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The University of North Florida is committed to providing all students, faculty, staff, vendors, visitors or others, an environment where they can work, study and interact with each other in a safe and dignified learning community free from any form of sexual misconduct. This regulation provides guidance regarding conduct that constitutes sexual misconduct, reporting responsibilities regarding such conduct and information on complaint procedures to address alleged violations of this regulation.
For purposes of this regulation, "sexual misconduct" includes sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, each as more fully defined below. Sexual misconduct violates University policy and federal civil rights law and may also be subject to criminal prosecution. The University is committed to fostering an environment that promotes prompt reporting of all types of sexual misconduct and timely and fair resolution of sexual misconduct complaints.
When addressing complaints against faculty, staff, contractors or visitors, determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual misconduct or retaliation in violation of this regulation, the conduct will be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person in the alleged victim's position considering the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of the alleged conduct and the context in which the alleged conduct occurred. In an academic setting, consideration will be given to free speech and academic freedom. For example, expression that is intended to facilitate discourse or debate in a classroom setting or open debate forum may be considered appropriate, but similar expression in the workplace may be unwelcome and inappropriate in the context of communications between employees. Those found to have violated this prohibition against retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion for students and termination for employees.
Any member of the University community who believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment; any member of the community who believes that he or she has been subjected to retaliation related to an allegation of sexual misconduct; or any member of the community who believes that others have been subjected to sexual harassment in violation of this regulation, may seek guidance, counseling or file a complaint in accordance with this regulation by contacting: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion, University of North Florida, J. J. Daniel Hall, Room 1201, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224-2645, (904) 620-2507 Voice and TDD and (904) 620-1004 fax or via 711 Florida Relay for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or those with speech impairments and/or limitations.
View the University's current official policy.


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It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that American disc jockey and radio personality, Charlie Tuna, has passed away.
Los Angeles – February 29, 2016 – (Newswire.com)
It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that American disc jockey and radio personality, Charlie Tuna, passed away peacefully in his sleep February 19th, 2016. His was a life well-lived, and he will always be remembered for the joy, laughter, and love of music he brought to many throughout the world with his presence on the radio. All who knew him will sadly miss him. Memorial donations can be made to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. We ask that you respect his family's privacy during their time of grief.
Charlie Tuna worked as morning drive radio personality for more stations and formats than anyone in Los Angeles radio history: Top 40, AC, Hot AC, Oldies, Talk, Sports Talk and Country.
In 1990, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Charlie by presenting him with a Star on the Walk of Fame.
In 1999, he was inducted into his home state Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
In1997, Los Angeles Radio People readers voted Charlie one of the Top 10 L.A. Radio Personalities of All Time.
In 2007 & again in 2013, Charlie was elected by his LARadio.com broadcast peers as one of the Top 10 Los Angeles Radio Personalities.
Among his L.A. Radio credits:
· Was part of the legendary KHJ Boss Jock line-up; starting KROQ radio; starting KIIS and serving as both Program Director and Morning Man for KIIS AM & FM.
· Tuna was heard around the world daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network for a 25 year 6000 show run from 1971 to 1996, as well as on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows, since the early 1970s.
· He can be heard across the U.S., Canada and internationally on his syndicated 5 hour daily and weekend shows, plus a daily Hollywood Minute entertainment feature.
· Tuna was the announcer for the television game show Scrabble which ran for seven years on NBC, and a dozen other TV shows ranging from the Mike Douglas Show to America's Top 10 with Casey Kasem. He hosted Cinema, Cinema, Cinema for 30 years, an internationally syndicated TV show featuring the top movies in the US each week, with clips from the films. He also hosted the international TV show Inside Hollywood for three years.
· Appearances in two movies, hundreds of TV and radio commercials, VH1's use of Charlie's Celebrity Interview Archives, dozens of radio station voice imaging clients, narration of the U.S. Air Force's 50th Anniversary CD, and serving as a musical network TV consultant round out the media side of Charlie Tuna.
· Charlie also raised nearly 2.5 million dollars for Children' s Hospital in L.A. with his annual "Tunathon" in past years, hosted the red carpet and emceed the Revlon Run/Walk for 5 years, and emceed the annual 4th of July Warner Park in Woodland Hills celebration which attracts annual crowds of over 50,000 spectators.
· Charlie called Tarzana home in California and served as the city's Honorary Mayor since 1977.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2853107#ixzz41b09uK6M

subset: commoncrawl


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A couple of months ago, reporter Cindy Chang wrote about her family's interesting baby name tradition in the LA Times. Her Taiwanese family (now in the U.S.) has been naming all baby boys using the words in a special couplet, "probably part of a larger poem lost during the Cultural Revolution," for at least 6 generations now.
Here's the couplet (and the translation):
Hu guang xuan bei dou
Light from the lake reflects the north dipper (big dipper)Shi dai le yong xi
Generations delight at the golden age
And here are the names in Cindy's family that correspond to each word:
- Hu, "lake"
Her great-great-grandfather was named Hu-zao, "fertile lake." - Guang, "light"
Her great-grandfather was named Guang-xin, "shining prosperity." - Xuan, "reflects, announces"
Her grandfather was named Xuan-yao, "announcing brilliance." - Bei, "north"
Her father is named Bei-dwo, "northern bell," and her uncle is named Bei-jiann, "northern key." - Dou, "dipper," changed by her grandfather to Tian, "sky, heavens"
Her brother is named Tian-shu, "heavenly axis," and her male cousins are named Tian-chuan, "heavenly authority," and Tian-dong, "heavenly pillar." - Shi, "world"
Her nephews are named Christian Shi-jun, "world #1 talented, smart, handsome man," and Julian Shi-xia, "world knight."
But, like I said, this tradition only pertains to male names. So what's Cindy's Chinese name?
It's Shin-tzer (pronounced sheen-dzuh). Shin means "heart," and tzer means "swamp," literally, though by extension it also means "glossy, radiant, enriching." She says:
My name isn't full of flowers, fragrance or delicacy like most Chinese girls' names. My grandfather wanted me to have strength of character, not mere physical beauty.
Source: Chinese names blend traditions, drama (via Nancy Friedman – thanks!)


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Why Did You Wear That: Garage Band
I realize that there are now girls old enough to drink (legally), but not old enough to know who the hell Kurt Cobain is. That doesn't dissuade me from wearing one of my favorite t-shirts though. I've had this shirt for a while now, and I"m not sure I'll ever get rid of it. Yes, that'll be me. The 65 year old woman wearing a cut off t-shirt in the grocery line. So? I like to pair it with the unexpected. For this rendition, I've topped off a sweet pair of lace shorts with my less than ladylike t-shirt. I specialize in contradictions.
We already know the 90's grunge look is making a bit of a comeback, so now's the time to revel in a bit of nostalgia by digging out those old concert t-shirts and making them new again. And no, 'N Sync isn't vintage… yet.
t-shirt: vintage, shorts: Pins and Needles, bag: Urban Expressions, shoes: Colin Stuart (similar here), bracelets, Alex and Ani, lipstick: Bare Escentuals Pretty Amazing Lip Color in Strength
Smells like teen spirit.


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Greg Laurie: Hope, Change Can Only Come Through Spiritual Solution
Exclusive Interview: So. Calif. Evangelist on America's Spiritual Problem, Harvest America
Hoping for positive change in the United States that he says can only come through a spiritual solution, evangelist Greg Laurie is spearheading Harvest America planned for Sunday. It is his largest evangelism event in the more than three decades of his ministry's existence.
Nearly 1,800 churches and venues have signed up to host a live simulcast of Harvest America, a first-of-its-kind Christian outreach for Laurie's Harvest Ministries.
Known for his large stadium events where hundreds and often thousands of people come down onto the field or venue floor toward the end of the evening and make a commitment to Jesus, the event on Sunday is designed so that those making professions of faith will have someone alongside them at whatever venue they are watching.
"There is nothing this country so desperately needs as spiritual revival and I am so thankful that God gave this vision to Greg and the Harvest team to put this phenomenally massive outreach together," wrote Pastor Levi Lusko, who serves as the host at Harvest events. "Especially as we move towards a presidential election, everyone is clamoring for hope and change; but the answer to our country's problems isn't who is living in the White House, but rather who is coming on a white horse – Air Horse One – I'm talking about Jesus Christ!"
Heading into Harvest America, which will be held at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., The Christian Post held an exclusive interview over the phone with Laurie Wednesday. The interview is below.
CP: You've talked a lot lately about America needing a revival. Is that something Americans can be convinced of or how does that happen?
Laurie: We have to ask ourselves the question, how can we change the course of our country? If you think that it's merely a political answer you are going to be sorely disappointed. "Hope" and "Change" was used a lot during this election cycle, but the only hope and lasting change that is going to come is going to come through a spiritual solution. We look at the political climate, we look at the economic climate, we look at the moral climate, but the deepest problem of America is a spiritual problem. When we all collectively scratch our heads and wonder when some crazed gunman goes into a movie theater and shoots innocent people or another person kills innocent people in a Sikh temple, and then we ask why is this happening? Well, listen, maybe we can ask the question, why doesn't this happen more often?
I mean from the time a child enters into school they are told they are simply an evolved animal, and effectively there is no God and thus there is no right, there is no wrong, there is no final judgment. So when you teach children that they are highly evolved animals why should we be shocked when we behave like them?
Our message as Christians is that you are not an animal, you are made in the image of God, but you are also a sinner in need of a savior. I think our country needs to turn back to God. We've had at least two, maybe three spiritual awakenings that have changed the course of America. These were times when people turned in mass to Christ and their lives would change and it changed the moral climate of our nation. I believe we need another spiritual awakening.
At Harvest America we don't believe we could bring a revival about. That's something God sovereignly does, but He has commanded us to go out into the world and preach the Gospel. So revival is what God does for us. Evangelism is what we do for God. So we are praying that God will use this as we go out and proclaim His message to people.
CP: Do you feel extra pressure to deliver the message on Sunday for your biggest outreach event ever?
Laurie: I feel a great responsibility to step up to that pulpit to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ because I recognize that there are people in attendance that may never come again to an event like this or attend a church. Therefore, I want to make sure they hear an accurate, loving, relevant and thoroughly biblical presentation of the gospel. I take that responsibility very seriously and pray a lot before I go up. I do a lot of work in the preparation of the message and really my goal is to make it as simple and understandable as possible. Knowing that so many people will be listening and watching, I'm certain that will weigh on me, but I tend to just think of individuals. I don't think so much about the crowd as much as I think of a person as I'm speaking that might be listening or watching or in attendance. I try to bring the message in a more conversational manner.
CP: What keeps you grounded not only going into Harvest America on Sunday, but all of the Harvest outreach events you do?
Laurie: I have a great network of friends who keep me very grounded. If there is something that I would say or do that they would think is not what it ought to be they would tell me. I encourage and invite that. I think it's very important that we never take ourselves too seriously. However, I do take my message very seriously. Having a great team around me, a great network of friends, fellow pastors, and so forth, and my family, especially my wife, they are people I use as a sounding board before I deliver a message and they give me really accurate and honest feedback.
CP: You and your wife recently talked about spiritual attacks that occur almost like clockwork during these Harvest events. How do you combat them?
Laurie: I think just knowing they are going to come is half the battle and not to be surprised when these things take place. The Scripture says, "Think it not strange when you go through difficult trials." So we know these trials are going to come our way and there is going to be attacks from the enemy. So we pray about it and we acknowledge the source of these attacks and we pray and ask for God's protection. We ask for other people to pray for us and with us for this event because a Christian life is not a playground, it's a battleground. This is not a party, this is a war. We are not talking about physical weaponry, but we are talking about spiritual warfare. That's why I ask people, especially when we are doing evangelism to be praying. I don't think the devil would attack a Christian conference/concert or other event on the same level that he will attack an event that is evangelistic in nature. The reason for that is that when we engage in evangelism we are invading enemy territory. We are not holding ground, we are gaining ground and the devil isn't going to take that sitting down.
CP: What is the most important thing about Harvest America this Sunday?
Laurie: I think the most important thing is that every Christian participates in it. The good thing about Harvest America is everyone everywhere can be a part of it. They can obviously come to Angel Stadium on Aug. 26 and join us if you are in Southern California. If not, you can go to one of the almost 1,800 live sites that are getting a high quality HD video feed around the nation, or you can tune in on a Christian TV station or one of the 600 Christian radio stations that will carrying it and of course you can access it on the Web on your computer, your laptop, your tablet, smart phone device, etc.
But the main thing is that everybody needs to participate because we need to reach people while we can. The Bible talks about the person who sleeps during the harvest in the book of Proverbs. I think that sometimes Christians are sleeping in the harvest and we are not out there when we ought to be. I believe that to not proclaim the Gospel to someone could actually be the sin of omission. The sin of commission is doing something that we should not do. The sin of omission is not doing what we should do. The Bible says "to him that knows for the good and does not do it, for him it is sin."
So if you saw a house on fire and you knew there were people inside and yet you did not call out to them and warn them, or maybe you could run in to try to save them; at the very least, call 911. If you just walk by that would be an act of criminal negligence. Well, even more, if I believe what the Bible says about life and death and the afterlife and I believe there is a future judgment and yet I don't tell my friends and family and loved ones about it, that to me is a sin of omission.
What I'm saying is that every Christian should participate in this and either bring a nonbeliever with them to the event, get nonbelievers to join them in listening to the broadcast or watching it at a live site or in front of your computer or your TV set.
Harvest Crusades without the national hosting sites will also take place on Saturday in Anaheim and at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles the following Saturday and Sunday. A live webcast of those events will be available on the ministry's website: http://harvest.org/crusades.


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Start Slideshow
- DIY Clothespin Wedding Cake TopperBrittany Watson Jepsen of the House That Lars Built fame created this adorable clothespin kissing couple for the Brooklyn Bride just in time for Valentine's Day and we had to share it with you. Green-minded couples who love upcycled design or whose wedding budgets are feeling the economic squeeze will love this fun DIY cake topper project. It requires just a few materials that you can find lying around the house, and if you've left this part of your special day until the last minute, this topper is so simple to make that even the flower girl can give you a hand. Your guests may not remember your vows, but they will definitely remember your cake topper.1
- DIY Clothespin Wedding Cake TopperClothespins Acrylic Paints Paintbrushes Pencil Optional lace or tulle for veil and a glue gun2
- DIY Clothespin Wedding Cake TopperTake a clothespin and turn it upside down. Use your pencil to draw in the outline of the tuxedo, bow-tie, and the bride's wedding dress. Brittany recommends keeping it simple, although she added rosy cheeks and a string of pearls to her perky bride.3
- DIY Clothespin Wedding Cake TopperThe next thing you need to do is paint in the lines. This bridge and groom are wearing the traditional black and white outfits, but whose to say yours might not be a little more unconventional? Go wild. It's your wedding day and you could do whatever you want to.4
- DIY Clothespin Wedding Cake TopperBrittany used a glue gun to add a little lace veil to her bride, but the sky's the limit for you. Or maybe you'll have two brides, or two grooms? In any case, this is probably the world's simplest and cutest cake topper. Now all you have to do is find the cake?5


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Zumba classes are pay as you go, you will pay $5.00 at the start of each hour long class. Classes are held at Hometown School located at 8870 Duffy Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 pm -7:30 pm.Dress in comfortable clothing and wear soft soled shoes. Our classes are attended by people of all ages, gender shapes and sizes. Get your body moving for an hour and have fun doing it. NO CLASSES DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS, KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR INFOMATION.
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Welcome to the Joys of Owning a home.
This page is dedicated to those that are just starting down the road to securing their future by deciding to buy their first home. This is a great decision and studies have shown that even in tough times over 80% of home owners believe owning a home was the right step. First there are some things to know. Please view these videos and as always feel free to call me with any questions you might have. #1 Getting the loan in a difficult economic time is your strongest move.See Why! #2 The second step is to shop for your home.If you have your financing in hand you have a stronger negotiating position to get a good price. Learn why and how with this video and as always feel free to call me with ANY questions you might have. #3 This step is both exciting and nerve racking.But also at this time you are nearing the end of the tunnel and truly the next phase of your life will be beginning. Closing the Deal will go much easier when you see how it's done with this video. Oh by the way! Did I mention that at ANY TIME you can call me with any questions you might have! |


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Syrian government troops battled al-Qaeda-linked
rebels over a regime-held Christian village in western Syria
for the second day Thursday, as world leaders gathered in Russia for an economic summit expected to be overshadowed by the prospect of US-led strikes against the Damascus regime.
Christians under siege
Residents of Maaloula said the militants entered the village late Wednesday. Rami Abdul-Rahman, the director of the Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights, said the fighters included members of the of al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra group.
Related stories:
- Egypt: Islamists hit Christian churches
Despite heavy army presence in the village, Abdul-Rahman said the rebels patrolled its streets on foot and in vehicles, briefly surrounding a church and a mosque before leaving early Thursday.
The rebels launched the assault on the ancient Christian village of Maaloula – which is on a UNESCO list of tentative world heritage sites – on Wednesday after an al-Nusra fighter blew himself up at a regime checkpoint at the entrance to the mountain village. The village, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Damascus, is home to about 2,000 residents, some of whom still speak a version of Aramaic, the ancient language of biblical times believed to have been spoken by Jesus.
Heavy clashes between President Bashar Assad's troops and Nusra Front fighters persisted in surrounding mountains Thursday, according to the Observatory, which collects information from a network of anti-regime activists.
Speaking by phone from a convent in the village, a nun told The Associated Press that the rebels left a mountaintop hotel Thursday after capturing it a day earlier. The nun said the frightened residents expect the Islamic militants to return to the Safir hotel and resume shelling of the community below.
"It's their home now," the nun said. She spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Syrian conflict started in March 2011 as largely peaceful protests against Assad's rule. It turned into a civil war after opposition supporters took up arms to fight a brutal government crackdown on dissent. After two years of fighting, the civil war hit a stalemate with the rebels controlling much of the countryside in the north, east and south, and the regime holding on to most urban centers in the west, where the majority of Syrians live.
The four-decade iron rule of the Assad family over Syria long has rested on support from the country's ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Shiite Muslims and Kurds. The Assad family and key regime figures are Alawites, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while most rebels and their supporters are Sunni Muslims.
More than 100,000 people have been killed in the war, with nearly 7 million people uprooted from their homes.
United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos met with Syrian officials in the capital Thursday, lobbying them for access to civilians trapped in areas where fighting has raged.
An alleged chemical attack near Damascus in August has brought the US at the brink of carrying punitive airstrikes on Syria after the Obama administration concluded that Assad's forces were responsible.
President Barack Obama has been lobbying for international and domestic support for punishing Assad's regime, which the US says fired rockets loaded with the nerve agent sarin on rebel-held areas near Damascus before dawn on Aug. 21, killing hundreds of people.
Obama has called chemical weapons use a "red line." Top administration officials have argued before the Senate and around the world that Assad would take inaction by Washington as a license for further brutality against his people.
So far, however, Obama has won little international backing for action. Among major allies, only France has offered publicly to join the US in a strike.
At the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg, Obama will later Thursday confront Syria's closest supporter, Russia, as well as foreign leaders skeptical of his call for an international military intervention in Syria.
Moscow and Washington have sharly disagreed over ways to end the Syria bloodshed with Russia firmly supporting Assad's regime and protecting it from punitive actions in the United Nations. The US has backed the opposition and has repeatedly called on Assad to step down. He has refused and the US has been supporting the rebels with non-lethal aid and by training some rebel units in neighboring Jordan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin insists Obama has yet to prove his case for striking Syria, although Putin appeared to have tempered his rhetoric slightly in a pre-summit interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. He said then that he wouldn't rule out backing a UN resolution if it can be proved Assad used chemical weapons, as the US has alleged.
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Pretty in (dirt) red: Julia Goerges took a happy tumble after her epic run in Stuttgart this week, the German breaking through for a title win by a home-grown German girl for the first time since Anke Huber won the event in 1994. Not only did Goerges win Stuttgart, she also banked $111K, a sports car and beat world no. 1 Caroline Wozniaki for the first time in three tries, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
More Julia: TSF's teal top love
It got us wondering: Who's next on the WTA to go big-time? Petko? Yanina? Julia?! Vote below.
(image via Getty Images)


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Paul Rozin was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of Chicago,receiving an A.B in 1956, and received a PhD in both Biology and Psychology from Harvard, in 1961. His thesis research was sponsored by Jean Mayer. He spent two subsequent years working with Jean Mayer as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. Since then, he has been a member of the Psychology Department at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is currently Professor of Psychology. Past scholarly interests included food selection in animals, the acquisition of fundamental reading skills, and the neuropsychology of amnesia. Over the last 25 years, the major focus of his research has been human food choice, considered from biological, psychological and anthropological perspectives. During this period, he has studied the psychological significance of flavorings placed on foods in different cuisines, the cultural evolution of cuisine, the development of food aversions, the development of food preferences, family influences in preference development, body image, the acquisition of liking for chili pepper, chocolate craving, and attitudes to meat, Most recently, major foci of attention have been the emotion of disgust, the entry of food issues (e.g., meat, fat) into the moral domain in modern American culture, French-American differences in the food domain, attitudes to recycled water, the psychology of music, and the nature of remembered pleasure. Some of the recent research is carried out in France, Japan and India, as well as the United States. In the last few years, he has also investigated forgiveness, aversions to ethnic groups, and ethnic identity.
Paul Rozin is a member of the Society of Experimental Psychologists, has twice been a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, was a visiting Scholar for Phi Beta Kappa, and a Visiting Scholar for one year at the Russell Sage Foundation. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of the American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award for 2007. He was an editor of the journal, Appetite, for ten years.


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This is historical material "frozen in time". The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.
The White House
August 31, 2009
Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 8/31/09
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release August 31, 2009
For Immediate Release August 31, 2009
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
MR. GIBBS: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome back. Just one quick scheduling announcement. On Tuesday, September 15th, the President will address the National AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh. And with that -- hold on. Divert the cameras over here.
Q When did you say?
MR. GIBBS: Tuesday, September 15th. Big month for Pittsburgh.
Fire away.
Q Is the President still asking Israelis to stop all settlement building in the territories, the Palestinian territories?
MR. GIBBS: Obviously I think the President's views on this have been made clear. There's been no directional change from us, and I think the -- I do think that Senator Mitchell, former Senator Mitchell has had productive meetings over the past few weeks and is going back soon to the region.
Q Javier Solana says he thinks that the two sides can come together during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York in September. What would be the reason for optimism that the two sides are ready to come together when there's been no real -- do you guys have information about movement, progress, a reason that he would be optimistic?
MR. GIBBS: We, as I've said here before, believe we've seen progress. We continue to encourage --
Q In what form, though, I guess?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I'm not going to get into every discussion that we've had with either side, but we're certainly hopeful that we can continue to make progress, and if that happens in New York, we would be quite happy.
Q Has the President seen the McChrystal report yet?
MR. GIBBS: No, it's my understanding that the report is working its way up the chain of command like it normally does. I believe it has been delivered to the Pentagon.
Q How much up the chain of command does it have yet to go?
MR. GIBBS: Well, there's the regional commander at Central Command. He's the combatant commander. It will go to Petraeus. Petraeus -- it will go to the Pentagon. And from the Pentagon, it will come here. And each step along the way, commanders and policymakers will add their comments to the strategic assessment that General McChrystal has made.
Understanding that -- I think there's broad agreement that for many years our effort in Afghanistan has been under-resourced politically, militarily, economically. The President asked for a review of our policy. The President authorized additional security forces into Afghanistan in the lead-up to elections, and appointed a new commander that is coming back with an assessment that I know many are eager to see.
Q Is he, the President, willing to consider more troops for Afghanistan? I don't know that this report --
MR. GIBBS: Let's read the report before we --
Q Well, I don't know that this report is going to get into that specifically --
MR. GIBBS: No, this report --
Q -- but it might come down this fall.
MR. GIBBS: This report is an assessment of where we are and what in his assessment needs to change. Any resource -- specific resource recommendations, I'm told, will be made in the coming weeks, but are not a part of this report.
Did you have a follow-up on something?
Q I did. We talked with Israeli President Shimon Peres today and he indicated the meeting will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA opening. And he also suggested that there's likely to be a suspension of Israeli settlement activity to facilitate the meeting. Is that your understanding?
MR. GIBBS: I would not contradict your interview with President Peres, but -- we're certainly hopeful that progress is being made, and that we can see that progress continue in the near future.
Q Let me ask you on another matter -- the Jerusalem Post conducted a survey and found that only 4 percent of Jewish Israelis consider President Obama to be pro-Israeli. Does that trouble you in any way?
MR. GIBBS: I haven't seen the poll.
Q Robert, what do you say to Bob Dole, who's got this op-ed today, saying he thinks the President sort of needs to refresh the health care debate, and specifically, needs to put a plan on the table?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the President has outlined a series of proposals and principles that he thinks ought to be included in health care. And we'll continue to see if we can make progress as it relates to that.
Q Right, but on the specific plan aspect, Dole is saying that the President is not a commentator, he's the President of the United States, and shouldn't just be commenting on what Congress is doing. Shouldn't he -- in the estimation of Dole and others who have said this in Congress -- maybe a more active role?
MR. GIBBS: Well, he's talked with many members of the Finance Committee and members of Congress in the House and the Senate. I think to characterize the role that the President is playing as inactive would be inaccurate.
Q Okay. Well, he doesn't seem to be active on health care right now. Is he -- I mean, he's going to go on to Camp David --
MR. GIBBS: You mean, like, right now?
Q Well, he's golfing right now, I guess so --
MR. GIBBS: If he hits Marvin with a golf ball, I guess he'd become more active in health care. (Laughter.)
Q Okay. What's the calculation then, since he's golfing, he just came back from vacation, he's going to Camp David for more vacation -- when is he going to get back into this debate?
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, Ed, the President did some meetings today that included discussions on health care. I assume he'll continue to make calls throughout the week, judging and assessing where we are. I don't -- I think that just because the President just might be doing something else doesn't mean he's not focused on health care reform.
Yes, sir.
Q A couple of questions, Robert. One, just teeing off of Ed's question about health care, have you guys seen this fundraising letter from Senator Chuck Grassley in which he goes after -- "The simple truth is that I am and always have been opposed to the Obama administration's plans to nationalize health care … I'm deeply concerned about rising health care costs … but the reality is…" -- it just goes after President Obama and Democrats' effort on health care reform.
MR. GIBBS: I have not seen it.
Q It would seem to belie any indication that Senator Grassley is actually a partner with the administration or with Senator Baucus in creating the plan that you guys would support. Are you still firmly committed to working with the three Republicans who are still in the negotiating phase?
MR. GIBBS: I'll say this, Jake. The President is firmly committed to working with Democrats, Republicans, independents, anybody that wants to see progress on health care reform. I will say this. I haven't seen the contents of that letter. Certainly, I think the radio address over the weekend by Senator Enzi repeating many of the generic Republican talking points that Republicans are using that have bragged about being opposed to health care are tremendously unfortunate but in some ways illuminating. It appears that at least in Senator Enzi's case, he doesn't believe there's a pathway to get bipartisan support, and the President thinks that's wrong. I think that Senator Enzi has clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship, and decided that it's time to walk away from the table.
I think what somebody has to ask Senator Enzi and ask others, every member of Congress, is, are you satisfied with the way the system is working right now? Are you satisfied that premiums are doubling every nine years? Are you satisfied that out-of-pocket expenses are skyrocketing? Are you satisfied that small businesses are dropping their coverage? Are you satisfied that every day 14,000 Americans wake up and find themselves without health insurance coverage? I think many may believe that we can't afford to do anything. I think this President believes we can't afford not to.
Q Well, let me ask you, are you satisfied with the ability that the White House has shown in getting that message out, as opposed to what the opponents of health care reform are saying? Have you guys been doing --
MR. GIBBS: Notwithstanding Ed's question about what the President is doing right now.
Q Do you think -- I mean, we've all now -- the congressional recess has been going on and some of us have left Washington, D.C. Do you think you're doing a good job in getting the message out as to what health care reform should be?
MR. GIBBS: I think we looked at and we discussed when we last met in here -- I think the President has made progress on turning around some of the very specific yet untrue allegations about this bill. It doesn't help -- I'll give you, Jake, it doesn't help to have Republicans who say they're for bipartisanship and say they're at the table to try to find a solution repeating Republican Party talking points about what they know is not true in the bill. I don't think that's helpful and I think that it's unfortunate -- again, it's tremendously unfortunate that it looks like Republicans are stepping away from seeking a bipartisan solution. I think that's -- it's bad for this town, but it's much worse for this country.
Q And last, I just wanted to know if you have any comment on remarks that former Vice President Cheney made yesterday. I just think it's -- about the preliminary review of whether CIA officers broke any laws: "I think it's an outrageous precedent to set to have this kind of intensely partisan, politicized look-back at the prior administration." He said it would create a chilling effect at the CIA and that the actions are not making the country safer.
MR. GIBBS: Yes, this is the same song and dance we've heard since literally the first day of our administration. So I don't have a lot to say. I think the Vice President -- if you watch some of his interview -- was clearly -- clearly had his facts on a number of things wrong.
Q Such as?
MR. GIBBS: The notion that somehow this White House is going to be making interrogation decisions, not the High-value detainee Interrogation Group that's stationed at the FBI and will be -- have participants from all different intelligence and law enforcement agencies within our government -- which has allowed people like Fran Townsend to compliment the creation of this group, somebody who, as you know, is tasked with homeland security in the previous administration. I think what was also illuminating, Jake, were Senator McCain's comments yesterday about whether -- the impact that these enhanced interrogation techniques that the President looked at and has now outlawed, the effect that they've had on our standing in the world in our foreign policy.
I think -- he certainly doesn't agree with us on every issue as it relates to this; I understand that. But I thought, given his experience, I think they are tremendously illuminating. I will add this. I'm not entirely sure that Dick Cheney's predictions on foreign policy have borne a whole lot of fruit over the last eight years in a way that have been either positive or, to the best of my recollection, very correct.
Q If the President outlawed all this torture, why does he continue the retentions and --
MR. GIBBS: Rendition?
Q -- how does he think this can be monitored, being thousands of miles away from the treatment of the prisoners?
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, I do think it's important, Helen, to reiterate, as I just said to Jake, the President viewed -- after a review of enhanced interrogation techniques, came to the very same conclusion that Senator McCain said yesterday --
Q But he hasn't illuminated it, when you send them to black sites.
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, there are -- based on the President's executive order, there are no American-run black sites anymore. There are -- there's an outlawing of the use of enhanced interrogation techniques. We follow the Geneva Convention. We follow the Army Field Manual. We're going to close Guantanamo. And we're going to repair the image of this country and make this country safer.
Q And detainees are not sent to other places?
MR. GIBBS: Detainees are not sent to other places to be tortured. That's the policy of this country.
Q To be interrogated?
MR. GIBBS: Well, some may go to other countries to face charges that they have in those countries, but they're not shipped in the dark of night to be tortured.
Q I believe it was March when the President announced his new strategy in Afghanistan and since then things have only gotten worse. This July and August I believe have been the two worst months in terms of U.S. fatalities. Obviously it takes a long time to implement a military strategy, but after six months not only are things not stabilized but they're worse -- they've gotten worse during that period of time. Is this an early sign that his strategy is not working?
MR. GIBBS: No, Chip, we under-resourced Afghanistan for the better part of a decade. Okay?
Q But now he's sending in additional troops and it's getting worse.
MR. GIBBS: Well, and not all those additional troops are there. The assessment that is coming back is part of what a new commander does when they go to a region when they're newly assigned, as the President has General McChrystal to this region.
But understand, Chip, we are not -- the President, whether it's the economy, health care, or anything, isn't going to -- we're not going to make -- we're not going to see the entire thing turn around in a few months, after years and years of neglect. You can't under-resource the most important part of our war on terror, you can't under-resource that for five or six or seven years -- whether it's under-resourced with troops, whether it's under-resourced with civilian manpower, whether it's under-resourced with economic development funding -- and hope to snap your fingers and have that turn around in just a few months.
I think that what the President enunciated throughout the campaign and actualized as part of this administration was to change our direction in Afghanistan, to understand it was the central focus; that in Afghanistan and in the hills separating Afghanistan and Pakistan were those again plotting to do us harm, and that for far too long we've ignored that with the resources that were necessary to deal with the size and the scope of the problem that existed there.
Q But as bad as it was when he came into office, it has become significantly worse since he announced his plan.
MR. GIBBS: It is a challenging place. We are forever indebted to the men and women who serve there, and particularly those who sacrifice and make the ultimate sacrifice. I think the General's -- we'll see the General's assessment when it gets here. The President is focused on ensuring that we meet measurable benchmarks and that we disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies. It's going to take some doing. It's going to take more resources, which the President has dedicated to this problem.
But understand, Chip, this was under-resourced, under-funded, under-manned and ignored for years and that's not going to change overnight.
Q Is it possible that you're simply losing control in Afghanistan and it's going to continue to spiral out of control?
MR. GIBBS: I think based on reports from what General -- based on some initial reporting that I've seen of General McChrystal's report, he says the situation is quite serious but the war is indeed winnable.
Yes, sir.
Q How long does it take for this report to get to the White House?
MR. GIBBS: I don't know the answer. I think that --
Q Days?
MR. GIBBS: It's a better question for the Pentagon. Again, Chuck, this comes up traditionally through the chain of command --
Q You guys haven't inquired to find out what point it's going to get here?
MR. GIBBS: There's no FedEx tracking number to the -- no, I mean --
Q I know, but I mean, I guess my point is when does this report get on the President's desk?
MR. GIBBS: I assume it will be sent over by the Pentagon and Secretary Gates. That's a good question for the Pentagon.
But again, the President has continued to do briefings with Ambassador and former General Eikenberry, with General McChrystal, with others that are involved -- General Petraeus, Ambassador Holbrooke and others -- that have been involved in this policy. What the President is going to want to do is review the report and then discuss and talk with all of those that have equities in it to get their viewpoints and to ensure that each and every person is heard on this, and that's what the President intends to do.
Q Going back to health care, rather than responding to Dole, how about responding to Chris Dodd who yesterday said he wants the President to come back and "really frame this for us."
MR. GIBBS: I think the President will continue throughout this month to frame what's important about getting health care reform done, doing it in a way that's deficit-neutral, doing it in a way that improves the quality of care, doing it in a way that changes the amazing amount of resources that it takes to provide right now 46 fewer million people that need health care with something that's more expensive than any other country in the world. It's strapping our economy and budgets.
Q So he is going to -- I guess this is something that -- Chris Dodd is somebody who's in charge -- one of his -- it's his committee, along with Senator Kennedy -- that they got through one of these bills. And he's asking for more --
MR. GIBBS: He got through that bill --
Q He's asking for more presidential leadership.
MR. GIBBS: He got that bill through with over 200 Republican amendments, and the President will continue to work on and discuss health care.
Q And that is -- I mean, is it something that he will wait until he gets the Finance Committee bill, or --
MR. GIBBS: -- just did an interview with ABC.
Q Was just going to do that. But is it something that he's going to do with a couple of speeches before he gets a Finance Committee bill? And by the way, when do you expect a Finance Committee bill?
MR. GIBBS: That's a good question for the Finance Committee. It's a good question, again, for Republicans -- again, I haven't seen Jake's letter -- I won't characterize it as Jake's letter -- Senator Grassley's letter --
Q I'd point out The Washington Post reported it first.
MR. GIBBS: There you go. Mr. Fletcher thanks you for the shout-out. (Laughter.) I do love how they always put "airgrams" on these things like somehow the plane just landed at Des Moines Airport --
Q When was the last time you got an airgram. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: Maybe they've got our report. But it's a better question for -- Chuck, I think it's a better question for those Republicans that have made the type of comments that we've seen over the past couple of days that appeared to be --
Q But what about, I mean, Max Baucus? I mean, he has not let you know, hey, I'm going to have a bill for you on September 15th.
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think his deadline --
Q That is something -- is that still the deadline?
MR. GIBBS: The deadline is, best I understand it, is September 15th.
Q And there's no reason to think he won't see his --
MR. GIBBS: It's a better question for them.
Q Can I just follow up on his -- there just seems to be no sense of urgency on the McChrystal report. It's, well, we'll get it when we get it.
MR. GIBBS: No, no, no, no.
Q More Americans are dying than have died at any point in this war.
MR. GIBBS: No, no, no, no, don't misunderstand the fact that -- again, Chip, the report has to go through the chain of command. The report will be commented on by those that are in the theater, right?
Q Can't the President say, I want it on my desk by Wednesday?
MR. GIBBS: And we may have it on our desk by Wednesday. I think to assume that because we haven't gotten a report from the Pentagon the President doesn't believe this is a serious problem I think is an unhealthy thing to insinuate.
Q On health care, Senator Hatch walked away from negotiations in the Finance Committee already. You said that Senator Enzi has showed his cards and he's not interested in a bipartisan solution. What are you saying about the prospects for a bipartisan solution? Are Republicans negotiating in good faith now?
MR. GIBBS: Again, I think that's a question you should ask them, Jonathan. I think, again, some of the comments that have been made, it certainly seems to suggest I think to anybody that reads them that they seem to be less interested in the bipartisanship they talked about only a few weeks ago -- only a few weeks ago.
Q And could you say what you think of the kind of gloom in the last week about the forecast for next year's election, more than a year away, and the sense that somehow the --
MR. GIBBS: It would be like -- Jonathan, it would be like me predicting who was going to win the World Series not in a few months, but in a year and a few months. I'll let -- the extremely smart prognosticators that always predict with unfailing accuracy the brilliance by which Americans will render their opinion in more than a year, I will leave them to their stately craft.
Yes, Mark.
Q Robert, does the White House now believe, or suspect, that Scotland released al-Megrahi because of an oil deal between the UK and Libya?
MR. GIBBS: I don't -- I don't know the answer to what caused Scottish or British officials to make the decision that they did. Mark, as you know, this administration weighed in repeatedly with those officials in saying that this person should serve his sentence in its entirety in the location that he was at that time, which was Scotland. And we believe -- we continue to believe that is the case, and continue to believe that this was the wrong decision. The motivation for the British is a question for the British.
Q Do you know when the last time President Obama spoke with Prime Minister Gordon Brown? Has it been since the release?
MR. GIBBS: No, they've -- I want to say it's probably been a month or a month and a half. But we can certainly check it. They have not spoken since the release.
Q Just to follow up, is there any -- you say that it's a question for the British government, but is there any official -- will the U.S. government have any official sort of -- trying to investigate, trying to figure out how this happened beyond just asking questions of the British government?
MR. GIBBS: Chuck, I don't know -- I'm not a -- I don't know Scottish law.
Q Arlen Specter.
MR. GIBBS: I tossed that soft ball out for you guys. I just know what the administration did in weighing in and what the administration has continued to say about the actions. But I don't -- beyond that, don't have anything for you.
Q On the Japanese elections, Japan wants closer relations with China and Russia. Is the U.S.-Japan alliance going to change as a result?
MR. GIBBS: We believe that we have always had a strong relationship and that that relationship will continue regardless of who is -- what Japanese government is in power. I think obviously there are a great number of regional issues that we've discussed many times in here, particularly the actions of the North Koreans, that might lead the Japanese to seek better regional ties from their allies. We wouldn't certainly begrudge that, and believe that the relationship will continue in a strong way.
Q But the new leader, though, says that he wants to move Japan away from U.S. dependency.
MR. GIBBS: Well, I don't --
Q How can there not be some change?
MR. GIBBS: I don't know what dependency he refers.
Q Do you expect any change we might see as early as the G20 in Pittsburgh?
MR. GIBBS: None that I'm aware of, no.
Mr. Baker.
Q The AP is reporting that Governor Blagojevich's new book says that Rahm Emanuel asked him to see if they could have a placeholder appointed in his House seat so that after two years as White House Chief of Staff he could go back and win the seat again and pursue his ambition to become Speaker. Can you tell us if that's the case?
MR. GIBBS: I have not -- I barely cover with Rahm what's going to happen the rest of the week. I have not talked to him about that nor have I -- I've not seen the book by the indicted former governor of Illinois.
Q And is this something that ever came up in the transition that you're aware of?
MR. GIBBS: No, not that -- I do not remember any discussion about that.
Q On Afghanistan, the previous President often said he had a policy of deferring on issues of troop levels to his commanders. You could argue about whether he always fulfilled that, but is that a policy that this President supposedly has or does not have?
MR. GIBBS: Well, as I said to Chuck, I think the President wants the report reviewed by those in the chain of command and then will want to review with that chain of command what they see and hear in this report. I think one of the hallmarks of what this President has always believed in when it comes to making these decisions is that all of those involved should have a seat at the table and that the President should, and will, listen to their opinion.
Q The last President always said basically if a commander asked for it there's nothing he wouldn't get. Is that --
MR. GIBBS: -- that was sitting on General McKiernan's desk -- or General McKiernan had written a request for more troops in Afghanistan for more than a year before we got here. So I don't know whether that's -- I'm not sure that's a standard by which to measure that.
Q Is that the policy of this President?
MR. GIBBS: I think the President is anxious to continue discussions about Afghanistan, to see what General McChrystal -- again, a commander that he was supportive of putting in place in a very dangerous and challenging part of the world -- see what he has to say about going forward, and decisions about troop levels and further resources will be made when that comes.
Q As a natural disaster, the fires north of Los Angeles are reaching kind of staggering proportions. Is there any need for the President to get involved in a federal effort? Does he get any kind of updates on those fires?
MR. GIBBS: I can check. I assume that he gets a regular -- we all get regular updates on these types of news events and these types of disasters. I assume as part of his daily briefing this morning he was briefed on the situation and local, state, and federal response.
Yes, sir.
Q Robert, former Senator Bradley had an op-ed over the weekend where he suggested that --
MR. GIBBS: Busy former senators. (Laughter.)
Q -- including tort reform might help to win Republican support for health care reform. Is that something the administration sees some merit in?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I mean, I would point you to what the President talked about in front of the AMA.
Q He was a little -- it's a little hard to say, exactly, where -- how far he was willing to go in his AMA speech.
MR. GIBBS: He's willing to write an op-ed.
Q He's a former senator.
MR. GIBBS: Voilà. (Laughter.) That seems to be a good business these days. I mean, again, I think there's at least a healthy amount of evidence that in many states that have seen caps like this you haven't necessarily seen decreases in insurance costs.
I think, again, the President is willing to consider any number of approaches, but there have to be people on the other side of the table to respond to those gestures. I'm concerned -- I think a lot of us are -- that people in those chairs seem to be leaving more rapidly than the American people want them to.
Yes, ma'am.
Q Robert, if you put health care aside for a minute, are there bright spots on the legislative calendar that the White House is looking toward? How is the climate change bill going from the White House's perspective right now? And anything else that you --
MR. GIBBS: I don't -- in all honesty, I haven't heard an update yet on where energy legislation is in the Senate. Obviously, Christina, I think a very important date coming up in mid-September marking in many ways I think the date that most Americans in their mind begin to see the real impacts and effects of the deteriorating financial crisis with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. I think a major push from this administration and I think from members on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill will be efforts to reform the regulatory mechanisms by which our financial institutions have to operate. I think that will be a very important part of the legislative agenda moving forward in the fall in strong hopes that by the end of the year we have new rules of the road going forward so that something like this doesn't happen under the same circumstances again.
Q Robert, a couple things. Katrina. Has President Obama talked with anyone in New Orleans, as we're around the anniversary time of four years?
MR. GIBBS: I don't know if the President made any specific calls last week to New Orleans.
Q Okay, and also back on McChrystal. During the campaign for the Oval Office there were reports that U.S. troops were tired and what have you. What other reports is this White House getting on troop strength, their attitudes and things of that nature right now as we're constantly talking about putting more troops over in Afghanistan?
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I think there is no doubt that we have a military that has been called to a lot of things in a short period of time; that it has strained our military, it has strained relationships with soldiers and their families. We've seen -- I think the President talked in many ways about this in Phoenix when he spoke there about ensuring that we protect those that protect us; and that Secretary Gates has outlined a speeding up of the expansion of our armed forces in order to meet the commitments that we have around the world.
I think obviously one of the things that this President talked about a lot before the campaign, during the campaign, and certainly implemented afterwards, is withdrawal of our troops from Iraq as a way of lessening the burden that we see going on in our military.
Q And also -- last question -- Senator Kennedy's letter to the Pope where he says, "I'm committed to doing everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country," what has the President said about that? What is anyone around the White House saying about this, especially at a time when the words "choice" and "competition" are at the forefront instead of what it used to be, access for all?
MR. GIBBS: No, I -- choice and competition is one aspect of what one has to have in an insurance market to ensure that those that don't have access to affordable insurance have that ability to get it. You can't have access without that choice and competition in a market that's dominated by one insurance company. I can assure you the President shares the late senator's goal of ensuring that every American in this country has access to affordable health care coverage. That's strongly in our interest.
Q Two quick questions. Is the White House preparing to push for the creation of a financial product safety commission this fall? Is that what you were referring to in part in your goals?
MR. GIBBS: I was referring to a larger financial regulatory reform. I know obviously part of that is a consumer -- something that will take up the tasks of and be the advocate of consumers. That obviously will be a strong push of this administration.
Q And then, secondly, going back to Afghanistan, how would you define "winnable" as it relates to Afghanistan?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the President and his advisors have talked about disrupting, dismantling, and destroying al Qaeda and its extremist allies. We have to ensure that there are -- while there are those currently plotting to do our country harm, that we don't provide them a safe haven to do that; that we have a government in Afghanistan that is self-sufficient, that we have a security force in that country that's able to deal with the challenges that are presented to it. And I think, obviously -- going back to April's question -- our commitment can't be forever.
Q -- not militarily? It's not -- a win is just not militarily?
MR. GIBBS: No, no, no. If you don't have a country that has the governmental institutions to provide for its citizens, that is what ultimately creates lawless or ungoverned areas that can spawn the type of extremist activity that we see in Afghanistan.
Q But how can you say the commitment is not forever if you set up those goals? Maybe it will take close to forever to reach those goals.
MR. GIBBS: I don't think it will take close to forever. But I don't know what year that would be.
Q Robert, can I follow on that?
MR. GIBBS: Yes.
Q On Wednesday, the administration is going to host a clean-energy economy forum in Saginaw. And I was wondering a couple of things. One, why did you choose Saginaw? What does the administration hope to accomplish with the forum? And also, how are the stakeholders being chosen? It was interesting that it's invitation only. I mean, if you're trying to get people aware of the President's --
MR. GIBBS: I will -- let me find some information out about the forum and get stuff back to you.
Thanks, guys.


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For Immediate Release, February 13, 2012
Contact: Noah Greenwald, (503) 484-7495
Habitat Protection Finalized for Rare Cave-dwelling Creatures in Texas
SAN ANTONIO— In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, Citizen's Alliance for Smart Expansion and Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized protection of 4,200 acres of critical habitat today for nine rare, cave-dwelling invertebrates in Bexar County, Texas. The designation cut roughly 1,700 acres from a February 2011 proposal, but is still nearly quadruple the size of a 2003 Bush-era designation that left out a number of places where the species live and failed to protect enough land adjacent to the caves.
"Protecting the habitat of these mysterious, cave-adapted animals — which don't exist anywhere else on Earth — gives them a shot at survival," said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. "All it will take to save these unique creatures, some of which have lost the power of sight and all their color as they evolved in the dark, are modest restrictions on urban sprawl in Bexar County."
With colorful names like "robber baron cave harvestman," "vesper cave spider" and "Comal Springs riffle beetle," the nine species are immediately threatened by poorly planned urban sprawl. Although these invertebrates have adapted to the moist, dark environs in the interior of caves, having lost both their vision and their pigmentation, what happens at the surface, near the cave entrances, also directly affects their chance of survival. Intact native vegetation around the cave openings is a source of nutrition, helps maintain the temperature and moisture levels of caves, and helps stop the spread of invasive species like fire ants, which threaten these species. If surrounding areas are turned into housing developments, the caves will be permanently altered and the species will disappear.
"We're in an extinction crisis not unlike the one that killed off the dinosaurs, except this time the cause isn't an asteroid," said Greenwald. "It's us and our decisions. Ending this crisis and saving species is about choosing to make some places off-limits to development — there is no other way."
The groups were represented in the litigation by Bill Bunch of Save Our Springs Alliance.
Background The species named in today's decision are the robber baron cave harvestman, vesper cave spider, Government Canyon cave spider, Madla's cave spider, robber baron cave spider, helotes mold beetle, Cicurina venii, Rhadine exilis and Cokendolpher cave harvestman. These nine karst-dwelling species all occur in one or more caves of Bexar County, Texas, and are threatened by rapid urban sprawl around San Antonio.
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Hey my sweeties♥ I want to wish all my readers a Happy Easter. Pastels are perfect color for the Easter outfit. So today I focused on the powder pink, which is a spring hit now! I'm wearing a beautiful pink sweater from Chic Me, bright jeans and pink moccasins, that look fabulous. I'm also wearing my new sunglasses from Ray-Ban. What do you think about my Easter set?
Jeans - Sinsay
Sunglasses - Ray-Ban
Bag - Chanel
Shoes - Deezee
Happy Easter♥


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- Two acceptable references and the name, and addresses of the same
- Copy of the vehicle keys.
- In some cases, the direct lenders also want a GPS tracking system attached to the car so that there is no problem while repossessing the same. It will help the lender to disable the car when it is in a remote place. This is a brilliant system of Oregon auto title loans to ensure that the repayment is guaranteed.
- Next comes the process of verification so that the lender can affirm the documents are not fake. The document verification is pretty quick, and that is why the loan is instant as well.
- Last but not least, the agreement comes in so that there are clear cut terms and conditions signing among the parties- the borrower and the lender. Once you sign the agreement, the funds will be ready for disbursement. Make sure that you read on the terms and conditions of the agreement so that there are ultimate transparency and no option of regret later on.
How Long Does It Takes To Get Approved For America Title Loans Oregon
In most cases, the America title loans Oregon approval can happen as quickly as 24- 48 hours. After the acceptance of the terms and conditions, the disbursement can be as quick as 5 hours. No wonder it is such a good emergency tool and good for the emergency funding process. If the loan amount is big, then the disbursement might take a week or so to happen. Just make sure that you have the repayment process ready because it will not be given to you for the long term. Make sure that the Oregon title loan locations are easy to get.
How Many Oregon Affordable Title Loans Can A Person Get?
In a nutshell, it is not possible to have two Oregon affordable title loans on the same vehicle. It is just a matter of common sense because how can you put the same car or asset as collateral for getting different funds from the same company. If there is a default, the possession of the vehicle can only be done once. But yes, if the borrower has more cars, they can take as many American Title Loan Oregon OR as they want on the number of cars they possess. For example, if you have three different vehicles, you are eligible for three different title loans.
Additional Fees For Oregon Car Title Loans
There are some additional fees on Oregon car title loans for sure, which can add up on top of the interest rates. It ensures a fast process and does not consider the CIBIL score, which is why it will be way more expensive than the traditional loans. The additional fees you will have to give will vary on the lending company and the amount of direct lending. The additional fees of the auto title loans in Oregon will also depend on the car\\\\\\\\'s resale value or vehicle. There has to be a minimum of 300% interest, which itself is going to be a generous amount, and on top of that, the additional fees make it a little bit difficult to repay.
What You Should Get A Oregon Car Title Loans?
To get a Oregon Car Title Loans, you need to get the ownership proof of your car and other documents to apply for the loan. You have to possess a verified residential proof and proper ID so that the loan can be instant. Not only that, but there should be a proper government-issued ID so that it becomes easier for the lending company to rely on the borrower.
Why You Would Be Denied For Online Title Loans Oregon OR
There can be numerous reasons why one person can be denied the best title loans in Oregon OR, and those are being listed below.
- It might be possible that the individual is not working with the correct lender, and they do not have the proper mechanism of giving the loan. This can be a common problem for beginners applying for car title loans, So one should be very careful about grabbing the reputed companies only.
- This is another reason you can be denied a title loan. If the vehicle does not belong to you, there is no way you can get hold of a title loan! Even if it is registered to the business name that you own, you can be denied the loan.
- The vehicle has a listed partnership, and it is not only in your name. Then you will not be given the loan because you have to be the sole owner.
- If there is not enough documentation to get the loan, then it can be a common problem, and most potential borrowers do not have proper documentation for the verification process to complete. Hence the denial.
How Much American Title Loans Oregon Costs
As already discussed, American title loans Oregon can be pretty expensive. To finance the loan, most of the direct lenders will charge 25% interest per month, and even more in some cases. Then comes the additional fees, and that can bring a load of the repayment amount. The annual percentage of interest turns out to be almost 300%, which is quite huge. For example, a lending amount of $500 for a 30 days tenure will end up to a total repayment amount of $625, and the individual will have to pay $125 more than the actual American title loans Oregon loan amount. $625 is just the base amount, and the total repayment will be inclusive of the additional fees that the company will charge.
How to pay Car Title Loans Oregon?
There are many pay-offs for American Title Loan Oregon OR, and you just have to choose one of the three methods that are by In-person pay, payment through the online, auto-debit system. In the case of the automatic debit system, there should be a clear declaration for the terms and conditions. In these cases, the Car Title Loans Oregon loan amount and interest must be repaid within the specific tenure.
There is also a roll-over system in which the borrower can get even more time to repay the amount, and that comes with additional interest and fees. The remaining pending amount is rendered as a new loan, and a new interest rate is supervised on the same. There is a specific time frame for this sort of pay-off option as well, and if the time is outreached, the company will be forced to repossess the vehicle.
Online Title Loans Oregon Alternatives To Avoid
Several alternatives can be taken as a financing option instead of an online title loans Oregon OR, and those are being mentioned below.
- Auto loan alternatives like myautoloan.com, car.loan., and so on.
- Cash loan alternatives like MoneyMutual, Cashcom, CreditLoan.com
- No credit check alternatives like Visa Card, and so on.
How Does Oregon Title Loans Help?
Oregon Title loans locations will help you get the estimate of the loan amount within minutes, and you can get instant cash as well. Even if your loan is getting denied because of bad credit scores, it will no longer be a problem. Having a cash flow will no longer be a problem as long as you have all the vehicles in your name, and you can get affordable title loans Oregon. You just have to make sure that the vehicle has a sole proprietor, and there is no lien attached to the vehicle as well. In Oregon Title loan, applying is incredibly easy and can be done with just a single click. So what are you waiting for?


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Just when you thought the feud between the Real Housewives of Orange County housewives, Tamra Barney & Gretchen Rossi, had calmed down, comes news that their feud has once again gotten very nasty and personal. And the man in the middle of their current feud is none other than Gretchen's current boyfriend, Slade.
According to InTouchWeekly, Tamra believes that Slade Smiley bashed her parenting skills on a recent episode. "I take raising my children very personal. Maybe it's something he should try doing," Tamra, 42, tells In Touch. Ouch, Tamra is referring to the news report that Slade owes $80,000 in back child support to his sick son.
Tamra doesn't stop there, she continues, "I think he is a washed-up 40-year-old who wants to be on TV so bad he'll do whatever it takes."
Gretchen, 31, is however quick to come to the defense of her man. "She should focus on her own children, who obviously need the attention," says Gretchen alluding to the troubled son of Tamra, Ryan Vieth, who has had several run ins with the law. Ryan has received a staggering number of more than 20 traffic violations over the past seven years.
"One of them went to jail recently and has not been successful at much except hitting on drunk girls that Mommy connives to get naked wasted at her home," says Gretchen.
Yikes, this new feud is rather suprising considering Tamra has been writing in her blogs recently that she and Gretchen are now on good terms. Not certain of what Slade said about Tamra's parenting skills in any of the recent episodes.


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Princess-lings: Can China's First Daughters Make A Name In The Nation's Mostly Male Politics?
China's princelings, the sons or male descendants of prolific senior communist officials that use their high-ranking network to reach their own political success, have a mixed reputation in the nation.
While some have gone on to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers, like Xi Jinping, who is president of China, others have made a name for themselves because of corruption and scandal, like fallen princeling Bo Xilai. Now it seems that most of China's top leaders have daughters, including President Xi, whose daughter is rumored to be enrolled at Harvard.
So, will the new generation of princess-lings be the future of politics in China? Probably not.
According to a series of politician profiles released by Xinhua, a state-run news agency in China, most current leaders have daughters, not sons. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, as well as chairman of the national parliament Zhang Dejiang and three vice-premiers all have daughters. So while this may sound like a promising future for more female presence in the mostly male government, women, historically speaking, have struggled to reach high-ranking official positions. Currently no members of the Central Politburo Standing Committee, the core of China's government, are female, and only two women hold positions in the 25-member Politburo. In the entire history of the Central Politburo Standing Committee, established in 1927, there has never been a female member.
In fact, it's more probable that a woman become an astronaut than in the Standing Committee. Nine years after China's first manned space mission, they sent the nation's first woman into space, 33-year-old Liu Yang. China will have to wait at least another 10 years before a woman is seen on the Standing Committee.
Another Liu, Liu Yandong, is China's highest-ranking female politician, one of four vice premiers on the Politburo. As a descendant of Communist party royalty, Liu is perhaps one of the Chinese government's first princess-lings. She was able to rise to the top of China's powers through political connections and a portfolio that spans education, engineering, sports and cultural affairs. Still, her story is rare.
"To become a mayor of a big city or a governor of a province, you have to be sort of one of the boys, you have to drink a lot and maybe womanize a bit and also be reasonably corrupt," Willy Lam, a historian at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said to the South China Morning Post.
According to the report, it may be the future son-in-laws that will be able to benefit politically from their wives princess-ling status. In fact, Wang Qishan, who currently sits on the Standing Committee, is the son-in-law of former vice-premier Yao Yilin.
The daughters of top leaders in China, whose identities and whereabouts are kept under wraps, are in good company, though. Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and President Barack Obama all have daughters who have become household names, though not for positions in politics. Additionally, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou and Russian leader Vladimir Putin each have two daughters.
Perhaps China is still recovering from Mao Zedong's wife, Jiang Qing, being behind many of the decisions that brought on the Cultural Revolution, a movement that paralyzed China socially and economically.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.


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Asia-Pacific By Shobha Shukla
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TechRadar Verdict
A superb value all-rounder with generous features and solid performance, but lacks the overall slickness needed to really impress
- +
Great range of features
- +
Excellent recording quality
- -
Fiddly remote
- -
Freeview+ implementation
- -
Display is difficult to read
Why you can trust TechRadar
The LG RHT399H behaves more like a Freeview PVR or Sky+ box than an old-style DVD combi, enabling you to record an entire series at the push of a button, avoid scheduling conflicts and pause live TV while you make a cup of tea.
Of course, until we get DVD machines with twin digital tuners they'll still feel like second best, but it's a step in the right direction.
The LG RHT399H is an attractive deck, dressed entirely in black except for a few silver strips that inject some pizzazz. While beautifully built and remarkably slim for a combi, the front display panel is hard to read.
Bundles of storage
The deck's massive 320GB drive enables you to store up to 935hr of TV, but if that's overkill then 250GB and 160GB versions are also available. As for DVD formats, the LG takes all-comers except for -R
DL, but with +R DL on board that's no great loss.
There are built-in Freeview and analogue tuners, and the former brings with it digital text and an eight-day EPG.
As for connections, the LG offers all the essential sockets. Most notable is the HDMI output, which offers upscaled 1080p, 1080i and 720p signals, plus we're pleased to see an RGB-enabled Scart and a DV input on the front panel.
Recording features
Elsewhere the deck doesn't skimp on recording and editing features, offering five recording
modes (XP, SP, LP, EP and MLP) that fit between 1 and 14hr on a DVD, or between 3 and 21hr on a
DVD+R DL disc. And because the hard disk can fit up to 85 hours of programmes in the best-quality XP mode, it'll be a while before you have to worry about changing modes for hard-disk recordings.
Chapter markers are added automatically at 5, 10 or 15min intervals, but there's no smart chaptering mode as per Philips' and Pioneer's latest machines.
Editing features include the ability to delete part of a recording, combine two titles and split a title in two, but when using DVD-RAM or DVD-RW discs (formatted in VR mode) you can also rearrange chapters into a new sequence.
Finally the Timeshift feature lets you pause and rewind live TV, and you can also keep whatever's stored in the six-hour buffer memory using the Clip Recording feature.
LG's clever menus
The LG's onscreen menus are jazzily presented and dissolve when you exit them. The clever main menu divides all your media into the relevant types and arranges them in a scrolling bar across the top of the screen. The setup and recording mode menus are also found here, which are straightforward, but it's irksome having to enter the menu each time you want to change recording mode.
The unit is quick and responsive and the Freeview works smoothly, especially the impressive EPG which enables to you switch between timeline and now/next views. The Freeview+ features we mentioned earlier are accessed from here, but the machine's pidgin English makes them harder to understand than they should be – the series link option, for instance, is translated into 'It can be recorded as series', plus the deck has to be told to record a split programme rather than doing it automatically.
Also disappointing is the remote, which while crammed with tiny buttons, gives no prominence to the programme change and EPG keys, and it lacks a dedicated button for changing the recording mode.
Solid picture performance
Live Freeview pictures look fine, boasting bold, vivid colours, clean edges and sharp detail – best demonstrated by the studio segments of BBC News 24 or Sky News.
There is a noticeable amount of block and mosquito noise in the picture, which gives it a slightly shimmery, smeary quality at times, but it's no worse than any other Freeview receiver we've tested. What's more, the HDMI output and 1080p upscaling make the image look just a touch sharper than it does from the RGB Scart output.
The LG does a great job of capturing these images on the hard disk or DVD, and in XP mode there's no difference between live and recorded pictures. In fact there isn't a great deal of difference in SP mode either; it's only when you hit LP that recordings start to look soft and noisy but far from unwatchable.
The HT399H also turns in a solid performance with pre-recorded DVDs, giving films a pleasingly cinematic look with healthy levels of colour, detail and contrast, but as it's not a dedicated DVD player, some of the artefacts on display are only to be expected.
Audio finesse
The LG performs its basic sonic tasks without any flaws.
Freeview audio is recorded in stereo Dolby Digital and sounds crisp when played through TV speakers, despite the compression used to encode it.
It also gets stuck into CDs with more finesse than you'd expect from a recorder, and multichannel movie soundtracks sound scintillating through a decent system.
Great value DVD deck
On balance, you actually get a lot for your money.
The LG RHT399H ticks all the basic boxes: a large hard disk, multi-format DVD recording, Freeview+, versatile editing features – but throws in a few spicy extras such as 1080p upscaling and hard disk multimedia playback that are the sort of extras you'd find on pricier decks from Panasonic and Pioneer.
Only the LG's occasionally clumsy operating system prevents it from reaching the same standard as its illustrious rivals.