Sameer N. Yacoub:
"Saudi Arabia is taking a major step toward thawing diplomatic relations with Iraq by posting an ambassador to Baghdad for the first time in more than two decades, Iraq's foreign minister said Tuesday.
Hoshyar Zebari said that the Saudi envoy to Jordan, Fahad Abdul Muhsin al-Zayd, will also act as a non-resident ambassador to Iraq. He will arrive in Baghdad soon to submit his credentials from Riyadh.
"We welcome this development which represents a good restart and a step to normalize the relations between the two countries," Zebari told The Associated Press.
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry confirmed the appointment in a statement.
Relations between the Saudis' powerful Sunni kingdom and the Shiite-led government in Iraq have been frosty for years. Riyadh and other Gulf states cut diplomatic ties with Baghdad after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 21, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Richard Cohen "The plight of Hamza Kashgari"
Richard Cohen:
"Keep your eye on Hamza Kashgari. He’s the 23-year-old former columnist for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Bilad newspaper who had the extremely bad judgment to tweet an imaginary conversation he was having with the Prophet Muhammad. In almost no time, he was running for his life, hopping a plane in Jeddah and hoping to reach New Zealand. In Malaysia, where he apparently had to change planes, he was held incommunicado until a private plane arrived from Saudi Arabia. He’s now back home, in jail and possibly facing a death sentence...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Keep your eye on Hamza Kashgari. He’s the 23-year-old former columnist for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Bilad newspaper who had the extremely bad judgment to tweet an imaginary conversation he was having with the Prophet Muhammad. In almost no time, he was running for his life, hopping a plane in Jeddah and hoping to reach New Zealand. In Malaysia, where he apparently had to change planes, he was held incommunicado until a private plane arrived from Saudi Arabia. He’s now back home, in jail and possibly facing a death sentence...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Iran will go nuclear without U.S. strength and leadership"
James Kellogg:
"...Short of a military strike, what can the U.S. do about Iran? We could start by assisting the rebels in Syria. With Bashar Assad in power, that nation is a key regional ally for Iran. That's why Iranian forces are aiding Syrian troops in their campaign against rebel forces. Overthrowing Assad and promoting a new opposition government would intensify Iran's isolation and demonstrate that America will not tolerate rogue regimes.
But it's not likely the Obama administration will act decisively with regard to Syria. Earlier this month, Russia and China opposed U.N. initiatives to remove Assad. Aiding the rebels would probably provoke a response from Russia.
It's like a standoff before a gunfight in the old American West. Russia and China are waiting to see if the United States will draw. So far, our government is backing down from a confrontation.
Out of answers, the Obama administration is assembling a group of “like-minded” nations led by Arab governments to coordinate a strategy against Assad. We're not even leading this wishy-washy endeavor. Iran's nuclear ambitions will remain unchecked.
This is a time in history when American strength is imperative. Military might, and the willingness to use it if necessary, is the only deterrent to rogue nations and their allies. The ancient Romans used to say, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Once Iran goes nuclear, there will likely be no peace..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"...Short of a military strike, what can the U.S. do about Iran? We could start by assisting the rebels in Syria. With Bashar Assad in power, that nation is a key regional ally for Iran. That's why Iranian forces are aiding Syrian troops in their campaign against rebel forces. Overthrowing Assad and promoting a new opposition government would intensify Iran's isolation and demonstrate that America will not tolerate rogue regimes.
But it's not likely the Obama administration will act decisively with regard to Syria. Earlier this month, Russia and China opposed U.N. initiatives to remove Assad. Aiding the rebels would probably provoke a response from Russia.
It's like a standoff before a gunfight in the old American West. Russia and China are waiting to see if the United States will draw. So far, our government is backing down from a confrontation.
Out of answers, the Obama administration is assembling a group of “like-minded” nations led by Arab governments to coordinate a strategy against Assad. We're not even leading this wishy-washy endeavor. Iran's nuclear ambitions will remain unchecked.
This is a time in history when American strength is imperative. Military might, and the willingness to use it if necessary, is the only deterrent to rogue nations and their allies. The ancient Romans used to say, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Once Iran goes nuclear, there will likely be no peace..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "New bridge could swing to the west"
By golly!
And they didn't have to 'wipe out and eliminate The Italian Underground or Sacred Grounds!!!!!
They didn't even have to call up God and ask Him to move the Colorado River!!!!
Isn't it great? All that huffin and puffin by the citizens with financial interests in Downtown Glenwood Springs and now they find out that they don't have to shutter the windows and leave town because the commons are finally getting a new bridge to handle the daily slog commute up valley.
A shout out of thanks goes to these very smart CDOT guys and their team of engineers. You're awesome!
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
And they didn't have to 'wipe out and eliminate The Italian Underground or Sacred Grounds!!!!!
They didn't even have to call up God and ask Him to move the Colorado River!!!!
Isn't it great? All that huffin and puffin by the citizens with financial interests in Downtown Glenwood Springs and now they find out that they don't have to shutter the windows and leave town because the commons are finally getting a new bridge to handle the daily slog commute up valley.
A shout out of thanks goes to these very smart CDOT guys and their team of engineers. You're awesome!
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Adventure Park expansion plan goes before Garfield County commissioners today"
(Update to this story on February 22, 2012:
"The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports this morning that the request by Steve Beckley and his Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park received unanimous approval from the Garfield County Commissioners yesterday.............
"The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports this morning that the request by Steve Beckley and his Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park received unanimous approval from the Garfield County Commissioners yesterday.............
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Denver Post "A Colorado Hot Springs soak is so much sweeter in private"
Douglas Brown:
"Hot springs? Yes, you swim laps at Glenwood Hot Springs every fall, and barrel down the long slide at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Nathrop at least once a year.
You soak in nature at Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, and one time, long ago, you waded au naturel at Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway.
When it comes to Colorado hot springs, you get it. You've done it.
Yes?
No, soaker.
Every time you hit the springs, you swim with strangers: kids doing cannonballs into the swimming pools, bleary-eyed partiers slowly melting into the water, couples pinned together in a corner. You close your eyes, you toil to just sink into yourself, but then a Nerf ball bonks you in the head...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Hot springs? Yes, you swim laps at Glenwood Hot Springs every fall, and barrel down the long slide at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Nathrop at least once a year.
You soak in nature at Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs, and one time, long ago, you waded au naturel at Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway.
When it comes to Colorado hot springs, you get it. You've done it.
Yes?
No, soaker.
Every time you hit the springs, you swim with strangers: kids doing cannonballs into the swimming pools, bleary-eyed partiers slowly melting into the water, couples pinned together in a corner. You close your eyes, you toil to just sink into yourself, but then a Nerf ball bonks you in the head...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Motivation Truth "Governor Palin: Iron Dog!"
Now this, is very, very cool.
Click on the title and hit the links that allow you to GPS track and watch real time standings of the Iditarod.
Thank you, Sarah Palin! Good luck to Todd...too bad he's going to lose to Oak Creek, Colorado's Tom Thurston!
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Click on the title and hit the links that allow you to GPS track and watch real time standings of the Iditarod.
Thank you, Sarah Palin! Good luck to Todd...too bad he's going to lose to Oak Creek, Colorado's Tom Thurston!
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Brent Boyer: Eliminating online anonymity"
Another print publication makes the serious business error of censoring public comments.
They would be far better off in the financial long run to simple stop comment ability. Human instinct naturally distrusts any 'news' publication that censors and bans content.
When the problem is as simple as ending the laziness of the staff, by enforcing their moderating of comments. one really has to wonder how badly a publication like Steamboat Today wants loyal readership.
A number of great examples of a few of the reasons why most people prefer commenting anonymously can be found in the long thread this article inspired over on the Boat today.
Such as the guy who now boldly announces his name while obviously trying to intimidate a woman who says she will no longer post, by pointing out to her that he knows what city her mother and family live in and asking how they are doing.
Now that, is creepy content that no moderator would have allowed.
It's even more so since that kind of behavior and bullying is now apparently endorsed by Steamboat Today.
All because they are simply too lazy to place moderation on their forum.
Sort of makes you stop and think before trusting the quality of the 'uncensored, accurate reporting that meets the level of journalistic integrity', doesn't it?
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
They would be far better off in the financial long run to simple stop comment ability. Human instinct naturally distrusts any 'news' publication that censors and bans content.
When the problem is as simple as ending the laziness of the staff, by enforcing their moderating of comments. one really has to wonder how badly a publication like Steamboat Today wants loyal readership.
A number of great examples of a few of the reasons why most people prefer commenting anonymously can be found in the long thread this article inspired over on the Boat today.
Such as the guy who now boldly announces his name while obviously trying to intimidate a woman who says she will no longer post, by pointing out to her that he knows what city her mother and family live in and asking how they are doing.
Now that, is creepy content that no moderator would have allowed.
It's even more so since that kind of behavior and bullying is now apparently endorsed by Steamboat Today.
All because they are simply too lazy to place moderation on their forum.
Sort of makes you stop and think before trusting the quality of the 'uncensored, accurate reporting that meets the level of journalistic integrity', doesn't it?
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Jimmy Westlake Time to take up the slack"
Jimmy Westlake:
"Have you ever wondered why February has only 28 days most years but occasionally has 29 days, as it does this year? This whole leap year thing started back in the days of the Roman Empire under the reign of Julius Caesar. Even that long ago, astronomers realized that there weren’t a whole number of days in a year.
The Earth rotates 365 and one-quarter times in a year. Because it wouldn’t make any sense to have the last day of the year be only six hours long, Julius Caesar decreed in 44 B.C. that we would let the quarter-days days accumulate and then add in one whole day — a leap day — every fourth year. This would take up the slack between our calendar and Earth’s actual orbit around the sun. This calendar reform by Caesar assumed that the year was exactly 365.25 days long, but it isn’t. It’s really 365.2422 days long, about 11 minutes and 14 seconds shorter than Caesar assumed. So, using Caesar’s method, we were adding in too many leap days throughout the years. By the 1500s, all those 11 minutes and 14 seconds had added up to a full 10 days on the calendar, causing the vernal equinox, or first day of spring, to shift from March 21 to March 11.
If that error continued, we’d eventually be celebrating the first day of spring in December..."
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Have you ever wondered why February has only 28 days most years but occasionally has 29 days, as it does this year? This whole leap year thing started back in the days of the Roman Empire under the reign of Julius Caesar. Even that long ago, astronomers realized that there weren’t a whole number of days in a year.
The Earth rotates 365 and one-quarter times in a year. Because it wouldn’t make any sense to have the last day of the year be only six hours long, Julius Caesar decreed in 44 B.C. that we would let the quarter-days days accumulate and then add in one whole day — a leap day — every fourth year. This would take up the slack between our calendar and Earth’s actual orbit around the sun. This calendar reform by Caesar assumed that the year was exactly 365.25 days long, but it isn’t. It’s really 365.2422 days long, about 11 minutes and 14 seconds shorter than Caesar assumed. So, using Caesar’s method, we were adding in too many leap days throughout the years. By the 1500s, all those 11 minutes and 14 seconds had added up to a full 10 days on the calendar, causing the vernal equinox, or first day of spring, to shift from March 21 to March 11.
If that error continued, we’d eventually be celebrating the first day of spring in December..."
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)