text:
I bet they don't turn on all at once, but rather one at a time, very quickly, since there is no code to turn them off.
The job is fairly simple really. To create a random LED (randomly 1 0f 9 possibles) light for an amount of time being determined by an external timer. When the external timer turns off and comes back on again the Arduino is to generate a new random LED.
ranNumber = generate_random(); //generate a random number digitalWrite(LED1, ranNumber & 0x01); //LED1 is bit 0 digitalWrite(LED2, ranNumber & 0x02); //LED1 is bit 1 ... digitalWrite(LED8, ranNumber & 0x80); //LED8 is bit 7
int ranNum;int signal, oldsignal;void setup() {Serial.begin(9600); randomSeed(analogRead(0)); delay(100); pinMode(3, OUTPUT); pinMode(4, OUTPUT); pinMode(5, OUTPUT); pinMode(6, OUTPUT); pinMode(7, OUTPUT); pinMode(8, OUTPUT); pinMode(9, OUTPUT); pinMode(10, OUTPUT); pinMode(2,INPUT); }void loop(){ranNum=random(3,10); // selects random number between 3 and 9delay(1000); signal = digitalRead(2); //signal is high if input is on or low if offif((signal == HIGH)&&(oldsignal==HIGH)) //if signal is high and oldsignal is low then program goes to 9999 if signal is low and oldsignal is high or low then program goes to 3333 if signal is high and oldsignal is high then{digitalWrite(ranNum,HIGH); //turns on digital output that equals the random number }{while(signal=HIGH) //allows the program to stay here unless{if(signal=LOW) //the input turns offbreak; //at which point the while loop stops}{if(signal=LOW); //3333return;}if(signal=HIGH); //9999delay(50);digitalWrite(ranNum,LOW); //causing the led to be turnmed offdelay(1000); oldsignal=signal;}}
while (read_mysignal() == HIGH) ...
PAUL.S............Im guessing you are referring to my opening post and your thoughts are appreciated, I think Mike helped me with that part already. However if you mean the one a couple up then Im not quite sure what you mean but happy to be enlightened.
byte whichpin = 3; // set to 3 so turning it off is harmlessvoid setup() { Serial.begin(9600); randomSeed(analogRead(0)); pinMode(2,INPUT); pinMode(3, OUTPUT); pinMode(4, OUTPUT); pinMode(5, OUTPUT); pinMode(6, OUTPUT); pinMode(7, OUTPUT); pinMode(8, OUTPUT); pinMode(9, OUTPUT); pinMode(10, OUTPUT);}void loop() { if (digitalRead(2)) { digitalWrite(whichpin, LOW); whichpin = random(3,10); digitalWrite(whichpin, HIGH); }}
if(ranNum==3) { digitalWrite(3, HIGH); }
if(signal=LOW) //the input turns offbreak;


text:
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
Jack Black takes our 'Goosebumps' quiz
USA TODAY's Carly Mallanbaum asks actor Jack Black if he can pick the real Goosebumps book title from the fake one. Black is playing author R.L. Stine in the movie 'Goosebumps.'

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mon, 03 Oct 2011
The September 2011 edition of the European Newsletter is now available. To find our more about IUCN European Conservation Forum click here.
This edition of the European Newsletter contains the following articles:
- Editorial: Hans Friederich
- European Conservation Forum:
- IUCN in Europe flicks the switch
- From Bonn to Jeju
- Voices from the Forum
- European biodiversity: where we are and where to go
- An environmental democracy: the Regional Conservation Forum
- European Parliament Update: Calling for a bottom-up approach towards a global forest governance
- Latest from Europe:
- Russia may lose the EU timber market
- A new trademark for European agrobiodiversity
- Coming up: Mainstreaming biodiversity into development cooperation
For more information please contact email@example.com.


text:
The community of Trinidad has started a petition calling for the resignation of District 1's new superintendent.
Chants and signs filled Cimino Park in Trinidad Friday.
"Save our district, save our students, save our education," chanted community members.
A concerned crowd displayed their distrust in Trinidad District 1's superintendent Dr. Manuel Rodriguez.
Over 50 community members signed a "Vote of No Confidence" petition to oust the first-year superintendent.
Parents tell 11 News they fear he is not working in the best interest of students.
Students say changes in the classrooms are affecting the quality of their education and willingness to learn.
"It's frustrating to us that it's changing so much, but for the worse, not for the better," said Trinidad High School junior Kayleen Ortega.
Ortega is one of many who fear the implementation of the Compass Learning program is having a negative impact on student learning. They say the program pulls students out of core classes to learn from a computer program.
Students say they have never been disappointed with superintendents before. Ortega says students are constantly fearing for their teachers' jobs. She says many don't even want to go to school anymore.
"He wants to get rid of so many teachers. That is just heartbreaking to us because we love our teachers. And we learn so much from them and we've grown up with them," said Ortega.
Teachers cite concerns of misuse of funds and lack of communication.
They say the stress of an increased workload has physically sent some to the emergency room.
The worst part: the morale of students and teachers alike is at an all-time low, they say.
"We are doing the best jobs we possibly can do and we feel like we are not appreciated. And when you feel like you are not appreciated, you get down on yourself and the students feel it," said Trinidad Middle School teacher Mary Bruce.
Bruce has been with the district for 26 years. She says she has never seen someone paint the district in such a negative light.
"He [Rodriguez] put out in the newspaper when he first got here that our district is 'broken,' and the low scores were all the fault of the teachers. Immediately we felt like we were really stupid and that we couldn't teach, and things got worse as time went on," said Bruce.
Bruce says Rodriguez has also moved teachers around to positions they were not qualified for. She was one of them. She was told she had to move to the new position and take training in that by a certain date, or be fired.
Employees feel there is a target on their back, saying Rodriguez intimidates, threatens and bullies.
"Dr. Rodriguez has been quoted saying, 'Do you hear that knocking on the door? On the other side of the door there are people waiting to take your jobs,'" said concerned community member Bonnie Felthager.
"He said you are either with me or you are out.. He has told us we have no right to put anything on Facebook on our personal Facebook pages. He said if you do, you are fired," said Bruce.
Those in attendance say that worries have been growing since last September. A Facebook page called "Miner Pick" started to voice concerns.
"Read back through the history and we will let you know we are not here to just be bullying this guy, or because we are a bunch of mean people in a small town who just don't want him here. Our district needs somebody who is going to take a proactive role in doing better for our students and community as a whole," said Felthager.
Community and school members fear Rodriguez is making drastic budget cuts. Some cuts, they say, currently are putting 18 teachers' jobs on the line. They tell 11 News many are intimidated into keeping quiet in order to keep their jobs.
Community members formed a committee called the Concerned Parents and Community of Trinidad (CPAC). The group started the petition because they say the superintendent's leadership is taking the district in a direction that can no longer be supported.
"It is not personal in anyway. This is strictly due to effect on education for our students," said CPAC Chairman Kelley Ferdula.
The group hopes to collect 3,000 signatures from parents, students, teachers and community members.
They will present the petition to the school board, calling for Rodriguez's immediate resignation.
11 News was not able to meet up with Rodriguez for an interview. But he says he feels the community's pain. While 11 News was not able to arrange a time to ask him specific questions about the allegations against him, he did provide the following information and attached documents discussing the current status in the district.
"The district's status is compounded by our expenditures exceeding our revenue on any given month due to the high percentage (80%) of our monthly expenditures directly related to payroll requirements. Also, considerations must be student enrollment, state and local funding, and the total number of full time equivalents (FTE) which, must be aligned in efforts to keep the district budget balanced. Not to overlook the essence of any public school system in the country: student learning and student achievement, which in our district is below the state and federal standards.
Further, regarding the economic downturn in Colorado, and the negative financial impact nationally and internationally has also impacted our fiscal condition in Trinidad; however, our responsibility and obligation remains. It is necessary to focus our efforts on how to keep the district solvent, improving student learning, and student achievement, and maintaining the food service program viable in our efforts to provide daily nutrition to our students. Our Board of Education is facing a difficult decision in their obligation to maintain the district solvent. Unfortunately a major consideration has to be, "How to balance the expenditures with the district's revenues?" The board members, and I as superintendent, individually and collectively feel the pain of every member in the community because education impacts each one of us, either directly or indirectly."
CPAC listed these following concerns for starting the petition, saying the superintendent has:
-Consistently portrayed a false, negative image of district health and finances that may result in substantial loss of students and staff to other surrounding districts, and negatively impact the community's efforts to attract new businesses.
- Implemented a computer-based learning system with no teacher or administrative input, inadequate program training and inadequate technology resources.
-Pulled children out of core classes for the online coursework to the detriment of student learning.
-Made unauthorized equipment purchases without seeking board approval or a competitive vendor bidding process
-Proposed unnecessary and extreme budget cuts not in the best interest of community growth
Community members say they fear Rodriguez is not in the job as a service to the students. The group presented research they have done which they believe displays a poor track record.
"He has a history of going in districts and making people so upset with him that they end up buying his contract out and he gets terminated but he goes down the road with a large chunk of money in his pocket," said parent Ron Leef, who believes any funds should go to student education.
For more information about the concerns of the community you can visit the Miner Pick Facebook page.
If you wish to sign the petition call Kelley Ferdula at 719-289-4993.


text:
Writer Rick Edgerton talks #MHFBeanie Round, the harrowing statistics behind Brain Cancer - and what...
24 hours ago
The Tinkler Sports Group has been re-badged as the Hunter Sports Group in line with its commitment to community ownership and to strengthen "brand Hunter" throughout Australia.
Group CEO Troy Palmer said the change of name was a natural progression from the company's original birth to its current standing in the community.
"From day one Nathan Tinkler has made it clear that the Tinkler Sports Group is about the community and the region. It is important that the whole community takes ownership," Palmer said.
"With the rebirth of the Newcastle Jets, the Knights entering the HSG stable and with Rugby League and Netball Tests confirmed for later in the year, it is appropriate that the transfer of the name is introduced now," he concluded.
The Hunter Sports Group has had a commitment, as a major part of its charter, to propagate and promote sport in the Hunter and Northern NSW regions along with ensuring it remai ns a not-for-profit community asset.
Last year the Jets hosted David Beckham's LA Galaxy in Newcastle which generated more than $20,000,000 worth of publicity for the region and $5,000,000 worth of investment to the tourism industry.
Mr Palmer added that the Hunter Sports Group will continue to investigate several new initiatives including further international sporting events and a proposal to have a Hunter based team in two more national sporting competitions.
The Hunter Sports Group will move into new premises at 1 Tudor St, Newcastle with the Knights and Jets Administration and Coaching staff in the near future.


text:
UCLA star Shabazz Muhammad has declared his intentions to enter the 2013 NBA draft.
The Freshman who averaged 17.9 points last season has decided to make the jump up to the pro's having been declared ineligible for the 2012-13 season for a breach of the NCAA's amateurism rules - a decision which was then overturned.
In a statement on the Bruins' official website, Muhammad thanked the UCLA staff for their support before revealing he felt it was the right time to make the jump up to the NBA.
"I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin," he said.
"From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level.
"I have had an unbelievable experience at UCLA and am eternally grateful to my teammates, my coaches and the program's support staff for helping me become a better person and basketball player during my time in Westwood.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to play for coach Ben Howland."
Muhammed, considered a possibility for a top 10 draft pick, took part in a pre-draft workout with the Sacremento Kings on Monday.
Controversy has followed the forward throughout his young career - it has been revealed he was born in 1993 and not 1992 as previously believed, making him 20-years-old as a freshman and not 19.
Experts expect that to limit his options when draft day comes around later this month.
Most of that stuff I couldn't control myself," Muhammad said when asked out his off-court problems. "I'm just looking forward to playing basketball."
He continued: "I like to explain to them I didn't do anything wrong. It's like I said, that's in the past, and some people were handling my basketball (business). It's all me now."


text:
The Institute communicates its scientific and educational information in a number of ways. One major outlet is peer-reviewed publications and reports. Cary Institute staff regularly publish in the best-rated journals in their respective fields.
Export 1 results:Sort by: Author Title Type [ Year]
Filters: Author is Ambrose, P. [Clear All Filters]
Arrival, spread, and early dynamics of a zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population in the Hudson River estuary", Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., vol. 53, p. 1143-1149, 1996., "


text:
Welcome! Log In Create A New Profile
Forum List > Café LA > Topic
Trojan Alert and Hunt-the-Infection Guide
Posted by Jude Cotter
There is a possible trojan infection for Leopard, Snow leopard and Lion. It masquerades as a Flash install popup on certain websites. You can read more here, if you're techy :
I tried to include a guide about how to search for it, but the Forum won't allow posts with certain characters, for some reason. Working on a way around it. Basically, read the article and use the Go > Go to Folder menu in the Finder to search for certain files.
To check if you have one of the variants, here's a simple list of to-dos
1. In the Finder, there is a menu item called 'Go'. Go to this and in the submenu 'Go to Folder' paste this
and look for something called 'UnHackMeBuild'
If you use Firefox, use the name Firefox.app instead of Safari.app.
4. Finally, go to
and find the file XProtectUpdater. Also good. Either of these files missing indicates they have been deleted, which the trojan can try to do.
This is not a definitive guide, just a quick and dirty sweep to see if there might be a problem.
Don't know why but breaking this post into smaller chunks worked. Whatever.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.


text:
LONDON – Shares in Standard Chartered PLC rallied Wednesday on news that it had agreed to pay $340 million to a New York regulator to settle accusations that it hid illegal transactions with Iran and violated U.S. sanctions law.
The New York State Department of Financial Services had threatened to revoke the bank's license to operate in New York, which would have wiped out Standard Chartered's dollar-based businesses.
The DFS's Superintendent, Benjamin Lawsky, said Tuesday that Standard Chartered Bank will pay the civil penalty to the state and has agreed to strengthen oversight of overseas transactions. A hearing on the issue scheduled for Wednesday in New York City has been adjourned.
Shares in Standard Chartered closed 4.4 percent higher in London trading Wednesday at 1,430 pence. The bank's stock had fallen by nearly 12 percent since the New York regulator announced its charges last week.
However Standard Chartered's dealings with Iran are still being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve. Analysts said Wednesday that investors are likely to remain cautious about Standard Chartered shares until the other investigations are resolved.
The U.S. imposes financial sanctions on its political enemies to hinder their access to the global financial system. The goal is to choke off banks and other sources of capital, limiting their economic growth and their ability to buy weapons, food and other items available through global trade. Sanctions ensure that U.S. banks don't get involved in the process.
Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations praised the actions of the DFS. "The agency... showed that holding a bank accountable for past misconduct doesn't need to take years of negotiation over the size of the penalty," he said in a statement. "It simply requires a regulator with backbone to act."
In a brief statement to the market, Standard Chartered said Wednesday that it "continues to engage constructively" with the other U.S. agencies.
"While not wishing to down play the magnitude of such a settlement, we think this is an excellent outcome for the group, in terms of the size of the settlement, the fact that the banking license has been retained and the speed with which the issue has been resolved," said Gary Greenwood, analyst at Shore Capital in London.
Richard Hunter, head of U.K. equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Securities, said the bank "appears to have taken its rap on the knuckles and is preparing to move on."
Peter Sands, the chief executive of Standard Chartered, had gone to New York this week to lead the bank's negotiations with the regulator.
Other British banks have faced investigations for possible breaches of U.S. laws.
In its annual report for 2011, HSBC said it was cooperating with investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York County District Attorney's Office, the Office of Foreign Asset Control, the Federal Reserve and the Comptroller of the Currency regarding past transactions involving Iranian parties and others subject to U.S. sanctions.
In July, HSBC announced a provision of $700 million for possible penalties for violating U.S. money-laundering rules through its Mexican unit and other legal issues. HSBC was fined $28 million by Mexican authorities for its role in laundering drug money.
Two years ago, Royal Bank of Scotland was fined $500 million by U.S. regulators for money-laundering activities of the Dutch bank ABN Amro, which was taken over in 2007 by a consortium led by RBS.
ABN Amro was found to have conspired to handle illegal U.S. dollar transactions for customers from Iran, Libya, the Sudan, Cuba and other countries subject to U.S. sanctions.


text:
Hello there.
I'm a Linux newbie and I need some help mapping my windows network drive through Linksys E3000 Wireless router. I need detailed manual how to map a windows network drive (in Win7 I mapped it as \\192.168.1.1\Media). I have searched many forums but obviously Linux Mint 13 is different because none of the "recipes" work.
I go to network, add network folder, I choose microsoft windows network drive but I can't get anywhere from there. I don't even know when to use slah or backslash. Sorry, I'm a real rookie, but I need to start somewhere.
If anyone would be kind enough to help, I'd be extremely greatful!
Thanks in advance!


text:
- My tags:
- yoga, environmentalist, full time student, cub scout den leader, homeopathic consumer, pto member, meditation participant
- About me:
- too busy mom, tired of the rat race, loves her children to death and her best friend of 23 yrs happens to be her husband.
- My interests:
- Walking the bosque or the Sandia Mtns, visiting museums, browsing at book & health stores
- How I de-stress:
- yoga, meditation, reading magazines
- Best advice I've gotten:
- take your time and enjoy every minute
- Adjective to describe me:
- organized
- My favorite book:
- Thorn Birds
- My favorite movie:
- practical magic
From Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
Joined 8th July 2008
My Day Snapshot
kat hasn't written a snapshot yet.
My Life To-Do List
Currently on my Life Wish List:
Finish AA in Business Admin
Get teeth fixed
Get out of debt
Goals I am working on:
Complete AA by end of Summer 2009
Projects I am working on:
Paint trunks white
Finish back patio
Finish upper deck area for yoga
Recent Activity
Moms day off
Posted on 11th February 2009 | 0 comments
1 comment so far...
Welcome kat, I really enjoyed reading your profile. I think you would enjoy our greenies group. Here's the link. http://www.workitmom.com/group_greenies
I'm a moderator for Work it, Mom! If you ever have comments or questions, please feel free to let me know. Have a wonderful day:).
Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 9th July 2008


text:
Want to remind yourself or a friend about this program? Fill out this simple form and klru will email you a reminder on the day that it will air.
Yellow Cake
series: Martha Bakes
air date: 9/20/13 8:30 PM
A simple recipe for yellow cake becomes the foundation for extraordinary desserts. Martha shares her father's favorite birthday cake, with an orange curd filling and a rich chocolate frosting - and offers tips for creating a bakery-worthy layer cake, such as creating even layers and applying a perfect coat of frosting. From a mouthwatering stone-fruit upside-down cake to a batch of strawberry cupcakes, Martha covers the possibilities for this yellow cake recipe.
WARNING: Email reminders for this program have already been sent out. Your reminder may not reach the intended address in time for this program's airing.
Back to TV Schedule


text:
Now, after a short winter break in Florida and starting for new trainer Todd Pletcher, Manteca will try for his second stakes win in Sunday's $65,000-added Kings Point Handicap for New York-breds three-years-old and up going a mile and eighth. The Kings Point, Sunday's featured seventh race, will be the last stakes contested at Aqueduct this season. Live racing shifts to Belmont Park for the 64-day Spring/Summer meet beginning Wednesday, April 29.
Manteca's only finish off the board in six lifetime starts to date came in the Stymie Handicap at a mile and an eighth on February 28, when he tired after leading for a half mile and finished fourth.
Shortly after the Stymie, the colt was moved to Pletcher's barn, and spent the latter half of the winter at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.
"I feel like he's done well," Pletcher said. "He's been training forwardly and we've been pointing to this race for a month or so now."
Manteca breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 on April 19 at Palm Meadows, and shipped to New York on Wednesday. While Pletcher's New York assistant, Jonathan Thomas, said he hadn't had much of a chance to get to know the colt, he said Manteca had shipped well and looks to be in excellent condition. Pletcher said he planned to keep the colt based in New York this spring.
Also returning to New York after a winter in warmer climes is IEAH Stables' Wishful Tomcat. The four-year-old son of Tactical Cat has made three starts in 2009, two over the Pro-Ride at San Anita in the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes and the Grade 2 Strub Stakes, finishing third and eighth respectively. Most recently, Wishful Tomcat ran ninth in a field of 11 in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at the Fair Grounds.
A return to New York may suit the colt well – he was three for three in downstate starts this fall, winning the Floral Park Handicap and the John's Gold Stakes during the fall meet at Belmont, then leading gate-to-wire in the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct on November 22nd for former trainer Gary Contessa.
"He's doing very good," said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who has saddled the colt for all three of his four-year-old starts. "I can't wait to watch him run – he likes the track [and] he likes New York-breds!"
Rounding out the field of six are four horses who have spent the winter racing at Aqueduct.
Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo hopes a rider change will bring success for August Forever Stable's Dr. D.F.C. Following a fifth place finish in the Smart Coupon stakes on April 2, the 6-year-old son of Personal Flag will get the services of Eddie Castro in the Kings Point.
"Eddie's ridden him once before and I think he fits him well," Ubillo said. "Because of the rider change and the way he's been training, he should run much better this time. He was tired of the inner track and really likes the main track – I'm excited to see what he'll do on Sunday."
Breaking from post positions four, five, and six, respectively, are Tina Bond's Tommasi, Steven X. Kouray's Alexandros, and Merrylegs Farm's See More Spirit.
Tommasi, who had one win and two thirds in six starts in 2008, has been off since an eighth-place finish in the $250,000 Empire Classic Handicap at Belmont in October. See More Spirit and Alexandros finished one-two in the Smart Coupon Stakes last month.
The field for the 29th running of the Kings Point Handicap:
PP Horse Wgt. Jockey Trainer
1 Manteca 121 John Velasquez Todd Pletcher
2 Dr. D.F.C 119 Eddie Castro Rodrigo Ubillo
3 Wishful Tomcat 121 Ramon Dominguez Rick Dutrow Jr.
4 Tommasi 119 Rajiv Maragh H. James Bond
5 Alexandros 119 Javier Castellano Del Carroll II
6 See More Spirit 121 Sebastian Morales John Hertler


text:
With one starting tackle not playing at all in the offseason or any preseason games (
Fifth-rounder Tanner Hawkinson out of Kansas, who figures to be with the club on the final 53-man roster, returns after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. Seventh-rounder
The status of the starting knees puts the Bengals in an intriguing spot on the offensive line. Do they have to go heavy at the spot and keep 10 linemen instead of nine and go light elsewhere? Or do they keep nine and go heavy at backup tackle instead of backup center-guard?
One of the reasons the Bengals covet the 6-5, 300-pound Hawkinson is they think at some point he'll be able to play all five spots. He's already played left tackle, left guard and right guard, and has already racked up 47 snaps even though he has only played in the Aug. 8 opener in which he sprained his ankle.
"At first he seemed to be more of a guard in the NFL," says offensive line coach Paul Alexander. "But he's really surprised me at how well he's played tackle. We knew he had good feet coming in here, but he's really showed some athleticism."
Hawkinson is just glad to be showing something after nearly three weeks on the shelf.
"I had nicks and bumps in college," he says, "but I was never out for any length of time. So I'm really anxious to get back out there."
With Whitworth rarely practicing since his February knee surgery to ease the pain of scar tissue, Hawkinson has been watching six-year veteran backup left tackle
"He left the year before I got there so I never knew him at KU, but I heard about him," Hawkinson says of Collins. "Coming up here, it's something to talk about every once in a while, the old days back at KU.
"I don't know too much about the personnel through the league, but I think he could probably start for quite a few teams. He's athletic, he's smart, he knows the playbook inside out."
Another guy watching Collins has been head coach Marvin Lewis. Collins hasn't always had the easiest relationship with the staff, but Lewis has been extremely praiseworthy of his maturity and value this season. There'd be a lot of places that would be melting down if the Pro Bowl left tackle hadn't taken a snap four weeks into August, but Collins has been steady and calm.
"Anthony has really done a good job. During the offseason with Andre Smith's absence, he was over at the right tackle position most of the offseason," Lewis said this week. "He's been back and forth, right-left, left-right. Anthony has really earned the respect of his teammates as a player each and every day with the way he carries himself around here all the time.
"He was a young guy when he was picked, and he didn't get an opportunity to play a whole lot early on. He was just always that eighth or ninth lineman that would sometimes be suited up and sometimes not, and that wore on him a little bit. These last couple of years he's been great. Every time he goes out there and gets a chance to play he responds and does well."
Hawkinson also has something in common with Fragel. He was recruited as a tight end, but Fragel played it until his final year at Ohio State. When Hawkinson got to Kansas he also worked at defensive line before he was moved to the offensive line when he was a redshirt freshman.
"I think the versatility has helped me," Hawkinson says of what has been a pretty seamless transition. "Being able to play inside and outside and just use my athleticism to my advantage. (The speed of the game) was a surprise at first. Once you get a few practices under your belt you feel little bit better about yourself and obviously that first game."
Versatility and athleticism have made the KU Kids the first two players off the bench at Nos. 6 and 7. The next two players—Nos. 8 and 9—depend on what the Bengals think of the knees situation. Do they need two backup center-guards? Or do they need another right tackle, say a veteran such as
About all we know is the young tackles are going to get enough snaps for a month of Thursdays against the Colts.
"You've made decisions, but you haven't made the final decisions because you don't have to yet," Lewis says. "You have to continue to time and time again get close to what you're thinking."


text:
Six Big Ten newcomers garnered Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America status by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, it was announced on Wednesday. Illinois' Adam Walton, Michigan's Brett Adcock and Carmen Benedetti, Nebraska's Ryan Boldt and Ohio State's Ronnie Dawson and Tanner Tully each garnered the honor after also earning conference All-Freshman Team honors this season. Tully was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and along with Dawson and Walton, were second-team All-Big Ten selections.
Illinois Release
Illinois Release
Michigan Release
Ohio State Release
Nebraska Release


text:
Copyright Holders Claim That They Should Get To Decide Any Copyright Exceptions
from the are-they-serious? dept
Copyright is necessary to allow authors to live from their trade and to guarantee their independence, and exceptions should be decided by authors and publishers, according to panellists on a copyright dialogue held at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week.That's simply crazy. That's like saying we should let alcoholics determine driving-while-drinking laws. It puts those who would abuse the laws the most in charge of laws that are designed to protect others and to limit the damage they can do. It doesn't make any sense. If anything, it seems to show the massive arrogance of some copyright holders:
The very idea that "exceptions should be decided by authors and publishers" betrays the deep-seated arrogance and contempt that both of these now have for their readers. And that's all part and parcel of the publishing industry's problems: it sees readers as the enemy, something that must be fought and vanquished in order for it to be forced to buy books on the terms of authors and publishers - forced, if necessary, by ever-more Draconian laws that criminalise willy-nilly.Certainly not all copyright holders feel this way, but can you imagine what copyright would look like if the "exceptions" like fair use and safe harbors were designed solely by the copyright holders? I don't think many people would be happy under such a regime... including the copyright holders themselves, once they realized what parts of culture they had locked up.


text:
I realized after getting this assignment that I had absolutely no emotional attachment to this list. I have no idea if that helped me or not in putting it together, but it's the first list I've done this year that I've been able to put together without even an ounce of personal feeling being involved.
If you missed this week's preview, here's a reminder. Also of note, I did not consider anything from the organization's pre-Baltimore history. There are no Chicago Zephyrs involved.
Here we go.
16. Bradley Beal
While only playing two seasons thus far with the franchise doesn't place him among the franchise's all-time leaders, the quality of the former Florida star's first two years warrant a spot just ahead of the likes of Jeff Ruland, Charles Jones, Chris Webber and others.
(Continued on next page…)


text:
Gallery: Our 10 Favorite Strippers
Lil Wayne is getting out of prison, and his buddies have said they're celebrating by hiring a bunch of strippers. The best part of that is that they said it was going to be an "elegant evening" which caused us to raise our eyebrows skeptically, because that is how our Grandmother describes, say, the Rita Hayworth Gala, an event at which there are often only five or six strippers. Which is not to say that the right strippers can't be elegant, or elegantly awesome. Here are a few of our favorites, some real, some fictional:[ITPGallery]


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
This is in the Addams family type of humor vein. DS (15) is not really planning to off me.Last evening, while waiting for our turns, we were each doing homework and checking our planners. DS shows me his planner, but held it out like he wanted me to take it from him. I go to take it, and he tells me no, that he isn't sure anything is written in it. He then asks me for the dates for the cruise, so he can write those in his planner.He writes this: 10/24 - school holiday10/25 - school holiday & leave on cruise10/26 - throw mother off the starboard bow - wave at her10/27 - mourn mother10/28 - call Nana and Papa (my parents) and tell them "neener didn't like it" - (What I used to say as a toddler.)I admire his plan and am grateful he inherited my sense of humor.
Sis has regular date nights with her boyfriend. He comes over, they cook dinner, and spend the evening with Sproglet. Apparently one night recently, SBF was joking around by tossing a paperback at Sis. Sproglet pointed at him and screamed "NO! 'SPECT BOOKS!"You see, when she's throwing a tantrum and wanting to throw books or when she's wanting to draw on them, her mommy comes over and gently reprimands her, "No, honey, we respect books."I am not allowed to mention this story in front of SBF. Apparently it's a bit embarassing to be reprimanded by a toddler for something so basic.
Page created in 0.594 seconds with 18 queries.


text:
As if it wasn't enough that I am in the middle of my foundation studies in the intense five week Summer Teacher Education program at Rudolf Steiner College, I am also in a study group discussing the fundamental points of Philosophy of Freedom. My thirst for knowledge clearly outweighs my desire for sleep!
In the second chapter titled The Fundamental Desire for Knowledge, Rudolf Steiner poses that we "seem born to be dissatisfied." He quotes from Goethe's Faust:
Two souls reside, alas, within my breast,
And each one from the other would be parted.
The one holds fast, in sturdy lust for love,
With clutching organs clinging to the world;
The other strongly rises from the gloom
To lofty fields of ancient heritage.
Steiner agrees that within man resides a natural human characteristic: our thirst for knowledge. From this universal quest arises the distinction of I and World. (In a previous blog, Clash of Spirits, I posed that the thirst for knowledge does not necessarily have the same quality among cultures, resulting in the fall of the native american culture.)
Our awareness that we are separate from the World, yet are united with the World, creates the "spiritual striving of mankind." (Steiner, POF) We continually seek to understand our place in the universe. During Steiner's time, two prevailing theories existed, of which both were inadequate to fully elucidate the relationship of the I and the World.
The two theories are dualism and monism. Monism is further subdivided into materialism, spiritualism, and - this is just my term for it - atomism.
Dualism acknowledges that the I and the World exist as two entities, but does not reconcile the connection between the two. For dualists, the I exists purely in the spiritual realm, and the human body and the world are of the physical realm, of matter, of the senses.
Monism is concerned only with the unity of the I and the World. Materialistic monism swings heavily towards physical processes as explaining the origin of thoughts, that the phenomenon of thinking really is the result only of the brain, rooted firmly in matter. Spiritual monism is on the other side of the coin, that we are a product only of the spirit world. The third version takes the atom and within it resides the unity of the physical and the spiritual worlds. According to Steiner, all are inadequate in giving us a more accurate working framework with which we can study our Selves and our place in the World.
In this second chapter of Philosophy of Freedom, Steiner does not reveal the answers, he merely presents us with the positions of his contemporaries, and examines the inadequacies.
Through my first two weeks of studying Steiner and theosophy, I believe Steiner reconciles the duality of the human condition through his delineation of the soul aspects of the human being. Basically, at the intersection of the physical world and the spiritual world, the human being's I, or Ego, resides, taking on the qualities of both the physical realm - the senses, and the spiritual realm - the origin of thoughts and intuition. The sentient soul, the intellectual soul, and the consciousness soul work in concert to maintain the separation of the I from the World, yet allows for the transformative processes of the human will in striving for unity with the World.
In another previous blog post, Thought Exercise, I gave a reflective exercise drawn from my theosophy class that takes one through the process of honing the soul's spiritual striving. The sentient soul receives the image as feelings, the intellectual soul as thinking, and the consciousness soul as meaning and willing.
The thirst for knowledge, ultimately, is quenched with meaningful action.


text:
Boys club
Picture this: Rookie walks into the bar for a beer after work. He strikes up conversation with Mr. Career Man while watching the football game. They talk sports… and they talk business.
Mr. Career Man thinks the kid's got potential, gives him advice, and they continue to meet. Eventually, Rookie meets Mr. Career Man's other pals. Without forcing anything, they form a friendship—along with a mentorship and a helping network for the Rookie.
How often do women do this for each other? Rarely.
Flying solo
I posed the question to some female colleagues at my job recently: "Why don't women reach out to each other more?"
The answer: "Oh, haven't you heard of the women's organization here at work?" Ugh. That's not what I meant. Why don't women cross generational and professional boundaries to develop relationships that mix business and pleasure? Why, in short, don't we have an "old girls network"?
Although I know older women who could be mentors, our connection stops at friendship. We all seem to obey an unspoken rule: It's not cool to mix personal and business. Now that I've been out in the working world a few years, I see a wealth of missed opportunities because women don't buddy up like men do.
I often wonder what stops women from building those casual work-and-play relationships. I wonder if older women think the younger ones are only trying to use them? I have to admit that I feel a wave of guilt if I attempt to create a friendship with an older women that could also help me out. So I avoid it.
I understand, of course, that there are some wonderful organizations out there that were created to help women build networks (National Association of Women Business Owners, Business Women's Network, Advancing Women). But what about fostering connections as natural as the "old boys club" that many men seem to have?
Maybe we devalue ourselves and think we don't have much to offer. Maybe we feel a sense of perfectionism in that we have to meet X, Y, Z criteria before we can mentor someone else—or accomplish A, B, C tasks before we feel it's OK to ask for help.
Maybe it's more sinister: I've heard that some older women feel that since they've had to struggle, they think the young ones should struggle, too (which makes me think, then what the heck was the point of the feminist movement?).
Or maybe we're threatened by each other. Sometimes we even derail each others' success à la "Mean Girls." According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, women bullies aim at other females more than 70% of the time!
Do you have to be best friends with every woman you meet? Of course not. But let's not close ourselves off from each other, and be more open to letting honest, mentoring camaraderie develop naturally. There's no need to join a dues-collecting organization to help each other out. That's not how the boys do it. Men are buddy-buddy with each other because it has helped them build professional and political success for centuries.
Join me in starting the old girls club revolution today. Where will you start?
|Kenia Perez works in the aerospace industry in California.


text:
MTA crews will be replacing four grade crossings on the light-rail line in the Hunt Valley area. The five affected light-rail stations are Warren Road, Gilroy Road, McCormick Road, Pepper Road and Hunt Valley.
MTA crews will replace worn rails and install improved rail foundations. This work is needed to maintain safe, reliable operation of the line in the future. This section of the Light Rail opened in 1997 and the upcoming project is the first major work since the system opened.
On the subway, MTA will replace interlockings on the track between Reisterstown Plaza and Rogers Avenue stations. The project is expected to last from May 3 to about July 3.
The project includes replacing the switch machines and mechanics, rails and the replacement of wood crossties with concrete ties and corresponding foundation. During the repair work, WMATA trains will share a single track through the work area, but passengers should experience minimal delays.
The total cost of the light-rail and WMATA subway work is $4,685,000.


text:
I would much rather sign a Fitzpatrick or Moore and draft a QB to come in the middle of the season depending how it goes.
I would say Fitzpatrick is a mediocre QB. Sanchez is less than mediocre.
I would much rather sign a Fitzpatrick or Moore and draft a QB to come in the middle of the season depending how it goes.
fitzpatrick is odonnell part ii.
its time to get decent qb in here once and for all.
i'll take Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller, Stevie Johnson, Scott Chandler, David Nelson and Brad Smith any day of the week over what we have.
Fitzpatrick's just as bad as Sanchez in terms of turnovers, but with a much weaker arm.
just say no.
Sanchez has to be the Jag next yr.The hope has to be that the player we draft is capable of outdueling him in camp forcing him to the bench.
Hopefully we make a little cap room by cutting some of our stiffs (Scott, E. Smith) and it wouldn't be a big problem.
Sanchez and Gmac are both better than Fitzharvard
Teblow is worse than Fitzharvard
well, actually, Teblow is worse than just about any NFL quarterback in league history
not even a contest
GMAC at least played college football
and even with Sanchez the Jets made Fitzharvard look like the JAG he is in game one this season
In 2010, one of Mark's two best seasons, Fitzpatrick was significantly better.
In 2011, probably the best season for Sanchez, Fitzpatrick was still slightly statistically better.
In 2012, obviously an awful year for Sanchez, Fitzpatrick was much better.
What is WRONG with people !?!?!?!
An 83 quarterback rating stop-gap with a positive TD-turnover ratio to hold us over while we develop a rookie.


text:
Sponsored By
Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium Save Prom For North Texas SeniorsSome North Texas seniors will not have to cancel their prom after all, thanks to a big donation from two big organizations.
North Texas H.S. Prom Venue Closes With School DepositA prom promise has been broken for seniors at South Garland High School. Their venue closed suddenly, and now, five weeks before the big night, students and staff are left without their money or a place to celebrate.


text:
Web Content ViewerActions
CANON U.S.A.,Inc. MAKES NO GUARANTEES OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO ANY PROGRAMS, FILES, DRIVERS OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS CONTAINED ON OR DOWNLOADED FROM THIS, OR ANY OTHER, CANON SOFTWARE SITE. ALL SUCH PROGRAMS, FILES, DRIVERS AND OTHER MATERIALS ARE SUPPLIED "AS IS." CANON DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
CANON U.S.A.,Inc. SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS CONTAINED HEREIN, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST OPPORTUNITIES, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF ACTING ON INFORMATION, OR THE OPERATION OF ANY SOFTWARE, INCLUDED IN THIS SOFTWARE SITE.
I have read and understand the information above, and wish to download the designated software.
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Canon Store: $
Experience how changing your lens can unlock a world of possibilities, and see beyond what meets the eye. Start Exploring!
Compare lenses from the abundant Canon lineup of EF Lenses and see the difference each one can make.
Learn more about the Canon milestone that has helped you capture many of yours with Canon EF lenses.
Free 13 months accidental damage protection on select products now through July 7, 2018.
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Canon's newest "L" series lens is its first mid-telephoto macro lens to include Canon's sophisticated Image Stabilization. With the highest quality optics available, combined with near-silent Ultrasonic focusing and life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is simply unrivalled.
This is the first lens on the market to incorporate Canon's new Hybrid Image Stabilization Technology. Hybrid IS effectively compensates for both angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting. The lens was developed to expand users' photographing range and allow a wider range of users to easily enjoy macro photography.
MTF Chart
Focal Length & Maximum Aperture
100mm 1:2.8
Lens Construction
15 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal Angle of View
Focus Adjustment
Inner focusing system with USM. Full-time manual focus available.
Closest Focusing Distance
0.99 ft./0.3m (maximum close-up magnification: 1x)
Filter Size
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight
3.1 x 4.8 in./77.7 x 123mm, 22.0 oz./625g
Compatible Supplies & Accessories
Canon offers a wide range of compatible supplies and accessories that can enhance your user experience with you EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM that you can purchase direct. Scroll down to easily select items to add to your shopping cart for a faster, easier checkout. Visit the Canon Online Store
67mm Circular Polarizer PL-CB
Filter enhances picture quality by blocking harmful reflected light.
67mm Protect Filter
These filters can help protect your lens against dust, moisture, fingerprints, scratches and damage and can be kept on your lens at all times. Filter fits select lenses with a 67mm diameter.
These filters can help protect your lens against dust, moisture, fingerprints, scratches and damage and can be kept on your lens at all times. Filter fits select lenses with a 67mm diameter.
Filter UV Haze 67mm
Gelatin Filter Holder Adapter III 67
The 67mm Gelatin Filter Holder Adapter III 67 is used to attach the Gelatin Filter Holder III to most EF lenses.
Gelatin Filter Holder Adapter IV 67
The 67mm Gelatin Filter Holder Adapter IV 67 is used to attach the Gelatin Filter Holder IV to most EF lenses.
Lens Cap E-67 II
The Lens Cap E-67 II is newly designed and fits Canon EF lenses with a 67mm filter size. It helps protect the front glass from dust and scratches.
Lens Cap E-67U
Lens Case LP1219
Soft drawstring lens case made for Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L, EF 24-70mm f/2.8, EF 28-70mm f/2.8L, EF 100mm f/2.8 USM, EF 50mm f/1.0L or EF 85mm 1.2L USM lens.
Lens Hood ET-73
Designed to prevent stray light from entering the lens in order to keep unwanted glare from affecting your photographs.
Macrolite Adapter 67
Attaches MR-14EX Macro Ring Light to most 67mm filter lenses.
Attaches MR-14EX Macro Ring Light to most 67mm filter lenses.
Tripod Mount Ring D
† Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.
- ${title}${badge}


text:
Loading product details ...
Reviews (0)
Need Help?
Product Description:
Women's ASICS® FujiTrail Long Sleeve 1/2 Zip :: The perfect antidote to cold weather days is the FujiTrail Long Sleeve 1/2 Zip top. With a softshell front for wind protection and special recycled Cocona® fabric and a bonded mesh panel for breathability on the back, comfort is guaranteed.
Features & Benefits:
Your Help Is Here
Shop with confidence knowing your team of Fit Experts is waiting to answer all your questions. You can always find your perfect product and your perfect fit. Your Road Runner Sports Fit Experts will make sure you get exactly what you want and have tons of fun in the process! Give us a call, chat, or email!
Call 800-743-3206 to
You May Also Like


text:
The Chronicle launched its revamped website last week to a wide-ranging combination of rave reviews and downright complaints.
Although many of the bugs, kinks, quirks and mistakes have already been fixed at www.omakchronicle.com, many more remain or will be discovered in the coming weeks.
The fairly sudden change has not been particularly easy for the public or for the newspaper's staff, but this is a move for the long term. As the flaws of the new site are worked out, I believe it will be a vast improvement in the overall product we deliver to our readers and customers.
It will serve as a companion piece — not a replacement of — our printed product.
Our hope is that the content filling our news pages and our online pages will be required reading for those in the region who want to stay up to date on the news of their communities.
While the print product remains the newspaper's flagship, the online site opens up possibilities for audio and video clips, photo slideshows, reader commentary and staff blogs — all of which I think will be very popular as the site gains traction.
But bear with us — it won't happen overnight.
Another area I think will be popular is the Twitter widget located on the main landing page.
Some regular readers may have already noticed it in action as results from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest were sent across the airwaves live as The Chronicle's award-winners were announced.
My initial response to the Twitter feed was "Who actually uses Twitter?"
But with the setup of the new site, The Chronicle's tweets reach everybody who visits the Web page, not just those who follow us on Twitter. This unlocks an endless potential. Results of sporting events, city council votes, elections, breaking news and more all have the potential to be broadcast through Twitter.
It will eventually allow readers to keep tabs on events they aren't able to attend in person.
With the massive size of the county — and the fact that many local sports teams travel all across the state for contests — this will be a key tool for our readers to take advantage of.
The new site also features an interactive poll, so while you're checking out our changes, take a moment to vote.
We plan on regularly putting up new polls, in addition to the stories, photos and other features as we get the site up and running to its capabilities.
As with any change, there's always going to be some give and take, a little bit of negative along with the positives.
That's bound to be the case with The Chronicle's website, as well.
But remember, this shift comes not for the immediate payoff, but for the long-term approach to the delivery of online news in Okanogan and Ferry counties.
Feel free to send me an email and tell me how much you love the new site, or how much you hate it. Just be sure to let us know why.
Garrett Rudolph is the managing editor of The Chronicle. He can be reached at 509-826-1110 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


text:
Continuing the Bendigo Advertiser's series in recognition of the Year of the Farmer, ELOISE JOHNSTONE spoke to a man carrying on a family tradition.
MARTIN Saul's ancestors came to Australia from Germany and England by boat in 1859.
They found themselves a patch of dirt near Dunolly and began to grow and slaughter sheep to sell around the area.
More than 153 years and four generations on, Mr Saul is still selling fat lambs for slaughter from the same bit of property his great-grandfather took as his own.
"We're still walking around on the same property, on the same piece of dirt," he said.
The operation has extended from those early colonial days.
Martin's 1200 acres now encompasses a mixed-farming operation of sheep, goats and grain.
He sells cross-breed sheep, South African meat goats, cereals such as oats and barley, canola and, more recently, sunflower seeds.
"The older fellas knew very little about farming; actually they really knew nothing," he said about his great-grandfather and grandfather.
"They just sold meat around the area and that continued for 80 years until my father in the 1930s.
"That's when you could say the farming actually began... clearing the land and planting crops."
However, the butcher's shop is still standing behind Martin's home acting as a reminder of the farm's origins.
When his father died at a young age, Martin, himself only 20 years old, was pulled out of school to run the farm.
"There wasn't much choice," he said.
There had been a "hell of a lot of changes" over his time as a farmer, mainly driven by changes in technology, but Martin said the fundamental principles of farming remained the same.
"All this technology is marvellous. It's made the job more economical as there's less wastage and it's taken out a lot of the guesswork.
"But despite all the technologies, we still rely on weather conditions.
"It's still a risky business; you can have the best hay all ready for sale and then it rains for two hours and it's ruined. (But) that's the nature of the business."
Martin said cold winter days aside, it was a lifestyle he very much enjoyed.
"Being your own boss is a very attractive thing.
"There's lot of things that are not pleasant about it (farming), but on a day like this when the sun is shining you have to love it."
Martin said the community aspect of small-town living was also a positive and important part of living on the land.
"I'm on too many committees to count (and) that's part of the deal, it's all pretty important.
"It's very rewarding and you know that if you need help, there'll be a lot of people over in a flash to help you."
Martin has been married to Moira, an aged-care nurse, for 42 years. They have four children, Narelle, Sheree, Bradley and Amanda.
Bradley, 25, is a musician who helps out on the farm when he's not tuning pianos, conducting choirs or playing a multitude of instruments.
Martin is urging his son to pursue his music career rather than become the fifth Saul to work the land.
"I'm not pushing him to take over the farm," he said.
"There's not a lot of money to be made, we're so reliant on world trends, and that will continue."
Martin is semi-retired and unsure what the future holds for his farm.
"It would be sad for 150 year of history to be gone and forgotten," he said.
"The amount of regional farms of that era you can count on one hand. 150 years is quite an achievement.
"But what happens after this I'm not sure."


text:
(Harrisburg) -- A state report shows Pennsylvania's unemployment rate shot to its highest point since October 2010, as unemployment grew faster than the labor force.
The state Department of Labor and Industry says the unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in January -- up from 7.9 percent in December.
The national unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in February.
The department estimates that the number of nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania was stable at just under 5.75 million jobs, and it lowered its initial payroll numbers from last year.
Its survey of households shows the number of people working or looking for work grew by 17,000 to an all-time high above 6.55 million. But unemployment also grew by an estimated 18,000 people.
Published in News
Tagged under Department of Labor and Industry, joblessness, jobs, labor, unemploymentback to top
Support for WITF is provided by:
Support for WITF is provided by:


text:
AYER -- The Shirley businessman who wants to open a medical marijuana dispensary on Central Avenue thanked voters for rejecting a proposed moratorium and asked the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night for a letter of support.
"This is a cutting-edge thing in the state and the country as well," John Hillier said. "I'm asking for a letter from the board to put into my application to the state, to separate mine from some of the out-of-state people."
This was the third time Hillier has appeared before the board. Last month, he presented his plan during a public hearing called by the Planning Board and did the same at a selectmen's meeting. On June 24, voters overwhelmingly rejected a warrant article that would have placed a one-year moratorium on setting up a medical marijuana dispensary in town.
Hillier's is the first, and only, application in Ayer and under the new state law, up to five dispensaries will be allowed in each county.
The vote cleared the way for Hillier to move forward with his proposal. He must put $500,000 into an escrow account with the state and receive a number of state and local approvals before he would be allowed to open his business.
In November, Massachusetts voters approved a law that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries, with strict controls and state and local oversight. The rules and regulations were finalized at the end of May, and since then, communities across the state have passed moratoriums, one after another.
If Hillier's application is approved, Ayer could be the first, or one of the first, communities in the state to have a medical marijuana dispensary.
The issue has divided communities across the commonwealth. In Ayer, discussions about Hillier's application often veered off track, focusing on the merits or evils of marijuana, an illegal drug that has been decriminalized in recent years. Under state law, a community may delay permission but it may not ban the siting an operation of such businesses. The attorney general has said she expects the first dispensaries will be operating by the end of the year.
On Tuesday, Ayer Selectman Chairman Pauline Conley and Selectman Chris Hillman voted against directing the town administrator to draft a letter of support on Hillier's behalf.
"I will not support this without additional information," Conley said after a motion was made and seconded by selectmen Jannice Livingston, Gary Luca, and James Fay, to have a letter drafted.
Prior to the vote, selectmen Gary Luca asked the board to support Hillier's request for a letter.
"This board should support him rather than have someone come in from the outside and undercut him," Luca said. "Mr. Hillier should have the first shot."
Conley and Hillman said they hadn't had a chance to visit the Central Avenue office where Hillier wants to open Compassionate Care, Inc. Both said they needed more information before giving their support to Hillier's application to the state.
"I'd like to hear more," Hillman said.
At the next selectmen's meeting, the board will be asked to approve the letter of support it directed Town Administrator Robert Pontbriand to draft.
Hillier agreed to attend the meeting and also invited officials and the public to contact him with questions or to tour his offices on Central Avenue.
"My main reason for being here is to thank everybody," Hillier repeated after the selectmen's vote. "I appreciate the support and conversations on all sides. ... and I'm happy to make a presentation if that might be helpful."


text:
Brad Pitt is expecting there to be ''many'' 'World War Z' sequels.
The 49-year-old actor is hopeful additional versions of the apocalyptic action film - based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks - will be made if the debut movie is a success, because there is still plenty of material to use from the book.
He said: ''It's set up for many sequels because the book is so dense with information and historical references, and it's an international story.
''There are so many things we could do with this - if it works. But we need this one to work - which we think it does.''
Brad - who played main character Gerry Lane and also produced the film - is confident the first movie can lead to a franchise because there are so many possible talking points that come up in it.
He added to Nuts magazine: ''I'm so fond of this film, because there are many interpretations that start arising.
''And I love that it starts that kind of dialogue, but more than anything, it's just the most intense thing you're going to see all summer.''


text:
By TENNILLE TRACY
WASHINGTON -- ExxonMobil has won a legal victory in its effort to fight damages of about $1.5 billion stemming from a 2006 gasoline spill in Maryland.
In a decision released Tuesday, the Maryland Court of Appeals reversed more than $1 billion in punitive damages, awarded by a jury in 2011, and said residents and business who accused the energy giant of fraud hadn't sufficiently proven their case.
The court also reversed a large number of compensatory damages, which originally totaled about $500 million.
The case stems back to February 2006 when 26,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from underground storage tanks owned by Exxon Mobil at a fueling station in Jacksonville, Md. The gasoline moved into a water aquifer that supplied drinking water to many residents.
Dozens of residents and business owners filed suit and accused Exxon Mobil of fraud. They also said they suffered because of concerns over contracting cancer and losing value on their properties.
In 2011, a jury at the Circuit Court for Baltimore County awarded the residents and business owners about $500 million in compensatory damages and $1 billion in punitive damages. Dow Jones Newswires


text: This week on on DINOSAUR TRAIN, Buddy and the entire Pteranodon family embark on a roaring, exploring, World Tour adventure in four all-new summer vacation episodes! Airing May 24-27, the special week finds the family packing up and boarding the train to discover the wonderful variety of dinosaurs inhabiting the globe. Joining their trip is new character Gilbert, the conductor's young nephew. In China, they discover the wise old Confuciusornis dinosaur, who resembles a bird. Then they travel to Europe to meet a large herbivore called Iguanodon. In the final leg of their journey, they visit Africa and encounter Kenny Kentrosaurus, a Stegasaur from the Jurassic period.


text:
Points East Coastal Drive
Distance: 475 km View Detailed Map
Download PDF Guide of Points East Coastal Drive [16 pages; 3 MB]
Points East Coastal Drive Itinerary
Points East Coastal Drive Website
The Island's easternmost region attracts visitors who appreciate natural spaces and outdoor activities. Development in this area is characterized by parks and trails, supported by country inns and fine dining. A recommended first stop would be Orwell Corner Historic Village where a rural crossroads community invites visitors to step back into the 1800s. Be sure to leave time for a visit to the Macphail Homestead right next door.
Lighthouse lovers will delight in the six lighthouses that are open to the public in summer. Point Prim Lighthouse - the Island's oldest lighthouse, Wood Islands Lighthouse - located just beyond the ferry terminal.
Try a quick round of golf at Belfast Highland Greens!
Be sure to visit Kings Playhouse where visitors can learn about the region's once thriving shipbuilding and railway industries as well as dine, shop, orjust sit back and enjoy the view of the lovely Georgetown Harbour. Stay on into the evening, for there is often an excellent concert scheduled at the Kings Playhouse just down the street.
The Rodd Brudenell River Resort proves to be a good halfway point for those touring the Points East Coastal Drive, but for golfers this site is an absolute must-stop. Two top-of-the-line 18-hole courses are the main features of a resort complex that includes both hotel and executive-style cottages, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, horseback riding, spa services and even lawn bowling!
If you love history you'll want to include a visit to the Roma at Three National Historic site. This 1732 settlement presents guides in period costumes for interpretation of the French historical garden, artifacts, children's toys and games, and historical enactments.
A new marina in Souris has docking facilities as well as washrooms and showers and a new building will house the terminal for the ferry service to les Îles-de-la- Madeleine.
Popular supervised beaches in the eastern PEI region include Red Point, Basin Head, Greenwich and Panmure Island, to name a few. Camping is available at Red Point, and Campbells Cove and many other locations along the Coastal Drive.
Sport fishers will be interested to know that some of the world's biggest fish (as in over 1000 pounds!), the Bluefin Tuna, have been caught off the shores of North Lake, known as the "Tuna Capital of the World."
Wind up your visit to Points East Coastal Drive in the community of Mount Stewart. The province's Confederation Trail heads off in no fewer than three directions from here and the Hillsborough River Eco-Centre which is the hub of the Confederation Trail and houses a Discovery Museum featuring natural and cultural history of PEI's Canadian Heritage River, The Hillsborough.
5 Tips for the Points East Coastal Drive
- A visit to the Greenwich dunes and floating boardwalk
- Cycling on the Confederation Trail through Morell and St. Peters
- Walking the beach from Basin head to Bothwell; look for starfish!
- Visit the winery in Little Sands
- Learn some Seaweed Secrets at Point Prim
Points East Coastal Drive Distances
- East Point to North Cape, 275 km (171 miles), 3 hours, 45 minutes
- Mount Stewart to East Point, 90 km, (56 miles) 1 hour, 12 minutes
- East Point to Montague, 125 km, (78 miles) 1 hour, 35 minutes
- Montague to Cape Bear, 55 km, (36 miles) 46 minutes
- Cape Bear to Cherry Valley, 68 km, (43 miles) 52 minutes


text:
No previous registration is needed. All the comments will be published after authorization, by respecting the freedom of opinion.
The villa was amazing. We had a wonderful time. Your support was instrumental in coordinating the trip, Mr. Tossi was ever so helpful and the wine tasting at Fanti was so much fun. We would certainly highly recommend your organization for anyone traveling to Italy!!!!
Thanks again for everything.
Superb family holiday in the beautiful heart of Tuscany. We had a fabulous 2 week stay as a party consisting of two families with children at the beautiful Villa Bellavista in Crespina. Bellavista indeed! The view from the villa is stunning, a view we sat admiring each and every evening beneath the sunset. We found the location to be excellent with many places to visit and relax all with the hour: Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Cecina, the beach etc. The villa is a beautiful old villa full of charm and period features, lots of room for the 8 of us indoors and out for us all to sit, eat, chat and have fun. A glorious summer vacation! This is an old villa and we loved it, if you expect a 21st century fitted kitchen and power showers then this is not the villa for you, everything worked well for our party of 8 and in keeping With the whole villa experience. The pool and the gardens were fantastic and the large brick BBQ was heavily used! All in all a fantastic Holiday!
Thanks so much!
Bellavista villa from 23 to 30 August 2014
Our group, seven adults, plus a baby, had a wonderful time. In fact, the villa really exceeded our expectations: 5 large bedrooms on the first floor, large and pleasantly furnished living rooms, library, kitchen on the ground floor. It even has a "watchtower" (!) and, of course, the large pool (non-swimmers: it is quite deep at the far end). The views all around the villa are spectacular - what more could you want. We had local cooking service on the day of arrival (very good Italian food), and a professional cook, plus assistant, on the second day (absolutely phantastic - and quite reasonable - probably best we had during our stay in Tuscany (and many other areas / countries). And do take advantage of the pre-arrival grocery shopping offer; it saves a lot of time.
If you are looking for a typical large and very attractive villa in Tuscany, a bit "aged", but in very good shape (everyhing you need is available and funtions), with very attractive and well maintained extensive surroundings / views, do yourself a favor and reserve a week here, although it does have its price.
The Home-in-Italy staff did a very good job, from the initial inquiry / booking through to our arrival and follow-up thereafter. They have always promptly responded to any and all of our questions - and Rachele, the Concierge, did an outstanding job! Thank you very much.
Wolfgang, Divonne-les-Bains, France
We were delighted with the accommodations at Bellavista. There were eight of us and it fit beautifully. We were especially pleased with the concierge service of two meals that were prepared by your local representative on the property. It was delicious. The local restaurant recommendations were good too. The location gave us easy visits to several walled cities as well as Pisa and Florence. And we had an advantage of being able to train from Pisa to enjoy the experience at Cinque Terre. We were delighted with this property.
Hi Rachele
I just wanted to email to you thank Home in Italy for a fantastic week at Bellavista.
The property and location were amazing. It really was a pleasure to be able to look out over the Tuscan hills each day (whether from beside the glorious pool or from one of the many al fresco dining tables located in the gardens).
Thanks also for arranging for the dinner on the first night the food was amazing and very welcome, having travelled all day. Please also pass on our thanks to Mr Tossi, who cleaned the pool for us each day.
All of our party commented on how fantastic the week was. We will certainly be looking to book a holiday with you next year.
Thanks again
I have been meaning to write since our return from Italy in the Summer!
We stayed at Bellavista in August 2010 and I just wanted to pass on our sincere thanks to the two sisters who provided us with such wonderful food during our stay there. We had the most special time and the fabulous meals they provided for us made it even more memorable. Really wonderful hosts were nothing was too much trouble.
Please pass on our thanks to them both
We had a fantastic time again in that beautiful villa. It is such a lovely place to be and we very much enjoyed meeting the owner.
If we can afford it we would love to stay there again, it is just a shame that the £ is so weak!
A wonderful holiday. Thank you very much and please do pass on how much we loved it to the owner.
Many thanks again
Thanks Monica! Bellavista was, as before, spectacular!
Mark Summers
Complete this simple form.
enquiry ›
A villa specialist will be in touch soon
Secure your villa with the payment of the 30% deposit
The villa is exclusively booked for you.


text:
Skip to comments.Sandra Fluke Now Has a Human Right to Taxpayer-Financed Birth Control
Posted on 11/23/2012 7:26:08 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Every so often, I share breakthrough stories about advances in human rights around the world.
In France, it is against the law to say your husband is under-endowed or that your wife is fat. Across Europe, a satellite dish is now a human right. In Finland, broadband access is a basic right. Theres now an entitlement for free soccer broadcasts in Europe.
In Italy, you have the right to um your testicles.
Now, in honor of Sandra Fluke, the United Nations has decided that contraception is a human right. Not just a human right, a universal human right. The New York Times reports on this big news.
The United Nations says access to contraception is a universal human right that could dramatically improve the lives of women and children in poor countries.
So whats the big deal? Surely people should have the right to buy a condom.
Yes, but were talking about the United Nations, so you wont be surprised to learn that there shouldnt be any financial barriers to birth control, which means people have the right to have other people pay for their fun and games.
It effectively declares that legal, cultural and financial barriers to accessing contraception and other family planning measures are an infringement of womens rights. The global body also says increasing funding for family planning by a further $4.1 billion could save $11.3 billion annually in health bills for mothers and newborns in poor countries.
Well, Sandra Fluke surely will be happy about this news. Even though national governments safely can ignore U.N. pronouncements, this is yet another sign of a growing dependency mindset.
P.S. Speaking of Sandra Fluke, you can enjoy some laughs with this great Reason video, this funny cartoon, and four more jokes here.
In addition to being my former debating partner, Richard Epstein is one of Americas premiere public intellectuals.
You can watch him make mincemeat out of George Soros in this video, for instance, and you can listen to his astute observations about his former law school colleague Barack Obama in this video.
"My Body....My Choice...Your Money."
The U.S. is definitely a poor country these days.
Of course all these "Human Rights" only apply to non-Muslim countries and non-Muslim Humans (if there is such an animal).
The Fluker is affectionally known as "The Town Pump".
1984. When do we get the Soma?
Now that there's a "human right" to free birth control, can we not at least ask Obamacare to defund any abortions without the pregnant woman first demonstrating she used her free birth control?
The men enjoying Miss Fluke's favors should be paying for her birth control, not the taxpayers.
William Flax
Maybe reverse the trend and see what happens, abort the mother keep the child.
If I have to pay for it, shouldn't I get to "use" it?
Can I trade some credits for some Quaaludes, instead?
Yep - they got the job done. "They Won". We lost. Again.
Tired of this crap? Let's fix it like we did in 2010. Or will we just return to being the great silent majority again?
At noon I am going into Carls JR and declaring my right to a free Famous Star burger. I'll ask the UN to back me up. Somebody pass a blue helmet.
Carl's Jr. Computer: Enjoy your EXTRA BIG ASS FRIES!
Woman at Carl's Jr.: You didn't give me no fries, I got an empty box.
Carl's Jr. Computer: Would you like another EXTRA BIG ASS FRIES?
Woman at Carl's Jr.: I said I didn't get any!
Carl's Jr. Computer: Thank you! Your account has been charged. Your balance is zero. Please come back when you can afford to make a purchase.
Woman at Carl's Jr.: What? Oh no, NO!
[She hits the machine. An alarm goes off, and a sign appears on the computer saying "WARNING! Carl's Jr. Frowns Upon Vandalism"]
Carl's Jr. Computer: I'm sorry you're having trouble. I'm sorry you're having trouble.
Woman at Carl's Jr.: Come on! My kids are starvin'!
Carl's Jr. Computer: [the woman kicks the computer, and it sprays a fast-acting tranquilizer in her face] This should help you calm down. Please come back when you can afford to make a purchase. Your kids are starving. Carl's Jr. believes no child should go hungry. You are an unfit mother. Your children will be placed in the custody of Carl's Jr. Carl's Jr... "---- You, I'm Eating."
[Joe approaches the computer]
Carl's Jr. Computer: Welcome to Carl's Jr. Would you like to try our EXTRA BIG ASS TACO? Now with more MOLECULES!
I worked near the Carls Jr at Franklin and Florin in Sacramento.
Went in one day at noon and was told they were not taking orders because the computers were down.
I asked the asst mgr why they didn't take my order, write it down, write down how much I give them and how much change they gave me.
He said they didn't know how to do that.
All such economic rights involve a contradiction. If my right to contraception entails a right to your labor or its product, them you cannot have a right of liberty or property.You then become a rightless creature, who functions by my or society's permission.Free contraception for one part of the population means slave labor for the rest
F*** Sandra Fluke.
Sorry, DON'T F*** Sandra Fluke so we don't have to pay for her birth control.
And for your penicillin shots.
Only if you are talking about the lead singer character in the Tubes song "White Punks On Dope" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdQyyChTlw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text: 0 Like Street Photo ' Fx ' by IanRP Posted on January 4, 2013 Status: Street Photography Tags: bcn • gòtic • juxta • shadow IanRP has published 15 street photos in UPSP. Follow IanRP Urban Picnic Street Photography | Street Photographer Community A place to find inspiration, upload your best photographic work and develop ideas based on the street theme. Urban Picnic strives to showcase the best street photography and feature the best contemporary street photographers. #streetphotography #streetphoto #streetphotographer #upsp Share on Facebook.Share on Twitter.Share on Google+Share on LinkedInPin It!Share on StumbleUpon


text:
Free nation! Under God! Best thing since apple pie.
The US has really fallen from its optimistic condition so many decades ago. And that failure is not the worst thing about it. It's the fact that no one in the US seems to care.
The do care. They want the government to arrest the journalists that reported this.
Just WAIT 'til NEXT year!
Then you'll be sorry!
Yeah! Take that, Haiti!
it's that "under god" part that got added to the pledge at some point which is hurting us...
Indeed, since we're NOT one nation "under God", we are a secular society that worships mostly money above all.
But that's not what's killing America. What's killing America is its wolves in sheep's clothing, like Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and all the other rich, greedy, selfish bastards who pretend to be Christians and actually run things.
And like someone else already said, making children recite a pledge teaches them that lying is not only acceptable but preferred. This is far from being under God, it's i
They do care but between trying to financially keep their heads above water and fighting off the urge to watch Duck Dynasty they have little time to enact change.
Well that was sarcasm but life is so busy that things like government tyranny fall by the wayside. Our lives are just comfortable and busy enough to allow us to ignore the greater issues at hand. Ask a person today what their concerns are and I bet its going to be things like job security, getting a better job to make more money or keeping their head above water. Government tyranny is just low enough to let us not care. Then throw in the incentive for social problems and you have the foundation for a pacifying system to keep people just above poverty and starving so they do revolt.
The US, land of the free! (*)
(*) applies iff you are the CEO of a MegaCorp.
There's no need to suppress press. The US found that out long ago.
People want to see war pics. So they only "invite" you to report if you report favorably. If you'd consider reporting something that conflicts with the "good guy" image, you're not going to get support by the powers that are. You will not be able to show those great, ratings-boosting clips where our boys kick some serious enemy ass with futuristic weapons.
It's just so win-win. If you comply, you will have great pics that not only boost the US image but also your ratings. If you dare to oppose, your news will be boring, which makes your ratings drop, which also has the "nice" side effect that fewer people are going to hear it.
There's no need to suppress press. The US found that out long ago.
You cannot hope
to bribe or twist,
thank God! the
British journalist.
But, seeing what
the man will do
unbribed, there's
no occasion to.
If you dare to oppose, your news will be boring
Except when you get to report on your own buildings [aljazeera.com] and journalists [reuters.com] being targeted by the US Army. I'm surprised it has taken this long for the US to drop in the World Press Freedom index to be honest, given their attitude to free press outside their borders.
I'm not as convinced as many people are that the sky is falling, so I suspect the economy will eventually improve.
The thing that all the knee jerk poster here seemed to miss is that this is the first year on a totally different survey methodology.
Reporters Sans Borders (RSF) totally tossed out their prior methodology and went with a new questionnaire: http://rsf.org/index/qEN.html [rsf.org]
Since this isn't the only source of input, you have to read also their methodology [rsf.org]
which includes things never before even considered. It turns out that most of the qualitative measurements are done by RSF people themselves, rather than from input from these people in the field.
Quantitative questions about the number of violations of different kinds are
handled by our staff. They include the number of journalists, media assistants and netizens who
were jailed or killed in the connection with their activities,
So "netizens" are who exactly?
And why does that matter? Well, since they don't define it, we have to assume that anyone releasing information
over the internet counts as a netizen. So one Bradley Manning (35 year sentence) can account for 90% of the "Violence against reporters/netizens) score.
North Korea, not having any Netizens, presumably gets a perfect score in this regard. I suggest the whole thing is hopelessly biased.
As with any newly invented scale, you have to give it a few years for the truth (and the bias) to come out.
Well since much of the "news" is from recycled AP reports -- the "Netizens" like Bradley Manning are releasing information that might have come from someone labelled a "Journalist" a few decades ago.
Now it's pay for play access and reporters and politicians want to go to the same parties after work is done.
We even get our news on Slashdot these days -- are there reporters here?
So yes, arresting Bradley Manning, and going after the founder of Wikileaks in my book is suppressing freedom of the press -- the REAL press, not the advertiser driven gossip columns.
Well yes, I agree that might be what the thinking is, but I that would require this "journalist" organization to have accepted into their private club any one with a computer and access to documents. This seems unlikely, except in the contest of screaming press freedom.
Manning was a soldier, and he was not a journalist. Im not sure even journalist would welcome him in their ranks for the simple act of betrayal of his oath as a soldier.
The number two whore in all of Kazakhstan
We can't have Land of the Free OR Home of the brave.
Because we are afraid of everything, we have elected to give up our freedom in trade of safety.
After 9/11 there was little talk about this attacks being the price we may pay to live in a free society, and more talks about how to stop it again. Then we complained how these people were even allowed on the plane before, because of lack of proper intelligence.
After the Boston Marathon Bombing, citizens gladly sacrificed their freedom and locked themselves at home until the bomber was caught. Then we complained left and right how we could have let these minor hints get us by and let these people back into the us.
We Cannot live in a free society when we are afraid of the bad man getting us. To live in a free society we need to stand up and face these problems even if it means our death.
I don't think gladness was ever the message behind the lock-downs. Nearly everything portrayed was viewed as a hostile over-reaction by the government. But then again, that's my own lens I am viewing this through. But I can't recall hearing anyone saying "Thank god the police came and locked everything down and started busting in our doors trying to find this guy!"
And we don't even need to talk about the giant holes in the whole narrative either.
But I can't recall hearing anyone saying "Thank god the police came and locked everything down and started busting in our doors trying to find this guy!"
You don't live near Boston, then. People were pretty much saying exactly that. I'd hate to think what the ancestors who started the American Revolution would think of the people who live here now...
First of all, no country criticized US of anything; Reporters Without Borders is an NGO. Also, the list is on their website without any real commentary on the rankings, just a few notes mainly on the top and bottom scorers (US ain't one of them).
Second, just because you seem to have absolutely no idea about how the rest of the world functions, let me fill you in: In Europe, suing people in general is considered a complete waste of time and money, not to mention suing somebody about his opinion, that is stra
The headline should have been "US 'Plunges' to Where It Was Two Years Ago", since that's all that's happened here [washingtonpost.com]. The author of that article even calls himself out for falling prey to the temptation of link-baiting, since he wrote about the loss of freedoms back in 2012 when the numbers were the exact same as they are now. This time around, he questioned how the numbers could be the same as two years ago, so he looked at where the numbers were coming from and poked all sorts of holes in them instead.
When all the news source belong to big corporations, how can one be surprised that press freedom is disappearing ?
One solution [altslashdot.org]
We need to turn our fake democracy into a real one, where our voice is actually being listened to.
And I believe us "nerds" can actually make this happen.
What we need is a moderated forum (perhaps like Slashdot) integrated into congress, and MCs being required to spend at least X hours per day on this forum answering questions. The moderation system has to be designed by academics, such that the system prevents abuse and unjustified censoring by design.
Also, we need a better voting system (since uneducated people ruin democracy, e.g., by being susceptible to populist sentiment).
Perhaps something along the lines of PageRank, where each voter selects N random people he/she trusts, and from the gigantic graph that results we can derive mathematically the outcome of the election. Of course, here also academics are needed to design the system and prevent abuse.
I'd fear that certain population groups would not be represented well. Yes, they ain't represented now either, but I'd want a better model, not just one where we're shifting the "ruling class" about and leave others out in the cold.
It's too bad that the
No! US Press still free, comrades! As proof of this, I link to US Government-funded journalism!
You do realize you linked to a story produced with funding from the US government, right? Of course they're going to say everything is fine. They're paid to.
So, press freedom in the US isn't really so bad, because the US has sometimes ranked higher? Even though it has never ranked above rank 20 or so? Is place 20 something to be pround of for the "land of the free"?
Read the report. It's not only about government abuse, which is bad enough, but also includes other factors. "Self-censorship" is a big one, for example, because of factors like "political correctness" (can't criticize minorities, don't dare offend the Christian right, etc.) and fear of lawsuits. How
Think for yourself, but have a look here [onthemedia.org].
Their statistics suck, even if their principles are sound.
Go look at the actual 3D data map on the site, you'll find that the US is nearly indistinguishable from basically every other 1st world Western Eurpoean-Centric nation. When you see the difference between the "top plateau" and "everyone else" it becomes pretty clear that there really is nothing to see here.
Their point with the US was that journalists are not directly targetted, unlike most other countries, including nominal democracies like Russia and Brazil, where they are flat-out murdered, but their sources are targetted, including things like spying on the AP's phone call list and ultra-long jail sentences for whistleblowers.
Think for yourself, but have a look here [onthemedia.org].
Their statistics suck, even if their principles are sound.
Let us look at the last few years worth of rankings
2002 17th
2003 31st
2004 22nd
2005 44th
2006 53rd
2007 48th
2008 36th
2009 20th
2010 20th
2011-12 47th
2013 32nd
2014 46th
Seems like a yo-yo, maybe this index is more about creating headlines than true measure. Please do reference the On The Media story linked above.
but this is just a rank based on a number calculated according to an arbitrary weighting of factors. It is possible that the rank drop of the US might have been less had the factors used in calculating the score been weighted differently, or the cases used to arrive at the score been characterized somewhat differently.
For example, the score weights "Pluralism" twice as much as "self-censorship" and four times as much as "transparency". Why? Can such things be weighted precisely at all?
The scores for these factors are likewise arbitrarily scaled numbers in the range 0-100. The ranking of each country is a linear combination of non-parametric factors; as such the rank on such a score is so arbitrary as to be practically meaningless, or at best very imprecise.
I think such a score might have some value in comparing a country's performance to its prior performance, or even to compare progress made in one country vs. another -- provided it is taken with a large grain of salt. But the nature of the score is such that very little can be inferred about country A vs. country B based on their relative ranks.
As a liberal geek I'm all up for harsh criticism of America as a nascent plutocracy, but this particular story is just manufactured controversy.
but this is just a rank based on a number calculated according to an arbitrary weighting of factors..
Isn't that how "Stack Ranking" of employees would be defined?
haven't you ever spent time going over product reviews loaded with benchmark charts? small variations mean very little, but when there are closely spaced items, it can really mix up the rankings. Learn some math, people!
I was quite puzzled to see a country with lower Freedom index that North Korea. The gap is quite large (82 versus 85 points of 'non-freedom'). Even if they have described the method used (and misnamed it 'methodology', but thats separate story), they don't give detailed per-country factors, so it is not possible to understand _why_ given country is lower or higher in the ranking.
Actually, after reading further, it is based on _questionaire_. It might just mean that Eritrean citizens are allowed to complain about their country more than NK ones... or that NK data is based on imagination of journalists as opposed to interviews with ones which escaped from Eritrea.
Eritrea is really fucked up though. You just don't hear much about them in the western press.
According to this article [washingtonpost.com], there are plenty of reasons to doubt these rankings, even if press freedom in the U.S. is worrying. And ranking changes like these are not new. Here are the U.S.' rankings over the last 10 years (there's a typo in their own press release, the U.S. actually fell 14 slots):
2004: 22
2005: 44
2006: 53
2007: 48
2008: 36
2009: 20
2010: 20
2011: 47
2012: 27
2013: 32
2014: 46
That seems...a bit inconsistent. Again, that's not to say there isn't plenty to worry about in the U.S., but I'd still take these rankings with a grain of salt.
wget https://rsf.org/index2014/data... [rsf.org]
cat index2.csv|awk -F ";" '{print $3" "$2}'|sort -n
Not that I'm totally happy with the situation, but I wonder if this story is a bit exaggerated. Reporters Without Borders says that they made changes to their methodology. Suddenly the U.S. drops in rank. I think those two facts are related.
Reporters Without Borders says that they made changes to their methodology. Suddenly the U.S. drops in rank. I think those two facts are related.
What's that old saying... "Figures never lie, but lairs figure" or is it, "Lies, damned lies, and statistics!"
If there's anything to this, then IMHO, the American press is its own worst enemy by placing ideology above objectivity.
All science is either physics or stamp collecting. -- Ernest Rutherford


text:
9010 Miramar Road
Directions San Diego, CA 92126
While there are many distinguishing features between the new A4, A6, Q5, A8 and A7, the level of integrity and advanced technology is a common thread drivers from San Diego, Escondido, Carlsbad and Chula Vista enjoy across the lineup. If you're having difficulty deciding which new Audi model best meets your desires/needs, visit us at 9010 Miramar Road San Diego, California and take a test drive. There really is no better way to know whether or not you truly bond with a car.


text:
On this date in our family history . . . the 14th day of January . . . in the year 1899 . . . Betsey T. Smith Hutchins nee Ford dies at home in Kennebunkport, Maine . . . this Betsey is the mother of Atwood F. Smith (1837-1907) who is father of . . . Thomas Warren Alonzo Smith (1866-1920) who is father of . . . Elizabeth Marilla Henry nee Smith (1912-1932) who is the mother of my beautiful Mom . . .
Biddeford Daily Journal. Biddeford, Maine. Monday Evening, January 16, 1899. Mrs. Betsy T. (Smith) Hutchins, who for many years resided in this city and was well known here and for the last few years has resided in Kennebunkport, having married Edward S. Hutchins of that place, died Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock, after a brief sickness lasting only a few hours. An attack of the grip was followed by heart failure. Her age was 82 years and five months. She was a member and prominent worker in the Foss street Methodist church in which she had many friends. She was also a former member of Evangeline lodge of Rebekahs. She leaves a husband, Edward S. Hutchins of Kennebunkport, three children, Atwood F. Smith and Josiah H. Smith, both of this city, and Sylvanus S. Smith of Concord, N.H., one sister, Mrs. Add Chadbourne of Saco, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be held at the residence in Kennebunkport on Tuesday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The burial will be at the Greenwood cemetery at the convenience of the family.


text:
(RNN) - A church has fired its 26-year-old pastor for attending a concert by a rapper it believes is "tearing down the kingdom of God."
Pastor Rodney Wills, who had been preaching for four years at Mt. Salem Baptist Church in North Carolina, was the youngest pastor the 109-year-old church ever had. But after Wills attended a concert by Rick Ross, a former corrections officer turned rapper who is often associated with controversy, the church deacons voted him out, reported the Guardian Express.
The church's Deacon Miles Langley said, "We cannot have our leader supporting people of this world who are tearing down the kingdom of God."
According to Langley, this wasn't the first time the young pastor attended a musical performance. Nine months previously, Wills was warned about his attendance of a Lil' Wayne concert.
"We know that many saints will have mixed opinions from our actions, but this is not how we do things here at Mt. Salem," Langley told the Guardian Express. "We cannot have a pastor praising the world one minute then praising the Lord the next. Period."
UrbanFaith.com questioned the firing, saying, "Maybe Wills wanted to keep up with what the youth of the church are listening to so that he could connect with them on a particular level."
Rick Ross, probably best-known for his hit song Hustlin', was widely criticized earlier this year for having lyrics in a song which many people believed to be a praise of rape.
In the song, U.O.E.N.O. which featured several other performers, Ross says: "Put Molly all in her Champagne/ She ain't even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain't even know it."
In response to the controversy, producers of the song released a new version that omitted Ross. In addition, and of more financial consequence for Ross, Reebok dropped the rapper from a sponsorship deal after women's rights groups protested in front of their New York offices, reported Spin.
Ross has since apologized for the lyrics.
Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.