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In our family if it is your birthday you get to choose the menu.
We have had some really interesting meals. In March we have 5 birthdays so we do one big party - what a crazy menu that is! Christmas dinner is very traditional.
Sausage rolls, Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, gravy, Green beans with bacon, Mashed Potatoes ( the really fattening kind) and trifle for dessert. If I were to dare to omit any of those items I would be lynched.
Barbara Corcoran, celebrating her full retirement from company she originally opened as Corcoran Group in 1973 and which was later sold to Cendant Corp' s real estate conglomerate NRT, rides off from cowboy- themed retirement party on white horse; Asymptote architectural firm has been stopped from completing construction on residential building on Perry Street in West Village due to zoning law change that limits size of buildings in neighborhood; actress Jane Curtin sells three- bedroom co- op apar. . . October 30, 2005
Empire Zone column; Daniel Wiese, inspector general of New York State Power Authority who was put on indefinite adminstrative leave soon after Attorney General Andrew M Cuomo began inquiry into possiblepoliticization of State Police, comes under scrutiny after Albany County District Attorney David Soares says he spoke to New York Times reporter who said Weise backed former Gov Eliot Spitzer' s administration' s claim that State Police had long had concerns over whether Senate majority leader Jos. . . April 21, 2008
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USATODAY. com Launches My USA TODAY My USA TODAY leverages the power of RSS to give readers a single destination for aggregating information from across the web FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2006 Mc. Lean, Va. - - USATODAY. com, a leading news and information website, announces the beta launch of My USA TODAY, a fully customizable news reader that displays and organizes news headlines from USATODAY. com stories as well as from content sources across the Internet. The beta site is fully integrated into the website, and can be accessed directly via , or through links provided on the USATODAY. com homepage.
The company expects to formally launch the service later this month. This new service will allow site visitors to consolidate the latest updates from their favorite websites and blogs, creating a single destination to manage information most relevant to them. The combination of top stories from USA TODAY, editors' selections from top content sites around the Web, and readers' favorite content brands creates a single destination where visitors can access all of their news and information sources. & quot; The ways in which people seek information are constantly evolving and today' s consumer expects to be in control of when, where, and how they access news content. By leveraging an emerging technology such as RSS and packaging it in a user- friendly, integrated way, USATODAY. com is anticipating and meeting the changing needs of our readers, & quot; said Jeff Webber, publisher of USATODAY. com and senior vice president/ Advertising for USA TODAY. At- a- Glance News Briefs: Readers can receive an overview of the top headlines and breaking USATODAY. com news stories, updated throughout the day, for an & quot; at- a- glance& quot; view of the latest stories. Editors' Picks: USATODAY. com editors bring the best of the Web to our readers by offering their expert picks of content sites from across the Web.
Sources are indexed and organized by the content categories for which USATODAY. com is most recognized, including Life, Sports, Money, Tech, and Travel headlines. Personalization: Readers of My USA TODAY can easily select, organize, and display updated content from their favorite news and information sources.
Customization options provide the ability to choose from among pre- selected headlines from top content brands or the ability to add readers' favorite content sources from across the Web. My USA TODAY saves reader preferences so the same information is presented each time readers return to the site. Saved Stories: A & quot; My Saved Stories& quot; section allows readers to select USATODAY. com stories for their review at a later date. Easy- to- Use Interface: Readers can select from an intuitively organized index of content sites, choose the number of headlines to display, and even drag and drop sources to organize the order in which they are displayed. The My USA TODAY newsreader service is powered by News.
Gator Technologies, the leading RSS platform company. USATODAY. com is an award- winning news and information Web site that is updated 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Each month, millions of unique monthly visitors access USATODAY. com' s News, Money, Sports, Life, Technology, Weather and Travel sections to get the latest breaking news combined with cutting- edge interactive features, audio, and video. USATODAY. com is owned by Gannett Co. , Inc. ( NYSE: GCI) . For more information, visit .
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cheap air flights malaysian airlines altenrhein NHL - National Hockey League - Calgary vs.
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Calgary vs. Vancouver Dec 09, 2002 Box Score NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CALGARY 1 1 0 2 VANCOUVER 0 1 0 1 FINAL GOAL SCORING: 1ST PRD: CGY - ( PP) MATHIAS JOHANSSON 4 ( CHRIS CLARK, OLEG SAPRYKIN) 1: 47 2ND PRD: VAN - ARTEM CHUBAROV 2 ( MATT COOKE, TREVOR LETOWSKI) 0: 17 CGY - ( PP) CHRIS CLARK 6 ( CHRIS DRURY, MATHIAS JOHANSSON) 3: 57 3RD PRD: NONE POWER- PLAY CONVERSIONS: CGY - 2 OF 8, VAN - 0 OF 5. SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CGY 5 6 4 15 VAN 9 15 6 30 GOALIES: CGY - ROMAN TUREK VAN - PETER SKUDRA OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD WATSON, MARC JOANNETTE LIN - RANDY MITTON, THOR NELSON ATT: 18, 422 How They Scored - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CALGARY 1 1 0 - - 2 VANCOUVER 0 1 0 - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FIRST PERIOD - - Scoring: 1, Calgary, Mathias Johansson 4 ( power play) ( Chris Clark, Oleg Saprykin) , 1: 47. Penalties: M Malik, Van ( holding) , 0: 19; H Sedin, Van ( obstruction hooking) , 4: 16; P Buzek, Cgy ( holding) , 7: 56; E Jovanovski, Van ( roughing) , 12: 13; O Saprykin, Cgy ( high sticking) , 14: 16; B Boughner, Cgy ( roughing) , 15: 51; T Bertuzzi, Van ( roughing) , 15: 51.
SECOND PERIOD - - Scoring: 2, Vancouver, Artem Chubarov 2 ( Matt Cooke, Trevor Letowski) , 0: 17. 3, Calgary, Chris Clark 6 ( power play) ( Chris Drury, Mathias Johansson) , 3: 57.
Penalties: E Jovanovski, Van ( high sticking) , 2: 34; S Begin, Cgy ( double minor roughing) , 2: 34; D Langdon, Van ( double minor roughing) , 2: 34; T Bertuzzi, Van ( roughing) , 8: 08; Bench, Van ( too many men served by T Bertuzzi) , 17: 11; C Drury, Cgy ( hooking) , 18: 13. THIRD PERIOD - - Scoring: None. Penalties: C Clark, Cgy ( holding stick) , 7: 18; M Naslund, Van ( roughing) , 10: 27; M Johansson, Cgy ( holding) , 12: 39; T Bertuzzi, Van ( unsportsmanlike cond served by T Warriner, roughing, misconduct) , 19: 45.
Referees: Brad Watson, Marc Joannette. Linesmen: Randy Mitton, Thor Nelson. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS CALGARY VANCOUVER G A + / - Shots G A + / - Shots S Yelle 0 0 even 1 T Letowski 0 1 + 1 3 C Berube 0 0 even 0 A Chubarov 1 0 + 1 3 C Clark 1 1 even 2 T Warriner 0 0 even 2 O Saprykin 0 1 even 1 T Linden 0 0 even 1 M Johansson 1 1 even 4 M Naslund 0 0 even 2 C Conroy 0 0 - 1 1 M Ohlund 0 0 even 3 M Gelinas 0 0 even 2 D Langdon 0 0 even 0 B Sloan 0 0 even 1 D Sedin 0 0 even 1 S Begin 0 0 even 0 M Baron 0 0 even 0 R Regehr 0 0 - 1 0 M Cooke 0 1 + 1 2 D Gauthier 0 0 even 0 T Klatt 0 0 even 1 T Lydman 0 0 - 1 0 B Sopel 0 0 even 4 C Drury 0 1 even 0 H Sedin 0 0 even 1 S Nichol 0 0 - 1 0 T Bertuzzi 0 0 even 1 R Niedermayer 0 0 - 1 0 E Jovanovski 0 0 + 1 1 S Montador 0 0 even 2 S Salo 0 0 even 0 B Boughner 0 0 even 0 B Morrison 0 0 even 3 P Buzek 0 0 even 1 M Malik 0 0 + 1 2 J Iginla GROIN M Lindgren HEALTHY J Wright NECK INJURY J Ruutu HEALTHY M Du.
Pont HEALTHY B Allen HEALTHY C Kobasew HEALTHY J Leopold SHOULDER Game Story VANCOUVER, British Columbia ( Ticker) - - Chris Clark' s power- play goal 3: 57 into the second period helped the Calgary Flames remain unbeaten under interim coach Al Mac. Neil with a 2- 1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Clark scored his sixth goal when he deflected Chris Drury' s wrist shot past Canucks goaltender Peter Skudra. Serving as a screen in front of Skudra, Clark thwarted a check by defenseman Sami Salo and got his stick on the shot. Goaltender Roman Turek made Clark' s tally stand up with 29 saves, including stops on Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi in the final two minutes of the third period.
Turek' s success was not due to any spectacular saves, but instead a lack of rebound chances by the Canucks. The Flames improved to 2- 0- 1 since Mac. Neil took over for Greg Gilbert six days ago. They still have just three wins in their last 15 games since November 5. " They did have a lot of shots, " Turek said. " But there weren' t many 2- on- 1s. We played well defensively and took away their chances.
Sometimes I had to make busy saves, but I was comfortable in net, especially when guys help me with the rebounds. If I didn' t see the puck, they made sure it didn' t get through. " Turek recovered after being involved in a collision five minutes into the third and stopped Trent Klatt' s partial breakaway less than two minutes later.
He also had luck on his side with 1: 40 to play when the puck rolled off Naslund' s stick in the slot and struck the post of the vacated net.
With 15 seconds left, Bertuzzi nearly knotted the contest on a wraparound, but instead took a game misconduct for punching Flames defenseman Denis Gauthier. " They might have outplayed us tonight, " Drury said. " But we' ll take the two points. We were on a bit of a losing streak and now it' s nice to be on the other side of it. We got outstanding goaltending tonight and that was the difference.
It wasn' t a pretty game, but we got the result. " Clark, who also assisted on Mathias Johansson' s power- play tally 1: 47 into the game, was playing with Calgary' s power- play unit because Jarome Iginla did not dress due to a groin injury suffered in practice. Artem Chubarov scored for Vancouver, which has dropped three of four following a franchise- record 10- game winning streak. Despite being ranked 27th in the NHL on the power play, the Flames converted 2- of- 8 chances and capitalized on their first opportunity on Johansson' s goal. Oleg Saprykin and Clark fired shots on net against Skudra from the perimeter of the offensive zone, but the goalie could not cover up Clark' s shot and Johansson tapped in the rebound from just inside the left circle.
The Canucks spent a majority of the second period in the offensive zone, outshooting the Flames, 15- 6.
But after Chubarov' s second goal just 17 seconds in, they were denied by Turek and reacted to the physical nature of the game with penalties. After Matt Cooke outskated Calgary defenseman Toni Lydman for an icing call, he passed to Chubarov, who emerged from behind the net and, while loosely being checked by Craig Conroy, slid the puck under Turek' s pads. " Their goaltender played pretty well, " Vancouver coach Marc Crawford said. " Their power play got two goals and our penalty killing was not good. From the forwards to the defensemen, we weren' t executing well on the penalty kill. We gave up chances - they weren' t great chances but they went in. " If we had done enough tonight, we would have won.
Look into Calgary' s room, you' ll see their guys are beaten, battered and bruised.
Some of it is from our stupid penaies, stuff after the whistle, but that' s what it takes to win. We have to pay a bigger price. We could have found a way to get goals by paying the price in front of their net. "
dunited airlines USATODAY.com - Roddick, Blake fall in Davis Cup
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Roddick, Blake fall in Davis Cup semifinals Roddick lost first, 4- 6, 7- 6 ( 8- 6) , 7- 6 ( 7- 5) , 6- 1 to Arnaud Clement on an overcast center court. Blake followed with a 6- 4, 6- 1, 6- 7 ( 7- 9) , 7- 5 loss to Sebastien Grosjean. Both Americans returned to their locker rooms coated in red dirt and feeling miserable. " I' m extremely disappointed that I lost, " Roddick said. " Grand Slams, it' s for yourself; it' s almost selfish. Here, I' m playing for a whole team and a whole country. It goes a lot deeper. " Russia also took a 2- 0 lead in its Davis Cup semifinal against Argentina, as Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov won their matches in Moscow.
Safin defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6- 7 ( 1- 7) , 7- 5, 7- 5, 6- 1, while Kafelnikov beat Gaston Gaudio, 3- 6, 7- 5, 6- 3, 2- 6, 8- 6. As for the United States, it must win the last three matches to reach its first Davis Cup final since 1997. The Americans have won the Cup a record 31 times, but their last title was in 1995.
France could clinch a spot in the final with a victory in Saturday' s doubles match. Fabrice Santoro and Mickael Llodraof are scheduled to play Todd Martin and Mardy Fish, who have never played together in competition.
The reverse singles matches will be played Sunday. There is a possibility Blake could replace the inexperienced Fish. " Tomorrow ( Saturday) is the biggest match, " said Mc. Enroe, who has until one hour before the doubles to change the pairing. " If James feels good, I' d lean toward putting him in. " The only time the U.
S. has come back from an 0- 2 deficit in the Davis Cup was in the 1934 inter- zone final against Australia. There have been only 40 comebacks from 0- 2 down in the history of the tournament, which began in 1900. " I still think we can do it, " Mc. Enroe said. " I' m very optimistic about the team and the future for these guys. " But to get through this weekend, they' ll first have to get comfortable with clay.
France beat the United States in the 1932 final for the first of five consecutive championships at Roland Garros, the last time the teams played a Davis Cup match on the red clay. Roddick began the first match brilliantly, overpowering Clement with his heavy serve and firing 20 total aces to the Frenchman' s 13. Clement responded with lengthy exchanges & # 8212; perfectly suited to the slow clay and designed to force big- hitters like Roddick into error.
He also out- volleyed his opponent, and at one point Roddick fell on his back. " I don' t know if he could have played another match like that on another surface, " Roddick said. Clement sealed victory when Roddick sent a backhand into the net for his 47th unforced error. Roddick' s Davis Cup record is now 7- 1, and he is 0- 2 against Clement. " As far as enjoyment goes, that was my No.
1 match, " Clement said. " As far as quality of play goes, it was in the top two. " Blake dropped the first two sets, but recovered in the third set & # 8212; taking a spectacular fall in the 11th game & # 8212; and saved three match points before winning the tiebreaker. Fans chanted " U- S- A! U- S- A! " as the dreadlocked American moved up 4- 1 in the fourth set, but wasted a 40- 0 lead in the final game before Grosjean closed with a forehand volley. " This is the most disappointed I' ve ever been in myself in my life, " Blake said. " I' ve never felt worse, or like I' ve let my team down more. " Blake' s Davis Cup record is now 5- 1.
It was his second defeat against Grosjean, who stopped him in the second round of this year' s French Open. Though the United States is facing a touch challenge to come back, Roddick is not worried. " It' s definitely not over, " Roddick said. " We' re going to fight to the end. "
Almost anything but the most lavish opera or musical can be accommodated in the cavernous 3, 191- seat hall, such as recent performances by Liza Minnelli, the Merchants of Bollywood, and the Mariinsky Ballet performing . When this theater opened in 1960 as . . .
This center has been presenting theater, music, dance, opera, film, and forums on public issues since 1970. The two main halls are the luxuriously appointed and the both venues for recitals and performances by companies like the Canadian Stage Company, . . .
art The Force is strong: 'Empire' tapped for registry -
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Darth Vader proclaiming he' s Luke Skywalker' s father, John Travolta preening in his underwear and an early 20th- century deaf activist communicating in sign language are among the images that will be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry. The 25 films selected this year include " The Empire Strikes Back, " the 1980 sequel to " Star Wars" that many critics and fans consider the best of George Lucas' six " Star Wars" films. " Empire" shocked moviegoers with the revelation that masked villain Darth Vader was the father of hero Skywalker. While Lucas didn' t direct " Empire" & mdash; he entrusted it to the late Irvin Kershner & mdash; he got another film selected for the registry: the student short " Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB. " Lucas' " Star Wars" and " American Graffiti" are also among the 550 titles in the registry. The Library of Congress announced the selections early Tuesday. The goal of the registry, which began in 1989, isn' t to identify the best movies ever made, but to preserve films with artistic, cultural or historical significance.
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has chosen each of the films in the registry, culling them from suggestions by the National Film Preservation Board and the public. More than 2, 100 films were nominated by the public in 2010.
Original copies of films picked for the registry are kept safe and available for viewing by future generations. The library acquires copies to preserve in its cold- storage vaults among millions of other recordings at the Packard Campus of the National Audio- Visual Conservation Center near Culpeper, Va. Film can rapidly deteriorate if improperly stored. About half the films produced before 1950 and 90 percent of those made before 1920 have been lost, Billington said. This year' s selections also include " Saturday Night Fever, " John Badham' s 1977 disco musical starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, the working- class youth known for his impressive moves on the dance floor at a Brooklyn nightclub.
It' s one of five selections from the 1970s. The others are Robert Altman' s revisionist Western " Mc. Cabe & amp; Mrs.
Miller; " William Friedkin' s horror classic " The Exorcist; " ' ' All the President' s Men, " Alan J. Pakula' s adaptation of the book by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and " Grey Gardens, " a documentary about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' eccentric relatives. The selections date back to 1891, with one of the first motion pictures ever made: " Newark Athlete, " a short film of a teenager swinging Indian clubs, an exercise aid. The film was made at the Edison Laboratory in West Orange, N.
J. , by two pioneers of motion- picture camera technology.
Another obscure title is 1913' s " Preservation of the Sign Language, " a two- minute film of George Veditz, one- time president of the National Association of the Deaf of the United States. Veditz was one of the first to make motion picture recordings of American Sign Language, and in the film, he argues forcefully for the right of deaf people to sign instead of speak. " That was a great revelation, " Billington said. As in the past, the selections show the Library of Congress has a sense of humor. Two broad comedies & mdash; " Airplane! " the 1980 disaster- film spoof, and " The Pink Panther" ( 1964) , starring Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau & mdash; were tapped for preservation.
The most recent films chosen were " Study of a River, " an experimental 1996 film about the Hudson River, and " Malcolm X, " Spike Lee' s 1992 biography of the civil rights leader. Documentaries picked this year include John Huston' s " Let There Be Light" ( 1946) , which the Pentagon banned from public distribution for 35 years because of its frank depiction of psychological trauma among combat veterans.
While Billington enjoys the popular films selected for the registry, he takes more satisfaction in unearthing lesser- known titles with lasting significance.
He pushes the board to find examples from underrepresented categories such as industrial and abstract films. " The most interesting thing for me is not seeing something I like make the list, but getting educated by the list that comes out of this process, " he said.
National Film Registry: http: / / www. loc. gov/ film
Constitution Gardens & nbsp; . Many ideas were proposed to develop this 50- acre site near the Reflecting Pool and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
It once held " temporary" buildings erected by the Navy before World War I and not removed until after World War II. President Nixon is said to have favored something resembling Copenhagen' s Tivoli Gardens.
The final design was plainer, with paths winding through groves of trees and, on the lake, a tiny island paying tribute to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, their signatures carved into a low stone wall. In 1986 President Reagan proclaimed the gardens a living legacy to the Constitution; in that spirit, a naturalization ceremony for new citizens now takes place here each year. Constitution Ave. between 17th and 23rd Sts.
NW, White House area, 20024. . Foggy Bottom. Dumbarton Oaks & nbsp; . One of the loveliest places for a stroll in Washington is Dumbarton Oaks, the acres of enchanting gardens adjoining Dumbarton House in Georgetown. Planned by noted landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, the gardens incorporate elements of traditional English, Italian, and French styles such as a formal rose garden, an English country garden, and an orangery ( circa 1810) .
A full- time crew of a dozen gardeners toils to maintain the stunning collection of terraces, geometric gardens, tree- shaded brick walks, fountains, arbors, and pools. Plenty of well- positioned benches make this a good place for resting weary feet, too. You enter the gardens at 31st and R streets. Dumbarton House & nbsp; houses world- renowned collections of Byzantine and pre- Columbian art. 1703 32nd St.
2- 5. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens & nbsp; . Cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post purchased the 25- acre Hillwood Estate in 1955. Post devoted as much attention to her gardens as she did to the 40- room Georgian mansion: you can wander through 13 acres of them, including a Japanese rock and waterfall garden, a manicured formal French garden, a rose garden, Mediterranean fountains, and a greenhouse full of orchids. The " Lunar Lawn, " where she threw garden parties that were the most coveted invitation in Washington society, is planted with dogwood, magnolia, cherry, and plum trees, as well as azaleas, camellias, lilacs, tulips, and pansies.
The estate is best reached by taxi or car ( parking is available on the grounds) . It' s a 20- to 30- minute walk from the Metro. 4155 Linnean Ave.
COST: House and grounds $ 12. OPEN: Feb. - Dec. , Tues. - Sat.
10- 5. Van Ness/ UDC. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens & nbsp; . Exotic water lilies, lotuses, hyacinths, and other water- loving plants thrive in this 14- acre sanctuary of quiet ponds and marshy flats.
The gardens' wetland animals include turtles, frogs, beavers, spring azure butterflies, and some 40 species of birds. In July nearly everything blossoms; early morning is the best time to visit, when day- bloomers are just opening and night- bloomers have yet to close. The nearest Metro stop is a 15- minute walk away. Anacostia Ave. and Douglas St. NE, Anacostia, 20019.
PHONE: 202/ 426- 6905. . COST: Free. OPEN: Gardens and visitor center, daily 7- 4; garden tours daily at 9, 10, and 11.
Deanwood. Tudor Place & nbsp; . A little more than a block from Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is this little- known gem, the former home of Martha Washington' s granddaughter. The house has 5.
5 acres of gardens that offer impressive replications of Federal- period gardens and include 19th- century specimen trees and boxwoods from Mount Vernon. Make time for a one- hour tour of the house itself, which features many rare possessions of George and Martha Washington.
OPEN: House tours: Tues. - Sat. on the hr 10- 3; Sun. on the hr noon- 3. Garden: Mon. - Sat.
10- 4, Sun. noon- 4. Closed Jan. Woodley Park or Dupont Circle. United States Botanic Garden & nbsp; . Established by Congress in 1820, this is the oldest botanic garden in North America.
The garden conservatory sits at the foot of Capitol Hill, in the shadow of the Capitol building. It offers an escape from the stone and marble federal office buildings that surround it; inside are exotic rain- forest species, desert flora, and trees from all parts of the world. A special treat is the extensive collection of rare and unusual orchids. Walkways suspended 24 feet above the ground provide a fascinating view of the plants.
A relatively new addition is the National Garden, opened in 2006, which emphasizes educational exhibits. The garden features the Rose Garden, Butterfly Garden, Lawn Terrace, First Ladies' Water Garden, and Regional Garden.
1st St. and Maryland Ave.
SW, Capitol Hill, 20024. PHONE: 202/ 225- 8333. . COST: Free. OPEN: Daily 10- 5; National Garden closes at 7. Federal Center SW.
United States National Arboretum & nbsp; . During azalea season ( mid- April through May) this 446- acre oasis is a blaze of color. In early summer, clematis, peonies, rhododendrons, and roses bloom.
At any time of year the 22 original Corinthian columns from the U. Capitol, re- erected here in 1990, are striking.
For a soothing, relaxing walk, visit the Cryptomeria Walk and Japanese Stroll Garden, which are part of the Bonsai and Penjing Museum.
On weekends a tram tours the arboretum' s curving roadways at 10: 30, 11: 30, 1, 2, 3, and 4; tickets are $ 4. The National Herb Garden & nbsp; and the National Bonsai Collection & nbsp; are also here.
3501 New York Ave. NE, Northeast, 20002. PHONE: 202/ 245- 2726. . COST: Free.
OPEN: Arboretum and herb garden daily 8- 5, bonsai collection daily 10- 4. Weekends only, Union Station, then X6 bus ( runs every 40 mins) ; weekdays, Stadium/ Armory, then B2 bus to Bladensburg Rd. and R St.
points Palm Springs And The Desert Resorts - Sights - Museums/galleries -
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29 Palms Art Gallery features work by local painters, sculptors, and jewelry makers who find inspiration in the desert landscape. www. 29palmsartgallery. com. OPEN: Wed. - Sun. noon- 3.
The Children' s Discovery Museum of the Desert contains instructive hands- on exhibits a miniature rock- climbing area, a magnetic sculpture wall, make- it- and- take- it- apart projects, a rope maze and an area for toddlers. Kids can paint a VW Bug, work as chefs . . . The Palm Springs Air Museum showcases 26 World War II aircraft, including a B- 17 Flying Fortress bomber, a P- 51 Mustang, a Lockheed P- 38, and a Grumman TBF Avenger.
Cool exhibits include a Grumman Goose into which kids can crawl, model warships, and a . . . The Palm Springs Art Museum and its grounds hold several wide- ranging collections of contemporary and traditional art displayed in bright, open galleries, with daylight streaming through huge skylights. The permanent collection includes a shimmering . . .
Pickford Salon, a small museum inside the Mary Pickford Theater, showcases the life of the famed actress. On display is a selection of personal items contributed by family members, including her 1976 Oscar for contributions to the film industry, a gown she . . . Three small museums at the Village Green Heritage Center illustrate pioneer life in Palm Springs. The traces the culture and history of the Cahuilla tribe with several exhibits. The holds the collection of the Palm Springs Historical Society. is a . . .
Falling in love is wonderful, but over- attachment to an object of desire or that dizzy state is unhealthy and can spell danger. Being out of control and too " high" on love is just as destructive as an addiction to alcohol, drugs, food or shopping. In the questions below, check the answer that most applies to you. When I fall in love, I . . .
A) B) Feel happy, but keep my nose to the grindstone 2. When I meet someone who seems perfect for me, I . . .
A) B) 3.
My feeling about love is that . . .
A) B) 4. When my love interest calls but I have other plans, I . . . My emotions when I m in love . . . A) B) 6. My physical state when I m in love . . .
B) Remains basically the same, although some days or nights my appetite or sleep changes 7. When I meet someone I' m wild about, my mood . . . A) Goes through wild swings, from being massively happy to being desperately depressed B) 8.
When my feelings get sparked by someone I love, I . . . A) B) 9. When love is not in my life, I . . . A) B) 10.
When a love affair ends, I . . . A) Panic, feeling the world has come to an end B) 11. Life without that " special someone" . . . A) B) Tally up the number of " A' s" you selected and look below to get your results. 7 or More " A' s" : You' re a love junkie.
Too quick to fall in love, and hit too hard when love ends, you' re caught in a love trap, likely addicted to love. Get more control over your feelings by giving infatuation more time to grow and see what happens. Like addictions to other substances, addiction to love requires recognizing your emotional needs, regaining control over urges, finding other sources of fulfillment. Medication and therapy helps in extreme cases before you lose your job, friends or your mind.
4 to 6 " A' s" : You' re on the verge of being a love junkie. While you haven' t quite lost control over all your senses when love appears, you re still too focused on Prince Charming solving your life problems.
Instead of desperately seeking love from an outside person, do things to love yourself. Under 4 " A' s" : You' re a level- headed lover. & # 160; Like every healthy person, you enjoy being in love but it doesn' t drive your life or edge out anything else.
You know that the thrill can come and go. Keep that reasonable head on your shoulders so you can still enjoy the moment without sabotaging the rest of your life. & # 160; Looking to find love online? Click to find out how!
For more relationship and dating quizzes click on . About the Author: Dr.
Judy Kuriansky is a world- renowned clinical psychologist, trusted relationship advisor, award- winning TV and radio personality, advice columnist and author. An expert in relationships, she hosted the popular syndicated radio advice show Love. Phones aired on Z100 in New York, as well as the TV show Total Wellness for Women in the southeast and Money and Emotions on CNBC- TV. At the United Nations, she is the NGO representative for the International Association of Applied Psychology, a Board member of the Committee on Mental Health, and Director of the Student Journalism Program. Also the director of psychosocial programs for US Doctors for Africa, and a teacher at Columbia University Teachers College, she has authored many books including The Complete Idiots Guide for A Healthy Relationship and Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebulding between Israelis and Palestinians. Her Stand Up for Peace band plays at Global Harmony concerts in Japan and worldwide.
House Republicans plan a vote on " Cut, Cap and Balance" this week as the president and Congressional leaders continue to search for a deal that will raise the debt limit by August 2.
Joining " Fox News Sunday" to discuss it are Representative Chris Van Hollen ( D- MD) and Representative Jim Jordan ( R- OH) . Then, we continue our " 2012: One on One" series with presidential candidate Herman Cain. Congress and the Obama administration are weighing their options as time closes in on the deadline for raising the nation' s debt ceiling, and the White House may call another meeting Sunday of congressional leaders and President Barack Obama.
House Republicans are preparing to vote this week on allowing an increase in the government' s borrowing limit through 2012 as long as Congress approves a balanced- budget constitutional amendment, which is highly unlikely.
In the Senate, the Republican and Democratic leaders are working on a bipartisan plan that would allow Obama to raise the debt limit without a prior vote by lawmakers. The talks are focusing on how to address long- term deficit reduction in the proposal to satisfy House Republicans. Even as President Obama and congressional leaders focus on a fallback plan to lift the nation& rsquo; s debt ceiling, top Democrats and Republicans have begun to map a new way to craft the same sort of ambitious deficit- cutting plan they abandoned last week. As part of the deal being discussed to raise the debt ceiling, leaders on Capitol Hill are forming an especially powerful congressional committee that would be charged with drawing up a new & ldquo; grand bargain, & rdquo; possibly by the end of the year Key elements for a big deal remain in place.
Obama has been clear that he wants one and has started making the case to skeptical factions of his own party that getting the nation& rsquo; s fiscal house in order is in their best interest. House Speaker John A. Boehner ( R- Ohio) also remains committed to an ambitious plan, having told his troops that he didn& rsquo; t become speaker to do small things. And, perhaps most critically, the markets are demanding it.
The credit rating agency Standard & amp; Poor& rsquo; s says Washington must agree to reduce the debt by $ 4 trillion over 10 years to avert a downgrade. Former pizza chain executive Herman Cain, a GOP presidential hopeful, addresses Ala. GOP group - Associated Press He' s run a pizza chain, served as a radio talk show host and now he' s seeking the GOP nomination for president, telling his latest audience in Alabama: " I' m a problem solver, not a politician. " Herman Cain, the former Godfather Pizza chief executive, spoke Saturday night to an audience of Shelby County Republicans at the their GOP' s 2011 Reagan- Lincoln Dinner fundraiser at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center.
His comments were reported by the Birmingham News. Cain struck up conservative themes, saying the U. S. has become a country of crises, wrestling with moral, economic, immigration, energy and leadership issues. On the current debate in Washington to raise the debt limit: " I can tell you what to do with the debt ceiling - - leave the sucker where it is! " Cain said if he were president, he would have dealt with the issue well before it became a crisis.
On federal spending: " They' ve put $ 14 trillion in the caboose" instead of in the economic engine of business. On his lack of political experience: " I' ve been told, ` Mr. Cain, you don' t have a lot of foreign policy experience. ' This one does? " He said, referring to President Barack Obama.
On Obama: " The biggest crisis we have is a severe deficiency of leadership. " Cain said strict government regulations are stifling business and outlined his vision for changing the nation' s tax structure and making steep cuts in the Environmental Protection Agency. A Cain- led government, he added, would be " more empowerment, less entitlement. " As for Arizona and its stance on illegal immigration, he said: " I wouldn' t have sued Arizona; I would have given them a medal. " Arizona passed one of the nation' s strongest illegal immigration bills in the country. Freshmen Say Debt Concerns Them More Than Re- election- New York Times & ldquo; Re- election is the farthest thing from my mind, & rdquo; said Representative Tom Reed, a freshman Republican from upstate New York. & ldquo; Like many of my colleagues in the freshman class, I came down here to get our fiscal house in order and take care of the threat to national security that we see in the federal debt.
We came here not to have long careers.
We came here to do something.
We don& rsquo; t care about re- election. & rdquo; It is not clear how genuine or widespread that sentiment is in Congress, but regardless, it has upended what President Obama said on Friday had been a & ldquo; difficult but routine process& rdquo; in past years. The sheer size of the debt and its rapid growth in recent years have emboldened fiscal conservatives in the House, prompting some of them to pledge not to vote for a higher debt ceiling even if a compromise can be reached before Aug. 2, when the Treasury Department says it will hit the $ 14. 3 trillion debt cap and run out of borrowing authority.
Since Mr.
Obama took office in January 2009, near the end of a long recession, the total federal debt & mdash; including debt held by the public and by government trust funds & mdash; has increased 35 percent. While debt exploded, the economy was stagnant, so debt as a share of the gross domestic product has also increased. The current battle over deficits and debt could become the norm if Republicans hold on to their seats or make gains in Congress. The federal debt represents the accumulated total of past borrowing.
So even if the government slashes the annual budget deficit, it generally cannot reduce the debt unless it runs a surplus To have Fox News Sunday Snippets delivered to your inbox subscribe fns@ foxnews. com
bmw Eleuthera And The Exumas - Restaurants - Bahamian -
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A white former school bus is now a tiny spotless kitchen on wheels. Noted for its ' dogs, divine lobster burger, and the " Mac. Jean, " a hearty breakfast sandwich with sausage or bacon and sometimes cheese on homemade Bahamian bread, the dishes are all cooked . . . For the freshest and according to locals, best conch salad and the coldest beer, look for the splatter- painted seaside shack a stone' s throw from Grand Isle Resort, where Big D does the fishing every day.
You can' t get a better water view, and the beach . . .
On the top of Buccaneer Hill overlooking the town and the harbor, this mid- 19th- century farmhouse is now a restaurant serving three meals a day, with an outdoor dining area surrounded by a garden of bougainvillea, hibiscus, and coconut palms. The beach is . . . Yacht folks, locals, and visitors alike rub shoulders at Kenneth Bowe' s funky open- air beach bar on the point at Stocking Island.
All of the food is grilled over an open fire; awesome conch burgers with secret spices and grilled fish with onions and . . . Fried chicken, lobster, T- bone steak, and cracked conch are the delicious reasons people eat at this modest lakeside establishment. No credit cards.
Closed Sun. About 10 mi from George Town, close to the airport, this hole- in- the- wall lunch and dinner spot has an island- wide reputation for having the best native food.
Try one of the delectable shrimp dishes coconut beer shrimp, spicy Cajun shrimp, or scampi, all . . . Although you can sample local Bahamian fare at this famous eatery, the star of the menu is the cheeseburger, purportedly the inspiration for Jimmy Buffett' s " Cheeseburger in Paradise" song. Maybe it' s the rustic charm of the breezy patio, or the secret . . . A few miles south of Governor' s Harbour, this casual neighborhood restaurant specializes in pizza; try one topped with conch. Sandwiches, Bahamian specialties, and ice- cream sundaes are also served.
The walls are painted with tropical sunset scenes and . . .
Four blocks from the ferry dock on Bay Street with a deck overlooking the water, Lavaughn Percentie reigns over her colorful snack stand, renowned for its freshly caught conch salad ( $ 8) , which is diced in front of you, mixed with fresh vegetables, and . . . This spotless stop is owned by Sammy Culmer and managed by his friendly daughter Margarita.
It serves conch fritters, fried chicken, lobster and fish, and peas ' n' rice. When it' s available in season, don' t miss the guava duff dessert, sweet bread with . . . This waterfront pavilion at the Romora Bay Club perfectly frames sunsets over Harbour Island, so be sure to get here in time to snag a good seat for the show. Popular with locals, the restaurant serves midpriced Bahamian specialties such as conch fritters . . . This George Town restaurant serves breakfast ( especially popular on Saturday) consider trying the stew' fish or chicken souse and lunches of grilled fish or seafood sandwiches with three sides.
& nbsp; Georgia Witkin joined FOX News Channel ( FNC) in February 1998 as the host of " Beyond the News. " She is also the lifestyle contributor to WNBC- TV, NBC' s flagship station in New York. Her segments appear on " Weekend Today" in New York, " Live at Five, " " News at Noon, " and the early- morning " Today in New York" program.
Dr. Witkin is the author of " Stress Relief: For Disasters Great and Small; " " The Female Stress Syndrome; " " The Male Stress Syndrome; " " Quick Fixes & amp; Small Comforts; " " Beyond Quick Fixes; " " Passions and The Truth About Women. " She has also served on the editorial boards of New Woman, The Journal of Preventive Psychiatry, Health Woman Magazine and Bride' s Magazine. Dr. Witkin is a nationally recognized speaker and has written and hosted her own television show " Between The Sexes. " She also co- hosted a show with Dr.
Frank Field, entitled " Just Between Us" on WLVI- TV in Boston, and has appeared on CNBC since its inception.
Senate leaders from both parties joined Fox News Sunday to discuss the final days of the lame duck session of Congress and whether a bipartisan agreement can be reached in order to pass the START missile treaty with Russia. Senator Jon Kyl ( R- AZ) , who serves as his partys Minority Whip, has been a key player in the START negotiations. When asked, he made clear that he will not support the treaty as it is currently written. Kyl said, The problem here is that the United States in the past has kept missile defense off the table when talking about reducing strategic offensive weapons what are we going through this exercise, then, for?
We' re just a rubber stamp for the administration and the Russians. Dick Durbin ( D- IL) , who is the Democrats number two leader in the Senate, predicted the deal would pass. When asked if he had the votes, Durbin said, I think we do. We had 66 votes for those who wanted to move to this debate, and I think that we have had a debate now.
A bill, which would provide health care to the 9/ 11 first responders who went to Ground Zero, remains stalled in the Senate. Democrats have accused Republicans of holding the measure up, but the GOP has pointed to the fact that Democrats have not made the issue a priority and are trying to pass too many bills in too short a period of time. Kyl defended his position by saying, They ( 9/ 11 First Responders) should have peace of mind when it comes to health care. The question is what and how. And when you try to do it, as you said in your introduction, in a hurry, in the lame duck session, without a hearing, without understanding what the ramifications are and whether we can amend the bill, you' re doing it in the worst way.
Senator Durbin was asked why the White House wasnt making the issue more of a top priority, he responded, I can' t tell you where the White House stands. I hope they support it.
pay Culture, hard lessons drive GOP's anti-tax stand -
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On the surface, it would seem like an opportune time for Congress to include targeted tax hikes as part of a cost- cutting package to reduce the huge federal deficit. Federal taxes, as a share of the overall economy, are at their lowest levels since 1950. A return to the higher income tax rates of the Clinton presidency & mdash; when many Americans prospered, and calls for tax cuts were fairly muted & mdash; would wipe out most of the deficit. And congressional Democrats appear ready to make deep spending cuts, sought by Republicans, in exchange for a smaller level of tax increases.
Despite all that, most congressional Republicans have vowed not to raise taxes of any kind, complicating efforts to reach a bipartisan deal to reduce spending and prevent the from defaulting on its loans. The adamant stand puzzles many analysts.
They say it' s almost self- defeating, blocking Republicans from accepting deals in which Democrats have made the biggest concessions. " Republicans don' t know when to take ' yes' for an answer, " said Bob Bixby of the bipartisan Concord Coalition, a leading advocate of balanced budgets. " They could have very, very favorable terms" in the current negotiations, he said, with Democrats yielding far more in spending cuts than Republicans would have to yield in tax hikes. The potency of the Republican Party' s anti- tax stance seems to have caught even a top GOP lawmaker, House Speaker of Ohio, by surprise. He had to back away from suggestions that he might accept significant revenue hikes as part of a $ 4 trillion deficit- reduction plan. " There was never any agreement to allow tax rates to go up in any discussions I' ve ever had with the , " Boehner said Monday. Key Republicans and others cite at least four key events that transformed the GOP from a party with a balanced approach to taxes and spending & mdash; and both raised taxes, though many Republicans now ignore those facts & mdash; to a party that puts a no- net- tax- increase pledge above almost everything else. & mdash; Read My Lips. George H.
Bush' s most memorable campaign phrase in 1988 was " Read my lips: No new taxes! " But in 1990, Bush faced a rising deficit and congressional Democrats who, like today, insisted on revenue increases to partly offset spending cuts.
Bush' s advisers persuaded him to accept the deal. Hardcore conservatives howled, and Bush lost his 1992 re- election bid to .
A dispirited GOP played a role, but Bush' s slow response to a rapidly deteriorating economy probably played a bigger part. Nonetheless, Republican lore holds that Bush lost because he reneged on a vow never to raise taxes, and thousands of Republican officials since then have sworn not to make the same mistake. & mdash; 2003. By that year, Bush' s son had succeeded Clinton as president, and he solidified the GOP' s image as a party that doesn' t raise taxes, even when it launches costly new missions.
In fact, President persuaded Congress to enact a second major tax cut, on top of the one from 2001. Also in 2003, the United States invaded and the GOP- led Congress expanded to cover prescription drugs, both of which were paid for with borrowed money. " 2003 was the most fiscally irresponsible year, possibly of all time, " said David Walker, a former comptroller general who travels the country calling for deficit reduction.
Despite such charges, few Republican officials today say the lesson of 2003 is to raise revenues when programs expand and deficits soar. & mdash; A man named Grover. Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, has spent years cajoling, persuading and bullying GOP officials into signing a pledge never to support a net increase in taxes. While some Republicans grumble about Norquist' s clout, he still wields enormous influence, partly by warning those who defy his pledge that they will pay a political price. " My God, what has this country come to when one person has to give you permission to do what' s best for the country? " Clinton said in a recent speech, referring to Norquist. & mdash; A more conservative GOP. In recent years, staunch conservatives have expanded their influence in the Republican electorate. " The Republican Party is dependent, to an extent unprecedented in recent political history, on a single ideological group, " which is conservatives, writes political analyst Nate Silver. The trend increases the threat of a party primary challenger to any GOP lawmaker who makes accommodations, such as tax increases, to reach an accord with Democrats.
Today' s Republican Party is so taxaphobic that hardly anyone blinks when Senate GOP leader says, day after day, that the nation has a spending problem, not a taxing problem. Mathematically, of course, that' s not necessarily true.
A government can close a budget gap with tax hikes, spending cuts or some combination of the two. Liberal bloggers make this point more robustly than do most Democrats in Congress. " No, Mc.
Connell, we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem, " wrote a blogger named westcoastliberal at Rawstory. com. " If you and your GOP cohorts had not sought tax cuts as a remedy for every problem, we could be sitting pretty as a country right now. " The Republican Party' s anti- tax stand is aided by a public with conflicting wishes. Voters generally oppose large deficits, higher taxes and cuts in programs that benefit them, a painless but impossible combination. A March AP- Gf. K poll found that 62 percent of Americans say cutting government services is preferable to raising taxes in order to balance the budget.
Less than one- third favored tax hikes.
But their tune changes when faced with specifics, such as cutting popular and expensive programs that threaten to drive the deficit much higher. A new Pew Research poll asked whether it is more important to reduce the budget deficit or to maintain current Medicare and benefits. " The public decisively supports maintaining the status quo, " Pew found. Walker says the growing deficit mirrors a changed society that' s less willing to confront the consequences of spending more money than one makes. For 175 years, he said, the country refused to accept big deficits except in cases of deep recessions, declared wars or national emergencies. " It was part of our culture, " he said. " About three decades ago, our culture changed, " Walker said. Americans amassed debts on their credit cards and home equity loans, and the government similarly lived on borrowed money.
Given voters' and lawmakers' reluctance to make sacrifices, Walker said, Congress should enact a system of automatic spending cuts and temporary tax surcharges that would be triggered when the deficit hits designated levels. Bixby, of the Concord Coalition, said deal- making in Congress " used to be a good thing. " Now, he said, " people seem to be going out of their way to avoid a solution. " Tax hikes and program cuts are naturally unpopular, Bixby said, but how else can the deficit be tamed? " Raise revenues and cut spending, " he said. " It' s not that difficult. "
Older adults who get very little vitamin C in their diets may have an increased risk of developing cataracts , a study in India finds Older adults who get very little vitamin C in their diets may have an increased risk of developing cataracts , a study in India finds. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye' s lens that commonly cause vision problems in older people. Some studies, but not all, have found that people with higher intakes of antioxidants, including vitamin C, may have a lower risk of developing the condition. But those studies have been done in Western countries & mdash; and not in lower- income countries like India, where people' s vitamin C levels tend to be very low and rates of cataract are particularly high.
For the new study, researchers evaluated more than 5, 600 Indian adults age 60 and up for cataracts. They also interviewed them about their diets and lifestyle habits, and measured their blood levels of vitamin C.
Overall, nearly 73 percent of the study participants were found to have cataracts. But that risk dipped as vitamin C blood levels and vitamin C intake rose.
In the roughly one- quarter of older adults wit. . .
Though a sign on the door says it' s open by appointment only, a simple knock almost always gains you admission to this water rat' s dream store but call ahead to be sure. The 6, 000- square- foot space looks like the attic of a merchant seaman: in addition to . . . Dutch design with contemporary panache pervades South Washington Street' s coolest home store the best place to pick up bright oversize pillows, china, tables, Asian cabinets, and sleek, contemporary flatware. Metro: Back Bay/ South End.
There' s a shoe here for everyone. High- end Italian designers meet less expensive brands at this boutique. leokadiashoes. com.
You may have spotted this company in the " resources" pages of glossy home- decor magazines. At the shop it' s hard to choose from among the exquisite curtains made from 120- year- old patterns.
Metro: Massachusetts Ave. The pristine, all- white atmosphere directs your focus to the clothing.
Parisian designers share racks with lesser- knowns, providing a classy, yet edgy selection. loocboutique. com. This is a reliable, if somewhat overstuffed with merchandise, stop for classic clothing by such designers as Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren, along with accessories, cosmetics, and jewelry. Metro: Prudential Center.
Impeccably tailored designs, subtly updated classics, and the latest Italian styles highlight a wide selection of imported clothing and accessories.
Visiting celebrities might be trolling the racks along with you as jazz spills out into the street from the . . .
auto Trump Bumps Obama, But Obama Still Has Oprah -
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Obviously, the could see that polling numbers on the birther issue were starting to turn negative on . Obviously, Obama himself was persuaded that Donald Trump was drawing blood as Trump railed against Obama s credibility. Obviously, the Obama re- election campaign machinery was worried that the controversy over the birth certificate was opening up larger questions about Obama s trustworthiness- - and thus jeopardizing the 44th president s re- election chances.
Those might seem like harsh judgments on Obama- - and, also, high praise for the politico- media punch of Trump. But let s ask: If the Obamans were not feeling severe pressure, why would the President choose personally to wrap himself in the birther story, by stepping into the White House press briefing room on Wednesday morning to deliver the message that he does, in fact, have a genuine birth certificate?
And why would the White House step on one of the best stories it has had in months, the implicit endorsement of Obama by Gen. ? The news that Defense Secretary is retiring, to be replaced by current CIA director , is no big deal; Panetta is a longtime Democratic warhorse, regarded more as a loyalist than as a military expert.
But Petraeus is a big deal. The four- star general- - the hero of the surge, the most visible military man over the last decade of the global war on terror- - is retiring from the Army to become a civilian appointee in the Obama administration, replacing Panetta at the CIA.
In other words, in purely political terms, Petraeus is a huge get for Obama. Some thought that Petraeus would be running for president by now, as a Republican. Or at least that he would be keeping his options open, as he continued to lead the fight against Muslim extremism.
By staying in the military under Obama, Petraeus was, of course, loyally serving the Commander- in- Chief, but now that dynamic has changed. There s a huge difference between staying in uniform under C- in- C Obama and taking on a whole new job as an adviser to him at the CIA; one of the CIA director s duties is personally to brief the president on a near- daily basis about national security issues. So Petraeus has, in effect, endorsed Obama s leadership, and he will do so for every day that he serves in the CIA post. Moreover, having accepted the CIA appointment, Petraeus will now have to go through Senate confirmation hearings, in which questions will arise about whether or not he has supported, and will support, various Obama policies. It s inconceivable that Petraeus won t be confirmed, but if Petraeus seeks to be part of the Obama team, he will have to answer Senatorial questions about people and policy.
And not only will he have to praise, effusively, President Obama, but also Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and other present and future Obama colleagues. In addition, he will have be supportive of Obama policies concerning , , and other warzones and hotspots.
In other words, Petraeus- to- CIA is a great storyline for Obama.
His 2012 re- electioneers can say, Folks, America s greatest living general has signed on with Team Obama: Why would you want to risk changing leaders in the next presidential election? But instead, the White House goofed. It trampled all over that story- - and got a much different story: Instead of Petraeus Boosts Obama, it was Obama vs. Trump. Indeed, since it was Obama reacting to Trump s taunts, we can say that Trump won the round.
Whatever one wants to say about the merits of the birther story, Bragging aside, it does make Trump look like he is driving the agenda and forced the White House to react. Indeed.
In the game of politics, either you are moving the ball, or the other guy is moving the ball. And Trump was doing the moving.
So score one for The Donald. Now Trump is on to new inquiries, such as Obama s school transcripts. In fairness to Trump, he has a great many bones to pick with the President, from Libya to oil prices to China, but these personal issues are the red meat that activists- - and reporters- - thrive on. In 1996, Kenneth T. Walsh, a veteran White House reporter, entitled " Feeding the Beast: The White House Versus the Press. " The point of the book was that the White House media operation had to feed the beast that is, keep reporters happy by feeding them news.
That was 15 years ago; today, the few hundred reporters who get paid to cover the White House have been joined by many millions of cable- news watchers, e- mailers, bloggers, and tweeters, all salivating for more, more, more. So expect more curiosity about every aspect of Obama s life in the months to come. Having gotten their inch, Obama critics will now want their mile. One might think that Obama would seek to squelch all these diggers and critics with a display of seriousness. You know, say, summon the , or speak on grand strategy to the Council on Foreign Relations.
The diggers would still dig, of course, and the critics would still criticize, but Obama would be demonstrating that he is a serious man, doing serious things on behalf of the national interest. Yet instead of heavy, Obama went fluffy- - he sought comfort in the television studio of .
In the White House on Wednesday, the president said, I ve got better stuff to do than deal with the birth certificate issue- - even as, of course, he was dealing with it.
And immediately after that, he and the First Lady flew to Chicago where they chuckled over the silliness of the birther issue. And then it was off to New York City, for a fundraiser, where the President again joked about birtherism.
Is this a good strategy for Obama? To keep the story alive- - even as he tries to laugh it off? Probably not, for two reasons. First, as we have seen, every time Obama reacts to Trump, he is feeding Trump, and all the Trump wannabes. And second, the more engaged he seems to be about political gossip, the more disengaged he seems to be about real issues facing America. - - that was the headline in Thursday s Wall Street Journal.
And if that economic slowdown continues, in a couple of years, Obama will have plenty of time to battle Trump, or to go on Oprah- - because he will no longer be distracted by his duties at the White House.
James P.
Pinkerton is a Fox News contributor and panelist on Fox News Channel' s " Fox News Watch. " Watch him this weekend Saturday at 2: 30 p. m. ET.
