tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753133233718738922024-03-21T03:55:41.047-07:00MarkAndrewZ's Letter For Better or Worse - @markandrewz"Picking Up The Vibes"
Letters Reviewing All Things That Matter
"For Better or Worse"Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-57438600989917120972021-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:002021-02-02T12:42:58.144-08:00Guest Author: Jonathan Swan of Axios :The Craziest Meeting of the Trump Presidency <div class="story__meta col-1-13 flex flex-col items-start mb-12 sm:col-3-11 sm:mb-20 sm:space-y-12 space-y-8" style="-webkit-box-align: start; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; align-items: flex-start; color: #333335; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; grid-column: 3 / 11; margin-bottom: 5rem;"><span class="rubric px-4 py-1 rounded text-tag text-white" style="--space-y-reverse: 0; --text-opacity: 1; background-color: #2257da; border-radius: 0.25rem; color: rgba(255,255,255,var(--text-opacity)); margin-bottom: calc(3rem * var(--space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(3rem * calc(1 - var(--space-y-reverse))); padding: 0.25rem 1rem;">This edition of MarkAndrewZ's "Letter For Better Or Worse" publishes Axios' Investigative Journalist Jonathan Swan on an airtight referenced evening in the waning days of the Trump Presidency. Be sure to provide your opinion below or @markandrewz Twitter. </span><h1 class="font-regular leading-tight mb-0 text-h5 sm:text-h3" style="--space-y-reverse: 0; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: calc(3rem * var(--space-y-reverse)); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2rem;"><br /></h1><div class="flex items-center caption " style="--space-y-reverse: 0; -webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; display: flex; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: calc(3rem * var(--space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(3rem * calc(1 - var(--space-y-reverse)));"><div class="w-20 h-20 mr-6 sc-6usfji-0 lbJFqa" style="height: 5rem; margin-right: 1.5rem; width: 5rem;"><a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/authors/newsdesk/" data-vars-content-id="a8e1e466-2e42-42d0-9cf1-26eb267f8723" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Bonus episode: Inside the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency" data-vars-sub-category="headshot" href="https://www.axios.com/authors/newsdesk/" title="Axios"><div class="dm9ls1-0 bIqTEE"><amp-img alt="Axios" class="i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-element i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" data-testid="amp-tag" height="40" i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-visited="" i-amphtml-layout="responsive" layout="responsive" src="https://static.axios.com/img/axios-icon.png" style="--loader-delay-offset: 238ms !important; border-radius: 50%; display: block; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative;" width="40"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Axios" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" data-testid="amp-tag" decoding="async" src="https://static.axios.com/img/axios-icon.png" style="border: none !important; display: block; height: 0px; inset: 0px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; min-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute; width: 0px;" /></span></amp-img></div></a></div><div class=""><div class="truncate" style="overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a class="text-soft-black-core no-underline hover:text-accent-blue-shade hover:underline gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/authors/jonathanswan/" data-vars-content-id="a8e1e466-2e42-42d0-9cf1-26eb267f8723" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Bonus episode: Inside the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency" data-vars-sub-category="author-line" href="https://www.axios.com/authors/jonathanswan/" style="--text-opacity: 1; text-decoration-line: none;">Jonathan Swan</a>, <a class="text-soft-black-core no-underline hover:text-accent-blue-shade hover:underline gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/authors/zbasu/" data-vars-content-id="a8e1e466-2e42-42d0-9cf1-26eb267f8723" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Bonus episode: Inside the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency" data-vars-sub-category="author-line" href="https://www.axios.com/authors/zbasu/" style="--text-opacity: 1; text-decoration-line: none;">Zachary Basu</a></span></div></div></div><div class="flex mb-12 sm:mb-20" style="--space-y-reverse: 0; display: flex; margin-bottom: calc(3rem * var(--space-y-reverse)); margin-top: calc(3rem * calc(1 - var(--space-y-reverse)));"><div class="gtm-content-click h-16 relative w-16 b9rgys-0 gtcdvV" data-testid="social-share-button" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/trump-oval-office-meeting-sidney-powell-a8e1e466-2e42-42d0-9cf1-26eb267f8723.html?utm_campaign=organic&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=email" data-vars-content-id="a8e1e466-2e42-42d0-9cf1-26eb267f8723" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Bonus episode: Inside the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency" data-vars-item="social_share-email" data-vars-sub-category="story" style="border-radius: 50%; box-shadow: rgb(233, 233, 238) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; height: 4rem; margin-left: 2rem; position: relative; width: 4rem;"><svg class="h-0 absolute w-0"><defs></defs></svg><span style="font-size: x-small;"><filter color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" id="color-#333335"><fecolormatrix type="matrix" values="
0 0 0 0 0.2
0 0 0 0 0.2
0 0 0 0 0.20784313725490197
0 0 0 1 0
"></fecolormatrix></filter><filter color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" id="color-#ffffff"><fecolormatrix type="matrix" values="
0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 0 1
0 0 0 1 0
"></fecolormatrix></filter></span></div></div></div><div class="cbbc7v-0 iNrCiz col-1-13 sm:col-3-11" style="color: #333335; font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; grid-column: 3 / 11;"><div class="dm9ls1-0 bIqTEE"><amp-img alt="Photo illustration of the white house surrounded by scraps of paper feating a ballot, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, and Patrick M. Byrne" class="i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined i-amphtml-element i-amphtml-built i-amphtml-layout" data-testid="amp-tag" height="1080" i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-visited="" i-amphtml-layout="responsive" layout="responsive" lightbox="i-amphtml-auto-lightbox-0" src="https://images.axios.com/-kLerEjpcNuGNXd85LQcbc3o5kA=/0x0:1920x1080/1920x1080/2021/02/01/1612218772466.jpg" style="display: block; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative;" width="1920"><i-amphtml-sizer slot="i-amphtml-svc" style="display: block; padding-top: 405.703px;"></i-amphtml-sizer><img alt="Photo illustration of the white house surrounded by scraps of paper feating a ballot, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, and Patrick M. Byrne" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" data-testid="amp-tag" decoding="async" src="https://images.axios.com/-kLerEjpcNuGNXd85LQcbc3o5kA=/0x0:1920x1080/1920x1080/2021/02/01/1612218772466.jpg" style="border: none !important; display: block; height: 0px; inset: 0px; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; min-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute; width: 0px;" /></amp-img></div><figcaption class="cbbc7v-1 gkungq" style="color: #656568; line-height: 1.5;"><p style="font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin: 1.5rem 0px 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Getty Images photos: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post, George Frey/Bloomberg</span></p><p style="font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin: 1.5rem 0px 0px;"><span style="color: #333335; font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 600;">Four conspiracy theorists marched into the Oval Office. </span><span style="color: #333335; font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was early evening on Friday, Dec. 18 — more than a month after the election had been declared for Joe Biden, and four days after the Electoral College met in every state to make it official.</span></p><p style="font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin: 1.5rem 0px 0px;"><span style="color: #333335; font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: small;">"How the hell did Sidney get in the building?" White House senior adviser Eric Herschmann grumbled from the outer Oval Office as Sidney Powell and her entourage strutted by to visit the president. </span></p></figcaption></div><div class="col-1-13 sm:col-3-11 " style="color: #333335; font-family: "NB International Pro", Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; grid-column: 3 / 11;"><div class="b0w77w-0 gyJiUn mt-12 mb-20 sm:mt-20 gtm-story-text p" style="line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 5rem; margin-top: 5rem;"><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Trump's private schedule hadn't included appointments for Powell or the others: former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, and a little-known former Trump administration official, Emily Newman. But they'd come to convince Trump that he had the power to take extreme measures to keep fighting.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As Powell and the others entered the Oval Office that evening, Herschmann — a wealthy business executive and former partner at Kasowitz Benson & Torres who'd been pulled out of quasi-retirement to advise Trump — quietly slipped in behind them.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The hours to come would pit</span> the insurgent conspiracists against a handful of White House lawyers and advisers determined to keep the president from giving in to temptation to invoke emergency national security powers, seize voting machines and disable the primary levers of American democracy.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Herschmann took a seat in a yellow chair close to the doorway. Powell, Flynn, Newman and Byrne sat in a row before the Resolute Desk, facing the president.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For weeks now, ever since Rudy Giuliani had commandeered Trump’s floundering campaign to overturn the election, outsiders had been coming out of the woodwork to feed the president wild allegations of voter fraud based on highly dubious sources. </span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Trump was no longer focused on</span> any semblance of a governing agenda, instead spending his days taking phone calls and meetings from anyone armed with conspiracy theories about the election. For the White House staff, it was an unending sea of garbage churned up by the bottom feeders.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell began this meeting with the same baseless claim that now has her facing a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit: She told the president that<span style="font-weight: 600;"> </span>Dominion Voting Systems had rigged their machines to flip votes from Trump to Biden and that it was part of an international communist plot to steal the election for the Democrats.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Note: In response to a request for comment, Powell said in an emailed statement to Axios: “I will not publicly discuss my private meetings with the President of the United States. I believe those meetings are privileged and confidential under executive privilege and under rules of the legal profession. I would caution the readers to view mainstream media reports of any such conversations with a high degree of discernment and a healthy dose of skepticism.”]</span></em></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell waved an affidavit from the pile of papers in her lap, <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/technology/sidney-powell-venezuela.html" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="claiming it contained testimony" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/technology/sidney-powell-venezuela.html" style="color: #2257da;" target="_blank">claiming it contained testimony</a> from someone involved in the development of rigged voting machines in Venezuela.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">She proposed declaring a national security emergency,</span> granting<span style="font-weight: 600;"> </span>her and her cabal top-secret security clearances and using the U.S. government to seize Dominion’s voting machines.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Hold on a minute, Sidney," Herschmann interrupted from the back of the Oval. "You're part of the Rudy team, right? Is your theory that the Democrats got together and changed the rules, or is it that there was foreign interference in our election?"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Giuliani's legal efforts, while replete with debunked claims about voter fraud, had largely focused on allegations of misconduct by corrupt Democrats and election officials.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"It's foreign interference," Powell insisted, then added: "Rudy hasn't understood what this case is about until just now."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In disbelief, Herschmann yelled out to an aide in the outer Oval Office. "Get Pat down here immediately!" Several minutes later, White House counsel Pat Cipollone walked into the Oval. He looked at Byrne and said, "Who are you?"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The meeting was already getting heated.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">White House staff had spent weeks poring over the evidence underlying hundreds of affidavits and other claims of fraud promoted by Trump allies like Powell. The team had done the due diligence and knew the specific details of what was being alleged better than anybody. Time and time again, they found, Powell's allegations fell apart under basic scrutiny.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But Powell, fixing on Trump, continued to elaborate on a fantastical election narrative involving Venezuela, Iran, China and others. She named a county in Georgia where she claimed she could prove that Dominion had illegally flipped the vote.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Herschmann interrupted to point out</span> that Trump had actually won the Georgia county in question: "So your theory is that Dominion intentionally flipped the votes so we could <em>win</em> that county?"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As for Powell's larger claims, he demanded she provide evidence for what — if true — would amount to the greatest national security breach in American history. They needed to dial in one of the campaign's lawyers, Herschmann said, and Trump campaign lawyer Matt Morgan was patched in via speakerphone.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By now, people were yelling and cursing.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The room was starting to fill up. Trump's personal assistant summoned White House staff secretary Derek Lyons to join the meeting and asked him to bring a copy of a 2018 executive order that the Powell group kept citing as the key to victory. Lyons agreed with Cipollone and the other officials that Powell's theories were nonsensical.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was now four against four.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flynn went berserk. The former three-star general, whom Trump had fired as his first national security adviser after he was caught lying to the FBI (and later pardoned), stood up and turned from the Resolute Desk to face Herschmann.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"You're quitting! You're a quitter! You're not fighting!” he exploded at the senior adviser. Flynn then turned to the president, and implored: "Sir, we need fighters."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Herschmann ignored Flynn at first and continued to probe Powell's pitch with questions about the underlying evidence. "All you do is promise, but never deliver," he said to her sharply.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flynn was ranting, seemingly infuriated about anyone challenging Powell, who had represented him in his recent legal battles.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally Herschmann had enough. "Why the fuck do you keep standing up and screaming at me?" he shot back at Flynn. "If you want to come over here, come over here. If not, sit your ass down." Flynn sat back down.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The meeting had come entirely off the rails.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Byrne, backing up Flynn, told Trump the White House lawyers didn't care about him and were being obstructive. "Sir, we're both entrepreneurs, and we both built businesses," the former Overstock CEO told Trump. "We know that there are times you have to be creative and take different steps."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was a remarkable level of personal familiarity, given it was the first time Byrne had met the president. All the stanchions and buffers between the White House and the outside world had crumbled.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Byrne kept attacking the senior White House staff in front of Trump. "They've already abandoned you," he told the president aggressively. Periodically during<span style="font-weight: 600;"> </span>the meeting Flynn or Byrne challenged Trump's top staff — portraying them as disloyal: <em>So do you think the president won or not?</em></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At one point, with Flynn shouting, Byrne raised his hand to talk. He stood up and turned around to face Herschmann. "You're a quitter," he said. "You've been interfering with everything. You've been cutting us off."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">"Do you even know who the fuck I am, you idiot?"</span> Herschmann snapped back.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Yeah, you're Patrick Cipollone," Byrne said.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Wrong! Wrong, you idiot!"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The staff were now on their feet,</span> standing behind one of the couches and facing the Powell crew at the Resolute Desk. Cipollone stood to Herschmann's left. Lyons, on his last day on<span style="font-weight: 600;"> </span>the job, stood to Herschmann's right.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trump was behind the desk, watching the show. He briefly left the meeting to wander into his private dining room.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The usually mild-mannered Lyons blasted the Powell set: "You've brought 60 cases. And you've lost every case you’ve had!"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trump came back into the Oval Office from the dining room to rejoin the meeting. Lyons pointed out to Powell that their incompetence went beyond their lawsuits being thrown out for standing. "You somehow managed to misspell the word 'District' three different ways in your suits," he said pointedly.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a Georgia case, the Powell team had misidentified the court on the first page of their filing as "THE UNITED STATES DISTRICCT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRCOICT OF GEORGIA." And they had identified the Michigan court as the "EASTERN DISTRCT OF MICHIGAN."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">These were sloppy spelling errors.</span> But given that these lawsuits aimed to overturn a presidential election, the court nomenclature should have been pristine.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell, Flynn and Byrne began attacking Lyons as they renewed their argument to Trump: <em>There they go again, they want to focus on the insignificant details instead of fighting for you.</em></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trump replied, "No, no, he's right. That was very embarrassing. That shouldn't have happened."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Powell team needed to regroup. They shifted to a new grievance to turn the conversation away from their embarrassing errors. Powell insisted that they hadn't "lost" the 60-odd court cases, since the cases were mostly dismissed for lack of standing and they had never had the chance to present their evidence.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Every judge is corrupt,</em> she claimed. <em>We can't rely on them.</em> The White House lawyers couldn't believe what they were hearing. "That's your argument?" a stunned Herschmann said. "Even the judges <em>we</em> appointed? Are you out of your fucking mind?"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Powell had more to say.</span> She and Flynn began trashing the FBI as well, and the Justice Department under Attorney General Bill Barr, telling Trump that neither could be trusted. Both institutions, they said, were corrupt, and Trump needed to fire the leadership and get in new people he could trust.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cipollone, standing his ground amidst this mishmash of conspiracies, said they were totally wrong. He aggressively defended the DOJ and the FBI, saying they had looked into every major claim of fraud that had been reported.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flynn and Powell had long nursed their antipathy to the FBI and Justice. Flynn had pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation but withdrew the plea after hiring Powell as his lawyer in June 2019.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The two alleged the FBI had entrapped Flynn and failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, known as Brady material, as required by law. They had found an ally in Barr, a fierce critic of the Russia investigation who finally directed the DOJ to drop Flynn's case.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Herschmann, known inside the White House as a defender of Barr and the DOJ, went off on Flynn again: "Listen, the same people that you're trashing, if they didn't produce the Brady material to Sidney, your ass would still be in jail!"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">It was no longer technically true</span> that Flynn would be in jail, as he had received a post-election pardon from Trump. But Flynn was furious. "Don't mention my case," he roared. Herschmann responded, "Where do you think Sidney got this information? Where do you think it came from? From the exact same people in the Department of Justice that you're now saying are corrupt."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Byrne, wearing jeans, a hoodie and a neck gaiter, piped up with his own conspiracy: "I know how this works. I bribed Hillary Clinton $18 million on behalf of the FBI for a sting operation."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Herschmann stared at the eccentric millionaire. "What the hell are you talking about? Why would you say something like that?" Byrne brought up the bizarre Clinton bribery claim several more times during the meeting to the astonishment of White House lawyers.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Trump, for his part,</span> also seemed perplexed by Byrne. But he was not entirely convinced the ideas Powell was presenting were insane.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">He asked:<em> You guys are offering me nothing. These guys are at least offering me a chance. They’re saying they have the evidence. Why not try this?</em> The president seemed truly to believe the election was stolen, and his overriding sentiment was, let's give this a shot.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">The words "martial law" </span>were never spoken during the meeting, despite Flynn having raised the idea in an appearance the previous day on Newsmax, a right-wing hive for election conspiracies.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But this was a distinction without much of a difference. What Flynn and Powell were proposing amounted to suspending normal laws and mobilizing the U.S. government to seize Dominion voting machines around the country.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell was arguing that they couldn't get a judge to enforce any subpoena to hand over the voting machines because all the judges were corrupt. She and her group repeatedly referred to the National Emergencies Act and a Trump <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-order-impose-sanctions-election-interference/story?id=57770888" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="executive order from 2018" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-order-impose-sanctions-election-interference/story?id=57770888" style="color: #2257da;" target="_blank">executive order from 2018</a> that was designed to clear the way for the government to sanction foreign actors interfering in U.S. elections.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These laws were, in the view of Powell, Flynn and the others, the key to unlocking extraordinary powers for Trump to stay in office beyond Jan. 20.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Their theory was that because foreign enemies had stolen the election, all bets were off and Trump could use the full force of the United States government to go after Dominion.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was remarkable that the presidency had deteriorated to such an extent that this fight in the Oval Office between senior White House officials and radical conspiracists was even taking place.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">"How exactly are you going to do this?" </span>an exasperated Herschmann asked again, later in the conversation. Newman again cited the 2018 executive order, which prompted Herschmann to question out loud whether she was even a lawyer.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Then Byrne chimed in: "There are guys with big guns and badges who can get these things." Herschmann couldn't believe it. "What are you, three years old?" he asked.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyons, the staff secretary, told the president that the executive order Powell and Flynn were citing did not give him the authority they claimed it did to seize voting machines. Morgan, the campaign lawyer, also expressed skepticism about their idea of invoking national security emergency powers.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To help adjudicate, Trump then patched in the national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, on speakerphone. Trump's personal assistant brought O'Brien into the call with no explanation of what madness would await him.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">O'Brien said very little in the short time he was on the call but intervened at one point to say he saw no evidence to support Powell's notion of declaring a national security emergency to seize voting machines. There was so much fiery crosstalk it was hard for anyone on the telephone to follow the conversation.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Trump expressed skepticism</span> at various points about Powell's theories, but he said, "At least she’s out there fighting."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The discussion shifted from Dominion voting machines to a conversation about appointing Powell as a special counsel inside the government to investigate voter fraud. She wanted a top secret security clearance and access to confidential voter information.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyons told Trump he couldn't appoint Powell as a special counsel at the Justice Department because this was an attorney general appointment. Lyons, Cipollone and Herschmann — in fact the entire senior White House staff who were aware of this idea — were all vehemently opposed to Powell becoming a special counsel anywhere in the government.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By this point Trump had also patched into the call his personal lawyer Giuliani and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Meadows indicated that he was trying to wrap his mind around what exactly Powell's role would entail. He told Powell she would have to fill out the SF-86 questionnaire before starting as special counsel.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">This was seen as a delaying tactic. </span>The sense in the room was that Trump might actually greenlight this extraordinary proposal.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At its essence, the Powell crew's argument to the president was this: <em>We have the real information. These people — your White House staff — don't believe in the truth. They're liars and quitters. They're not willing to fight for you because they don't want to get their hands dirty. Put us in charge. Let us take control of everything. We'll prove to you that what we're saying is right. We won't quit, we'll fight. We're willing to fight for the presidency.</em></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On some level, this argument was music to Trump's ears. He was desperate. Powell and her team were the only people willing to tell him what he wanted to hear — that a path to stay in power in the White House remained.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Oval Office portion of the meeting had dragged on for nearly three hours, creeping beyond 9 p.m. The arguments became so heated that even Giuliani — still on the phone — at one point told everyone to calm down. One participant later recalled: "When Rudy's the voice of reason, you know the meeting's not going well."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Giuliani told Trump he was going to come over</span> to the White House. The president, having forgotten about the others on the line, hung up and cut multiple people off the call.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Herschmann, Cipollone and Lyons left the Oval Office, but soon discovered that the Powell entourage had made their way to the president’s residence. They followed them upstairs, to the Yellow Oval Room, Trump's living room, where they were joined by Giuliani and Meadows.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trump sat beside Powell in armchairs facing the door, separated by a round, wooden antique table. Giuliani sat in an armchair to the right of them, while Byrne and Meadows sat on a couch. Byrne wolfed down pigs in a blanket and little meatballs on toothpicks that staff had set on the coffee table.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Herschmann was primed to brawl</span> and ready to dump on Powell. It had been a long day.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Rudy," he said, turning to Giuliani, "Sidney was just in the Oval telling the president you don't know what the fuck you're doing. Right, Sidney?" He turned to Powell: "Why don't you tell Rudy to his face?"</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Eric, really it's not appropriate," Trump replied curtly. </span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"What's not appropriate?" Herschmann shot back. Turning to Powell, he said, "Why don't you repeat to Rudy what you just told the president in the Oval Office — that he has no idea about the case and that he only just began to understand it a few hours ago."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Three days later, Giuliani would publicly distance himself from Powell, telling Newsmax that Powell did not represent the president, and that "whatever she's talking about, it's her own opinions."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">It didn't take long for the yelling to start up again.</span> They were now in hour four of a meeting unprecedented even by the deranged standards of the final days of the Trump presidency. </span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Now it was Meadows' turn, blasting Flynn for trashing him and accusing him of being a quitter. "Don't you dare challenge me about whether I'm being supportive of the president and working hard," Meadows shouted, reminding Flynn that he'd defended him during his legal troubles.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Trump and Cipollone, who frequently butted heads,</span> went at it too, over whether the administration had the authority to do what Powell was proposing.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell kept asserting throughout the night that she had — or would soon produce — the evidence needed to prove foreign interference. She kept insisting that Trump had the legal authority he needed to seize voting machines. But she did not have the goods.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powell at one point turned to Lyons and demanded, "Why are you speaking? Are you still employed here?" The staff secretary, who had already resigned, laughed and joked, "Well I guess I'm here until midnight."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">It was after midnight</span> by the time the White House officials had finally said their piece. They left that night fully prepared for the mad possibility Trump might still name Sidney Powell special counsel. <em>You have our advice,</em> they told the president before walking out. <em>You decide who to listen to.</em></span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">🎧 <span style="font-weight: 600;">Listen to Jonathan Swan</span> on Axios' new <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-click-url="https://link.chtbl.com/howithappened-offtherails" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="investigative podcast series" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://link.chtbl.com/howithappened-offtherails" style="color: #2257da;" target="_blank">investigative podcast series</a>, called "How it happened: Trump's last stand."</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We would like to thank Axios and Jonathan Swan for this article and Mark Andrew Group LLC takes no responsibility or makes no endorsement as this article is the opinion of the author. MAG does not state or make any claim of any rights to this article and photographs. All proper credits are provided.</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you, Facebook: markandrewz Twitter: @markandrewz</span></p><p style="font-family: Atiza, Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 3rem; margin-top: 3rem;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.markadrewgroup.com </span></p></div></div>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-53182381211970713062020-12-10T08:54:00.002-08:002020-12-10T08:54:30.520-08:00FireEye Shares Details of Recent Cyber Attack, Actions to Protect Community<div class="title entrytitle" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="category-name" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Gotham SSm A", "Gotham SSm B", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 30px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><time class="entry-date" content="2020-12-08T21:00:00Z" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: 0px; color: #44474d; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">December 08, 2020,</time><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span class="by-author" itemptype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope="" style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by <a class="at-element-click-tracking" href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/products-and-services.html/category/etc/tags/fireeye-blog-authors/cap-kevin-mandia" style="border: 0px; color: #2e5799; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all entries filed under 'Fireeye - Authors : Kevin Mandia'">Kevin</a> Mandia - Guest Author, President and CEO of FireEye</span></h2></div><div class="par parsys" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="entrytext section" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="c00 c00v0" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Based on my 25 years in cybersecurity and responding to incidents, I’ve concluded we are witnessing an attack by a nation with top-tier offensive capabilities. This attack is different from the tens of thousands of incidents we have responded to throughout the years. The attackers tailored their world-class capabilities specifically to target and attack FireEye. They are highly trained in operational security and executed with discipline and focus. They operated clandestinely, using methods that counter security tools and forensic examination. They used a novel combination of techniques not witnessed by us or our partners in the past.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We are actively investigating in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other key partners, including Microsoft. Their initial analysis supports our conclusion that this was the work of a highly sophisticated state-sponsored attacker utilizing novel techniques. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">During our investigation to date, we have found that the attacker targeted and accessed certain Red Team assessment tools that we use to test our customers’ security. These tools mimic the behavior of many cyber threat actors and enable FireEye to provide essential diagnostic security services to our customers. None of the tools contain zero-day exploits. Consistent with our goal to protect the community, we are proactively releasing methods and means to detect the use of our stolen Red Team tools. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We are not sure if the attacker intends to use our Red Team tools or to publicly disclose them. Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, we have developed more than 300 countermeasures for our customers, and the community at large, to use in order to minimize the potential impact of the theft of these tools. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We have seen no evidence to date that any attacker has used the stolen Red Team tools. We, as well as others in the security community, will continue to monitor for any such activity. At this time, we want to ensure that the entire security community is both aware and protected against the attempted use of these Red Team tools. Specifically, here is what we are doing:</span></p><ul style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 13px 8px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.538; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We have prepared countermeasures that can detect or block the use of our stolen Red Team tools.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.538; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We have implemented countermeasures into our security products.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.538; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We are sharing these countermeasures with our colleagues in the security community so that they can update their security tools.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.538; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">We are making the countermeasures publicly available in our blog post, </span><span style="color: #222222;">"<a adhocenable="false" class="at-element-click-tracking" href="https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/12/unauthorized-access-of-fireeye-red-team-tools.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: times; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unauthorized Access of FireEye Red Team Tools</a><span style="font-family: times;">."</span></span></li><li style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.538; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">We will continue to share and refine any additional mitigations for the Red Team tools as they become available, both publicly and directly with our security partners.</span></li></ul><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Consistent with a nation-state cyber-espionage effort, the attacker primarily sought information related to certain government customers. While the attacker was able to access some of our internal systems, at this point in our investigation, we have seen no evidence that the attacker exfiltrated data from our primary systems that store customer information from our incident response or consulting engagements, or the metadata collected by our products in our dynamic threat intelligence systems. If we discover that customer information was taken, we will contact them directly.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Over many years, we have identified, cataloged, and publicly disclosed the activities of many Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups, empowering the broader security community to detect and block new and emerging threats.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Every day, we innovate and adapt to protect our customers from threat actors who play outside the legal and ethical bounds of society. This event is no different. We’re confident in the efficacy of our products and the processes we use to refine them. We have learned and continue to learn more about our adversaries as a result of this attack, and the greater security community will emerge from this incident better protected. We will never be deterred from doing what is right.</span></p><h4 style="border: 0px; color: #44474d; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Forward Looking Statements</span></h4><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Certain statements contained in this blog post constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, understanding, and expectations and may relate to, among other things, statements regarding our current beliefs and understanding regarding the impact and scale of the disclosed event and our understanding of what occurred. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and understanding, which may change as the investigation proceeds and more is learned, including what was targeted and accessed by the attacker. These statements are subject to future events, risks, and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control or are currently unknown to FireEye. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to our ongoing investigation, including the potential discovery of new information related to the incident.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.538; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times;">Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and while we intend to provide additional information regarding the attack, FireEye does not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law and specifically disclaims any duty to do so.</span></p></div></div></div>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-719981427890161372020-10-16T08:35:00.001-07:002020-10-16T08:35:43.315-07:00Saint Joseph's College - Indiana and the Future (Part I)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiTW-LbqKfL9wmjse_43d_MTb7XqSxYf9BMpcGhm3gDwKHaw4XbBPK0bjGj50xwEwooniqYNenFv86NgBK-vrhokYEEYA_cpI70w5taSnkV9OY0r-yhVCKpcB35w8f6ialiffbCZeX9rV/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="645" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiTW-LbqKfL9wmjse_43d_MTb7XqSxYf9BMpcGhm3gDwKHaw4XbBPK0bjGj50xwEwooniqYNenFv86NgBK-vrhokYEEYA_cpI70w5taSnkV9OY0r-yhVCKpcB35w8f6ialiffbCZeX9rV/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunRWZGZQ0TQoW0Dnt28pl4AMrpbpio0oHhPl5cp1Qv0I0-kwMkZSHKgeOfxrALScK5F0DMd9o-XeX2YWVTLCmxV4nO2_OtL2Q_hwC_ccx6YM8JwGaYZGNEtWLHG0x8XEMT9N0fJSwegGk/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img alt="" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunRWZGZQ0TQoW0Dnt28pl4AMrpbpio0oHhPl5cp1Qv0I0-kwMkZSHKgeOfxrALScK5F0DMd9o-XeX2YWVTLCmxV4nO2_OtL2Q_hwC_ccx6YM8JwGaYZGNEtWLHG0x8XEMT9N0fJSwegGk/s16000/image.png" /></span></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaoTzou94Hf7jFnHqRcIEGyUc3tj_IP-l_f6PPlO5bz080aniZD1FzXXb5WuUKF6N7rWt7DTmLSZUB5a5AKcksNG9FvK8ufNlvcb-Ywo-yfgVYrIhJr8GbdlbS-QvtYXSD80YIbOQetUL/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaoTzou94Hf7jFnHqRcIEGyUc3tj_IP-l_f6PPlO5bz080aniZD1FzXXb5WuUKF6N7rWt7DTmLSZUB5a5AKcksNG9FvK8ufNlvcb-Ywo-yfgVYrIhJr8GbdlbS-QvtYXSD80YIbOQetUL/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-18085277569119709622017-10-04T13:27:00.001-07:002017-10-11T09:38:51.550-07:00Your Executive Responsibility<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255 , 255 , 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "georgia" , "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">The Responsibility You Have To Return Phone Calls and To Respond To E-Mail Messages</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="reader-flag-content__wrapper mb4 clear-both" data-ember-action-4005="4005" data-ember-action="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); display: flex; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", Meiryo, "Hiragino Sans GB W3", "Noto Naskh Arabic", "Droid Arabic Naskh", "Geeza Pro", "Simplified Arabic", "Noto Sans Thai", Thonburi, Dokchampa, "Droid Sans Thai", "Droid Sans Fallback", -apple-system, ".SFNSDisplay-Regular", "Heiti SC", "Microsoft Yahei", "Segoe UI"; font-size: 1.5rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; justify-content: flex-end; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.7); font-family: "source serif pro" , serif; font-size: 21px; text-align: justify;">The following is an e-mail thread that everyone should read. No Shameless Self- Promotion. Rather, true fact. It is the responsibility of all those who have achieved significant accomplishments in life to help others. Especially, the young ones. Check out the thread from the bottom up.</span></div>
<div class="ember-view" id="ember4004" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", Meiryo, "Hiragino Sans GB W3", "Noto Naskh Arabic", "Droid Arabic Naskh", "Geeza Pro", "Simplified Arabic", "Noto Sans Thai", Thonburi, Dokchampa, "Droid Sans Thai", "Droid Sans Fallback", -apple-system, ".SFNSDisplay-Regular", "Heiti SC", "Microsoft Yahei", "Segoe UI"; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="reader-article-content" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: initial; text-align: start;"> ---------------------------------------</span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Hi Andrew,</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am Mark Andrew, Chairman of the Mark Andrew Group. I received your email message regarding your quest to become a sports agent. I am responding to that email message.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I tried to call the number you listed just a moment ago, but I received a recording stating your voice mailbox was not yet set up.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In short, I like to help young people achieve their dreams and desires. Many people dismiss those requests and/or simply ignore them justifying it by not having the time. I have always disagreed with that philosophy and people that know me will vouch for my sentiment. Those people are professional sports franchise owners, pro athletes, sponsors, vendors, venue/facility executives and academics, to name a few. I would be happy to speak with you regarding the steps one would take in order to achieve that position and all the worldly items that come along with to - business and personal.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You can reach me at: 214-552-0652. When you receive my voice mail recording leave a message with a time and date to return the call and I will reach out to you.</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
All the best,</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mark Andrew</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mark Andrew Zwartynski</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: initial;">Chairman</span></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
GP Capital Partners</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Mark Andrew Group</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Managing General Partner</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
High Performance Breathing Technology</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
214-552-0652 - @markandrewz</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
www.markandrewgroup.com</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Begin forwarded message:</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
From: "Mark Andrew Group" <sales@nexrage.com></div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Subject: Mark Andrews Group Contact Form</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Date: October 3, 2017 at 9:29:55 PM CDT</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To: markandrew@markandrewgroup.com</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Name: Andrew Pulgarin</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Email: andrewpulgarin0111@gmail.com</div>
<div style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); font-family: "Source Serif Pro", serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 32px; margin: 3.2rem 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Message: Please Read. Hi, my name is Andrew Pulgarin, I am 17 years old, senior in a small city in Texas. I love sports with a passion I can not describe, and my dream in life is to become the next big sports agent. I've always wanted to be a sports agent since a young age, but now I am confused because I have no idea of how the process to become one works. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could take a couple minutes to answer some questions or explain how it works. Please. My email is andrewpulgarin0111@gmail.com and my phone number is (409) 656-8195. Thank you, and please help.</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-89443263125602944282017-08-03T12:26:00.000-07:002017-08-03T12:40:00.545-07:00"Can We Survive a Nuclear North Korea" <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MarkAndrewZ Guest Writer: Ozy Senior Columnist John McLaughlin</span></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OZY Senior Columnist John McLaughlin teaches at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and was deputy director and acting director of the CIA from 2000 to 2004. Follow him on Twitter: @jmclaughlinSAIS.</span></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time to manage our expectations. Having most likely lost the battle to keep nukes out of <a href="http://www.ozy.com/acumen/the-science-behind-north-korean-defectors/69390" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">North Korean</a> hands, the problem turns now to dealing with a nuclear-armed Pyongyang.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The U.S. military <a href="http://www.ozy.com/pov/how-to-turn-up-the-heat-on-north-korea/79347" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">still has options</a>, but it’s increasingly likely that one of them is <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;">not</em> a pre-emptive strike to neutralize North Korea’s capability. Why?</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.55556; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The program is now too large, too advanced and too dispersed, with much of it hidden deep underground.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.55556; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The North has the ability to retaliate with massive artillery strikes on heavily populated areas in South Korea.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.55556; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pyongyang has an intermediate-range missile force that can hit the South, Japan and other neighbors. Many of its missiles are mobile, making them harder to track and target. It is also starting to use solid fuel in some of them, which makes them more agile because it can dispense with transporting cumbersome liquid fuel. Finally, it already may have the capability to mount nuclear warheads on some of its intermediate-range missiles.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Data is still emerging on North Korea’s latest missile test on July 24, but it was another attempt to refine its version of an intercontinental missile that could hit the United States. It appears to have had a larger second stage than the one that was tested on July 4, which probably accounts for the greater projected range. Estimates vary on the number of nuclear weapons it already has, ranging from eight to as many as 30.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This latest missile went nearly straight up for about 2,300 miles; when flattened out over a normal missile trajectory, this means it could reach into the central United States. That said, North Korea probably still needs to master a few things, including accuracy. An early video of this test suggests that the North cannot yet shield a re-entry-stage warhead against the heat of atmospheric re-entry. It is also uncertain whether it can yet miniaturize a nuclear warhead sufficiently to fit on the missile’s small third stage.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So now what? American leaders are now forced into a highly complex foreign policy strategy when it comes to Pyongyang — one that requires great agility and close coordination across government departments. Donald Trump’s administration has not yet had to deal with an issue so complicated and so dependent on effective teamwork.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump’s team deserves credit for responding forcefully to Syria’s use of chemical weapons in April. But the instrument they used — a cruise missile attack — was a single blunt instrument, compared to the complicated mix of policies North Korea requires. Trump’s appointment of highly disciplined former Marine General and Homeland Security secretary John Kelly as White House chief of staff may help, particularly if he can help national security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster bring order to the cross-agency coordination of foreign policy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are some things they must consider? Most of the strategy fits under the broad heading of <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;">deterrence</em>. Although this was the heart of our strategy during the long Cold War, it took years of warily circling with the Soviet Union to develop some mutually understood rules. With North Korea, we are dealing with a regime that has no such experience, headed by a leader that no U.S. official has met.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Still, deterrence can work if orchestrated systematically, using all the tools at our disposal. The first simple requirement is messaging this to the North: Using your nuclear weaponry will draw a devastating response certain to eliminate your regime. This would provoke frenetic saber-rattling, but as the director of national intelligence recently said, Kim Jong-UN is an “unusual person but probably not crazy.” In other words, he will understand, and his overriding goal will be to preserve the regime.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can underline this with what the military calls “flexible deterrent options.” These are steps short of kinetic engagement that demonstrate power and resolve, such as this week’s flight over the Korean Peninsula by U.S. supersonic fighter jets and bombers and the U.S. demonstration launch of an ICBM over the Pacific this week. Reinforcing such demonstrations? South Korea’s plan to boost the explosive power of conventional warheads on missiles it has pointing north.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Missile defense has a deterrent role as well. South Korean leader Moon Jae-in just removed a hold he had placed on the deployment of a major anti-ballistic missile system the United States wants to station in the South. Japan, meanwhile, says it wants to beef up missile defense. In May, Washington also demonstrated its ability to shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile in a test over the Pacific, although this system is not yet fail-safe. Although generally deemed too expensive and difficult, we can also look again at the feasibility of a space-based missile intercept system.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tougher sanctions on the North, such as those just authorized by Congress, can add to the pressure, but sanctions alone will never be enough given the regime’s apparent disregard for the welfare of its populace. China can be helpful, but we can’t “outsource” the problem to Beijing, the way President Trump has suggested via Twitter:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Tweet-header u-cf" style="color: #1c2022; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; padding-left: 45px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;">
<div class="TweetAuthor " data-scribe="component:author" style="line-height: 0; margin-top: 2px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; word-wrap: normal !important;">
<a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="TweetAuthor-avatar Identity-avatar" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 36px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 36px;"><img alt="" class="Avatar Avatar--edge" data-scribe="element:avatar" data-src-1x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_normal.jpg" data-src-2x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_bigger.jpg" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_normal.jpg" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;" /></span><span class="TweetAuthor-name Identity-name customisable-highlight" data-scribe="element:name" style="font-weight: 700;" title="Donald J. Trump">Donald J. Trump</span> <span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;"></span></span></a><br />
<div aria-label="Verified Account" class="Icon Icon--verified " role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.11111em;" title="Verified Account">
</div>
<a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;">
<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">✔</span></span><span class="TweetAuthor-screenName Identity-screenName" data-scribe="element:screen_name" dir="ltr" style="color: #697882;" title="@realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</span></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="Tweet-body e-entry-content" data-scribe="component:tweet" style="color: #1c2022; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; margin-top: 14px;">
<div class="Tweet-text e-entry-title" dir="ltr" lang="en" style="border: none; cursor: text; direction: ltr; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">...they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. </span></div>
<div class="Tweet-text e-entry-title" dir="ltr" lang="en" style="border: none; cursor: text; direction: ltr; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">China could easily solve this problem!</span></div>
<div class="Tweet-metadata dateline" style="color: #697882; margin-top: 3.2px;">
<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2017-07-29T23:35:13+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6:35 PM - Jul 29, 2017</span></a></div>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--replyEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Reply" class="Icon Icon--reply TweetAction-icon Icon--replyEdge" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Reply">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:reply_count" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: text-bottom;">30,223</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">30,223 Replies</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--retweetEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Retweet" class="Icon Icon--retweet TweetAction-icon Icon--retweetEdge" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Retweet">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: text-bottom;">24,056</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">24,056 Retweets</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--heartEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:heart" href="https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Like" class="Icon Icon--heart TweetAction-icon Icon--heartEdge" role="img" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: #697882; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Like">
</div>
<span style="color: #697882;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial;"> </span></span><span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:heart_count" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; display: inline-block; outline: 0px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">97,695</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); color: #697882; height: 1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">97,695 likes</span></a></li>
</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"><ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></ul>
We</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"> can</em><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"> get Beijing to tighten some economic screws but only in concert with a larger package </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; white-space: normal;">and Beijing is more likely to be helpful if our package includes some talks with the North, to which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appears open. In fact, there is probably room for engagement with the North. South Korea’s leader has expressed a desire to try this. Such talks have not worked well in the past, but when combined with all the other tactics, there is scope for some incremental progress.</span><ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">It’s easy to dismiss seemingly slow-moving diplomatic and military efforts, but in conflict </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">there is merit in establishing a process and a forum for hashing </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">out issues. And who knows — something could come of it, </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">if only talking the North down from its customary </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">hysteria or maneuvering the country toward an intermediate step, such as a freeze on </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">production of nuclear explosive material. Adding diplomatic ingenuity to military and </ul>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">economic pressure has produced wins in the past.</ul>
</span></ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are no <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;">guarantees</em> of progress, but these are the options given our new reality. It brings to mind President John Kennedy’s sentiment, in a different context, about the challenges of a “long twilight struggle.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is almost certainly what we are facing with The Hermit Kingdom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a data-evact="Article Footer" data-evcat="Story Page" data-evlabel="John McLaughlin" href="http://www.ozy.com/ozy-tribe/john-mclaughlin/2751" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 10px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="author bio image" class="author-image" src="https://pictures.ozy.com/pictures/36x36/P/Pictures/web/l/p/d/Author-Bio-John-McLaughlin-bubble.JPG" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;" /></a><a class="author-name" data-evact="Article Footer" data-evcat="Story Page" data-evlabel="John McLaughlin" href="http://www.ozy.com/ozy-tribe/john-mclaughlin/2751" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Medium", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 2.25; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; text-transform: capitalize; vertical-align: top;">John McLaughlin</a><span class="author-role" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 1.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 2.25; margin-bottom: 2px; vertical-align: top;">, Senior Contributor - OZY</span><br />
#markandrewz<br />
<br />
<span class="author-role" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 1.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 2.25; margin-bottom: 2px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span>
<span class="author-role" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 1.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 2.25; margin-bottom: 2px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span>
<span class="author-role" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 1.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 2.25; margin-bottom: 2px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<center style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<twitterwidget class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" data-tweet-id="891442016294494209" id="twitter-widget-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; position: static; text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg); visibility: visible; width: 500px;"><div class="SandboxRoot env-bp-350" data-twitter-event-id="0" style="background: 0px 0px; color: #1c2022; direction: ltr; display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: initial;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet EmbeddedTweet--edge js-clickToOpenTarget tweet-InformationCircle-widgetParent" data-click-to-open-target="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-explicit-timestamp="6:35 PM - Jul 29, 2017" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="1" id="twitter-widget-0" lang="en" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(225, 232, 237); cursor: pointer; max-width: 520px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;">
<div class="tweet-InformationCircle--bottom tweet-InformationCircle" style="bottom: 3px; margin: 10px 20px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
<center style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<twitterwidget class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" data-tweet-id="891442016294494209" id="twitter-widget-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; position: static; text-size-adjust: 100%; transform: rotate(0deg); visibility: visible; width: 500px;"><div class="SandboxRoot env-bp-350" data-twitter-event-id="0" style="background: 0px 0px; color: #1c2022; direction: ltr; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: initial;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet EmbeddedTweet--edge js-clickToOpenTarget tweet-InformationCircle-widgetParent" data-click-to-open-target="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-explicit-timestamp="6:35 PM - Jul 29, 2017" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="1" id="twitter-widget-0" lang="en" style="border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(225, 232, 237); cursor: pointer; max-width: 520px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet-tweet" style="padding: 20px 20px 11.6px;">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209" class="Tweet h-entry js-tweetIdInfo subject expanded
is-deciderHtmlWhitespace" data-scribe="section:subject" data-tweet-id="891442016294494209" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="Tweet-header u-cf" style="padding-left: 45px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;">
<div class="TweetAuthor " data-scribe="component:author" style="line-height: 0; margin-top: 2px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; word-wrap: normal !important;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space: normal;">
We<em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> can</em> get Beijing to tighten some economic screws but only in concert with a larger package — and Beijing is more likely to be helpful if our package includes some talks with the North, to which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appears open. In fact, there is probably room for engagement with the North. South Korea’s leader has expressed a desire to try this. Such talks have not worked well in the past, but when combined with all the other tactics, there is scope for some incremental progress.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space: normal;">
It’s easy to dismiss seemingly slow-moving <a href="http://www.ozy.com/politics-and-power/wanted-heroic-diplomacy-to-tame-north-korea/76944" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">diplomatic</a> and military efforts, but in conflict there is merit in establishing a process and a forum for hashing out issues. And who knows — something could come of it, if only talking the North down from its customary hysteria or maneuvering the country toward an intermediate step, such as a freeze on production of nuclear explosive material. Adding diplomatic ingenuity to military and economic pressure has produced wins in the past.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%; white-space: normal;">
There are no <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;">guarantees</em> of progress, but these are the options given our new reality. It brings to mind President John Kennedy’s sentiment, in a different context, about the challenges of a “long twilight struggle.”</div>
<span class="TweetAuthor-avatar Identity-avatar" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; height: 36px; left: 0px; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: inherit; top: 0px; width: 36px;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "amasis mt w01 regular" , "calisto mt" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 1.8em; white-space: normal;">That is almost certainly what we are facing with The Hermit Kingdom.</span><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><img alt="" class="Avatar Avatar--edge" data-scribe="element:avatar" data-src-1x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_normal.jpg" data-src-2x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_bigger.jpg" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/874276197357596672/kUuht00m_normal.jpg" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;" /></a></span><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-name Identity-name customisable-highlight" data-scribe="element:name" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;" title="Donald J. Trump">Donald J. Trump</span><span style="display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; text-decoration-color: inherit; text-decoration-style: inherit;"> </span></a><span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; position: absolute; text-decoration: inherit; top: 0px;"><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"></a></span><br />
<div aria-label="Verified Account" class="Icon Icon--verified " role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.11111em;" title="Verified Account">
</div>
<span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; position: absolute; text-decoration: inherit; top: 0px;"><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">
</a><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;"><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">✔</a></span></span><span class="TweetAuthor-screenName Identity-screenName" data-scribe="element:screen_name" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; display: inline-block; font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;" title="@realDonaldTrump"><a aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" style="background-color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">@realDonaldTrump</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Tweet-body e-entry-content" data-scribe="component:tweet" style="font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 14px;">
<div class="Tweet-text e-entry-title" dir="ltr" lang="en" style="border: none; cursor: text; direction: ltr; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
...they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem!</div>
<div class="Tweet-metadata dateline" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 3.2px;">
<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2017-07-29T23:35:13+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">6:35 PM - Jul 29, 2017</a></div>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--replyEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Reply" class="Icon Icon--reply TweetAction-icon Icon--replyEdge" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Reply">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:reply_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">30,223</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">30,223 Replies</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--retweetEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Retweet" class="Icon Icon--retweet TweetAction-icon Icon--retweetEdge" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Retweet">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">24,056</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">24,056 Retweets</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--heartEdge web-intent" data-scribe="element:heart" href="https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=891442016294494209" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><div aria-label="Like" class="Icon Icon--heart TweetAction-icon Icon--heartEdge" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="Like">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:heart_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">97,695</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">97,695 likes</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="tweet-InformationCircle--bottom tweet-InformationCircle" style="bottom: 3px; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 20px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
<a class="Icon Icon--informationCircleWhite js-privacyNotice" href="https://support.twitter.com/articles/20175256" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: #2b7bb9; display: inline-block; height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 18px;" title="Twitter Ads info and privacy"><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">Twitter Ads info and privacy</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor" style="bottom: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div class="resize-sensor-expand" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 216px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 510px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor-shrink" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 412.344px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 1000px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</twitterwidget></center>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
We<em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> can</em> get Beijing to tighten some economic screws but only in concert with a larger package — and Beijing is more likely to be helpful if our package includes some talks with the North, to which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appears open. In fact, there is probably room for engagement with the North. South Korea’s leader has expressed a desire to try this. Such talks have not worked well in the past, but when combined with all the other tactics, there is scope for some incremental progress.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
It’s easy to dismiss seemingly slow-moving <a href="http://www.ozy.com/politics-and-power/wanted-heroic-diplomacy-to-tame-north-korea/76944" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">diplomatic</a> and military efforts, but in conflict there is merit in establishing a process and a forum for hashing out issues. And who knows — something could come of it, if only talking the North down from its customary hysteria or maneuvering the country toward an intermediate step, such as a freeze on production of nuclear explosive material. Adding diplomatic ingenuity to military and economic pressure has produced wins in the past.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
There are no <em style="box-sizing: border-box; text-size-adjust: 100%;">guarantees</em> of progress, but these are the options given our new reality. It brings to mind President John Kennedy’s sentiment, in a different context, about the challenges of a “long twilight struggle.”</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 1.55556; margin-bottom: 32px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
That is almost certainly what we are facing with The Hermit Kingdom.</div>
<div class="about-the-author" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Regular", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><div class="author-sleeve" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: table; font-size: 1em; margin: auto; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<div class="author-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%;">
<a data-evact="Article Footer" data-evcat="Story Page" data-evlabel="John McLaughlin" href="http://www.ozy.com/ozy-tribe/john-mclaughlin/2751" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="author bio image" class="author-image" src="https://pictures.ozy.com/pictures/36x36/P/Pictures/web/l/p/d/Author-Bio-John-McLaughlin-bubble.JPG" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-right: 8px; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: 100%;" /></a><a class="author-name" data-evact="Article Footer" data-evcat="Story Page" data-evlabel="John McLaughlin" href="http://www.ozy.com/ozy-tribe/john-mclaughlin/2751" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; font-family: "Amasis MT W01 Medium", "Calisto MT", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 2.25; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; text-transform: capitalize; vertical-align: top;">John McLaughlin</a><span class="author-role" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 1.6em; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 2.25; margin-bottom: 2px; vertical-align: top;">, Senior Contributor</span><span class="author-share" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.71429; margin: 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><a class="email" data-author-name="John McLaughlin" data-contact-id="46" data-contact-me-src="/Ajax/contactme/contactme.aspx" data-evact="Article Footer" data-evcat="Story Page" data-evlabel="Contact Me" data-open-contact-me-popup="true" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00b5a7; display: inline-block; height: 15px; margin-left: 8px; margin-top: 3px; position: relative; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: top; width: 18px;"><i aria-hidden="true" class="ozy-icon i-story-bio-share-email-off i-story-bio-share-email-off-dims" style="background-image: url("/magazine/graphics/sprites/output/sprite.css-b1b8afd4.svg"), none; background-position: -671px -522px; background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 13px; left: 0px; opacity: 1; position: absolute; text-size-adjust: 100%; top: 0px; transform: scale(1); transition: opacity 250ms; width: 18px;"></i><i aria-hidden="true" class="ozy-icon i-story-bio-share-email-on i-story-bio-share-email-on-dims" style="background-image: url("/magazine/graphics/sprites/output/sprite.css-b1b8afd4.svg"), none; background-position: -839px -840px; background-repeat: no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 13px; left: 0px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; text-size-adjust: 100%; top: 0px; transform: scale(1); transition: opacity 250ms; width: 18px;"></i><span class="assistive-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 1px;">Contact John McLaughlin</span></a></span></div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Tw</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">itter Ads info</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><br /></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: "helvetica" , "roboto" , "segoe ui" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;"> and privacy</span></div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor" style="bottom: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div class="resize-sensor-expand" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 216px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 510px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor-shrink" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 412.344px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 1000px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</twitterwidget></center>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-60669298007134050162017-07-22T10:09:00.000-07:002017-07-22T10:10:25.601-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YjDYsRvzI2U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjDYsRvzI2U?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Markie Z Interview on Paul Mash TVMark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-3095778323844544472017-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:002017-06-29T10:04:02.890-07:00Are Children Debating Healthcare While Congress Deliberates?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I miss my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that many people my age feel the
same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents tried to help me in
every way they could to the best of their ability. Now that they are gone I
reflect upon my life and constantly review in my head if I did all that could
for my children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I saw a quote today from John
Wooden posted by Dr. William Hang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
read, “Today is the only day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow
is gone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how Wooden felt about
his parents?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Dr. William Hang, I
met him not too long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happened to
be attending a conference that both a business partner and Dr. Hang were giving
lectures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat in and listened to Dr.
Hang because there was a “major buzz” going on about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know any of the people in
attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have earned my living
and survived on my visceral instincts and picking up the vibe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was something going on about this
gentleman, Dr. Hang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">From the moment, he began
speaking and presenting his lecture on the video screen he had me
captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me take the author’s
license to say that does not happen very often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have had enough bumps and bruises in the world of business, skillful neglect
and selective memory purveyed upon me to pretty much always flip the compressor
on in my mind and ask myself, “what is this person really saying to me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flipped the switch and found out that Dr.
Hang was about to recount my life to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Photo by photo of early childhood through teen years and beyond I saw
myself in those pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “Mark,
that is you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Dr. Hang discussed, “airway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
said an adequate airway is the most important factor in a child’s facial
development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continued to say “genetics” determine
factors such as hair color, eye color and height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast, he said altered oral posture
determines whether or not the face will be well balanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Truth be told, it is one
thing hearing those words spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
is a riveting 180 degree turn when you hear those words and look at the time lined
photos simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My teeth are crowded, my face seemed to be
balanced, but maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My airway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, I have sleep apnea and high blood
pressure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t sleep at all without
my C-PAP machine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t my parents
notice this in my youth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely if they
knew they would have done something about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As one can imagine there were an innumerable amount of thoughts flashing
through my mind at light speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily,
I did not have the pain, a constant tired feeling, listlessness, drowsiness and
a difficulty to focus that go along with the other symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But many children and adults per Dr. Hang’s
presentation had all the above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless
to say, their quality of life suffered painfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Upon Dr. Hang’s conclusion,
most of the audience rushed up to the front to speak with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As did I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I waited for all to have their time with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may not even want to speak with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked up and found him to be extremely
cordial and sincere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him about
what I had just experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled
at me in a very humble way as if I was giving him too much credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he said, if I would have had work done
on me back when I was young according to what the specialists at that time
knew, I would probably be dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I
guess my parents, once again, were right after all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he asked me if I used a C-PAP machine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “Yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “Good, keep using it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I know one may think the
title to this letter may be a little bit misleading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality, it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another thing, this letter is not political by
any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children may not be
debating healthcare at this very moment in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they are “living” their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Healthcare will pop-up as a serious thought
to consider at some point for them in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have learned from the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today is the only day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out: </span><a href="http://www.facefocused.com/"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">www.facefocused.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will
change your life and your children’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">06/26/2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mark Andrew Zwartynski<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">@markandrewz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">markandrew@markandrewgroup.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:1;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
mso-themecolor:hyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-57121803125031354832017-05-22T14:58:00.000-07:002017-05-22T15:54:03.295-07:00As a Society, We Have to Start at Some Point in TimeClutching a hand stitched, torn and dirty play rabbit. A glassy eyed boy walks through the rubble of Racca, Syria. At first glance, he looks to be five or six years old, maybe. His sweater is buttoned in the middle and holding on tight. His pants reveal dust, smoke and evokes thoughts of bombs. He has shoes. Thank God, he has shoes.<br />
<br />
Yes, that is the worst example. Worse than that is death. Perhaps, death is a way out. Nevertheless, the wrath brought upon this young motherless, fatherless boy is courtesy of some who will dine well and sleep fine tonight.<br />
<br />
Let's take a detour to IHOP. I know. It is one heckuva detour. I am sitting with a business partner. We are there in advance of a meeting and have ordered breakfast while we discuss the two gentlemen who will meet us in approximately one hour. The breakfast is good. I prefer home made breakfast, but IHOP is a good second if you order correctly.<br />
<br />
The two gentlemen arrive and join us. They only want coffee and tell us that they have another meeting to go to after ours. Seemingly, to portray the urgency and demand of what they have to offer.<br />
<br />
The younger man in his mid-forties begins to tell us that they placed another one million dollars toward advertising in addition to other media buys because the product is selling faster than anyone ever expected and giving them sleepless nights to accommodate the demand. My business partner is slowly being drawn in and increasingly engaging in every step of the so-called off the cuff unpracticed presentation. The same business partner who told me that he does not believe in advertising and even cancelled his subscription to the newspaper. I sit patiently and quietly listen.<br />
<br />
Now is the time to invest. Get in now while the getting is still good. My business partner accepts the close. I look at the balding gentleman and say I am very familiar with the product being sold but it is not for me. Immediately, his business partner engages me in conversation (nice play) while the younger man leans in to my business partner and produces contractual documents for signing. I ignore the older gentleman and continue listening and watching this business fishing expedition taking place in an IHOP.<br />
<br />
Ok. Fair enough. What is the product? Mortgage Backed Securities. Just prior to "Too Big to Fail." The rest is history and so is my business partner's mid-six figure investment. Guess what? My business partner has never been able to contact the slightly balding gentleman in his mid-forties. He has been able to contact his elderly business partner only to find out that he has lost touch with the guy as well.<br />
<br />
After the two gentlemen left the IHOP, I asked my business partner why did he jump into that investment and why so heavily? He looked at me like I was totally clueless and asked me why I didn't invest? I then proceeded to tell him about Mortgage Backed Securities and the Insurance Company that was standing behind them. I explained the concept and activation. My business partner told me that many people were now getting a chance to apply for a mortgage and buy homes.<br />
I then explained sub-prime mortgages and foreclosure. Years later I explained Lehman Brothers, Bear Sterns, AIG and TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program). The story is very engaging henceforth.<br />
<br />
So everyone asks, where are you going with this? What's the point? They ask all the good cliches that are supposed to make you feel like you are being verbose and should get to the point a bit quicker.<br />
<br />
Here is the point. When are we going to stop taking advantage of people? Whether it be rudeness, harassment, road rage, shoplifting, lying, authorized war, racism, presupposition, name calling, hacking, trolling, malware or mal-anything. At what point do we start helping people.<br />
<br />
From the alpha to the omega, we have to stop taking advantage of people and start helping.<br />
<br />
As a society, we have to start at some point in time.<br />
<br />
Mark Andrew Zwartynski<br />
Markie Z<br />
@markandrewzMark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-67036473784268387422017-04-24T13:34:00.003-07:002017-04-24T13:55:12.161-07:00Political Support and Resistance<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<i>An outside of the box analogy:</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<i>"In <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_analysis" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Technical analysis">technical analysis</a>, <b>support and resistance</b> is a concept that the movement of the price of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_(finance)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Security (finance)">security</a> will tend to stop and reverse at certain predetermined price levels." </i>*</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
So one writes algorithms to be able to make speed of light buy and sell transactions for financial profit based on the percentage of probability of how one action responds to another action. Hey, thereby causing a reaction!<br />
<br />
Robert Cialdini in his must read book on persuasion titled, <i>"Influence," </i>describes paradigm shifts within a baseball game. Ever sit at a game or in front of the screen during the Super Bowl or a March Madness basketball game and see the momentum swing from one team to another team's favor?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
I have.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Support - Unselfish Team Play</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Resistance - Defensive Play</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Politics. Now it gets interesting. Or, is one entering the Emerald Forest filled with smoke and mirrors? </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
I think, yes.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
All the political junkies, the vocal and the silent, develop thoughts, rumors, muse leaks, report news and now fake news. Reporters struggle for the facts and get "alternative" facts.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Now a curveball comes one's way. Not so easy to hit that pitch in the Emerald Forest filled with smoke and mirrors. A man executes a man in Cleveland, OH, films it and uploads it onto Facebook. No defense. Nationwide search ensues with unbelievable support and team work. McDonald's employee in Erie, PA holds back the drive through french fry order and calls the cops. Chase begins and the murderer pulls out a pistol and unloads a bullet to his brain. He is dead. Problem solved? Not quite. Why did he do all this? And, why on Easter Sunday? Many will surmise. Mental Illness? Religious Statement? Spousal problems? Financial woes? Don't know. He decided to fire a gun and say nothing. Yes, trouble with the curve, Dr. Eastwood. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Next pitch.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Fastball, slider, off-speed, knuckleball?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<u style="color: #404040;"><br /></u>
<u style="color: #404040;">House of Representatives</u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Parties: Republican: 241; Democrat: 194; Independent: 0</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Gender: Men: 248; Women: 83</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Race: White: 339; Black: 46; Hispanic: 33; Asian: 10; Other: 3</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;"><u>Senate</u></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Parties: Republican: 52; Democrat: 46; Independent: 2</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Gender: Men: 78; Women: 21</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Race: White: 90; Black: 3; Hispanic: 4; Asian: 3</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Political Support: Republicans (questionable - many caucuses)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">Political Resistance: Democrats</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #404040;">In 2012, the republicans won the majority in both the House and the Senate. In 2016, the republicans won the presidency with Donald Trump and thereby the administrative branch. The republicans refused to meet with President Barack Obama's Supreme Court appointee, Merrick Garland. After intense questioning and a long filibuster by democrats, republicans were able to move the vote forward with Vice President Mike Pence presiding over the nomination of Neil Gorsuch. Although the Supreme Court is established by the Constitution of the United States of America to be non-partisan, the republicans felt, as well as did the democrats, that they were able to stack the court in republican favor after the death of Chief Justice Antonin Scalia.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Can political support and resistance ever find a middle ground? Will we, as a nation, be able to sit at a table and bargain for what is best for the people of our country?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Or, is it all going to be dealmaking? If you want me to give you your number one and number two, then you are going to have to give me your numbers three, four, five, six and seven.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Ever think about what is the most socialistic endeavor in our country? It is professional sports. Simply look at the collective bargaining agreements. Don't just look at the agreements for the players. Yes, an athlete has a limited amount of time to play their given sport before their body gives out. Even the referees can only withstand so much physical wear and tear. But what about the coaches, the assistant coaches and general managers. In the NBA, there are no more "scouts." They are all assistant coaches. Why, because after four years with an assistant coach title you become fully vested in the coaches pension and health plan. The executives and front office workers do not get a pension and rather have to rely on a 401k or the ability to climb up the ladder and make enough money as quickly or hang in there as long as possible to have that nest egg for a rainy day. if you are lucky and work your way up to reporting to the owner you may even get a percentage of the team.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
You get pension based on a few systems and the amount you were paid if you stay in the Army for 20 years. It used to be that you worked for a company for twenty years and you received a pension. But now you get a 401k.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The sports industry is the most socialistic bargain available in the United States. Consider all the public/private partnerships for arenas and stadiums. One high school receives almost $2.20 per every $100 of the assessed value of a persons home. Whether you have kids going to school or not. Are the owners of professional teams and players Socialists? No, I believe they are democrat and republican and swing from the left to the right and all points in between.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
It begs the question, who and what are we? Maybe, we are what is good for us at the moment and what we can legally (or illegally) get away with. Forget about putting a label on it.<br />
<br />
Political support and resistance. it reminds me of the time a man told me that you could lock two people in a room overnight and in the morning they will come out with three political parties:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yours;</li>
<li>Mine; and,</li>
<li>Ours.</li>
</ul>
<br />
@markandrewz Markie Z Letter "The Vibe" #everythingmatters</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.6px;">* </span><span class="reference-text" style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.6px;"><cite class="citation journal" style="font-style: inherit; word-wrap: break-word;">Amiri, M.; Zandieh, M.; Vahdani, B.; Soltani, R.; Roshanaei, V. (January 2010). </cite></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-18125574578564236922017-03-11T13:32:00.001-08:002017-03-11T13:32:11.940-08:00Markie Z Letter - "The Vibe" @markandrewz: Public Action and Political Action or Nothing<a href="http://markandrewz.blogspot.com/2017/03/public-action-and-political-action-or.html?spref=bl">Markie Z Letter - "The Vibe" @markandrewz: Public Action and Political Action or Nothing</a>: This morning "The Vibe" felt the choices people have at hand. Some contemplate accepting things as they exist and some acce...Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-44034227210554040352017-03-11T13:26:00.000-08:002017-03-12T08:50:24.809-07:00Public Action and Political Action or Nothing<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvNfYOjmjmmjtSY8mnzQ5RztozVGhUUKX4qu21kv6jkb05w0-LPa-NqsAAlV1-cAzPBRnjK7GOnw-uffBO3K4W1jnTQjvijMbtUgDQsr6m5fbts3sBer_uRmN6HFz7UgoaBmEurAlNB-j/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvNfYOjmjmmjtSY8mnzQ5RztozVGhUUKX4qu21kv6jkb05w0-LPa-NqsAAlV1-cAzPBRnjK7GOnw-uffBO3K4W1jnTQjvijMbtUgDQsr6m5fbts3sBer_uRmN6HFz7UgoaBmEurAlNB-j/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This morning "The Vibe" felt the choices people have at hand. Some contemplate accepting things as they exist and some accept the responsibility to change things. Many ask for the wisdom to know the difference. They may be the wisest of all.<br />
<br />
Many undertake public action which is the choice that pertains to the capacity in which one comes into contact with the community. Others undertake political action which is designed to attain a purpose by the use of political power or by activity in political channels.<br />
<br />
"The Vibe" is obviously getting strong signals from activity in political channels from across the globe. Healthcare, immigration, wiretapping, deals with foreign countries and their agents, business or political. That is not to mention, slurs, name calling and all sorts of demeaning going around. We have non-answers to questions and alternative facts. Selective memory and skillful neglect. These are interesting terms to say the least. But, there are a gazillion more in the shadows of the grey area within the emerald forest filled with smoke and mirrors.<br />
<br />
We chose to vote. "The Vibe" felt a vibe and voted. Every single person got that one right because there is no wrong. It is our inalienable right provided we are eighteen years old. That also means we carry a responsibility for those that are younger, whether they are our family members or not.<br />
<br />
We chose representatives. These are the people that decided to take public action and undertake political action to attain a purpose on their and our behalf. Oftentimes, it is a political party agenda. one pulls the "straight line" ticket. It is usually based on one tenet, issue or principal. I will bet that many people vote in that manner.<br />
<br />
Making decisions in that manner are not wrong. They are based on a lot of faith. Faith in our representatives at every level of governance. Yes, it does affect our prices for food, gas, transportation, healthcare, lifestyle, safety, first responder emergency assistance. "The Vibe" has to give a major shout out to the first responders, the military, the intelligence services, the educators and all the good people in our country. Most of us always want to help. It could be a tornado in Oklahoma, a wildfire in California, a blizzard in the mid-west, a hurricane upon our shores, or any other unforeseen calamity.<br />
<br />
Dear Representatives:<br />
We will help you help us. It is truly not the other way around. But remember, we have faith in you. All we ask for is good candid communication, truth, honesty, integrity and that you remember us.<br />
<br />
"The Vibe:" There is a lot of faith going on from a lot of people. It doesn't matter what political side(s) your on. Remember us...<br />
<br />
Markie Z<br />
@markandrewz<br />
Mark Andrew Zwartynski<br />
03.11.2017<br />
'44 Uprising Productions<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-82387730856137404522017-02-16T10:50:00.002-08:002017-02-16T10:50:48.060-08:00Picking Up "The Vibe" - Markie Z Guest Blogger - Neil Wilson: Are The Days Of The Olympics Numbered?Markie Z "The Vibe" Guest Blogger<br />
<br />
<h1 style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Oswald, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
NEIL WILSON: Are the days of the Olympics numbered?</h1>
<div class="story_image_header_container" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 400px;">
<div class="caption" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="story_image_container" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #222222; float: right; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 212px;">
<div class="story_image" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(213, 213, 213); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 0in="" 1.0pt="" arial="" border:none="" color:="" lang="EN-GB" mso-border-alt:none="" padding:0in="" sans-serif="" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" windowtext="">THE NEIL WILSON COLUMN / An exclusive, authoritative series from Sports Features Communications</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(SFC) There can be few families who have invested more of their lives in Olympic sport than the German brothers Robert and Christoph Harting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert, the elder by six years, throws a discus so well that he was Olympic, world and European champion at the same time. He competed at three successive Olympic Games, winning his gold in 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">His brother ensured that the Olympic title remained in the family four years later in Rio when he won gold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So it might have come as something of a surprise that young Christoph predicted this month that the Olympic will "slowly die" by 2040 unless his compatriot Thomas Bach resigns as president of the International Olympic Committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Except, like gold medals, that opinion runs in the family. Last year Robert was even more dismissive of Bach when he refused to ban Russia from the Rio Olympics because of its systemic doping. Bach, he said, "is part of the doping system, not the anti-doping system."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christoph's latest prediction of slow death for the Games coincided with yet another European city deciding by referendum that it wanted nothing to do with hosting a Games. Sixty per cent in the Swiss canton of Graubuenden, which contains the cities of Davos and St Moritz, were opposed to a bid for the 2026 Winter Games, up several points from a similar vote taken four years ago on a bid for 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They follow the citizens and administrations of Hamburg, Krakow, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm and Rome in pulling their bids, either after a public referendum or obvious public apathy. Just two cities remained for the 2022 vote, just three now for 2024. Now Europe is cold-shouldering another winter Games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So Christoph Harting may be right in his assessment of the future but not necessarily in his understanding of the reason. Public perception of widespread doping in Olympic sport is probably the least of the reasons for the present negativity surrounding hosting a Games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After all, nobody in Switzerland is any less excited these days when a Swiss stands on the podium when Olympic medals are awarded. Doping seems not to have turned off the public. The more likely motivation for its rejection is a collective failure of its citizenry to see any good reason for hosting an Olympic Games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There have been pressing reasons in the past. Regeneration of an area is one that applied to Barcelona and London. Re-establishment in the global community was another. Think Tokyo and Seoul. Politics was another for Moscow and Beijing. The publicity value was often a reason for Winter Games bids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">St Moritz and Davos are rich communities. They could afford an Olympic Games. But why would they want one? They do not need regeneration. They are well endowed with hotels and sports facilities. They do not need publicity to attract tourists. They are world renowned. Try getting a hotel room there in the winter season. A Winter Olympics would interfere with the existing tourist market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Swiss regions remains interested in bidding for 2026 - Sion. It bid for the 2006 Games and lost to Turin. Its citizens have been offered a referendum next year on a second bid and expects a deep well of enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The five rings remain of value to multi-national companies for branding but for the citizens of the world less so. Bach's resignation would not solve that problem but it is time he came up with some answers. Or young Harting may be proved right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">** NEIL WILSON reported his first Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. He has since covered another nine summer and nine winter Olympics for various newspapers, including The Independent and the Daily Mail with whom he has worked for the last 19 years as Athletics and Olympic correspondent. He was Britain's Sports Journalist of the Year in 1984 and is the author of seven books.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div>
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<br />Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-82586833394769802982017-01-31T16:39:00.001-08:002017-01-31T16:39:54.633-08:00Who Is Dr Hang?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0owNXziq274" width="480"></iframe>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-18761548896724879162016-11-26T11:15:00.000-08:002016-11-26T12:09:40.440-08:00Music Industry & the 2016 Presidential Election<br />
<b><u>First in a Series</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2016. Families have now come together to discuss the results of the 2016 Unites States of America Presidential Election. Although their may be some "Houses Divided," the United States has a Republican President Elect and a majority in both houses of Congress. Nonetheless, we have a Congress and Country divided. Businessman President-Elect Donald Trump won the majority of electoral votes 290 to Former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who garnered 232. Secretary Clinton won the popular vote over Businessman Donald Trump 64.4 million to 62.3 million. 2.1 million people more voted for Clinton over Trump.<br />
<br />
Many music artists supported Secretary Clinton over Donald Trump. General wisdom speaks of artists wishing more work needs to be done for homeless, hungry, peace, climate, wage inequality, freedom of speech and many social justice issues relative to race, gender, policing, trade, government spending to name just a few. Many argue that all Americans essentially want the same actions taken.<br />
It is just a matter of how to get there and how to get it done.<br />
<br />
The music industry is going through its own discovery. A journey that changes minute by minute with the advent of new technologies and the deliverability of content to the market consumer. Spotify appears to be the leader in delivering musical content to the consumer for free or for a monthly subscription. The company is outpacing its competition with data collection used to provide what the consumer wants.<br />
<br />
The big winner today in digital advertising is the advent of interactive delivery of content to the consumer as opposed to the consumer searching for what they want. At least, consumers now have both options to their avail. Data allows Spotify to make suggestions to the consumer via information gathered over time (short and long) and also interacting by allowing the consumer to give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Same feature is provided by Netflix and others. Some people are now migrating away from conventional cable and satellite content deliverability to Netflix and You Tube as their entertainment providers.<br />
<br />
Now that the Thanksgiving 2016 dinner conversation has concluded and people are ruminating over their own set of feelings and the reality of the state of the nation, music is still listened and film is still viewed. The winners? The winners are the artists who touch the individuals heart and soul through their work. The individual wins as well. Technology delivers the art. Business sets up the rules, payment and deliverability. How will the new administration, which controls the executive branch, the legislative branch and will have one Supreme Court Justice to appoint immediately, govern the business of of music and art?<br />
<br />
Please feel free to provide your comments. They are graciously appreciated. Below, please find an article published in Billboard Magazine prior to the election.<br />
<br />
All the best until next time,<br />
<br />
Markie Z (@markandrewz)<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Helvetica; color: #4787ff; -webkit-text-stroke: #4787ff}
span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">http://markandrewz.blogspot.com/</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "poppins" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 2.5em; font-style: inherit;">Better Late Than Never: Artists Finally Weighing In on 2016 Presidential Election</span><br />
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">At this point in the past two presidential elections, the roster of A-list artists backing the candidates (okay, mostly President Obama) were like the line-up for the greatest concert never staged: </span>Eminem<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, Jay Z, Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Madonna, </span>Mariah<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Carey, </span>Beastie<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Boys, </span>Beyoncé<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, the Roots, plus dozens of others in </span>Obama's<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> corner, and Pat Boone, Daddy Yankee, Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood, John Rich, Cowboy Troy,</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/305827/kid-rock/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kid Rock</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> and Ted </span>Nugent<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> for Republican candidates John McCain (2008) and/or Mitt Romney (2012). </span></div>
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;">But until pretty recently, with a few big-name exceptions, the musical world was much quieter this cycle. Why? It's hard to say, as this election is historic in ways slightly different than 2008's election of the nation's first black president. Faced with the choice between two very unpopular candidates -- one with the potential to be the country's first female commander in chief and the other the first U.S. leader with no military or government experience -- Hollywood has kept it on the </span>DL<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"> for the most part.</span></div>
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">With less than 50 days to go, though, that began to change over the past few weeks, in large part due to a number of prominent female musicians who've re-iterated their loud and proud support for Clinton. From</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/280667/barbra-streisand/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Barbra Streisand</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">-- who has said #</span>ImWithHer<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> for over a year -- to</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/305595/katy-perry/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Katy Perry</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">and</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/308786/madonna/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Madonna</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">-- who both</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7525500/katy-perry-votes-naked-in-funny-or-die-video-watch" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">got naked</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">this week to stand with Clinton and encourage voting -- the former Sec. of State is ringing up some big endorsements. Aside from Katy, Madge and Babs, other musical Hillary supporters include </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/299062/cher/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cher</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/306341/lady-gaga/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lady Gaga</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, P!</span>nk<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, Cyndi </span>Lauper<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, </span>Miley<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Cyrus, </span>Pharrell<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Williams, Kelly </span>Clarkson<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, Meghan </span>Trainor<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, Elton John and John Legend.</span></div>
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Clinton's even gotten a thumbs up from Mexican </span>ranchera<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> icon</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/430831/vicente-fern-ndez/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vicente Fernández</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> -- who can't vote in our election -- but who said, "</span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7518023/vicente-fernandez-hillary-clinton-personal-corrido" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">together, we can</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">," and</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/308177/los-tigres-del-norte/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Tigres del Norte</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, who condemned Trump's insults against Mexican immigrants while</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7496120/los-tigres-del-norte-endorse-hillary-clinton" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">endorsing</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Clinton. Another major artist who won't be in the voting booth but finds it hard to keep his opinions to himself,</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/277577/u2/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">U2</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">'s</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/1485187/bono/chart?sort=date" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bono</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, recently said he was concerned Trump could</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7517981/bono-says-donald-trump-trying-to-hijack-idea-of-america" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"destroy"</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">the very idea of America.</span></div>
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/305612/keha/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kesha</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> threw her hat in the ring on Wednesday (Sept. 28) when she came to the defense of former Miss Universe Alicia </span>Machado<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">, who continued to get fat-shamed by Trump after Clinton brought up her rival's misogynist comments about women in the past during the first presidential debate.</span></div>
<div class="article__header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Last month,</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/328389/paul-mccartney/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paul McCartney</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">,</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/296092/bon-jovi/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bon Jovi</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">and </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/304669/jimmy-buffett/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jimmy Buffett</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t50.2886-16/14170595_143064342808508_1291530252_n.mp4" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">performed</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> at a private fundraiser for Clinton, while Streisand has taken a number of opportunities this summer to announce @</span>ImWithHer<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> while</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7487780/watch-barbra-streisand-duet-with-donald-trump-tonight-show-fallon" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">making fun</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">of Trump and penning a scathing essay for the</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Huffington Post</em><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> entitled </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7518690/barbra-streisand-donald-trump-facts-matter-blog" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Facts Matter."</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Typically outspoken American rock icon</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/298448/bruce-springsteen/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bruce Springsteen</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">has mostly kept his powder dry this cycle, but recently called Trump a "moron" in </span><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-calls-donald-trump-a-moron-w441761" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rolling Stone</em></a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> and said he thinks Clinton would be a "very, very good president." </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="article__body js-fitvids-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0px 2em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<twitterwidget class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" data-tweet-id="780522795444805632" id="twitter-widget-2" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; position: static; transform: rotate(0deg); visibility: visible; width: 500px;"></twitterwidget><br />
<div class="SandboxRoot env-bp-350" data-twitter-event-id="2" style="background: 0px 0px; color: #1c2022; direction: ltr; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; white-space: initial;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet js-clickToOpenTarget" data-click-to-open-target="https://twitter.com/cher/status/780522795444805632" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="7" id="twitter-widget-2" lang="en" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(225, 232, 237); cursor: pointer; max-width: 520px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet-tweet" style="padding: 20px 20px 11.6px;">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/cher/status/780522795444805632" class="Tweet h-entry js-tweetIdInfo subject expanded
is-deciderHtmlWhitespace" data-scribe="section:subject" data-tweet-id="780522795444805632" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="Tweet-header u-cf" style="padding-left: 45px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;">
<div class="Tweet-brand u-floatRight" style="float: right !important; position: relative; z-index: 1;">
<span class="u-hiddenInNarrowEnv"><a class="FollowButton follow-button profile" data-scribe="component:followbutton" href="https://twitter.com/cher" role="button" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(85, 172, 238); color: #55acee; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 5.5px 13px 6.5px 11.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Follow Cher on Twitter"><span class="FollowButton-bird" style="display: inline-block; position: relative; top: 1px;"></span></a></span><br />
<div aria-label="" class="Icon Icon--twitter " role="presentation" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2072%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22none%22%20d%3D%22M0%200h72v72H0z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%2355acee%22%20d%3D%22M68.812%2015.14c-2.348%201.04-4.87%201.744-7.52%202.06%202.704-1.62%204.78-4.186%205.757-7.243-2.53%201.5-5.33%202.592-8.314%203.176C56.35%2010.59%2052.948%209%2049.182%209c-7.23%200-13.092%205.86-13.092%2013.093%200%201.026.118%202.02.338%202.98C25.543%2024.527%2015.9%2019.318%209.44%2011.396c-1.125%201.936-1.77%204.184-1.77%206.58%200%204.543%202.312%208.552%205.824%2010.9-2.146-.07-4.165-.658-5.93-1.64-.002.056-.002.11-.002.163%200%206.345%204.513%2011.638%2010.504%2012.84-1.1.298-2.256.457-3.45.457-.845%200-1.666-.078-2.464-.23%201.667%205.2%206.5%208.985%2012.23%209.09-4.482%203.51-10.13%205.605-16.26%205.605-1.055%200-2.096-.06-3.122-.184%205.794%203.717%2012.676%205.882%2020.067%205.882%2024.083%200%2037.25-19.95%2037.25-37.25%200-.565-.013-1.133-.038-1.693%202.558-1.847%204.778-4.15%206.532-6.774z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="">
</div>
<span class="u-hiddenInNarrowEnv"><a class="FollowButton follow-button profile" data-scribe="component:followbutton" href="https://twitter.com/cher" role="button" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(85, 172, 238); color: #55acee; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 5.5px 13px 6.5px 11.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Follow Cher on Twitter"><span class="FollowButton-bird" style="display: inline-block; position: relative; top: 1px;">
</span> Follow</a></span></div>
<div class="TweetAuthor " data-scribe="component:author" style="line-height: 0; margin-top: 2px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; word-wrap: normal !important;">
<a aria-label="Cher (screen name: cher)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/cher" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-avatar Identity-avatar" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 36px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 36px;"><img alt="" class="Avatar" data-scribe="element:avatar" data-src-1x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/605724737428320256/H-Xu_7Hq_normal.jpg" data-src-2x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/605724737428320256/H-Xu_7Hq_bigger.jpg" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/605724737428320256/H-Xu_7Hq_normal.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;" /></span><span class="TweetAuthor-name Identity-name customisable-highlight" data-scribe="element:name" style="font-weight: 700;" title="Cher">Cher</span> <span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;"></span></a><br />
<div aria-label="Verified Account" class="Icon Icon--verified " role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2064%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22none%22%20d%3D%22M0%200h64v72H0z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%2388c9f9%22%20d%3D%22M3%2037.315c0%204.125%202.162%207.726%205.363%209.624-.056.467-.09.937-.09%201.42%200%206.103%204.72%2011.045%2010.546%2011.045%201.295%200%202.542-.234%203.687-.686C24.22%2062.4%2027.827%2064.93%2032%2064.93c4.174%200%207.782-2.53%209.49-6.213%201.148.45%202.39.685%203.69.685%205.826%200%2010.546-4.94%2010.546-11.045%200-.483-.037-.953-.093-1.42C58.83%2045.04%2061%2041.44%2061%2037.314c0-4.37-2.42-8.15-5.933-9.946.427-1.203.658-2.5.658-3.865%200-6.104-4.72-11.045-10.545-11.045-1.302%200-2.543.232-3.69.688-1.707-3.685-5.315-6.216-9.49-6.216-4.173%200-7.778%202.53-9.492%206.216-1.146-.455-2.393-.688-3.688-.688-5.827%200-10.545%204.94-10.545%2011.045%200%201.364.23%202.662.656%203.864C5.42%2029.163%203%2032.944%203%2037.314z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23FFF%22%20d%3D%22M17.87%2039.08l7.015%206.978c.585.582%201.35.873%202.116.873.77%200%201.542-.294%202.127-.883.344-.346%2015.98-15.974%2015.98-15.974%201.172-1.172%201.172-3.07%200-4.243-1.17-1.17-3.07-1.172-4.242%200l-13.87%2013.863-4.892-4.868c-1.174-1.168-3.074-1.164-4.242.01-1.168%201.176-1.163%203.075.01%204.244z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.11111em;" title="Verified Account">
</div>
<a aria-label="Cher (screen name: cher)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/cher" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;">
<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">✔</span></span><span class="TweetAuthor-screenName Identity-screenName" data-scribe="element:screen_name" dir="ltr" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px;" title="@cher">@cher</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="Tweet-body e-entry-content" data-scribe="component:tweet" style="margin-top: 14px;">
<div class="Tweet-text e-entry-title" dir="ltr" lang="en" style="border: none; cursor: text; direction: ltr; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
Girls were talking 2day & Were AFRAID<img alt="‼️" aria-label="Emoji: Double exclamation mark" class="Emoji Emoji--forText" draggable="false" src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/203c.png" style="border: 0px; height: 1.25em; padding: 0px 0.05em 0px 0.1em; vertical-align: -0.2em; width: 1.25em;" title="Double exclamation mark" /><br />
IF TRUMP IS NOW…..DEMOCRACY IS NEVER<br />
AGAIN<img alt="‼️" aria-label="Emoji: Double exclamation mark" class="Emoji Emoji--forText" draggable="false" src="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/203c.png" style="border: 0px; height: 1.25em; padding: 0px 0.05em 0px 0.1em; vertical-align: -0.2em; width: 1.25em;" title="Double exclamation mark" />THEYWERE TRULY FRIGHTENED ABOUT FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN</div>
<div class="Tweet-metadata dateline" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 3.2px;">
<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2016-09-26T21:41:50+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/cher/status/780522795444805632" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">4:41 PM - 26 Sep 2016</a></div>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--reply web-intent" data-scribe="element:reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=780522795444805632" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Reply" class="Icon Icon--reply TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2062%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M41%2031h-9V19c0-1.14-.647-2.183-1.668-2.688-1.022-.507-2.243-.39-3.15.302l-21%2016C5.438%2033.18%205%2034.064%205%2035s.437%201.82%201.182%202.387l21%2016c.533.405%201.174.613%201.82.613.453%200%20.908-.103%201.33-.312C31.354%2053.183%2032%2052.14%2032%2051V39h9c5.514%200%2010%204.486%2010%2010%200%202.21%201.79%204%204%204s4-1.79%204-4c0-9.925-8.075-18-18-18z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.07639em;" title="Reply">
</div>
</a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--retweet web-intent" data-scribe="element:retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=780522795444805632" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Retweet" class="Icon Icon--retweet TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2074%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M70.676%2036.644C70.166%2035.636%2069.13%2035%2068%2035h-7V19c0-2.21-1.79-4-4-4H34c-2.21%200-4%201.79-4%204s1.79%204%204%204h18c.552%200%20.998.446%201%20.998V35h-7c-1.13%200-2.165.636-2.676%201.644-.51%201.01-.412%202.22.257%203.13l11%2015C55.148%2055.545%2056.046%2056%2057%2056s1.855-.455%202.42-1.226l11-15c.668-.912.767-2.122.256-3.13zM40%2048H22c-.54%200-.97-.427-.992-.96L21%2036h7c1.13%200%202.166-.636%202.677-1.644.51-1.01.412-2.22-.257-3.13l-11-15C18.854%2015.455%2017.956%2015%2017%2015s-1.854.455-2.42%201.226l-11%2015c-.667.912-.767%202.122-.255%203.13C3.835%2035.365%204.87%2036%206%2036h7l.012%2016.003c.002%202.208%201.792%203.997%204%203.997h22.99c2.208%200%204-1.79%204-4s-1.792-4-4-4z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.28472em;" title="Retweet">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">333</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">333 Retweets</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--heart web-intent" data-scribe="element:heart" href="https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=780522795444805632" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Like" class="Icon Icon--heart TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2054%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M38.723%2012c-7.187%200-11.16%207.306-11.723%208.13-.563-.824-4.496-8.13-11.723-8.13C8.79%2012%203.533%2018.163%203.533%2024.647%203.533%2039.964%2021.89%2055.907%2027%2056c5.11-.093%2023.467-16.036%2023.467-31.353C50.467%2018.163%2045.21%2012%2038.723%2012z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 0.9375em;" title="Like">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:heart_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">1,293</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">1,293 likes</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div class="resize-sensor-expand" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 240px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 510px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor-shrink" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 460.344px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 1000px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;">Trump, on the other hand, has had a good deal less musical co-signs, the most prominent coming from Kid Rock, Wayne Newton, as well as usual suspects Rich, </span>Nugent<span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;">, Boone and Kenny Rogers.</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/305964/kiss/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kiss</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;">' loud and proud bassist/singer </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/302679/gene-simmons/chart" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gene Simmons</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"> was labeled the</span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7517954/gene-simmons-son-donald-trump-of-rock" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Donald Trump of rock"</a><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: 1em; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: center;">recently by his son, Nick Simmons. </span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Las Vegas icon Newton went on <a href="http://radio.foxnews.com/2016/09/12/newton-american-needs-donald-trump-now/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Fox News</a> earlier this month and said that if America has "ever needed Donald Trump, it's now." Kid Rock, an avowed Republican, hasn't stumped for the billionaire real estate mogul (though he told <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kid-rock-im-digging-donald-trump-20160201" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #01b1e6; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rolling Stone</em></a> in February that he was "digging" the candidate), but when Clinton made a crack about Rock possibly getting a cabinet position in a Donald White House, the Detroit rapper joked, "I don't care what your politics are, funny is funny!"</div>
<twitterwidget class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" data-tweet-id="779004689236971520" id="twitter-widget-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 220px; position: static; transform: rotate(0deg); visibility: visible; width: 500px;"></twitterwidget><br />
<div class="SandboxRoot env-bp-350" data-twitter-event-id="3" style="background: 0px 0px; color: #1c2022; direction: ltr; font-family: Helvetica, Roboto, "Segoe UI", Calibri, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; white-space: initial;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet js-clickToOpenTarget" data-click-to-open-target="https://twitter.com/KidRock/status/779004689236971520" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="6" id="twitter-widget-3" lang="en" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(225, 232, 237); cursor: pointer; max-width: 520px; overflow: hidden;">
<div class="EmbeddedTweet-tweet" style="padding: 20px 20px 11.6px;">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/KidRock/status/779004689236971520" class="Tweet h-entry js-tweetIdInfo subject expanded
is-deciderHtmlWhitespace" data-scribe="section:subject" data-tweet-id="779004689236971520" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="Tweet-header u-cf" style="padding-left: 45px; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;">
<div class="Tweet-brand u-floatRight" style="float: right !important; position: relative; z-index: 1;">
<span class="u-hiddenInNarrowEnv"><a class="FollowButton follow-button profile" data-scribe="component:followbutton" href="https://twitter.com/KidRock" role="button" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(85, 172, 238); color: #55acee; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 5.5px 13px 6.5px 11.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Follow Kid Rock on Twitter"><span class="FollowButton-bird" style="display: inline-block; position: relative; top: 1px;"></span></a></span><br />
<div aria-label="" class="Icon Icon--twitter " role="presentation" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2072%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22none%22%20d%3D%22M0%200h72v72H0z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%2355acee%22%20d%3D%22M68.812%2015.14c-2.348%201.04-4.87%201.744-7.52%202.06%202.704-1.62%204.78-4.186%205.757-7.243-2.53%201.5-5.33%202.592-8.314%203.176C56.35%2010.59%2052.948%209%2049.182%209c-7.23%200-13.092%205.86-13.092%2013.093%200%201.026.118%202.02.338%202.98C25.543%2024.527%2015.9%2019.318%209.44%2011.396c-1.125%201.936-1.77%204.184-1.77%206.58%200%204.543%202.312%208.552%205.824%2010.9-2.146-.07-4.165-.658-5.93-1.64-.002.056-.002.11-.002.163%200%206.345%204.513%2011.638%2010.504%2012.84-1.1.298-2.256.457-3.45.457-.845%200-1.666-.078-2.464-.23%201.667%205.2%206.5%208.985%2012.23%209.09-4.482%203.51-10.13%205.605-16.26%205.605-1.055%200-2.096-.06-3.122-.184%205.794%203.717%2012.676%205.882%2020.067%205.882%2024.083%200%2037.25-19.95%2037.25-37.25%200-.565-.013-1.133-.038-1.693%202.558-1.847%204.778-4.15%206.532-6.774z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.25em;" title="">
</div>
<span class="u-hiddenInNarrowEnv"><a class="FollowButton follow-button profile" data-scribe="component:followbutton" href="https://twitter.com/KidRock" role="button" style="border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(85, 172, 238); color: #55acee; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 5.5px 13px 6.5px 11.5px; text-decoration: none;" title="Follow Kid Rock on Twitter"><span class="FollowButton-bird" style="display: inline-block; position: relative; top: 1px;">
</span> Follow</a></span></div>
<div class="TweetAuthor " data-scribe="component:author" style="line-height: 0; margin-top: 2px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; word-wrap: normal !important;">
<a aria-label="Kid Rock (screen name: KidRock)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/KidRock" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-avatar Identity-avatar" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 4px; display: inline-block; height: 36px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 36px;"><img alt="" class="Avatar" data-scribe="element:avatar" data-src-1x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/654366501881823233/woeZZ3aN_normal.png" data-src-2x="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/654366501881823233/woeZZ3aN_bigger.png" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/654366501881823233/woeZZ3aN_normal.png" style="border: 0px; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%;" /></span><span class="TweetAuthor-name Identity-name customisable-highlight" data-scribe="element:name" style="font-weight: 700;" title="Kid Rock">Kid Rock</span> <span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;"></span></a><br />
<div aria-label="Verified Account" class="Icon Icon--verified " role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2064%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22none%22%20d%3D%22M0%200h64v72H0z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%2388c9f9%22%20d%3D%22M3%2037.315c0%204.125%202.162%207.726%205.363%209.624-.056.467-.09.937-.09%201.42%200%206.103%204.72%2011.045%2010.546%2011.045%201.295%200%202.542-.234%203.687-.686C24.22%2062.4%2027.827%2064.93%2032%2064.93c4.174%200%207.782-2.53%209.49-6.213%201.148.45%202.39.685%203.69.685%205.826%200%2010.546-4.94%2010.546-11.045%200-.483-.037-.953-.093-1.42C58.83%2045.04%2061%2041.44%2061%2037.314c0-4.37-2.42-8.15-5.933-9.946.427-1.203.658-2.5.658-3.865%200-6.104-4.72-11.045-10.545-11.045-1.302%200-2.543.232-3.69.688-1.707-3.685-5.315-6.216-9.49-6.216-4.173%200-7.778%202.53-9.492%206.216-1.146-.455-2.393-.688-3.688-.688-5.827%200-10.545%204.94-10.545%2011.045%200%201.364.23%202.662.656%203.864C5.42%2029.163%203%2032.944%203%2037.314z%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23FFF%22%20d%3D%22M17.87%2039.08l7.015%206.978c.585.582%201.35.873%202.116.873.77%200%201.542-.294%202.127-.883.344-.346%2015.98-15.974%2015.98-15.974%201.172-1.172%201.172-3.07%200-4.243-1.17-1.17-3.07-1.172-4.242%200l-13.87%2013.863-4.892-4.868c-1.174-1.168-3.074-1.164-4.242.01-1.168%201.176-1.163%203.075.01%204.244z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.11111em;" title="Verified Account">
</div>
<a aria-label="Kid Rock (screen name: KidRock)" class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/KidRock" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="TweetAuthor-verifiedBadge" data-scribe="element:verified_badge" style="position: absolute; top: 0px;">
<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">✔</span></span><span class="TweetAuthor-screenName Identity-screenName" data-scribe="element:screen_name" dir="ltr" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px;" title="@KidRock">@KidRock</span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="Tweet-body e-entry-content" data-scribe="component:tweet" style="margin-top: 14px;">
<div class="Tweet-text e-entry-title" dir="ltr" lang="en" style="border: none; cursor: text; direction: ltr; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
I don’t care what your politics are, funny is funny! Enjoy.<br />
-KR <a class="link customisable" data-expanded-url="http://bit.ly/2de19o6" data-scribe="element:url" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://bit.ly/2de19o6"><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">http://</span>bit.ly/2de19o6<span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;"> </span></a></div>
<div class="Tweet-metadata dateline" style="color: #697882; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 3.2px;">
<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2016-09-22T17:09:25+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/KidRock/status/779004689236971520" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">12:09 PM - 22 Sep 2016</a></div>
<div class="Tweet-card" style="font-size: 14px; margin-top: 10.4px;">
<div class="PrerenderedCard is-constrainedByMaxWidth is-loaded" data-card-name="summary_large_image" data-css="https://ton.twimg.com/tfw/css/syndication_bundle_v1_adc9724a6163962e33260ddf0c488abf3df7c6e2.css" data-scribe="component:card" style="height: auto; overflow: hidden; width: 458px;">
<div class="TwitterCardsGrid TwitterCard" style="background: transparent; color: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative;">
<div class="TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCardsGrid-col--spacerBottom CardContent" style="clear: both; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.32333em; width: 458px;">
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;"></a><br />
<div class="SummaryCard-image TwitterCardsGrid-col--12" style="background-color: #e1e8ed; border-color: inherit; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; clear: both; float: left; width: 456px;">
<div class="tcu-imageContainer tcu-imageAspect--2to1" style="overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 456px;">
<div class="tcu-imageWrapper tcu-image-779004689236971520 js-cspForcedStyle" data-style="background-image: url(https://o.twimg.com/2/proxy.jpg?t=HBhTaHR0cDovL3AuZm9kNC5jb20vcC9tZWRpYS9iMmZjOTc0ZDFkL1dycWNzb2czU0xHTVluRXpjaVJKX0hpbGxhcnktQ2xpbnRvbi10aHVtYi5qcGcUgB4U2A8cFIQGFJQDAAAWABIA&s=gsfzUHRTdhHRFr9wN1qfeSM05lP7WfhYZ8poXJYK-Zk); background-size: cover;" style="background-image: url("//ton.twimg.com/tfw/assets/link_v1_e64f66f5650df987d97cc5f00c4cb5987f367028.svg"); background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 3em; bottom: -1px; left: -1px; position: absolute; right: -1px; top: -1px;">
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;"><img alt="Photo published for Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: Hillary Clinton" class="u-block" src="https://o.twimg.com/2/proxy.jpg?t=HBhTaHR0cDovL3AuZm9kNC5jb20vcC9tZWRpYS9iMmZjOTc0ZDFkL1dycWNzb2czU0xHTVluRXpjaVJKX0hpbGxhcnktQ2xpbnRvbi10aHVtYi5qcGcUgB4U2A8cFIQGFJQDAAAWABIA&s=gsfzUHRTdhHRFr9wN1qfeSM05lP7WfhYZ8poXJYK-Zk" style="border: 0px; display: block !important; height: 230px; opacity: 0; width: 458px;" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;">
</a>
<div class="SummaryCard-contentContainer TwitterCardsGrid-col--12" style="clear: both; float: left; width: 456px;">
<div class="SummaryCard-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.75em 1em;">
<h2 class="TwitterCard-title js-cardClick tcu-textEllipse--multiline" style="border: none; font-size: 1em; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.15em; max-height: 1.3em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;">
Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: Hillary Clinton</a></h2>
<div class="tcu-resetMargin u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--spacerTop tcu-textEllipse--multiline" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-top: 0.32333em; max-height: 2.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;">Episode 20: Hillary Clinton sits down with Zach Galifianakis for her most memorable interview yet.</a></div>
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;"><span class="u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--spacerTop SummaryCard-destination" style="color: #8899a6; display: block; margin-top: 0.32333em; max-height: 1.3em; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: lowercase; white-space: nowrap;">funnyordie.com</span></a></div>
</div>
<a class="js-openLink u-block TwitterCardsGrid-col--12 TwitterCard-container TwitterCard-container--clickable SummaryCard--large" data-card-breakpoints="w450 w400 w350 w300 w250 w200 w150 w100 w50 " data-theme="light" href="https://t.co/JjiuhDk08L" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); border-radius: 0.42857em; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #2b7bb9; cursor: pointer; display: block !important; float: left; outline-offset: -1px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.15s ease-in-out, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out; width: 458px;">
</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<ul aria-label="Tweet actions" class="Tweet-actions" data-scribe="component:actions" role="menu" style="border: none; list-style: none; margin: 8.4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--reply web-intent" data-scribe="element:reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=779004689236971520" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Reply" class="Icon Icon--reply TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2062%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M41%2031h-9V19c0-1.14-.647-2.183-1.668-2.688-1.022-.507-2.243-.39-3.15.302l-21%2016C5.438%2033.18%205%2034.064%205%2035s.437%201.82%201.182%202.387l21%2016c.533.405%201.174.613%201.82.613.453%200%20.908-.103%201.33-.312C31.354%2053.183%2032%2052.14%2032%2051V39h9c5.514%200%2010%204.486%2010%2010%200%202.21%201.79%204%204%204s4-1.79%204-4c0-9.925-8.075-18-18-18z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.07639em;" title="Reply">
</div>
</a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--retweet web-intent" data-scribe="element:retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=779004689236971520" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Retweet" class="Icon Icon--retweet TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2074%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M70.676%2036.644C70.166%2035.636%2069.13%2035%2068%2035h-7V19c0-2.21-1.79-4-4-4H34c-2.21%200-4%201.79-4%204s1.79%204%204%204h18c.552%200%20.998.446%201%20.998V35h-7c-1.13%200-2.165.636-2.676%201.644-.51%201.01-.412%202.22.257%203.13l11%2015C55.148%2055.545%2056.046%2056%2057%2056s1.855-.455%202.42-1.226l11-15c.668-.912.767-2.122.256-3.13zM40%2048H22c-.54%200-.97-.427-.992-.96L21%2036h7c1.13%200%202.166-.636%202.677-1.644.51-1.01.412-2.22-.257-3.13l-11-15C18.854%2015.455%2017.956%2015%2017%2015s-1.854.455-2.42%201.226l-11%2015c-.667.912-.767%202.122-.255%203.13C3.835%2035.365%204.87%2036%206%2036h7l.012%2016.003c.002%202.208%201.792%203.997%204%203.997h22.99c2.208%200%204-1.79%204-4s-1.792-4-4-4z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; transform: scaleX(1); vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 1.28472em;" title="Retweet">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:retweet_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">381</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">381 Retweets</span></a></li>
<li class="Tweet-action" style="display: inline-block; margin-left: 14px;"><a class="TweetAction TweetAction--heart web-intent" data-scribe="element:heart" href="https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=779004689236971520" style="background-color: transparent; color: #697882; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div aria-label="Like" class="Icon Icon--heart TweetAction-icon" role="img" style="background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2054%2072%22%3E%3Cpath%20class%3D%22icon%22%20fill%3D%22%23697882%22%20d%3D%22M38.723%2012c-7.187%200-11.16%207.306-11.723%208.13-.563-.824-4.496-8.13-11.723-8.13C8.79%2012%203.533%2018.163%203.533%2024.647%203.533%2039.964%2021.89%2055.907%2027%2056c5.11-.093%2023.467-16.036%2023.467-31.353C50.467%2018.163%2045.21%2012%2038.723%2012z%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; display: inline-block; height: 1.25em; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 0.9375em;" title="Like">
</div>
<span aria-hidden="true" class="TweetAction-stat" data-scribe="element:heart_count" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">1,022</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">1,022 likes</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div class="resize-sensor-expand" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 543px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 510px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="resize-sensor-shrink" style="bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; z-index: -1;">
<div style="height: 1065.75px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: 0s; width: 1000px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-10069363727449000792016-09-13T10:27:00.001-07:002016-09-13T10:27:41.212-07:00World's Mind Made Up on US Presidential RaceMarkie Z Letter - @markandrewz Guest Blogger: Brian Stokes<br />
<br />
<h2 class="title entry-title" style="background: url("/sites/all/themes/zen/yaleglobal/images/dashed.png") center bottom repeat-x scroll rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #003333; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />World's Mind Made Up on US Presidential Race</h2>
<div class="meta" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.6px;">
<div class="terms terms-inline" style="display: inline;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="content" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.6px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 10px;">
<div class="article-generalize-c" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 17px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 15px;">
Pew Research Center survey in 15 nations: Obama is tough act to follow, Clinton is more trusted than Trump</div>
<div class="article-creator-c author vcard">
<span class="fn">Bruce Stokes</span></div>
<div class="article-publish-c" style="padding-right: 15px;">
<span class="source-org vcard">YaleGlobal</span>, <span class="updated">16 August 2016</span></div>
<div class="article-content-c entry-content" style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; padding-top: 35px;">
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; margin-right: 10px; width: 200px;"><tbody style="border-top: medium none;">
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><img alt="" height="600" src="http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/sites/default/files/images/2016/8/stokes0816-article.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><span style="color: #0b265e;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">World watch on America: US President Barack Obama is highly popular in Europe, top; Donald Trump’s isolationist policies attract global anxiety</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
WASHINGTON: When on November 8 Americans head to the polls to elect the next president of the United States, they effectively select the de facto president of the world. And, history suggests, whoever becomes the next resident of the White House – Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump – he or she will impact America’s image, and thus US influence, around the world. </div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Of the two principal presidential candidates, Clinton is the better known outside the United States. Having served as US secretary of state from 2009 to early 2013, Clinton enjoys the confidence of many in both Europe and Asia to do the right thing in world affairs, according to a recent <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/06/29/2-obamas-international-image-remains-strong-in-europe-and-asia/" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;">survey</a> of 15 nations by the Pew Research Center.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Majorities or pluralities in 12 of 14 European and Asian countries have faith in Clinton, including the Swedes, 83 percent; Germans, 79 percent; Australians, 70 percent; Japanese, 70 percent; and Canadians, 60 percent. On the other hand, views of Clinton among the Chinese are much more divided, with 37 percent saying they have confidence in her, 35 percent saying they do not have confidence and 28 percent with no opinion. And Clinton is still little known in India, where a majority, 56 percent, voices no opinion about her ability to act on world affairs.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Views of real estate magnate Trump are a different story. Less than a quarter of people across all 15 countries surveyed in 2016 express confidence in Donald Trump’s ability to do the right thing regarding international affairs. In fact, overwhelming majorities in most of the societies surveyed have little or no confidence in him. This includes 92 percent of Swedes, 89 percent of Germans, 88 percent of Dutch and 85 percent of both the French and British.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Most Australians at 87 percent as well as Japanese, 82 percent, and Canadians, 80 percent, also lack faith in Trump. People in Asia’s two most populated nations have little knowledge of the Republican candidate. In China, there is a split between those who have no confidence in Trump, 40 percent, and those who do not offer an opinion, 39 percent. In India, 67 percent offer no opinion.</div>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; margin-left: 10px; width: 200px;"><tbody style="border-top: medium none;">
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><div>
<span style="color: #0b265e;"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">T</span></span></strong></span><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">he next president, Clinton or Trump, faces the challenge<br />of comparisons<br />with Obama.</span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
The candidate who heads to the White House in January, whether Trump or Clinton, faces the daunting challenge of comparison with Barack Obama, who is leaving office enjoying widespread public confidence in his conduct of foreign affairs. In Europe, majorities in nine of 10 countries surveyed this year trust the outgoing president’s ability to handle international issues, including 93 percent in Sweden and 91 percent in the Netherlands. Only the Greeks regard Obama unfavorably, with 58 percent expressing little or no confidence in him.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Obama has fewer fans in Asia, but is still popular: 78 percent in Japan, 58 percent in India and 52 percent in China voice faith in Obama’s record on the world stage.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
History suggests that foreign confidence in US presidential leadership can be a consequence of the triumph of hope over experience. In 2008 in Europe, in the wake of the Iraq war and other issues that put Washington at loggerheads with other countries, trust in then-President George W. Bush had fallen to 16 percent in the United Kingdom, 14 percent in Germany and 13 percent in France, according to a Pew Research Center <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2009/07/23/confidence-in-obama-lifts-us-image-around-the-world/" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;">survey</a>. In 2009, soon after Obama had been elected, but before he had been tested by events, 93 percent of the Germans expressed confidence in the new US president, and 91 percent of the French and 86 percent of the British agreed. </div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Americans’ choice can influence foreign judgment of the United States, and in countries surveyed, majorities or pluralities said Obama’s election led them to have a more favorable view of the United States. Again, Western Europe and especially France, 93 percent more favorable, and Germany, 91 percent, stood out in this regard, but also 77 percent of Japanese and Brazilians, 73 percent of Indonesians and 47 percent of Chinese expressed the view that the election had buoyed their view of the United States.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="border-collapse: inherit; font-size: inherit; width: 590px;"><tbody style="border-top: medium none;">
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td align="center" style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><span style="color: #0b265e;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Confidence in US Leaders Regarding World Affairs</span></span></strong></span></td></tr>
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><a href="http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/sites/default/files/images/2016/8/stokes0816-graph.jpg" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="graph" src="http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/sites/default/files/images/2016/8/stokes0816-graph-580.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tough act to follow: A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 15 nations suggests that confidence runs high in US President Barack Obama "to do the right thing regarding world affairs"; Hillary Clinton, former US secretary of State, follows close behind, while doubt lingers about real estate developer Donald Trump <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2016/06/Pew-Research-Center-Balance-of-Power-Report-FINAL-June-29-2016.pdf" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;">(Data: Pew Research Center)</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
The outcome of the 2004 American election had the opposite effect. A 2005 Pew Research Center<a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2005/06/23/us-image-up-slightly-but-still-negative/" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;">survey</a> found that after the reelection of George W. Bush in not one of 15 countries surveyed did a majority or plurality report that Bush’s reelection led them to holding a more favorable view of the United States. In Germany, France and Canada, roughly three in four respondents said the election’s outcome caused them to have a less positive opinion of Uncle Sam. This may reflect waning support for the Iraq war among those nations that had joined the US invasion and growing opposition to the US-led war on terrorism.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
On the eve of the 2016 election, majorities in 13 out of 15 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center have positive views of the United States. America receives its highest ratings from the Poles, 74 percent; Italians, 72 percent; Japanese, 72 percent; and Swedes, 69 percent. The survey shows that the US also enjoys support from Indians at 56 percent and Chinese at 50 percent.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Whether international views of the US change in the wake of the upcoming election may depend on whom voters choose and foreigners’ expectations of that incoming president.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
In 2009, in 15 of 24 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center, not including the United States, majorities or pluralities assumed that Obama would not act unilaterally and would consider the interests of countries like theirs when making foreign policy decisions. In 16 of the nations surveyed, public opinion leaned toward the view that Obama would be fair in dealing with the Israelis and the Palestinians. And in 19 nations, majorities or pluralities expected the United States under Obama to take significant measures to control global climate change.</div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
But by <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/global-opinion-of-obama-slips-international-policies-faulted/" style="color: #1e5f99; text-decoration: none;">2012</a>, in 14 of the same countries surveyed again, a median of 58 percent said Obama had acted unilaterally, 60 percent said he was not fair in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian situation and 62 percent suggested that he had failed to take significant steps on climate change.</div>
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; margin-right: 10px; width: 200px;"><tbody style="border-top: medium none;">
<tr style="padding: 0.25em;"><td style="color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding: 0.25em;"><div>
<span style="color: #0b265e;"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">F</span></span></strong></span><span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">oreigners look on the US electoral process with a mixture of hope and anxiety.</span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
This reversal in sentiment is a reminder that foreigners can have unrealistic expectations of American presidents. And their disappointment when their expectations are not realized may affect views of both the presidency and the country. Between early 2009, during Obama’s honeymoon period, and 2012, international approval of Obama’s international policies fell significantly in Europe, Muslim countries, Russia, China, Japan and Mexico. In the same period, favorable views of the US declined in Germany, Britain, France, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Mexico. </div>
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Without a vote in the US presidential election, foreigners look on the American electoral process with a mixture of hopefulness and anxiety. The process to date has not proved encouraging. Three-quarters of Australians and nearly seven in ten Canadians, among the foreigners who arguably may follow the US election the most closely, have a negative impression of the 2016 US presidential campaign. They know that Americans’ decision will affect their lives in ways they cannot control. They know Trump less well than Clinton and have greater confidence in her than in him. So non-Americans hope for the best, and history suggests they can be disappointed. Both their expectations and likely disappointments will affect the next US president’s ability to lead the world.</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="body_end" style="font-size: 13px; font-style: oblique; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 12px;">
Bruce Stokes is director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center.</div>
</div>
<div class="end_space" style="padding: 17px 0px;">
</div>
<div class="article-rights-c" style="padding-bottom: 15px;">
Rights:Copyright © 2016 YaleGlobal and the MacMillan Cente</div>
</div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-2438248902846889692016-04-20T09:51:00.000-07:002016-04-20T09:51:12.728-07:00<b>Markie Z Reaction To:</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> "The Olympics Do Not Need Golf and Golf Surely Does Not Need the Olympics"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Chris Chase for Fox Sports</div>
<br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;">Golf in the Olympics? Apathy among top players? Of course. That is so true. Chris Chase is absolutely correct and accurately reporting the issue on behalf of Fox Sports. One big however though: Those that do not wish to compete do not have to. That is pretty simple. Those that do - let them. Another International Event is not going to hurt any sport. Just take the criteria and work one's way down until a player accepts the opportunity to play. Leave it up to the individual. Fill the field and award the medals at the end of play. The player that wins Gold can say he/she did. Period. If you do not want to attend the event, don't. If you do not wish to view the event or check on it online, don't. Shameless self-promot</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;">ing criticism of an event is nothing more than bringing attention to your sponsors for others to see their name and logos (Adam Scott) for a few more impressions. I am sure you can throw in a few more Tweets in there as well.</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;"><br />This article and the comments therein along with my comment/response is nothing more than a waste of time. Who cares what Adam Scott thinks? Adam Scott is free to do what he wants to do. I am free to read this article or not and to respond or not. What does that all mean and what good does it do? Nothing. Everyone knows Tiger Woods hated playing in the Ryder Cup and it surely showed. Mark O'Mear supported Tiger and that blackballed him for ever becoming a Ryder Cup Captain - and that hurt Mark's feelings. I don;t blame Mark. He was caught in between a rock and a hard place at that time. Subsequent events changed life for both mark and Tiger. This is the last time I will spend any effort on this ridiculous topic (which was easily predicted by anyone - not just me) and the tabloid remarks made by "name" players. Play golf, or don't. One should think about making comments and doing things that help people and society. Personally, I prefer to use golf as a means to that end. That is a better and more productive use of one's time. Enough said.</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;"><br /><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1274156957&extragetparams=%7B%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/markandrewz" style="color: #627aad; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mark Andrew Zwartynski</a> @markandrewz </span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;">Link to the article: </span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;">http://www.foxsports.com/golf/story/adam-scott-olympic-golf-qualifying-rio-summer-olympics-history-players-field-cut-042016</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.012px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-77299156428967504342016-04-02T10:45:00.000-07:002016-04-02T14:25:28.802-07:00Legal, But Morally Dubious - Cheating in SportsThe champion athlete pursues every avenue to gain the
“so-called” competitive edge. More often than not taking this quest to
the utmost gamble of the risk (if discovered) of losing everything. Some people have made the statement to me, "legal, but morally dubious." <br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, what is “legal, but morally dubious?” Who
holds the authority on how to define and determine morality in sports. Ultimately, is the fan? The one who makes no decisions as to the course of the sport or its business, but pays dearly for its engaging entertainment value. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of
course, “playing dirty,” “kicking your golf ball to improve your lie when no
one is looking,” “corking your bat,” “deflating footballs,” etc., are much
easier to define as there are rules agreed to by committees and
competitors. “Performance Enhancing Drugs” have been proven to make a
difference between one who utilizes them over one who does not. It is
called an "uneven" playing field. Therefore, committees, federations, competitors have staunchly taken up the mission to "level the playing field. In some cases even to save lives and families. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I wonder about the court of public individual opinion
and the personal determination of something being immoral and dubious.
Everyone always has an opinion. At least on most subjects they are
familiar with. Go to a "sports" bar and you will find as many opinions as are in attendance. Therefore, morals and whether or not some thing or some
act may be dubious is just that – an opinion. It is not right or
wrong. Again, it is just an opinion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Mor·al<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>ˈmôrəl/noun<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>plural noun: morals<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>1.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or
prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an
experience.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"the moral of this story was that one must see the
beauty in what one has"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Synonyms: lesson, message, meaning, significance,
signification, import, point, teaching<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"the moral of the story"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>2.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning
what is and is not acceptable for them to do.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"the corruption of public morals"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Synonyms: moral code, code of ethics, (moral) values,
principles, standards, (sense of) morality, scruples<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"he has no morals" <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Du·bi·ous<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>ˈd(y)o͞obēəs/adjective<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>1.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>hesitating or doubting.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"Alex looked dubious, but complied"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Synonyms: doubtful, uncertain, unsure, hesitant; More<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>2.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>not to be relied upon; suspect.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"extremely dubious assumptions"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Synonyms: suspicious, suspect, untrustworthy, unreliable,
questionable;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br></div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So if an athlete is within the rules agreed upon by the
committee and all competitors, but displays “suspect values,” is that athlete
cheating? <o:p></o:p></div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-34649004649725035382016-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:002016-03-31T15:33:11.297-07:00High Performance Breathing Technology Runners Win Two Gold Medals at IAAF World Indoor Championships<div class="MsoNormal">
High Performance Breathing Technology Runners Patrick Feeney
and Chris Giesting paced their four man team in the 4 x 400 metre relays for
Team USA over two days to win the Gold Medal in the IAAF World Indoor
Championships and nearly break the world record.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HPBT Runners Feeney and Giesting along with National Indoor
Champion Vernon Norwood, Kyle Clemons, Calvin Smith and Elvyonn Bailey of team
USA displayed a memorable performance in front of a sell-out crowd at the
Oregon Convention Center for the IAAF World Indoor Championships held March 19
and 20, 2016.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Team USA finished with a 3:02.45 win, the third-fastest time
ever indoors, just 0.33 seconds shy of the world record they set two years ago
in Sopot, Poland. Bahamas (3:04.75) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:05.51) produced
national indoor records to complete the medalists.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris Giesting, when asked about High Performance Breathing
Technology and the Oxygen Advantage stated, <i>“Since
adopting the program in September it has improved my overall health, increased
the threshold at which he was able to train in order to accomplish more during
a single workout providing the edge of margin to separate himself from his
competitors.’</i> Giesting, the fastest leg runner in the heats, produced a
superb run (45.34) to build up an unsurmountable lead in the third leg of the
finals as Norwood took the baton with the clock at 2:17.47.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patrick Feeney, when asked about High Performance Breathing
technology stated, <i>“After a couple of
weeks working with High Performance Breathing Technology’s Oxygen Advantage
program I have been sleeping better than ever and feeling much more calm and
relaxed. It has helped me focus on the
race at hand, trust my training and get my mind right for the best times I have
ever run.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mark Andrew Zwartynski, Managing Partner of High Performance
Breathing Technology, stated, “The combination of Founder Dr. Martin Denbar’s
Airway Management strategy and Patrick McKeown’s Oxygen Advantage has
introduced the newest natural program to improve athletic performance and be an
alternative to certain illegal banned substances, the latter for which we are
very proud of.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silver went to the Bahamas; Bronze was won by Trinidad &
Tobago with Jamaica finishing fourth.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-26373862549121794562016-03-04T08:08:00.000-08:002016-03-04T08:08:23.803-08:00Guest Blogger Laura Walden - IOC, Doing the Right Thing - Refugee athletes get a second chance and hope for their Olympic Dream<h1 style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Oswald, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></h1>
<div class="story_image_header_container" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 400px;">
<a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52110-olympic-image1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="IOC President Bach © IOC/C.Moratal" src="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52110-olympic-image1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></a><div class="caption" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
IOC President Bach © IOC/C.Moratal</div>
</div>
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LAURA WALDEN (USA) / <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sports Features Communications</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
(SFC) The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has created the Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA) team giving athletes who have had to flee their homeland a second chance to compete at the Games. The IOC pledged to offer assistance to elite level athletes who were affected by the worldwide refugee crisis and came through with the opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were requested to identify any refugee athlete who might qualify for the Rio 2016 Games and these athletes might be able to receive aid and assistance from Olympic Solidarity to help them their preparations and qualification efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IOC President Thomas Bach said, "By welcoming the team of Refugee Olympic Athletes to the Olympic Games Rio 2016, we want to send a message of hope for all refugees in our world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
"Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic Anthem. They will have a home together with all the other 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees in the Olympic Village."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Around 43 athletes have been targeted so far that are already receiving assistance and the ROA team for Rio 2016 is expected to number between five and 10 athletes. The EB decided today to close the call for new candidatures and only under exceptional circumstances requiring the approval of the IOC President will new candidates be considered. And the EB will also announce the names of those that will be approved to attend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
After Agenda 2020 was approved, the IOC carved out a special fund of US$2 million to establish relief projects in collaboration with the NOCs around the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The IOC will step in and has approved:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>The EB also approved the operational aspects surrounding Team ROA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> * </span></span>The name of the team will be Team Refugee Olympic Athletes;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> * </span></span>Team ROA will get its own welcome ceremony at the Olympic Village, like all other teams;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> * </span></span>The team will be housed like all the other teams;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>A team entourage will be appointed by the IOC to meet all the required technical needs of the athletes, including: Chef de Mission, coaches and technical officials (as per official quotas);<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>The team uniforms will be provided by the IOC;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>For all official representations of the team (including possible medal ceremonies), the Olympic flag will be raised and the Olympic Anthem will be played;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>The team will march behind the Olympic flag before host team Brazil at the Opening Ceremony;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> * </span></span>An adequate insurance policy will be contracted;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>A proper doping control process will be introduced through the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA); and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">·<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> *</span></span>Olympic Solidarity will cover travel and other participation expenses for the team and will continue to support the athletes of the team after the Olympic Games.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**LAURA WALDEN has over twenty-five years of experience in the Olympic Movement, formerly at the European Olympic Committees with SportEurope under former IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge and IOC Member Mario Pescante. She worked with the Rome 2004 and Turin 2006 Olympic bids and also managed PR & media for Dr. Jacques Rogge during his campaign for the presidency.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<hr class="clear_content" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" />
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keywords </b>· <a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/tag/Olympics" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Olympics</a> · <a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/tag/%20IOC" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">IOC</a> · <a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/tag/%20refugees" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">refugees</a></div>
<hr class="clear_content" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" />
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For more information contact:<br />Laura Walden (<a href="mailto:lwalden@sportsfeatures.com" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">lwalden@sportsfeatures.com</a>)</div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-2878741938058448172016-02-21T13:05:00.002-08:002016-02-21T13:10:56.208-08:002016 Olympic Games Update - Not So Good!<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There are many issues facing the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The continuation of conversation and speculation by the general public as to how cities are selected for all International Games is a never ending saga of sordid tales. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the middle of trying to host the two biggest athletic competitions in the world, Brazil is also impeaching its own president – Dilma Rousseff, struggling through an economic recession, attempting to complete a 16-km subway extension costing $247 million in time for the Olympics, and fight off a pair of mosquito-born viruses, including the Zika virus that has several Central and South American countries warning women not to get pregnant.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Beyond that, Olympic athletes will be competing in Guanabara Bay and Roridgo de Freitas Lagoon, two bodies of water that have heavy levels of pollution in them, to the point that athletes already in Rio training for the Games have gotten sick as a result.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Local interest in the Olympics is woefully short of expectations, according to sources, saying fewer than 50% of the 4.5 million tickets allocated for the host country have been sold.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Markie Z</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mark Andrew Zwartynski<br />
Reference: SportsFeatures.com</div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-69743910028304733272016-02-17T10:26:00.002-08:002016-02-17T10:26:37.418-08:00Hybrid Sports & Science Execs Form Int'l Firm - High Performance Breathing Technology, LLC<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hybrid Sports & Science Executives Form
International Firm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>“More speed, stamina,
better mental acuity, injury prevention and drug-free alternative to doping.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Austin, Texas USA –
February 17, 2016</b> – Veteran Sports and Science Executives have formed a new
international sports performance company named High Performance Breathing
Technology, LLC. The brainchild of <b>Dr. Martin Denbar,</b> a forty year experienced
Dentist and Diplomat (17 years) of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine
and Assistant Clinical Professor at Texas A&M University School of Medicine,
<b>High Performance Breathing Technology,
LLC </b>is a company combining two innovative therapeutic protocols: Dr. Denbar’s improvement of one’s airway
management, most importantly during competition, exercise, sleep and <b>Patrick McKeown’s</b> <i>“The Oxygen Advantage”</i>© <b>program
bringing year round high altitude results when training at sea level.</b> The
group specializes in addressing dysfunctional breathing and simulating high
altitude training to improve speed, stamina, mental acuity and injury
prevention for athletes of all levels. <b>HPBT</b> <b>also provides a drug-free alternative to the use of certain illegal
banned substances in all sports.</b> <a href="http://www.highpbt.com/">www.highpbt.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Patrick McKeown M.A.
TCD</b> is an award winning author with over fifteen years’ experience. A Director of Training and Education for
Buteyko Clinic International and an International Practitioner and author of
seven publications including his latest <b><i>“The Oxygen Advantage”</i></b>© published by
Harper Collins Sept. 2015, brings the expert knowledge of working with over
seven thousand athletes/clients supported by over 300 independent research
studies to round out the program. <a href="http://www.oxygenadvantage.com/">www.oxygenadvantage.com</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The firm has been assembled by longtime sports and
entertainment executive and published author <b>Mark Andrew Zwartynski</b>, Chairman of GP Capital Partners, parent
company of The Mark Andrew Group. <b>Mark Andrew </b>brings thirty years of
senior level sports and entertainment industry experience, twenty years with
the Indiana Pacers and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball
Association.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Gregory Carter
M.D. PhD</b> of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center serves as
the Director of Medicine for <b>HPBT. </b>Dr. Carter<b> </b>is also on the staff of the Sleep and Breathing Disorders Center
at St. Paul University Hospital and Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship
Program of UT Southwestern Medical Center.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>David Craig LAT
ATC</b> serves as the Director of Athletic Training for <b>HPBT </b>after<b> </b>35 years as
the Head Athletic Trainer for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA and a part of two
ABA championship teams. The first
president of the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association, he was named the “1993 Professional
Clinician/Athletic Trainer of the Year” and in 1995 was inducted into the IATA
Hall of Fame. David was Head Athletic Trainer for the 1985 and 1996 NBA
All-Star Eastern Conference Teams, a winner of the Distinguished Trainer Award
from the National Athletic Trainers Association and the 2003 recipient of the
Joe O’Toole NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year Award. David works with many USOC member teams. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Mark K. Sullivan</b>
serves as General Counsel of High Performance Breathing Technology, LLC and
oversees all international legal matters.
Mark is a 2014 Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer
Honorary Society. He was named one of Indianapolis’ Top Lawyers by Indianapolis
Monthly Magazine as well as an Indiana Super Lawyer and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer
by the National Trial Lawyers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Contact: </b>Mark
Andrew Zwartynski at 214-552-0652 and <a href="mailto:markandrew@highpbt.com">markandrew@highpbt.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span><a href="mailto:markandrew@highpbt.com"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76mxRfVGnfhyazxB4BLVToG1VyZLH0S7zOvzUXWNA7_MGKcerAJYRl6JgFRLRAYGQr6AKpO4f4nPFeWvd5ndOrr7H1rQKeXcd-Kv64sMuxq8FEagPRzkrNwq5vP_sra5ItCgv4iMWV669/s1600/9648152_G.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76mxRfVGnfhyazxB4BLVToG1VyZLH0S7zOvzUXWNA7_MGKcerAJYRl6JgFRLRAYGQr6AKpO4f4nPFeWvd5ndOrr7H1rQKeXcd-Kv64sMuxq8FEagPRzkrNwq5vP_sra5ItCgv4iMWV669/s320/9648152_G.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtGkWekezVR6TmCV3t6cLB3R_V-lyLuk6yM9KaA0yQ-3Ka2PUnkPe8n2jueApzXFF0oH11jrOs2mpG__5w_Y1jFxR9dajuvMcKjfoPHXJXrqVRj2zqS-wP1SsP-u-bE9CK27AIiDgJ99H/s1600/Oxygen+Advantage+logo-new.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtGkWekezVR6TmCV3t6cLB3R_V-lyLuk6yM9KaA0yQ-3Ka2PUnkPe8n2jueApzXFF0oH11jrOs2mpG__5w_Y1jFxR9dajuvMcKjfoPHXJXrqVRj2zqS-wP1SsP-u-bE9CK27AIiDgJ99H/s320/Oxygen+Advantage+logo-new.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAawaaK886dX831x4WxDcrRtw2o4Rt9gVayoVlt8BEQBDAHshhI2BNNNmxW4c1d-iaPu9qxdi0C6qmmA2M3jSwg8OMH7-cwVeG4xwQ1CBiMRvBd_OQygv2G6S7W9Ng3233ThZA4a1Nwnsq/s1600/Chris+Giesting+Wins+The+2016+New+Balance+600+Meter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAawaaK886dX831x4WxDcrRtw2o4Rt9gVayoVlt8BEQBDAHshhI2BNNNmxW4c1d-iaPu9qxdi0C6qmmA2M3jSwg8OMH7-cwVeG4xwQ1CBiMRvBd_OQygv2G6S7W9Ng3233ThZA4a1Nwnsq/s320/Chris+Giesting+Wins+The+2016+New+Balance+600+Meter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p>Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-70409145167056567112016-02-14T12:34:00.001-08:002016-02-14T12:34:27.536-08:00Markie Z Presents Guest Blogger Neil Wilson: "The Olympic Zika Question - To Go or Not Go to the Games" <br />
Markie Z Presents with Permission from Sports Features.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Oswald, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
NEIL WILSON: The Olympic Zika question - to go or not to go to the Games</h1>
<div class="story_image_header_container" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 400px;">
<a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52078-olympic-image1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Zika virus has become the latest more personal threat to the Games / Bigstock" src="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52078-olympic-image1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></a><div class="caption" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
Zika virus has become the latest more personal threat to the Games / Bigstock</div>
</div>
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="story_image_container" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #222222; float: right; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 212px;">
<div class="story_image" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid rgb(213, 213, 213); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52078-olympic-image2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressPoint/images/52078-olympic-image2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span 0in="" 1.0pt="" arial="" border:none="" color:="" lang="EN-GB" mso-border-alt:none="" padding:0in="" sans-serif="" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 16.1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" windowtext="">THE NEIL WILSON COLUMN / An exclusive, authoritative series from Sports Features Communications</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(SFC) To go or not to go. That to misuse Shakespeare is the question that is suddenly on the lips of Olympians who expected their only thoughts in 2016 to be focussed on gold in Rio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not put off by the pollution of waters in Guanabara Bay, the gaoling of corrupt executives of companies building Olympic stadia or Brazil's severe economic woes, they are seriously concerned about the latest more personal threat. In short, <i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aedus aegypti,</i> the mosquito that carries the Zika virus which was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fear has spread as rapidly as the virus in Brazil. Kenya's Olympic Committee head Kip Keino said that his country may not attend. The Australian and US Olympic committees said females should consider the risks of going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Toni Minichiello, coach to Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, urged the British to move its Olympic acclimatisation camp away from the infected area. Double Olympic rowing champion Andy Trigg Hodge said his wife would not be going to cheer his attempt at a third gold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the US Olympic soccer team, told SI.com that had she had to make the decision 'today' she would not go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The serious threat to health exists largely for women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant imminently because of the yet unproven but suspected link with birth defects in the new-born. Cases among both sexes of it causing Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a serious disease of the nervous system, have also been found in Brazil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The expert view is that it will not affect future pregnancies and that only one in five of those infected by the mosquitoes will show any symptoms. In the ones who do they will be mild, a fever, rash, joint pain and sore eyes lasting several days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Not something you want at the peak of the four-year cycle of training for an Olympic challenge but hugely unlikely to affect your health long term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thousands of cases of infection are being reported by health authorities now but now in Brazil is summer, the mosquito season. When the Olympic Games takes place in August it will be winter, the Northern Hemisphere equivalent of February. Mosquitoes in February are a rarer breed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mosquito repellent and long sleeves may be an extremely efficient protection from those rare February moskies. The eradication efforts by the Rio authorties will reduce the threat further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So the question is still: to go or not to go. Wrestling's world governing body has just conducted a test event in Rio. It reports that all competitors and officials returned healthy. And that is at the height of summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So the odds are good that in August everybody will be safe. The dilemma though remains. Not all will be as gung-ho as Ronak Pandit who has coached his wife Heena Sidhu to a place on India's Olympic shooting team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"The way I see it it's better to die for an Olympic gold than be scared and sit at home," he told Reuters. No answer was requested from his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">** NEIL WILSON reported his first Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. He has since covered another nine summer and nine winter Olympics for various newspapers, including The Independent and the Daily Mail with whom he has worked for the last 19 years as Athletics and Olympic correspondent. He was Britain's Sports Journalist of the Year in 1984 and is the author of seven books.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<hr class="clear_content" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" />
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keywords </b>· <a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/tag/Olympics" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Olympics</a> · <a href="http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/tag/%20Neil%20Wilson" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Neil Wilson</a></div>
<hr class="clear_content" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-color: rgb(213, 213, 213); border-bottom-style: solid; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;" />
<div style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For more information contact:<br />Laura Walden (<a href="mailto:lwalden@sportsfeatures.com" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1d5294; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">lwalden@sportsfeatures.com</a>)</div>
Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-53453628520123111172016-02-13T16:08:00.001-08:002016-02-13T16:08:17.194-08:00The leaf floats downstream on to the next phase, under the tired bridge...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lADeDvBcsUBXwSBiNEMfspLZoLJtz6F7V6mlxZIdu91MXk3cqzJlKd-VHTDLeB6ebOrYFepMqO-d23mpbW-B7LAoJReyMXNxFKKi1jnbCdS3zp8jV3NVd075LIhn092GYLjLLyUNTiI-/s1600/The+leaf+floats+downstream++-+Rick+McFadden+Photography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lADeDvBcsUBXwSBiNEMfspLZoLJtz6F7V6mlxZIdu91MXk3cqzJlKd-VHTDLeB6ebOrYFepMqO-d23mpbW-B7LAoJReyMXNxFKKi1jnbCdS3zp8jV3NVd075LIhn092GYLjLLyUNTiI-/s320/The+leaf+floats+downstream++-+Rick+McFadden+Photography.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Photography: Rick McFadden<br />
Words: Markie ZMark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-66856121634988591272016-02-13T15:59:00.000-08:002016-02-13T15:59:02.243-08:00Serene ebb and flow, soaring continuum to a safe landing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw97dIjNHNOh57gSTq8aXN1YkmR0ZDZKn5XjZV-laDEY9gRHEjhdoUNXkniX-HM-rnnPhoNpeuK5SvassdgBFApG8kLDyH73YcZgU4-K52NwAMLDyei0g7qWzrPNX0ED1fzhLH_rMYyxQF/s1600/Serene+ebb+and+flow+for+a+safe+landing....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw97dIjNHNOh57gSTq8aXN1YkmR0ZDZKn5XjZV-laDEY9gRHEjhdoUNXkniX-HM-rnnPhoNpeuK5SvassdgBFApG8kLDyH73YcZgU4-K52NwAMLDyei0g7qWzrPNX0ED1fzhLH_rMYyxQF/s320/Serene+ebb+and+flow+for+a+safe+landing....jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Photo: Unknown<br />
Words: Markie ZMark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75313323371873892.post-19957554737139964852015-12-09T10:47:00.001-08:002015-12-09T10:47:17.986-08:00Markie Z Guest Blogger Patrick McKeown Interview <header id="cb-standard-featured" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="cb-entry-header cb-style-standard" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; z-index: 3;">
<span class="cb-title-fi" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h1 class="entry-title cb-entry-title cb-single-title" itemprop="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 2px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px;">
MarkAndrewZ Guest Interview</h1>
<h1 class="entry-title cb-entry-title cb-single-title" itemprop="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 2px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px;">
The Oxygen Advantage </h1>
<div class="cb-byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #b3b3b3; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<div class="cb-author" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">
<span class="icon-user" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: FontAwesome; height: auto; line-height: normal; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"></span> <a href="http://galwaybayfm.ie/author/gbfmsport/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.298039); box-sizing: border-box; color: #b3b3b3; text-decoration: none;">Sport GBFM</a></div>
<div class="cb-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">
<span class="icon-time" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: FontAwesome; height: auto; line-height: normal; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"></span> <time class="updated" datetime="2015-12-09" style="box-sizing: border-box;">December 9, 2015</time></div>
<div class="cb-category" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding: 0px 5px;">
<span class="icon-folder-close" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: FontAwesome; height: auto; line-height: normal; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"></span> <a href="http://galwaybayfm.ie/category/podcasts/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.298039); box-sizing: border-box; color: #b3b3b3; text-decoration: none;" title="View all posts in Podcasts">Podcasts</a></div>
</div>
</span></div>
</header><section class="entry-content clearfix" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; zoom: 1;"><div class="pf-content" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="printfriendly" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<a class="noslimstat" href="http://galwaybayfm.ie/the-oxygen-advantage/#" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.298039); box-sizing: border-box; color: #157ecc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Print Friendly" src="http://cdn.printfriendly.com/button-print-gry20.png" style="border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%;" /></a></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Moycullen man Patrick McKeown has trained over 5,000 people—including Olympic and professional athletes—in reduced breathing exercises and now shares his scientifically validated techniques to help you breathe more efficiently.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;">
In <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Oxygen Advantage</em>, Patrick McKeown teaches you the fundamental relationship between oxygen and the body, then gets you started with a Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) to determine how efficiently your body uses oxygen. He then shows you how to increase your BOLT score by using light breathing exercises and learning how to simulate high altitude training, a technique used by Navy SEALs and professional athletes to help increase endurance, weight loss, and vital red blood cells to dramatically improve cardio-fitness.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;">
He joined Gerry Murphy in Studio: http://galwaybayfm.ie/the-oxygen-advantage/ </div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Contact:</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Mark Andrew-214-552-0652 markandrew@highpbt.com High Performance Breathing Technology, LLC</div>
</div>
</section><br />
<br />
<br />Mark Andrew Zwartynskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04753598219000883353noreply@blogger.com0