Xi got a lengthy Oval Office

Back then, he was a young Communist Party leader seeking ideas to help his agriculture-rich region of northern China. Now the nation's vice president, he made certain to add Muscatine to his jam-packed Burberry Outlet itinerary so he could reunite with the same Americans who showed him around the region's hog and cattle operations and its abundant corn and soybean fields. "I'm flabbergasted that he would take time out of his busy schedule and come back to Muscatine," said Eleanor Dvorchak, whose family hosted him for two nights. Although Dvorchak and her husband have since moved to Florida, they planned to return Wednesday for Xi's hour-long visit, and several other local farmers and residents he encountered will be there, too. Some local officials were encouraged that agriculture — and specifically Iowa agriculture — was to play such a prominent part in a trip by the future leader of the world's most populous country. "It sends a signal that the new leader is not a stranger to the U.S. and that he has experience and familiarity with America by reaching right into the heartland," said David Shorr, a foreign-policy specialist at the Stanley Foundation, a Muscatine-based nonprofit that focuses on promoting peace and international relations. Xi is expected to ascend to the nation's highest office next year and could lead China over the next decade. Xi got a lengthy Oval Office audience with President Barack Obama, an elaborate reception at the State Department, full military honors at the Pentagon, a gathering with chief business executives and an invitation for dinner at Vice President Joe Biden's house. He will fly to Iowa following the Washington visit and will later stop in California. China has become an increasingly important trading partner for the United States. It purchased $20 billion in U.S. agriculture exports last year, making it the top buyer of farm goods. In 1985, Xi stayed with the Dvorchaks, their 15-year-old daughter, and their dog in a four-bedroom, three-bath ranch home. The Star Trek-themed room had been left unchanged after the couple's sons went to college. Eleanor Dvorchak, now 72, recalled a handsome 31-year-old burberry outlet online man who was calm and intensely focused on learning as much as possible during his brief trip. He kept busy until late each day, so all he needed when he returned in the evening was peace and quiet, she said. "My job was to provide him with breakfast and a quiet place for him to relax and think, to give him time to pull his thoughts together for the next day," she said. "It was just a pleasure to have him in our home. He was very undemanding." The language barrier made conversation difficult, but Xi was interested in touring the home and seemed impressed with the two-car garage and large concrete driveway that had a basketball hoop, she said. She speculated that Xi wanted to return because volunteers in Muscatine were generous with their time as they showed the Chinese delegation their farms and the community, and invited them into their homes. Cynthia Maeglin, who hosted two men who accompanied Xi in 1985, said she and her husband were accustomed to inviting overseas guests into their home since they hosted exchange students after studying abroad in high school. Xi and the Chinese guests would have breakfast, then leave for the day to visit farms and businesses. The men got an up-close look at small-town life, and Maeglin believes it stuck with them. "I think from just being in our home, they could see how we lived," Maeglin said. "At the time, our youngest son was still living at home. They could see how our family life was." Sarah Lande, whose family hosted a dinner during that visit, is organizing the reunion at the request of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. She plans to gather about 16 people for tea or champagne to reminisce. After the Muscatine visit, Xi is to fly to Des Moines for a reception with political and business leaders and a dinner hosted by Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. On Thursday, he was scheduled to attend the first U.S.-China Agriculture Symposium in Des Moines. China's minister of agriculture, Han Changfu, was also expected to attend. Burberry Bags, Burberry Outlet Online at Huge Savings. Branstad compares the significance of Xi's visit to the 1979 Iowa visit of Pope John Paul II and the 1959 farm stop by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.

Pittsburgh has scored only six goals

"You look at where we are in standings, it's not very nice spot," Vokoun said. "It's a tough league; no matter who you play, any night it's tough game. We have some trouble on the road, so we've burberry outlet got to cash in at home." Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury wasn't tested much until the third period, when he faced nine shots, including four from Alex Ovechkin. He came up with several important saves, including one with 10 minutes left on a Karl Alzner one-timer from the slot that was set up by Ovechkin, but his 20 saves in the game weren't enough to stop the Penguins downward spiral. Pittsburgh has scored only six goals during its six-game losing streak. Prior to sliding south, the Penguins had won four in a row and seven of their previous 11 games dating back to a 2-1 win at Verizon Center on Dec. 1. However, they are just 5-9-0 since Crosby left the lineup with a recurrence of concussion symptoms. Crosby, who has been out since Dec. 8, joined the Penguins on this trip, which will continue in South Florida on Friday. He watched Wednesday's game from the press box and is expected to skate in Florida, but Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said prior to the game that there is still no timetable for Crosby's return. Crosby's teammates don't anticipate him riding to the rescue any time soon. "I don't think he's anywhere close to coming back, so you can't really wait for him," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "The guys that are going to pull us out of this aren't Sid or (Kris Letang); it's the guys in this room. Obviously we'd love to have those guys in the lineup, but that can't be our attitude right now, we can't wait for those guys." The Penguins, though, tried to remain upbeat following their latest loss. Orpik said he liked the effort, especially compared to the way the team played in a 5-1 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday at Consol Energy Center. Pascal Dupuis cheap burberry purse said the mood on the bench was good and the atmosphere before the game made it feel like the Penguins were going to finally snap out of their funk. But Vokoun had other ideas. "You know what, we did play the right way and Vokoun played well," Dupuis said. "I think we had a lot of chances on him, a lot of chances to tie it up with two, three, four minutes left and it doesn't seem to find the back of the net right now. Today feels like one step toward the right direction. We'll get it back." The Penguins forechecked hard and limited Washington to only 12 shots on goal through 40 minutes, but the Capitals still took a 1-0 lead into the third period thanks to Chimera's 14th goal of the season. Chimera scored on a breakaway after Joel Ward forced Evgeni Malkin to give the puck up at the far blue line with 4:35 to play in the first period. Malkin tried to skate into the teeth of the Capitals defense, but Ward got his stick on the puck and poked it up the right wing boards. Jeff Halpern chased it down and with Zbynek Michalek bearing down on him, he found Chimera streaking down the middle of the ice and hit him with a perfect pass. Chimera did the rest, racing in on Fleury and shooting between his blocker and right pad to give the Capitals the lead. Chimera's goal moves him within three of his career high and ties him with the likes of Rick Nash and Zach Parise, among others, this season. "(Ward) is one of those guys who uses a very long stick and he made a great play stripping the puck," Chimera said. "Then as soon as I saw Halpy (Halpern) in front of the guy, I knew we were gone on a 2-on-1, and I don't think their guy saw me behind him. Halpy made a great pass and it was off from there. It's nice to finish those ones off when you get the chance." The Penguins had a several chances late in the third period, but Dustin Jeffrey, who was playing for the first time since Nov. 3, hit the goal post on a sharp angle attempt off a rebound. Vokoun made five saves in the final five minutes, including two on Malkin and a pair on James Neal. Bylsma pulled Fleury with 1:19 to play and the Penguins continued to buzz around the offensive zone, but they never got another shot on Vokoun. Halpern blocked a pair of shots, and Dupuis and Chris Kunitz misfired, Burberry women t-shirts, cheap burberry short t-shirts for women outlet as the Capitals closed out a win that both put them back in the top eight and dropped the slumping Penguins out of it.