text:
Thomas E. Wisell
RIPTON — Thomas E. Wisell, 70, of Ripton, died Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington after a brief illness.
He was born Jan. 18, 1939, in Middlebury, the son of the late Leo and Helen (Kilbride) Wisell.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and he enjoyed the company of his dog Flo. He was a self-employed logger for many years. He was an adherent of the Catholic faith.
He is survived by his sister, Helen Anne Riley of Middlebury; sister-in-law Shirley Wisell of Middlebury; his very good friends Lee Herring Shaw and Annette Larock; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Jane Thulin; and a brother, James Wisell.
At his request there will be no calling hours or funeral service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Addison County Humane Society, 236 Boardman St., Middlebury, VT 05753.
Robert Moody Thompson
LINCOLN — Robert Moody Thompson, 88, a lifelong resident of Starksboro and Lincoln, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at Helen Porter Healthcare in Middlebury.
He was born Oct. 23, 1920, in Starksboro, the son of Vesper C. and Kate Belle (Moody) Thompson. He was the fourth of 11 children.
He graduated from Bristol High School in 1941. He went to work in an aircraft plant during WWII as a sheet metal worker. Later he returned to Starksboro and ran a logging and sawmill business with his brother Rudolph during the 1950s. He was proud to serve Starksboro as a representative in the state Legislature and as road commissioner. He ended his career working for the Vermont Highway Department. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Lincoln to care for his uncle, James Moody.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene (Blair) Thompson of Bristol; four daughters, Jeanette Adams and her husband James of Lincoln, Nilene Farnsworth of Bristol, Carol Taggart of Charlotte and Mary Thompson of Hyde Park, N.Y.; one son, Robert Thompson and his wife Tai of Dayton, Ohio; two sisters, Oletha Bickford of Middlebury and Leona Fawaz of California; one brother, Elwyn Thompson and his wife Vivian of Maryland; and six grandchildren.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Celia Clime of Maryland and Theda Moran of Massachusetts, and four brothers, Warren Thompson of Bristol, Kenneth Thompson of White River Junction, and Rudolph Thompson and Vesper Thompson Jr., both of Starksboro.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from noon until 1 p.m. Interment will be at Maple Cemetery in Lincoln. All are invited for the reception at the United Church of Lincoln. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln, VT 05443.
Joseph J. Sinkew
MIDDLEBURY — Joseph J. Sinkew, 82, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury.
He was born October 2, 1926, in Elmira, N.Y., the son of the late Charles and Stella (Gush) Sinkew.
He was retired from the United States Postal Service. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
He was an avid downhill skier and bow hunter and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. Family says he loved Vermont and the rural outdoor lifestyle it offered.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Burlington.
He is survived by a daughter, Natalie Sinkew of Burlington; a son, Michael Sinkew of North Bergen, N.J.; two foster sons, David Matot and David Vieira of Burlington; two sisters, Mary Garcia of Belen, N.M., and Pauline Pazzaglia of Columbia Cross Roads, Penn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Veronica (Sekella) Sinkew, in 2002 and by his brother, Elias "John" Sinkew.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home in Middlebury, with the Rev. William R. Beaudin, pastor of St. Mary's Church, officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Vermont, 172 North Main St., Barre, VT 05641-4124, or the ALS Association of Northern New England, Champlain Mill #13, Winooski, VT 05404.
Audrey Carole Reed
VERGENNES — Audrey Carole Reed, 66, of Vergennes died peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009.
She was born July 24, 1942, in Addison, the daughter of Charles Edward and Audrey (Wells) Reed.
She graduated from Vergennes Union High School and worked for many years at Porter Hospital in the laundry department. She was a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vergennes as well as the Bixby Library. Family says she was a member of the Vergennes Congregational Church and enjoyed her church family, annual dinners and outings. She was an avid VUHS sports fan and rarely missed a sporting event.
She is survived by two brothers, Walter and his wife Peg of Addison and Robert and his wife Christine of Orleans; two nephews; three great-nephews; and a great-niece.
She was predeceased by her parents and a niece.
The family wishes to thank the Rev. Gary Lewis for his compassion and support given to Carole during her illness.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Vergennes Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Booster Club at Vergennes Union High School, 50 Monkton Road, Vergennes, VT 05491.
Virginia Mildred (Newman) Lawton
BRIDPORT — Virginia Mildred (Newman) Lawton, 86, of Bridport, died peacefully Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at the Kathleen, Fla., home of her daughter, Lynda VL Hamilton, with her family at her side.
She was born in Providence, R.I., on Feb. 23, 1922, the daughter of George Newman and Mildred (Cole) Newman Pray.
She was the wife of the late Henry A. Lawton III.
She was a 1940 graduate of Coventry (R.I.) High School. She was the first Farm Family Insurance agent in Rhode Island and later earned her certified underwriter degree. She was a member of St. Andrew's and St. Phillip's Episcopal Church while she resided in Rhode Island.
She and her husband owned and operated the Lawton Dairy Farm in Cranston, R.I., until moving to Bridport in 1973. There they owned and operated Champlain Acres with their son. In 1989 they gave a portion of their farm in Scituate, R.I., to the town. Now known as the Lawton Farm, it offers a quiet place for all to enjoy nature as they did.
She is survived by two daughters, Lynda VL Hamilton and husband Ronald of Kathleen, Fla.; Lauren L. Mountford and husband Gordon of Foster, R.I.; her son and partner, Henry A. Lawton IV and wife Donna of Bridport; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She is survived by two brothers, George Newman of Foster, R.I., and Burke Pray of Willingboro, N.J.; and four sisters, Shirley St. Germain of Jamestown. R.I., Jean Sheldon of Putnam, Conn., Patricia Coyle of Elfrida, Ariz.; and Lee Carol Niles of Foster, R.I.
She was predeceased by her husband and a sister, Jo-an Pray.
She was active in the town of Bridport with the historical society, the Congregational church, the Grange, the school and the government, where she held several positions.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Bridport Congregational Church. Interment will be in Rhode Island at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cancer Patients Support Program, P.O. Box 64700, Burlington, VT 05406; Bridport Historical Society, Bridport, VT 05734; or Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908.
June P. LaFountain
MIDDLEBURY — June P. LaFountain, 78, of Middlebury, died Jan. 29, 2009, of medical complications.
She was born June 3, 1930, in East Middlebury, the daughter of Grace (Sampson) Brown and Alvin Peck and stepdaughter of Edward "Buster" Brown.
Much of her childhood was spent at the East Middlebury home of the grandfather she called "Pa" Peck. She married Clifford R. LaFountain on April 23, 1948, and they settled in Weybridge at first.
She worked at many Middlebury businesses, including Van Raalte Manufacturing, Lockwood's Diner, the Middlebury Inn, Middlebury College and Beau Ties Ltd.
She was an expert seamstress and quilter and enjoyed crocheting and knitting, doing puzzles and raising African violets.
In the past, she attended the Methodist church, held office in the Middlebury American Legion and VFW auxiliaries and was very involved in volunteer work, most recently making lap robes for veterans, nursing homes and hospitals.
She is survived by two daughters, Lois LaFountain and partner Bruce Brown of New Haven and Joy LaFountain and husband David Blongy of Leicester; a sister, Elizabeth Denney of Chittenango, N.Y.; a brother, John Sampson of Washington, D.C.; seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and many friends and neighbors at the Meadows.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1979 and by her son, Robert, in 2002.
According to her wishes, there will be no calling hours. A memorial will be held Sunday, Feb. 8, at 11:30 a.m. at the Middlebury American Legion. Burial will be in the spring at West Salisbury Cemetery.
Helen Marian (Barnum) Kendall
GRANVILLE, N.Y. — Helen Marian (Barnum) Kendall, 96, a native of Monkton, died Jan. 31, 2009, at Orchard Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Granville, N.Y. A full obituary will appear in a future edition of the Addison Independent.
John Stephen Kane
MESA, Ariz. — John Stephen Kane, 53, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Brandon, died Dec. 30, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz.
He was born Nov. 20, 1955, in Woodstock, the son of Edward E. and Marion J. (Sarner) Kane.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and enjoyed playing the guitar. He played in a number of music groups in the Brandon area.
Survivors include three children, Heather Carragher of Massachusetts and Melissa Kane and Andreas Utzelmann, both of Germany; two sisters, Susan Stanescki and husband John of Chicago, Ill., and Nancy Smith and husband Al of Harvard, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Karen Kane of Brandon, Vermont; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, Thomas and Patrick Kane.
A memorial service will be held in Harvard, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 14, with burial following at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Harvard. There will also be a memorial service in Brandon, Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Brandon Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kairos Prison Ministry, 6903 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net.
Rhoda Elizabeth Haskell
FOREST DALE — Rhoda Elizabeth Haskell, 97, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury.
She was born in Brandon on Feb. 24, 1911. She was the daughter of Daniel and Martha (Farr) Parmelee. She received her early education in local Brandon schools and graduated from Brandon High School in 1929. She attended Albany Business College and graduated in 1930. Following graduation she worked as a secretary in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She later worked as a secretary at the Brandon Training School, where she became a bookkeeper and office manager.
She married William Haskell in Schuylerville, N.Y., on Aug. 16, 1936. They made their home in Brandon until moving to Bennington in 1942. They owned and operated the Bennington Farm Equipment Company from 1952 until their retirement in 1975. In 1977 they moved back to Forest Dale to be near their son and his family. Family says she enjoyed her home and family and was a quiet lady and loving wife and mother.
She is survived by a son, Henry W. Haskell and his wife Brenda of Salisbury, and a granddaughter.
She was predeceased by her husband in 2001; a sister, Alice Rolfe; and three brothers, Charles Parmelee, Leland Parmelee and Gale Parmelee Sr.
A funeral service will be held Friday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m. at the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. The Rev. Timothy Taylor, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Vergennes, will officiate. The graveside committal service and burial will take place at a later date in the family lot at Pine Hill Cemetery in Brandon.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to the Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Rd., Pittsford, VT 05763.


text:
No Unified Front on Russia
Center Global, a program of The DC Center, the city's LGBT community center, welcomed about 30 people into the center's U Street space last night for the "Center Global Discussion on Russian LGBT Equality Issues." For roughly an hour and a half, an expert panel on LGBT rights in Russia offered a sophisticated breakdown of the situation that exists in light of that country's new anti-LGBT law that forbids "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations." While the conversation was long on legal background and sharp insight, it was short on agreement or any clear advisement to LGBT activists in the West hoping for a unified action on behalf of their oppressed Russian counterparts.
"There's obviously been a lot of engagement with the International Olympic Committee," noted Mark Bromley, council chair of The Council for Global Equality, citing a petition effort by AllOut.org and Athlete Ally, asking the IOC to take strong action to protect LGBT people at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. "In terms of the Olympic Boycott issues ... we're sort of, at this point, taking our guidance from the Russian LGBT Network, which put out a very strong statement saying, 'Speak Up, Don't Walk Out.' ... We take that statement very seriously and are not supporting a boycott."
Similarly, Bromley's organization also cautions that a boycott of Stolichnaya vodka - the national origins of which are one of the points of friction among those activists looking for ways to help Russia's LGBT community - may have unwelcome repercussions for the LGBT community in Latvia, where the vodka is produced for sale outside Russia.
Echoing the question that so many are asking - and answering with multiple petitions, boycott efforts, counter-boycott efforts and urgent letters to various officials - Larry Poltavtsev, a Russian-American with the Spectrum Human Rights Alliance, detailed the buildup to the extremely hostile environment in Russia and asked, "What can we do about that? Well, I've been meeting with the State Department today as well and we've been talking largely about that and we need to have certain programs in place, we need to have certain messages to the Russian public. ... This is hard. It's much easier to boycott vodka, which is a great marketing tool, I think. At least that gives us an opportunity to attract the general public's attention to the problem. So I'm not necessarily saying this is a bad idea, even though there may be certain repercussions. At least we've managed to attract public attention to this problem using this as a tool."
Speaking with Bromley and Poltavtsev on the Thursday evening panel were Innokenty Grekov of Human Rights First, and Matthew Schaaf of Freedom House, who also had much to share regarding issues such as asylum, human-rights organizations within Russia, the years-long buildup to the situation as it exists now, etc.
Despite the vast breadth of knowledge the four collectively represent, the emphasis at Thursday's forum was on there being no simple solution for challenging the Russian crackdown. As the event neared its end, however, a recent émigré from Russia arrived, delayed by his late train from New York. Though unidentified due to consideration of his immigration status, the young man offered soft-spoken yet intense comment in Russian, translated for the audience by Poltavtsev.
"The first wish that the LGBT community expresses in Russia is that -- and this is what they expect as international involvement from other nations -- is that every trip that Mr. Putin makes abroad they wish that he would be greeted in the same way as he was greeted in the Netherlands," the young man said, as translated by Poltavtsev, who noted April protests against Putin in Amsterdam.
"Being full of himself and considering himself a big 'macho man,' Mr. Putin is very sensitive when other people make jokes and laugh at him. Overall the LGBT community in Russia is very pessimistic about what the international community at large is capable of or willing to do for them. So any kind of involvement and outreach would be, obviously, much appreciated. And the LGBT community in Russia is very much disappointed by the latest adoption of anti-LGBT laws and huge fines assessed on LGBT nonprofit and NGO (non-governmental organization) organizations.
"Nevertheless the LGBT community in Russia saw the outreach and support, the outpouring from the West, and they would like express their gratitude and say 'thank you.' In my opinion it's very important to boycott Russian products, Russian vodka, stock market, and Olympics. It would probably encourage the banishment of those laws and repeal those laws inside Russia.
"Putin values two things: obviously money and how he gets that money, and second is how the worldwide community perceives him. Again, he is a 'macho man' and he wants to be perceived as a great leader. There is a good chance that the world leaders during the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg would point out to Vlad that he looks laughable, that there is a good chance he would reconsider his stance against the LGBT community and possibly that may lead to the repeal of those laws.
"Another project that we can support is directed at children left behind, 'Children 404.' Why 404? Because if you browse the Web and you come to the Web page that is nonexistent, you get the browser error 404, 'page not found.' That is the analogy that Russian activists drew and this is why the project is called that way."
Poltavtsev clarified that point, saying, "In a way it's equivalent to what we have, 'ItGetsBetter.org,' supported by Dan Savage and other celebrities. If we support the same project in Russia, it would be much appreciated. By the way, Polish government supported that. Lawmakers there actually photographed themselves holding that sign. I think our lawmakers should follow suit."
Returning to translating, Poltavtsev continued, "It would be helpful if the likes of The Washington Post and New York Times would print at least twice a month or so the information about the conditions for LGTB teenagers in Russia. That would certainly make a huge impact."
Spectrum Human Rights Alliance will be joining an Amnesty International USA protest, the "Free Pussy Riot Solidarity Concert," outside the Russian Embassy, 2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Friday, Aug. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. There is an event page for the protest on Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Media companies lie! Film at 11.
Libre.fm [libre.fm] for the win. It's compatible with Last.fm.
I promise I didn't tell on you!... my mom did.
Er, this isn't actually a troll. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt. Last.fm told its parent company, who then told. Hence "I didn't tell on you...my mom did".
This post makes sense and is relevant.
I guess one could simple turn off scrobbling, but that is one of the main features of the service.
Who will use their service?
Probably the 90-99% of their users who don't and will never know anything about this or even care if they do.
Do you have some sort of list of last.fm users I could look over to confirm your statement? sorry, j/k
In all seriousness, though, my assumption is that the average last.fm user is no different than the average facebook user. Which is to say completely following the bell curve with only the top 2% or so being 1) savvy computer users with 2) an opinion about the RIAA who 3) care about the privacy of their use of a free online radio service.
But that's just my thoughts on it. If you have some statistics that somehow demonstrate that the users of THIS online service are somehow superior power users, feel free to post'em.
Do you have some sort of list of last.fm users I could look over to confirm your statement?
No but the RIAA could help you with that one.
I'm not the least bit skeptical of last.fm after this. First off, I don't care if they reveal my listening habits, that's already on my profile. If I didn't want my music habits known, I'd not scrobble them.
Also, I use last.fm for its ability to introduce me to artists listened to by people with similar taste to mine in music, which is very handy for finding interesting new artists, and sometimes to use their radio functionality.
What about legitimate purchased songs being flagged as being pirated?
According to the RIAA they only are planning on searching the data for an unreleased album.
Believe it or not but if it was limited to this case, there is no worry about legitimate songs.
According to the RIAA they only are planning on searching the data for an unreleased album.
Uh-huh. And because the RIAA has such a stellar record of transparency and accountability, we should trust them explicitly.
I use the service, and will continue to. I, like most other users, publicly let anyone see what I listen to. In fact, that's the main functionality of the service as far as I am concerned (that and the recommendations). I find Last.fm very useful, and hey, it's free. Also, this information was supposedly leaked by people in Last.fm themselves - if so, I get the feeling they feel empowered against CBS from all this; they probably won't let CBS break contracts like this again. CBS has egg on their face.
You think the RIAA is going to let a silly little thing like possibly mistagged music stop it? Hasn't stopped them before, won't stop them next time.
And it is not about winning from the RIAA in a court case, it is about being able to afford to win. US legal system means you got to have the money to pay the lawyer up front and I am fairly sure the RIAA got more money then you.
Last.fm commited a major error in judgement and CBS showed its colors. Anyone who is smart is going to stop the service. No wait, anyone who is smart NEVER used the service. Giving your music data to a media company in bed with the RIAA? Exactly what part of that sounds like a good idea?
I'm not sure that using a TechCrunch story to verify a TechCrunch story is any sort of unbiased confirmation. Also, a picture of an email is not the type of
If this does turn out to be true, who is going to use their service ever again? Even if someone doesn't have any pirated music on their computer, who wants their music collection data sent to the RIAA? What about legitimate purchased songs being flagged as being pirated?
It hardly matters whether the music is pirated or legitimate, all they care about is money, plain and simple. The Righteous Inquisition Army of Autocrats has made statements in the past that indicate that if they had their way, you would have to pay for every time you listen to any piece of music, regardless that you purchased it already. They always want more money, and they won't rest until the day where they can bill you for having a copy of that song burned into your brain neural patterns as an "all-you
So it is not "legal" to listen to music on last.fm? Can I get sued by the RIAA if I listen to songs on last.fm? If it is "illegal" to have music on last.fm, then why doesn't the RIAA send a cease and desist to CBS/last.fm? If it is legal, then why would CBS release that information? Is it so that the RIAA can have a list of IPs with names to go after if they think someone is pirating music?
That won tell them much, the real issue is how many times have you scrobbled that you're listening to a track that is not yet released?
Every pre-release mp3 you ever scrobbled is tied to your account, which is owned by cbs.
So the Somalis are hijacking music now, eh?
Everybody listen to me
And return me, my ship
I'm Your Captain
I'm Your Captain
You're looking at it the wrong way.
User listening data is not really that useful as a tool for filing lawsuits. It is useful as a tool for tracking and potentially identifying leaks. For example: suppose User X listened to a new album ten days before it was actually released, and is friends (on the site) with User Y who listened to it twelve days before the release date, and User Y is friends with User Z whose profile matches up with an intern at the studio. Odds are that User Z -- the intern -- is the source of the leak.
Stop buying CDs and movies. It's the only way to stop RIAA and MPAA abusing our rights. Fund the artists, not these corrupt organisations.
Artists: Go direct to the public via the web.
RIAA/MPAA: Evolve or die. Stop attacking and threatening potential customers, or like me, they will stop buying your product.
"That works for every other business except monopolies. "
Well except for the fact that four-letter organizations don't have a monopoly on content.
There are independents that create everything from music, to books, to games. One can't blame four-letter organizations for the public's lack of will to step outside the mainstream. Even if these organizations believed as you think they do, that doesn't in any way, shape, or form take away your right to enter into a reciprocal agreement with anyone you want to.
What's more likely to happen is the RIAA/MPAA will not only survive, but they will get further legislation passed to gain further control over what you do with the internet and your computer.
I'm glad I never registered at last.fm. I always felt that it and similar sites were being used by the RIAA to create a catalog of people to sue.
links ftw
http://www.jamendo.com/en/ [jamendo.com] (integrated with amarok2)
http://www.magnatune.com/ [magnatune.com] (integrated with amarok, found brad suck's here)
http://blip.tv/ [blip.tv] (out of office [blip.tv])
http://libre.fm/ [libre.fm] (pretty meh atm, but i appreciate the fact its agpl)
Initial impressions:
Jamendo - Horrible web interface, wants to use full-window m-player plugin instead of embedded player so you can see the rest of the page (artist info, etc). Half a minute of buffering between tracks, no thanks.
Magnatune - seems all right, haven't tried searching in depth yet, but insists on "you have been listening to X from the album Y on Magnatune" between tracks, plus 4 seconds lead-in silence on every track. Meh.
Libre.fm - oddly home-drawn look to it, can't see much without register
Stop buying CDs and movies.
Slow down there Jimmy! Stop buying major-label CDs and records. Consider it an opportunity to explore the wonderful independent scene.
the data could possibly be used in civil and criminal actions against those users
Except that
(1) There is no way to tell whether music on last.fm is from legal or illegal copies.
(2) "Listening" to music you don't own is in no way illegal. Even if the RIAA can prove you are listening to music you didn't purchase, they have presented no evidence that a crime has occurred.
(3) The tag data sent to last.fm is self-reported and unverified. Basically, there is no more evidence that you actually listened to the music than if you said you listened to it on facebook. In fact, due to incorrect tags, I'm quite sure that I have reported listening to music not in my collection on a number of occasions.
So while the RIAA may have a bit of a tip-off in looking at high-volume listeners, I don't think they could even get a warrant for more information, since they distinctly lack evidence of any kind of crime.
But seeing as the last.fm data was obtained in an underhand manner and then released to an unrelated 3rd party, does that mean that the RIAA pirated the data?
Track listings of unreleased albums, along with accurate track length information (which the Audioscrobbler protocol provides), could be used as probable cause for a search warrant.
All they have to do is file a lawsuit against you.
If they filed against me they would win by default because I am too busy to attend court.
(1) Unless of course you were listening to a leaked album, where the likelihood of you having a legal copy before the release date is extremely low.
(2) Perhaps not, but it's pretty unlikely that tracks from an unreleased album appear because you borrowed a legit CD from a friend before it even went on sale.
(3) Still true
From what I recall, the reason for the data release was to see who was listening to the leaked U2 album. While that may not have proved that the listener was the one who acquired the tracks
Last.fm collects listening data from the ID tags of mp3-files and the likes, right? ID tags can be modified to say anything. It's even possible to send completely bogus information to Last.fm without listening to any music files at all. So what does the collected data actually prove?
That's why people must start using whole drive encryption. Encryption is not just for criminal use but is also to protect innocent people from having their rights violated, we need laws to prevent computers from being used as evidence.
Why your genius plan will fail, in three words:
Rubber hose cryptanalysis
There's a reason Craigslist, for example, has never gone public or sold a controlling stake to a major media company: because Craig Newmark knows exactly what would happen to the site if he did. He could get more money, sure, but he's very wealthy as it is, so he doesn't need more money. Not enough to sell out the site he spent so many years building, anyway.
Remember, folks, free-market capitalism is about your right to control your own business, taking responsibility for it and running it as you see fit. If you sell out to some large, bureaucratic entity, greedy bastards with no vision will run your life's work right into the ground. Is the payout worth it? Maybe it is, but at least make sure you realize what you're doing: you cannot both sell out to CBS and retain your integrity. The freedom to choose not to sell something is as important as free access to markets is.
Is he rich from craigslist or some other venture? I have trouble believing craigslist is raking in a huge amount of cash.
"Last year, the company took in $25 million in revenue [forbes.com], but it has the page views to earn much more. Craigslist is the seventh-most-viewed site online, according to Comcscore, yet it only makes money from fees for posting some apartment listings in New York and job listings in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York."
Craigslist is doing pretty well for itself. Fortune estimated [cnn.com] that its 2005 profit was over $15 million (revenues of $20 million and expenses of under $5 million), and it's probably considerably higher now.
There's a reason Craigslist, for example, has never gone public or sold a controlling stake to a major media company: because Craig Newmark knows exactly what would happen to the site if he did. He could get more money, sure, but he's very wealthy as it is, so he doesn't need more money.
It's called "Integrity" and unfortunately it is in short supply.
Boy howdy techcrunch are going to make a lot of ad $ from hits on this unsubstantiated story from scared last.fm users who have one or two dodgy mp3s though - of course - there's no chance that that consideration entered into their decision to publish it.
How could anyone be sued for last.fm data? The only data you supply to last.fm when using their 'scrobbling' client is the tags of the currently playing song. Tags can be anything. I can take any song by any artist, or even just random noise, and give it any tags I wish. That doesn't magically make that song the song that I've tagged it as. I seem to recall data about U2's then-unreleased album being spoken about when the last.fm data news story came about. The album wasn't released yet, so anybody listening to it obviously got it through unofficial channels. The problem with that line of thinking is, getting a hold of the track names before its release wouldn't exactly be rocket science. I'm sure a tracklist would have been made public long before its release. It's a trivial matter to take any random songs and give them tags that correspond to the upcoming release and then play them back in your media player. And since you're running the last.fm 'scrobbling' client those tag names would be uploaded to your last.fm account as what you're currently listening to. That doesn't mean that the tags your files have are actually what your tags claim them to be. They're just tags. Tags that can be set to any arbitrary value by anyone, anytime. How anyone could possibly think this could be used as evidence of being in possession of officially unreleased material ahead of the official release is beyond me. It makes absolutely no sense at all. And the people that think this data could be used for anything to do with the legal system is downright hilarious.
Yes, I can just see the stunning, Law & Order-inspired jury argument. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Shorty did not illegally download U2's then-unreleased album. In fact, he had a legally-obtained copy of the Joshua Tree album, and he renamed all the tracks to the names of the tracks of the upcoming albums so he could fantasize about listening to the new album.
I don't think I could even pull it off with a straight face.
I cancelled my Last.fm account immediately after I read this article. Fu** them for this.
I shouldn't have done this from the start. I feel stupid. I should've seen something like this coming.
I cancelled my Last.fm account immediately after I read this article. Fu** them for this.
I shouldn't have done this from the start. I feel stupid. I should've seen something like this coming.
Talk about over-reacting. Don't you think you should give it a few more days or weeks to see how it really plays out?
I cancelled the day they announced the CBS buyout myself. But you waited through the buyout and the first variation of this story, maybe its true, maybe its false, but since you gave them the benefit of the doubt then, why are you cancelling now when there is really no new evidence, just a new variation on an old story?
... If this has anything to do with the fact that Tech Crunch is sponsored by a competitor of Last.fm.
I'm currently listening to a future Eminem track. I got it by running bittorrent through a time-machine. The evidence is plain for all to see [www.last.fm] (or my playedlist [www.last.fm])
Good grief.
Take them through Criminal Courts rather than Civil courts...
What could they be got on:
It might be worth doing even if Last.fm is innocent - it may be high profile enough to make other organisations think twice before doing this sort of thing.
A playlist is copyrighted information. Small and generally insignificant, but still copyrighted by the original creator.
If you select a number of unrelated tracks together into a playlist, then that data is copyrighted to yourself. Slap Last.fm, CBS & RIAA with copyright infringement notices if you were crazy enough to use Scrobbler.
Who do you trust more... Michael Arrington, or Russ Garrett?
Russ' rebuttal is here [www.last.fm]. He's no PR flack... he's one of the founders and one of the original developers of Audioscrobbler.
It's very interesting that so many Slashdotters are taking the Techcrunch report at face value. Given Mr. Arrington's history with regard to responsible journalism, I'm with Russ on this one.
Arrington has last.fm in his sights for some reason. Somebody pointed out that TechCrunch takes advertising money from a last.fm competitor. I don't think it's as simple as that, but Arrington has an agenda here, and I don't think it's the noble pursuit of truth.
Oh, for mod points.
The one thing that surprises me is that Russ Garrett says that legal action isn't possible. That surprises me. You have an entity suffering real, quantifiable damage (count the "I'm unsubscribing RIGHT NOW" posts upthread) as a direct result of libellous, allegedly incorrect information being published, when that entity exists in a country with some of the most plaintiff-friendly libel laws in the world.
Who do you trust more... Michael Arrington, or Russ Garrett?
Russ' rebuttal is here [www.last.fm].
I don't personally know the folk involved, I'll assume that "Russ" is a Last.fm guy. Last.fm didn't know that the parent company, CBS, had sold them out to RIAA in contravention of the user agreement. If you read the TechCrunch info you'll note that a spokesman for CBS said that they didn't know the info was being passed on to the RIAA - then the spokesman called to say "that statement was on behalf of last.fm, not CBS". Dead giveaway.
Does it really matter if it was CBS, the owner of last.fm, that did it, even though the people who run last.fm might not have done it if asked? They're still the same company, just a different level. If my boss decides to put some DRM in our new game that sniffs around on your machine and sends it back your data to our servers, do you really give a crap that the Jeff the leader coder thought it was a sucky idea?
This whole idea that they're not the same thing is a farce. It's just sleight of hand to get you to feel good about a company that you would never have given a chance if it was directly marketed by parent company Evil, Incorporated.
Giving any company a window into your day-to-day activities is very dangerous. The possibility of this kind of thing happening must run through the mind of any vaguely security-conscious person who considers their business model. Honestly, it's one of the reasons I never signed up.
That being said, however, there are a couple things to remember, though.
1) You give much more information to Google. If you have done ANYTHING illegal in the last couple years, Google could be used to help convict you.
Think about it. All of your searches, page views, chats and emails can be tied to a single account. You could probably establish where I've been every day with hour resolution just by examining the IP addresses I access email and search from, to say nothing of actually reading the contents.
2) Last.fm's innocence or guilt has no bearing on this issue
The problem is that this accusation plays perfectly to the fears a user might have about sending such detailed information to Last.fm. Whereas there are endless accusations about Google being in bed with the FBI and so forth, I'd imagine nearly every user of Last.fm considers the RIAA a credible threat. It's plausible that the RIAA would ask for the data, and it's plausible that a big company like CBS would be willing to side with the cartels on this one. They're being tried in the court of public opinion, and as far as I can see, they are losing.
Bottom line, if I had a bone to pick with Last.fm, this would be the perfect way to take them down.
3) This is only going to get worse
As the number of online services we use on a daily basis increases, our exposures are only going to multiply. Until we demand *true* anonymous use of internet resources (as distinguished from services that offer the illusion of privacy but are still subject to subpoenas, backroom deals, compromised network admins, etc), the misuse of our private information will only worsen.
http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/535934/_/9521312 [www.last.fm]
Russ, a founder of last.fm and much more reliable than that National Enquirer-wannabe TechCrunch, has denied everything.
Showing nothing to hide, you'll see in that thread noone ever had a post deleted there, no matter how irate or against last.fm it was.
http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/535934/_/9522388 [www.last.fm]
Starting there, and continuing reading a couple pages, you'll see the truth about TechCrunch. Every message at TC in response that was against Michael Arrington's (shoddy) reporting has been summarily deleted. Several screenshots were even posted of people's responses that were deleted.
Now, who is more trustworthy again, a site that allows open discussion, or one that whittles down the discussion to make it look like everyone agrees with them?
Anyone believing this drivel... I got some 419 e-mails for you.
To write good code is a worthy challenge, and a source of civilized delight. -- stolen and paraphrased from William Safire


text:
having the best player in the nfl on your roster pacifies alot of the misfortunes this team puts us through. im not saying it substitutes for a super bowl win, but will trading revis make that happen? no
Pro sports is a business, and as fans, sometimes we lose site of this fact, focusing only only the player's ability and what it means to the team. The Revis topic has been discussed ad-nauseum, his value, his ability, whether he will come back from injury and be the same player, is he really worth 15 million per year, why would any team trade for it, why would the Jets not re-sign him, etc etc...
There are many sides to the argument from the Jets' fans perspective, trade now, Revis wants too much, get something for nothing, the Jets should re-sign, he's a cornerstone of the franchse. The team should trade and fast track re-tooling their roster, a CB is not worth franchise money. All valid arguments. Then there is the position the Jets are in, re-sign him, avoid the dead money of the contract if they let him play out his contract, and continue to build around him on the defense, or, trade him before he plays out his contract, and retool the rest of the roster with additional draft picks.
Bottomline, the Jets can go either way. The cap situation is overblown by the media as usual, and as usual, there are too many fans that buy into the TMZ reporting by the media. The Jets can easily re-sign him, even at the 14-15 mil per year and still build the rest of the roster, but the Jets don't need Revis, as much as Revis needs them, and as much as say a team like the Bucs need him, and here's why the Jets are in a position of strength that I don't think gets talked about enough.
Revis is worth the money he's asking for, because it's not just his ability as the top CB in football and one of the top defensive players in football, it's the marketing value he brings to a team. Let's also not mistake the fact that Revis and his team were able to develop that brand in the best market in sports, in New York. Revis knows this, but more importanly, other teams know this as well, including the Jets. The Jets don't need to sign a player like Revis because of his brand, they can move on to the next player, the team is already in the NY market.
A team like the Bucs however, are starved to improve the brand of the team, and a player like Revis instantly adds value to the brand, brings in a huge market and following, and puts TB back on the map from a player profile perspective. This is huge for a team like the Bucs, and this is why the Jets are playing out the situation the way they have. The Jets aren't just trading a player coming off of ACL surgery, but is still one of the top defensive players in football when healthy, the Jets, if they chose to move on from Revis, want to make sure they trade not only the player and get compensation to fast track the rebuild, they want the compensation for giving up his brand and the value he brings to the team.
The other angle is Revis' security, and the risk he has if he plays out the rest of his contract, another year of football, another year of possible injury. This more than anything plays into the urgency of Revis' team to push this now, rather than wait until next year. That is the beauty of what we are seeing with what is happening, and why this is dragging on. The Jets know this, Idzik knows this, Johnson knows this. Revis wants a new deal now, with the Jets, or a new team. The Jets know what Revis can bring to a team like TB, not just the player, but his brand, that is why we can't compare Revis' value from a player only standpoint, from a position only standpoint. We can't compare Revis, to a player like Harvin or any other big name trade that has happened, because Revis' brand trumps all of them, that is why compensation has to be significant from the Jets' perspective, that is why a team like the Bucs are so interested in Revis, not just because it is a fit, and the player, and the talent, but the brand, and the market that he will bring to a small market team like the Bucs.
Personally, I'm torn, I love Revis, but I can see how much sense this makes from the Jets' perspective. So, Idzik and the Jets should hold out as long as they can, and they have every bit of leverage to take this right up to the draft, because it's clear, the mission is to get compensation this year and next, and especially next year, but the Jets have a lot of leverage, and they also have Revis' agents as an ally, because they too are pushing for a deal THIS year, this helps the Jets, whether it is to re-sign with the Jets at a deal they deem acceptable and not in a way that will cripple their cap and future of the roster, or to push for a team to match the Jets' asking price in terms of compensation.
having the best player in the nfl on your roster pacifies alot of the misfortunes this team puts us through. im not saying it substitutes for a super bowl win, but will trading revis make that happen? no
MEVIS is great no doubt...would love to be able to keep him.
He's actually so much better than people credit him for. He's a GREAT open field tackler as well as shut down corner.
Problem is....
He'll just hold out again in 2 years though.
yes, good post.
This is a legit tricky situation. Revis is the best player this team has had in a very long time - tough to give him up - would love to find a way to keep him..
Unfortunately it doesn't seem like a realistic option.
By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger
on March 22, 2013 at 4:41 PM, updated March 23, 2013 at 12:47 AM
Rex Ryan stays mum on Darrelle Revis trade, says QB competition is wide open
Rex Ryan is maintaining his distance from a possible Darrelle Revis trade.
I haven't had one conversation with anybody about trading any of our players, Ryan said Friday afternoon on ESPN Radio.
The coach continued a game of semantics he started at the league meetings in Arizona. Ryan definitively said that the Jets weren't "actively" looking to deal their star cornerback. He couched that statement by saying that if a team called, the Jets would certainly listen.
When pressed on "The Michael Kay Show," Ryan sidestepped a question about whether he thinks Revis will be on the opening-day roster.
"Wherever (the speculation) is coming from, its not coming from the Jets," Ryan said. "Does that mean hes going to be traded or not? Hey, thats just speculation. Hey, Ill let other guys speculate on it and, hey, I think its kind of funny. From the day (GM) John (Idzik) took over, supposedly we were trading Darrelle and he didnt know where his office was."
Would he be surprised if a trade happened?
"I guess in the NFL, youre not surprised by any move," he said. "Whether its trading a player or signing a player."
As for the quarterback position, another point of concern heading into this season, Ryan was even less definitive. It has been less than a week since his remarks about Sanchez at the league meetings, where he first said that nothing was promised to the former top-five pick. So his open-mindedness about the position is not a surprise.
I think its going to be a position, obviously, where were bringing in competition, Ryan said. I dont think theres a clear-cut favorite in my opinion. I just think its going to be competition from day one. Sanchez will take the first snap, but thats all you can say. Its going to be an open competition.
As of now, that list still includes Sanchez, David Garrard and Greg McElroy. Matt Simms, who will be a camp arm won't factor into the decision. Tim Tebow will be released.
Ryan, as he did in Arizona, wouldn't rule out adding another arm to that mix.
I havent lost confidence in Mark, but I do know this: The play at quarterback has to get better, Ryan said. Theres no doubt. Whether its Mark or someone else we know we have to improve in that area without a doubt. I guess we can file that in the no kidding category, but thats it: It has to get better. I believe that Mark will get a lot better but I also believe theres going to be stiffer competition than there was in past years.
Please advise WHEN Revis was voted MVP. Or even DPOY.
Tell me when or leave. YOU are obviously MISINFORMED.
Your opinion is worthless. The VOTERS decide.
And, of course, YOU being alll knowing, are aware of his PRESENT physical condition? Right.
Enough homerism.
The Jets should absolutely resign him NOW, This thread did nothing to sway my opinion. The Jets will look like the biggest joke for trading away their best player if they happen to do that.
Revis is a player you want on your team no matter what. He's a great presence to have around when you are rebuilding and he puts you over the top when you have a good team around him. He's a big game player that you want on your side when you play in the SB.
And the money? That's a complete crock of sh*t. Everyone that want to get rid of him because they say he want too much. Your just pissy because your JEALOUS, nothing more, nothing less.
As I already pointed out from a percentage standpoint, if Revis gets the 15 million per he's looking for, that would amount to approximately 12 and change percent of the 123 million dollar salary cap.
Back in 2000, the Bucs traded for one Keyshawn Johnson. They gave up TWO 1st round draft choices (which automatically means that the compensation from the Bucs for Revis is complete sh*t. Key wasn't even the best WR in football when he got traded. Revis is clearly the BEST.)
They also gave Johnson 8 year 56 million dollar contract at the time. That was an obscene amount at that time. The salary cap in 2001 was 62 million and change. The 7 million per that Keyshawn got comprised 11 and change percent of their salary cap at that time.
So all of you posters that say he should be traded, well you actually think the team is better off without him. Well, I think that is dumb.
What Revis wants for money is merely relative. You cannot fathom it because you forgot it where 11 years went since the last time somebody got a payday like that. The percentage proves that the amount of money Revis is merely relative and a sign of the times.
I was a Jet fan since day - that's 1963 at the Polo Groundds vs. the Broncos.
I am also a realist. A piece of ground beef is not Filet Mignon.
I recognize what is good and what is not.
I also believe you are what you are voted.
No one is better than Revis? That's called delusional. Perhaps psychotic. I sure hope YOU don't own a gun. Or even a knife.
I root for the Jets BUT also enjkjoy seeing quality. Hard to see that with the Jets. This from the same group that annointed the "Sanchise" as bound for Canton.
Revis MAY return to form or may not. Even at that he is a selfish me me me guy. " Oh, my leg. I have to sit out and teach the Jets." A real champion.
I don't think Revis is worth much from a marketing standpoint. What has he done? A couple of Dick's commercials. Yeah, he has sold a few jerseys for Woody. But at the end of the day he is just a CB. He has little intrinsic value for the Jets. If we ever had a QB that was a star (a la Namath) then I think it would be a much different scenario. Revis should be paid based on what they think he is worth to them on the field.
If they can't sign him for a deal they can live with then they need to trade him for the best offer. Letting him play this year without extending or trading would be foolish IMO.
Last edited by DDNYjets; 03-23-2013 at 12:23 PM.
What's the problem, if he fits into the finances you keep him, and if not get what what most seem to think the value at the time is for Revis. Not very difficult.
You can scream your head off all you want, there are two sides of this that make for valid arguments. The point of this thread wasn't to see you regurgitate with your high and mighty stance that it would be dumb to trade Revis, it factors in both sides of the story, and presents an angle not really discussed, and that is Revis' value beyond his ability as a football player, and why Revis is taking the stance he is, because he can, and his brand has enabled that platform. On the other hand, the Jets have taken this into account, but are working both sides, the side to keep him but not at the level he is seeking, and if they are going to trade him, to maximize that compensation because of the value he would bring another team, especially a small market team, and factoring the business side of any trade.


text:
The Strength of an Injured Spirit
Mary Wollstonecraft
The True History of the First Mrs. Meredith and Other Lesser Lives
Biographies of Mary Wollstonecraft have usually dwelt, quite properly, on the historical influences that favored her leap from a statement of the rights of man to her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792. Her new biographer looks rather to those things in her upbringing and private character that turned a neurasthenic into the pioneer of feminism. The driving force sprang, as in other outstanding founders, from a sense of personal injustice and family torment; her vision was intimately connected with the wrongs of childhood.
If she is a sad figure she grasped the luck that was going in the century of her birth. The rise of Puritan individualism worked for and against women but it did create a new concern for education as the eighteenth century invented its modernizing revolutions. The class conflict between the new middles and the aristocracy put vehemence into controversy. Piety swept into scorn. More important, this was the time when the woman reader and the woman writer appeared, either as the author or reader of trashy novels, religious tracts, and copybook guides or, more preciously, as the blue stocking. What a weapon intellectual snobbery is!
Even if the writers did nothing for female emancipation, they were paid for their work and, in this sense, emancipated themselves. Indeed authors owe it to the eighteenth century that women have been liberated for pretty well 200 years in their profession and are in many respects better placed than family men. Mary Wollstonecraft began her life as many poor, unmarried women did, by governessing and teaching, but she was able to migrate to literature with relative ease. Her school handbooks did well and the famous "bible"—A Vindication of the Rights of Woman—ran to several editions. Godwin, the thinker, whom she eventually married, was forced to become a shady sponge on the aristocratic Shelley.
To later feminists, as Miss Flexner says, Mary's bible has had a reactionary flavor. Her book aimed "to teach women to think" and "to prepare them to fulfill the duties of a wife and mother…. No employment of the mind is a sufficient excuse for neglecting domestic duties and I cannot conceive that they are incompatible." If she is remote from us, she certainly put her finger on the central issue of her time. A marked boredom and often a disgust with domesticity is noticeable in the English novelists. Marriage is so often seen as a stagnant and even squalid condition for both sexes. Who, outside the Widow Wadman, would have cared to marry into the Shandy family and share its ill-managed torpor? And although Mary Wollstonecraft would not have agreed, the gallantry and frivolity of the upper classes which she denounced were also in a sense a protest. Better to sin than to suckle until the state of medicine improved.
It was also a time of continual wars and standing armies,…
This article is available to online subscribers only.
Please choose from one of the options below to access this article:
Print Premium Subscription — $99.95
Purchase a print premium subscription (20 issues per year) and also receive online access to all content on nybooks.com.
Purchase an Online Edition subscription and receive full access to all articles published by the Review since 1963.
Purchase a trial Online Edition subscription and receive unlimited access for one week to all the content on nybooks.com.
If you already have one of these subscriptions, please be sure you are logged in to your nybooks.com account. If you subscribe to the print edition, you may also need to link your web site account to your print subscription. Click here to link your account services.


text:
Architect or Recently Qualified Architect
- Recruiter
- Conrad Consulting Ltd
- Location
Merseyside / Liverpool, Merseyside
- Salary
- £32,000 - £48,000
- Posted
- 19 Mar 2014
- Closes
- 16 Apr 2014
- Ref
- 1403-205
- Sector
- Architecture, Environmental Services
- Function
- Architect, Project Architect
- Job Type
- Permanent
Our client, a multi-award winning practice is on the hunt for talented architects with proven transferable skills. This architectural practice covers a broad range of sectors with a particular focus on new build, conservation, historical and restoration projects.
You will gain instant exposure to iconic projects and be mentored by industry leaders; this includes the practices associates, directors & project team. This is the perfect opportunity to establish yourself within the industry and work alongside the best in the game.
Recently qualified architects will be considered for this role if they have relevant experience.
The role:
- Assisting in pre-commission submissions
- Producing planning, building regs, working drawing and tender packages
- The responsibility for applying for permissions relating to each project
Person Specification:
- Accreditation ARB/RIBA
- Experience of working on different sector projects
- AutoCAD/Revit proficient
- Very high standards of accuracy and presentation
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
- Co-operative team member.
- Able to work proactively on own initiative and prioritise workload.
- Enthusiasm for developing work skills and job specific knowledge for self and team
- Willingness to travel when required
- Proactive 'can do' approach
Please send in an up-to-date CV & examples of work ASAP to firstname.lastname@example.com. Call Carl anytime up to 19:00 for a confidential chat about this outstanding opportunity - 01728 726 120.
Do you know someone that will be suitable for any of our job vacancies?
If so, refer them to us and if they successfully take up one of our permanent placements you'll get from £200 - £500 depending on the level of placement.


text:
An Afghan boy stands inside an old Jewish synagogue undergoing renovation in the old part of Herat city northeast of Kabul. (Photo by Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images)
The road between the Afghani cities of Ghazni and Bamiyan is fraught with danger. The Kabul-Kandahar highway that makes up most of the journey was improved and reopened in 2003, but in the last several years travelers on this road have been targets for Taliban, insurgents, and bandits of all stripes. A recent article in Afghanistan Today reports that hundreds of people are kidnapped and attacked on this route every year.
The road was also dangerous, so it seems, in the Middle Ages. A cache of Jewish documents was recently discovered in Afghanistan, and among its contents is a trader's letter written in Judeo-Persian; like Yiddish, this Jewish language sounds similar to the standard Persian spoken in Iran and Afghanistan today, but is written in the Hebrew script. In the still-unpublished letter, the author, a trader in Ghazni, complains to his brother that he is far from his wife and family in Bamiyan. Despite the relative closeness of the two cities, for the author a journey was out of the question. "I am not a man of traveling and absence from home," he writes, expressing his grief at the absence of his loved one: "My heart is occupied with her, for I know she is in distress."
This trader's letter is just one of the documents that have the potential to shed new light on the history of medieval Afghanistan and its Jewish community. The documents include not only letters, but contracts, poetry, theology, biblical interpretation, and more. While the vast majority of the documents are as yet unavailable to scholars, experts who have seen the texts, such as Shaul Shaked of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, are certain that the documents can be dated between the ninth and the early thirteenth century, when the Mongol invasion devastated the region's Jewish communities.
An Afghan man rides his bicycle on the Kabul-Kandahar highway on the outskirts of Kabul (photo by Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images).
Most scholars agree that the history of the Afghani Jewish community goes back to the seventh or eighth centuries. Beginning as a community of traders, like our letter writer, who traveled as far as China and India along the branches of the Silk Route, with time Jews settled permanently in cities like Kabul, Ghur, and Herat. As indicated by their knowledge of Persian, Afghani Jews seem to have spread east from Iran, where, by the time the new documents were written, Jews had lived for over one thousand years.
Given its significance, the find has attracted media attention. A number of reports, including special coverage on Israel's Channel Two, have compared the Afghan discovery to the Cairo Geniza, the giant cache of manuscripts stored for centuries in a synagogue attic in Old Cairo that have helped to rewrite the history of Jews in the Middle East.
However, what most of the media coverage has left unsaid is that the "Afghan Geniza" is not our only record of Jewish life and literature in Persian from this period. Manuscripts and inscriptions discovered in today's Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran already tell the story of a thriving intellectual culture among Persian-speaking Jews. These documents include two Judeo-Persian letters, also between traders, found in the Silk Road oasis of Dandan Uiliq; signatures in Judeo-Persian found on a king's grant to foreign traders in Kerala, South India; and the longest text from this early period, a nearly complete translation and interpretation of the biblical book of Ezekiel.
The book of Psalms from the 16th- to 17th-century and written in Hebrew Hebrew book of Psalms is said to be from Bamiyan area. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lee)
For scholars of Persian such as myself, the importance of these documents even goes beyond their historical or literary significance. Judeo-Persian texts from before the thirteenth century — including, it is safe to assume, the new finds from Afghanistan — are not written in a single language. Without a court or other central authority to promote one unified standard, as was the case with Muslim Persian from an early period, Jews writing in Persian with the Hebrew script used a number of different regional dialects. In addition to these regional differences, the register of the language varies from document to document. Some writers used local literary languages — micro-standards, one might call them—while others simply wrote as they spoke.
This variety is what makes the documents so important for uncovering the history of the Persian language. These early texts in Judeo-Persian help explain the transition from the ancient Persian used before the seventh-century Muslim conquest of Iran to the full-blown modern literary language that emerges several centuries later, for instance in Ferdowsi'sEpic of Kings. While Judeo-Persian is not itself the missing link — Ferdowsi, for instance, was not plagiarizing the Dandan Uiliq letter — these documents do record snapshots of changing grammar, vocabulary, morphology, and even phonology.
In this light, the significance of this new find in Afghanistan is not only historical. For scholars of Persian — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — the documents help fill in the missing links in the development of the language from ancient times to the present.
Source: http://www.onbeing.org/blog/afghan-geniza/4888


text:
Thick forests, vast wetlands, deep chasms – this is a wild, inaccessible place that belongs more to myth than reality. Explore the untouched Balkan landscape Sunday at 7 p.m. on Nature and see its wild animals that have all but vanished from the rest of Europe.
A fiercely funny adaptation of Jane Austen's delightful love story of a young woman whose attempts to play Cupid go disastrously awry on part two of "Emma" at 8 p.m. Sunday on Masterpiece Classic.


text:
The Engagement Communication team manages print and electronic communication, MU Connect and social media.
Alumni Engagement and Outreach staff
Affinity-based Giving staff
All staff in alpha order
|Dan DeWeerdt
Senior Director, Engagement Communication and Events
Dan is responsible for strategy development and direction of broad-based communication, interactive marketing and special events for Marquette alumni, parents and friends. This includes initiatives such as MU Connect -- Marquette's online community, Alumni National Awards, reunions and Family Weekend. Dan also manages the workplace affinity and Marquette WORKS programs.
|Alyssa Klopatek
Interactive Media Specialist
Alyssa manages Web-based alumni and parent electronic and print communication, MUAA's involvement with social networking and other Web 2.0 participation. She also maintains MU Connect and other related Web sites.
Linda Manka
Linda assists in the development and distribution of communication materials to alumni and external constituents. She supports work in e-communications, social media outlets and development of MU Connect, as well as national alumni awards and reunions. She also manages the print process for various engagement print pieces.
Dan Wooters, Arts '12
Dan assists in the management and design of email communication to alumni. He also helps maintain MU Connect website content. Additionally, Dan collaborates on the execution of various MUAA programs such as Marquette WORKS and Haggerty Museum of Art events.


text:
|« Going mainstream - acai
|Currants in unlikely places »
Thistle workout
When we moved to our home in the Hill Country, we agreed we wanted a natural yard with native grasses and wildflowers, rather than a groomed suburban yard. However, there are limits, and I resolved to get rid of Johnson grass. It is a tall prolific grass that is impossible to walk through. It will quickly choke out all of the low growing pretty grasses. It took two years, but by cutting off all of the seed pods before they had a chance to open, I virtually eliminated Johnson grass from our acre.
This year the wild flowers have been beautiful. I have photographed 35 different flowers growing around my house. It is a joy to look out the windows or walk down the path to the trees. I have a lot of dandelions this year, and I may try harvesting the leaves after the flowers stop blooming.
I reached the conclusion that I don't like thistles. The flowers are ugly, and the pointy leaves are not friendly. I decided to attack them in the same way that I attacked the Johnson grass, clipping off the buds before they have a chance to open into flowers and make seeds.
It takes me about an hour to cover 1/3 of our yard looking for thistle buds. I walk and bend and snip. Then I walk some more. It isn't the type of intense exercise that is the most beneficial for Type Os, but is good for flexibility. It is really good for my soul to be outside in the spring air, away from the computer chair.
I'm not counting my thistle workout as my exercise for the day. I still need cardio and strength training. But I do like this time of year when yard work makes my lifestyle more active than it is in the winter.
Thistles remind me of sin. They may be ugly and unwanted, but they are also stubborn. They don't give up easily. I can snip off buds one day, and three days later more buds are forming. I can never let down my guard.
3 comments
I was seriously considering putting thistles against the fence of our yard; it is unusual that anything apart from removing dandelions should apeal to me.
Comments are not allowed from anonymous visitors.


text:
Submission + - SETI to Scour the Moon for Alien Footprints? (discovery.com)
astroengine writes: "Although we have an entire universe to seek out the proverbial alien needle in a haystack, perhaps looking in our own backyard would be a good place to start. That's the conclusions reached by Paul Davies and Robert Wagner of Arizona State University anyway. The pair have published a paper in the journal Acta Astronautica detailing how SETI could carry out a low-cost crowdsourcing program (a la SETI@Home) to scour the lunar surface for alien artifacts, thereby gaining clues on whether intelligent aliens are out there and whether they've paid the solar system a visit in the moon's recent history."


text:
- Admissions
- Tuition
- Academics
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Marines
- Navy
- Veterans
- Resources
- About Us
Friday, October 20, 2017 is the last day to drop a course at 100%
Must be received before 5:00 p.m.
Watch an on-demand Information Session webinar
Learn about our benefits, degree programs, admissions process and more.
SPS & SAS Summer II term starts June 23, 2018
Application deadline: June 10
Registration is now open
Email us to get started or apply today!
University of the Incarnate Word is proud to be a 2018 "Military Friendly" University and Best for Vets. No proctored exams and full credit for military service.
Certificates, Associates and Bachelor's degrees in the Health Sciences are available for those looking to start or promote themselves in the healthcare field.
E-mail us for more info.


text:
July 4th Holiday Closure
We will be closed on Independance day, July 4th. This means that that day won't be counted toward your turn times. For example, if you have asked for a 48 hour turn time and we receive you kit on the afternoon of the 3rd, your 48 hour clock will start on Thursday, the 5th.
We apologize for any inconvenience and wish you a happy holiday.


text:
i want to start a website. so i need a home page such that ..it has logo, title, and 2 sidebars...left and right (of equal size)..and footer
i am using Dreamweaver CS6 . right now the problem is i cant get those 2 sidebars. those should be of same size.
i tried, but i got those of different size. i am confused. pls help.


text:
hater- A person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person. Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesnt really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock somelse down a notch.
[definition copied directly from urbandictionary.com]
One of the MOST common messages I get, is "how do you deal with haters". The truth is, you just have to. Its a part of life, not just youtube, or the internet. The internet is just a new platform for gossip because now people can not only talk smack, they can do it behind the anonymity of a computer screen. At some point in your life, someone will say something mean about you. It may be true, or it may be completely fabricated, but it'll happen. And lets just be honest here, girls are haters. The only people who have never had anything bad said about them are people that are absolutely underwhelming. YES putting yourself on youtube puts you "out there", but it doesn't mean you're ASKING for it. Thats like saying someone who dresses seductively is ASKING to be raped. People go on youtube for the love of beauty, and because they have something they wanted to share, not because they think theyre hot shit and want "omg youre so pretty!" comments.
If you want to go on YT, do it. But i'm telling you right now, as a life lesson, you cant and NEVER will make everyone happy. Someone will ALWAYS not like you. They wont like how you speak, how you dress, what you look like, or what you have to offer. People will ask you for hauls, others will say its bragging. You may only do neutral looks, and people will tell you "all your looks look the same" or you may love bright bold beautiful colorful makeup and then others will say your makeup is hideous and not wearable. You may cuss a lot, and people will say you have no class. Or you may be totally reserved and conservative, and people will call you monotone, boring and distant. So expect it, and the bigger you are, expect more. But just know you will never make everyone happy, so be you and I promise someone out there will love it, or even, a whole lot of people. The WORST thing you can do is let them get to you and stop shining, because not only are you losing (not reaching your goals/being the best you can be) you're letting them win. So the best thing you can do is keep being you and be DAMN good at it.
So recently, I commented to this girl on my friends page who could seriously not leave her alone. Day after day hour after hour she sat by her computer responding to her sub's comments over and over insulting her. Now I have a pretty pissy temper, Imma be real. My short temper is one of my BIGGEST FAULTS, but i've been trying HARD to work on it. And, I thought I was being pretty civil to her and wrote back
But this girl has essentially now focused her efforts on me and not my friend and for the past few days been religiously watching my channel for HOURS (time stamps prove it), responding to my viewer's comments insulting me, and leaving message after message on my blog. The first one I deleted because I didn't make the initial connection b/w the first blog comment (that told me I had the ugliest/smallest asian eyes ever...literally the first time anyone told me I had small eyes haha) and I never give people like that the time of day. It in all honesty it makes me fuzzy inside when someone goes SO FAR out of their way to insult you over and over. Because this is the thing about haters: theyre your BIGGEST fans. No matter how much a sub may like you, they wont watch and comment you for hours. Nor will they tell EVERYONE with a willing ear over and over again how much they love you, but a hater will, hell they'll even make youtube and blog accts for the sole purpose of commenting your videos and posts.
So Dear Ms. Zhu :
I dont respond to you because frankly, you're just not worth my time. Not only can I stick up for myself just fine, I also don't need a fake account to do it and can use my REAL name on my blog, youtube AND facebook.
"YOu can hide the comments for whatever you want, but I AM not going away." hahaha god maybe I just need to forward your messages to UCB mental health center. But I just wanted to let you know that psychiatric sessions are actually included in our (yes OUR) UC tuition, and I highly suggest that you utilize it since I think you could greatly benefit.
Every crazy ass poorly constructed message/YT comment you send just strengthens that. Who the hell in their right mind would spend so much time trying to harass people who could care less about them? o_O


text:
i have been trying to get my epson 3170 perfection scanner to work on linux i say linux in general as i have tried all the versions of ubuntu from 8.04 to present day , linux mint 9,11,12 , on my netbook with easy peasy & unbutu remix .
i have tried simple scan , xscan , iscan in fact been through all the scan software in the repos .
at the moment i have now got ubuntu 10.04 lts on my machine , i have installed the drivers from the avasys site time and time again , i have even tried to get answers from our local lug group ,without success.
all i get is scanner not detected
if i run lsusb the scanner appears on the list so the pc is seeing it ,
even if i run in terminal i get no scanner detected .
i have run sane -find -scanner with the same result
any ideas would be welcome


text:
It is my understanding that a minority of American prison systems and some international prison systems give their inmates internet access.
That got me wondering, will any of you admit to currently being incarcerated?
Are there any 'zoners who you expect are incarcerated?
I can think of a few who should be.


text:
A temporary replacement has been named for a Sparks elementary school principal who was placed on administrative leave after officials learned he's on parole for embezzling in Michigan.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports
that Rick Harris will replace Andrew Stansberry at Moss Elementary School
beginning Monday.
The action was required after Washoe County
School District officials recently learned that Stansberry had been sentenced
for embezzling $26,796 from a school fund while a principal for Michigan's
Benton Harbor School District.
Washoe district officials said
there was no update on the investigation of Stansberry or what might happen at
the Sparks school if he is terminated.
Harris is a 25-year
veteran of the Washoe school district.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Nevada Principal Replaced Due to Michigan Embezzlement Charges
Posted by Terrence Rice Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 2:42 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Difference between revisions of "Lucerne"
Revision as of 14:56, 28 August 2013
Lucerne (Luzern in German, Lozärn in Swiss-German) [20] is a beautiful small city in the heartland of Switzerland, across the lake from Altdorf, where legend has it William Tell shot an apple off of his son's head. In addition to being a fine place to visit in and of itself Lucerne is a great base from which to explore famous Swiss sites such as Mount Rigi and the Rütli Meadow.
The first city to join the Swiss Confederation, today Lucerne is a lovely small city with a thriving tourism industry, owing mainly to its status as a gateway to Central Switzerland. The city became a center of Swiss history and legend.
Tourism in Lucerne has a distinguished history dating from the mid 19th century, with Mark Twain among them. In "A Tramp Abroad" he recalls the nascent souvenir business, and other budding examples of the tourism trade.
Get in
By train
Thanks to its central location Lucerne can be reached easily from nearly every other city in Switzerland using the Swiss Federal Railway [21]. There are hourly trains from Olten and Zurich Airport and half-hourly trains from Zurich, and a direct train every hour from Berne.
The "Zentralbahn" branch of the Swiss Federal Railway provides also hourly trains between Interlaken and Luzern during daytime.
By bus
There are no intercity busses in switzerland as the train system provides ample connections to many destinations in Switzerland. To make trips to the countryside in the mountains where there are no trains, refer to www.postauto.ch
By boat
Lucerne sits at the north end of the Vierwaldstättersee, one of the busiest waterways in Switzerland, for travel information from Schwyz, Flüelen, Weggis, and outbound points see the schedule at the Schifffahrt Vierwaldstättersee [22].
Get around
Able-bodied travellers will find Lucerne a complete joy to get around in on foot. The Old-Town is tiny, and most other interesting sites are within 20 minutes or so walk, there is also a city bus system [23], as well as assistance for disabled visitors on request from Mobility International Switzerland [24]. The Lido beach and the Swiss Transport Museum are a bit further out and can be reached by bus or by one of several boats per hour from just in front of the central railway station.
Lucerne also makes a very good base for discovering the rest of Central Switzerland, using the Swiss Federal Railway [25], the Schifffahrt Vierwaldstättersee [26], or any one of several private rail or boat companies.
Bicycles are available for rent at the central railway station, at ticket window 21 on the lower level. For 31 CHF per day, you can rent a 24-speed, sturdily-built bike with a baggage clamp. Electric bikes are also available. Bike pick-up and drop-off are around the left side of the train station, at a kiosk across the street from the Swiss Post building. Bike lanes are present on most secondary streets, and Lucerne drivers are generally aware of and polite towards bicyclists.
By bus
Lucerne has an efficient bus network: Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern [27] (German only). It covers the city and the suburbs.
The shopping in Luzern has improved somewhat since Mark Twain's visit. You'll find several good department stores with acceptable prices for most items, as well as pricy specialty shops.
Lucerne has many clubs. The internet site tillate [49] is a good place to look up what's up.
The three bakery chains Hug, Heini and Bachmann have several good cafés spread all over the city.
For its size, there are quite a few places to stay in Lucerne, in all price ranges.
Stay safe
Lucernce is a heavily touristed destination, and where there are tourists there are pickpockets, con artists, and other sorts of folks up to no good. As with everyplace else keep your passport and other valuables where people can't get to them. However, Lucerne is a friendly and safe city. Women can move almost anywhere at night free and carefree. There are few areas that should be avoided, including the area around the basel street, where you will find a colorful and exciting cultural mix is relatively harmless. The Police advised, it can be dangerous at night in the neighborhood "Tribschen" (Inseli-Ufschötti-Weinbergli-Tribschenstrasse). Most violent crimes and robberies happen in this neighborhood. But it's also a safe place, when you compare with other Cities in europe.
Get out


text:
South Carolina swimming and diving welcomed one of its most celebrated athletes back into the fold with the hiring of Allison Brennan as assistant coach in the fall of 2008. Brennan, who competed for the Gamecocks from 2001-2006, begins her fourth year assisting Todd Sherritt in coaching the Gamecock diving team.
Brennan won the first and only NCAA Championship by a South Carolina individual as she captured the 2004 NCAA crown in the one-meter event. A South Carolina Hall-of-Famer, she earned four All-America certificates in her Carolina career, which ranks her among the university's most decorated athletes.
Most recently, Brennan became the first American woman in more than a decade to win a gold medal in an international grand prix event, taking first place at the U.S. Grand Prix in May of 2009. She beat out a pair of 2008 Olympic medalists to take gold in the 3-meter event, showing that she remains a force at the international level.
Brennan finished third at the 2008 Olympic Trials and was an alternate for the United States Olympic Team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. A force at the national and international level, she finished fourth at the U.S. Diving Grand Prix in the three-meter event, third at U.S. Nationals in three-meter, and sixth at the 2007 World Championships in the one-meter. She has also recorded several other top finishes internationally, including top 10 efforts at the China Grand Prix and the Rome Grand Prix.
An experimental psychology graduate from Huntington Beach, Calif., Brennan was named the University of South Carolina Female Athlete of the Year in 2006 after capturing runner-up honors at the NCAA Championships in the one-meter competition. She was also named SEC Diver of the Year that season after winning the conference title in both the one- and three-meter events.
The 2004 season was a banner year for Brennan. Not only did she capture South Carolina's first NCAA Championship in the sport, she also won the U.S. Diving National Championship in the three-meter competition. She was a finalist at the SEC Championships each year from 2002-2004.
Prior to her time at South Carolina, she was a high school All-American at Edison High School in California where she won two straight California Interscholastic Federation championships.
Brennan has coached alongside another Gamecock All-American, Brandon Hulko, for the South Carolina Divers club team for the last two years. She also served as a volunteer coach for her high school team after graduation.
Gamecock Videos
Shop Now


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
OP here with a good news update:First of all, thanks for all your responses.I talked with the other singer this evening at our rehearsal and let her know that I didn't think our styles would mesh well and that it would probably work better if she sang it as a solo or as a duet with someone else with a similar musical style.She apparently took it well, and when LadyTango was chatting with her after rehearsal, she seemed to appreciate that I felt comfortable relating my concerns.I noticed as LadyTango and I were leaving that the other singer was talking with another member of her choir about the piece. I hope they have fun with it.I'll sing the piece as a solo after the "midnight" Mass on Christmas eve.For anyone who might have been wondering, the piece is "O Holy Night."
How did I know it was O Holy Night? While there are many songs I can see done in a duet with two contrasting styles, that one would be a hard one to pull off with both a traditional classical style and a pop style all in one. I'm a classical style singer myself and I know I would have felt uncomfortable singing that piece with a partner who was "pop". It would make me feel very conscious of the different styles and it could be very distracting to sing and hear.
Quote from: Marisol on December 05, 2012, 05:04:12 PMHow did I know it was O Holy Night? Because a lot of people sing it. It's a nice song, which is why it's so popular.
How did I know it was O Holy Night?
Page created in 0.189 seconds with 17 queries.


text:
2010-11 Men's Basketball
Bluffton 88, Franklin 76
Bluffton celebrates Hall of Fame Day with win over Franklin
January 29, 2011
By: Mallory Kemper, sports information intern
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team defeated the Grizzlies in Heartland Conference action, 88-76, with four players in double figures on Saturday, January 29, in Founders Hall. The Beavers improved to 14-5 overall and 7-5 in the HCAC with their Hall of Fame Day victory. The Grizzlies slipped to 7-12 overall and 5-7 in the HCAC.
Less than two minutes into the game, junior Brent Farley (Lima/Shawnee) sparked the Bluffton offense with a layin. T.J. Barton tied the game with his bucket at the 15:56 mark (9-9).
The home team went on an 8-0 run with a couple of hoops by Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) and two freebies from Josh Johnson (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf). Three minutes later, the Beavers went up by 13 thanks to a Farley layin and Nate Heckelman (Norwalk) triple.
Franklin College inched back into the game with a pair of baskets by Zach Merschbrock and a trifecta from Troy Porter, bringing the Grizzlies within seven (40-33) with 1:32 to play in the opening half. Pope was sent to the charity stripe following his offensive board at the end of the half and converted both tosses for a 46-36 edge over the Grizzlies.
Bluffton came out the second half with a quick Farley layin courtesy an assist from Mychal Hill (London/Jonathan Alder). The Grizzlies cut the lead to three (50-47) following a Gunner Erwin three and a Clay Starett jumper at the 15:56 mark.
The Beaver big men, Pope and Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel), responded with a couple of buckets to put Bluffton ahead, 54-47. With 12:17 left in the game Hill pulled up from deep and drained a trey, giving Bluffton its largest lead of the night (64-50).
For the next four minutes, Bluffton kept the advantage in double digits until an Erwin layin made the score 69-61. Following a Heckelman theft, Hill made a couple of free throws to give Bluffton a 78-65 lead with 4:08 left in the second half.
Hill cashed in at the charity stripe, drilling 10-of-10 at the line in the final four minutes, sealing Bluffton's 88-76 win over the youthful Grizzlies. In the process, the Beavers snapped the string of six straight losses to Franklin.
Leading the way in the scoring column for Bluffton was junior Mychal Hill with 20 points, hitting 4-of-9 from the floor while connecting on 10-of-12 from the line. Freshman Dustin Kinn scored a career-high 15 markers on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Farley added 14, with nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Pope contributed 12 counters and six rebounds.
The Grizzly offense was evenly distributed as they also put four in double digits. Barton led the team with 17, followed by Erwin with 15 and Bailey Howard with 14. Starrett chipped in with 14 markers.
The Beavers hit 29-of-60 (48.3 percent) and the Grizzlies were a terrific 30-of-48 (62.5 percent) from the field. Bluffton pulled down eight more boards (34-26) and forced six more turnovers (22-16). Franklin struggled to a 7-of-20 night at the line (35.0 percent), while Bluffton made good on 24-of-30 attempts (80.0 percent).
The Bluffton University men's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday, February 2, when they host Anderson. The contest in Founders Hall is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.
The Bluffton University men's basketball team will be back in action on Wednesday, February 2, when they host Anderson. The contest in Founders Hall is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.


text:
New Carnival Corp ship
View Single Post
January 4th, 2005, 08:40 AM
Jim Bragg
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 7,346
New Carnival Corp ship
Hi folks, while this deals mainly with the Costa part of the fleet the old CCL Tropicale is also noted as well as other Carnival information you might find interesting;
Existing Costa Vessel Costa Tropicale to be Transferred to P&O Cruises Australia Brand
MIAMI (January 4, 2005) � Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) today announced an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a new 112,000-ton vessel for its Costa Cruises unit. Delivery is scheduled for spring 2007.
To be built at an all-in cost of �475 million, the as-yet-unnamed ship will feature a basis two guest capacity of 3,000 and total capacity, including upper berths, of 3,800. It will be a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which begins a new class for Costa when it debuts in late spring 2006.
The new �Concordia-class� vessels will offer innovative facilities and features, including a wide range of formal and casual dining venues, four swimming pools � two of which will include retractable domes � and state-of-the-art telecommunications capabilities. Of the ships� 1,500 staterooms, more than 60 percent will offer either an ocean view or balcony.
�Continuing to invest in the Costa brand and introduce new vessels to its fleet is key to maintaining Costa�s preeminent position as Europe�s number one cruise line and to ensure Costa�s fleet is the most modern in the European market,� said Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison.
Carnival Corporation & plc also announced plans to transfer the Costa vessel Costa Tropicale to its P&O Cruises Australia unit in October 2005. She will be renamed Pacific Star and will join the Pacific Sun and Pacific Sky in serving the expanding Australian and New Zealand market. The 1,022-passenger ship, which originally entered service under the Carnival Cruise Lines brand in 1982, was operated by that line until its transfer to Costa in 2001. Prior to joining the Costa fleet, the vessel underwent an extensive $30 million refurbishment. Further details of her Australasian itineraries will be announced later this month.
On the transfer of Costa Tropicale to P&O Cruises Australia, Arison stated, �We are constantly evaluating our ship assets and looking at which brands can best utilize certain types of vessels based on the characteristics of each brand and the markets in which each one operates. Costa Tropicale is a ship extremely well suited to the P&O Cruises Australia brand and its transfer to that fleet is a perfect example of the synergies we can capitalize on through our multi-brand, global strategy.�
The new Costa Concordia-class ship announced today will be constructed at Fincantieri�s Sestri Ponente yard. To accommodate that vessel�s construction schedule, minor adjustments were made to the delivery dates for two other Carnival Corporation ships under contract with Fincantieri. Delivery of Carnival Cruise Lines� new Carnival Freedom, a 110,000-ton Conquest-class ship, originally scheduled for spring 2007, will be moved up three months to February 2007. The delivery date for the previously announced new Cunard vessel Queen Victoria has been modified from July 2007 to December 2007.
Based on the new ship contract and delivery schedule adjustments announced today, Carnival Corporation�s capacity growth will be 7.6 percent in 2007 and 6.6 percent in 2008 versus previously anticipated capacity increases of 6.6 percent in 2007 and 5.7 percent in 2008.
Including the new Costa ship, Carnival Corporation has 13 new ships under contract and scheduled for delivery between 2005 and 2009.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of 12 cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O Cruises Australia.
Together, these brands operate 77 ships totaling more than 132,000 lower berths with 13 new ships scheduled for delivery between April 2005 and April 2009. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess Tours. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
Additional information is available online at carnivalcorp.com, carnivalplc.com, and costacruises.com.
24 cruises and counting!
Sponsored Links
Jim Bragg
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Jim Bragg
Find all posts by Jim Bragg


text:
Sponsored By
Never Give Up In Fantasy Baseball, Even If It Seems Hopeless With Five Weeks LeftDepending on your fantasy baseball league's structure, there's either one week to go before the head-to-head playoffs begin or five weeks to go to the end of the Rotisserie season. Regardless, you should never give up on your fantasy team, no matter what place it occupies in the league standings. Since other owners will give up, you can use that to your advantage in order to finish as high as possible. Your roster just may end up surprising you in the end.
David Phelps Will Be Important Piece For Yankees PitchingWhether as a starter or a reliever, David Phelps will likely be an integral part of the Yankees.


text:
"This is an emotional thing for me. It's been almost 40 years. To see these names up here," said Colonel John B. Airola, a retired U.S. Marine.
Over 58,000 names on the wall, remembering those who fought and died in the Vietnam War. The moving wall is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. It has been on tour across the nation and Huntsville is the last stop.
"We have a tremendous number of veterans who are here in Walker County and this area. This wall is dedicated, it honors all U.S. veterans and it's dedicated to our American Vietnam veterans, so to have the opportunity to bring this here, it just gave us a chance to say thank you," says organizer Ronnie Brame.
There are eight names on the wall from Walker County and many of their family members and friends still live in Huntsville. Thousands from all over the area are expected to visit the wall. Local veterans say the wall's presence is another reminder of the time spent with their fellow comrades and the nation's fallen heroes.
"It's very special to all of us because we know with just a moment of faith, some of us that are still living today could have our names on this wall," says Colonel Mickey Evans, a retired U.S. Army service man.
All the veterans helping to set up the site have their own personal and emotional stories from their time serving in the Vietnam War. They only hope that visitors who come to the site can gain a sense of how brave and honorable the men and women who fought for our country truly are.


text:
18 Stones Book Signing and Reception
Posted on November 16, 2002 by admin
Thursday, February 24
Light refreshments (dietary laws observed)
Posted in Import Events
Book Signing and Reception with Nancy Patz and Susan L. Roth
Thursday, February 24
5-7 p.m.
18 Stones imagines the story of a Jewish family living in Holland in the 1930s and 40s. Inspired by a collection of family photographs, Nancy Patz's rich portraits and Susan L. Roth's thought provoking prose poems portray a Dutch family's everyday experiences on the eve of the Holocaust.
Patz and Roth have each written many prize-winning children's books. 18 Stones is their first collaborative book for adults.
Light refreshments (dietary laws observed)
RSVP to Ilene Dackman-Alon
410.732.6400 x 214 / firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
- Click for full coverage of the search for Christopher Dorner
- Stories
- Christopher Dorner's driver's license found with charred remains in Big Bear cabin
- Deputy killed in Christopher Dorner shootout identified as Jeremiah MacKay
- Michael Crain funeral: Family, friends say farewell
- Michael Crain funeral: Hundreds await procession outside Riverside National Cemetery
- Honor guard, Taps and folded flag honor Michael Crain
- Sheriff's officials express condolences to family of fallen deputy
- How close was Dorner cabin to police command post in Big Bear?
- To tweet or not to tweet? Sheriffs say no during Dorner standoff
- Ex-LAPD officer, murder suspect Dorner's alleged last stand unfolds on Twitter
- Too early to say if someone will get $1.2 million reward
- Big Bear structure that burned in shootout was once home to Redlands man, 81
- Live blog: Riverside officer Michael Crain's funeral
- Michael Crain funeral: Thousands arrive for service
- Apparent end to Dorner search brings Big Bear Lake residents relief
- Love-hate response to Christopher Dorner on social media after his violent death
- Michael Crain procession prompts road closures in Riverside
- LAPD: Protective details remain in place until Dorner's death confirmed
- Opinion: End to manhunt brings relief, but no joy
- Dorner case updates to be discussed by Sheriff McMahon
- Photo galleries
- Gallery: See the burned-out Big Bear cabin where Christopher Dorner made his last stand
- Gallery: San Bernardino Sheriff Jeremiah MacKay, Killed In Gunfight With Dorner
- Gallery: Officer Michael Crain Remembered, Victim Of Christopher Dorner
- Gallery: Dorner Believed Dead, Police Investigate Cabin Fire Shootout Scene
- Gallery: Manhunt Day 6: Christopher Dorner fate unknown after shootout, cabin fire
- Gallery: Dorner Manhunt Has A Fiery End In San Bernardino Mountains
- Video
- Video: Coverage of manhunt for Christopher Dorner
- Map, timeline, documents and manifesto
- Map of incidents related to Dorner search
- Timeline of manhunt
- Dorner's LAPD case file
- Dorner's manifesto reveals an unraveled mind | Read the manifesto
Detective Jeremiah MacKay, 35 of Redlands, was pronounced dead yesterday afternoon.
"My sincerest condolences go out to the MacKay family," McMahon said. "This is truly another sad day for law enforcement. Our department is grieving from this event. It's just a terrible ordeal for all of us."
MacKay was with the department for 15 years and was stationed in Yucaipa, but had previously been stationed in Big Bear, McMahon said.
He is survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter and four-month-old son.
A second deputy was severely injured in the shootout and has been identified as Alex Collins. He is being treated at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
"We just spoke to his wife. He is in good spirits and should make a full recovery after a number of additional surgeries," McMahon said.
McMahon also confirmed the conclusion of the manhunt for Dorner, although the remains found in a burned out cabin have yet to be identified.