Hear’s the GREAT NEWS……it will be over soon. Don’t forget, if you are still packing, please take this with you
{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing Prayers for CarolMaeWY}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}.
Thank you Cindy. I’ll pack it in my purse. The frown is because my appt got changed until tomorrow. But saw another doctor to to get a refill. So it was productive day.
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I never had a chance to see all of this when I use to travel there every month for business; back in the day when I was “Wall Street Corporate America.” I was always in the hotels and meetings. This is stunning.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures of my long ago hometown.
Whenever I visit, I think…..Why have I been away so long! Last time I visited was with my sister and we went for a wonderful weekend of museums, opera, symphony and food!
Just one quick experience. I was walking State past Marshall Field’s (it still was) and a tall young man almost bumped into me gawking at the buildings. I laughed and asked if I could help him. He just said “I’ve never seen anything like this place.” We had a fun conversation. He was from a rural area in the Midwest on his first visit to a BIG city. I became the Chicago guide and booster and welcomed him to the town, and pointed out some things to him, told him how to get where he was going, and enjoyed pretending I was a Chicagoan for a few minutes.
One thing I like about Chicago is just about anyone will talk with you if you’re halfway friendly. I’ve had great conversations with doormen, cabbies, store clerks, waiters, concierges, museum guards….
My kind of town….Chicago is.
Carolyn, I totally agree with you on this. I’ve worked in New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC and, by far, the friendliest city was Chicago. I’d rate Chicago #1, NYC #2 and DC #3 on the friendly scale.
Just astounding——-this move by religious nutballs to remove science from our schools, to shift tax money to private schools, most of them religious, where creationism is taught, evolution theory is evil, basic established science facts are lies etc. Creepy and frightening, contributing to the further dumbing down of this country. The U.S. keeps slipping further down the education comparison charts with other countries as this religious wave flexes its muscle and more and more of these extremists are in power positions in state governments. Get religion away from the public sphere. It holds people back, it keeps them in the dark, it damages the future prospects for this country.
Taxpayers in 14 states will fund Christian education that teaches students that all of modern science is a lie. http://t.co/g8M1F8ZTm6
I live in a liberal blue state which for years suffered from failing schools and a rotten education system. Creationists had nothing to do with it. The dumbing down has been a group effort. What’s happening in these places to me is neither creepy or frightening. They have been at this game for a long time and apathy or agreement by the general population put them exactly where they are now.
A friend of mine is choosing right now between two plans. One is $22 per month for she and her husband and the other is $58. These are cost-sharing silver plans with excellent benefits. One has a larger in-network provider list. As you can imagine she is beside herself especially since she has been without health insurance for four years.
Thanks, Nerdy, for including a 6 minute report from the Dutch television into the “Rise and Shine”.
I am sure almost no-one here could understand the Dutch commentary (devoid of English subtitles), but it was mostly about the two helicopters, the details of “the Beast”, i.e., the ones that are given out, and who the President would meet in the Rijksmuseum (shown in the background): The mayor of Amsterdam, the curator of the Rijksmuseum and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Toon Moene, I’ve always been hopelessly confused about why some people call it Netherlands and others Holland. Your football banners say ‘Hup Holland!’, but Netherlands seems to be the correct name. Help!
Let Toon Moene tell us if this is correct….my husband has been there and loved the country…that was back when he worked for Phillips Medical…part of me wishes he still worked for them:)
“Two of the twelve provinces in The Netherlands have the name Holland, specifically North Holland and South Holland (see also a map of The Netherlands here). The major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague) are located in these two provinces.”
Ah, so it’s naughtiness from the big city folk, calling the Netherlands ‘Holland’?!
Nooo – it’s the other way around. Holland (Amsterdam) was the mayor power in the overseas endeavor (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company); Zeeland (Middelburg) was the next largest, but significantly smaller (at approximated 1/3rd of the input money).
So the reason you hear “Holland” quoted as the name of the country is because it was the most prosperous part of it (like “pars pro toto”, if your Latin is any good).
Note that North- and South-Holland is a later invention; in the 1600s there was only one province of Holland.
Thank you, Toon. That’s the clearest explanation I’ve ever heard. So whether you consider yourself from Holland or the Netherlands, are you still Dutch? I grew up in an area of New York that was settled by Dutch patroons in the 1600s. They were granted enormous tracts of land by their king, created vast plantations and built the first so-called Dutch Reformed Churches in the New World, one of which is still functioning after all these centuries. George Washington courted and almost married the daughter of one of the descendents of the patroons.
Do you realize that the puritans from the British Isles often came by way of the Netherlands – that’s religious freedom for you:
“Puritans were blocked from changing the established church from within, and severely restricted in England by laws controlling the practice of religion. Their views, however, were transported by the emigration of congregations to the Netherlands (and later New England),”
Thanks for the historical background, Toon. I did not know about the Netherlands connection to the Pilgrims and I’m sorry I was mistaken about the Netherlands having a King. However a lot of very rich Dutch men (we called them patroons) were given big tracts of land to develop in the Dutch colony in the New Amsterdam area. The Dutch Reformed Church is actually still active in the town I grew up in and the oldest physical church there was built in the era of the patroons. Of course, the British overcame the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and then pretty much changed the landscape in New York, which is why the Dutch influence became muted.
Thanks, this is very interesting information (but – as I showed, it could never have been instigated by a “King”).
Nevertheless, obviously, “New Amsterdam” being the only settlement of the Dutch in North America, a lot of money went there …
It is also true that some remnants of the “original” (yes, I quoted this, because it is questionable how original it is) Dutch Reformed Church is active in these areas. I would be really surprised if they still have (moneyed) power behind them.
Is the NSS a subset of the G-7 (which was G-8 until Putin invaded Crimea)?
I’ve seen reports that Russia was invited to join in the G-8 late in the 1990s (I think this is right, but please correct me if I’m wrong) after the end of USSR and because they seemed to be on their best behavior then (absorbing the blow of so much of their territory no longer under their control).
Detained billionaire may reveal Vladimir Putin’s gas cash secrets
“A detained billionaire who made a fortune as a middleman in Russia’s murky gas trade with Ukraine may hold the key for US lawmakers seeking harsher sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
Ukrainian Dmitry Firtash, arrested in Vienna this month on an American warrant for bribery and other charges, may hand over a treasure trove of information about deals involving Russian state gas exporter OAO Gazprom that the US would consider corrupt, said Mikhail Korchemkin, a former analyst for the Soviet Union’s Gas Ministry in Moscow and founder of Malvern, Pennsylvania-based East European Gas Analysis.
After Putin seized Ukraine’s southern Crimea region, a US Senate panel approved a bill on emergency funding for the country that would widen the scope of sanctions to include any Russian involved in “significant” corruption.
Key man: Dmitry Firtash.
Key man: Dmitry Firtash. Photo: Reuters
“This law would enable the US to go after any member of Putin’s entourage,” Masha Lipman, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said by phone. “The point is to deepen the fractures within the Russian elite. The idea is to weaken Putin so he can be contained.””
But what is Firtash’s incentive for spilling the beans? If he ever went back to Russia, Putin would destroy him. So the US and EU hold a jail sentence over him? Could they follow through on this?
He’s going to be prosecuted, Jackie, most likely even if he deals. The FBI has been after him for years. His assets, to the extent that they are not being frozen, are mostly outside of Russia. He has no incentive to return to Russia, ever!
Bob, just wanted to say thank you for the tweets you sent me about the fall of tourism in the Crimea. It will continue to be one of the downsides for the people living there who eventually will start wondering why they placed any trust in Putin.
BTW, hasn’t Putin, by sanctioning the idea of one part of a copuntry voting to separate itself from the country and become part of another, or indpendent, basically said that different parts of Russia could do the same thing as well?
He opened a giant Pandora’s box on that very issue, John. Think Chechnya, for starters. And, what’s to keep the enormous numbers of Chinese living in eastern Russia voting to join China ….. hmmmmm …..
I went there, GGail, exactly when that link was posted, nothing, nothing, nothing, certainly no live stream, but one or two still of PBO with the king and queen.
Howdy all you O’s!!! What a great getting up day in TODville again!!!!!
So the good news is……it’s so cold outside that I can literally freeze food.
The bad news is……my little over 2 year old fridge is on the blink and the promised repair visit for today has yet to occur
The King, Prime Minister Rutte are of the same age (like my youngest brother, from 1967). Their English is better than mine (education improved over time in the Netherlands) – they probably do not have any problem conversing in English, which makes this all so much easier and more enjoyable.
BTW, this might not be all to clear, but Mark Rutte is the David Cameron of the Netherlands – politically they’re one and the same; which is why I would never vote for Mark. Nevertheless, I think he did a good job in hosting this NSS meeting.
“Kurchenko, the 28-year-old owner of Eastern European Fuel and Energy Company (VETEK), a conglomerate, is wanted by Ukrainian authorities for embezzlement and is suspected of simply being a front man for the family of overthrown President Viktor Yanukvoych.
The Prosecutor General’s Office placed Kurchenko on its wanted persons list on March 20, joining the former president who is now in exile and wanted for mass murder and massive corruption in Ukriane.
According to a report published to the Prosecutor General’s Office website on March 24, Kurchenko and a crime ring comprised of some 20 associates – including heads of several ministries – siphoned more than Hr 1 billion from state companies, inflicting serious damange on the national economy, and used a “significant amount” of the money to hire “titsuhki” – paid-for thugs – to violently suppress the anti-Yanukovych EuroMaidan Revolution.”
Don’t you get the distinct feeling that once they start turning over these rocks, the entire rotten lot of them will be exposed and it won’t be pretty. Putin will also be exposed for the corrupt, lying, swindling POS that he is. That’s a good thing….
CBS NEWS,….Michelle Obama praised for style and warm in China. The Insiders…..Michelle Obama visited to China is a good thing. anniebella…Michelle Obama can hold her own with anyone, male or female.
Oh yea Washington Times…..Michelle Obama hotel suite $8,400 dollars a night. What do these clowns want Motel 6? What was the price of Hillary or Laura Bush when they went to China?
One more thing about Hillary, Bill, Hillary and Chelsea was somewhere speaking this past week-end and the media was all over it. I am already getting sick of Hillary. She ought to be doing all she can to support the Democrats in 2014, I could be wrong but I have not seen that. I’m reading a article were it says Hillary distance herself from Obama.
Oh, thank you Chips. Can’t get to see ANYTHING live on this dang computer. Or, maybe it’s the operator? Anyway, I’ve been waiting for photos–any photos. Queen Maxima seems as tall as FLOTUS.
THE HAGUE DECLARATION following the G7 meeting on 24 March
1. We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission met in The Hague to reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
2. International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state’s territory through coercion or force. To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine’s constitution. We also strongly condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations. We do not recognize either.
3. Today, we reaffirm that Russia’s actions will have significant consequences. This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations. In response to Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to demonstrate our determination to respond to these illegal actions, individually and collectively we have imposed a variety of sanctions against Russia and those individuals and entities responsible. We remain ready to intensify actions including coordinated sectoral sanctions that will have an increasingly significant impact on the Russian economy, if Russia continues to escalate this situation.
4. We remind Russia of its international obligations, and its responsibilities including those for the world economy. Russia has a clear choice to make. Diplomatic avenues to de-escalate the situation remain open, and we encourage the Russian Government to take them. Russia must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, begin discussions with the Government of Ukraine, and avail itself of offers of international mediation and monitoring to address any legitimate concerns.
5. The Russian Federation’s support for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine is a step in the right direction. We look forward to the mission’s early deployment, in order to facilitate the dialogue on the ground, reduce tensions and promote normalization of the situation, and we call on all parties to ensure that Special Monitoring Mission members have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine to fulfill their mandate.
6. This Group came together because of shared beliefs and shared responsibilities. Russia’s actions in recent weeks are not consistent with them. Under these circumstances, we will not participate in the planned Sochi Summit. We will suspend our participation in the G-8 until Russia changes course and the environment comes back to where the G-8 is able to have a meaningful discussion and will meet again in G-7 format at the same time as planned, in June 2014, in Brussels, to discuss the broad agenda we have together. We have also advised our Foreign Ministers not to attend the April meeting in Moscow. In addition, we have decided that G-7 Energy Ministers will meet to discuss ways to strengthen our collective energy security.
7. At the same time, we stand firm in our support for the people of Ukraine who seek to restore unity, democracy, political stability, and economic prosperity to their country. We commend the Ukrainian government’s ambitious reform agenda and will support its implementation as Ukraine seeks to start a new chapter in its history, grounded on a broad-based constitutional reform, free and fair presidential elections in May, promotion of human rights and respect of national minorities.
8. The International Monetary Fund has a central role leading the international effort to support Ukrainian reform, lessening Ukraine’s economic vulnerabilities, and better integrating the country as a market economy in the multilateral system. We strongly support the IMF’s work with the Ukrainian authorities and urge them to reach a rapid conclusion. IMF support will be critical in unlocking additional assistance from the World Bank, other international financial institutions, the EU, and bilateral sources. We remain united in our commitment to provide strong financial backing to Ukraine, to co-ordinate our technical assistance, and to provide assistance in other areas, including measures to enhance trade and strengthen energy security.
Thinking of Putin… cheesy psychology but can’t help it… the man seems full of complexes because he’s not very tall nor good-looking. When a public figure feels the need to show himself bear-chested , looking “macho”, it’s very telling… And it’s very concerning… because if there are psychological reasons at the root of his whole career, of how he became a dictator… that means there’s no way to reason him. And I’m afraid that on top of his imperialistic delusions, there is now a personal unconscious jealousy towards President Obama. Barack Obama is a tall, handsome, charismatic president and he is ADMIRED by the world leaders for his intelligence, his vision and his integrity. Putin is ostracized right now, and is rejected by the whole world. He will react by doubling down, telling himself that he will make the world leaders fear him. He can’t be loved and admired, so he will be feared.
In the end, he will lose everything. But it could take a while before he is destroyed. Let’s hope he doesn’t do too much damage in the mean time.
Today on one of the morning shows I heard that people were upset because Kanya and Kim were on the cover of Vogue, I’m no fan of either one of them, but what’s the big deal. Just do what I plan to do, not buy or read anything about them in Vogue or anywhere else.
Ha!—-that camera clicking recording must really put a spring in your step. Humming “I feel pretty, oh so pretty….” 🙂
And so sweet of you to share your fruit snack with Dan.
Watching Ed talking about Obamacare. He is saying how the Democrats need to stop running from Obamacare and embrace it. Also I believe he said that Eric Cantor said the GOP will becoming up with an alternative to Obamacare. We are waiting Mr. Cantor.
Jesse Jackson’s son Jonathan Jackson talks about what Arne Duncan is talking about. I don’t think Jonathan want anything to do with politics, it’s ashame he doesn’t.He is worth listening too. I wonder how the former Congressman Jackson is doing. I was so hoping that he would run for Barack Obama former Senate seat when Barack became President.
“On late Thursday, billionaire Mike Fernandez abruptly resigned his post as the finance co-chair of Governor Rick Scott’s (R-FL) reelection campaign. The prominent Cuban-American health care mogul’s departure has fueled rumors of racism among Scott’s campaign staff”.
Rick Scott’s Top Latino Fundraiser Leaves Campaign After Campaign Staff Allegedly Made Racist Jokes http://t.co/19DsmiE0gT
What amazes me is that any minority would be involved with GOP. The people mentioned in the article should not have been shocked and hurt; if they will do it to some, they will do it to any.
You should see the smarmy adds that Scott is currently running: he was a poor boy raised by a struggling single mom, etc. This is a big change from the first campaign where he ran on his so-called business experience (even though he was a medicare fraudster). He has pissed of so many groups who, in the past, could be depended upon to vote Republican, that he is not sure in which direction to go. The spots are laughable.
Maybe, just maybe, FL doesn’t want to be a laughing stock anymore (they can leave that to AZ…we still hold that title like a prize!) I see that Charlie Christ is ahead…maybe he’ll stay that way. My dad lives in Fl, is a Republican (don’t know why) and thinks that Scott is a POS…will not vote for him.
Ed is talking about that one and only that great Nat Silverman, to bad he didn’t go for that billion dollars from Warren Buffet, about the NCAA Basketball.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Hello there.
Congrats LL. Waiting doc office. 😦
Heeeyyyyy…….HAPPY MONDAY CarolMaeWY!
Hear’s the GREAT NEWS……it will be over soon. Don’t forget, if you are still packing, please take this with you
{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing Prayers for CarolMaeWY}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}.
Now turn that frown upside down : )
Have a BLESSED DAY!
Spell check: Here’s
Thank you Cindy. I’ll pack it in my purse. The frown is because my appt got changed until tomorrow. But saw another doctor to to get a refill. So it was productive day.
healing and positive energy sent your way, Carol……..
Thank you. 😊:) ♥
Hope all goes well, CarolMae. 🙂
Thank you so much. How can it not with all the well wishes I’ve gotten. 🙂
Happy Monday afternoon LL!
Congrats on 1st! wtg
Have a WONDERFUL DAY!
Au for LL.
I was busy posting and not paying attention that there was a Brand New Post.
I could have been a Contender. I missed that opportunity when it came knocking.
Congrats LL.
OT
Bill Maher…
He doesn’t bite his tongue. Does he?
Nope and sometimes, I don’t mind
Even though I like college basketball, that is true Bill Maher.
Congrats, LL and many thanks to Chips and NW for all the publicity on LAST CALL for ACA sign-ups!
Nice photos of my city.
http://distractify.com/culture/chicago-city-of-dreams/
Beautiful photos Yardarm.
Heard about the EL train accident this morning. Is it running again?
No, not fully. The train jumped the tracks in the terminal and part of one car wound up on the passenger platform.
Happy Monday afternoon yardarm756!
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I never had a chance to see all of this when I use to travel there every month for business; back in the day when I was “Wall Street Corporate America.” I was always in the hotels and meetings. This is stunning.
Thank you for sharing the beauty…..
My pleasure.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures of my long ago hometown.
Whenever I visit, I think…..Why have I been away so long! Last time I visited was with my sister and we went for a wonderful weekend of museums, opera, symphony and food!
Just one quick experience. I was walking State past Marshall Field’s (it still was) and a tall young man almost bumped into me gawking at the buildings. I laughed and asked if I could help him. He just said “I’ve never seen anything like this place.” We had a fun conversation. He was from a rural area in the Midwest on his first visit to a BIG city. I became the Chicago guide and booster and welcomed him to the town, and pointed out some things to him, told him how to get where he was going, and enjoyed pretending I was a Chicagoan for a few minutes.
One thing I like about Chicago is just about anyone will talk with you if you’re halfway friendly. I’ve had great conversations with doormen, cabbies, store clerks, waiters, concierges, museum guards….
My kind of town….Chicago is.
Carolyn, I totally agree with you on this. I’ve worked in New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC and, by far, the friendliest city was Chicago. I’d rate Chicago #1, NYC #2 and DC #3 on the friendly scale.
Chicago’s my home! What a lovely story.
Stunning!!
Amazing photos! Incredibly beautiful city!
It has it’s seamy side too. 😦
Oh Ronan, you’re not as smart as you think you are.
Just astounding——-this move by religious nutballs to remove science from our schools, to shift tax money to private schools, most of them religious, where creationism is taught, evolution theory is evil, basic established science facts are lies etc. Creepy and frightening, contributing to the further dumbing down of this country. The U.S. keeps slipping further down the education comparison charts with other countries as this religious wave flexes its muscle and more and more of these extremists are in power positions in state governments. Get religion away from the public sphere. It holds people back, it keeps them in the dark, it damages the future prospects for this country.
I live in a liberal blue state which for years suffered from failing schools and a rotten education system. Creationists had nothing to do with it. The dumbing down has been a group effort. What’s happening in these places to me is neither creepy or frightening. They have been at this game for a long time and apathy or agreement by the general population put them exactly where they are now.
Not to put too fine a point on it, there’s no mention of dinosaurs in the old testament.
A friend of mine is choosing right now between two plans. One is $22 per month for she and her husband and the other is $58. These are cost-sharing silver plans with excellent benefits. One has a larger in-network provider list. As you can imagine she is beside herself especially since she has been without health insurance for four years.
Thanks, Nerdy, for including a 6 minute report from the Dutch television into the “Rise and Shine”.
I am sure almost no-one here could understand the Dutch commentary (devoid of English subtitles), but it was mostly about the two helicopters, the details of “the Beast”, i.e., the ones that are given out, and who the President would meet in the Rijksmuseum (shown in the background): The mayor of Amsterdam, the curator of the Rijksmuseum and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Cheers from The Netherlands !
Toon Moene, I’ve always been hopelessly confused about why some people call it Netherlands and others Holland. Your football banners say ‘Hup Holland!’, but Netherlands seems to be the correct name. Help!
http://www.internationalstudents.nl/do-you-know-the-difference-between-holland-and-the-netherlands/
Let Toon Moene tell us if this is correct….my husband has been there and loved the country…that was back when he worked for Phillips Medical…part of me wishes he still worked for them:)
You complete gem, thank you DF!!!!
“Two of the twelve provinces in The Netherlands have the name Holland, specifically North Holland and South Holland (see also a map of The Netherlands here). The major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague) are located in these two provinces.”
Ah, so it’s naughtiness from the big city folk, calling the Netherlands ‘Holland’?!
Nooo – it’s the other way around. Holland (Amsterdam) was the mayor power in the overseas endeavor (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company); Zeeland (Middelburg) was the next largest, but significantly smaller (at approximated 1/3rd of the input money).
So the reason you hear “Holland” quoted as the name of the country is because it was the most prosperous part of it (like “pars pro toto”, if your Latin is any good).
Note that North- and South-Holland is a later invention; in the 1600s there was only one province of Holland.
Hope this helps.
Ah, okay, thanks Toon!
Thank you, Toon. That’s the clearest explanation I’ve ever heard. So whether you consider yourself from Holland or the Netherlands, are you still Dutch? I grew up in an area of New York that was settled by Dutch patroons in the 1600s. They were granted enormous tracts of land by their king, created vast plantations and built the first so-called Dutch Reformed Churches in the New World, one of which is still functioning after all these centuries. George Washington courted and almost married the daughter of one of the descendents of the patroons.
Do you realize that the puritans from the British Isles often came by way of the Netherlands – that’s religious freedom for you:
“Puritans were blocked from changing the established church from within, and severely restricted in England by laws controlling the practice of religion. Their views, however, were transported by the emigration of congregations to the Netherlands (and later New England),”
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritans
OK, the other post by me was a non-sequitur, but something that I wanted off my chest.
Note that The United Provinces (of the Netherlands) didn’t have a “King” from the 26th of July, 1581, onwards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Abjuration), until 1813.
Yes, the Dutch Reformed Churches were a power in colonization (though I wonder if they had the powers you imply in the America’s).
Nevertheless, if you have information on this, I would surely be interested, as that is squarely underrepresented in Dutch History.
Thanks for the historical background, Toon. I did not know about the Netherlands connection to the Pilgrims and I’m sorry I was mistaken about the Netherlands having a King. However a lot of very rich Dutch men (we called them patroons) were given big tracts of land to develop in the Dutch colony in the New Amsterdam area. The Dutch Reformed Church is actually still active in the town I grew up in and the oldest physical church there was built in the era of the patroons. Of course, the British overcame the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and then pretty much changed the landscape in New York, which is why the Dutch influence became muted.
Thanks, this is very interesting information (but – as I showed, it could never have been instigated by a “King”).
Nevertheless, obviously, “New Amsterdam” being the only settlement of the Dutch in North America, a lot of money went there …
It is also true that some remnants of the “original” (yes, I quoted this, because it is questionable how original it is) Dutch Reformed Church is active in these areas. I would be really surprised if they still have (moneyed) power behind them.
Again, thanks for this explanation.
they even stuck a video in here for an explanation:)
There are some pics of PBO here on the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 Flickr account.
Thank you CK!
My pleasure. 🙂
I know it’s a round table, but President Obama still looks like he’s in the center… 🙂
Where’s Putin?
Is the NSS a subset of the G-7 (which was G-8 until Putin invaded Crimea)?
I’ve seen reports that Russia was invited to join in the G-8 late in the 1990s (I think this is right, but please correct me if I’m wrong) after the end of USSR and because they seemed to be on their best behavior then (absorbing the blow of so much of their territory no longer under their control).
The NSS is entirely distinct from G 7, Arapaho. You can read about its history, organization, programs and more here:
https://www.nss2014.com/en/nss-2014/faq
YEA!!! I can’t believe that there would be anyone left not cheering for THIS ruling in West Virginia!
http://ecowatch.com/2014/03/24/supreme-court-coal-industry-lawsuit-mountaintop-mine/
Supreme Court Rejects Coal Industry Lawsuit, Defends EPA Veto of Mountaintop Removal Mine
Detained billionaire may reveal Vladimir Putin’s gas cash secrets
“A detained billionaire who made a fortune as a middleman in Russia’s murky gas trade with Ukraine may hold the key for US lawmakers seeking harsher sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
Ukrainian Dmitry Firtash, arrested in Vienna this month on an American warrant for bribery and other charges, may hand over a treasure trove of information about deals involving Russian state gas exporter OAO Gazprom that the US would consider corrupt, said Mikhail Korchemkin, a former analyst for the Soviet Union’s Gas Ministry in Moscow and founder of Malvern, Pennsylvania-based East European Gas Analysis.
After Putin seized Ukraine’s southern Crimea region, a US Senate panel approved a bill on emergency funding for the country that would widen the scope of sanctions to include any Russian involved in “significant” corruption.
Key man: Dmitry Firtash.
Key man: Dmitry Firtash. Photo: Reuters
“This law would enable the US to go after any member of Putin’s entourage,” Masha Lipman, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said by phone. “The point is to deepen the fractures within the Russian elite. The idea is to weaken Putin so he can be contained.””
http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/detained-billionaire-may-reveal-vladimir-putins-gas-cash-secrets-20140324-35ccx.html#ixzz2wuIRkh7Y
It’s classic RICO tactics: peel off the capo’s lieutenants one by one, make them feel the heat until they squeal on the boss.
Yep. In this case, more like – ‘take out the boss’ ….. 😉
Vlad is soon to learn that “soft power” isn’t very soft after all.
Not at all similar to wrestling a bear?
But what is Firtash’s incentive for spilling the beans? If he ever went back to Russia, Putin would destroy him. So the US and EU hold a jail sentence over him? Could they follow through on this?
He’s going to be prosecuted, Jackie, most likely even if he deals. The FBI has been after him for years. His assets, to the extent that they are not being frozen, are mostly outside of Russia. He has no incentive to return to Russia, ever!
Bob, just wanted to say thank you for the tweets you sent me about the fall of tourism in the Crimea. It will continue to be one of the downsides for the people living there who eventually will start wondering why they placed any trust in Putin.
BTW, hasn’t Putin, by sanctioning the idea of one part of a copuntry voting to separate itself from the country and become part of another, or indpendent, basically said that different parts of Russia could do the same thing as well?
He opened a giant Pandora’s box on that very issue, John. Think Chechnya, for starters. And, what’s to keep the enormous numbers of Chinese living in eastern Russia voting to join China ….. hmmmmm …..
Very true, John!!
You may enjoy this joke …
From the Cold War times:
In Chechoslowakia: “Are the Soviets your brothers or your friends ?”
Answer: “My brothers – your friends you can choose.”
He had better get food tasters and hire many bodyguards. Putin is capable of anything.
Not a happy moment ….
… and unwilling to take the heat ….
Oh my, Lavrov is acting like a child here. This is not a good way to gain the respect of other countries.
A new venture from Seattle: Indiegogo.com Have only just seen it today, have not read all the detailed paragraphs.
Dinner arrivals at Royal Palace livestream:
http://nieuws.vtm.be/buitenland/84979-live-diner-paleis-huis-ten-bosch
Excellent, thank you Meta!
Thanks Meta!!!
Isn’t this cool?!!
PBO has arrived. I can’t believe I still get this excited over these events. 🙂
He’s SO handsome and charming. I just love this stuff.
The best for last: let’s get this party started!!
Queen Maxima is a very lovely Lady.
Drats!
All I saw was darkness and the reporters taking their camera equipment down and leaving 😦
Girl, you’ve got to keep up with the gang!!
Oh flip GGail, you missed the President singing ‘Happy’! 😦
Rub it in you two!
With a hat.
I didn’t want to rub it in for GGail, you’re soooooo mean.
(Loved the dickie bow)
JG & I demand pictures – RIGHT NOW! (stomping feet)
Oh, it’ll be a few hours yet GGail, but it really was spectacular.
I went there, GGail, exactly when that link was posted, nothing, nothing, nothing, certainly no live stream, but one or two still of PBO with the king and queen.
And it was raining, so he got a little sprinkle on his brow.
Oh, that was the best bit Meta, apart from the somersault. WHAT an entrance!
And then when he started crooning, I nearly FLIPPED.
Oh heck, I was soooooo gone at that stage, and when he followed up ‘Happy’ with ‘I can’t help falling in love with you’, I nearly wept.
BE QUIET!!!!!!!
HUSH UP!!!!!
STOP RUBBING IT IN!!!!!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
….as for the Limbo dancing, pheeeeeew.
Ask me how much do I dis-like YOU at this moment – go ahead, ask me!
This much?
Dayum Chips!
I scrolled up – saw this – and fell out laughing!
Naughties.
Meanies.
Bad.
I couldn’t get it to work for me either, GGail. Maybe there’ll be photos later.
Howdy all you O’s!!! What a great getting up day in TODville again!!!!!
So the good news is……it’s so cold outside that I can literally freeze food.
The bad news is……my little over 2 year old fridge is on the blink and the promised repair visit for today has yet to occur
Good luck, Cookemom!
Meta and Chips did you notice how the SS didn’t allow the guardsman to handle that door for PBO!!!
I was just going to post that!!!! LOLz.
SS: NOBODY TOUCHES THE DOOR TO MY POTUS.
I missed everything! Will there be a replay anywhere?
I’m with CEB. Missed everything and the livestream was over. Will there be a replay? Please!
The King and Queen are still talking to PBO. They love the guy. I can tell 🙂
I think I saw her blush!
I know! She was smitten with her husband standing right there. In fact, I think he was smitten as well. 😆
inorite? LOLz!!
The King, Prime Minister Rutte are of the same age (like my youngest brother, from 1967). Their English is better than mine (education improved over time in the Netherlands) – they probably do not have any problem conversing in English, which makes this all so much easier and more enjoyable.
BTW, this might not be all to clear, but Mark Rutte is the David Cameron of the Netherlands – politically they’re one and the same; which is why I would never vote for Mark. Nevertheless, I think he did a good job in hosting this NSS meeting.
“Kurchenko, the 28-year-old owner of Eastern European Fuel and Energy Company (VETEK), a conglomerate, is wanted by Ukrainian authorities for embezzlement and is suspected of simply being a front man for the family of overthrown President Viktor Yanukvoych.
The Prosecutor General’s Office placed Kurchenko on its wanted persons list on March 20, joining the former president who is now in exile and wanted for mass murder and massive corruption in Ukriane.
According to a report published to the Prosecutor General’s Office website on March 24, Kurchenko and a crime ring comprised of some 20 associates – including heads of several ministries – siphoned more than Hr 1 billion from state companies, inflicting serious damange on the national economy, and used a “significant amount” of the money to hire “titsuhki” – paid-for thugs – to violently suppress the anti-Yanukovych EuroMaidan Revolution.”
Don’t you get the distinct feeling that once they start turning over these rocks, the entire rotten lot of them will be exposed and it won’t be pretty. Putin will also be exposed for the corrupt, lying, swindling POS that he is. That’s a good thing….
Agree, df.
Everything associated with Putin defines kleptocracy be it in Russia, Ukraine, Syria, wherever ….
For Yardarm, Forus, Japa and other Chicagoans in TODville (see Yardarm’s post above):
Didn’t get a chance to post this on St. Paddy’s day (just a week late):
CBS NEWS,….Michelle Obama praised for style and warm in China. The Insiders…..Michelle Obama visited to China is a good thing. anniebella…Michelle Obama can hold her own with anyone, male or female.
FLOTUS, Grandma, Malia and Sasha will be arriving back to the White House Thursday or Friday.
Oh yea Washington Times…..Michelle Obama hotel suite $8,400 dollars a night. What do these clowns want Motel 6? What was the price of Hillary or Laura Bush when they went to China?
I am willing to bet Hillary and Laura Bush stayed in the very best and it was not cheap either.
One more thing about Hillary, Bill, Hillary and Chelsea was somewhere speaking this past week-end and the media was all over it. I am already getting sick of Hillary. She ought to be doing all she can to support the Democrats in 2014, I could be wrong but I have not seen that. I’m reading a article were it says Hillary distance herself from Obama.
I watched her speech to the Peking Universitey audience on Sunday.
Note how she wove the necessity of free Internet access into a plea for more exchange students ?
Right in front of the Chinese establishment.
Bwahahahah 🙂
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/world/europe/obama-russia-crimea.html?emc=edit_na_20140324&nlid=21324848&_r=0
Oh, thank you Chips. Can’t get to see ANYTHING live on this dang computer. Or, maybe it’s the operator? Anyway, I’ve been waiting for photos–any photos. Queen Maxima seems as tall as FLOTUS.
A pleeeeeeeeeasure Jackie, working on a post now, so more in a bit!
Oh look! there they are
Thanks Chips!
Queenie looks pretty, king looks……….nice?
THE HAGUE DECLARATION following the G7 meeting on 24 March
1. We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission met in The Hague to reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
2. International law prohibits the acquisition of part or all of another state’s territory through coercion or force. To do so violates the principles upon which the international system is built. We condemn the illegal referendum held in Crimea in violation of Ukraine’s constitution. We also strongly condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea in contravention of international law and specific international obligations. We do not recognize either.
3. Today, we reaffirm that Russia’s actions will have significant consequences. This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations. In response to Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to demonstrate our determination to respond to these illegal actions, individually and collectively we have imposed a variety of sanctions against Russia and those individuals and entities responsible. We remain ready to intensify actions including coordinated sectoral sanctions that will have an increasingly significant impact on the Russian economy, if Russia continues to escalate this situation.
4. We remind Russia of its international obligations, and its responsibilities including those for the world economy. Russia has a clear choice to make. Diplomatic avenues to de-escalate the situation remain open, and we encourage the Russian Government to take them. Russia must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, begin discussions with the Government of Ukraine, and avail itself of offers of international mediation and monitoring to address any legitimate concerns.
5. The Russian Federation’s support for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine is a step in the right direction. We look forward to the mission’s early deployment, in order to facilitate the dialogue on the ground, reduce tensions and promote normalization of the situation, and we call on all parties to ensure that Special Monitoring Mission members have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine to fulfill their mandate.
6. This Group came together because of shared beliefs and shared responsibilities. Russia’s actions in recent weeks are not consistent with them. Under these circumstances, we will not participate in the planned Sochi Summit. We will suspend our participation in the G-8 until Russia changes course and the environment comes back to where the G-8 is able to have a meaningful discussion and will meet again in G-7 format at the same time as planned, in June 2014, in Brussels, to discuss the broad agenda we have together. We have also advised our Foreign Ministers not to attend the April meeting in Moscow. In addition, we have decided that G-7 Energy Ministers will meet to discuss ways to strengthen our collective energy security.
7. At the same time, we stand firm in our support for the people of Ukraine who seek to restore unity, democracy, political stability, and economic prosperity to their country. We commend the Ukrainian government’s ambitious reform agenda and will support its implementation as Ukraine seeks to start a new chapter in its history, grounded on a broad-based constitutional reform, free and fair presidential elections in May, promotion of human rights and respect of national minorities.
8. The International Monetary Fund has a central role leading the international effort to support Ukrainian reform, lessening Ukraine’s economic vulnerabilities, and better integrating the country as a market economy in the multilateral system. We strongly support the IMF’s work with the Ukrainian authorities and urge them to reach a rapid conclusion. IMF support will be critical in unlocking additional assistance from the World Bank, other international financial institutions, the EU, and bilateral sources. We remain united in our commitment to provide strong financial backing to Ukraine, to co-ordinate our technical assistance, and to provide assistance in other areas, including measures to enhance trade and strengthen energy security.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-82_en.htm
Well, G-8 is dead for a while. Back to the G-7.
Thinking of Putin… cheesy psychology but can’t help it… the man seems full of complexes because he’s not very tall nor good-looking. When a public figure feels the need to show himself bear-chested , looking “macho”, it’s very telling… And it’s very concerning… because if there are psychological reasons at the root of his whole career, of how he became a dictator… that means there’s no way to reason him. And I’m afraid that on top of his imperialistic delusions, there is now a personal unconscious jealousy towards President Obama. Barack Obama is a tall, handsome, charismatic president and he is ADMIRED by the world leaders for his intelligence, his vision and his integrity. Putin is ostracized right now, and is rejected by the whole world. He will react by doubling down, telling himself that he will make the world leaders fear him. He can’t be loved and admired, so he will be feared.
In the end, he will lose everything. But it could take a while before he is destroyed. Let’s hope he doesn’t do too much damage in the mean time.
A good, short read:
http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2014/03/the-bleakness-always-goes-back-to-bush.html
They obviously enjoy each other ….
This administration is tackling big issues head on.
You Tellin’ the truth Arne!
No more Putin in the G-8, I mean G-7. I hope Putin is not sitting around crying. That’s right tough Putin don’t cry.
Tougher sanctions are needed, specially from the EU.
Let’s just hope the EU have the guts to apply tougher sanctions on Russia. I believe POTUS do, but not so sure about the others.
Why are they so far away? I can barely make out POTUS and I have no idea what the King & Queen look like….because I missed the live feed! hmmph!
I know Pete Souza did not take that photo.
Beautiful photo, beautiful palace.
Today on one of the morning shows I heard that people were upset because Kanya and Kim were on the cover of Vogue, I’m no fan of either one of them, but what’s the big deal. Just do what I plan to do, not buy or read anything about them in Vogue or anywhere else.
Hey – it’s POTUS!
And it’s Chips weaving fantasy about some stairs 😯
😆
You put a red carpet out for yourself? And turn and wave? Who are you wearing? 🙂
😆 I do Dotster, all the time – and I have a recording of clicking cameras that is triggered when I arrive home.
Who am I wearing? Right now, Danny – after he licked my pear.
Ha!—-that camera clicking recording must really put a spring in your step. Humming “I feel pretty, oh so pretty….” 🙂
And so sweet of you to share your fruit snack with Dan.
“Share”? SHARE!!!!! 😆
Watching Ed talking about Obamacare. He is saying how the Democrats need to stop running from Obamacare and embrace it. Also I believe he said that Eric Cantor said the GOP will becoming up with an alternative to Obamacare. We are waiting Mr. Cantor.
The GOP have been coming up with an alternative to the ACA for four years!
You are right about that Allison.
This can’t possibly be real. 🙄
Yep, it’s real: http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/squeez-bacon.html
Now, this is just wrong.
Solent Green anyone..
.
disgusting.
Who comes up with all this mess. It looks like slice dog food or spam.
hey hey….I love Spam…that is no spam….hmpf
Some idea’s should go into “File 13” – this is one of them
🙄
Seriously?
Jesse Jackson’s son Jonathan Jackson talks about what Arne Duncan is talking about. I don’t think Jonathan want anything to do with politics, it’s ashame he doesn’t.He is worth listening too. I wonder how the former Congressman Jackson is doing. I was so hoping that he would run for Barack Obama former Senate seat when Barack became President.
“On late Thursday, billionaire Mike Fernandez abruptly resigned his post as the finance co-chair of Governor Rick Scott’s (R-FL) reelection campaign. The prominent Cuban-American health care mogul’s departure has fueled rumors of racism among Scott’s campaign staff”.
That GOP outreach works like a champ……idiots. They just can’t hide this anymore. Comes out of every orifice.
What amazes me is that any minority would be involved with GOP. The people mentioned in the article should not have been shocked and hurt; if they will do it to some, they will do it to any.
You should see the smarmy adds that Scott is currently running: he was a poor boy raised by a struggling single mom, etc. This is a big change from the first campaign where he ran on his so-called business experience (even though he was a medicare fraudster). He has pissed of so many groups who, in the past, could be depended upon to vote Republican, that he is not sure in which direction to go. The spots are laughable.
Maybe, just maybe, FL doesn’t want to be a laughing stock anymore (they can leave that to AZ…we still hold that title like a prize!) I see that Charlie Christ is ahead…maybe he’ll stay that way. My dad lives in Fl, is a Republican (don’t know why) and thinks that Scott is a POS…will not vote for him.
BOOM…Karma is working her magic…
Please let us see the end of this Scott guy’s ugly mug this year. Please, voters in Florida, send him packing.
Why was he supporting this man in he first place?
Sometimes when you sit and think about it you have to wonder how the hell did Rick Scott become Governor of Florida in the first place.
Ed is talking about that one and only that great Nat Silverman, to bad he didn’t go for that billion dollars from Warren Buffet, about the NCAA Basketball.
Nawwwwwwww…it can’t be…..hahaha
but…hard to think that the fundraiser did not know what a cesspool he was getting into…
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/03/24/the-presidents-day-2/