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Let's get the easy part out of the way first, shall we? Yeah, the excessive celebration penalties – all three of them – were jokes.
Here's the NCAA rule, per Wikipedia:
College football, governed by the NCAA also penalizes excessive celebrations with a 15 yard penalty. NCAA Football Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(1)(d) prohibits "Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)"…
And that is in fact what the officiating crew cited, per the AJ-C, as to why the penalty was thrown on A.J. Green after his touchdown reception briefly gave Georgia back the lead.
The officiating crew said, in a statement provided by the SEC later Saturday night, that "following a brief team celebration, Green made a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself," thus drawing the flag.
I can see how the officiating crew might have gotten confused there. Because every damned person in Sanford Stadium was paying attention to A.J. at that moment.
There are two things worth saying about it. First, it was a remarkably stupid call, egregious enough that it's worth calling into question whether in fact the SEC officiating office really does have something against Mark Richt because of the Celebration in 2007. But second, and contrary to the general sentiment I heard walking out of the stadium last night, in and of itself, it didn't cost Georgia the game.
There's plenty of blame to go around for that.
- Georgia may have found itself a consistent pass rush, ladies and gentlemen. Six sacks, led by Justin Houston's two, more than doubled the team's output for the entire season. The opening series of the third quarter was the most dominant effort we've seen from the defense all year.
- Washaun Ealey. Yes, he provided a needed spark when he was inserted in the second half. He's a north-south runner who appears to realize that one key to being a good running back is to avoid tacklers. Based on that, it's clear he deserves more playing time, but his game seems awfully raw. I like Cox' quote about him, though: "And I was just like 'Man, let him run, he knows how to run.'"
- A.J. Green. I'm out of superlatives. What sucked the most about the penalty was that the catch was so good and so clutch, he deserved to do anything he wanted to in the aftermath.
- Drew Butler averaged over 49 yards a punt yesterday. The remarkable part of that performance was that his long was 53 yards. That's consistency.
- Pass protection was pretty good. Cox looked comfortable most of the game and had time to throw.
- Run blocking was nonexistent. All that talk in the preseason about how this was going to be one of the great offensive lines in the country this year to this point is just that – talk. And don't tell me about Sturdivant's injury; there are still plenty of other kids with supposed talent and experience available to play. They just aren't getting the job done.
- Run defense was inconsistent. LSU's overall rushing numbers – 45 rushes for 156 yards, a 3.5 ypc clip – don't look too bad, except that (1) they include the negative yardage from the six sacks and (2) LSU rushing numbers were terrible coming into this game. Charles Scott looked like the beast I feared, but I was surprised at how much push the Tigers' offensive line got against Georgia's defensive front, the second straight week that's happened. This, too, is an underperforming bunch. Overall, tackling remains an iffy proposition at best.
- First half offensive production: 49 total yards and one – one! – stinking first down won't get you very far against a Sun Belt Conference opponent, let alone LSU. Georgia was fortunate indeed to be down by only six at halftime.
- Mike Bobo's playcalling continues to be both bizarre and frustrating to the extreme. How can you justify giving Samuel and King even twelve carries when it was painfully obvious that neither could do anything? And once more, he continues to insert Branden Smith into the game at seemingly random moments and make utterly predictable playcalls that are easily defended, like the horrible reverse to Wooten that resulted in a ten yard loss and sucked all the energy out of the stadium that the defense had just generated. He seemed intimidated by an LSU defense that up until yesterday wasn't worthy of that much respect. And yet the TD pass to Chapas was a brilliant call and when he had no choice but to get aggressive, his charges rewarded him with a touchdown drive that regained the lead at 13-12. The bottom line here is that if a Mississippi State squad that is as devoid of talent as any team in the conference was able to put up 26 points on LSU, a Georgia team with the best offensive player on the field yesterday should have been able to clear twenty. And that would have been enough for the win. It's a popular sport to take shots at Martinez, but at this point some of our attention needs to start going in Bobo's direction. There was no excuse for looking that anemic on offense yesterday.
- Special teams, outside of Drew Butler, were a gaping black hole, a pus-oozing wound, a… well, you get the idea. I probably need to come up with a worse category than ugly to place them in. At least Mike Bobo had a couple of redeeming moments in the game. I can't think of any for the special teams. Walsh's first miss of the season was brutal and couldn't have come at a more critical time. The game plays out very differently if he makes that kick. Georgia didn't have a single punt return yard and in fact played as if the concept of returning punts didn't exist – a remarkable abdication from a team that finished fourth in the country in punt return yards last year. And it's time to quit obsessing over directional kickoffs and focus instead on the appalling lack of fundamentals on both the kickoff coverage and the kickoff return teams. I don't know what's happened to the players that blocked so brilliantly in the South Carolina game, but neither Boykin nor Smith had much room to run. And it looked like the Red Sea parting on both of Holliday's returns (44.5 yards per return), especially the second, back breaking 41 yarder – away from the side that Georgia illegally overloaded. If Fabris is looking for a challenge, perhaps getting players to stay in their lanes and thus be in position to limit returns would be an excellent one to take up.
Needless to say, most of the blame for the loss yesterday falls on the coaching staff, in my opinion. LSU is a good, talented team that didn't back down in the face of adversity, but it was vulnerable. The Dawgs played most of the game way too submissively in too many areas and it cost them in the end.
Beyond that, I remain puzzled by a number of personnel decisions that have been allowed to continue, despite the evidence we've seen on the field week after week. All in all, it's a team that is less than the sum of its parts.
It's far too early to dismiss this team, of course, if for no other reason than that I remain convinced that Georgia is loaded from a talent standpoint. But somewhere along the line, you've got to let your best players play, you've got to put them in position to excel and you've got to find a way to make them something more than the least fundamentally sound team in the SEC. Until that happens, it's looking like these Dawgs are headed to a lesser bowl game this year.
UPDATE: I can't think of anything to add to this David Hale observation.
— Walking out of the locker room after the game, I happened to look over and see Mike Bobo and Willie Martinez sitting next to each other on some chairs near the coaches' office. Usually the two duck out pretty quickly during the interview session, but this time, they stuck around the whole time. Bobo had his head buried in his hands. Martinez had his fist tucked up under his chin, staring off into space. The two looked absolutely dejected. It was among the most visibly shaken I've seen two grown men outside of a funeral that I can remember. I think that image really summed things up better than anything else I could write.


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There's a Way to Stop Mass Shootings, and You Won't Like It.
That's right. You're not going to like it because it's going to require you to do something personally, as opposed to shouting for the government, or anyone to "do something!"
You ready? Here it is:
"Notice those around you who seem isolated, and engage them."
If every one of us did this we'd have a culture that was deeply committed to ensuring no one was left lonely. And make no mistake, as I've written before loneliness is what causes these shooters to lash out. People with solid connections to other people don't indiscriminately fire guns at strangers.
I know what you're thinking. That's never going to work because no one is going to make the effort to connect with the strange kid sitting by himself at lunch each day. No one is going to reach out to the gawky, awkward guy at work and ask him about his weekend.
You're probably right and that's an absolute shame.
Because I can tell you the things that aren't going to work in this country when it comes to stopping these heinous acts. But they seem to be all anyone says, when inevitably, another person comes forward to inflict their tortured pain on innocent people.View Post
- Ban All Guns! – Due to the reading of the 2nd amendment and the precedents established by recent Supreme Court cases, this isn't going anywhere. You'd need an amendment to the Constitution and there will NEVER be 30+ states willing to overturn it. Never mind the multitude of good reasons for its existence, no amount of outrage will overturn it so let's just stop.
- Ban All Guns! (pt. 2) – Assuming you actually could overturn the 2nd and outlaw every firearm in the country, then you'd have to go out and get them. Famously, there are more guns than people in the U.S. You couldn't come close to collecting them all. Further, if Prohibition and the War on Drugs have taught us anything it's that those intent on breaking the law are going to do just that. Laws be damned.
- Ban Scary Guns Like the AR-15! – Fully auto weapons are already banned*. Most of these shootings occur with a handgun, plain and simple, and these aren't going anywhere. Murder is illegal, and that doesn't seem to stop these individuals from performing these atrocious acts. Do you think if there was a ban on shotguns that would stop them?
- Keep Them Out of the Hands of Bad People! – Felons are prohibited from owing a firearm already. But let's not forget, the overwhelming majority of these mass shootings aren't done by criminals and their guns were obtained legally. How can you know who is going to do something like this? You can't.
- Do Something About Mental Health! – Cool. Yeah. So, like, free psychologists visits for everyone? Even if you could, the people that have done this haven't been mentally ill, by and large. And, let's not forget that medical records are private. Would you endorse mandatory psych screening for everyone and those records being sent to the government? Maybe just those who wish to own a gun? Remember, not every person who has engaged in a mass shooting has owned the gun they performed the act with. This is a complete non-starter of an issue with an insane price tag that does nothing to actually keep a person committed to violence from putting their hands on a gun.
- Do… SOMETHING! – Gotcha. What do you want to do? "SOMETHING!" Ok, what do you have in mind? "I DON'T KNOW! BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!" Sure. Agreed. But what? Even Obama has had to say in his latest speech how routine it's become.
If you can't tell by this point in the list, there is NOTHING the government or any other organization can do to prevent these events.
You can't effectively keep drugs out of the hands of those intent on doing drugs. You can't keep beer out of the hands of high schoolers intent on getting beer. You have a HUGE supply of weapons everywhere and concrete federal law protecting those weapons. You'd have as much luck passing regulation against tornadoes. It would be equally as effective.
So there it is. The god's honest truth. No entity can do anything meaningful (more than is presently being done) to thwart a disaffected person hell-bent on committing such an act.
But you can.
You can talk to your co-worker for a few minutes. You can talk to the kid in your Physics class that appears to be all alone. You can teach your children to do the same, to make sure no one is left to feel totally isolated. Because that's the breeding ground. That's where the seeds are planted.
Community is easy to take for granted. Most of us have strong family connections and healthy friendships. Most feel as though they're part of a group, be it community, religious, or work related. But it's increasingly easy for people on the edges to withdraw and it's easy for us to forget them.
No, it's comfortable to forget them. It's preferred to forget them. It's highly desired to forget them. And we have to change that.
Holding a sign isn't going to do anything. And writing your congressman will do even less. But you can do something today, this week, this month. The people you engage may not become life-long friends, and they don't need to be, but it could be enough to keep someone away from the darkness and isolation needed to eventually think lashing out is an effective strategy for dealing with their pain.
If you're conflicted at all about the subject, I can't encourage you enough to read this post by Sam Harris on the subject immediately following Newtown, CT, that I've written about before.
* Edit: Fully auto weapons are legal, but only under the strictest of conditions and at a price that makes them hardly affordable for the vast majority. For all intents and purposes, let's just call them banned. The AR-15 is not a fully auto weapon, but is often confused for one based on appearance.

subset: commoncrawl


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Up in the desert above Las Vegas hides a dusty air base ringed by towering mountains, buffered by an atomic testing preserve and guarded around the clock. It isn't much to look at—a knot of hangars, fuel tanks and prefab living quarters beside a dry lakebed and a long runway. The parched ground sprouts little but creosote, scorpion weed and the odd Joshua tree.
But for generations, this lonely outpost has itched some people like a bad case of poison ivy. Secrecy about what goes on there has fueled all manner of speculation: It's a port for visiting spacecraft, or a venue for alien autopsies, or a lab where captured UFOs are reverse-engineered to America's military advantage. An industry has sprung up around this guesswork—TV tell-alls, books and websites by the dozens. The public appetite for conspiracy theories involving Area 51—aka Groom Lake, Dreamland, Homey Airport, Paradise Ranch or Watertown—appears insatiable. Reasonable people, smart people, eat them up.
So when a book comes along that promises to really, truly explain the place, and said book is by a contributor to the Los Angeles Times Magazine and put out by a major publisher and wins praise from The New York Times, NPR and national TV shows (Fox & Friends called it "an incredible piece of journalism"), we can't help but take notice.
For much of its 523 pages, Annie Jacobsen's Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base is the story of the men who, starting in 1955, developed and tested secret Cold War reconnaissance aircraft at Groom Lake—the CIA's U-2 and A-12 Oxcart, the latter of which flew with modifications as the Air Force's SR-71 Blackbird. Jacobsen interviewed 74 people, including 32 who lived and worked on the base. Many of them belong to Roadrunners Internationale, the alumni association of Groom Lake pilots, engineers, mechanics and such. The Roadrunners gladly spoke to her: Their Cold War activities had recently been declassified; they were getting on in years; they wanted their achievements recorded.
"We were very, very happy with what she was doing," T.D. Barnes, a radar expert and the Roadrunners' president, told us. "She did a great job of researching. She did everything a good journalist would do." Retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonels Roger W. Andersen and Francis J. Murray were also impressed; Murray said Jacobsen "was constantly taking notes" and "really seemed to be making sure that what we told her was correct." But for all of Jacobsen's apparent diligence, the men were surprised, and not happily, by the finished product: After Barnes read Area 51, for instance, he denounced her in a blog post as "an author who refuses to repent her literary crimes and errors."
The focus of the Roadrunners' criticism is a UFO conspiracy theory so fantastic that it makes the infamous and historically discredited tale about a 1947 crash of a flying saucer in Roswell, N.M., seem tame. The bottom line of the traditional Roswell story is that the purported extraterrestrial UFO wreckage was taken to Area 51 and subsequently became the object of a massive government coverup. Relying on the testimony of a single unnamed source, Jacobsen's book repeats the claim that some sort of UFO crashed at Roswell. But in her telling, the craft wasn't of alien origin. Instead, it was a saucer built by the Soviets using technology they'd obtained from German engineers at the end of World War II. And there's more. According to her unnamed source, the craft was manned by human teenagers who had been medically altered to look like aliens, with giant heads and eyes like wraparound Oakleys.
Who would do such a thing to children? Why, notorious Nazi death camp doctor Josef Mengele, Jacobsen writes, quoting her source quoting another source or sources, also unnamed. Seems that Mengele was working for Soviet boss Josef Stalin, who needed the mutants for a special project: scaring the daylights out of America with a fake alien visitation. Yes, it was all a hoax_ the most lavish prank in history.
Jacobsen reports that the wreckage was moved from Roswell to Wright Field (now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio), where it was kept until 1951, then moved to the Nevada desert. There, her unnamed source was part of a team studying the saucer. They discovered that it ran on "electromagnetic frequency, or EMF," Jacobsen quotes him as saying, and he claims America has had the technology since. She offers no details on how this "EMF" propulsion might work, and the term could mean almost anything. All forms of electromagnetic radiation—radio waves, visible light, X-rays and more—operate at particular frequencies. The notion that devices such as airplanes might be powered remotely by electromagnetic energy is at least a century old. But the concept has never worked on a large scale—the quantity of energy required would be unimaginably large.
One more thing: Two "child-size aviators" from the craft, alive but comatose, wound up in the desert too. They were stored in gel, the unnamed source told Jacobsen, and they moved their mouths as if trying to speak. Why would America hide the fact that Mengele had produced these sad creatures at Stalin's behest? "Because," the source tells Jacobsen, "we were doing the same thing... We performed medical experiments on handicapped children and prisoners," and we did it "at least through the 1980s."
Jacobsen offers no corroboration for this; instead, she presents irrelevant information that has been trotted out for many years by Roswell alien UFO conspiracy theorists. She writes that she pressed her source for details of the horrors he saw at Area 51, but he wouldn't budge. "He said he was hurting," Jacobsen writes. "That soon he would die. That, really, it was best that I did not learn any more because I didn't have a need-to-know."
Could this be true? Could any of this be true?
Let's start with the flying saucer, which Jacobsen ascribes to German aeronautical engineers Walter and Reimar Horten. It's a fact that before and during the war, the Horten brothers built a series of ever more sophisticated all-wing aircraft, culminating with the jet-powered Horten 229, a boomerang-shaped contrivance that bore a passing resemblance to Jack Northrop's YB-49 bomber prototype of the late '40s, as well as to the U.S. Air Force's much more recent B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
Jacobsen writes that the brothers might have been at work on something more ambitious at war's end, and that the invading Soviets might have seized their blueprints. Within a few pages, she refers matter-of-factly to "the Horten brothers and their advanced flying saucer." Jacobsen cites postwar German sources who described and even sketched what she calls "saucer-like" craft. One was shaped like a half-moon, another, according to "Professor George," was "very much like a round cake with a large sector cut out."
We searched for evidence, finding none, that the brothers created a true flying saucer. (The book includes a photograph of the Hortens' Parabola, an all-wing, parenthesis-shaped craft with rounded edges; the photo is suggestive but its relevance to the story not explained.) We consulted with David Myhra, an aviation expert whose books include four on the Hortens, and who spent several weeks with Reimar Horten at his ranch in Argentina in the 1980s. "The Horten brothers never, ever went to any kind of a circular aircraft design," Myhra said. "There were no flying saucers in the Horten line, at all."
Jacobsen spoke with Myhra several times while writing Area 51. When Myhra read the book's claim about the Horten disc, he told us, "I thought, this is a piece of science fiction."
Next up: the mutant pubescents inside the crashed saucer. Quoting her unnamed source, Jacobsen writes that Stalin tapped Mengele, the infamous "Angel of Death" at the Auschwitz concentration camp, to create the faux aliens "shortly before or immediately after the end of the war," and that in exchange the Soviet leader offered the Nazi safe haven and a place to work, but later reneged on the deal.
There's a lack of common sense in this yarn. The cliché that aliens are small, Twizzler-limbed beings with outsized noggins and buggy eyes came along years after Roswell, thanks notably to Steven Spielberg's 1977 film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Until then, they were almost exclusively portrayed as proportionally humanoid, robotic or (in the case of H.G. Wells's 1898 book, The War of the Worlds) tentacled. So why would Stalin place children with surgical makeovers in the saucer? He could have incited a panic, if that had been his aim, using a seasoned Soviet pilot who'd undergone a little nip and tuck.
Then there is historical fact. No evidence exists that Mengele had the medical skill to perform such transformations, much less the time to do them. He arrived at Auschwitz in May 1943 and served as chief doctor in the Birkenau subcamp, where he selected incoming prisoners for slave labor or the gas chamber. He also conducted horrific medical experiments, including some on dwarfs and twins. His activities during this time are extremely well-documented. He was not building aliens.
With the Red Army nearing Auschwitz in January 1945, Mengele fled to another camp, Gross-Rosen, then retreated farther west with a field hospital unit until his capture by American troops. After several weeks in custody, Mengele was released and devoted himself to keeping his head down, first as a farmhand in Bavaria and later near his hometown of Günzburg. He stayed there until he slipped off to South America, in 1949. To sum up: According to Mengele biographer Gerald L. Posner, the doctor was fully occupied—sorting potatoes and baling hay in rural Germany—during the nearly two years before the supposed Roswell crash.
Now, about the saucer's hardware. Jacobsen writes that Stalin wanted to scare the States because he was lagging in the Cold War arms race: Two years away from being able to field an A-bomb, he deployed the saucer as "a warning shot across Truman's bow," she quotes her unnamed source as saying—a nudge to the U.S. president that the Soviets had technological tricks of their own.
This raises several questions of logic. If the Soviets were struggling with nuclear fission, how likely is it that they'd mastered the EMF technology that supposedly drove the saucer? If they had mastered EMF, why would they crash or land the saucer on U.S. soil, thereby making a gift of the technology to their greatest rival? If both the U.S. and Russia have had EMF technology for 60-plus years, why are we still flying old-school, fuel-chugging planes? Why did we use Hueys in Vietnam? Why didn't we use EMF to power the space shuttle?
But onward: Jacobsen writes that her unnamed source was one of five engineers to eyeball the crashed saucer at a secret research facility in the desert in 1951, four years before the Groom Lake air base opened a short distance away. He saw Cyrillic lettering "in a ring running around the inside of the craft," she reports. There were controls in the cockpit, but the craft was apparently flown by remote control.
We called Peter W. Merlin, an aviation historian who's written much about Groom Lake, including X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane, and Spycraft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites. (It's safe to say he knows his stuff about the downing of some very unusual flying machines.) Merlin shared with us an October 1952 aerial photo of the area shot by the U.S. Geological Survey. The photo, he noted, "shows nothing there" but an abandoned World War II airstrip. "All the well-documented historical narratives show that Area 51—not by that name, but as a facility—was built in 1955," Merlin said. As for who was piloting the alleged saucer: Wireless, remote-control technology was just a few years old in 1947; it wasn't yet available on American TVs. So does it make sense that the Soviets would have used it to guide an aircraft from thousands of miles away?
When we first spoke with Jacobsen, three days after the book's release, we asked whether she realized this story might strike some people as "pretty nutty" (our exact words). She answered that she did. "The whole thing sounds so preposterous, [but] the reason I chose to include it in my book is that I believe in the veracity of my source," she said. "I've worked with him now for two years."
Mr. X is a man with impeccable credentials and a storied career, she told us: He'd devoted his adult life to serving the Manhattan Project and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), much of it as an engineer for defense contractor EG&G. "I've examined his Atomic Energy Commission awards and certificates," she said. "I examined his war record, his military records, his medical records."
She wouldn't tell us his name, of course. She'd promised to stay mum about his identity and those of the four now-deceased engineers with whom he'd worked. Jacobsen said she realized that using an unnamed source had earned her some skepticism, but argued it was "part of journalism, historically."
Skepticism or no, Jacobsen's book was enjoying a lot of friendly press at the time. Within a few days of our conversation, the hosts of CNN's American Morning said they "couldn't put it down" and found it "riveting." MSNBC's MorningJoe heralded the book's runaway sales. The New York Times praised Jacobsen's "dogged devotion to her research" and called the Roswell passages "a hasty-sounding addendum to an otherwise straightforward investigative book about aviation and military history."
But the tide turned. On May 26, when Jacobsen appeared on ABC's Nightline, reporter Bill Weir challenged her Soviet saucer tale, asking, "How can you believe this?" He requested to meet her unnamed source, and did so. Weir reported that he was as esteemed as Jacobsen had described, but Weir opted to keep the man's name and image off the air because he'd seemed "confused."
Meanwhile, speculation about the identity of Jacobsen's source proliferated on the Web. Well, actually, on dozens of websites. The man in question figures prominently in Jacobsen's book, and, indeed, the details she put down about him jibe with her descriptions of Mr. X to us and to others. So we phoned his home. His wife answered. Upon hearing what we wanted, she referred us to a publicist at Little, Brown and Company, Area 51's publisher. She then said that her husband was in the hospital after suffering a fall, and that she'd take our number to him. "I doubt if he'll talk," she said. "Everybody says he's the man, but he'll say he's not."
"Is he?" we asked.
"No, no, I believe that he's not," she said. "This whole thing has just got out of hand." He never called, and our subsequent attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
When we spoke to Jacobsen again in early June, we mentioned that Mr. X's name had been bandied about on the Internet. "I imagine there's a zillion websites that are speculating about who my source might be," she said, "but I have no idea. I don't read them, and I don't know about any of that."
We asked whether it had occurred to her, while talking with her source, that his story had some problems. "If I ever had a question like that of the source, I asked him," she replied.
We asked whether she'd come to harbor any misgivings about his account since. "I believe that what the source told me is true, to him," she replied. "In other words, everything that he told me, I believe in his veracity as an individual."
Her book's endnotes, she reminded us, did raise "the possibility that perhaps some of the information that he was told could have been misinformation." Her source didn't think so, however, and was "surprised and upset by the idea that no one believes this," she said.
In our second conversation, Jacobsen complained that her critics were fixated on "the last seven pages" before the epilogue, rather than the hundreds previous chronicling the impressive military aircraft development at Groom Lake. And indeed, the most sensational elements of the Roswell-Soviet-Mengele bombshell come in an ending that took the Roadrunners by surprise.
"The general reaction of most of the guys I know is: Wow. We didn't see this one coming," Roger Andersen said. "We really got back-doored on that last chapter." Roadrunners vice president Harry A. Martin offered a more forceful assessment. "We don't go along with that crap," he said. "I don't appreciate it, really." Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Bevacqua, who flew the U-2, called the book's last chapter "flat-out unbelievable." Francis J. Murray branded it "BS."
Some Groom Lake alums, mindful that the book contained their story, decided they'd back it anyway, and have appeared with the author at book signings and TV tapings. Barnes is among them, though he said he was "horrified" when he read Area 51 and regretted introducing Jacobsen to some of her other sources. On Memorial Day he made the blog post decrying Jacobsen's "literary crimes and errors." (He has since removed the page containing that quote.)
Meanwhile, Jacobsen is unwavering. "Everybody has opinions about what journalists write, but I stand by everything I wrote in the book," she said. She added that she'd met with Mr. X since the book came out, and that he was "clear on everything I've written."
None of the foregoing should be taken to mean that the text preceding Area 51's big finish is free of kinks. For one thing, the Soviet flying-saucer story is not restricted to seven pages: The groundwork for it is laid throughout the preceding narrative, beginning on page 4. And the sections that do pass for straight history include material about nuclear tests that took place in the Nevada desert, but not at Area 51; the secret base had nothing to do with them.
What's more, the straight history, nuke and Area 51 stuff alike, is sprinkled with errors. A 1957 nuclear safety test is labeled the first of its kind (page 111), when four similar tests had occurred in 1955 and 1956, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The same test is described as research into "the dirty bomb menace" that "posed a growing threat to the internal security of the country" (page 100), when it was really aimed at collecting data on the extent of nuclear contamination that would result if the detonating charge failed to cause an atomic explosion—again, according to the DOE.
That's just a sampling of the 35 errors that Peter Merlin found in the book. Perhaps the biggest mistake appears on the dust jacket and again in the prologue, where Jacobsen says "the U.S. government has never admitted [Area 51] exists." In truth, various agencies have acknowledged the base's existence. Evidence can easily be found on the Web, where links abound to January 1996 news-conference footage, captured by KTNV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas, of then defense secretary William Perry. "We do have a military operation going on at Groom Lake, highly classified and highly important to U.S. security," he says. Also, in the mid-1990s, federal lawsuits brought by former workers from the area alleging that they'd been exposed to hazardous waste on the job forced President Bill Clinton to acknowledge the "Air Force's operating location near Groom Lake." Ultimately, the base's presence has been an open secret from the start. Merlin has turned up government maps, none secret, bearing the "51" or "Area 51" designation. And in May 1955, the AEC's Las Vegas field office issued a press release announcing its construction.
A month after the book's publication, we traded email with John Parsley, the Little, Brown and Company editor who handled Area 51. He did not answer some of our questions: on whether he knew Mr. X's identity; on his (Parsley's) methodology in deciding whether an unnamed source is reliable; and on whether he took a role in corroborating the book's assertions or left that to Jacobsen. (As the company's executive director of publicity, Nicole Dewey, explained: "We do not, as a matter of policy, disclose legal vetting procedures and policies.") "Annie is a seasoned and well-respected journalist, and I'm fully confident in all of her reporting," Parsley said. "The book always promised to be a groundbreaking work on a fascinating place, and it is—just as it is a tribute to each man who worked on his particular part of the base."
"Tribute" isn't the word some Roadrunners use to describe the book, and, as it happens, we ran across something that made pieces of the saucer-teen yarn seem not so groundbreaking, either. The July 1956 edition of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction contains a short story by James Blish, a fairly popular writer in his day. "Tomb Tapper" is about a strange craft that crashes in a small town in upstate New York, and that might be extraterrestrial; the people who find it can't tell whether it's Soviet or from outer space.
They break into the hull to find the pilot, dying in the cockpit. The pilot's helmet falls off. Lying before them is a blond-haired girl, maybe 8 years old.
To be sure, any similarity to the account of Jacobsen's unnamed source is coincidental, because Blish's story is fiction. It's fantasy. And as Jacobsen states on Area 51's cover: "This book is a work of nonfiction. The stories I tell in this narrative are real."


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The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) will continue with its High Visibility Enforcement (HiVE) efforts during the month of March on Oracle Road at the Magee and Suffolk intersections. OVPD hopes to increase awareness and reduce collisions related to inattention, following too close and failing to yield to other drivers. The Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) will continue to participate and support the education/enforcement efforts.
OVPD and PCSD will deploy motorcycle officers today:
May 22, from 7 to 10 a.m.
Motorists are asked to be aware of the additional enforcement activity and drive safely.


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Chris at Game by Night is dubious about whether Cataclysm can really keep Warcraft players occupied for another two years (the average time between WoW expansions up till now). Yes, there are new races and new levelling content, but once people have worked up their new alts … what then?
In many ways, the most surprising thing about Cataclysm is how little we have heard about it. It's going to be released this year, but when? Is it in beta yet? Where are the screenshots or artists impressions of the new zones? Maybe a picture of a well known zone seen from a flying mount? How about some more information about the dance studio (i.e. ability to choreograph your own dances) which was mentioned at Blizzcon?
Just for comparison, the first beta leaks from Wrath were in April '08, and the expansion was released in November of that year. If Cataclysm is aiming for a release before Q4, we should start hearing more about it very soon. The longer they delay, the more likely that the expansion won't go live until the end of the year.
Aside from that, there is a question of what exactly it really would take to keep WoW players occupied for another two years.
For raiders, I'm sure Blizzard can dole out the raid content at the same rate they have been through Wrath. For alt-fans, an old worlde revamp, new races, and 5 new zones will certainly keep people busy for awhile. Blizzard have also mentioned reworking some of the old dungeons as high level heroics – if they did that to all of them in addition to any new instances then that's a lot of instanced content also. Plus the rated battlegrounds, which I suspect will be one of the really big features in practice.
So, same old same old. More zones, more dungeons, more races, more battlegrounds. But is that enough? And if not, what exactly would be enough?
Here's the five main challenges I think the expansion will face.
- Rated Battlegrounds. How well will these take off? If this plan works, then it will throw a nice chunk of both content and challenge at raid guilds who are bored of running the same raid four times a week. Plus should be fun for the more casual guilds too. They will need to find a way for people to opt out of the ratings if they want to go run a random battleground or else the whole casual friendly, solo friendly nature of bg PvP will be lost.
- People who can't raid or don't want to raid. Wrath opened up WoW raiding to more people than ever before. Some will be hooked and raring to go on Cataclysm raids. But what about the people who decided that actually it isn't for them? It may be that some form of cross-server LFR tool will make raids a fun, casual friendly option. But as I've said before, I don't think a regular tuned 10/25 man raid would work for a cross server PUG.
- Hardcore disengagement. Hardcore raiders have worked within the new hard mode /normal mode framework for raid instances. But how much do they actually enjoy it? Do they want to sign up for another expansion of more of the same? More working their guts out to beat hardmodes, when the majority of the player base just doesn't care any more and isn't especially impressed because they are happy with their normal modes and get to see the same fights anyway. How many will decide that it's just not worth it?
- Levelling through Outland and Northrend. Now, Outland and Northrend both offer very cool and fun levelling experiences. But how are players going to feel when they leave the revamped old world and have to chug through 20 levels of unchanged content before they get to the new Azeroth zones? How many of those new alts will actually make it to endgame?
- Class Balance and Hybrid Vigor. Wrath has seen hybrids winding up with a good deal of in game privilege. They get the extra flexibility of multiple roles, at very little cost (apart from the extra time and effort to gear up). We know that Paladins and Druids (and Death Knights, natch) have all been gaining in popularity – last armoury survey showed that over 15% of all level 80s were paladins. I'd expect this effect to become even more marked as more people create new alts in Cataclysm. Druids will get vastly more popular because … worgen druids. Plus of course, a class talent revamp for all classes could unsettle everything.
The big problem of course is boredom. People who are bored of the game are not going to be enthralled by more of the same, and Blizzard has shown no signs yet that Cataclysm will include anything other than more of the same.
And really, they have to go with 'more of the same' for the players who aren't yet bored – plus they will want to increasingly save their new ideas for the unannounced MMO that is yet to come. This isn't to say that WoW is being short-changed, but that the original design might just not be welcoming to some of the new things designers want to do.
Anyway, for what it's worth, I think they will at some point figure out how to make fun cross server PUG raids. I think the rated battlegrounds will be wildly successful, more than most people are expecting.
I think that the new expansion will struggle to hold a lot of existing endgame player's attention for more than a few months. This happens anyway with any new expansion, but the drift will be faster than ever, and it won't depend on new games coming out. But remember, a lot of new or returning players will be coming back to start again with Cataclysm. They won't all be bored yet. They will enjoy the more accessible instancing and raid content. Blizzard is banking on the new wave replacing the old. Time will tell if they are right.


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ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA—President Barack Obama acknowledged deep divisions at home and abroad on Friday over his call for military action in Syria — and conceded the possibility he'll fail to sway the American public. He refused to say whether he would act without passage of congressional authorization for a strike in response to chemical weapons use.
Setting the stage for an intense week of lobbying in Washington over the strike resolution, Obama said he planned to make his case to the American people in an address Tuesday night.
"It's conceivable at the end of the day I don't persuade a majority of the American people that it's the right thing to do," Obama acknowledged. "And then each member of Congress is going to have to decide."
Obama, speaking at the end of a two-day Group of 20 economic summit, earlier held a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a chief opponent of U.S. military action. Both Obama and Putin said that while they still disagreed, the meeting was constructive.
Obama, in his post-summit news conference, seemed to be feeling the burden of the challenge he faces in persuading the American public, the international community and Congress to back military action. But he expressed confidence the American people and lawmakers, weary after long-running wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, would listen.
"I trust my constituents want me to offer my best judgment. That's why they elected me. That's why they re-elected me," he said.
He said he couldn't honestly claim there was an imminent threat to the United States from the chemical weapons use in Syria. But he argued action was essential to uphold prohibitions against the use of weapons of mass destruction.
Ten members of the Group of 20 joined the United States in a joint statement accusing the Syrian government of carrying out a chemical weapons attack on civilians last month and calling for a strong international response against the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The statement stopped short of explicitly calling for military action against Syria.
The countries signing the statement with the U.S. were Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Seeking to rally support back in Washington, the administration planned another classified briefing for all lawmakers next Monday night after Congress returns, and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough planned to attend the closed-door Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday morning, according to a congressional aide.
Although surveys showed a significant number of House Republicans and Democrats opposed to military action or leaning against it, officials in the leadership insisted it was premature to say the resolution could not be approved. At this stage, just a third of the House and Senate have participated in classified briefings and Obama is still reaching out to lawmakers.
Still, final passage rests on significant votes from House Republicans and Democrats, and the administration is struggling to reach those numbers.
Obama said he and other leaders at the summit had had a "full airing of views on the issue" during a three-hour dinner Thursday night. He said many foreign nations would be issuing statements on their positions, but he didn't say whether any specifically had joined France in supporting his move toward U.S. military strikes.
He said the leaders were unanimous in believing that chemical weapons were used in Syria and that international norms against that use must be maintained. He said division comes over how to proceed through the United Nations.
Obama also held an unannounced meeting with Russian President Putin, a staunch ally of Assad.
Putin called the discussion "substantial and constructive." Likewise, Obama said it was a "candid and constructive conversation." The U.S. president said they agreed the underlying conflict in Syria could only be resolved through a political transition. Obama also said he thinks it is important that he and Putin work together to urge all sides in the conflict to try to resolve it.
Putin said they didn't discuss the case of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who is living in Russia on temporary asylum from prosecution in the United States for leaking classified programs. Instead, he said the entire meeting focused on airing their positions on Syria.
"I don't agree with his arguments and he doesn't agree with mine, but we are listening to them and trying to analyze them," Putin said.
Russia on Friday warned the United States and its allies against striking any chemical weapon storage facilities in Syria. The Russian foreign ministry said such targeting could release toxic chemicals and give militants or terrorist access to chemical weapons.
"This is a step toward proliferation of chemical weapons not only across the Syrian territory but beyond its borders," the Russian statement said.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Russia was boosting its naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea, moving in warships into the area and stoking fears about a larger international conflict if the United States orders airstrikes.
Moreover, China remained a firm no. The European Union is skeptical about whether any military action can be effective. Even Pope Francis weighed in, urging leaders gathered here to abandon what he called a "futile mission."
Still, Obama was undeterred. He and French President Francois Hollande, the U.S.'s strongest ally on Syria and a vocal advocate for a military intervention, met on the sidelines of the summit about attracting European support for action. "It's clear that there are many countries that agree with us that international norms must be upheld," Obama said.
Said Hollande: "To do nothing would mean impunity."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said his country will not be part of military action because of opposition from Parliament. He said the international opinion is also divided.
"This summit was never going to reach agreement," he said, but added the case made by Obama and other countries "was extremely powerful."
Illustrating the risks associated with a strike, the State Department ordered nonessential U.S. diplomats to leave Lebanon, a step under consideration since last week when Obama said he was contemplating military action against the Syrian government.
Before his scheduled return to Washington late Friday, Obama also planned to meet with Russian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists, calling attention to another area of disagreement with Moscow.


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In case you were curious, I certainly was. These were the 11 posts written in 2011, that had the most page views. I was surprised that so many of them have to do with Barbados, not quite sure why I was surprised, I guess because I feel like my blog is about my garden, although now it feels more like about my life. And my life is now in Barbados, it least for the next two years. And I only like to write about personal things, not take a picture from the internet, and write a brief paragraph about it like some bloggers do. My blog has become a journal, a snapshot of what is happening in my life at this time, and that certainly includes Barbados.
I was surprised this one was the number one post of 2011. I wrote 2 posts on my trip to Trinidad, but the post about the seven amazing houses was the most popular. It was certainly one of the most interesting things for me, I am sure you all know I love old houses, look at Kilbourne Grove.
2. Gardening in a Cold Climate
My visit to the amazing garden of Brian Bixley was sparked by reading a review of his book by Kathy Purdy on her website. Luckily I was in Canada for his first open garden of the year (you all know I love bulbs), and took a million photographs. Kathy was kind enough to post a link from her blog to mine, and she became my second largest referral site in 2011. Thanks Kathy.
After gardening (and floral design) for soooo many years, it is disconcerting to live in a country where I only recognize 10% of the vegetation. It is fascinating for me (and I hope you) to discover new plants.
4. Gotta Have It: Bougainvillea
I have long loved bougs, and was super excited to find them in full flower when we moved here last December. The flowering seemed to go on and on and on. Luckily, I was given one for our terrace here, and have found it a super easy plant to grow, just wish they were hardy in Canada.
5. It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to
This post was a bit of a moan for me, sorry about that. At the time I was feeling a bit unhappy, leaving my friends, family, job, home and garden, to live in Barbados. When we moved to London, I was beyond excited, but that was LONDON, I could work, travel to Europe, and I am a bit of a city girl at heart. However, after spending most of the spring and fall in Canada, when I wanted to be there, and spending the winter in Barbados (who wouldn't), I have adjusted.
Back to point number one, I love old houses. And Barbados has 2 of the 3 Jacobean houses in the Western hemisphere. St. Nicholas Abbey was sooo gorgeous.
7. Drax Hall
Funny that the second Jacobean house in Barbados was the next most popular post. This one is not open to the public, so we were only able to see the grounds.
8. Ah, Life!
For some reason, some of you wanted to know a little bit more about me, so I gave you a lot more, more than you asked for, sorry about that, I do like to ramble. Here is the story of my thoughts about moving to Barbados.
Frank Kershaw was my garden design teacher at George Brown College and he opened his garden to the public. There was so much to see, I had to break it down into a couple of posts, but his pots were the most popular.
Barbados has its own National Trust, and during the 'season' a number of homes opened to raise money for it. This was the only home I visited in 2011, but hope to visit more this year. I was surprised more people did not read Part 2, where I talk about the garden, that is where my true love lies.
11. I'm going home
Not sure why this one was so popular, unless you were happy to see me head back to my 'forever' home. I certainly was.
There you have it, my most popular posts in 2011, what will 2012 hold…


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Green tea, white tea, black tea… what's the difference? The examination of the health benefits from tea consumption date back about 4700 years ago from emperor Shennong of China. A cup of tea has been known to heal, comfort and cross cultural barriers and has so much to offer. The benefits of drinking tea can be significant to your overall health, but we must first understand the different types of teas and the prosperity that each one has to offer.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is said to be first produced at Mr. Wu Yi Shan in Fujian Province towards the end of the Ming Dynasty about 400 years ago. Drinking Oolong tea is truly a work of art. In order to enjoy the flavor and its rich aroma, a tiny teapot and teacup are used. This presentation has been handed down one generation to the next. This type of tea contains a large quantity of polyphenol- an ingredient that generates the unique flavor and promotes good health. This tea is a great source of antioxidents, weight loss, and can provide an overall boost to your health.
Green Tea
Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis and originates from China. What sets green tea apart from the others is the way it's processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents a certain compound from being oxidized. In contrast, black and oblong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves. As a result of this process, the health benefits to you, the consumer, are significant. Recently, it has been all the rage and has become more widespread in the West. Green tea contains minerals and vitamins such as chromium, manganese, zinc, vitamin C, and certain phytochemical compounds. Studies suggest that green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, cancer, and can help lower cholesterol.
White Tea
Move over Green Tea, a new tea is in town. White Tea seems to be all the rage and is the latest and hottest new food trend in North America. Chinese tea drinkers have known since the Ming Dynasty about the benefits that White Tea can offer. White Tea is also made from the immature leaves of Camellia Sinensis, picked shortly after the buds have opened. White tea lacks the "grassy" aftertaste that Green Tea has, and offers a delightful, smooth and silky taste. White tea health benefits include: boosting your body's immune system, fighting off viruses and infections, prevention of plaque buildup and tooth decay. With it's widespread popularity, White Tea has made its presence known, and is here to stay.
Black Tea
Black Tea is a more oxidized tea than oolong, green and white teas. It is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine. Black tea is the most popular tea used in the U.S. Black tea is often blended with other plants in a variety of mixtures to produce a unique flavor. Some of these blends include: Earl Grey and Masala Chai. Health benefits include cholesterol reduction due to a theaflavin derivative found in black tea, and is high in anti-oxidents. Black tea can be enjoyed alone, as a blend, or as a boost of energy in the morning, and may give you that jolt of energy you've been looking for to get you through the day.
There are lots of reasons to enjoy a nice cup of tea. I have only given you a short introduction to the different kinds of tea and some of the amazing benefits to your health that they can offer, and hope that I've inspired you to discover the wonderful world of tea on your own. Whether it be enjoying a nice cup of white tea with a loved one, such as my husband and I recently did in the Chinese Gardens of Portland, Oregon, or an ice-cold sweet tea on a hot, summer day- tea is here to stay!


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Sunday, Jan. 26 At Aloha Stadium Honolulu
Quarterbacks — Tom Brady, Patriots; Drew Brees, Saints; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Cam Newton, Panthers; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Russell Wilson, Seahawks.
Wide Receivers — Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dez Bryant, Cowboys; Josh Gordon, Browns; A.J. Green, Bengals; Andre Johnson, Texans; Calvin Johnson, Lions; Brandon Marshall, Bears; Demaryius Thomas (Broncos).
Tackles — Branden Albert, Chiefs; Jason Peters, Eagles; Tyron Smith, Cowboys; Joe Staley, 49ers; Joe Thomas, Bronws; Trent Williams, Redskins.
Guards — Jahri Evans, Saints; Ben Grubbs, Saints; Mike Iupati, 49ers; Logan Mankins, Patriots; Louis Vasquez, Broncos; Marshal Yanda, Ravens.
Centers — Ryan Kalil, Panthers; Alex Mack, Browns; Mike Pouncey, Dolphins; Max Unger, Seahawks.
Tight Ends — Jordan Cameron, Browns; Vernon Davis, 49ers; Jimmy Graham, Saints; Julius Thomas, Broncos.
Running Backs — Jamaal Charles, Chiefs; Matt Forte, Bears; Frank Gore, 49ers; Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks; LeSean McCoy, Eagles; Adrian Peterson, Vikings.
Fullbacks — Marcel Reece, Raiders; Mike Tolbert, Panthers.
Defensive Ends — Greg Hardy, Panthers; Cameron Jordan, Saints; Robert Quinn, Rams; Cameron Wake, Dolphins; J.J. Watt, Texans; Mario Williams, Bills.
Interior Linemen — Gerald McCoy, Bucs; Haloti Ngata, Ravens; Dontari Poe, Chiefs; Justin Smith, 49ers; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Kyle Williams, Bills.
Outside Linebackers — John Abraham, Cardinals; Ahmad Brooks, 49ers; Tamba Hali, Chiefs; Justin Houston, Chiefs; Robert Mathis, Colts; Terrell Suggs, Ravens.
Inside/Middle Linebackers — NaVorro Bowman, 49ers; Vontaze Burfict, Bengals; Luke Kuechly, Panthers; Patrick Willis, 49ers.
Cornerbacks — Brandon Flowers, Chiefs; Brent Grimes, Dolphins; Joe Haden, Browns; Patrick Peterson, Cardinals; Darrelle Revis, Bucs; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Aqib Talib, Patriots; Alterraun Verner, Titans.
Free Safeties — Jairus Byrd, Bills; Earl Thomas, Seahawks; Eric Weddle, Chargers.
Strong Safeties — Eric Berry, Chiefs; Kam Chancellor, Seahawks; Troy Polamalu, Steelers.
Punters — Brandon Fields, Dolphins; Johnny Hekker, Rams.
Placekickers — Matt Prater, Broncos; Justin Tucker, Ravens.
Punt Returners — Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dexter McCluster, Chiefs.
Special Teamers — Justin Bethel, Cardinals; Matthew Slater, Patriots.


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Friday, August 6, 2010
Into the blue.
Hoorah for the weekend! Don't you just want to get your feet wet in these blue waters? Happy Friday my friends and i hope you get to soak up the sun with family and or friends this weekend. xo
39 comments :
OMG please come by and let me know WHERE this is!!!!!! .. i think THIS is where Joe and I need to go for our anniversary!ReplyDelete
*kiss kiss*
~Tiptoe Butterfly~
Man, I so need to be there asap!!! Brilliant!!! xoxoReplyDelete
Oh man I want to be there RIGHT NOW.ReplyDelete
Beautiful. I want to go back to Maui now!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 6, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Simply beautiful...take me away!ReplyDelete
Wow now that is gorgeous! I'm headed to the beach for a week but not one as pretty as that! :)ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend, honey!
- AnonymousAugust 6, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Gorgeous photos just makes you want to take a vacation to where ever that is!ReplyDelete
Nice post :)
BEAUTIFUL photos! Aw..I never get tired of vacations! Thanks for the inspiration and have a beautiful weekend! xoxoReplyDelete
DREAMY......mmm, thanks for that little getaway :) If I wasn't already hankering for some oceanside getaway, I definitely am now! Happy weekend, Stacey!ReplyDelete
oh my! Stacey, this place is out of this world! have a wonderful weekend you too! xoReplyDelete
Stunning photos! That purple sky is a dream. Have a wonderful weekend!ReplyDelete
Looks amazing. Would love to be in one of thoose pictures!ReplyDelete
Happy weekend to you as well!
Holly crap, where are those cabbanas - take me there because I need it!!ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend!!
can i teleport there now!?! Have a great weekend ~ ps, check out my new vintage store. foundbysutton.blogspot.comReplyDelete
how relaxing!!! that is what i want my weekend to look like!ReplyDelete
happy friday!
♥ allisterbee.blogspot.com
can i tell you, i'd give nearly anything to be inside one of these photographs right about now??ReplyDelete
thank GAWD it's Friday!!!
hope you have a lovely weekend. :)
- AnonymousAugust 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Dreamy! I want to be there!ReplyDelete
These images are so dreamy!! I completely want to dive into an ocean or a pool :)ReplyDelete
Have a wonderful weekend, sweetie!
i would just love to vacation to one of these luxurious locations!! happy weekend :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for your sweet comment! The third one is my favourite too!!:) Happy Saturday! xoxoxoReplyDelete
Oh my gosh, gorgeous pictures! Hope you have a delightful weekend.ReplyDelete
Mmm... I think I need a blue for this weekend..ReplyDelete
Thanks for posting such beautiful blue.
happy weekend!!
Simply beautiful!! I want to be here!!ReplyDelete
love you blog
I follow you now
i want to holiday someplace like this so bad!ReplyDelete
it goirgeous, have a fab weekend!
Tienes un blog súper chulo, me encantan las fotos que publicas y la decoración que nos muestras, y si encima sacas a mi ídolo Olivia Palermo pues ya para mi lo bordas.
Así que, ya ves, imposible evitar la tentación de hacerme seguidora tuya.
Ya me cuento entre ellas.
Un besín y disfruta de tu fin de semana.
Oh my goodness so stunning, you're making me want to go on holiday!! It's winter here in Australia!! :-)ReplyDelete
@ Aspirante a Miss Divina,ReplyDelete
Gracias por el cumplido! También, gracias por me siguiendo. Tenga un gran fin de semana chica!xoxo
oh my gosh this places are so beautiful. How i wish i can visit there one day.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 7, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog and also thanks for following me.ReplyDelete
Did you take this photos? From where are they?
Perfect summer weekend images!ReplyDelete
Those images are beautiful. I forget that there are real life paradises like that. Gorgeous.ReplyDelete
ohhhhh i want to be in these places!!!! how pretty they are!ReplyDelete
I want to be there!ReplyDelete
Love Grace.
Super sunny shots, Stacey. You've got me daydreaming... enjoying lots and lots of sweet raindrops over here. Hope your weekend is great so far. xxReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 7, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Oh, wow - how beautiful! Let's all just pack up and go!ReplyDelete
Happy and cheerful weekend, my sweet!ReplyDelete
Such inviting and seductive photos;-)
Yes and yes!! Hurry up summer! :)ReplyDelete
elles sont magnifiques ces photos, et elles font vraiment rêver.ReplyDelete
I have arrived in heaven!ReplyDelete


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Donald Trump will receive a classified intelligence briefing on Wednesday in New York, a federal official confirms.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence will conduct the briefing, making use of a secure FBI facility, NBC News reported.
Such briefings have been conducted since the 1950s for presidential candidates in the general election. But Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said last month at the Aspen Security Conference that the briefings during the campaign are "fairly general."
He hinted that they do not delve into more sensitive matters until a candidate becomes president-elect.
Trump's briefing session comes just days after he unveiled a series of foreign policy proposals that included "extreme vetting" of immigrants and only allowing those who "share our values and respect our people" into the United States.


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How does the guy responsible for comedies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Nutty Professor wind up making a documentary about the meaning of life? Well, actually, it took a bike accident. The incident left director Tom Shadyac with a concussion and something called Post Concussion Syndrome, causing the concussion symptoms to linger long after the initial accident. The symptoms were so intense that Shadyac came to the conclusion that this was it, and if his time was about to come to an end, he wanted to leave something truly meaningful and insightful behind; that's how I Am was born.
In addition to exploring Shadyac's personal journey, the film looks to tackle two rather expansive questions: what's wrong with our world and what can we do to make it better? With a film crew of just four, Shadyac set out to explore the issue by interviewing some of the brightest minds out there including South African activist Desmond Tutu, Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Institute of HeartMath, Rollin McCraty, and even his own father, the former chief executive officer of ALSAC, Richard Shadyac.
Back in 1994, thanks to Shadyac, I walked around saying things like "Loo-hoo-zuh-her" and "All righty then!" Who'd have thought he'd ever get me to reevaluate the decisions I make and the way I approach living my life? Checking out I Am for yourself is a must and so is hearing about the filmmaking process and the ideas behind the movie straight from Shadyac himself. Check out everything he had to say about the experience, where he hopes to go from here and even a little something about a pastime favorite in the video interview below.
Click here to watch the interview.


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Fatburger, known for made-to-order burgers, has announced its newest location in Beirut, Lebanon.
The owner of the newest location, Vetra Investments, is a prominent hospitality and foodservice specialist based in Dubai. It has been a driving force in Fatburger's international growth, operating eight of the fast-casual units in the UAE, with another soon to open in Abu Dhabi.
The better-burger brand has locations in more than 27 countries and continues to embrace the unique culture created more than 60 years ago in Los Angeles. To date, Fatburger has nearly half of its locations overseas, further emphasizing the brand's commitment to growing its international profile, including many untapped markets.
Along with its expansion plans in the Middle East, Fatburger has agreements for more than 300 new units, which will extend its global reach in areas such as Asia, Europe, and North Africa.
Recently, the chain opened international restaurants in Amman, Jordan, and Karachi, Pakistan.
"As a trademark American company, exploring this market in Lebanon is an exciting and strategic addition to our global expansion," says Fatburger CEO Andy Wiederhorn. "We are thrilled to work with Vetra Investments to offer international consumers this classic American meal, and look forward to continued growth throughout the Middle East."


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Mini Messenger Bag
Quilt designer: Pat Sloan
From Quilts and More, Fall 2006
- 4 -- 1/8-yard pieces coordinating prints (flap)
- 1/2 yard red print (bag, strap)
- 1/3 yard green print (bag and flap linings)
- 12x50" thin cotton batting
- 1/4 yard fusible fleece
- 7 or more 10" lengths of ribbon, yarn, rickrack, or other trim
- Assorted embellishments such as beads, charms, and antique buttons
Finished Bag: 7-1/2x8-1/4"
Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.
Cut the Fabrics
To make the best use of your fabrics, cut the pieces in the order that follows.
From each of four coordinating prints, cut:
- 2 -- 1-1/2x9" strips
From red print, cut:
- 2 -- 2x42" strips
- 2 -- 8x9-1/2" rectangles
From green print, cut:
- 1 -- 8-1/2" square
- 2 -- 8x10-1/2" rectangles
From thin cotton batting, cut:
- 1 -- 3/4x48" strip
- 1 -- 9" square
From fusible fleece, cut:
- 2 -- 8x9-1/2" rectangles
Assemble the Bag
1. Referring to Diagram 1, cover the 9" batting square with the eight coordinating print 1-1/2x9" strips, overlapping strip edges by about 3/8". Topstitch through all layers along each strip raw edge to make flap front.
2. Cover raw edges where strips overlap with 10" lengths of ribbon, yarn, rickrack, or other trim; machine-stitch in place. To couch yarn or small cording, zigzag over it with clear monofilament thread. Sew wide ribbons in place with a straight stitch along both edges or a wide zigzag stitch. Attach rickrack and other narrow trims with a straight stitch down the center. If beaded trim has a decorative header (like this purse trim's satin ribbon), you don't have to hide it in a seam; straight-stitch in place instead.
3. Hand-stitch any small beads or charms as desired, placing them at least 1" away from the flap front raw edges. (Attaching these small embellishments now ensures that most knots will be hidden inside the finished flap.)
4. Trim flap front to 8-1/2" square. With right sides together, sew the flap front and the green print 8-1/2" square on all sides, leaving an opening for turning in the center of the top edge (Diagram 2). Turn right side out and press, turning under raw edges. Topstitch 1/8" from all edges to complete the flap.
Assemble Bag Body and Lining
1. Following the manufacturer's instructions, press the fusible fleece 8x9-1/2" rectangles onto backs of the red print 8x9-1/2" rectangles; let cool. Sew together red print rectangles along both 9-1/2"-long edges (the sides) and one 8" edge (the bottom) to make the bag body (Diagram 3). Press seams open.
2. To box a bottom corner of the bag body, match the bottom seam and side seam; stitch across the resulting triangle 1" from the point (Diagram 4). Trim the seam allowance to 1/4". Repeat to box the remaining bottom corner. Turn bag body right side out.
3. Join green print rectangles along 10-1/2"-long edges (the sides) and one 8" edge (the bottom) to make the bag lining. Press seams open.
4. Repeat Step 2 to box the bottom corners of the bag lining. Do not turn bag lining right side out.
5. With wrong sides together, insert bag lining into the bag body; the lining should extend 1" above bag body. Fold lining top edge under 1/2" twice; topstitch through all layers close to folded edge of lining (Diagram 5).
6. Referring to Diagram 6, lap the top edge of the flap 1-1/2" over the top edge of the bag back; flap will extend slightly beyond bag side edges. Being careful not to catch bag front in stitching, topstitch across flap two or three times to secure.
Finish Bag
1. Cut and piece red print 2x42" strips to make 1 -- 2x49" handle strip
2. Press under 1/4" along each long edge of the red print handle strip. Insert the batting 3/4x48" strip under one fold; batting strip should end 1/2" from handle strip ends. Fold the handle strip in half along the batting edge and topstitch 1/8" from folded edges to make the handle (Diagram 7).
3. Turn under handle ends 1/2". Referring to Diagram 8, position ends along flap top edge, 3/4" from flap sides. Topstitch in place, being careful not to catch bag front in stitching.
4. Hand-stitch buttons and larger charms to flap, stacking two or more buttons if desired.


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Here, by way of an update, is the terrible story of the last week, along with some background…..
A couple of months ago, due to a minor administrative mistake, Rhonda and Audrey's resident visa applications were rejected as invalid, despite our repeated attempts to clarify what the problem was.
A great many wonderful people generously donated money to help us meet the extortionate costs of making the application, for which we are eternally grateful and most of that fee was refunded when the application was turned down.
We have since been communicating with the UKBA and the Home Office via our MP, who offered to help and who had requested that they review our case for an appeal. He told us last weekend that a letter had been written to us on Friday and would arrive this week.
The letter arrived on Wednesday: "right of appeal denied".
It informed us in no uncertain terms, that they would not consider our case for appeal, as we had failed to register our biometrics on time, (due to them neglecting to point out that we could have done so at any time, on the MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I spoke to them about our identity documents) but we could reapply whenever we liked.
They also pointed out that any new application would likely be turned down, as my wife and daughter have overstayed their visa deadline (whilst waiting for the Home Office to get back to us) and were now considered illegal immigrants.
AND, this Monday, Rhonda's boss, who knew her visa expired in April and had still happily been employing her since, (while she continued to make all her tax and NI contributions, I might add) announced that he could no longer have her working there and told her to leave until our appeal reference number arrived.
All of this, just two days before our right to appeal was denied.
This effectively cuts our family income in half overnight.
So yesterday we spoke to a lawyer, who didn't bother to sugar coat the bad news.
To drive the point home that we really are in rather deep shit, he led with this terrifying announcement;
*The UKBA could turn up any time and take my family away to a transit centre, prior to deportation*
Now he had my attention, in fact I think my heart briefly stopped.
Our only options are as follows:
1) They return to the States immediately to a life of destitution and poverty, with the tenuous possibility that I could join them at some distant point in the future somehow.
2) We pay the solicitors £1500 to put our case to the highest appeal court in the land as a judicial review, admit our stupid admin error and plead family life, human rights, etc, which would also mean paying the newly inflated fees, about another £3500, when the application is submitted by the solicitors, hopefully sometime next week.
Even then, the visa would only be granted on a discretionary basis and there is as good a chance as any that they will reject it.
If you have to leave the country as the result of a "rejected" (as opposed to "invalid") visa application, there is no refund and no return to the UK for ten years.
Fortunately, it's payday, so we paid the lawyers my last month's wages this morning and have a phone consultation booked for Monday at 11.00.
Assuming we don't get a knock on the door before that.
Any crossed fingers, tribal offerings, lucky rabbit's feet, or general good vibes would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.


text:
Newly released research has uncovered several hundred command-and-control servers across more than 40 countries powering controversial spyware sold to governments and law enforcement.
In addition, researchers found that the legal malware of Italian company HackingTeam is capable of spying on, and stealing data from, users of Android and Apple iOS devices. While suspected, such capabilities had not been proven previously.
[The process and tools behind a true APT campaign: Command & Control]
Research teams from anti-virus vendor Kaspersky Lab and Citizen Lab, based at the Munk Centre for International Studies in the University of Toronto, presented their findings Tuesday at an event in London. The teams had collaborated on the research.
The researchers identified a total of 326 C&C servers, with the largest number in the U.S., Kazakhstan and Ecuador. Who was behind the servers and whether they were being used in the countries where they were located was not known.
"Unfortunately, we can't be sure that the servers in a certain country are used by that specific country's LEAs (law enforcement agencies)," Kaspersky experts said on the company's Securelist blog. "However, it would make sense for LEAs to put their C&Cs in their own countries in order to avoid cross-border legal problems and the seizure of servers."
The newly discovered mobile version of HackingTeam's Remote Control System (RCS) malware was capable of infecting Android phones and jailbroken Apple iPhones.
To infect pristine iPhones, a personal computer would first have to be infected with malware that would first run a jailbreaking tool, such as Evasi0n, when the phone is synchronized with the PC. Malware would be planted after the phone is jailbroken.
The mobile malware, versions of which had already been discovered for Windows Mobile and BlackBerry, is capable of recording voice from phone calls and the microphone. It can also take pictures, copy the address book and calendar and capture email and messages sent via Skype, WhatsApp and Viber.
The Android version could also hijack Facebook, Google Talk and Tencent applications. The latter is a Chinese Internet company that provides social networks and other services.
HackingTeam's malware has been used by governments to gather information and to spy on criminals, political activists and journalists.
HackingTeam says on its website that the RCS toolkit is targeted at "law enforcement and intelligence communities." However, there is nothing preventing cybercriminals from finding a way to get a hold of the malware and targeting companies.
"This malware can be repurposed and used against the 'good guys,'" Sergey Golovanov, principal security researcher for Kaspersky Lab, said.
Companies are advised to scan PCs and Macs with anti-virus products capable of finding RCS malware. If the malware is found, then companies should also check mobile devices, which could have been infected when connected to one of the compromised systems.
[Google clarifies commercial spyware ban for Play store]
"Unfortunately there is no way to guarantee 100 percent detection of malware in iOS, Blackberry or Windows Mobile phones," Golovanov said.
Therefore, companies should watch for other indicators that malware is running, such as unusually low battery life and high network traffic.


text: Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its entire consumer credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group (TSX and NYSE: TD) for an amount equal to the gross value of the outstanding receivables (\par.) at the time of closing. Targetfs portfolio currently has a gross value of approximately $5.9 billion. In addition, the two companies entered into a seven-year program agreement under which TD will underwrite, fund and own future Target Credit Card and Target Visa receivables in the United States. Under the program agreement, TD will control risk management policies and regulatory compliance and Target will continue to perform account servicing functions. This transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2013. "Target is very pleased to have reached this agreement with TD which is the result of extensive efforts by teams at both companies," said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. "This transaction achieves all of Targetfs strategic and financial goals for a portfolio sale. We look forward to working with this premier global financial institution to continue Targetfs long history of innovation in our guest-focused financial services strategy. " "Our agreement with Target will significantly expand our presence in the North American credit card business and will establish TD as a key player in this space," said Ed Clark, Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group. "We're excited to be working with Targetfs strong team and leading retail brand. This asset acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy, fits our risk profile and is a great complement to our high-growth credit card business." Under the seven-year program agreement, which applies to Targetfs U.S. credit card operations, Target will maintain the current deep integration between its financial services operations and its retail operations. The agreement does not have any impact on Targetfs 5% REDcard Rewards program. Target team members will continue to provide all servicing for Target Credit Card and Target Visa accounts. The portfolio sale and program agreement are designed to have minimal impact on Target's current cardholders, guests and the Target team members who support financial products and services. Transaction Structure, Accounting and Earnings Impacts Target expects its third quarter 2012 GAAP earnings per share will reflect a pre-tax gain of approximately $150 million due to a change in the accounting treatment of its receivables from \held for investment. to \held for sale.. In addition, at closing Target expects to recognize an additional pre-tax gain of $350 to $450 million on the sale of its portfolio. Target has posted details on the accounting aspects of this transaction on its investor relations website: www.Target.com/investors. Target expects to deploy proceeds from the sale in a manner that will preserve its strong investment-grade credit ratings. Specifically, the company expects to apply approximately 90 percent of net transaction proceeds to reduce the companyfs net debt position, with the remainder applied to share repurchase over time. Under the terms of the program agreement, Target will continue to earn a substantial portion of the profits generated by the Target Credit Card and Target Visa portfolios. Targetfs income from the profit-sharing arrangement, net of account servicing expenses, will be recognized within SG&A expenses in its U.S. Retail Segment. Beginning with the fiscal quarter in which the transaction closes, Target will no longer report its U.S. Credit Card Segment. Target expects that net income from this profit-sharing arrangement, combined with the benefit of debt reduction and share repurchase resulting from deployment of proceeds from the sale, will result in mild dilution to Targetfs adjusted earnings per share in the first 12 months following closing*. Specifically, Target expects that in the 12 months following closing its adjusted earnings per share will be approximately 10 cents lower compared with a scenario in which Target continued to fund its portfolio. Based on its forecast for income from profit sharing combined with the expected benefit from share repurchase and interest savings, Target expects that the adjusted EPS impact of this transaction will be neutral over time. *Target calculates adjusted earnings per share to measure the results from operations in its U.S. businesses. Accordingly, adjusted earnings per share excludes the impact of Targetfs Canadian Segment and other non-segment expenses related to its Canadian market entry. Miscellaneous Statements in this release related to the closing of the transaction and timing thereof, the deployment of proceeds and the transactionfs expected impact on earnings performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements speak only as of the date they are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties include: (i) the risk that the transaction may not close or may not close on the expected timeline; (ii) the risk that cardholders will pay down their existing balances faster than anticipated; and (iii) the risks described in Item 1A of the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 and Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 28, 2012. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,781 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Targetfs commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom.


text:
I am writing a bash script to analyze the mail logs on our network, which is mostly postfix boxes, but would like to include MS Exchange logs in the analysis if possible.
Is there any way to copy a file off of a windows machine remotely from the command line in linux? (note: I have admin priv's on the windows box)


text:
DOHA (AFP) - Top-seeded David Ferrer was sensationally denied a place in the final of the Qatar Open on Friday by forgotten man Nikolay Davydenko.
The 31-year-old Russian, without a win over a top 10 player in 15 attempts, and without an appearance in a final for 21 months, clinched a stunning 6-2, 6-3 win over one of the tour's most tenacious players.
Davydenko beat the Spaniard with a bullying brilliance which reminded people a little of the successive victories he produced over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when he capture the title in Doha three years ago.
Since then Davydenko has been hit by injuries, loss of form, and even loss of direction, sinking to an eight-year low of world number 50 last year. He is still outside the top 40.
Now he showed how keen he is make good his ambition for one last bid to regain a top 20 place, smacking the ball hard and flat, striking it early, and taking cleverly judged risks in coming to the net.
Ferrer is almost certain to overtake Nadal as world number four after the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam, which begins in little more than a week's time in Melbourne.
He is also coming from the best year of his career, in which he won more titles, seven, and more matches, 76, than any other player. But now he was knocked from side to side by a player reborn.
"I didn't have a chance against that," said Ferrer. "He was just better than me in every way. He served better, he hit the ball better, and he played really well.
"Although it was the first tournament of the season, that was no excuse.
Every tournament on the ATP World Tour is important, and I have to improve." He will try to do that by flying straight to Auckland to play another Aussie Open warm-up event.
Davydenko, who will face Richard Gasquet in Saturday's final and who has neither dropped a set nor lost a service game all week, showed early signs that he was going to deliver a very special performance.
Ferrer hung on to his opening service game, but then was allowed only one of the next 16 points, without ever really playing badly.
He managed to fight his way back from 0-40 to rescue his service game for 2-3, but it did little to stem the flood. Davydenko broke again for 5-2, closed out the set quickly, and continued to look dangerous in the second set.
Sure enough from 3-3 onwards the Ukraine-born Muscovite hit another hot streak with his battering ground strokes and bold forward moves.
He took 14 of the next 16 points, eyes bulging, feet flying and racket flashing, leaving the impression that he had made himself the unofficial favourite for the title.
"I have waited a long time for when I would reach a final again," said Davydenko, clearly greatly relishing his tremendous form. "This a very good result for me, but I must go step by step.
"I still have to get fitter, that is the key. If I do, then I don't lose concentration, and if I can do that I can control everything and the tennis seems easy.
"I can play faster and then I feel I can beat anyone. And that will be the key in the final." That will be against the second-seeded Gasquet, the world number 10 from France who overcame Daniel Brands, the German giant-killer, 7-5, 7-5.
Though a qualifier ranked outside the top 150, Brands had won six matches, despatched two seeds, and indicated, with his unusual inside-out forehand and net-attacking game that he is making a career-changing surge into the ATP World Tour on a regular basis for the first time.
But Gasquet blunted the Brands weapons, sometimes playing a little further up the court, denying time and reducing angles.
Allied to solid serving and a high ratio of winners to losers (32-13), he had many reasons to celebrate victory with a leap and a yell.
"I practised a lot because I knew I was coming to Doha and I wanted to do well here. It's a big win for me," said Gasquet. "Saving the break points (early on) was important. I was mentally tough.
"I am feeling confident about my game and feel I can do well again. Now I want to win the tournament."


text:
Jets return from bye looking to string together Ws
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Rex Ryan welcomed his players back to work after the bye-week break, and immediately sensed something different around the New York Jets' facility.
There was overwhelming enthusiasm throughout the halls and meeting rooms. And that had been missing in previous years when the team returned to work.
"I don't know if I really felt that coming back in, that energy or as Brian Billick would say, that synergy," Ryan said Monday. "Just that kind of, 'Wow. We're excited to be back here.'"
At 5-4, Ryan's Jets have been one of the NFL's biggest first-half surprises, shaking off outside projections for a dismal season. They're still holding a playoff spot in the AFC, but know they have plenty of work to do to stay there.
For one, they have alternated wins and losses all season, tying an NFL record through nine games, and are looking for their first winning streak. But Ryan insisted his team is looking only at trying to beat the Bills (3-7) at Buffalo on Sunday.
"Nobody's thinking about, 'Hey, let's run seven in a row off,'" Ryan said. "Yeah, I'll sign up for it. The only way to get there is to handle your business, and that's what we have to do."
Ryan even visited his brother Rob, the Saints' defensive coordinator, in New Orleans to catch up and "get some intel on Buffalo" since the Saints beat the Bills two weeks ago.
New York faces just one opponent with a winning record the rest of the way - Carolina (6-3) in Week 15 - although Miami (4-4) was playing Tampa Bay on Monday night. Buffalo, Baltimore (4-5), Oakland (3-6) and Cleveland (4-5) are all sub-.500.
"To place ourselves for the playoffs, (we have to) take it one game at a time, but that's our goal, make the playoffs and go from there," tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. said. "I don't see why we can't win them all, though."
That's the confidence that a promising start has bred for the Jets, a team some said would be lucky to win four games all season.
"Winning definitely helps," rookie quarterback Geno Smith said. "I think we have a great opportunity in front of us and that's where the excitement lies because we know that as a team, our best football is ahead of us."
But in order to reach that point, the Jets have a handful of things to take care of in order to keep those playoff hopes well into late-December:
- Good Geno. Just as the team has gone, Smith has been up and down from game to game with eight touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. That inconsistency needs to change, but the Jets are doing all they can to not put too much pressure on the rookie.
"Understand that you're one of 11 and you don't need to do it all by yourself," Ryan said of Smith. "With that being said, he's got tools where he can make a difference in a positive way."
- Getting Healthy. The Jets' wide receivers and tight ends have been the walking wounded this season, with Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley, Jeff Cumberland and Clyde Gates all missing time with injuries.
Holmes, who has missed five games with a hamstring injury, could return this week.
"I think he'll play," Ryan said. "He looks good. I certainly hope so."
The Jets are getting Winslow back, which should be a big help, after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
- Running The Ball. Despite offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's love for throwing the ball, he has shown he is willing to adapt and that has made this year's Jets similar to the team's 2009-10 "Ground-and-Pound" offense.
Chris Ivory has put hamstring issues behind him and been the hard-running presence the Jets expected when they traded for him in April. He has run for 254 yards in his past three games, teaming with Bilal Powell to form the NFL's ninth-best running attack. That will be huge as the weather turns cooler - and will help Smith from trying to do too much with his arm.
- Better Pass Defense. Once the strength of the team, the Jets' secondary has been suspect while ranking 23rd in the league against the pass.
Antonio Cromartie, who replaced Darrelle Revis as New York's No. 1 cornerback, has been shaky at times. Top draft pick Dee Milliner has also had a rough start to his career, dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness. But, the good news is this: The Jets don't face a top passing offense the rest of the season. The best is Baltimore, which is 14th.
"We have been inconsistent and we've shown flashes of being a good team, but we've also had moments where we haven't looked so good," Smith said. "We know that as long as we clean up our mistakes and we handle the things that we can control, we'll have an opportunity.
"It's right here in front of us."
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org


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text:
Bay Bridge ospreys' nest removed; birds rebuild
The Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS – A pair of ospreys whose nest had been removed by state transportation workers because it was blocking a traffic camera rebuilt the nest, only to have it removed again.
The back-and-forth between the migratory birds and the Maryland Transportation Authority began Friday when the state agency tried to move the nest on a pole that holds a traffic camera on the Bay Bridge.
Agency spokesman John Sales said officials got permission to move the nest from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The nest did not contain eggs or young birds.
The transportation agency said workers tried to move the nest, but it fell apart.
Sales told WTOP that on Monday, workers found that the birds had built a new nest on the same spot. Workers again removed it.