New Years Eve party tip

Cornell Professor Brian Wansink's study showed that people overpour into tall, thin glasses by 20 to 30 percent, compared with short, wide glasses, probably because of the vertical-horizontal optical illusion that people consistently perceive vertical lines as longer than horizontal ones of the same length. Photo credit: Jason Koski, Cornell University Photo High Resolution Image

Watching your alcohol intake? Use a taller glass. When pouring liquor this New Years Eve, people – even professional bartenders – will unintentionally pour 20 to 30 percent more into short, squat glasses than into tall, thin ones, according to a new Cornell University study. "Yet, people who pour into short, wide glasses consistently believe that they pour less than those who pour into tall, narrow glasses," said Brian Wansink, author of Marketing Nutrition and the John S. Dyson Professor of Marketing, Applied Economics and of Nutritional Science at Cornell. "And education, practice, concentration and experience don't correct the overpouring."

The reason for the difference, Wansink speculates, is the classic vertical-horizontal optical illusion: People consistently perceive vertical lines as longer than horizontal ones, even when the lines are the same length.

""People generally estimate tall glasses as holding more liquid than wide ones of the same volume," Wansink said. "They also focus their pouring attention on the height of the liquid they are pouring and insufficiently compensate for its width."

The study, by Wansink and Koert van Ittersum, assistant professor of marketing at Georgia Institute of Technology, is published in the current issue of the British Medical Journal.

In separate studies, the researchers asked 198 college students (43 percent female) of legal drinking age and 86 professional bartenders (with average six years experience on-the-job; 38 percent female) to pour "a shot" (1.5 oz.) of spirits into either short, wide tumblers or tall, thin highball glasses.

The college students consistently poured 30 percent more alcohol into short, wide glasses than into tall, slender glasses, and the bartenders poured 20 percent more.

When the researchers asked one group of the college students to practice 10 times before the actual experiment, those students still poured 26 percent more into short than into tall glasses. When the researchers asked one group of bartenders to "please take your time," those bartenders took twice as long to pour the drink, but still poured 20 percent more into short, wide glasses than into tall, slender glasses.

Advice for New Years party hosts and for partiers who don't want to unintentionally overdrink? "Use tall glasses or glasses with alcohol-level marks etched on them," Wansink suggested. For parents? Use tall, thin glasses when pouring soda but short, wide glasses for milk and other healthful drinks. ###

Writer: Susan S. Lang, Cornell University. Contact: Brian Wansink Wansink@Cornell.edu 607-254-6302 Cornell Food & Brand Lab

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Direct Evidence That Bioclocks Work By Controlling Chromosome Coiling

Caption: From left to right, Ximing Qin, Yao Xu, Mark Woelfle and Carl Johnson. Credit: Steve Green. Usage Restrictions: None. Related news release: Bioclocks work by controlling chromosome coiling

New research suggests that biological clocks influence the activity of a large number of genes by causing the chromosomes to coil tightly in the day and relax at night. There is a new twist on the question of how biological clocks work. In recent years, scientists have discovered that biological clocks help organize a dizzying array of biochemical processes in the body. Despite a number of hypotheses, exactly how the microscopic pacemakers in every cell in the body exert such a widespread influence has remained a mystery.

Now, a new study provides direct evidence that biological clocks can influence the activity of a large number of different genes in an ingenious fashion, simply by causing chromosomes to coil more tightly during the day and to relax at night.

“The idea that the whole genome is oscillating is really cool,” enthuses Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences Carl Johnson, who headed the research that was published online Nov. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “The fact that oscillations can act as a regulatory mechanism is telling us something important about how DNA works: It is something DNA jockeys really need to think about.”

Johnson’s team, which consisted of Senior Lecturer Mark A Woelfle, Assistant Research Professor Yao Xu and graduate student Ximing Qin, performed the study with cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), the simplest organism known to possess a biological clock. The chromosomes in cyanobacteria are organized in circular molecules of DNA. In their relaxed state, they form a single loop. But, within the cell, they are usually “supercoiled” into a series of small helical loops.

There are even two families of special enzymes, called gyrases and topoisomerases, whose function is coiling and uncoiling DNA.

The researchers focused on small, non-essential pieces of DNA in the cyanobacteria called plasmids that occur naturally in the cyanobacteria. Because a plasmid should behave in the same fashion as the larger and more unwieldy chromosome, the scientists consider it to be a good proxy of the behavior of the chromosome itself.

When the plasmid is relaxed, it is open and uncoiled and, when it is supercoiled, it is twisted into a smaller, more condensed state. So, the researchers used a standard method, called gel electrophoresis, to measure the extent of a plasmid’s supercoiling during different points in the day/night cycle. The researchers found that the plasmid’s size varies according to this cycle: The plasmid is smaller and more tightly wound during periods of light than they are during periods of darkness. They also found that this rhythmic condensation disappears when the cyanobacteria are kept in constant darkness.

“This is one of the first pieces of evidence that the biological clock exerts its effect on DNA structure through the coiling of the chromosome and that this, in turn, allows it to regulate all the genes in the organism,” says Woelfle.

Some cyanobacteria use their biological clocks to control two basic processes. During the day, they use photosynthesis to turn sunlight into chemical energy. During the night, they remove nitrogen from the atmosphere and incorporate it into a chemical compound that they can use to make proteins. According to the Johnson lab’s “oscilloid model,” the genes that are involved in photosynthesis should be located in regions of the chromosome that are “turned on” by the tighter coiling in the DNA during the day and “turned off” during the night when the DNA is more relaxed.

By the same token, the genes that are involved in nitrogen fixation should be located in regions of the chromosome that are “turned off” during the day when the DNA is tightly coiled and “turned on” during the night when it is more relaxed.

The researchers see no reason why the bioclocks in higher organisms, including humans, do not operate in a similar fashion. “This could be a universal theme that we are just starting to decipher,” says Woelfle.

The DNA in higher organisms is much larger than that in cyanobacteria and it is linear, not circular. Stretched end-to-end, the genome in a mammalian cell is about six feet long. In order to fit into a microscopic cell, the DNA must be tightly packed into a series of small coils, something like microscopic Slinkies. Previous studies have shown that in higher organisms between 5 to 10 percent of genes in the genome are controlled by the bioclock, compared to 100 percent of genes in the cyanobacteria. In the case of the higher organisms, the bioclock’s control is likely to be local rather than the global situation in cyanobacteria.

With a circular chromosome (as in cyanobacteria), twisting it at any point affects the entire molecule. When you twist a linear chromosome at a certain point, however, the effect only extends for a limited distance in either direction because the ends are not connected. That fits neatly with the idea that the bioclock’s influence on linear chromosomes is limited to certain specific regions, regions where the specific genes that it regulates are located.

The research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

By David F. Salisbury. Contact: David F. Salisbury david.salisbury@vanderbilt.edu 615-343-6803 Vanderbilt University and Exporation, Vanderbilt's Online Research Magazine

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Freedom Calendar 12/22/07 - 12/29/07

December 22, 1870, African-American Republican Jefferson Long becomes U.S. Representative from Georgia.

December 23, 1815, Civil rights activist and Republican diplomat Henry Garnet born into slavery in Maryland; first African-American to address U.S. Senate (1865).

December 24, 1833, Birth of African-American Republican Joseph Corbin, Arkansas Superintendent of Education (1873-74)

Christmas Day December 25, 1804, Birth of U.S. Rep. George Ashmun (R-MA), anti-slavery activist and Chairman of 1860 Republican National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln.

December 26, 1939, Birth of former U.S. Rep. Lynn Martin (R-IL), who as Vice Chair of the Republican Conference was the first Republican woman in a congressional leadership position; later served as Secretary of Labor in the administration of President George H. W. Bush.

December 27, 1910, Birth of African-American physician Aris Allen, Chairman of Maryland Republican Party and Secretary of 1980 Republican National Convention.

December 28, 1973, Banned Russian author and human rights activist Alexander Solzhenitsyn publishes Gulag Archipelago; President Ronald Reagan would quote his undelivered Nobel acceptance speech in national TV address to Soviet Union.

December 29, 1930, Death of Walter Cohen, African-American Republican from New Orleans; served in McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Coolidge administrations.

"The Republican Party, on the contrary [to the Democrats], holds that this government was instituted to secure the blessings of freedom, and that slavery is an unqualified evil… . [Republicans] will oppose in all its length and breadth the modern Democratic idea that slavery is as good as freedom.”

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

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Presidential Podcast 12/22/07

Presidential Podcast 12/22/07 . Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring full audio and text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned. In Focus: Holiday in the Parks

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Bush radio address 12/22/07 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 12/22/07 full audio, text transcript. President's Radio Address . Focus: Holiday in the Parks

Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Christmas is just a few days away. As Americans gather around the tree with family and friends, we remember the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard men and women who will be spending this holiday far away from their homes and loved ones.

America is blessed to have men and women willing to step forward to defend our freedoms and keep us safe from our enemies. We are thankful for their courage and their dedication to duty. We pray for their safety. And we wish them a Merry Christmas, wherever they serve.

America is also blessed to have military families willing to sacrifice for our country. The husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters of those in the military serve our country as well. For many of them, service means packing up their belongings and moving on short notice, or living in a different country for a time, or missing a family member as he or she serves overseas. And this Christmas, many will sit down for dinner thinking of their loved ones half a world away. These families deserve the thanks and the prayers of our whole Nation.

Some military families are helping loved ones recover from injuries sustained in combat. These families are a special source of hope and strength for our wounded warriors. Through their encouragement and devotion, they help heal the body and the spirit, and they remind our wounded warriors that our Nation stands behind them.

Other military families have felt the pain of losing a loved one in battle. This Christmas, we hold them in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers. And we are inspired by the example that many of these families have set by turning their grief into extraordinary acts of compassion and love.

One such inspiring example is the family of Army Specialist Michael Rodriguez of Knoxville, Tennessee. During his deployment in Iraq, Michael often wrote home to his family about the children he met on patrol. In April, Michael was killed by a suicide bomber. Now his family is honoring his memory by helping to collect school supplies for students at an Iraqi school for girls.

We are also grateful for Kirsten Yuhl-Torres of San Diego, California. In 2006, Kirsten lost her son, Sergeant Joseph Perry, in Iraq. To honor Joseph's memory, she started sending care packages and writing letters of support to other soldiers serving there. Kirsten says, "Joe was our only son, but now we have hundreds."

Our Nation is also inspired by Bob Lehmiller, whose son Sergeant Mike Lehmiller, was killed in 2005 while serving in Afghanistan. To honor his son, Bob created Mike's Guardian Eagle Foundation. The Foundation gives financial assistance to military families who need extra help when their loved ones deploy or if they're wounded or killed on the field of battle.

All these families have already given so much to America, and yet they have found a way to give even more. We thank each of them. And we thank every one of our citizens who supports our troops with letters, and donations, or prayers.

At this time of year, we acknowledge that love and sacrifice can transform our world. The miracle of Christmas reminds us that God's grace is revealed in the humblest places. Two thousand years ago, the fullness of that grace was found in a tiny manger, and the life born that day changed our world forever. As Christmas approaches, Laura and I extend to all Americans our best wishes, and we hope every family is brought closer together during this season of reflection and rejoicing.

Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.

END For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 22, 2007

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Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 12/22/07

forre el audio de la dirección de radio 12/22/07 por completo, transcripción del texto. (nota de los redactores: ninguna lengua española mp3 lanzó esta semana, apesadumbrada) PODCAST

Suscribir a nuestro canal de Podcast de Odeo o del podnova y recibir la dirección de radio presidencial semanal en inglés y español con informes selectos del departamento del estado. Ofreciendo transcripciones audio y con texto completo verdaderas, más fuentes contentas agregaron a menudo así que la estancia templó.

Buenos días.

Faltan pocos días para la Navidad. Al congregarse los estadounidenses alrededor del árbol con familiares y amigos, recordamos a los hombres y mujeres que se desempeñan como soldados, marinos, aviadores, infantes de Marina y guardacostas que pasarán las fiestas lejos de casa y de sus seres queridos.

Estados Unidos tiene la bendición de contar con hombres y mujeres dispuestos a ofrecerse para defender nuestras libertades y mantenernos a salvo de nuestros enemigos. Estamos agradecidos por su valentía y su dedicación al deber. Oramos por su seguridad. Y les deseamos una Feliz Navidad, dondequiera que estén prestando sus servicios.

Estados Unidos también tiene la bendición de tener familias militares dispuestas a sacrificarse por nuestro país. Los esposos y esposas, madres y padres, hijos e hijas de aquellos que sirven en las fuerzas armadas también prestan un servicio a nuestro país. Para muchos de ellos, su servicio significa empacar sus pertenencias y mudarse con poco aviso previo, o vivir en un país distinto por un tiempo, o extrañar a un familiar que hace su servicio en el extranjero. Y esta Navidad, muchos se sentarán a cenar pensando en sus seres queridos al otro lado del mundo. Estas familias merecen el agradecimiento y las plegarias de toda nuestra nación.

Algunas familias militares están ayudando a un ser querido a recuperarse de lesiones sufridas en combate. Estas familias son una fuente de especial fuerza y esperanza para nuestros combatientes heridos. Con su aliento y dedicación, ayudan a sanar el cuerpo y el alma, y les recuerdan a nuestros combatientes heridos que nuestra nación los respalda.

Otras familias militares han sentido el dolor de perder a un ser querido en combate. Esta Navidad, los llevamos en el corazón y cuentan con nuestras oraciones. Y nos inspira el ejemplo que muchas de estas familias han dado al convertir su dolor en actos extraordinarios de compasión y amor.

Uno de esos inspiradores ejemplos es la familia del especialista del Ejército Michael Rodríguez de Knoxville, Tennessee. Mientras estuvo destacado en Iraq, Michael a menudo le escribía a su familia en Estados Unidos sobre los niños que conocía mientras estaba de patrulla. En abril, un terrorista suicida mató a Michael. Ahora su familia lo recuerda ayudando a recolectar útiles para las alumnas de una escuela para niñas en Iraq.

También estamos agradecidos con Kirsten Yuhl-Torres de San Diego, California. En el 2006, Kirsten perdió a su hijo, el sargento Joseph Perry, en Iraq. Para recordar a Joseph, comenzó a enviar paquetes y escribir cartas de apoyo a otros soldados allá. Dice Kirsten, "Joe era nuestro único hijo, pero ahora tenemos a cientos".

También es fuente de inspiración para nuestra nación Bob Lehmiller, cuyo hijo, el sargento del Ejército Mike Lehmiller, murió en el 2005 durante su servicio en Afganistán. En homenaje a su hijo, Bob creó la fundación Mike's Guardian Eagle. La fundación presta ayuda económica a las familias militares que necesitan asistencia adicional cuando sus seres queridos son movilizados, y si fallecen o resultan heridos en el campo de batalla.

Todas estas familias ya han sacrificado tanto por Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, han encontrado una manera de dar aun más. Le damos las gracias a cada una de ellas. Y le agradecemos a cada uno de nuestros ciudadanos que apoya a nuestras tropas con cartas y donaciones u oraciones.

En esta época del año, reconocemos que el amor y el sacrificio pueden transformar al mundo. El milagro de la Navidad nos recuerda que la gracia de Dios sale a la luz en los lugares más humildes. Hace dos mil años, la gracia divina en su plenitud tuvo como lecho un pequeño pesebre, y el niño que nació ese día cambió al mundo para siempre. Al acercarse la Navidad, Laura y yo les hacemos llegar nuestros mejores deseos a todos los estadounidenses y esperamos que todas las familias se vuelvan más unidas durante esta época de reflexión y regocijo.

Gracias por escuchar y Feliz Navidad.

Para su publicación inmediata Oficina del Secretario de Prensa 22 de diciembre de 2007

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Tom Tancredo Quits Race VIDEO

From teamtancredo.org/ As a loyal friend and supporter it is important to me that you understand why I am doing this, even though you may disagree.

For the past ten years I have dedicated my public life to the critical issue of illegal immigration. I believed then –as I do now—that massive uncontrolled illegal immigration threatens our survival as a nation. I could not stand by and let open border politicians and corporate lobbyists sell our country out to the highest bidder.

Then earlier this year when I feared that the issue would not be championed by any of the top candidates I threw my hat in the ring. It was the only way I could be certain that the candidates would be forced to take a stand.

Thanks to your incredible support look what we have accomplished:

Just last week Newsweek declared that “"Anti-immigrant zealot [that would be me] had already won. Now even Dems dance to his no mas salsa tune.” This month alone The Economist, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal and a score of other newspapers have written similar assessments, grudgingly crediting our campaign with forcing the issue of immigration to the center of the national stage and—more importantly—with forcing every presidential candidate to commit themselves to an immigration plan that calls for securing the borders, opposing amnesty and enforcing the law.

Of course, many of the candidates need to be pinned down on their understanding of the meaning of amnesty, but we have succeeded beyond my most optimistic expectations of a year ago. We even have Hillary jumping through hoops on the issue!

So with so much success why drop out of the race now, you are probably asking. For one reason and one reason alone: I believe the cause demands I do so.

The presidential campaign has come down to less than a handful of viable candidates. Unfortunately several of them have abysmal records on immigration and can’t be trusted to do what is needed to preserve this country if they’re elected. My fear is that if I were to stay in this race my votes could be the factor in handing victory to a pro-amnesty politician. Friends, we have done too much, come too far and the stakes are too high to play that hand. And so I am ending my presidential campaign.

I know there are many more battles in our future and you can count on me to stay in this fight with you. We must continue to build the unquestioned momentum that is fueling our movement today. In the weeks ahead, I will write to you again to share with you my plans for the future, and for the immigration reform movement that is transforming American politics.

But for now, I just wish to again express to you my deepest thanks and appreciation for your partnership with me in this historic effort. I also want to wish you a very blessed and merry Christmas!

We have come so far together, and through our efforts we have made a stunning and, I believe, permanent impact on the debate over securing our borders and preserving our nation.

Not a day has gone by in this campaign that I have not thanked God for the dedication of so many Americans like you. I can promise you that as long as He gives me life and strength, I will work hard for our cause and to honor the trust you have placed in me. With sincere best wishes, Tom Tancredo.

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John McCain TV Ad: "My Christmas Story"

From: JohnMcCain.com ALEXANDRIA, VA -- At press conferences in Manchester and Columbia today, U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign released a new television ad to run in New Hampshire and South Carolina. The ad, entitled "My Christmas Story," tells the story of the most transcendent and uplifting experience of John McCain's imprisonment.

"This ad tells the inspiring story of John McCain, whose spirit was lifted by the compassion of a Good Samaritan during one of his darkest hours, revealing the true light of Christmas and the holiday season," said Sergeant Major Paul Chevalier (Ret.), Chair of the New Hampshire Veterans for McCain Coalition. "It's a powerful reminder that regardless of how difficult the circumstance, simple acts of compassion can bring hope to us all."

Transcript for "My Christmas Story" (:30-TV)

JOHN MCCAIN: "One night, after being mistreated as a POW, a guard loosened the ropes binding me, easing my pain.

"On Christmas, that same guard approached me, and without saying a word, he drew a cross in the sand.

"We stood wordlessly looking at the cross, remembering the true light of Christmas.

"I will never forget that no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up.

"May you and your family have a blessed Christmas and Happy Holidays.

"I'm John McCain and I approve this message."

JOHN MCCAIN: MY CHRISTMAS STORY

As a POW, my captors would tie my arms behind my back and then loop the rope around my neck and ankles so that my head was pulled down between my knees. I was often left like that throughout the night.

One night a guard came into my cell. He put his finger to his lips signaling for me to be quiet, and then loosened my ropes to relieve my pain. The next morning, when his shift ended, the guard returned and retightened the ropes, never saying a word to me.

A month or so later, on Christmas Day, I was standing in the dirt courtyard when I saw that same guard approach me. He walked up and stood silently next to me, not looking or smiling at me. After a few moments had passed, he rather nonchalantly used his sandaled foot to draw a cross in the dirt. We stood wordlessly looking at the cross, remembering the true light of Christmas, even in the darkness of a Vietnamese prison camp. After a minute or two, he rubbed it out and walked away.

That guard was my Good Samaritan. I will never forget that man and I will never forget that moment. And I will never forget that, no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up and carry you.

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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Hey Technorati My Authority is not getting updated! Blogroll 12/21/07

JOIN HERE: Hey Technorati My Authority is not getting updated! Blogroll

Please Welcome new member laketrees

• Chapter 1 Technorati wacks Blogrolling, the rest of us are just Collateral Damage
• Chapter 2 Hey Technorati My Authority is not getting updated! Blogroll
• Chapter 3 String Theory and Technorati Forum Edicate

laketrees, Southern Sass on Crime, Smashed Frog, This Eclectic Life, Gentle and Compassionate, Faultline USA, Webtalks, The Augmented Reality, Divorced Dads Matter, Popular Fiction, Republican National Convention Blog NYC 2004, Love and Terrorism, Hi3B附設Blog, Anil Gupte's Video Blog, A Billion Monkeys Can’t Be Wrong, Threat Assessment and Management, The Preachers Wife, Amberwood Ambrosia, TIBET DZI BEADS, A Yoga Coffee Outlook, broadstuff, buensancho, Pilates & Reiki In Paradise Blog, Lines from a Floating Life, Getting Out of Debt

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Rudy Giuliani TV Ad Merry Christmas Holiday Wishes VIDEO

From joinrudy2008.com The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced the launch of a new television ad, entitled “Holiday Wishes.” The ad begins airing tomorrow in New Hampshire.

Script for “Holiday Wishes”:

MAYOR GIULIANI: “There are many things I wish for this holiday season. I wish for peace with strength. Secure borders. A government that spends less than it takes in. Lower taxes for our businesses and families. And I really hope, that all of the presidential candidates can just get along.

SANTA CLAUS: “Ho, ho, ho, ho. I was with you right up until that last one. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.”

MAYOR GIULIANI: “Can’t have everything! I’m Rudy Giuliani and I approved this message. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!”

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White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino 12/19/07 VIDEO PODCAST

Press Briefing by Dana Perino, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, White House Conference Center Briefing Room, PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE MP3, Dana M. Perino Biography, 12:31 P.M. EDT.

MS. PERINO: Hello. I have an update for you on the fire. Today, at 9:15 a.m., the D.C. Fire Department received a call about smoke in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building -- that's also known as the EEOB. Firefighters arrived and found that the second floor through the fifth floor of the EEOB was fairly filled with smoke. They located an area on the second floor of the EEOB. Initial reports is that it appears to be an electrical room, a closet -- or a telephone bank, they're not quite sure and we'll get more information from the U.S. Secret Service and D.C. firefighters later, I'm sure. But they do believe that that area is the origin of the fire.

President George W. Bush thanks firefighters from the District of Columbia after they battled an early morning blaze Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex. White House photo by Chris Greenberg Vice President Dick Cheney shakes hands with Washington, D.C. firefighters as he and President George W. Bush thanked the men for their efforts Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, in battling a morning blaze in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. White House photo by Shealah Craighead The Vice President's Ceremonial Office shown after a fire erupted Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

They were able to identify, isolate and pull out the fire within -- put out the fire within 30 minutes. The Vice President's Ceremonial Office received smoke and water damage, but there is no fire damage. The D.C. Fire Department is working at the direction of the Secret Service to determine the cause. As you know, over 1,000 employees work in this building; fortunately, everyone was evacuated safely -- except for one individual suffered a minor injury, some cuts to his hand, and he is being treated at the White House Medical Unit right now. White House Management has suggested that all staff members that work in the EEOB go home for the remainder of the day, as the smoke and the situation is just such that they can't work there productively today. And the President and Mrs. Bush and the Vice President really appreciate all the work that the D.C. firefighters did, and the Secret Service, to make sure that all the White House employees are safe. We don't know the extent of the damage, but they said everyone was safe and property can be replaced or repaired. Q Will they be able to occupy the building tomorrow -- by tomorrow, do you know? MS. PERINO: I certainly think some office will be -- and I think that they just need to do an assessment to find out how much water damage there is, because given that the fire was on the second floor, water damage can flow downwards. And so they're going to need some time to be able to go into the building and find out how bad it is. Q And where was the fire located? Where was it centered? MS. PERINO: As I said, it was on the second floor, on this side of the building. But they're still trying to determine -- it appears that it could have been an electrical room or a telephone bank. It was to -- if you're looking at the Vice President's Ceremonial Office from this angle, it would have been to your left.

Q Was there anything of historical significance damaged in the --

MS. PERINO: That room is certainly gorgeous, and it has a lot of historic artifacts in there, and it's got a gorgeous floor, wood floor that is currently under water. So it's going to -- they're going to have to take some care in order to repair that. But they don't know the extent of the damage yet.

Q Was it a staff member who hurt his hand? And do you know whose offices were the ones where the flames were seen?

MS. PERINO: No, I don't know whose offices they were. A staff member -- yes, it was one of the -- a member of the military.

Q It was -- it was a staff member, not a member of the fire crews or anything.

MS. PERINO: Oh, correct, right. That's correct.

Q Where was the Vice President?

MS. PERINO: The President and the Vice President were both in the West Wing at the time, and the President learned about it from staff -- he was in the Oval Office at the time when he learned about it.

Q Dana, can you tell us why you decided to put out this statement this morning about The New York Times story? Why did you feel compelled to respond?

MS. PERINO: Well, the subhead of the newspaper indicated that the White House -- well, it says the White House role was wider than it said, implying that I had either changed my story, or I or somebody else at the White House had misled the public. And that is not true. And I heard now from The New York Times that they will retract that headline, and they are going to run a correction tomorrow.

Q But the underlying facts, four White House lawyers who are named knew about the destruction or the intent to destroy the tapes beforehand. Are you disputing that?

MS. PERINO: I have not commented on that -- and when we are in that --

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. PERINO: Helen, I'm going to finish this answer. The White House has not commented on anybody's involvement or knowledge, save for me telling everybody that the President had no recollection of being briefed on the existence or the destruction of the tapes before he was briefed by General Hayden. After that, I did not comment on anybody's knowledge or involvement. So if somebody has information that contradicts the one thing that I've said, then this would be true -- but it's not. And that is why I asked for a correction and The New York Times is going to correct it.

Q So you're disputing the characterization in that --

MS. PERINO: Absolutely, it's wrong.

Q -- not the underlying facts of the story.

MS. PERINO: I'm not commenting on the underlying facts of the story. I'm sticking with what I have done in the past, which is that --

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. PERINO: Well, there is a --

Q (Inaudible) -- it was back before (inaudible) was involved and The New York Times has information saying that they were involved. Isn't that wider than you were saying? You're only saying, well, the President had no involvement -- therefore, you're saying that, you know --

MS. PERINO: If you want to defend The New York Times, then you might look at it that way. I'm looking at it from anybody White House --

Q It does seem like it's not that --

MS. PERINO: I think anyone -- and believe me, the people that I've talked to, the reading of it -- when I first looked at it, I felt that that was saying that I had misled the American public on this, and I have not. There is nothing I have said that has been contradictory. And there is a preliminary inquiry being led by Attorney General Mukasey and General Hayden, and it is appropriate to let that play out.

Under our Constitution the press is free to speculate as much as they want, and they can report on as many former administration officials or unnamed current officials that they want to, that contradict each other throughout this story. I'm not allowed to do that. I am an employee of the federal government. I respect the request from the White House Counsel's Office that we not comment from this podium, and I have not. And for someone to imply that I had is offensive.

Q Well, you're the one (inaudible) implication. You're the one who said --

Q You're the one who's drawing the implication. Would you have been happy if the subhead had read, "White House role was lighter than previously understood"?

MS. PERINO: I have not -- what it says is that I had changed my story, and I have not.

Q It doesn't say that.

MS. PERINO: It -- that's how I took it, and I am not --

Q It does not say --

MS. PERINO: -- the only one.

Q It simply says that the White House does not comment on this, then it goes on to --

MS. PERINO: That is not -- that's not what it says in its headline, Bill. And there was editorial decision that led to this subheadline, because if they didn't want to make this point to try to say that the White House had misled the public, why would they put it in bold face above the fold, and then not -- and then it's not supported by any of the facts or the contradictory statements in the article.

Q But that's very difficult to judge when you won't give us the facts.

MS. PERINO: I respect the fact that Attorney General Mukasey has asked for a preliminary inquiry, that he's working with CIA General Counsel on, as well as General Hayden. Our White House Counsel is supporting that. And CBS News is free to speculate as much as it wants, but I'm not going to do that. And I haven't done it in the past.

Q But it's --

Q You're not even --

Q -- you say it was contradicting you --

MS. PERINO: It says the White House role was wider than "it" said -- "it" is referring to the White House, I am the spokesperson for the White House.

Q Okay. Okay, but you're defining it that way. In fact, right after the first -- this story first broke, people within the administration did say privately that, in fact, Harriet Miers had told the CIA not to destroy the tapes and that that suggested that the White House, in fact, was saying don't destroy. Now this New York Times story is saying four people in the President -- or Vice President's inner circle actually talked to the CIA about it. So that does suggest a wider role.

MS. PERINO: I am not accountable for all the anonymous sources that you turn up. I'm not. I am accountable -- I speak for the President and the White House. This says that I was misleading, and I was not.

Q It doesn't say you. It doesn't say you at all. And there were other people in the administration who --

MS. PERINO: The White House does not comment. The only thing that I have said from this podium is regarding to the President and his recollection. And if CNN has different information that they want to provide to me that contradicts what I've said, you know, let's see it.

Q They didn't specifically say it's you. It's talking about the White House, the administration in general.

MS. PERINO: I speak for the White House. I represent the White House.

Q Why do you take it personally?

MS. PERINO: I'm not taking it personally. I'm taking it -- I speak for the White House. It's not a personal thing. The White House asked for a correction. And I would remind you, The New York Times is going to do one.

Q What's the correction going to say.

Q But, Dana, why would it compromise the investigation for you to say one way or the other whether these officials knew of the tapes?

MS. PERINO: Well, the question --

Q (Inaudible) that you had --

MS. PERINO: -- some of the questions that you had are legitimate questions that the public has and that the Attorney General and General Hayden has is who knew what when. And that is part of the inquiry. And so that is what they have asked us not to comment on.

Q But why would that compromise the investigation? I mean, it's pretty straightforward. There's four people cited in the story and to say whether they knew or whether they didn't is a very simple matter.

MS. PERINO: Look, I think that in any case, you know, if I were to have said something to you two weeks ago when this first started, that then as more information has turned up, provides more information that makes it look like maybe I had misled you, then we would be having a very different conversation here. There's a good reason why I'm not commenting and why the White House is not commenting, and General Mukasey and General Hayden are doing a joint preliminary inquiry.

Q Can you tell us when you expect to hear some of the results of this inquiry?

MS. PERINO: I don't have a read on that from General Mukasey.

Q Does the White House have an opinion now on whether those tapes should have been destroyed?

MS. PERINO: That's part of -- I'd just refer you to the same answer that I just had, which is I'm not commenting on it in any way, shape, or form.

Q Well, that's on the investigation of what happened.

MS. PERINO: I've been asked that question before and I have not commented on it, either. There is an investigation and -- preliminary inquiry, they call it, and I have to leave it at that.

Q Do you know anything about it?

MS. PERINO: What I'm saying is I'm not going to comment from the podium.

Q But there are other people in the White House who know things and have talked.

MS. PERINO: I'm not saying if there's things that I know or don't know; I'm saying I'm not commenting.

Q Dana, why do you just want the executive branch to --

MS. PERINO: I'm going to move on.

Q No, but I need to ask why will you only allow the executive branch to investigate itself? Congress wants to investigate this, and the Attorney General is saying, we're not going to cooperate.

MS. PERINO: That's a question that -- look, I understand the question and I said to you yesterday that General Mukasey and General Hayden have done a -- have asked everyone to cooperate in the preliminary inquiry. General Mukasey answered that question to members of Congress, I guess four days ago, and I refer you to him for more.

Q Do you believe in checks and balances?

MS. PERINO: Of course we do.

Olivier.

Q Dana, yesterday you mentioned conflicting reports about the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq. You said you couldn't comment on the incursion, or alleged incursion until you had more information. Do you have more information now? Can you say what happened, what the United States thinks of it? And when did Turkey first let the United States know that it was doing this?

MS. PERINO: Well, there are still conflicting reports, and there were also three different operations. And so I'd refer you to the Department of Defense for more on that. But as Secretary Rice said yesterday, we have asked Turkey for -- reminded Turkey that we need to have increased coordination and cooperation between the United States, Iraq and Turkey as we all jointly work together to try to eliminate the PKK.

Goyal.

Q Two quick questions, Dana. One, how does President feel about President Putin of Russia is the Man of the Year of Time Magazine -- and also, President's rating has gone up, but how does he feel about this -- but Russian President?

MS. PERINO: Well, President Putin is certainly an interesting figure, and Time Magazine makes its decisions based on its own editorial decision-making. And we won't comment on that. But clearly, I think that it's a -- he's an interesting figure. I haven't spoken to the President about it yet. I'll see him in a little bit.

Q And second, on Burmese leader, in the House, Congressman Crowley and Congressman Manzullo both had this resolution passed that same honor to be given to the Burmese democratic leader and (inaudible) like the Dalai Lama. Do you think President will make effort to bring her here to honor her, just like Dalai Lama?

MS. PERINO: Well, I think that we would all hope that Aung San Suu Kyi would be able to leave her home and to travel freely. But I don't have information about whether or not that will be able to happen.

Q Can I follow up on that? Yesterday the First Lady had a statement saying that Myanmar (inaudible) Burma is not cooperating, not doing what the U.N. has called on it to do. On December 11th, the President said that if that were the case, then the United States would spearhead an international push for sanctions. Is the First Lady's statement an indication that, in fact, the United States has now launched a new push for sanctions?

MS. PERINO: No, not that I know of, but we will check. Mrs. Bush got a report yesterday from the U.N. Envoy Gambari, and was troubled by what she heard, which is why she issued the statement. And so if there's going to be a push for sanctions, we'll let you know.

Bret.

Q Dana, the Attorney General talked this morning about FISA. And what's the feeling in this White House about the prospects?

MS. PERINO: Well, we're very disappointed that the Senate decided not to move forward and take up the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee bill on the floor, because we think it could have passed and we think that the debate is one that we have been having for well over a year. It's not a debate we've just been having the past few months, but we had a debate leading up to the vote in August, which was a bipartisan vote, which closed the intelligence gap, which is what the DNI, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Attorney General have said.

Now Attorney General Mukasey is in charge at the Justice Department, and he sees the very real need to get this bill passed and to get it done before the clock runs out on February 1st.

So I suppose that the first order of business when Congress gets back is going to be looking at this issue.

Les.

Q Thank you, Dana. Two questions. In Council Bluffs, Iowa, Senator Clinton said, and this is a quote -- "I am absolutely overwhelmed personally to have my friend of 25 years, Bob Kerrey, endorse me." And my question: Can you deny, Dana, that the White House was astounded by this when only 11 years ago Senator Kerrey declared, "Clinton is an unusually good liar, unusually good"?

MS. PERINO: I'm not going to comment.

Q No comment on that?

MS. PERINO: No. What's your second?

Q Eighty-one-year-old Fidel Castro, while announcing that he won't stay in power forever, also mentioned a Brazilian architect who is still working at age 100. And my question: Does the White House believe that this indicates Fidel will stay in power for 19 more years, if he can, or not? (Laughter.)

MS. PERINO: I don't have a comment on his health. Obviously we hope that democracy could be restored to Cuba soon.

Q Thank you.

Q Dana, do you have any indication of whether the President is going to sign the federal terrorism insurance extension?

MS. PERINO: The TRIA bill? Yes. (Laughter.)

Q How about the -- bill?

MS. PERINO: We are reviewing that bill. Last spring we had concerns about the bill in SAPS -- statements of administration policy -- that we put out. We are looking at the bill right now. Some of the concerns we have regarded the time frame that they allowed in the bill for responses, which I think was 20 days, and also an inability to collect on fees if you go past that 20-day mark. So they're reviewing the bill now for the final scrub of it before we can decide whether or not he'll sign it.

Paula.

Q Does the President plan to sign a military tax relief bill if it reaches his desk?

MS. PERINO: I know you've asked Tony Fratto this question, and we are looking into this bill. I don't have a lot of information on it, but we'll try to get it for you.

Q And also, I have just one question, if you could clarify on -- you repeatedly keep saying the President has no recollection of the issue at hand. So does that mean that he could have heard about it beforehand, but it simply slipped his mind?

MS. PERINO: It means what it means, that he had no recollection.

Q Thank you.

END 12:49 P.M. EST For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 19, 2007

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Secretary Condoleezza Rice Remarks With Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari VIDEO PODCAST

Secretary Condoleezza Rice Remarks With Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari FULL STREAMING VIDEO, Baghdad, Iraq, December 18, 2007. PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE (15:48)

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Okay. First of all, let me welcome you all with the -- Secretary Rice again to Baghdad. We're very pleased to see you again here among us. And I'm delighted to see a great deal of progress thanks to your efforts and the efforts of the Multi-National Forces and the Iraqi security forces. That really has changed the situation on the ground. I think today was one of the rare moments where Secretary Rice had lunch in the Red Zone in Baghdad. I think it was an interesting experience.

Anyway, but there has been a great deal of progress as you can see. This is thanks, you see, to the joint efforts by the Iraqi Government and the help and the support of the Multi-National forces. These gains are really very significant. We see them in the streets of Baghdad in many provinces. This needs to be pressed on. I think we need a political and legislative surge also, you see, to augment and strengthen these gains. Also, I reassured Secretary Rice about our continued efforts to ensure a better regional cooperation with the efforts of the Iraqi Government. I think we are making some progress here also with our neighbors.

And on the international level, also, I think we are entering into a new period or area in our relations with you. Early next year, we hope to start serious negotiation about the long term security, economic, and political agreement between Iraq and the United States. So once again, I'd like to welcome you here, again, a most special welcome. Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, thank you very much, Minister Zebari. I want to thank you for your leadership as one of your country's political leaders, but also you've been a terrific colleague as Foreign Minister and I look forward to working with you. First of all, there has been progress made here and we're continuing our discussions about how to build on the security and economic progress that is being made here and the significant developments -- political developments at the local and provincial level to make certain that national reconciliation takes place.

We are also -- we've been very active in talking about my visit to Kirkuk this morning, which was a very good visit, and I had a chance to meet also with UN Special Representative de Mistura. That speaks to the improved international climate to which the Foreign Minister spoke because the United Nations mandate under 1770 is an expanded mandate and I think that there is much that the UN can do in areas with technical support for Kirkuk and other issues. And finally, on the regional side, I do believe that you have improved relations with your neighbors. We look forward to another meeting of the neighbors conference, the expanded neighbors conference sometime relatively early next year. But again, thank you for your leadership and we look forward to continuing to support the Iraqi people in their march toward democracy.

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Thank you.

MR. MCCORMACK: We have time for a few questions. The first one is Sylvie Lanteaume from AFP.

QUESTION: I had a question for both of you. Secretary, in terms of the Turkish army and of the Iraqi territory today, just when you were in northern Iraq -- I wanted to know if, first, the Turks informed you in advance of this operation and if the U.S. helped them with intelligence. And Mr. Minister, did you raise this -- the question of the incursion of the Turks in the Iraqi territory with the Secretary today?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, first of all, the United States, Iraq, and Turkey share a common interest in stopping the activities of the PKK which threaten to undo the stability of the north, which clearly have resulted in deaths in Turkey, and when we were recently together in Istanbul, we actually had a trilateral discussion about our common interest in dealing with this problem. This is a circumstance in which the United States has constantly counseled that we need a overall comprehensive approach to this problem, that we should do nothing and no one should do anything that threatens to destabilize the north.

As to the activities, things unfortunately do go along -- go on along this border. As to the activity last Sunday, this was a Turkish decision and we have made clear to the Turkish Government that we continue to be concerned about anything that could lead to innocent civilian casualties or to a destabilization of the north.

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Well, the Iraqi Government has protested to the Turkish Government over the attacks on the civilians recently. And as we speak, also there is another limited military incursion going on, but high up in the mountains in unpopulated areas. But the Iraqi Government and the regional authorities are monitoring that very, very closely. I think as the Secretary said, we have shared common goals here. We want stability and security in Iraq and with Iraq's neighbors also and the border areas. PKK presence is unacceptable. PKK has conducted terrorist activities against Turkish interests and civilians and their presence is not acceptable, neither by the Iraqi Government or the KRG authorities.

We also have sought to work together jointly in a trilateral way. Only recently before this incident, in fact, the Iraqi Government took the initiative to invite for -- to ask for a meeting where the United States and Turkey tried to follow up on this. We believe any unilateral actions to destabilize the situation will harm Iraq's interests and Turkish interests at the same time, but in the same time, we fully understand and appreciate the legitimate security concern Turkey has over the PKK terrorist activities against them.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter.) (Inaudible) from the (inaudible) newspaper in UK agency. My question to Secretary Rice, sometimes the democratic opinion becomes blood against the Iraqis themselves and the American forces. How do you see the differences in opinion between the political leaders? Has it been translated on the ground in blood? Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I believe that the differences between the political leaders are differences that emerge in a democratic process, but the key is that the key democratic leaders here who represent large elected blocs put together an agreement on August 26th on a way forward. It had, as its mission, political reconciliation. It has a legislative agenda. It has a set of steps to make Iraq a more efficient and functioning place. I think that it leads, in a way, to a roadmap where the Iraqis -- the Iraqi central government to work with its provinces, to make certain that the whole system is working.

And that's the way that democratic leaders should get together and should resolve their differences and that's to agree on a way forward and they have a way forward. And I have strongly encouraged the leaders with whom I've met today, and I will soon meet with the Prime Minister and I will do the same, that there be urgent implementation of that August 26th agreement, that there be urgent attempts to -- urgent efforts to make certain that the legislative agenda is moving forward, that there will be passage of the budget so that money can get to the governments, the provincial and local governments, as well as be used for services to support the Iraqi people.

I think we should note that there is some -- there's been some important progress. There was a pension law passed very recently which is a very good law that benefits all Iraqis. The Iraqis have improved their budget execution and we know that the 2007 budget was spent much more effectively on behalf of the people of Iraq, so differences are going to emerge. But the importance is that when you have differences, political leaders who have been elected by the people to work together on behalf of the people have to overcome those differences and implement policies.

QUESTION: Secretary Rice, just to follow up on that question, you've been here a great many times to urge the national political leadership to try to achieve reconciliation and you've gotten assurances a great many times that they would do so and yet it has been agonizingly difficult for them to do that. Can you elaborate a little bit on why you think the circumstances are so different now that this will actually lead to more progress?

And, Mr. Foreign Minister, can you tell us why Iraq chose not to attend the Annapolis conference last month?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, Arshad, you're right, I have urged political reconciliation. I want to emphasize that there are some elements of that political reconciliation that are not represented in the so-called benchmark laws -- by the way, benchmarks that the Iraqis themselves set, that we need to clearly recognize that those have gone forward; for instance, the pension law is very important. The fact that this is a government that was able to pass a budget in 2007 and then to allocate that funding out to the provinces, so that revenue is being shared with the provinces.

But I remember very well discussions here a year or so ago when the leadership said very bluntly that without an improvement in the security situation, without the population beginning to feel more secure, without Iraq feeling that it was getting performance from its security services in conjunction with the coalition forces, that it was very hard to keep one's mind on politics and that's completely understandable. But the surge that the President offered -- ordered as well as the efforts of Iraqi security forces and the efforts of concerned citizens and local efforts like the one that took place in Anbar have improved the security situation and they have given a kind of window in which political reconciliation needs to take place, but these two are not unrelated. And one reason that I am more hopeful being here today at the end of 2007 than perhaps a year or so ago is that these improvements do show that Iraqis can count on a future with this democracy, a future in which violence is not necessarily a daily way of life. But it's going to take a really large effort by these political leaders to push forward.

We have to recognize these are existential issues of a young democracy. We all understand that democracy is hard and that it takes time. But it is also the case that when people elect their leaders, they expect them to make very strong efforts to move forward and that's the conversation that we had today and that's the conversation we're going to have with the Prime Minister shortly.

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: On -- the reason why Iraq did not attend the Annapolis conference -- in fact, it was a government decision not to attend. And the main reason was because we had just concluded this long term agreement with the United State and if we go to Annapolis the next day or the day after, people will jump into conclusion. But in fact, that decision was debated, was discussed in the government, and the opinion -- we were divided, but the final decision was not to go.

QUESTION: Jumped to what conclusion?

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Sorry?

QUESTION: Jumped to what conclusion? What (inaudible)?

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: The conclusion is what this long-term -- declaration of long-term principle will take you to Annapolis.

SECRETARY RICE: Some kind of deal. (Laughter.) Is that what you're saying?

QUESTION: (Via interpreter.) (Inaudible) news agency. My question is directed to Secretary Rice. With regard to the agreement -- the security agreement, there are some objections from the Iraqi politicians. They are saying we must go back to the Iraqi parliament with regard to the security agreement. This is my first question.

The second question is that there are some doubts from some Iraqis. They are saying that the improvement in the security situation at this time specifically is attributed to the fact that the United States wants, at this time, for the security situation to improve. What is your response to that? Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Well, the United States has wanted the security situation to improve and the President did add additional American forces to help. But it is also due to the efforts of the Iraqi security forces which have been stronger and stronger as we've gone along. I have listened each week as the commanders have briefed President Bush about the performance of the Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people should be very proud of how well their security forces are performing; sometimes on their own, sometimes in the lead, sometimes in -- but always in close coordination with the coalition forces. This is a real success story for the Iraqis who are defending Iraq. It is also a factor -- the factor of local people deciding that they are not going to allow their streets to be taken by terrorists and by criminals and making certain that they protect their communities and that they cooperate with authorities for their protection.

As to the long term security agreement, this is something that has been worked out with the elected government of Iraq and I leave it to Iraq to decide what needs to be done in terms of the finalization of that agreement.

FOREIGN MINISTER ZEBARI: Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.

2007/T20-7, Released on December 18, 2007

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