FINLAND'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

Map:  Finland.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook. 

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Finland's Independence Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 6, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Finland as you celebrate your Independence Day this December 6.

This past summer I had the opportunity to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Finnish people during my visit to Helsinki. We discussed our long history of partnership and common values. Together, we tackle some of the most pressing challenges, from supporting a stable and prosperous future for Afghanistan, to curbing the effects of climate change. We are also working together to build upon our already strong economic relationship. As we look to the future, we are confident that Finland and the United States will continue to be reliable partners in forming a safer and more peaceful world.

I wish all the people of Finland a happy Independence Day celebration and best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year.

Finland Locator Map.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

ADDITONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are a high standard of education, equality promotion, and national social security system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTO

FROM: U.S. NAVY, U.S. MARINES
121203-N-AA791-043 WASHINGTON (Dec. 3, 2012) Marine GySgt. S. Micah Bachtold, assigned to the Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, guides a forklift as pallets of toys are loaded aboard Fat Alber, the team's C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The Blue Angels crew is supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program by transporting pallets of toys from Washington to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Wrightstown, N.J., bringing the joy of Christmas to numerous children who were affected by Superstorm Sandy. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Russ Tafuri/Released)

 

DVIDS - Video - Adm. Samuel Locklear: Dept. of Defense Briefing

DVIDS - Video - Adm. Samuel Locklear: Dept. of Defense Briefing

A MARINE CORPS GUITARIST

Marine Corps Cpl. Mark A. Boughton, a guitarist with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., enjoys making music and serving in the military. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy


FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, MARINE GUITARIST, PERSONAL STORY OF A MARINE, 2ND MARINE AIRCRAFT WING BAND, MARINE BAND

Face of Defense: Marine Guitarist Enjoys Military Service

Marine Corps Cpl. Mark A. Boughton, a guitarist with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., enjoys making music and serving in the military. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Glen Santy
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., Dec. 6, 2012 - An accomplished guitarist who also enjoys serving in the military, Marine Corps Cpl. Mark A. Boughton said he gets amped up playing with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band here.

Practice makes perfect, as Boughton spends many hours each week playing his electric guitar.

Boughton said his mission in the Marine Corps enables him to mix his love of music with his love of physical fitness and serving his country.

"Growing up, I always wanted to serve, not knowing that I could play in the Marine Corps. There's a part of me that wants to go out and be a famous rock star, but for right now, this a good gig," he said.

Boughton added, "I get a steady paycheck, all the benefits of the military, and I get to play my guitar."

Since he joined the military, Boughton said he's strived to excel both musically and as a Marine.

Outside of work, Boughton said he usually spends no less than 30 hours-a-week playing his guitar.

He also has earned a black belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.

"When I put the guitar down, I'm still a Marine," he said. "I constantly play and keep pushing myself to achieve."

NEW EFFORTS ANNOUNCED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM CONTAMINATED POULTRY PROUDUCTS

Photo:  Chickens.  Credit:  Wikimedia Commons.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

USDA Announces New Prevention-based Efforts to Improve Safety of Poultry Products and Protect Consumers

WASHINGTON, December 5, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced new steps to protect consumers by improving the food safety plans required for companies that produce poultry products.

Companies producing raw ground chicken and turkey and similar products will be required to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans. The HACCP reassessment, which establishments must conduct in the next 90 days, must account for several Salmonella outbreaks that were associated with those types of products.

"HACCP reassessments improve a company's ability to identify hazards and better prevent foodborne illness," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "Incorporating information obtained from Salmonella outbreaks will enhance food safety efforts, helping to avoid future outbreaks and ensure a safer food supply for consumers."

In today's notice, FSIS also announced that it will:
Expand the Salmonella verification sampling program to include other raw comminuted poultry products, in addition to ground product;
Increase the sample size for laboratory analysis from 25 grams to 325 grams to provide consistency as the Agency moves toward analyzing samples for Salmonella and Campylobacter; and,
Conduct sampling to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in not-ready-to-eat comminuted poultry products and use the results to develop new performance standards for those products.

The policy notice announced today will be posted on the FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
federal_register_publications_&_related_documents/index.asp and comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov shortly after December 5, 2012.

VIEWING THE EARTH AT NIGHT

FROM:  NASA
Earth at Night

This view of Earth at night is a cloud-free view from space as acquired by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Satellite. A joint program by NASA and NOAA, Suomi NPP captured this nighttime image by the day-night band of the satellite's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite VIIRS. It combines the Earth at night view created by NASA's Earth Observatory with data processed by NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center with the EO Blue Marble: Next Generation.

Credit-NASA Goddard-ASA's Earth Observatory-NOAA-DOD

Protecting against pertussis

Protecting against pertussis

President Obama Speaks at the 2012 Tribal Nations Conference Closing Session | The White House

President Obama Speaks at the 2012 Tribal Nations Conference Closing Session | The White House

F-35B BOMBS BIG TIME

121203-O-GR159-002 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 3, 2012) F-35B test aircraft BF-3, flown by Lt. Cmdr. Michael Burks, completes the first aerial weapons release of an inert 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb by any variant of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. BF-3 dropped the GBU-12 over the Atlantic Test Ranges from an internal weapons bay. The F-35B is the variant of the Lightning II designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Layne Laughter/Released)

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE

F-35B Completes Second Airborne Weapons Separation: Lightning II Executes First Drop of a 500-Pound GBU-12

12/5/2012

By Victor Chen, F-35 Integrated Test Force Public Affairs
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The F-35 Integrated Test Force accomplished another significant test milestone Dec. 3 when an F-35B successfully released another weapon in flight.

BF-3, a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35, released an inert 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb over water in the Atlantic Test Ranges while traveling at 0.8 Mach, or 485 nautical mph, at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet.

"Completion of this weapons separation test is a testament to the flexibility of the ITF, where every day we are verifying different portions of the F-35 flight envelope or validating multiple planned capabilities" said Navy Capt. Erik Etz, director of test for F-35 naval variants. "Today's release of the GBU-12 builds on our team's first-ever drop earlier this summer and was the result of extraordinary effort by our team of maintainers, engineers, pilots and others who consistently work long hours to deliver F-35 warfighting capability to the U.S. services and our international partners."

The release was the second for the F-35B, and the fourth overall for the program. To date, F-35 variants have successfully released the 500-pound GBU-12, a 1,000-pound GBU-32, a 1-ton GBU-31 and an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.

"We're expanding the envelope for the fleet," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Burks, test pilot for the mission. "The GBU-12 is a critical weapon in the F-35's arsenal and will be vital in our mission to support the troops on the ground."

An aerial weapons separation event tests the proper and safe release of the weapon from its carriage system and trajectory away from the aircraft. It is the culmination of a significant number of tests, including ground fit checks, ground pit drops, and aerial captive carriage and environment flights to ensure the system is working properly before expanding the test envelope in the air.

Aircraft and land-based test monitoring systems collected data from the successful separation, which is in review at the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

The F-35B is the variant of the Lightning II designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., prior to delivery to the fleet.

CYBERMAN DISCUSSES DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S MOBILE SECURITY

Photo:  Cyberspace Security:  Credit:  U.S. Navy

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Cyber Pro Discusses Mobile Network Security Challenges
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 - With more than 680,000 mobile devices in use across the Defense Department, they are quickly emerging as a critical component of military communications -- bringing a plethora of new security risks, a defense official told attendees at the Defense Logistics 2012 conference yesterday.

Dr. Robert Young, cybersecurity director in the DOD office of the chief information officer, outlined some of the devices in use and the ongoing importance of vulnerability counter-measures such as back-ups, the cloud, authentication and secure applications.

"We need to be thinking about how we can we do mobile computing with security," Young said. "Your mobile device is going to replace your laptop [and contain] unclassified and classified information ... so we have to start thinking of the [operational security] piece of this."

According to Young, threats and challenges faced by mobile device users include loss of device, data recovery, collection over the air, vulnerability applications, malware and tracking.

Devices and platform variations also create unique challenges in building a secure, impenetrable network -- something that's especially daunting due to limited lead time in the production cycle, he said.

"Sixty days from now, the devices being made in Taiwan, China, Singapore, wherever, will not be supported anymore," Young said. "They'll be the next model and the next model ... so we need to stop looking at the device and ... start looking at the data."

Young also noted that BlackBerry, while effective for encryption, is, as of yet, the only platform used for secure communications, which in and of itself creates vulnerabilities.

"We don't want to have just one operating system," Young said. "And every device is different ... solutions, logistics and acquisitions are not one-size-fits-all."

The ubiquity and affordability of cell phones in the hands of hackers and adversaries creates a considerable threat, Young explained. He cited an example of villagers in Afghanistan who can ride into town, send their data, charge their phones then shut down and leave without a trace.

"There are 48 million people in the world who have mobile phones who don't have electricity at home," Young said. "How are you going to find this individual [or] find the footprint?"

Even iPhones for sale in Afghanistan can pose risks, Young said, adding that the devices could actually trigger an improvised explosive device.

"I could make a designer bomb if I know the [mobile equipment identity number] of your iPhone or iPad," Young said. "I just look for the signal that'll ping out."

Equally dire are the consequences of a compromised database such as mobile device electronic serial numbers, he added.

"Once it pinged and I saw [the MEID], I would know where your soldier, sailor or Marine is deployed," Young said.

As smart phones become even smarter, users will soon see mobile devices do much more than transfer data. Young described the use of iPhones in medical settings, where the devices can now enhance triage efficacy by checking vital signs including pulse and body temperature.

"That's smart use of [technology] -- knowing how not to waste resources and who I'm going to treat," Young said.

Still, the DOD must remain vigilant in mobile device management to buffer hackers that can range in age, location or intent, but are typically obsessive-compulsive about penetrating a system, Young said. He shared a recent experiment about his efforts to identify and understand such activity.

"My tasking was to find a 13-year-old kid and give him an iPhone, [with him] using on-the-web devices and on-the-web [applications] to hack and crack into our [system]," Young said. "He did it."

With "for official use only," secret and top secret platforms cohabitating on mobile devices with the appropriate encryptions, physical and virtual security must remain a priority, Young asserted.

Currently no personal or "BYOD" devices are approved for use with for official use only data, but major pilot programs using iOS, Android and BlackBerry are in the works, Young said.

PONZI SCHEME DEFENDANT ORDERED TO RETURN $20.6 MILLION TO VICTIMS

FROM: U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

December 5, 2012

Federal Court in Idaho Orders CFTC Defendant Trigon Group, Inc. to Return More than $20.6 million of Ill-Gotten Gains to Victims of its Fraud

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced that Judge Edward J. Lodge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho entered a consent order of permanent injunction that requires defendant Trigon Group, Inc. (Trigon), an Idaho-based business, to disgorge more than $20.6 million of ill-gotten gains to the victims of its fraud. The consent order also imposes permanent trading and registration bans against Trigon and prohibits it from violating the anti-fraud provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, as charged.

The consent order stems from a CFTC complaint filed on February 27, 2009, that charged the defendant Trigon as well as defendant Daren L. Palmer with solicitation fraud and misappropriation in operating a commodity pool Ponzi scheme (see CFTC Press Release 5623-09, February 27, 2009, under Related Links). Earlier, on October 4, 2010, Judge Lodge entered a summary judgment order requiring Palmer to disgorge more than $20.6 million and to pay a civil monetary penalty of more than $20.6 million. The order also permanently bars Palmer from engaging in any commodity-related activity, including trading, and from registering or seeking exemption from registration with the CFTC (see CFTC Press Release 5919-10, October 6, 2010, under Related Links).

The consent order finds that, from at least September 2000 to date of the complaint, defendants directly and indirectly solicited at least $40 million from at least 57 individuals or entities to invest in Trigon entities. Pool participants understood that their funds would be used for trading commodity futures on their behalf, among other things, S&P 500 index futures contracts. Defendants made repeated misrepresentations that the pool was profitable and growing. In fact, defendants misappropriated the vast majority of the funds invested by pool participants. The consent order also finds that the defendants violated registration requirements as charged.

The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Idaho Department of Finance. The SEC filed a related action against Palmer and Trigon that also resulted in sanctions against them.

The CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Alison Wilson, John Dunfee, Mary Kaminski, A. Daniel Ullman, Paul G. Hayeck, and Joan Manley.

President Obama Speaks to the Business Roundtable | The White House

President Obama Speaks to the Business Roundtable | The White House

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK TAKES PART IN LOAN TO SUPPORT U.S. EXPORTS OF PETROCHEMICAL GOODS AND SERVICES TO INDIA



Photo: Varanasa On The West Bank Of The Ghanges. Credit: CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Approves $2.1 Billion to Finance Export
of U.S. Petrochemical Goods and Services to India

Washington, D.C. – Continuing its efforts to support American jobs by boosting American exports, the board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has voted to extend a $1.06 billion direct loan and to guarantee a $1.06 billion JPMorgan Chase loan to Reliance Industries Ltd. (Reliance) of Mumbai, India, for the export of American goods and services destined for use in Reliance’s expansion projects at Jamnagar in the Indian state of Gujarat.

The transaction is the single largest Ex-Im Bank has ever authorized for Reliance, and it represents Reliance’s first attempt at funding through the capital markets with an Ex-Im Bank guaranteed bond issuance.

The credit will support approximately 12,300 U.S. jobs, according to bank estimates derived from Departments of Commerce and Labor data and methodology. Moreover, six percent of the financing is expected to support American small businesses.

"This transaction is a tremendous opportunity for U.S. exporters and U.S. jobs, as revealed by the impressive exporter and job counts," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Ex-Im Bank’s financing offsets foreign export-credit-agency competition and provides American exporters with a level playing field. The result is the continued success of American technology and expertise."

"We are very pleased to support Reliance in this important expansion project," added Lillian Labbat, managing director, J.P. Morgan. "The unique conversion options, utilizing bond and direct loan financing, demonstrate Ex-Im’s focus on delivering competitive solutions while fostering U.S. exports and job growth."

Among the more than 65 exporters and suppliers involved in the transaction are Fluor Corporation, Lummus Technology, Univation Technologies LLC, Bechtel, and ConocoPhillips.

Located on the Gulf of Kutch, the Jamnagar complex oversees the largest single-location refinery operation in the world. Reliance intends to increase the complex’s petrochemical output by constructing a petcoke gasification unit that will top the world’s rosters in size and significantly enhance the efficiency of the company’s refinery business. Reliance also plans to erect a refinery off- gas cracker with matching downstream units that will better integrate polymer and polyester production.


"We are once again partnering with major U.S. suppliers for cutting edge technology, critical project management services and equipment from a wide section of American exporters for rolling out our next phase of growth," said Alok Agarwal, Reliance’s chief financial officer. "We value our long standing relationship with Ex-Im Bank and this landmark transaction further strengthens the partnership. This landmark transaction reaffirms the catalyst role played by Ex-Im Bank in facilitating trade between U.S. and India. We also sincerely appreciate the role played by JPMorgan Chase in this important transaction for us."

Reliance is India’s largest private sector company, and its operations range from oil and gas exploration and production to refining and petrochemicals. The company ranked 99th in revenues and 130th in profits in 2012, according to Fortune’s Global 500 list of ‘World's Largest Corporations’ and ‘World’s Top 100 companies.’

Fluor Corporation, one of the U.S. exporters participating in the transaction, is a FORTUNE 500 company that delivers engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and project management services to governments and clients in diverse industries around the world. The company is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

"We believe this positive development for the Reliance Industries project in India will help expedite the procurement process, lay a solid foundation for a long term partnership with a very valuable partner in India, and will promote U.S. jobs," said Otto Kjos, senior vice president, Energy & Chemicals, Fluor.

As of the end of FY 2012, Ex-Im Bank credit exposure in India totaled $6.5 billion.

GUARDSMEN ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.  CREDIT:  WIKIMEDIA.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Guardsmen Continue U.S.-Mexico Border Security Duties
By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 - As many as 300 National Guardsmen will remain deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border for another year as part of a border security partnership between the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, according to a statement released by DHS today.

The deployment is part of a newly extended agreement to strengthen security and facilitate legitimate trade and travel, the statement said. National Guardsmen operate in support of some 18,500 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents along the southwest border, enhancing surveillance through the use of air assets and state-of-the-art detection and monitoring capabilities including aerial observation, photo imagery and communications support.

In the statement, DHS credited DOD support for the arrest of nearly 20,000 illegal immigrants and the seizure of more than 100,000 pounds of marijuana since March.

A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said more than 330,000 illegal aliens have been apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border during the first nine months of this year, and more than two million pounds of marijuana and 6,000 pounds of cocaine have been seized.

In 2010, President Barack Obama authorized the temporary deployment of the National Guard along the southwest border to assist law enforcement with the interdiction of illegal aliens, drugs, weapons and money coming from Mexico.

TYPHOON BOPHA ANIMATION FROM NASA

FROM: NASA

3-D Animation of Typhoon Bopha
This 3-D animation of NASA's TRMM satellite data showed Typhoon Bopha tracking over the Philippines on Dec. 3 and moving into the Sulu Sea on Dec. 4, 2012. TRMM saw heavy rain (red) was falling at a rate of over 85 mm (~3.5 inches) per hour near the center, and powerful storms near the center were reaching heights above 16 km (~9.9 miles). Credit-SSAI-NASA, Hal Pierce

THE DEEP SPACE ATOMIC CLOCK

FROM: NASA

Deep Space Atomic Clock Ticks Toward Success
Dr. Todd Ely, principal investigator for NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., spotlights the paradigm-busting innovations now in development to revolutionize spaceflight navigation. The Deep Space Atomic Clock project is one of nine critical Technology Demonstration Missions now under way across the agency -- bridging the gap between laboratory development of valuable new technologies and full-scale testing in the space environment. (NASA/JPL)

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SENDS CONDOLENCES TO PHILIPPINES FOR DEVESTATION BY TYPHOON BOPHA

Map Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Typhoon Bopha
Press Statement
Mark C. Toner
Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 5, 2012

The United States offers condolences for the destruction and loss of life in the southern Philippines and the widespread damage to populated areas in Palau caused by Typhoon Bopha. Our embassies in Manila and Koror have offered immediate disaster relief assistance, and we are working closely with authorities in both countries to offer additional assistance as needed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR DECEMBER 5, 2012

Photo: On Patrol In Afghanistan.   Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Kills Insurgent Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force killed insurgent leader Mohammed Yar Gul and two other insurgents during an operation in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan's Kunar province yesterday, military officials reported.

Mohammed Yar Gul coordinated the movement of insurgent fighters throughout Kunar province, officials said. He was directly involved in suicide attack operations in the region and planned and conducted improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Watahpur district.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force killed Nasrullah, a district-level Taliban leader, during an operation in the Mazar-e-Sharif district of Balkh province. Nasrullah, also known as Hijran, had directed and coordinated insurgent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Chahar Bolak district. The security force also killed one other insurgent and seized IED-making material.

-- A combined force detained an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province. The facilitator oversaw the transfer of IED-making material to insurgents and directed the emplacement of IEDs against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained one other suspect.

Press Briefing | The White House

Press Briefing | The White House

U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing - December 5, 2012

Daily Press Briefing - December 5, 2012