some of them required a détente. We had to leave some alone; otherwise you would have endless feuds. Jessica realizes that she pulled a big thing on Mike when she blackmailed him, and all he did was make her realize that she can't do that again. Patrick and I talked about it. He wanted to play Mike a little different. Instead of begging for forgiveness, he's being more matter-of-fact. He's coming into his own. The first take, he was too smug, so he just went in with confidence. And that's right: He knew he had her. He wasn't trying to be a dick; he was trying to say, "You put me at odds with Harvey." I think she's going to accept it. This is the consequence of the action she took. Let's move on.
It seems like that was an effect of dealing with Rachel and having to be up-front with her.
Korsh: I think some of it was dealing with Rachel - he almost quite for her - and some of it was realizing that if Harvey wasn't going to forgive him, he has to take matters into his own hands and prove that he can trust him.
Where do Rachel and Mike go from here?
Korsh: They're going to have their ups and downs. We took a two-pronged approach to their relationship. ... She can forgive him, but she hasn't forgotten this and it will come up again. The other approach is, let's just take all that stuff and throw it away and say they're young and tempestuous and having a relationship at the same office they're trying to keep quiet. Rachel will keep pursuing law school, so that will obviously cause some problems since he has what she wants and didn't work for it.
Will they last through the season?
Korsh: I can't say, but I am enjoying them as a couple.
What is Mike going to do to win back Harvey's trust? Will he build that time machine?
Korsh: [Laughs] He's taking some big steps. He's trying. Their relationship is very similar to Harvey and Jessica's relationship. ... The second episode will be revealing. Mike is being wooed by Louis, so is Harvey really OK with that? Poor Louis. Louis takes some lumps. Nigel got him back. He probably gets beaten up the most, but what he goes through is both tragic and hilarious, and Rick always makes it great.
Darby seems very happy to play along with everyone. What is his endgame?
Korsh: I don't think Darby thinks Harvey wants to leave when he asked him to fire him. I think he thinks Harvey is going to change his mind, and he did. It's like allowing a kid to test his boundaries. I think with Darby saying yes to Harvey about taking down Jessica, he is banking on the fact that Harvey's going to change his mind over the course of working this case. You'll find out more about his history with Ava soon. But he's merged with this firm. He's the leader of the firm and he's trying to keep things on an even keel. I don't think he's evil or manipulative. We may experience him that way, but I think he's honestly trying to handle the situation he's found himself in.
Are Harvey and Mike your favorite TV duo? Vote for them here!
We'll finally meet Harvey's dad (James McCaffrey) in the flashback episode. How is he worked in?
Korsh: When we do flashbacks, we like to make the past relevant to the present. Harvey is embroiled in a situation with Cameron Dennis (Gary Cole) and he flashes back to his Cameron Dennis days that are taking place at the same time as when Mike was in college, and that's how we see his dad. And we learn something about both of them, and some light is shed on [Harvey's] relationship with Donna (Sarah Rafferty). The episode tells the story of how Harvey ultimately left the D.A.'s office to work for Jessica. ... There is a chance the dad scene will be cut for time. I'm doing everything I can not to delete it, but there is a chance. If we do [cut it], it'll be in the deleted scenes.
Is anyone going to find out Mike's secret, like say, the Brits?
Korsh: I honestly don't know. We have not gotten to the point of breaking [story lines of] whether anyone would find out, but you never know.
Suits airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on USA. What did you think of the premiere?
View original Suits Postmortem: Will Harvey Go Through with His Plan? at TVGuide.com
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YMCA teens help host & work the fundraiser
photos: teens help the annual fundraiser run smoothly (click on photos to enlarge and see captions)
Who Brought the Magic for a great cause?
I don't think that there are many individual YMCA or towns that could pull this fundraiser off so well. They don't have Rick Doucette and the rest of the great staff in Gloucester or such a ridiculous abundance of local foodie establishments and culture. Here's a list of Gloucester, Cape Ann and North Shore great eats and drinks establishments that participated this year:
1606 Restaurant, Beauport Hotel, Gloucester; Azorean Restaurant, Gloucester; Cake Ann, Gloucester; Cape Ann Brewing Company, Gloucester; Cape Ann Foodie Tours, Gloucester; Captain Carlos, Gloucester; Classic Cooks Catering, Gloucester; Feather & Wedge, Rockport; Ipswich Ale Brewery; Italiano Restaurant & Bar, Gloucester; Jalapeno's Mexican Restaurant, Gloucester; Latitude 43, Gloucester; Liquor Locker Gloucester; Mile Marker One Gloucester; Mojo coffee Beverly Cape Ann Farmers Market; Mom's Kitchen Gloucester; Passports Restaurant Gloucester; Pigeon Cove Ferments; Pigeon Cove Tavern & Emerson Inn By the Sea, Rockport; Riverwalk Brewing Company, Newburyport; Ryan & Wood Distilleries, Gloucester; Sea Glass Restaurant @ Castle Manor Inn, Gloucester; Seaport Grille, Gloucester; Stones Pub & Eatery, Gloucester; Sugar Magnolias, Gloucester; Virgilio's Italian Bakery, Gloucester
Dazzling fine food, desserts and drinks were at every turn. Feather & Wedge, 1606 Restaurant, Mile Marker One, Classic Cooks, Azorean, Sea Glass Restaurant, and Sugar Mags served winning main dishes. To die for desserts and specialty drinks were abundant. Virgilios cannolis were gone fast!
photos: Great fun taking snapshots at all the booths. (Apologies to Liquor Locker! The only photo that didn't come out.)
Live Entertainment – Jerome Music
Sounds of Taste of Cape Ann thanks to fine musicians were John Jerome on guitar and vocals, and Steve Jerome on drums. Cameron sat in as a back up drummer.
Wouldn't happen without the 9th Annual Taste of Cape Ann generous sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors: Institution for Savings and Cruiseport Gloucester
Presenting Sponsors: Beauport Financial Services, Robert Stewart PC, Tom Davis CPA
plus all the participating restaurants, hotels, specialty food and liquor businesses, and local business support for all those gift basket raffles


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Pioneer District Roundtable
February 9 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every month that begins at 7:30 pm on day Second of the month, repeating indefinitely
Roundtable is an important part of commissioner service. Roundtables support unit leaders through delivering effective program ideas, relationship development, and timely communication. Roundtables also provide an opportunity for sharing experiences and enjoying fun and fellowship with other leaders.
Meetings are held via Zoom. Reach out to firstname.lastname@example.com for the link.


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Last New Year's Eve, I stole a meme from my husband's blog that proved to be quite an enjoyable retrospective in an end of the year sort of way. I was reminded of it as I browsed stats today and noted that the post had generated a bit of traffic. So because I don't make resolutions or really do anything to commemorate the change over from one year to the next, I decided to haul this Q and A out and see how it applies to the year nearly past.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Again, I don't make them and I wonder at people who do as they don't seem to follow through on their self-promises much or at all. If you can't even keep a promise to yourself, why bother?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. Rob's niece by marriage and more marriage is expecting in the new year, but no one we know in person gave birth. Though a Facebook friend had a little boy on my birthday, I don't think that counts. There are no flesh and blood babies in my life.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Edie's cat died not long ago. His name was Nike. 18 years old and with a personality and stories that have the potential to be a best-seller … in America anyway. They just love their feisty pets with personality plus adventures down there.
5. What countries did you visit?
Went to the States as we do at least once every year. Last time we will pull the holiday trailer however. Longest to and from ever. While we were there we did the tourist thing. Saw sites I hadn't visited since I was a teen. House on the Rock for instances, which is a highly overrated hoarder's heaven and Galena, which is little more than an arts and crafts sale masquerading as a hip artist enclave.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
I don't lack. it would be awesome if we could finish the renovations we started in 2010, so we could think about selling and moving closer to, if not actually in, civilization, but it's not the most pressing matter.
If I wanted at all, the want was a tablet and after much assessing and comparing – Rob's boss gave him an iPad as a "thank you" for a job well done. Want granted.
Oh, I would like a new bike. My husband has an awesome bike. I 'd like one like it. But again, not a burning in my soul desire.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Um …. can't think of one. Nothing really happened. Okay, things happened, but not events that impacted me in a way that would etch a date on my brain matter.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I have cemented myself as a local teacher of yoga. I am surprised by how many people know of me or what I teach and when/where. I consider that an achievement.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmmmmmm. Failure? I would have said chocolate angel food cake because I haven't been able to make one successfully from scratch, but I pulled that one off on Christmas Eve. So, no big failures this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, if you want to think of perimenapause as an illness (which it is and isn't depending) than that.
You know how some people are always laying blame for this or that malady on hormones being out of balance or something? Turns out mine actually are. Working on that.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A pair of 1969 Curvy jeans from the Gap. Awesome. Also, a down filled winter jacket from Mark's. Money well spent.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Well, my husband, Rob, continues to be fabulous. He re-roofed our house this summer, single-handedly, in spite of tornadic weather and gout in both of his ankles. Seriously impressive considering the rook is a 12/12 pitch that even had professional roofers bowing to him in homage.
13. Whose behavior appalled you?
The whole POTUS campaign in the US and pretty much everyone associated with it. The level of willful ignorance and appalling amount of disinformation on both sides decided me on whether or not to hang on to my US citizenship once I have become a Canadian citizenship, which will hopefully be in the coming year. I am just not like homelanders and I think that I never really did fit in down there.
Necessities and home improvement.15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I let myself care too much about the outcome of the US POTUS race. Not that there was much of a choice between the resident evil or the evil wanna be. One of my Facebook "friends", a blogger of some renown who doesn't know as much about politics, or reality, as she thinks she does, replied to a comment I left about "lesser evils" to the effect that I was morally bankrupt for not realizing that Obama was clearly not the evil one. He's a "nice" guy. After all, his wife and kids love him.
But that just prompted me to recall Sondheim's use of the word "nice" in Into the Woods. Nice is a catch-all word that means nothing of the kind. It's the word we apply to things when we don't want to really say what we think for fear of what others will think about us.
I also got really jazzed up about the provincial election here in Alberta and was frustrated by my inability as a landed immigrant to vote. I am so glad that when the next federal election rolls around, I will be a Canadian proper and able to participate in the electoral process. Though I twisted my husband's arm on voting the PC's back in – because Wildrose was simply unacceptable – if Trudeau ends up leading the Liberals, I might have to change allegiance even though the Alberta Lib leader, Raj Sherman, is an utter nob.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Goyte's Someone that I Used to Know or anything by Fun.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I continue to be remarkably happy.
b) thinner or fatter? I am thinner and probably in better shape than I have been in years.
c) richer or poorer? Personally, I am poorer because I have cut back on my self-employment, but on the whole, status remains quo.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gotten away for short holidays. Especially over the summer. We were far too home bound this year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?.
Wasted my time on US politics.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family. Children and Rob's mom. Probably a bit more of the latter than we needed. There is a reason why after we've grown and moved out of our parents' homes and on with our lives that we keep visits short and try to always stay in hotels when we do visit.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I remained in love and blissfully so. I know that sounds unreal that approaching six years of marriage, I am still very much into it, but I am.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Don't watch actual broadcast tv. Don't even have cable. We do have Netflix and I have tried to acquire a taste for tv shows ala carte, but tv is so boring. The acting is "meh" and the writing is generally atrocious.
If you like tv, nothing personal, but I have to wonder why and if something might be wrong with you.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I still have a general distaste for the same few. No outright hate but I wouldn't shed tears if any of these people were to meet with an untimely demise.
24. What was the best book you read?
Hilary Mantel's follow-up to Wolf Hall called Bring Up the Bodies was excellent, and Susanna Kearsley's The Rose Garden was brilliant.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Discovered nothing.
26. What did you want and get?
I wanted a tablet and lo, one appeared.
27. What did you want and not get?
I kinda hoped that Obama wouldn't get re-elected simply because a new POTUS takes time to get up and running. Anything that would slow the evil that emanates from down there would have been a good thing.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We went to this great Indian buffet in Sherwood Park called A Taste of India. Excellent food. And I turned 49. It really feels about the same as the last two or three-ish years.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had gotten my letter from Canadian immigration telling me when and where to come to take my citizenship test.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Still very yoga.
32. What kept you sane?
Rob, as always. Though I don't know if I keep him sane, but that wasn't the question, was it.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't really do that.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The issues surrounding the extra-territoral taxation that the United States is attempting to foist upon Canada in contradiction of our Charter Rights. It's clear over-reach and it threatens our sovereignty.
35. Who did you miss?
Not really sure what this question is asking, so I am going to ignore it again.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Did I meet anyone new?
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
If you can't disagree without getting personal, foot-stomping or name-calling, you are probably not old enough to be allowed in a serious discussion.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck.
Some nights, I call it a draw.
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore…
Related articles
- 2012's top memes and viral videos (bbc.co.uk)
- Viral Video Recap: Funniest Memes of the Week (mashable.com)
- 15 Best Internet Memes Of 2012 (socialitelife.com)


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Can the New SAT Solve the Test's Inequality Problem?
There's currently a 400-point gap between the highest- and lowest-income students.
The College Board, the company that produces and distributes the SAT, knows its tests are not kind to the poor, or to minorities.
"We need to get rid of the sense of mystery and dismantle the advantages that people perceive in using costly test preparation," David Coleman, the College Board president, told a crowd at the SXSW Conference on Wednesday, where he announced significant changes to the test's format.
"Too many feel that the prevalence of test prep and expensive coaching reinforces privilege rather than merit," he said.
The new test, to be first administered in 2016, is designed to reflect more classroom knowledge. It's going to scale back on the use of "SAT words"—you know, the ones that only seem to exist for the sake of the test. (Who actually would say the word "simulacrum" out loud?) The new vocabulary will reflect words more commonly used in college classrooms. The essay, which was introduced in 2005, will become optional. A perfect score will once again be 1600, down from 2400. Math questions will focus more on equations, and the reading sections will incorporate more science and American history texts.
"It is time for an admissions assessment that makes it clear that the road to success is not last-minute tricks or cramming but the challenging learning students do every day," Coleman told USA Today.
In addition to the changed exam, Coleman also announced fee waivers for low-income students who will be able to send their scores to four colleges free of charge.
Whether these changes can get more poor students admitted into college (and ostensibly a higher chance of entering the middle class), we'll have to see.


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Before the rev up to Christmas Day got too crazy, I found some time to play with Stampin' Up!'s new Watercolor Pencils and I have actually made two cards using them with this super cute stamp set "Moon Baby", of which I am sharing one with you today. Both of these new items will be available when the Occasions Catalogues goes live on the 4th of Jan.
I can't wait to use these pencils in a class to show all my lovely ladies how great they are. It is fabulous to see Stampin' Up! adding to their colouring mediums. I am in love!


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Note: I was provided samples free of charge to review these products. I was not paid any additional compensation for this review.
This past month has been full of ups and downs. My position was recently eliminated at my former company, and for the first time, I found myself "in transition". I wasn't prepared for the process that would follow afterwards. The severe ups and downs that I initially experienced eventually subsided, but I wasn't immune to the normal process of being unemployed and actively looking for work. As with everyone else, the stress of searching, the fear of non-existent income, and loss of routine had a significant impact.
I refused to let this event impact my life in a negative way. I wanted to take this as a learning experience. I also wanted to let myself feel the emotions, and go through the process. Yet, I was worried about the toll that the stress would take on me.
The only healthy way to go about this was to figure out my support system, and utilize the tools that were available to me. My amazing friends and family reached out, and they continue to do so today. I continued to go to therapy, and talk through the process. I set a schedule and made some goals and tasks to work on. Yet, every now and then, the stress and worry would creep in.
One of my friends, Suzanne, suggested that I try essential oils. She is the owner of Mother Rockin Oils, and offers Young Living essential oils for purchase. Per the Young Living introductory booklet, essential oils are "aromatic, concentrated plant extracts harvested from farm-grown and wildcrafted plants, flowers, herbs, and trees." Essential oils have been used for years for their "emotionally uplifting properties, aiding overall wellness, promoting relaxation, and supporting the skin."
Personally, I have had some limited experience with essential oils, owning only a couple bottles and using them sparingly. However, I was interested how I could use them to relax, de-stress and promote my own well-being. Suzanne generously offered to lend me some oils and a diffuser to help relieve my symptoms. Overall, I'm happy to state that so far, I've had positive results.
As a new user, it was difficult for me to understand where to start. There are so many options – base oils, combinations, diffusers, topical use. Where does a beginner start?! I decided to take the first few days easy – after all, I'm here to de-stress. I figured that I would take things a little easy, and work through the basics that were offered in a starter sample kit.
Suzanne had included a pre-made roller which was an anti-anxiety combination. The mix included patchouli, which I am not usually a big fan of. I dabbed a small amount, and the scent lasted for a quite some time. In time, I got use to the patchouli scent, and found that it was a nice aroma to have around. I didn't think about the stress as much.
The second day, I wanted to focus on getting a good night's sleep. In this time of transition, I've found that it's very difficult to keep my mind at ease; it's running a million miles a minute, trying to figure out how I should navigate the next day. As a result, sleep wasn't coming easy. I decided to take the Lavender scent and sprinkle a few drops on my pillow. I found the scent very calming. While I didn't fall asleep immediately, I felt more at ease, which helped. My mind ran, but less so. I found that focusing on the calming scents of the oil was a good way to distract myself from them.
On the third day, I decided to put some oil in a diffuser while I worked on some tasks and goals. I chose frankincense, as it is well known for its destressing properties. I enjoyed this the most. I felt calm, and enjoyed the scent as it filled the room. The woody feel made me feel at ease, and I continued to work without a happy demeanor. My family enjoyed it as well.
Combination Blends
Young Living provides combination oils as well for different scenarios. I decided to try out a couple offerings to see how they work.
The daily ritual of job searching and its related activities were starting to take their toll. I was feeling stressed over the first rejections, and the likelihood that the process was going to take months. As a result, my first choice was "Stress Away", which is a combination of Lime essential oil and vanilla extract, Copaiba, Lavender, Cedarwood and Ocotea. I decided to use this topically with a carrier oil. Stress Away had a nice, relaxing scent, that lasted for some time. Personally, I can't say if it completely relieved my stress, but it was certainly less noticeable as the day went on.
My second choice was "Valor", which was a blend of black spruce, blue tansy, camphor wood, geranium and frankincense. I had experienced anxiety the evening before, which kept my mind running and prevented me from falling asleep easily. After only a few hours of sleep, I woke up restless, and still feeling the residuals of anxiety. My child also woke up angry, and I was pressed for time to get things ready for his appointment.
I wanted to use Valor because I didn't want to have the anxiety dictate my emotion of the entire day. Valor is meant to help reinforce a positive attitude, which is exactly what I needed. I used 2 drops and massaged them on my neck, wrist and hands. I spent a minute or so closing my eyes and breathing in the aroma. I found that it helped calm my thoughts temporarily, and lessening the intensity of the anxiety. An hour or so later, the anxiety came back, but it was not as prevalent as before. Now, I've come to find that this was my favorite oil.
Using essential oils can be overwhelming. Being new to the process, I was unaware of all the various uses and which oils to use for my situation. Suzanne offers an online class to help navigate and learn various methods. One session focused on rollers, complete with ideas on what kinds of rollers one could take on the go! Other challenges in her class highlighted some of the oil offerings in the starter kit. I thought it was useful to have a virtual class where you can ask questions and connect with other users.
But, do I recommend them??
Overall, I found the essential oils to be useful in managing my stress. I don't see them as a cure, nor do I feel that they completely eradicated my symptoms. They did, however, become a valuable tool to use as a potential means of temporary relief. I found that it helped shift my concentration and thinking to something else, which is very key for me. It took the focus away from the stressful thoughts, and it gave me the break I needed to refocus.
I would highly recommend looking into essentials oils as a possible tool in de-stressing. If you're interested in finding out more, contact Suzanne Lockyer Lawriw at Mother Rockin' Oils:
Text "Oils" to (858) 250-0750
Instagram: @oilsmom / @oilrocker


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Frank Kunert's photographs are crazy. They show surreal places that don't exist, exquisite photos of tennis courts shaped as skating half-pipes or slides for kids that end on highways.
Kunert creates his tiny detailed models and then captures them in a realistic way. I like to think about them as anti-tilt-shifting images. And I wish some of them existed at full scale, like the toilet pool. Or that slide that ends in a lion cage. [Frank Kunert via Petapixel]


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5 Technology Application Trends in 2011!
5 technology application trends that I think will be most popular in 2011 are:
- Tablets, tablets and tablets: iPad started the fever and its not stopping anytime soon. Newer and smarter tablets of all sizes, form factors and capabilities will emerge. Newer and newer applications for these devices will be available.
- Big data will get bigger: More and more big data will become available in the public domain and we will see the emergence of newer and smarter storage and analytics solutions in the space. In other words NoSQL and all tools that help manage big data will boom. Cloud will continue its expansion.
- Local will be king: Groupon has show the way but there is a lot more to win! Hyperlocal communities will be the way forward. You will see a lot more startups in the space. If you are an investor, don't forget to put some money there
- Social networking shakeout & correction: Every boom meets a correction, Facebook and friends will see some correction as well.
- Growth of collaboration: the audio-video segment has been largely a consume only space for a while. Collaborative rich communication and interaction will see some innovative new applications.
Happy New Year!


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iCasual: DropZap 2
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Hello everyone this is Michelle from The Portable Gamer with your iCasual report for DropZap 2 from Amir Michail for all devices running current iOS software. On the heals of the addictive DropZap, this 2nd version is considerably more challenging but still hard to put down. As with the first you have a board of shapes that you need to eliminate before they reach the top of your screen. Each time you drop a new piece a laser will zap across and down from where it lands. The pieces it hits will shrink and if the piece is already at its smallest size it will disappear. This will then cause a chain reaction as pieces fall and zap again. What makes this sequel stand out is the addition of blocking squares into the mix. Your laser will stop in its tracks meaning less objects will be shrunk. The boxes will still shrink when hit so they can be eliminated, they just don't allow the beam to pass through them like the circles do.
Just like the first version, you will get 4 different game modes each one adding additional challenges. Standard mode is the easiest and the best place to hone your skills. Each time you remove 50 pieces you level up and the board is reset. Relentless mode is similar to Standard except that its never ending. You just keep going for as long as you can. Action mode steps it up a bit with a count down timer. If you don't drop a piece before the timer runs out, the game will drop the piece for you. Relentless Action is then the never ending version of Action mode. Each time you play the game is randomly laid out, so it never feels repetitive regardless of which mode you play. The game is game center enabled and keeps track of your high scores so you can easily brag to your friends. Then when you think you're at your best, invite a friend to play with you on your device. The screen splits and you play head to head. Who ever removes 25 more pieces than their opponent or completely outlast them, wins. The game plays great on either the small or large screen, but 2 player mode is at its best on the iPad.
For just .99 Drop Zap 2 is a must have for anyone who loves puzzle games, and for a limited time, the developer is offering it for free, so hurry up and download this app from the link below.