I was pleasantly surprised to see a bottle of Pineapple, Orange, Guava Juice in the cooler at Giant today. This concoction was originally called POG by the Hawaiians at Haleakala Dairy on Maui, Hawaii. Bolthouse Farms certainly hit the spot by bringing back an old favorite from Hawaii to the mainland, but with the fresher juices they are known for. I grew up drinking this stuff and am ecstatic to see a new version without all the high fructose corn syrup (hfcs) in it! If your grocer carries their juice products, make sure they’re stocking this variety!
You might also remember an old trend back in the nineties where the caps to the bottles inspired the fad game “Pogs.” I did some research and dug up some history behind the game: Continue reading →
By George Friedman
Arizona’s new law on illegal immigration went into effect last week, albeit severely limited by a federal court ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court undoubtedly will settle the matter, which may also trigger federal regulations. However that turns out, the entire issue cannot simply be seen as an internal American legal matter. More broadly, it forms part of the relations between the United States and Mexico, two sovereign nation-states whose internal dynamics and interests are leading them into an era of increasing tension. Arizona and the entire immigration issue have to be viewed in this broader context. Continue reading →
I wanted to share this photo before we head into The Lion King on Broadway. What a wonderful shot as the sun is setting in NYC. I hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!
The best book I’ve read recently is on the Chosin Reservoir campaign. I was assigned a book discussion, but really got involved with the book Colder Than Hell. It serves as the personal recollections of Lieutenant Joseph R. Owen and the rifle company he led in the mid fifties, Baker-One-Seven. The lessons presented in the book deal specifically with the role of the infantryman in war. I cannot even imagine the frigid temperatures that were encountered by the Marines. The documentary, Chosin, would be another great resource if you’re interested in the topic. Continue reading →
By Scott Stewart
On July 11, 2010, al-Malahim Media, the media arm of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), published the first edition of its new English-language online magazine “Inspire.” The group had tried to release the magazine in late June, but for some reason — whether a technical glitch, virus (as rumored on some of the jihadist message boards) or cyberattack — most of the initial file released was unreadable. Continue reading →
By Scott Stewart
The recent case involving the arrest and deportation of the Russian intelligence network in the United States has once again raised the subject of document fraud in general and passport fraud in particular. The FBI’s investigation into the group of Russian operatives discovered that several of the suspects had assumed fraudulent identities and had obtained genuine passports (and other identity documents) in their assumed names. One of the suspects assumed the identity of a Canadian by the name of Christopher Robert Mestos, who died in childhood. The suspect was arrested in Cyprus but fled after posting bail; his true identity remains unknown. Three other members of the group also assumed Canadian identities, with Andrey Bezrukov posing as Donald Heathfield, Elena Vavilova as Tracey Foley and Natalia Pereverzeva as Patricia Mills. Continue reading →
By George Friedman
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited some interesting spots over the July 4 weekend. Her itinerary included Poland and Ukraine, both intriguing choices in light of the recent Obama-Medvedev talks in Washington. But she also traveled to a region that has not been on the American radar screen much in the last two years — namely, the Caucasus — visiting Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Continue reading →
